SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
FORM 20-F
(Mark One)
Registration statement pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12 (g) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
or
[X] Annual report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934
For the Fiscal year ended December 31, 2000
-----------------
or
Transition report pursuant to Section 13 or 15 (d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934
For the transition period from _______________ to ___________________
Commission file number 0-16350
-------
WPP Group plc
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Translation of registrant's Name Into English)
United Kingdom
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)
27 Farm Street, London WIJ 5RJ England
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12 (b) of the Act:
Name of Each Exchange
Title of Each Class On Which Registered
------------------- ---------------------
Ordinary Shares London Stock Exchange
American Depositary Shares, each Nasdaq
representing five
Ordinary Shares ("ADS")
Securities registered or to be registered pursuant to Section 12 (g) of the Act:
Ordinary Shares of 10p each
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Title of Class)
Securities for which there is a reporting obligation pursuant to Section 15 (d)
of the Act:
_______________________________________________________________________________
(Title of Class)
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 1,111,853,705
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.
YES [X] NO [_]
Indicate by check mark with financial statement item the registrant
has elected to follow.
Item 17 [_] Item 18 [X]
2
ITEM 1. IDENTITY OF DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND ADVISERS
Not applicable.
ITEM 2. OFFER STATISTICS AND EXPECTED TIMETABLE
Not applicable.
ITEM 3. KEY INFORMATION
Overview
WPP Group plc ("WPP") and its subsidiaries is a leading communications
services organisation offering national, multinational and global clients a
comprehensive range of advertising and marketing services. These services
include advertising and media investment management, information and
consultancy, public relations and public affairs, and branding and identity,
healthcare and specialist communications. The Group's revenues in 2000 were
approximately $4.5 billion. Based on 2000 revenues, the Company is the largest
marketing communications services company in the world. At year-end, WPP
(including affiliated companies) employed 65,000 full-time people in 1,300
offices in 102 countries throughout the world.
Unless the context otherwise requires, the terms "Company", "Group" and
"Registrant" as used herein shall mean WPP and its subsidiaries.
Selected financial data
The selected financial data set forth below is derived from the Consolidated
Financial Statements of the Company which appear elsewhere in this Form 20-F and
should be read in conjunction with, and are qualified in their entirety by
reference to, such Consolidated Financial Statements including the notes
thereto. Such Consolidated Financial Statements have been audited by Arthur
Andersen, Independent Chartered Accountants.
The Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company are prepared in accordance
with UK GAAP, which differ in certain significant respects from US GAAP. A
reconciliation to US GAAP is set forth on pages F-22 to F-23 of the Consolidated
Financial Statements.
3
Year ended December 31
Selected Consolidated Profit and Loss Account Data
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
(pound)m (pound)m (pound)m (pound)m (pound)m $m $m $m $m $m
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts in accordance with UK GAAP:
Turnover (or gross billings) 13,949.4 9,345.9 8,000.1 7,287.3 7,084.0 21,150.1 15,119.8 13,259.4 11,937.3 11,062.4
Revenue 2,980.7 2,172.6 1,918.4 1,746.7 1,691.3 4,519.3 3,514.8 3,179.6 2,861.2 2,641.1
EBITDA (i) 494.9 333.0 278.9 234.6 210.8 750.4 538.7 462.2 384.3 329.2
Operating Profit 378.0 263.5 229.1 194.9 170.1 573.1 426.3 379.7 319.2 265.6
Income before taxes and minority
interests 365.7 255.4 212.8 177.4 153.3 554.5 413.2 352.7 290.6 239.4
Net income before dividends 244.7 172.8 140.3 116.0 100.0 371.1 279.6 232.6 190.0 156.2
Basic earnings per share 29.3 22.9p 19.1p 15.8p 13.6p 44.4c 37.0c 31.7c 25.9c 21.2c
Diluted earnings per share 28.4 22.5p 18.8p 15.7p 13.5p 43.1c 36.4c 31.2c 25.7c 21.1c
Dividends per share 3.75p 3.1p 2.56p 2.13p 1.7p 5.7c 5.0c 4.2c 3.5c 2.7c
Amounts in accordance with US GAAP:
Net income 122.9 81.9 100.4 80.2 67.1 186.3 132.5 166.4 131.4 104.8
Basic earnings per share 14.7p 10.9p 13.6p 10.9p 9.1p 22.3c 17.6c 22.5c 17.9c 14.2c
Diluted earnings per share 14.1p 10.6p 13.4p 10.8p 9.0p 21.4c 17.1c 22.2c 17.7c 14.1c
Dividends per share 3.3p 2.72p 2.27p 1.844p 1.421p 5.0c 4.4c 3.8c 3.0c 2.2c
As of December 31
Selected Consolidated Balance Sheet Data:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996
(pound)m (pound)m (pound)m (pound)m (pound)m $m $m $m $m $m
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts in accordance with UK GAAP:
Total assets 9,112.0 3,234.4 2,480.5 1,979.3 1,894.8 13,610.6 5,233.9 4,127.0 3,256.7 3,242.6
Net assets 3,434.1 354.7 223.8 9.7 54.9 5,129.6 574.0 372.3 16.0 94.0
Capital Stock 111.2 77.5 76.6 73.6 74.1 166.1 125.4 127.4 121.1 126.8
Number of shares 1,111.9 774.5 766.5 736.3 741.4 1,111.9 774.5 766.5 736.3 741.4
Amounts in accordance with US GAAP:
Net assets 4,173.3 1,028.1 933.8 726.0 772.4 6,233.7 1,663.7 1,553.7 1,194.6 1,321.8
Total assets 9,532.7 3,723.0 3,083.6 2,675.7 2,629.2 14,239.0 6,024.6 5,130.5 4,402.6 4,499.3
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) EBITDA is defined as net income before interest, tax, depreciation,
amortization and impairment charge.
(ii) The selected financial data prior to 2000 has been restated as a result of
the implementation of FRS 19 (Deferred Tax) in the Group's 2000 financial
statements.
Dividends
Dividends on the Company's ordinary shares, when paid, are paid to share owners
as of a record date which is fixed after consultation between the Company and
The London Stock Exchange Limited ("The Stock Exchange").
4
The table below sets forth the amounts of interim, final and total dividends
paid on the Company's ordinary shares in respect of each fiscal year indicated.
The dividends are also shown translated into US cents per ADS using the Closing
Buying Rate (as reported in the London Financial Times) for pounds sterling on
each of the respective payment dates for such dividends.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pence per ordinary share Translated into US cents per ADS
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended: Interim Final Total Interim Final Total
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1996 0.556 1.144 1.70 4.3* 8.9* 13.2*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1997 0.70 1.43 2.13 5.7* 11.7* 17.4*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1998 0.84 1.72 2.56 7.0* 14.3* 21.3*
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 1.0 2.1 3.1 8.1 17.0 25.1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1.2 2.55 3.75 9.4 19.3 28.7
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
* These amounts have been restated to reflect the current value of one ADS to 5
ordinary shares (prior to November 16, 1999 one ADS represented 10 ordinary
shares).
The 2000 interim dividend was paid on November 20, 2000 to share owners on the
register at September 15, 2000. The 2000 final dividend is expected to be paid
on July 9, 2001 to share owners on the register at June 8, 2001. The 2000
proposed final dividend has been translated into US cents using the 2000 average
exchange rate of $1.5162.
Exchange rates
Fluctuations in the exchange rate between the pound sterling and the United
States dollar will affect the dollar equivalent of the pound sterling prices of
the Company's ordinary shares on The Stock Exchange, and as a result, are likely
to affect the market price of the ADS in the United States. Such fluctuations
will also affect the dollar amounts received by holders of ADSs on conversion by
the Depositary of cash dividends paid in pounds sterling by the ordinary shares
represented by the ADSs. The average Closing Buying Rates (as reported in the
London Financial Times, or the average Bloomberg Closing Mid Point rate) for
pounds sterling expressed in for each of the five years ended December 31, 2000,
were:
-------------------------------------------
Year ended December 31 Average
-------------------------------------------
1996 1.5616
-------------------------------------------
1997 1.6381
-------------------------------------------
1998 1.6574
-------------------------------------------
1999 1.6178
-------------------------------------------
2000 1.5162
-------------------------------------------
The following table sets forth for each of the most recent six months, the high
and low Bloomberg Closing Mid Point rates. As of June 4, 2001, the Bloomberg
Closing Mid Point rate was 1.4126.
5
----------------------------------------------------------------
Month ended High Low
----------------------------------------------------------------
January 31, 2001 1.5044 1.4585
----------------------------------------------------------------
February 28, 2001 1.4789 1.4408
----------------------------------------------------------------
March 31, 2001 1.4696 1.4189
----------------------------------------------------------------
April 30, 2001 1.4490 1.4183
----------------------------------------------------------------
May 31, 2001 1.4395 1.4118
----------------------------------------------------------------
June 30, 2001 (through June 4) 1.4173 1.4126
----------------------------------------------------------------
RISK FACTORS
The Company competes for clients in a highly competitive industry.
The marketing communications services industry is highly competitive and
fragmented. At the parent company level, the Company's principal competitors are
other large multinational marketing and communications companies, including
Omnicom Group and The Interpublic Group of Companies. The actual competition for
clients, however, takes place at the operating company level, within the
different sectors of advertising, media investment management, information and
consultancy, public relations and public affairs, branding and identity,
healthcare and specialist communications. The Company's principal competitors in
the advertising industry are large multinational agencies, including BBDO, DDB
Needham, McCann Erickson, TBWA, Burnett, and Dentsu, as well as numerous smaller
agencies that operate in local markets. The Company's agencies must compete with
other agencies to maintain existing client relationships and to obtain new
clients. Principal competitive factors include the agency's creative reputation,
knowledge of media alternatives and purchasing power, geographic coverage and
diversity, quality of service and understanding of clients' needs. Improved
global communications and free trade, and more stable, less inflationary
worldwide economic growth have contributed to increased competition in the
communications services industry. At the same time, however, the other larger
communications services groups are consolidating, diversifying and growing their
market share through acquisitions.
Clients are not generally bound to an individual agency and may move their
accounts to another agency, usually with 90 days notice. Clients may also
reduce advertising and marketing budgets at any time and for any reason with no
compensation to the agency. Larger clients tend to use more than one agency for
their advertising requirements. In many cases, the Company represents a client
for only a portion of its advertising or marketing services needs or only in
particular geographic areas thus enabling the client to continually compare the
effectiveness of its different agencies' work. Industry practices in the other
communications services businesses reflect similar concerns with respect to
client relationships. Despite these circumstances, there is continued evidence
that clients are moving towards the consolidation of their marketing activities.
An agency's ability to compete for new advertising, and marketing services
clients and assignments, is limited somewhat by the policy followed by many
clients of not permitting agencies working for them to represent competitive
accounts or product lines in the same market. A lesser number of companies will
not permit their advertising and/or marketing services firms to work on
competitive accounts in any market, although, increasingly, converging
strategies seem to be reducing the incidence of this. There are also some signs
of a weakening of client conflict policies, as clients wrestle with the
difficulties that increasing globalisation, acquisitions, mass product launches
and joint ventures bring.
The Company receives a significant portion of its revenues from a limited number
of large clients.
6
A relatively small number of clients contributes a significant percentage of the
Company's consolidated revenues. The Company's ten largest clients accounted
for 28% of revenues. The Company's clients generally are able to reduce
advertising and marketing spending or cancel projects at any time for any
reason. There can be no assurance that any of the Company's clients will
continue to utilize the Company's services to the same extent, or at all, in the
future. A significant reduction in advertising and marketing spending by, or
the loss of one or more of, the Company's largest clients, if not replaced by
new clients accounts or an increase in business from existing clients, would
adversely affect the Company's prospects, business, financial condition and
results of operations.
The Company may be subject to certain regulations that could restrict the
company's activities.
From time to time, governments, government agencies and industry self-regulatory
bodies in the United States and other countries in which the Company operates
have adopted statutes, regulations, and rulings which directly or indirectly
affect the form, content, and scheduling of advertising, and public relations
and public affairs, or otherwise affect the activities of the Company and its
clients. Some of the foregoing relate to general considerations such as
truthfulness, substantiation and interpretation of claims made, comparative
advertising, relative responsibilities of clients and advertising, public
relations and public affairs firms, and registration of public relations and
public affairs firms' representation of foreign governments.
In addition, there is an increasing tendency towards consideration and adoption
of specific rules, prohibitions, and media restrictions, and labelling,
disclosure and warning requirements, with respect to advertising for certain
products, such as over-the-counter drugs and pharmaceuticals, cigarettes, food
and certain alcoholic beverages, and to certain groups, such as children.
Proposals have been made for the adoption of additional laws and regulations
which could further restrict the activities of advertising and public relations
and public affairs firms and their clients. Though the Company does not expect
any existing, proposed or future regulations to materially adversely impact the
Company's business, the Company is unable to estimate the effect on its future
operations of the application of existing statutes or regulations or the extent
or nature of future regulatory action.
The Company is dependent on its employees.
The assets of advertising and marketing services businesses are primarily its
people, and the Company is highly dependent on the talent, creative abilities
and technical skills of its personnel and the relationships its personnel have
with clients. The Company believes that its operating companies have
established reputations in the industry which attract talented personnel.
However, the Company, like all marketing and communications services businesses,
is vulnerable to adverse consequences from the loss of key employees due to the
competition among these businesses for talented personnel.
The Company is exposed to international business risk.
The Company operates in 102 countries throughout the world. Its operations
outside the United States are exposed to the normal business risks and
limitations caused by currency fluctuations, exchange control restrictions,
restrictions on repatriation of earnings and investment of capital and political
instability.
ITEM 4. INFORMATION ON THE COMPANY
The Company operates through a number of established national and global
advertising and marketing services companies. Among these are the well known
advertising networks J. Walter Thompson Company, Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide and
Y&R Advertising; MindShare and The Media Edge in media investment management;
The Kantar Group (including Research International, Millward Brown and Kantar
Media Research) in information and consultancy; the worldwide public relations
and public affairs companies Burson-Marsteller, Hill and Knowlton, Ogilvy
Public Relations Worldwide and Cohn & Wolfe; and a wide range of branding and
identity, healthcare and specialist communications companies including the
Enterprise Identity Group and Landor Associates, specialising in branding and
corporate identity, CommonHealth and Sudler & Hennessey, specialising in
healthcare communications, and Oglivy One and Wunderman, in direct and
interactive. The Company's ten largest clients in 2000 were American Express,
Ford, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-Clark, Nestle, Pfizer, Philip Morris,
Sears and Unilever.
The Company's ordinary shares are admitted to the Official List of the UK
Listing Authority and trade on The Stock Exchange and American Depositary Shares
(evidenced by American Depositary Receipts) representing deposited ordinary
shares are quoted on the Nasdaq National Market ("Nasdaq"). At June 4, 2001,
the Company had a market capitalisation of (Pounds) 8.7 billion ($12.3 billion).
7
The Company's executive office is located at 27 Farm Street, London W1J 5RJ,
England, Tel: (44) 20 - 7408 - 2204 and its registered office is located at
Pennypot Industrial Estate, Hythe, Kent CT21 6PE, England.
8
History and Development of the Company
The Company was incorporated under the laws of England and Wales in 1971, and
until 1985 operated as a manufacturer and distributor of wire and plastic
products. In 1985, new investors acquired a significant interest in the Company
and changed the strategic direction of the Company from being a wire and
plastics manufacturer and distributor to being a multinational communications
services organisation. Since then, the Company has grown both internally and
by the acquisition of companies, most significantly the acquisitions of JWT
Group, Inc. in 1987, The Ogilvy Group, Inc. in 1989 and Young & Rubicam Inc. in
2000s.
1985 Through 1993
Throughout this period, the purchase price for acquisitions was primarily paid
for in cash financed by bank debt, with some portion of the purchase price paid
on a contingent performance basis over time. The Company carried a significant
amount of debt into 1991 when a recession developed in its most important
markets, the United States and the United Kingdom. Client advertising budgets
were trimmed causing revenues (primarily commissions from media placements) to
fall. The Company was not able to reduce expenses sufficiently at the time and
the Company's profits fell.
In 1992 the Company began actions to reduce its acquisition related debt burden
and stability returned to the Company's major markets. Financing initiatives,
including the refinancing of existing bank debt with a new $800 million 5 year
credit facility, the successful completion of a four-for-five ordinary share
rights issue in 1993 and further initiatives including the sale of some of the
Company's non-core operations, enhanced the Company's capital structure and
liquidity.
1994 Through 2000
During the period from 1994 through 2000, the Company's financial and operating
performance showed consistently strong improvement. Since 1995, the primary
source of funds for the Group has been cash generated from operations and the
primary uses of cash funds have been to service and repay bank debt, for capital
expenditures and, since 1997, to fund acquisitions and ordinary share
repurchases. The Company spent (Pounds)206.5 million, (Pounds)242.2 million and
(Pounds)111.8 million for acquisitions in 2000, 1999 and 1998, respectively. For
the same periods, cash spent on purchases of tangible fixed assets were
(Pounds)111.9 million, (Pounds)64.6 million and (Pounds)51.6 million,
respectively, and cash spent on share repurchases was (Pounds)94.1 million,
(Pounds)17.9 million and (Pounds)33.3 million, respectively. The majority of the
unsecured debt of the Group during this period was funded under various
syndicated loan facilities. In conjunction with the improved profitability and
credit standing of the Group, each new loan facility has brought reduced pricing
and less restrictive covenants. The Company's revolving credit facilities
consist of a $500 million syndicated Revolving Credit Facility and a $700
million facility dated August 2000. The $500 million facility dated July 1998,
as amended, is due to expire in July 2002 and the $700 million facility is due
to expire in August 2001 although the Group has the ability to extend drawings
under this facility until August 2003. The Company also has a securitized
working capital facility, currently in the amount of $350 million, which was
entered into in 1993 and which has been amended several times, and most recently
renewed in December 1998. As of December 31, 2000, the Company also had in issue
US$ 200 million of 6.625% Notes due 2005 and US$ 100 million of 6.875% Notes due
2008.
The Company's revenues, operating margins and net profit continued to improve
beyond the Company's publicly announced objectives during this period.
Management stock ownership was promoted through the establishment of employee
stock option plans and long term equity based incentive compensation plans at
the operating company levels. Centralised human resources, property management,
procurement, information technology and practice development initiatives were
implemented during this period. In addition, the Company completed a number of
strategic acquisitions and commenced a program of ordinary share repurchases in
1997.
On October 4, 2000, the Company finalised its acquisition of Young & Rubicam
Inc. ("Young & Rubicam" or the "Y&R Group"). The value of the consideration
which was satisfied entirely by the issue of new WPP ordinary shares or WPP
American Depositary Shares, calculated by reference to the opening WPP share
price on October 4, 2000, (Pounds)7.99, was (Pounds)3.0 billion. Further
details regarding the acquisition of Young & Rubicam are given in Note 25 of
Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements.
The merger with Young & Rubicam brought together two organisations sharing a
common approach on the integration of advertising and marketing services for
clients. The management of WPP believe that the companies complement one another
in providing alternative operating brands in common business areas while adding
the market research expertise of WPP to the Young & Rubicam businesses. Both WPP
and Young & Rubicam share a large number of major clients including The Ford
Motor Company, Philip
9
Morris, Sears and Mattel. Within the enlarged Group client conflicts can be
managed more effectively through separate operating brands so that clients will
be assured of confidentiality. In addition, the merger has strengthened the
Group geographically, particularly in North America and Continental Europe.
In 2000 turnover increased to almost (Pounds)14 billion ($21 billion),
reflecting in part the growth of media investment management, and revenues grew
over 37% to almost (Pounds)3 billion ($4.5 billion). Operating profit
(excluding income from associates) rose by over 43% to (Pounds)378 million ($573
million) and operating margins (including income from associates) rose by 0.6
margin points to 14% in line with objectives. Pre-tax profits rose by over 43%
to almost (Pounds)366 million ($555 million) and diluted earnings per share by
over 26% to 28.4p (43.1c). On a like-for-like basis (including Young & Rubicam
for the fourth quarter of 2000), revenues rose by almost 15% and gross profit
rose almost 16% over 1999.
Average Net Debt and Interest Coverage
---------------------------------------------------
Year Average Net Debt(pounds)m Interest Coverage
---- ------------------------- -----------------
1996 145.0 6.3
1997 115.0 7.3
1998 143.0 7.6
1999 206.0 8.2
2000 423.0 8.3
Margins
-------
Year EBIT(pounds)m Operating Margin
---- ------------- ----------------
1996 182.0 10.8%
1997 206.0 11.8%
1998 245.0 12.8%
1999 291.0 13.4%
2000 416.0 14.0%
Earnings
--------
Year Earnings(pounds)m
---- -----------------
1996 100.0
1997 116.0
1998 140.3
1999 172.8
2000 244.7
Capital Structure
-----------------
Year Net Debt (pounds)m Market Cap(pounds)m
---- ------------------ -------------------
1996 145 1,883
1997 115 1,984
1998 143 2,804
1999 206 7,598
2000 423 9,631
Subsequent Event
In June 2001, the Company issued EURO 1 billion of bonds, consisting of EURO 650
million at 6% due June 2008 and EURO 350 million at 5.125% due June 2004.
Proceeds will be used to repay existing bank borrowings taken on at the time of
the Young & Rubicam acquisition and for general corporate purposes.
10
Business Overview
The Company's business comprises the provision of communications services both
on a national, multinational and global basis. The Company organises its
businesses in four main areas: advertising and media investment management,
information and consultancy, public relations and public affairs, and branding
and identity, healthcare and specialist communications. Set forth below is a
listing of the Group companies operating within these four business segments as
at May 4, 2001.
11
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertising Media investment management
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide MindShare
J. Walter Thompson Company The Media Edge/1/
Y&R Advertising/1/ Media Insight
Red Cell Maximize
Asatsu-DK/2/ Portland Outdoor
Batey/2/ The Media Partnership/2/
Chime Communications PLC/2/ Tempus Group PLC/3/
Dentsu, Young & Rubicam/1,4/
Equus/2/
SCPF/2/
The Lord Group/1/
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public relations & public affairs Information & consultancy
Buchanan Communications The Kantar Group:
Burson-Marsteller/1/ Research International
Carl Byoir & Associates Millward Brown
Cohn & Wolfe/1/ Kantar Media Research
Hill and Knowlton - AGB Italia/2/
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide - BMRB International
Robinson Lerer & Montgomery/1/ - IBOPE Media Information/2/
Timmons and Company Goldfarb Consultants
The Wexler Group IMRB International/2/
Chime Communications PLC/2/ Center Partners
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Branding & identity Direct, promotion & relationship marketing Sector marketing
----------------
The Brand Union: A. Eicoff & Co. . Corporate/B2B
Addison Corporate Marketing* Brierley & Partners/2/ Brouillard
BDG McColl* Einson Freeman Ogilvy Primary Contact
BPRI* EWA . Demographic marketing
Coley Porter Bell* The Grass Roots Group/2/ The Bravo Group/1/
Dovetail* High Co/2/ The Geppetto Group
Enterprise IG* KnowledgeBase Marketing/1/ Kang & Lee/1/
Enterprise XP* Mando Marketing The Market Segment Group/2/
-Banner McBride* OgilvyOne Worldwide Mendoza Dillon & Asociados
-Clever Media* RMG International Uniworld/2/
-Eurosem* RTC . Foodservice
-The Clinic* Savatar The Food Group
Lambie-Nairn* ThompsonConnect Worldwide . Investor Relations
Oakley Young* Wunderman International Presentations/2/
Walker Group/CNI* . PR & sports marketing
Warwicks* Premiere Group
CB'a PRISM Group
icon brand navigation . Real Estate
Landor Associates/1/ Specialist communications Pace
The Partners/1/ . Technology
Strategic marketing consulting Banner Corporation/1/
------------------------------
Glendinning
The Henley Centre* Media and technology services
Management Ventures -----------------------------
Healthcare pFour Consultancy Clockwork Capital/2/
CommonHealth Quadra Advisory/2/ DigiReels
Ogilvy Healthcare The Farm/2/
Shire Hall Group Metro Group
Sudler & Hennessey/1/ Spafax
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/1/ Member of Y&R Group
/2/ Associate
/3/ Minority investment
/4/ Joint venture
* Member of The Brand Union
Approximately 47% of the Company's revenues in 2000 were from advertising and
media investment management, with the remaining 53% of its revenues being
derived from the faster growing business segments of information and
consultancy, public relations and public affairs, and branding and identity,
healthcare and specialist communications. Over the past several years, the
pattern of revenue growth varied by communications services sector and brand.
The following table shows reported revenue attributable to each business segment
in which the Company operates for the last three fiscal years.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2000 % of 1999 1999 % of 1998 1998 % of
(pound)m ($m) Total in (pound)m ($m) Total in (pound)m ($m) Total in
Revenues (i) 2000 (ii) 1999 (iii) 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertising and media 1,399.0 2,121.2 46.9 1,013.1 1,639.0 46.6 951.3 1,576.7 49.7
investment management
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information and consultancy 512.1 776.4 17.2 419.7 679.0 19.3 367.2 608.6 19.1
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Public relations
and public affairs 330.1 500.5 11.1 178.9 289.4 8.3 134.8 223.4 7.0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Branding and identity,
healthcare and specialist 739.5 1,121.2 24.8 560.9 907.4 25.8 465.1 770.9 24.2
communications
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 2,980.7 4,519.3 100.0 2,172.6 3,514.8 100.0 1,918.4 3,179.6 100.0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The pattern of revenue growth also differed regionally. The following table
shows, for the last three fiscal years of the Company, reported revenue
attributable to each geographic area in which the Company operates and
demonstrates the Company's regional diversity.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenues 2000 2000 % of 1999 1999 % of 1998 1998 % of
(pound)m ($m) Total in (pound)m ($m) Total in (pound)m ($m) Total in
(i) 2000 (ii) 1999 (iii) 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United
States 1,273.6 1,931.0 42.7 915.2 1,480.6 42.1 764.4 1,266.9 39.8
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United 532.4 807.2 17.9 434.7 703.3 20.0 393.5 652.2 20.5
Kingdom
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Continental Europe 586.3 889.0 19.7 426.2 689.4 19.6 396.0 656.3 20.6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Canada,
Asia Pacific, Latin America, 588.4 892.1 19.7 396.5 641.5 18.3 364.5 604.2 19.1
Africa and Middle East
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TOTAL 2,980.7 4,519.3 100.0 2,172.6 3,514.8 100.0 1,918.4 3,179.6 100.0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(i) These figures were converted from pounds sterling into dollars at the
average rate (Bloomberg Closing Mid Point rate) for pounds sterling for
the year ended December 31, 2000 which was (pound)1 = $1.5162.
(ii) These figures were converted from pounds sterling into dollars at the
average rate (as reported in the London Financial Times) for pounds
sterling for the year ended December 31, 1999 which was (pound)1 =
$1.6178
(iii) These figures were converted from pounds sterling into dollars at the
average rate (as reported in the London Financial Times) for pounds
sterling for the year ended December 31, 1998 which was (pound)1 =
$1.6574.
With the marketing services functions accounting for 53% of its activities, the
Company is well positioned for future growth. Geographically, revenues from the
fast-growing markets Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa, the Middle East and
Central and Eastern Europe now account for almost 20% of the Group's revenue,
reflecting the geographic growth opportunity.
The Company's principal activities within each of its business segments are
described below.
Advertising and media investment management
Advertising
The principal functions of an advertising agency are to plan and create
marketing and branding campaigns and the design and production of advertisements
for all types of media such as television, cable, the internet, radio,
magazines, newspapers and outdoor locations such as billboards.
Revenue is typically derived from commissions on media placements and fees for
advertising services. Compensation for advertising services may consist of
varied arrangements involving commissions, fees, incentive-based compensation or
a combination of the three, as agreed upon with each client.
The Company's advertising agencies include J. Walter Thompson Company, Ogilvy &
Mather Worldwide, Y&R Advertising and Red Cell. The Company also owns interests
in Dentsu, Young & Rubicam (ownership interests ranging from 27% to 67%);
Asatsu-DK, Inc. (20%) and Chime Communications plc (approximately 25%).
J. Walter Thompson Company (J. Walter Thompson). J. Walter Thompson, one of the
- ------------------------------------------------
world's first advertising agencies, was founded in 1864 and is a full service
multinational advertising agency. J. Walter Thompson is headquartered in New
York and operated from 311 offices in 90 countries in 2000. J. Walter Thompson's
relationships with a number of its major clients have been in existence for many
years, exhibiting an ability to continually adapt to meet the client's and
market's new demands. These clients include Unilever (97 years), Kellogg (68
years), Ford (56 years) and Warner Lambert (37 years). No single client
accounted for more than 18% of J. Walter Thompson's 2000 revenues. The agency
achieved net new billings in 2000 of $615 million, reflecting new blue-chip
clients including Sun Microsystems, KPMG, iPlanet, Spencer-Stuart, Foster's
Beer, Avon and Telecom Italia, as well as significant new assignments from
current global clients including Ford, Unilever, Nestle, Diageo/UDV, Qwest,
Philip Morris and Pfizer.
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide (Ogilvy & Mather). Ogilvy & Mather is a full service
- --------------------------------------------
multinational advertising agency, with a significant part of its revenues
derived from its direct marketing, public relations and public affairs, sales
promotion and related activities. Ogilvy & Mather was formed in 1948, is based
in New York and operated from 400 offices in 100 countries in 2000. Major
clients of Ogilvy & Mather include IBM, American Express, Unilever, Kraft,
Kodak, Ford, Nestle, BP, Telefonica and Terra Networks. No single client
accounted for more than 14% of Ogilvy & Mather's 2000 revenues. In 2000 Ogilvy
& Mather continued its commitment to 360 Degree Brand Stewardship for its
clients and the agency achieved net new billings of almost $1 billion.
Significant new client accounts awarded in 2000 include the assignment of
Motorola's global account. The results of OgilvyOne Worldwide, Ogilvy & Mather's
direct marketing division, are included within the Group's branding and
identity, healthcare and specialist communications sector. The results of
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide, Ogilvy & Mather's public relations division,
are included within the Group's public relations and public affairs sector.
Y&R Advertising (Y&R). Y&R, acquired by WPP as part of the Young & Rubicam
- ----------------------
acquistion in 2000, is a full service multinational advertising agency network
headquartered in New York with operations in the Americas, Europe and Africa.
Y&R was formed in 1923 and operated from 80 offices in 2000. Major clients of
Y&R include Ford, Citibank, AT&T, Colgate-Palmolive, Philip Morris and Sony. No
single client accounted for more than 10% of Y&R's 2000 revenues. The agency
also launched a new integrated unit, Brand Buzz that grew to be a $60 million
agency in its first year of operation.
Dentsu, Young & Rubicam (DY&R). DY&R is operated on a joint venture basis with
- ---------------------------------
Dentsu, the world's largest advertising agency. It is a full service advertising
network operating in the Asia/Pacific region with offices in 14 countries.
Red Cell (formerly Conquest). Red Cell, launched in January 2001, is a global
- -----------------------------
communications network offering full-service marketing solutions. It is
comprised of Conquest, a European-based, full service advertising agency network
headquartered in London, US agency Cole & Weber, UK marketing communications
group Perspectives and Asia Pacific alliance partner, Batey. Red Cell's focus
is to deliver global brand building communication solution and strategies to
"challenger brands" in need of rapid change. Red Cell's most significant client
is Alfa Romeo and new business in 2000 included OCBC Bank and TNT Air Express in
Asia, Freight Traders in the UK, Atkins Nutritionals and Nike ACG in the US,
Celanese in Germany and Grapes Telecom across Europe.
14
Media investment management
The Group's worldwide media investment management companies plan and buy
clients' brand messages in the most effective media using their buying power to
negotiate competitive rates for space and time using sophisticated consumer and
media research tools. They offer an integrated service covering conventional
media like television, print and posters as well as digital and interactive
media, sponsorship, event management and TV programming. They help clients to
optimise their media spending through advice on the strategic benefit of each
medium (e.g., TV, print, internet, radio, etc.), and passing economies of scale
in the purchasing of media time and space through to clients. The business is
conducted through WPP's subsidiaries MindShare Worldwide, The Media Edge, and
Portland Outdoor (65% ownership interest). The Group also has investments in
Tempus Group plc (approximately 22%) and TMP (Europe).
MindShare
- ---------
2000 was MindShare's third full year of operations as a stand-alone media
investment management company. Formed from the merger of the media departments
of J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy & Mather, MindShare, the largest global media
network, rolled out its MindShare North America business this year and continued
to grow its businesses in Asia Pacific, Europe and South America. Prior to the
first quarter of 2000, in the United States, J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy &
Mather purchased media separately for their clients through a J. Walter
Thompson-Ogilvy & Mather Alliance which enabled Company clients to obtain better
pricing through volume discounts.
MindShare offers media planning, buying and research services for its clients
which include existing J. Walter Thompson and Ogilvy & Mather clients and new
MindShare clients. In 2000, MindShare achieved annual billings of $20 billion.
No single client accounted for more than 8% of MindShare's 2000 revenues. Media
consolidation continues to drive much of MindShare's regional and global growth.
New global assignments from clients in 2000 included Boots, easyEverything,
KPMG and Lufthansa. Regional assignments included Unilever and Sears in the US,
Nike and Volvo in Europe, Terra in Mexico and Hang Seng Bank in Hong Kong. 2000
local client wins included Allianz in Germany, Bass in the UK, National
Lotteries in Sweden and Belgium, and Kraft in Italy, Greece and the Czech
Republic.
The Media Edge
- --------------
The Media Edge, acquired by WPP as part of the Young & Rubicam acquisition in
2000, provides integrated media planning, buying and placement services for both
Y&R Advertising and Wunderman. In addition, The Media Edge provides planning
and buying of both traditional and direct response media, and offers a range of
media-related services to clients other than those of Y&R Advertising and
Wunderman, as well as to smaller independent advertising and communications
agencies.
WPP also owns a minority interest in another of the leading European-based
media, planning and buying companies, Tempus Group plc.
Public relations and public affairs
Public relations and public affairs companies advise clients who are seeking to
communicate with consumers, governments and/or the business and financial
communities. Public relations and public affairs activities include national
and international corporate, financial and marketing communications, crisis
management, public affairs and government lobbying. The Company's main
subsidiaries in this area are Hill and Knowlton, Inc., Burson-Marsteller and
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide.
Hill and Knowlton (H&K). H&K, founded in 1927, is a worldwide public relations
- ------------------------
and public affairs firm headquartered in New York. H&K provides national and
multinational clients with a wide range of communications services, including
corporate and financial public relations, marketing communications, crisis
communications, and public affairs counselling. H&K has 67 offices in 33
countries.
Burson-Marsteller (BM). BM, founded in 1953 and acquired by WPP as part of the
- -----------------------
Young & Rubicam acquisition in 2000, specialises in corporate and marketing
communications, business-to-business, crisis management, employee relations and
government relations. BM operates in 46 cities in over 36 countries.
15
Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide (OPR). OPR is a leading public relations and
- ----------------------------------------
public affairs firm based in New York which specialises in corporate public
relations, financial communications, health and medical communications,
technology communications, public affairs, strategic marketing and special
situations. The firm has offices in key financial, governmental and media
centers as well as relationships with affiliates worldwide.
Cohn & Wolfe (C&W). C&W was established in 1970 and specialises in technology,
- -------------------
financial services, corporate and consumer marketing, crisis management and
sponsorship. C&W provides business results and marketing communications
solutions through 14 offices worldwide.
Information and consultancy
Information and consultancy activities include consumer, media, corporate
communication and policy research, advertising research, pre-testing and
tracking and evaluation of advertising and promotions, design and management of
international market studies and new product development and testing.
To help optimise its worldwide research offering to clients, the Company's
separate global research businesses, which are described below, have been
managed on a centralised basis under the umbrella of the Kantar Group. The
principal companies comprising the Kantar Group are:
Research International is the world's largest custom research company,
specialising in a wide range of business sectors and areas of marketplace
information including strategic market studies, brand positioning and equity
research, customer satisfaction surveys, product development, international
research and advanced modelling.
Millward Brown is one of the world's leading companies in advertising research,
including pre-testing, tracking and sales modelling, offering a full range of
services to help clients market their brands more effectively.
Kantar Media Research (KMR) focuses on media planning databases and new product
development projects. KMR owns a minority interest (31%) in one of Latin
America's leading media research businesses, IBOPE Media Information, which
services national and multinational clients throughout the region in measurement
and analysis of television ratings and advertising expenditures. KMR also has a
minority interest (30%) in AGB Italia, a leading provider of television audience
measurement systems worldwide.
IMRB International is the largest market research business in India.
Goldfarb Consultants is a leading international market research and consulting
business based in Canada and the US.
Branding and identity
The Company delivers a large range of branding and identity services through its
new Brand Union, a co-operative group of certain of WPP's specialist consulting
brands, as well as a number of other operating subsidiaries, including Landor
Associates and The Partners. These companies provide complementary services,
including space planning, retail and work interiors, point of sale displays,
marketing literature, annual reports and corporate literature, packaging and
brand and corporate identity.
The Brand Union. The goal of the Brand Union, formed in 2001, is to build a
- ------------------
group of leading consulting brands capable of meeting all the brand, identity
and design needs of the world's most demanding brand owners. It comprises
Enterprise IG and Enterprise XP, which brings together in a single network
Banner McBride, Clever Media, Eurosem and The Clinic. Also within The Brand
Union are Addison Corporate Marketing, BDG McColl, BPRI, Coley Porter Bell,
Dovetail, The Henley Centre, Lambie-Nairn, Oakley Young, WalkerGroup/CNI and
newly acquired Warwicks.
Landor Associates (Landor). Landor is a leading branding consultancy and
- ---------------------------
strategic design firm. Landor creates, builds and revitalizes clients' brands
and helps position these brands for continued success. Landor's branding and
identity consultants, designers and researchers work with clients on a full
range of branding and identity projects, including corporate identity, packaging
and brand identity systems, retail design and branded environments, interactive
branding and design, verbal branding and nomenclature systems,
16
corporate literature, brand extensions and new brand development. Landor was
founded in 1941 and was acquired by WPP as part of the Young & Rubicam
acquisition in 2000. Landor is headquartered in San Francisco and operates in
the Americas, Asia/Pacific and Australia, Europe and the Middle East, including
multidisciplinary consulting and design studios in New York, Seattle, Mexico
City, Hamburg, London, Paris, Hong Kong and Tokyo.
Direct, promotion and relationship marketing
The Company has a number of operating businesses in this category.
- - OgilvyOne Worldwide, including its interactive unit, Ogilvy Interactive, is a
worldwide direct marketing group, providing direct mail, database marketing
and direct response advertising techniques.
- - Wunderman (formerly known as impiric and, prior to that, Wunderman Cato
Johnson) is an integrated marketing solutions company acquired by WPP as part
of the Young & Rubicam acquisition in 2000. Wunderman delivers customer
relationship management services to clients through more than 80 offices in
over 40 countries. With 4,000 employees worldwide, Wunderman combines
strategic consulting data-driven and creative marketing services, the
Internet, and the latest information technologies to propel and measure
business results for its clients.
- - KnowledgeBase Marketing (KBM), acquired by WPP as part of the Young & Rubicam
acquisition in 2000, is a single source provider of integrated information-
based marketing solutions to businesses in targeted high-growth industries.
KBM delivers its integrated business solutions services by creating
consolidated databases, and then designing, implementing and evaluating
database marketing programs for clients. KBM's capabilities include data
warehousing, data mining, information services and data analysis.
- - A. Eicoff & Co. specialises in targeted cable and broadcast television
advertising.
- - EWA specialises in customer service and loyalty support programs, with units
specialising in government, education, the automobile industry, retail and
agriculture.
- - Savatar specializes in marketing and technology, and acts as a single source
for business technology, interactive strategy, and database and call center
marketing.
Healthcare
The Company has extensive expertise in healthcare marketing and communications
services. Since 1992 several WPP companies have formed a strategic alliance
known as The CommonHealth to offer the largest and most comprehensive specialist
healthcare communications network in the world. CommonHealth clients can call
on any or all of the co-ordinated services of Group companies. Group companies
and/or divisions operating in the healthcare sector include - Ferguson
Communications Group, the largest US advertising agency specialising in
healthcare communications; Health Learning Systems, specialising in providing
healthcare professionals with the latest medical information through educational
programs, video and printed materials; Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide; Hill &
Knowlton; Ogilvy Public Relations Worldwide; Research International; and Zoe
Medical, a leading French healthcare agency. Sudler & Hennessey (S&H),
acquired by WPP as part of the Young & Rubicam acquisition in 2000, is a leading
healthcare communications firm that develops strategic promotional and
educational programs for a wide spectrum of healthcare brands. S&H creates
advertising, direct marketing and sales promotion programs for prescription
drugs and over-the-counter medications. In addition, S&H provides strategic
consultancy and communications support in the areas of managed care, medical
devices and equipment, nutrition, veterinary medicine and general healthcare.
Communications programs produced by S&H on behalf of its largely pharmaceutical
industry client base are directed to a wide range of healthcare professionals as
well as patients and their support networks.
Specialist communications
Strategic marketing consulting
The Company's strategic marketing services assist clients in identifying and
anticipating changes in the business and marketing environment, as well as
devising appropriate marketing strategies. The resources of the strategic
marketing services businesses are also utilised by the Company's other operating
subsidiaries. The Company's main subsidiary engaged in providing strategic
marketing services, the Henley Centre, acts as a consultant and advisor to
businesses and governmental agencies in the international field of planning and
market and product development, using analytical methods and econometric
techniques to aid strategic decision-making.
Sector Marketing
17
- - Banner Corporation is a European marketing communications firm specialising
in the technology sector.
- - Mendoza Dillon & Asociados specializes in advertising for the Hispanic
community and provides clients with integrated marketing services in this
fast-growing specialist market.
- - Pace is one of the largest specialists in the real estate communications
market in the United States, offering comprehensive services in the marketing
of both commercial and residential property to developers, builders and real
estate agents.
- - Ogilvy Primary Contact is a leading UK based provider of business-to-
business, financial and corporate advertising.
- - The Geppetto Group assists clients in communicating their products and
services to the youth market (children and teens) and implementing creative
branding solutions.
- - The Bravo Group and Kang & Lee, acquired by WPP as part of the Young &
Rubicam acquisition in 2000, create multi-cultural marketing and
communications programs targeted to the fast-growing US Hispanic and Asian
communities, respectively. Their multi-disciplinary services include
advertising, promotion and event marketing, public relations, research and
direct marketing.
Media and technology services
- - Metro Group provides a diverse range of technical and creative services,
including multimedia, film, video and asset archiving, equipment sales and
post production systems to clients in the UK.
WPP.com/ Investments in New Media Companies
In 1999, a new media parent company, wpp.com was formed to co-ordinate WPP's
new media activities across the group's operating brands, to add value in the
areas of new media and technology for clients and to accelerate the development
of WPP's interactive capabilities and revenues. To date, wpp.com has
concentrated on strengthening its existing operations, acquiring new activities
in areas which we think are critically important, investing in start-up
companies with whom WPP wishes to partner, and spreading knowledge of technology
developments throughout the Group.
WPP.com's interactive equity investments have been made directly and indirectly
through venture funds. The aim of these indirect investments has been to keep
abreast of developments and identify potential client relationships, thus
enhancing the Company's core capabilities. Historically, the prime venture
funds through which WPP.com has made indirect investments have been Allegis
Capital LLC, previously known as Media Technology Ventures, and Wit Capital's
Dawntreader II fund.
The merger with Young & Rubicam has brought with it strong interactive
capabilities, notably at The Digital Edge, Burson-Marsteller, Landor and
Wunderman. WPP has made only two direct investments in the past few months as
the Company is concentrating on consolidating the investments which Young &
Rubicam had made and on building closer relationships between the operating
companies and the existing minority investments.
Manufacturing
The original business of the Company remains as the manufacturing division which
operates through subsidiaries of Wire and Plastic Products Limited. The
division produces a wide range of products for commercial, industrial and retail
applications. The Company's revenues from manufacturing activities in 2000 were
less than 1% of the Company total.
WPP Group plc
WPP, the parent company, develops the professional and financial strategy of the
Group, promotes operating efficiencies, coordinates cross referrals of clients
among the Group companies and monitors the financial performance of its
operating subsidiaries. WPP's activities as parent company are increasingly
focusing on non-financial areas such as human resources, property, procurement,
information technology and practice development. Management believes that there
is a significant opportunity to add value to the Group's clients and its people
by developing relationships between Group companies and encouraging cross
referrals of clients among the Group companies and that the parent company is
best placed to coordinate this work. WPP also continues to perform the
traditional roles of central treasury, finance and cash management, tax
reporting, financial control, mergers and acquisitions and investor relations.
18
WPP Strategy
The Group's strategic objective is to be the world's leading provider of
communications services to global, multinational and national companies.
Management believes that the way to achieve this objective is to maintain
financial discipline while developing new ways to add value to the services
provided to the Company's clients.
The Group has established the following financial and strategic objectives:
- To continue to raise operating margins to the level of the best
performing competition, from 14% in 2000 to 15% in 2001 and to 15.5%
by 2002. In addition, the Group's longer term objective, beyond 2002,
is to raise operating margins to 20%.
- To increase the flexibility of the cost structure to cope with
recessions as they develop. The Group's investment in people and
property accounts for approximately 60% of revenues. Variable staff
costs, including incentive compensation, freelancers and consultants,
account for 6.6% of revenues and the Group aims for 7-8%.
- The Group has achieved its objective of de-leveraging the Company and
interest cover of over 7 times. Now the Group will continue to focus
on how to improve shareowner value by maximising the return on
alternative investments in capital expenditures, acquisitions and
investments, dividends or share buy-backs.
- To advance further the role of the parent company from that of a
financial holding or investment company to a parent company that adds
value to its clients and employees. The key added value areas that the
Company has identified are human resources, property management,
procurement, information technology and practice development.
- To place greater emphasis on revenue growth by better positioning the
Group's revenue portfolio in faster-growing functional areas and
geographic markets.
- To improve still further the quality of our creative output by
stepping up training and development programs; by recruiting the
finest talent; by celebrating and rewarding outstanding creative
success; by acquiring strong creative companies; and by encouraging,
monitoring and promoting achievements in winning creative awards.
Clients
The Company's structure of independent, autonomous companies and associates
allows it to provide a comprehensive and, when appropriate, integrated range of
communications services to national, multinational and global clients and to
serve their increasingly complex and diverse geographic needs. At year-end, the
Company served over 330 clients in three or more service disciplines and the
Company works with more than 60 of these clients in four disciplines. All
together, the Company now serves over 300 of the Global Fortune 500 clients,
over one-half of the Nasdaq 100, and over 30 of the Fortune e-50, and works with
well over 100 clients in six or more countries. The Company's ten largest
clients in 2000 were American Express, Ford, IBM, Johnson & Johnson, Kimberly-
Clark, Nestle, Pfizer, Philip Morris, Sears and Unilever. Together, such
clients accounted for approximately 28% of the Company's revenues in 2000. No
client of the Company represents more than 8% of the Company's aggregate
revenues. The Company has maintained long-standing relationships with many of
its clients, with the average length of relationship for the top 10 clients
exceeding 50 years.
There is continued evidence that clients are moving towards the consolidation of
their marketing activities. IBM, American Express, De Beers, Eastman Kodak,
Ford, Kimberly-Clark, Kraft Foods, Mattel, Diageo, Colgate-Palmolive, Motorola,
CitiGroup, Glaxo SmithKline and Boots have also consolidated their activities
with Group companies. Some examples of other major advertisers who have chosen
to consolidate their business with one or just a few large multinational
agencies not part of the Group include Bayer, and Reckitt Benchiser, SC Johnson,
Coca-Cola and Verizon. WPP is among a select number of advertising and marketing
services companies that offers worldwide capabilities to these types of large
multinational clients.
19
While the operating companies owned by the Company operate separately and
independently of each other, and service different clients and/or business
segments, they nevertheless have the opportunity to share certain corporate
resources. The potential for cross-referral of clients among the Company's
subsidiaries is significant, and increasing, as contacts and introductions
between the various subsidiaries of the Company often produce new ideas for
services and new client opportunities, nationally, internationally and by
service functions. This was evidenced during 2000, when over 25% of new
assignments are estimated to have come from the joint development of
opportunities by two or more Group companies. To enhance this process, the
Company has implemented incentive plans whereby a portion of the incentive
compensation for senior executives in the Group is based upon their cooperation
with, and cross referrals to, other Group companies. See "Business Overview --
Compensation".
Acquisitions
On October 4, 2000, the Company finalised its acquisition of Young & Rubicam.
The value of the consideration which was satisfied entirely by the issue of new
WPP ordinary shares or WPP American Depositary Shares, calculated by reference
to the opening WPP share price on October 4, 2000, (Pounds)7.99, was
(Pounds)3.0 billion. Further details regarding the acquisition of Young &
Rubicam are given in Note 25 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements. Total cash spent on acquisitions and investment in 2000 was
(Pounds)247 million. In addition to completing the Young & Rubicam acquisition,
the Company or its operating companies acquired or made an investment in a
number of companies in 2000, including:
Branding and identity,
healthcare and specialist
Advertising and media investment management Region communications Region
- --------------------------------------------- ----------- ----------------------------- ---------
Asiatic Pakistan Pakistan Absolut Portugal
Indo Ad Indonesia Coolfire.interactive USA
KSM Netherlands Dialogue UK
Marti, Flores, Prieto & Watchel Puerto Rico Enterprise IG Copenhagen Denmark
Go Direct Marketing Canada
MediaNet Taiwan Horniak & Canny Australia
SCPF Spain Imaginet USA
Spafax UK Imagio Technology Advertising USA
Tamir Cohen Israel Interact Ireland
TMI Middle East Interfaz401 Mexico
The Lacek Group USA
Premiere Group UK
RADA UK
Springham Anderson Singapore
Tonic 360 USA
Uniworld USA
Warwicks UK
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Information and consultancy Region
- --------------------------- ------
Ergo Advanced Research Spain
Research Partners Australia
Sifo Research & Consulting Sweden
Public relations and public affairs Region
- ----------------------------------- ------
Capitol PR Turkey
Rockey Group USA
Socket PR USA
20
The Company has continued to make acquisitions and investments in companies in
the first part of 2001, including SicolaMartin in the US and AD Venture
Worldwide in Korea in advertising and media investment management; Ziment
Associates in the US in information and consultancy; Finsbury and Communique PR
in the UK and The ProMarc Agency, Deen+Black and Springbok Technologies in the
US in public relations and public affairs; Glendinning Management Consultants
and Black Cat Holdings in the UK, Icon Brand Navigation Group AG in Germany, CB
Associes S.A. in France and Maxx Marketing in Hong Kong in branding and,
identity, healthcare and specialist communications.
Compensation
In order to attract and retain high quality talent in all areas of its
operations, WPP has established certain incentive plans to provide a more
flexible cost structure for the Company and to permit a stronger link between
longer term sustained performance and the level of staff remuneration. Base
salaries are established within 15% of the median base salary for similar
positions in directly comparable businesses depending on individual and business
unit performance, experience and responsibility. WPP believes that the Company
provides competitive total compensation packages to its executives, placing
great emphasis on the flexible portion of compensation.
Key employees of each of the principal operating companies within the Group
participate in annual incentive compensation plans under which a significant
portion of their total compensation is directly related to the financial
performance of their own company, division, client or functional responsibility.
Individual bonuses are determined on the basis of achievements against
individual performance objectives encompassing key strategic and financial
performance criteria, including the level of co-operation between operating
companies. In addition, a number of the most senior executives in the Company
participate in long-term incentive plans under which awards are payable in a
combination of cash and an interest in WPP ordinary shares, depending on the
achievement of three-year financial performance targets, including conversion of
revenue to profit targets, operating margin targets and staff costs to revenue
ratio targets. Certain executives in the Group are also members of the WPP
Group "Leaders", "Partners" or "High Potential Group" and receive grants of fair
market value WPP share options exercisable three years from the grant date
assuming that specific performance conditions are met including certain
financial performance targets and targets for cooperation across WPP's operating
companies.
In connection with WPP's emphasis on promoting cooperation and cross referrals
among the Group companies, in 1997 WPP implemented a worldwide share ownership
program for all Company employees with over two years' of service in 100% owned
companies, and a partnership program rewarding outstanding examples of
collaboration across various operating companies within the Group, with the
objective of adding value to the Company's clients' businesses. Both these
initiatives have continued in 2000. Since its adoption, grants have been made
annually under the worldwide share ownership program and as at May 4, 2001
options under this plan had been granted to more than 18,000 employees for in
excess of 9.1 million ordinary shares of the Company. In 2001 the program has
been extended to all eligible Young & Rubicam employees.
Including outstanding options, interests in WPP restricted stock, stock already
owned and holdings of the Employee Stock Ownership Plan, people working in the
Group currently own, or have interests in, in excess of 71 million ordinary WPP
shares representing over 6% of the Company, or approximately $750 million.
The Leadership Equity Acquisition Plan (LEAP) was approved by shareowners on
September 2, 1999. Twenty-two executives of the Group have been invited to
participate in the plan. These participants will acquire or have acquired 3.5
million WPP ordinary shares, currently worth over $40 million, and have made a
commitment to retain them until September 2004. Under the terms of LEAP, the
participants may earn matching shares over a five-year performance period, based
on the Group's relative total share owner return as compared with 14 other major
listed companies in our industry.
Although still applicable to other key management employees, there is no current
intention to make further option grants to executive directors, including the
Group chief executive. See Item 6-Directors, Senior Management and Employees.
21
Training
Many of the companies within the Group offer formal training programs for new
employees. In particular, J. Walter Thompson, Ogilvy & Mather, Research
International, Millward Brown and Hill & Knowlton have been actively engaged for
many years in the training and development of their personnel. The companies
conduct various educational programs, such as seminars and workshops, in the
United States and abroad, and have various other formal programs for
interchanging ideas, materials and experiences among their offices. The parent
company has initiated a number of multi-company seminars and workshops aimed at
senior employees. These have covered areas such as integrated marketing,
organisational development, management and leadership skills, retailing and
creativity.
Description of property
The majority of the Company's properties are leased, although certain properties
which are used mainly for office space are owned in the US (including the
370,000 net square foot Young & Rubicam headquarters office building located at
285 Madison Avenue in New York, NY), Argentina, Austria, Brazil, Mexico,
Netherlands, Peru and Thailand, and certain office buildings and a manufacturing
plant is owned in the UK. Principal leased properties include office space at
the following locations:
Location Use Approximate square footage
- -------- --- --------------------------
Worldwide Plaza, New York, NY Ogilvy & Mather, MindShare 675,700
466 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY J. Walter Thompson 456,100
230 Park Ave South, New York, NY BM, Bravo, Landor, S&H 323,400
900 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL J. Walter Thompson, OPR 205,600
233 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, IL Y&R Advertising, Wunderman, BM,
Cohn & Wolfe 122,100
500 Woodward Avenue, Detroit, MI J. Walter Thompson, MindShare 160,200
825 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY The Media Edge 109,800
10 Cabot Square, Canary Wharf, London, UK Ogilvy & Mather 104,200
675 Avenue of the Americas Wunderman 92,500
Greater London House, London, UK Y&R Advertising, Wunderman 89,700
The Company actively manages its rental costs to revenue ratio and believes that
it is still capable of achieving significant improvements in this area.
The Company considers its properties owned or leased to be in good condition and
generally suitable and adequate for the purposes for which they are used. See
also Item 5 -Operating and Financial Review and Prospects. As of December 31,
2000, the fixed asset value (cost less depreciation) representing properties,
both owned and leased, as reflected in the Company's consolidated financial
statements was approximately (Pounds)185.0 million (US$276.3 million).
See Note 2 of Notes to the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements for a
schedule by years of future minimum rental payments to be made and future
sublease rental payments to be received, as of December 31, 2000, under non-
cancellable operating leases of the Company.
22
Outstanding legal proceedings
The Company has claims against others and there are claims against the Company
in a variety of matters arising from the conduct of its business. In the
opinion of the management of the Company, the ultimate liability, if any, that
is likely to result from these matters would not have a material effect on the
Company's financial position, or on the results of operations.
Significant claims settled during 2000
None.
ITEM 5. OPERATING AND FINANCIAL REVIEW AND PROSPECTS
Forward-Looking Statements
In connection with the provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform
Act of 1995 (the "Reform Act"), the Company may include forward-looking
statements (as defined in the Reform Act) in oral or written public statements
issued by or on behalf of the Company. These forward-looking statements may
include, among other things, plans, objectives, projections, anticipated future
economic performance as assumptions and the like that are subject to risks and
uncertainties. As such, actual results or outcomes may differ materially from
those discussed in the forward-looking statements. Important factors which may
cause actual results to differ include but are not limited to: the
unanticipated loss of a material client or key personnel, delays or reductions
in client advertising budgets, shifts in industry rates of compensation,
government compliance costs or litigation, unanticipated natural disasters, the
Company's exposure to changes in the values of other major currencies (because a
substantial portion of its revenues are derived and costs incurred outside of
the United Kingdom) and the overall level of economic activity in the Company's
major markets (which varies depending on, among other things, regional, national
and international political and economic conditions and government regulations
in the world's advertising markets). In light of these and other uncertainties,
the forward-looking statements included in the document should not be regarded
as a representation by the Company that the Company's plans and objectives will
be achieved.
Impact of Exchange Rates
The Company's reporting currency has always been UK Sterling. However, the
Group's significant overseas operations give rise to an exposure to changes in
foreign exchange rates. The Group seeks to mitigate the effect of these
structural currency exposures by borrowing in the same currencies as the
operating (or `functional') currencies of its main operating units. The
majority of the group's debt is therefore denominated in US dollars, as this is
the predominant currency of revenues.
To neutralise foreign exchange impact and to better illustrate the underlying
improvement in revenue and profit from one year to the next, the Company has
adopted the practice of publishing results in both reportable currency (local
currency results translated into UK Sterling at the prevailing foreign exchange
rate) and constant currency (current and prior year local currency results
translated into UK Sterling at a budget or "constant" foreign exchange rate).
Significant cross-border trading exposures are hedged by the use of forward
foreign exchange contracts. There were no such material contracts in place at
December 31, 2000. No speculative foreign exchange trading is undertaken.
Overview
The following discussion is based on the Company's audited Consolidated
Financial Statements included elsewhere in the document. The Consolidated
Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with UK GAAP. See pages
F-22 to F-23 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements which contain a
discussion of the principal differences between UK and US GAAP relevant to the
Company.
23
Outlook
The Company's budgets for 2001 have been prepared on a conservative basis
largely excluding new business particularly in advertising and media investment
management. They predict like-for-like, year-on-year revenue increases of over
7% in comparison to 2000 pro forma numbers, with advertising and media
investment management revenue growth of 3% and marketing services growth of over
10%.
Revenues for the first three months of 2001 were up 64% over last year in
constant currency (73% on a reportable currency basis). Combined WPP and Young
& Rubicam constant currency revenues were up over 9% and on a like-for-like
basis, excluding acquisitions and currency fluctuations, revenues rose 6%. In
the first three months of 2001, net debt averaged (Pounds)470 million (including
Y&R's convertible debt of (Pounds)195 million) compared to (Pounds)239 million
for the same period in constant currency. This includes the (Pounds)653 million
spent on capital expenditure, acquisitions, share purchases and dividends in the
previous twelve months. Free cash flow over the same period was (Pounds)417
million.
The Group continues to focus on its key objectives of improving operating
profits and margins, increasing cost flexibility (particularly in the areas of
staff and property costs), using free cash flow to enhance share owner value,
continuing to develop the role of the parent company in adding value to its
clients and employees, developing its portfolio in high revenue growth
geographic and functional areas and improving its creative quality and
capabilities. The Company does not believe that there is any functional,
geographic, account concentration or structural reason that should prevent the
Group from achieving operating margins of 15.5% by 2002. The two best-
performing listed competitors in the industry generate margins of 16-18%.
Fiscal 2000 Compared with Fiscal 1999
Revenues and Operating Income - Revenues increased by 37.2% on a reportable
currency basis in 2000 to (Pounds)2,980.7 million from (Pounds)2,172.6 million
in 1999. However, on a constant currency basis the revenue increase was almost
33% with strong growth in all disciplines (advertising and media investment
management 33.8%, information and consultancy 19.8%, public relations and public
affairs 75.6% and branding and identity, healthcare and specialist
communications 27.6%) and regions (North America 29.8%, Continental Europe
47.2%, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East 38.2% and the
United Kingdom 22.5%). Non-advertising activities represented 53% of revenues
in both years. On a like-for-like basis (including Y&R for the final quarter of
2000), revenues rose by almost 15%.
Reported operating income (including associate income) rose by 43.1% to
(Pounds)416.0 million in 2000 from (Pounds)290.8 million in 1999. Reported
currency operating margins increased from 13.4% to 14.0%. Reported operating
costs including direct costs rose by over 36% and by 32% in constant currency.
On a like-for-like basis, total operating and direct costs were up over 14% on
the previous year. Operating margins before short and long-term incentive
payments (totalling (Pounds)118 million, or over 22% of operating profit before
bonus and taxes) rose to 17.9% from 16.7%. The staff cost to gross margin ratio
excluding incentives fell to 54.8% from 55.0%. Variable staff costs as a
proportion of total staff costs increased to 12.1% in 2000 from 11.5% in 1999
and, as a proportion of revenues, increased to 6.6% from 5.8%, increasing
flexibility in the cost structure.
Interest expense - In reported currency, net interest expense increased from
(Pounds)35.4 million to (Pounds)50.3 million, reflecting increased profitability
more than offset by rising US dollar interest rates, debt acquired, the
increased level of acquisition activity and share repurchases. Interest cover,
however, has improved to 8.3x in comparison to 8.2x in the previous year.
The Company continues to be substantially protected against a significant rise
in US interest rates by interest rate swaps at fixed rates of 6.25% or below
(excluding margin), with maturities extending to January 2003, and with US
dollar debt at fixed rates.
Taxes - The Company's tax rate on profits for the year ended December 31, 2000
was 30.0%, the same as in the previous year. Since 1992, the Group has reduced
its tax rate on profits before non-operating exceptional items by over one-third
from 47% in that year.
Net income - Net income available to ordinary shareowners was (Pounds)244.7
million in the year ended December 31, 2000 against (Pounds)172.8 million in
1999.
24
Fiscal 1999 Compared with Fiscal 1998
Revenues and Operating Income - Revenues increased by 13.3% on a reportable
currency basis in 1999 to (Pounds)2,172.6 million from (Pounds)1,918.4 million
in 1998. On a constant currency basis the revenue increase was 12% with strong
growth in all disciplines (advertising and media investment management 5.2%,
information and consulting 13.9%, public relations and public affairs 30.5%,
branding and identity, healthcare and specialist communications 19.2%) and
regions (North America 16.8%, United Kingdom 10.5%, Continental Europe 11.0% and
Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East 4.0%). The Company's
non-advertising activities grew to represent over 53% of Group revenues.
Reported operating income (including associate income) rose by 18.6% to
(Pounds)290.8 million in 1999 from (Pounds)245.2 million in 1998. Reported
currency operating margins increased from 12.8% to 13.4%. Reported operating
costs rose by 13.4% and by almost 12% in constant currency. Operating margins
before short and long-term incentive payments (totalling (Pounds)71 million or
almost 20% of operating profit before bonus and taxes) rose to 16.7% from 15.8%.
Staff and property costs represent approximately 60% of the Company's cost base.
The Company places great emphasis on the control of these costs. The incentive
arrangements for the Company's most senior staff include specific financial
objectives for the improvement in absolute operating profit, operating margins,
as well as improvements in the staff cost to revenue ratios of each operating
division. Variable staff costs as a proportion of total staff costs have
increased over recent years to 11.5% and as a proportion of revenues to 5.8%.
This has resulted in increased flexibility in the cost structure. Continued
efforts to minimise property costs include consolidation of operations into
shared space upon lease renewal.
Interest expense - In reported currency, net interest expense increased to
(Pounds)23.4 million from (Pounds)19.2 million in 1998 reflecting the increased
level of acquisition activity and share repurchases. Charges in respect of
working capital facilities decreased to (Pounds)12.0 million from (Pounds)13.2
million. Interest cover improved to 8.2 times in comparison to 7.6 times in the
prior year.
Taxes - The Company's tax rate on a reported currency basis was 30.0% on
profits, compared with 31.5% in 1998. This reflects the impact of tax
restructuring within the company.
Net income - Net income available to ordinary shareowners was (Pounds)172.8
million in the year ended December 31, 1999 against (Pounds)140.3 million in
1998.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
General. The primary source of funds for the Group since 1995 has been cash
generated from operations. The primary uses of cash funds since 1995 have been
to service and repay bank debt, for capital expenditures and, since 1997, to
fund acquisitions and ordinary share repurchases. The Company evaluates its free
cash flow requirements and other needs when deciding the amount to allocate to
ordinary share repurchases. In 2000 the Company invested (Pounds)94.1 million in
share repurchases. The Company continues to commit (Pounds)150-(Pounds)200
million for share buy-backs in the open market, when market conditions are
appropriate. Such annual rolling share repurchases would represent approximately
1 - 2% of the Company's share capital. For a breakdown of the Company's sources
and uses of cash see the "Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows" included as
part of the Company's Consolidated Financial Statements in Item 18 of this
Report.
Liquidity risk management. The Group manages liquidity risk by ensuring
continuity and flexibility of funding even in difficult market conditions.
Undrawn committed borrowing facilities are maintained in excess of average gross
borrowing levels and debt maturities are closely monitored.
Liquidity. Since 1995 the majority of the unsecured debt of the Group has been
funded under various syndicated loan facilities. In conjunction with the
improved profitability and credit standing of the Group, each new loan facility
has brought reduced pricing and less restrictive covenants.
USA bond. The Company has in issue US$ 200 million of 6.625% Notes due 2005 and
US$ 100 million of 6.875% Notes due 2008.
25
Revolving credit facilities. The Company's debt is also funded by a $500 million
syndicated Revolving Credit Facility dated July 1998, as amended, and a $700
million facility dated August 2000. The $500 million facility is due to expire
in July 2002 and the $700 million facility is due to expire in August 2001
although the Group has the ability to extend drawings under this facility until
August 2003. The Company's syndicated borrowings drawn down under these
arrangements averaged $422 million during the year at an average rate of 6.2%
inclusive of margin. Borrowings under the revolving credit facilities are
governed by certain financial covenants based on the results and financial
position of the Company. The Company also has a securitized working capital
facility, currently in the amount of $350 million, which was entered into in
1993 and which has been amended several times, and most recently renewed in
December 1998.
Interest on the majority of the Company's borrowings, other than the USA bond,
is payable at a margin of between 0.20% and 0.55% over the relevant LIBOR and,
for $350 million of borrowings as of December 31, 2000, is hedged to January
2003 at US dollar LIBOR rates of 6.25% or less (excluding margin costs).
Convertible debt. In October 2000, with the purchase of Young & Rubicam Inc.,
the Group acquired $287.5 million of 3% Convertible Notes due January 15, 2005.
At the option of the holder, the notes are convertible into shares of WPP's
common stock at a conversion price of $87.856 per ADR. The notes may be
redeemed at WPP's option on or after January 20, 2003. Interest on the notes is
payable on January 15 and July 15 of each year, beginning on July 15, 2000. The
notes are unsecured obligations of Y&R and are guaranteed by WPP.
Eurobonds. In June 2001, the Company issued EURO 1 billion of bonds, consisting
of EURO 650 million at 6% due June 2008 and EURO 350 million at 5.125% due June
2004. Proceeds will be used to repay existing bank borrowings taken on at the
time of the Young & Rubicam acquisition and for general corporate purposes.
We believe that cash provided by operations and funds available under our credit
facilities will be sufficient to meet the Group's anticipated cash requirements
as presently contemplated.
See Note 8 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements, which contains an
analysis of net funds with debt analysed by year of repayment.
Cash Flows
2000. As at December 31, 2001, the Group had net debt of (Pounds)25 million
- ----
compared with net cash of (Pounds)92 million at December 31,1999, following cash
expenditure of (Pounds)247 million on acquisitions, (Pounds)94 million on share
repurchases and long-term debt acquired of (Pounds)195 million from Young &
Rubicam.
Net debt averaged (Pounds)423 million in 2000, up (Pounds)217 million against
(Pounds)206 million in 1999. The average debt figures for 2000 include the
impact of the Young & Rubicam Inc. long-term convertible bond of (Pounds)195
million for the final quarter.
Cash flow continued to improve as a result of improved profitability and
management of working capital. In 2000, operating profit was (Pounds)378
million, capital expenditure (Pounds)112 million, depreciation and amortisation
of (Pounds)79 million, tax paid (Pounds)81 million, interest and similar
charges paid (Pounds)57 million and other net cash inflows of (Pounds)84
million. Free cash flow available for debt repayment, acquisitions, share
buybacks and dividends was therefore (Pounds)291 million. This free cash flow
was more than absorbed by acquisition payments and investments of (Pounds)247
million, share repurchases and cancellations of (Pounds)94 million and dividends
of (Pounds)26 million.
1999. As at December 31, 1999, the Group was cash positive with net cash of
- ----
(Pounds)92 million compared with (Pounds)134 million at December 31, 1998,
despite cash expenditure of (Pounds)262 million on acquisitions and (Pounds)18
million on share repurchases. This was primarily due to improved profitability
and management of working capital.
Net debt averaged (Pounds)206 million in the year ended December 31, 1999, an
increase of (Pounds)63 million from (Pounds)143 million in 1998 (up (Pounds)51
million against (Pounds)155 million in 1998 at 1999 exchange rates). In 1999,
operating profit was (Pounds)264 million, capital expenditure (Pounds)65
million, depreciation (Pounds)42 million, tax paid (Pounds)58 million, interest
and similar charges paid (Pounds)33 million and other net cash inflows of
(Pounds)21 million. Free cash flow available for debt repayment, acquisitions,
share buy-backs and dividends was therefore (Pounds)171 million. This
26
free cash flow was more than absorbed by acquisition payments and investments of
(Pounds)262 million (offset by (Pounds)52 million of cash acquired) shares
repurchases and cancellations of (Pounds)18 million and dividends of (Pounds)21
million.
Capital Structure
At December 31, 2000, the Company's capital base was comprised of 1,111,853,705
ordinary shares of 10 pence each.
Asset Disposals
There were no significant asset disposals during 1998, 1999 or 2000.
Excess Space
The task of eliminating surplus property costs has been achieved over the last
eight years. Excess space generally represents discrete unutilised areas of the
Company's properties which are available for sublet. Over 650,000 square feet
of excess space with a cash cost of approximately (Pounds)14 million ($22
million) per annum has been either sublet or absorbed since 1992. The excess
space arose from a reduction in headcount together with property decisions made
by certain companies prior to their acquisition by the Company. WPP's rental
costs to revenue ratio are competitive with the best performing competition,
although capable of improvement.
Inflation
As in 1999 and 1998, in management's opinion the effect of inflation has not had
a material impact on the Company's results for the year or financial position as
at December 31, 2000.
Interest rate risk management
The Group's interest rate management policy recognises that fixing rates on all
its debt eliminates the possibility of benefiting from rate reductions and
similarly, having all its debt at floating rates unduly exposes the Group to
increases in rates. The Group therefore aims to limit the impact from increases
in rates while seeking to ensure that it benefits from rate reductions by
regularly reviewing its exposure profile and deciding upon the periods for
fixing rates in the light of financial market expectations. Its principal
borrowing currencies are US dollars and pounds sterling. Borrowings in these
two currencies, including amounts drawn under the working capital facility,
represented 93% of the Group's gross indebtedness at December 31, 2000 (at
US$1,154 million and (Pounds)178 million respectively) and 94% of the Group's
average gross debt during the course of 2000 (at US$948 million and (Pounds)194
million). 81% of the year-end US$ debt is at fixed rates averaging 5.37% for an
average period of 42 months. The sterling debt is all at floating rates. Other
than fixed rate debt, the Group's other fixed rates are achieved through
interest rate swaps with the Group's bankers. The Group also uses forward rate
agreements and interest rate caps to manage exposure to interest rate changes.
At December 31, 2000 the Group had one forward rate agreement in place capping
short-term US$ interest rates at an average rate of 5.65% on $25 million of
borrowings. These interest rate derivatives are used only to hedge exposures to
interest rate movements arising from the Group's borrowing and surplus cash
balances arising from its commercial activities and are not traded
independently. Payments made under these instruments are accounted for on an
accruals basis. See Note 8 of the Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements which contains an analysis of the debt and fixed rate maturities.
Economic and monetary union in Europe - (`EMU')
The Group's European companies, including those in the UK, continue to prepare
for the introduction of the euro, which will be the sole functional currency of
participating countries in 2002. The Group does not expect a material effect on
trading performance from the introduction of the euro, but continues to analyse
the potential impact. The Group's information systems are being updated, with
costs being expensed as incurred. Costs are not expected to be significant and
conversions are benefiting from the successful
27
introduction of the euro as the functional currency in the Group's operating
companies in Belgium on January 1, 1999. The Group does not anticipate changing
its reporting currency to the euro until the UK decides to join EMU.
US GAAP
The Company's Consolidated Financial Statements included elsewhere herein have
been prepared in accordance with UK GAAP, which differ in certain significant
respects from US GAAP.
For the year ended December 31, 2000 net income under US GAAP was (Pounds)122.9
million compared with net income of (Pounds)81.9 million for the same period in
1999. The corresponding figures under UK GAAP were net income of (Pounds)244.7
million and (Pounds)172.8 million, respectively. Share owners' funds, (i.e.
shareholders' equity), under US GAAP at December 31, 2000 were (Pounds)4,149.1
million, as compared with share owners' funds of (Pounds)3,409.9 million under
UK GAAP. See pages F-22 to F-24 of Notes to the Consolidated Financial
Statements for a discussion of the principal differences between US GAAP and UK
GAAP that affect the Group's financial statements.
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities. The Statement establishes accounting and reporting
standards in the United States requiring that every derivative instrument
(including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be
recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its
fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the derivative's fair value
be recognised currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria
are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains
and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement,
and requires that a company must formally document, designate, and assess the
effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting. Statement 133, as
amended by Statement 137, is effective for fiscal years beginning after June 15,
2000. A company may also implement the Statement as of the beginning of any
fiscal quarter after issuance (that is, fiscal quarters beginning June 16, 1998
and thereafter). Statement 133 cannot be applied retroactively. Statement 133
must be applied to (a) derivative instruments and (b) certain derivative
instruments embedded in hybrid contracts that were issued, acquired, or
substantively modified after December 31, 1997. The Group has not yet
quantified the impact of adopting Statement 133 on the amounts presented under
US generally accepted accounting standards. However, the Statement could
increase volatility in earnings and other comprehensive income.
ITEM 6. DIRECTORS, SENIOR MANAGEMENT AND EMPLOYEES
The directors and executive officers of the Company as of May 4, 2001 are as
follows:
Philip Lader, age 54: Chairman (non-executive). Philip Lader was appointed
chairman in February 2001. He has had a distinguished international career in
business, education and government. He served as US Ambassador to the Court of
St. James's from 1997 to 2001, and previously held other executive posts in the
US government. Before entering government service, he was executive vice
president of the company managing the late Sir James Goldsmith's US holdings and
president of universities in the US and Australia. He serves as a senior
advisor at Morgan Stanley International and is a director of AES Corporation and
RAND Corporation. He is also a Trustee of the British Museum.
Sir Martin Sorrell, Age 56: Group chief executive. Martin Sorrell joined WPP in
1986 as a director, becoming Group chief executive in the same year. He is a
non-executive director of Colefax & Fowler Group plc. and a member of the Nasdaq
board.
Paul Richardson, age 43: Group finance director. Paul Richardson became Group
finance director of WPP in December 1996 after four years with the Company as
director of treasury. He is responsible for the Group's worldwide finance
function, including external reporting, taxation, procurement, property and
treasury. Previously he spent six years with the central team of Hanson plc
financing major acquisitions and disposals. He is a chartered accountant and
member of the Association of Corporate Treasurers. He is a non-executive
director of Chime Communications PLC and Singleton Group in Australia.
28
Brian Brooks, age 45: Chief human resources officer. Brain Brooks joined WPP in
September 1992. He is responsible for the recruitment and development of senior
talent thoughout the group, as well as career and succession planning for key
people. He manages WPP stock ownership plans, as well as incentive and total
remuneration programs, in partnership with each WPP Company. Previously he was
a partner in Towers Perrin in New York and London. He is a lawyer and is
admitted to practise law.
Eric Salama, age 40: Group director of strategy and chief executive of wpp.com.
Eric Salama joined the parent company in 1994 and the board in July 1996. He is
responsible for the Group's interactive development and for developing and
implementing the Group's strategy. He is an adviser to the UK Government in the
fields of creative and media industries and education and a Trustee of the
British Museum. Previously he was joint managing director of The Henley Centre,
a WPP company.
Michael Dolan, age 54: Chairman and chief executive officer of Young & Rubicam
Inc. Michael J. Dolan was appointed a director in September 2000. He is chief
executive of Young & Rubicam Inc. and has been a vice chairman, president, chief
operating officer and chief financial officer and a director of Young & Rubicam
Inc. since July 1996. Before joining Young & Rubicam Inc. in 1996 as vice
chairman and chief financial officer, he was president and chief executive
officer of Snack Ventures Europe, the joint venture between PepsiCo Foods
International and General Mills. Prior to PepsiCo, he was with Peter Kiewet
Sons Inc., the construction and mining conglomerate, from 1987 through 1991.
Prior to this he was a partner in the Strategy Practice with Booz Allen &
Hamilton, having begun his career with JP Morgan. He is a director of Luminant
Wordwide Corporation, Thomas Weisel Partners and Gamut Interactive.
Jeremy Bullmore, age 71: Non-executive director. Jeremy Bullmore was appointed
a director in 1988 after 33 years at J. Walter Thompson, London, the last 11 as
chairman. He was chairman of the Advertising Association from 1981 to 1987 and
continues to write and lecture extensively on marketing and advertising. He is
also a non-executive director of the Guardian Media Group plc and president of
NABS.
Esther Dyson, age 49: Non-executive director. Esther Dyson was appointed a
director in June 1999. She is chairman of EDventure Holdings, the pioneering
US-based information technology and new media company. She is an acknowledged
luminary in the technology industry, highly influential in her field for the
past 16 years, with a state-of-the-art knowledge of the emerging information
technology industry worldwide and the emerging computer markets of Central and
Eastern Europe. An investor as well as an observer, she sits on the boards of
Audumbla, Manugistics, IBS Group, Scala Business Solutions and GreaterTalent.com
among others.
Warren Hellman, age 66: Non-executive director. Warren Hellman was appointed a
director in September 2000 and has been a director of Young & Rubicam Inc. since
December 1996. He is chairman of Hellman and Friedman LLC, a private investment
company he founded in 1984. Previously, Mr. Hellman was a general partner of
Hellman, Ferri Investment Associates, Matrix Management Company, Matrix II
Management Company, and Lehman Brothers. At Lehman Brothers he served as
president, as well as head of the Investment Banking Division, and chairman of
Lehman Corporation. He is currently a director of Levi Strauss & Co., II
Fornaio America Corp., Sugar Bowl Corporation, and D. N. & E. Walter & Co. He is
chairman of the San Francisco Foundation, Trustee Emeritus of the Brookings
Institution, and member of the University of California, Berkeley Walter A. Haas
School of Business Advisory Board.
Masao Inagaki, age 78: Non-executive director. Masao Inagaki was appointed a
director in September 1998 following WPP's equity investment in Asatsu-DK,
Japan's third largest advertising and communications company. He founded Asatsu
in 1956 and has been chairman and chief executive officer since 1992. He is
also vice president of the Japan Advertising Agencies Association. In January
1999, Asatsu Inc. became Asatsu-DK as a result of Asatsu's merger with DIK.
John Jackson, age 71: Non-executive director. John Jackson was appointed a
director in 1993. He is chairman of Hilton Group plc, Celltech Group plc and a
number of other public companies. He is also the non-solicitor chairman of
Mishcon de Reya. He has extensive experience of a broad range of businesses,
including television broadcasting, high technology industries, retailing,
publishing, printing, biotechnology, electronics and pharmaceuticals.
Michael Jordan, age 65: Non-executive director. Michael Jordan was appointed a
director in September 2000 and has been a director of Young & Rubicam Inc. since
December 1999. He is executive chairman of Clariti Telecommunications
International Ltd., chairman of Luminant Worldwide Corporation, and chairman of
eOriginal Inc. He is a member and former chairman of the US-Japan Business
Council, chairman of The College Fund/UNCF, and chairman of the Policy Board of
the Americans for the Arts. He also serves on the
29
Boards of Aetna Inc. and Dell Computer Corporation. He retired as chairman and
chief executive officer of the CBS Corporation in 1998 after having led one of
the most comprehensive transformations of a major US corporation.
Sir Christopher Lewinton, age 69: Non-executive director. Sir Christopher
Lewinton was appointed a director in September 2000 and has been a director of
Young & Rubicam Inc. since May 1999. He was for 14 years chairman of TI Group
plc, and remains a consultant to TI Group Automotive Systems. From 1970 to 1985
he was chief executive of the Wilkinson Sword Group and, in 1978, when Wilkinson
Sword was acquired by Allegheny International, he joined the main board of the
company and chaired Allegheny's international operations. He is a non-executive
director of Videonet, a private company providing video-on-demand. He served as
a non-executive director of Reed Elsevier from 1993 to 1999 and was a director
of the Supervisory Board of Mannesman AG from 1995 to 1999.
Christopher Mackenzie, age 46: Non-executive director. Christopher Mackenzie was
appointed a director in March 2000. He is president, chief executive and deputy
chairman of TrizecHahn Corporation (TZH), one of North America's largest
diversified property companies. He was previously a company officer of GE,
leading GE Capital's international business development. He is a non-executive
director of Global Switch, the London-based Technology Centre company, in which
TZH is a controlling shareholder, as well as Fairchild Dornier GmbH, the
aircraft manufacturer, and Champagne Jacquesson S.A.
Stanley Morten, age 57: Non-executive director. Stanley Morten was appointed a
director in 1991. He is a private investor with a focus on companies in the
genomics sector of the biotechnology industry, and is currently working with
Pegasus Capital Advisors of Cos Cob, Connecticut, to raise a new venture capital
fund called Auxyn Biosciences Ventures. Previously he was the chief operating
officer of Punk, Ziegel & Co, a New York investment banking firm with a focus
on the healthcare and technology industries. Before that he was the managing
director of the equity division of Wertheim Schroder & Co, Inc in New York.
John Quelch, age 49: Non-executive director. John Quelch was appointed a
director in 1987. He is Professor and Dean of the London Business School and
was formerly the Sebastian S. Kresge Professor of Marketing at Harvard Business
School. A prolific writer on marketing and public policy issues, he is the
author of 12 books on marketing management. He is a non-executive director of
Blue Circle Industries plc, easyJet plc and the Graduate Management Admission
Council. He was a founding non-executive director of Reebok International Ltd.
Terms of Directors and Executive Officers
The Company's Articles of Association provide that a director appointed since
the last Annual General Meeting, or who has held office for more than 30 months
since his election or re-election by the Company in general meeting (whether
annual or extraordinary) shall retire from office but shall be eligible for re-
election.
Messrs Dolan, Hellman, Jordan and Sir Christopher Lewinton were appointed at the
Extraordinary General Meeting held in September 2000 and are not required to
seek re-election this year. Philip Lader having been appointed a director since
the last General Meeting, is required to retire from office at the forthcoming
Annual General Meeting, but being eligible offers himself for re-election.
The Board has also decided that those directors who are aged 70 or over on the
date of the Notice of Annual General Meeting, namely Messrs Bullmore, Jackson
and Inagaki, will retire from office at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting,
but being eligible, are all offering themselves for re-election. Further, in
accordance with the Articles of Association, Mr. Quelch also retires but being
eligible offers himself for re-election.
The directors may from time to time appoint any other person to be a director.
Any director so appointed shall hold office only until the next Annual General
Meeting following his appointment when he shall retire but shall be eligible for
re-election at that meeting.
30
The Group chief executive: Sir Martin Sorrell
Sir Martin Sorrell's services to the Group outside the USA are provided by JMS
Financial Services Limited ("JMS"). He is directly employed by WPP Group USA,
Inc. for his activities in the USA. Taken together, the agreement with JMS ("the
UK Agreement") and the agreement with the Group chief executive directly (the
"US Agreement") provide for the following remuneration all of which is further
disclosed elsewhere in Item 6.
. annual salary and fees of (Pounds)840,000;
. annual pension contributions of (Pounds)336,000;
. short-term incentive (annual bonus) of 100% of annual salary and fees at
target and up to 200% maximum;
. the Leadership Equity Acquisition Plan; and
. the Performance Share Plan.
In addition JMS is entitled to phantom options linked to the WPP share price,
granted in 1993 and 1994 as disclosed in the table entitled "Share Options"
elsewhere in Item 6. No further phantom options have been or will be granted to
JMS or Sir Martin Sorrell.
JMS has stated its intention not to exercise the phantom options in respect of
1993 until March 2003 and has agreed to defer its interest in the phantom
options in respect of 1994 until March 2004.
Following the enactment of the personal service company legislation in the
Finance Act 2000, the Company has agreed to reimburse JMS with the additional
employer National Insurance contribution liability which JMS incurs because of
the personal service company legislation on the basis that 63% of the annual
fee, bonus and pension contribution is drawn by Sir Martin Sorrell from JMS.
Pursuant to the authority conferred on the directors at the company's annual
general meeting in 2000, the company and JMS have entered into a contract to
satisfy JMS' entitlements under LEAP and the phantom options, by the allotment
of new shares in the Company.
Both the UK Agreement and the US Agreement may be terminated within a period of
90 days from a change of control. In these agreements "change of control" is as
defined respectively in section 416 of the Income and Corporation Taxes Act 1988
and the Securities Exchange Act 1934.
On a termination by the Group chief executive and JMS, WPP is obliged to pay an
amount equal to twice the annual salary and fee; bonus and pension payments
payable under the UK and US Agreements; and also to continue certain benefits
such as health insurance under the US agreement.
Sir Martin Sorrell has also entered into covenants, which apply for the period
of 12 months following termination of the UK Agreement and the US Agreement
("Termination"), under which he has agreed not to compete with any business
carried on by the Company or any member of the WPP Group in any country in which
the business of the Company or any member of the WPP Group is carried on at the
date of Termination, nor to solicit certain business or custom or services from
major clients or clients with which Sir Martin Sorrell was involved in the 12
months before Termination. The covenants also include an obligation not to
induce suppliers with whom he was actively involved during the 12 months ending
on Termination, nor to induce employees with whom he had material dealings in
connection with the provision of services during the 12 months ending on
Termination to cease relationship or employment with the Company or any member
of the WPP Group.
The Capital Investment Plan (CIP) and Notional Share Award Plan (NSAP)
The CIP provides the Group chief executive with a capital incentive initially
over a five-year period with effect from September 4, 1994 and which matured in
September 1999.
The Group chief executive has agreed to defer entitlement to the 4,691,392
Performance Shares which he would otherwise have been able to acquire in
September 1999, subject to good leaver, change of control and other specified
provisions, so as to correspond with
31
the investment period under LEAP. Accordingly, subject to the provisions of the
CIP, the rights to acquire the Performance Shares may be exercised in the period
September 30, 2004 to December 31, 2004. These Performance Shares were acquired
by an ESOP in 1994 at a total cost of approximately (Pounds)5.5 million.
JMS has agreed, subject to good leaver, change of control and other specified
provisions, to defer its interest under the NSAP on a similar basis to that on
which the Group chief executive has agreed to defer his interest under the CIP.
Accordingly, subject to the provisions of the NSAP, JMS's right to receive a sum
under the NSAP may be exercised in the period September 30, 2004 to December 31,
2004 and will be calculated by reference to the average price of a WPP share for
the five dealing days before JMS's right under the NSAP is exercised. The NSAP
relates to 1,754,520 notional WPP shares.
Awards made to the Group chief executive or JMS under the CIP, the Notional
Share Award Plan and the phantom options, become immediately exercisable on a
change of control. Under these plans, "change of control" is defined as the
acquisition by a person or persons of more than 20% of the issued share capital
of WPP where this is followed within 12 months by the appointment of a director
with neither the Group chief executive's nor JMS's approval.
The rights of the Group chief executive and JMS respectively under the CIP and
the NSAP are dependent on Sir Martin Sorrell remaining interested until
September 2004 in 747,252 shares in which he invested in September 1994.
Pursuant to the authority conferred on the directors at the Company's annual
general meeting in 2000, the Company and JMS have entered into a contract to
satisfy JMS's entitlement under the NSAP by the allotment of new shares in the
Company.
Director's service contracts and notice periods
Except for Sir Martin Sorrell and Michael Dolan, each of the parent company
executive directors is employed under a contract under which the director must
give the Company 12 months' notice and the Company must give the executive 12
months' notice. Mr B J Brooks is employed under a service contract dated June
1, 1993, Mr P W G Richardson is employed under a service contract dated January
8, 1997 and Mr E R Salama is employed under a service contract dated April 1,
1997.
There are no change of control provisions in the contracts for executive
directors, other than in respect of the Group chief executive.
The Board unanimously consider that, given the special position of the Group
chief executive and the personal investment commitment made by him in the
Company, there are special circumstances for the notice period applicable to
him, which is for a fixed term of three years from September 1, 2000 renewable
on or before September 1, each year. The Company anticipates that the current
term will be renewed in September 2001 on this basis.
The Board also unanimously consider, that in order to retain the services of
Michael Dolan and in the special circumstances which applied to him at the time
of the merger with Young & Rubicam Inc., it was necessary to depart from its
normal policy on directors' contracts and enter into a service contract with him
for an initial term of four years with a provision for a one year extension.
Non-executive directors
Remuneration for non-executive directors consists of fees for their services in
connection with the Board and Board committee meetings and where appropriate,
for devoting additional time and expertise for the benefit of the Group. Non-
executive directors are not eligible for membership in any Company pension
plans, and do not participate in any of the Group's short- or long-term
incentive programs. Non-executive directors may receive a part of their fees in
ordinary shares of the Company, including in the form of options exercisable, at
par value of the shares on completion of the non-executive directors' services.
Philip Lader's letter of appointment is for a term of three years subject to
review after two years. All other non-executive directors have letters of
appointment, which are renewable for a two-year period.
For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2000 the aggregate compensation paid by
WPP and its subsidiaries to all directors and officers of WPP as a group for
services in all capacities was (Pounds)7,986,599. Such compensation was
primarily paid by WPP and its subsidiaries in the form of salaries and
performance-related bonuses.
32
The sum of (Pounds)437,000 was set aside and paid in the last fiscal year to
provide pension benefits for directors and officers of WPP.
Directors' remuneration
Remuneration of the directors was as follows/(7)/:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Short-term
incentive
Location Salary Other plans (annual 2000 1999
and fees Benefits bonus)/(1)/ Total Total
(Pounds)000 (Pounds)000 (Pounds)000 (Pounds)000 (Pounds)000
Chairmen
H Maxwell/(5)/ USA 101 - - 101 102
P Lader/(5)/ USA - - - - -
Executive directors
M S Sorrell/(7)/ UK 854 24 1,302 2,180/(2)/ 1,324/(2)/
B J Brooks USA 214 4 134 352 267
P W G Richardson UK 250 22 156 428 349
E R Salama UK 165 22 103 290 265
G C Sampson/(5)/ UK 34 7 - 41 82
M J Dolan/(5) and (6)/ USA 132 3 528 663 -
Non-executive directors/(6)/
J J D Bullmore/(4)/ UK 72 12 - 84 82
E Dyson USA 35 - - 35 13
F W Hellman/(5)/ USA 7 - - 7 -
M Inagaki Japan - - - - -
J B H Jackson UK 30 - - 30 25
M H Jordan/(5)/ USA 7 - - 7 -
C Mackenzie UK 20 - - 20 -
C Lewinton/(5)/ USA 6 - - 6 -
S W Morten USA 33 - - 33 29
J A Quelch UK 28 40 - 68 55
J Smilow/(5)/ USA 20 - - 20 25
Total remuneration 2,008 134 2,223 4,365 2,618
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term Pension
incentive plans Contributions
2000/(3)/ 1999/(3)/ 2000 1999
Total Total Total Total
(Pounds)000 (Pounds)000 (Pounds)000 (Pounds)000
Chairmen
H Maxwell/(5)/ - - - -
P Lader/(5)/ - - - -
Executive directors
M S Sorrell/(7)/ - - 340 324
B J Brooks 476 904 23 26
P W G Richardson 461 2,844 25 21
E R Salama 414 1,094 17 16
G C Sampson/(5)/ - 17 - -
M J Dolan/(5) and (6)/ 1,676 - 1 -
Non-executive directors/(6)/
J J D Bullmore/(4)/ - - - -
E Dyson - - - -
F W Hellman/(5)/ - - - -
M Inagaki - - - -
J B H Jackson - - - -
M H Jordan/(5)/ - - - -
C Mackenzie - - - -
C Lewinton/(5)/ - - - -
S W Morten - - - -
J A Quelch - - - -
J Smilow/(5)/ - - - -
Total remuneration 3,027 4,859 406 387
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
1. Amounts included in short-term incentive plans represent bonuses in respect
of 2000 performance, paid in 2001.
2. The amount of salary and fees comprises the fees payable under the UK
Agreement with JMS Financial Services Limited ("JMS") and the salary
payable under the US Agreement referred to elsewhere in Item 6. Until 2000,
as in previous years, JMS discharged all relevant UK National Insurance
costs attributable to the provision of the services of Sir Martin Sorrell
under the UK Agreement. With effect from July 2000 the Company has agreed
to reimburse to JMS any additional employer national insurance costs
arising as a result of schedule 12 to the Finance Act 2000 attributable to
the difference between the amount payable to JMS under the UK agreement and
the salary payable by JMS to Sir Martin Sorrell.
3. These amounts represent gains realised on the exercise of share options
and, where relevant, payments under the Performance Share Plan.
4. JJD Bullmore has a consulting arrangement with the Company in addition to
his fee as a non-executive director.
5. H Maxwell retired and P Lader was appointed in February 2001. C Mackenzie
was appointed in March 2000, GC Sampson retired in May 2000 and MJ Dolan,
FW Hellman, MH Jordan and Sir Christropher Lewinton were all appointed in
September 2000. J. Smilow retired in September 2000.
6. Particulars of Mr Dolan's arrangements are set out elsewhere in Item 6
7. All amounts payable in US dollars have been converted into (Pounds)
sterling at $1.5162 to (Pounds)1. The amounts paid to Sir Martin Sorrell
were paid in art in US dollars and part in (Pounds) sterling.
The Company has also disclosed to its share owners details of its remuneration
policies for senior employees. These are summarized as follows:
. Scope of the Compensation committee - during the year the Compensation
committee was comprised exclusively of independent non-executive directors,
namely:
- S W Morten (Chairman of the Committee);
- H Maxwell (retired February 2001);
- J A Quelch; and
- C Mackenzie (appointed February 2001).
33
No member of the committee has any personal financial interest, other than
as share owners, in the matters to be decided by the committee, no
potential conflicts of interest arising from cross-directorships and no
day-to-day involvement in running the Group's businesses. The Compensation
committee, which seeks the advice of independent remuneration consultants,
is responsible for establishing and overseeing the implementation of
remuneration policy for the Group with specific reference to the following:
assessment of competitive practices and determination of competitive
positioning; base salary levels; annual and long-term incentive awards;
policy and grants relating to WPP share ownership; and pensions and
executive benefits. The Compensation committee determines awards under
annual and long-term incentive plans and awards of WPP stock under a number
of plans for Group employees who are paid a base salary of $150,000 or
more.
. The Compensation committee determines the remuneration of the Group chief
executive on the basis of a comparison with the chief executives of other
global, multi-agency communications companies, including the Omnicom Group
(Omnicom) and The Interpublic Group (IPG). The remuneration, stock
incentive arrangements and benefits of the other executive directors (other
than Michael Dolan for the year under review), are based on comparable
positions in multinational companies of a similar size and complexity.
. Elements of executive remuneration - The following comprised the principal
elements of executive remuneration for the period under review:
- Base Salaries
- Annual incentives
- Long-term incentives, including stock ownership and LEAP; and
- Pension, life insurance, health and disability benefits.
Base salary levels are established by reference to the market median for
similar positions in directly comparable businesses and by comprehensive
market survey information. In the case of the parent company, this includes
other global services companies such as IPG and Omnicom and, for J. Walter
Thompson Company, Ogilvy and Mather Worldwide and Young & Rubicam Inc., the
competitive market includes other major multinational advertising agencies.
For each of the other operating companies in the Group, a comparable
definition of business competitors is used to establish competitive median
salaries. Individual salary levels are set within a range of 15 % above or
below the competitive median, taking a number of relevant factors into
account, including individual and business unit performance, level of
experience, scope of responsibility and the competitiveness of total
remuneration.
Salary levels for executives are reviewed every 18, 24 or 36 months,
depending on the level of base salary. Executive salary adjustments are
made on the recommendation of the Group chief executive for operating
company chief executives and parent company executive directors and by the
chief executive officer of each operating company for all other executives.
Annual incentives are paid under plans established for each operating
company and for executives of the parent company. In the case of the Group
chief executive and other parent company directors (other than Michael
Dolan) and executives, the total amount of annual incentive payable is
based on the achievement of Group operating profit or operating cash flow
targets as well as the achievement of Group operating profit margin
targets. The Group chief executive is subject to additional targets. These
are established by the Group chief executive and approved by the
Compensation committee. In the case of each operating company, operating
profit and operating profit margin targets are agreed each year.
Within the limits of available annual incentive funds, individual awards
are paid on the basis of achievements against individual performance
objectives, encompassing key strategic and financial performance criteria,
including:
- Operating profit;
- Profit margin;
- Staff costs to revenue or gross margin;
- Revenue or gross margin growth and conversion;
- Level of co-operation among operating companies; and
- Other key strategic goals, established annually.
34
In each case, the annual incentive objectives relate to the participant's own
operating company, division, client or functional responsibility.
Each executive's annual incentive opportunity is defined at a "target" level for
the full achievement of objectives. Higher awards may be paid for outstanding
performance in excess of target. With effect from January 1, 2000 the target
level for the Group chief executive is 100% of base fees/salary and the maximum
level is 200%. In respect of Mr. Dolan for the year under review his bonus will
be not less than $800,000 and for future years will be not less than $600,000
with a maximum of 200% of base salary. A one-time stay bonus of $800,000 is also
payable to Mr. Dolan in October 2001 so long as he is then an employee of Young
& Rubicam Inc. For other Group executive directors the target commencing January
1, 2000 is 50% of base salary and the maximum is 75%.
Long-term incentives, including option grants, comprise a significant element of
total remuneration for senior executives in the parent company and each
operating company. During 2000, Group-wide, approximately 1,100 of those
executives participated in a long-term incentive plan.
The committee regularly reviews the operation of the Group's long-term incentive
programs to ensure that the performance measures and levels of reward are
appropriate and competitive.
Parent company - Annual grants of WPP performance shares are made to all
executive directors. For awards currently outstanding, the value of each
performance share is equivalent to one WPP share and the number of shares
vesting over each three-year performance period is dependent on the growth of
WPP's total share owner return relative to the growth of total share owner
return of major publicly traded marketing services companies. Where the Group's
total share owner return is below the median level of the peer group, none of
the performance shares vest. Currently, at median performance, 50% of the
performance shares vest, with higher percentages vesting for superior
performance up to 100% if WPP ranks at least equal to the second ranking peer
company.
Over the 1998-2000 performance period, WPP's performance ranked second among the
peer group companies. Contingent grants of performance shares for the 1999-2001,
2000-2002 and 2001-2003 periods range from 25% to 100% of base salary.
Operating companies - Senior executives of most Group operating companies
participate in long-term incentive plans, which provide awards in cash and
restricted WPP stock for the achievement of three-year financial performance
targets. These plans operate on a rolling three-year basis with awards paid in
March 2001 under the 1998-2000 long-term incentive plans. The value of payments
earned by executives over each performance period is based on the achievement of
targeted improvements in the following performance measures:
- - average operating profit or operating cash flow; and
- - average operating margin.
The stock portion of each payment is 50%. Restrictions on the sale of this stock
are lifted after one year in respect of 50% of the stock and after two years for
the balance, if the executive remains employed in the Group.
In addition, some executives also receive annual grants of WPP stock options
through their membership of the WPP Group `Leaders' or `Partners' or `High
Potential' Group. These programs recognize a participant's contribution to the
achievement of WPP's strategic aims, including business co-operation across
operating companies. All members of the WPP Leaders, Partners and High Potential
Groups, including the chief executive officer of each operating company
(including Michael Dolan for the current financial year), receive an annual
grant of fair market value WPP stock options, which are exercisable three years
from the grant date assuming that specific performance conditions are met. Each
year the grant value (number of shares times fair market value at the grant
date) of these awards ranges from approximately 15% to 150% of base salary.
Client Equity Investment Funds- To address increasing competition for talent
from new sources, as well as the growth of client revenues from internet
companies, the Company has established a fund for each major operating group
through which investments can be made in the stock of pre-IPO clients. These
investments are limited to a specified portion of the fee income derived from
each client, and there is an overall limit on the level of client equity
investments by each operating group. These client equity investments will
generally be sold as soon as possible following a public offering. Positive
returns realized on client equity investments will then be
35
used to acquire WPP shares, which will be allocated to employees in the
operating companies. The WPP shares will vest in two equal installments over a
two-year period. Since its introduction last year, only three investments have
been made under this fund.
Leadership Equity Acquisition Plan (`LEAP') - In September 1999 share owners
approved the introduction of LEAP to reward superior performance relative to
WPP's peer companies, so as to create strong shared interests with share owners
through significant personal investment and ownership in stock by executives and
to ensure competitive total rewards in the appropriate marketplace.
Under LEAP, participants must commit WPP shares (`WPP shares'), valued at not
less than their annual earnings, at the time of acquisition, of which no more
than two-thirds may be satisfied by a participant's existing holding of WPP
shares, in order to provide an opportunity to earn additional WPP shares
(`matching shares'). These investment shares must be committed for a five-year
period (`investment period'). The number of matching shares which a participant
may receive at the end of the investment period will depend on the performance
of the Company measured over five financial years commencing with the financial
year in which the WPP shares are committed. The number of matching shares will
depend on the total shareholder return (`TSR') achieved by the Company relative
to major publicly traded marketing services companies. The maximum number of
matching shares, other than in respect of the seven participants, including Mr.
Dolan, who are executives of Young & Rubicam Inc., is five for every investment
share, for which the Company must rank first or second over the performance
period. If the Company's performance is below the median of the comparator group
only half a matching share will vest for every WPP share held throughout the
investment period. Following the merger with Young & Rubicam Inc., seven
executives of Young & Rubicam Inc., including Mr. Dolan, have accepted
invitations to participate in LEAP and their entitlement to matching shares in
WPP has been pro-rated so that they are entitled only to four-fifths of the
number of matching shares to which the executives of WPP became entitled as a
result of their acceptance of invitations to participate made to them in
September 1999. Consequently the maximum number of matching shares to which the
seven executives of Young & Rubicam Inc. may become entitled to is four as
opposed to five.
On a change of control matching shares may be received based on the Company's
performance to that date. The Compensation committee will also consider, in the
light of exceptional financial circumstances during the performance period,
whether the recorded TSR is consistent with the achievement of commensurate
underlying performance.
Executive directors of the Company and senior executives from several Group
operating companies participate in LEAP. To date, awards have been made to 22
directors and executives. Sir Martin Sorrell, the Group chief executive has,
together with JMS, committed to LEAP shares worth $10 million calculated at a
price of (Pounds)5.685 per share of which shares worth $3 million were purchased
in the market after August 16, 1999.
It is expected that the matching shares to which participants (other than JMS)
become entitled for the awards made by reference to 1999 and 2000 will be
provided from one of the Company's employee share ownership plans (`ESOPs'). The
ESOPs have acquired the maximum potential number of matching shares in respect
of awards made in or by reference to 1999 at an average cost not exceeding
(Pounds)3.70 per share. Authority has been obtained from share owners to satisfy
the entitlement of JMS to matching shares by an allotment of new shares.
Executive Stock Ownership Policy - During 1996, the Company introduced stock
ownership goals for the most senior executives in the Group. These range from
50% to 400% of salary. Beginning in 2000, stock option grants may vary depending
on whether an individual achieves and maintains specified levels of WPP stock
ownership.
Executive Stock Option Plan and Worldwide Ownership Plan - The 1996 Executive
Stock Option Plan has been used annually since its adoption to make option
grants to members of the WPP Leaders, Partners and High Potential Groups
including key employees of the parent company, but excluding parent company
executive directors and the Group chief executive. Under the terms of his
service contract Mr. Dolan will be entitled to receive a grant under this plan
in September 2001.
In 1997 the Company broadened stock option participation by introducing the
Worldwide Ownership Plan for all employees of 100%-owned Group companies with at
least two years' service, in order to develop a stronger ownership culture and
greater knowledge of Group resources. Since its adoption grants have been made
annually under this plan also and as at May 4, 2001 options under this Plan had
been granted to more than 18,000 employees for in excess of 9.1 million ordinary
shares of the Company. Grants made under this plan to approximately 5,200
employees in 1998 became exercisable in March 2001.
36
Retirement benefits - The form and level of Company-sponsored retirement
programs varies depending on historical practices and local market
considerations. The level of retirement benefits is regularly considered when
reviewing executive remuneration levels.
In the two markets where the Group employs the largest number of people, the US
and UK, pension provision generally takes the form of defined contribution
benefits, although the Group still maintains three defined benefit plans in the
US and three defined benefit plans in the UK. In each case, these pension plans
are provided for the benefit of employees in specific operating companies and,
in the case of the UK plans, are closed to new entrants. All pension coverage
for the parent company's executive directors is on a defined contribution basis
and only base salary is pensionable under any Company retirement plan. Details
of pension contributions for the period under review in respect of parent
company executive directors are set out elsewhere in Item 6.
Compensation of `Executive Officers'
The following tables sets out compensation details for the Group chief executive
and each of the other five most highly compensated executive officers in the
Group as at December 31, 2000 (the `Executive Officers'). As used in this
statement, the `Executive Officers' are deemed to include executive directors of
the Company, or an executive who served as the chief executive officer of one of
the Group's major operating companies. One of the Executive Officers was also an
executive director of WPP during 2000. This information represents additional
disclosure to that provided in "Directors' remuneration" elsewhere in Item 6 and
has been provided in a similar manner to the compensation disclosure of the
Company's main US-based competitors.
This information covers compensation for services rendered in all capacities and
paid in each of the two calendar years ended December 31, 2000 and 1999.
Incentive compensation paid in 2001 for performance in 2000 and previous years,
is not included in these tables, consistent with US reporting requirements.
2000 Executive Remuneration
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long Term Compensation/(5)/
------------------------------------
Share
Other annual Options
compensation SARs and Restricted
Salary Bonus/(1) /(2)/ phantom shares
Name Principal position Year $000 $000 $000 shares/(3)/ Number
Number
MS Sorrell Group chief executive 2000 1,295 819 36 - -
WPP Group 1999 1,231 979 37 - -
S Lazarus Chairman/ 2000 850 638 43 15,807 216,629
Chief executive officer 1999 850 638 31 18,288 215,554
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide
C Jones Chief executive officer 2000 750 417 20 11,855 7,024
J Walter Thompson Company 1999 750 225 18 16,138 18,072
I Gotlieb Chairman/ 2000 750 600 21 - -
Chief executive officer 1999 219 - 7 96,826 -
MindShare
H Paster Chairman/ 2000 550 344 17 8,694 5,422
Chief executive officer 1999 550 344 17 11,834 6,300
Hill and Knowlton
R Seltzer Chairman/ 2000 450 338 25 7,113 34,165
Chief executive officer 1999 423 395 25 9,682 72,487
Ogilvy Public
Relations Worldwide
Long Term Compensation/(5)/
---------------------------
LTIP payments All other
$000 Compensation /(4)/
Name Principal position $000
MS Sorrell Group chief executive - 515
WPP Group - 524
S Lazarus Chairman/ 273 128
Chief executive officer 263 128
Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide
C Jones Chief executive officer 90 108
J Walter Thompson Company 153 112
I Gotlieb Chairman/ - 13
Chief executive officer - 25
MindShare
H Paster Chairman/ 123 23
Chief executive officer 159 31
Hill and Knowlton
R Seltzer Chairman/ 113 9
Chief executive officer - 8
Ogilvy Public
Relations Worldwide
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
1. Represents short-term incentive awards paid during calendar years 2000
and 1999 in respect of the prior year's incentive plans.
2. Includes the value of company cars, club memberships, executive health and
other benefits and supplemental executive life insurance.
3. As used in this report, the term "phantom shares" (as used in the UK) and
the term `free-standing SARs' (as used in the US) are interchangeable.
Matching shares which could vest under LEAP are not included in this table,
but are referred to elsewhere in Item 6 within the table entitled "Long-
term incentive plan awards"
37
4. Includes accruals during each calendar year under consideration, under
defined contribution retirement and defined benefit retirement
arrangements.
5. Options granted in 2000 were over ADRs (based on the ratio in existence
at December 31, 1999.)
Long-term incentive plan grants in 2000/(1)/
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Performance period Threshold Target Maximum
$ $ $
M S Sorrell/(2)/ 2000-2002 n/a n/a n/a
S Lazarus 2000-2002 - 650,000 975,000
C Jones 2000-2002 - 600,000 900,000
I Gotlieb 2000-2002 - 400,000 600,000
H Paster 2000-2002 - 275,000 412,500
R Seltzer 2000-2002 - 150,000 225,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes:
1. This table does not include the maximum number of Matching shares which are
capable of vesting under LEAP. If the performance requirement under LEAP is
satisfied to the fullest possible extent and subject to the WPP investment
shares being retained until the end of the investment period (September
2004), the maximum number of matching shares which may vest in relation to
the performance period ending December 31, 2003 is as follows: Sir Martin
Sorrell (including those attributable to JMS) 5,369,070; S Lazarus
1,610,700; C Jones 1,610,700; H Paster 439,750 and R Seltzer 362,400.
2. An award of 137,255 units under the Performance Share Plan was made to Sir
Martin Sorrell during 2000. Each unit is analogous to an ordinary share of
WPP Group plc.
38
Other long-term incentive plan awards/(1)/
Long-term Incentive Plan awards granted to directors are as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Granted/ Granted
Plan/(1)/ At Jan 1 (lapsed) Vested At Dec 31 (lapsed) Vested At May 4
2000 2000/(4)/ 2000 2000 2001/(4)/ 2001 2001
Number Number Number Number Number Number Number
B J Brooks PSP 36,967 122 (18,544) 18,545 83 (18,628) -
PSP 60,864 (883) (29,991) 29,990 110 (15,050) 15,050
PSP 46,728 - - 46,728 - (23,364) 23,364
PSP 50,623 - - 50,623 - - 50,623
PSP - 32,185 - 32,185 - - 32,185
LEAP 272,600 - - 272,600 - - 272,600
M J Dolan/(5)/ LTIP
Units - - - - 5,000 - 5,000
LEAP - 1,288,000 - 1,288,000 - - 1,288,000
P W G Richardson
PSP 21,086 68 (10,577) 10,577 49 (10,626) -
PSP 67,925 (985) (33,470) 33,470 122 (16,796) 16,796
PSP 55,513 - - 55,513 - (27,757) 27,756
PSP 65,944 - - 65,944 - - 65,944
PSP - 36,765 - 36,765 - - 36,765
LEAP 299,030 179,418 - 478,448 - - 478,448
E R Salama PSP 24,719 80 (12,399) 12,400 56 (12,456) -
PSP 56,604 (820) (27,892) 27,892 102 (13,997) 13,997
PSP 46,261 - - 46,261 - (23,131) 23,130
PSP 48,359 - - 48,359 - - 48,359
PSP - 26,961 - 26,961 - - 26,961
LEAP 272,645 - - 272,645 - - 272,645
M S Sorrell/(3)/ - 8,594,493 - - 8,594,493 - - 8,594,493
PSP 219,812 - - 219,812 - - 219,812
PSP 137,255 - - 137,255 - - 137,255
LEAP 5,369,070 - - 5,369,070 - - 5,369,070
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Price per
share of
vested units
on valuation
Performance Period date /(2)/
B J Brooks 1 Jan 1996-31 Dec 1998 365.8p
1 Jan 1997-31 Dec 1999 981.0p
1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 2000 872.0p
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2001 n/a
1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2002 n/a
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2003 n/a
M J Dolan/(5)/
1 Jan 2001-31 Dec 2003 n/a
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2003 n/a
P W G Richardson
1 Jan 1996-31 Dec 1998 365.8p
1 Jan 1997-31 Dec 1999 981.0p
1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 2000 872.0p
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2001 n/a
1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2002 n/a
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2003 n/a
E R Salama 1 Jan 1996-31 Dec 1998 365.8p
1 Jan 1997-31 Dec 1999 981.0p
1 Jan 1998-31 Dec 2000 872.0p
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2001 n/a
1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2002 n/a
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2003 n/a
M S Sorrell/(3)/ n/a n/a
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2001 n/a
1 Jan 2000-31 Dec 2002 n/a
1 Jan 1999-31 Dec 2003 n/a
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notes
1. The long-term incentive plans operated by the Company consist of the
Performance Share Plan (PSP) and the Leadership Equity Acquisition Plan
(LEAP). Details of the PSP and LEAP can be found elsewhere in Item 6. The
number of shares shown for LEAP represents the maximum number of Matching
Shares which is capable of vesting at the end of the performance period, if
the performance requirement is satisfied to the fullest extent and subject
to the retention of WPP investment shares until the end of the relevant
investment period in September 2004. The number of Sir Martin Sorrell's
Matching Shares includes those attributable to JMS. The 8,594,493 shares
referred to in note 3 are not awarded under either the PSP or LEAP. Mr.
Dolan participates in the Young & Rubicam long-term incentive plan,
referred to elsewhere in Item 6.
2. Valuation date is December 31 at the end of the relevant performance
period.
3. The 8,594,493 shares represent the number of shares, or cash equivalent of
shares which vest, under the Capital Investment Plan (CIP), the Notional
Share Award Plan (NSAP) and phantom options. Details of these plans are set
out elsewhere in Item 6. The performance conditions were satisfied under
the CIP and NSAP before these plans were due to mature in September 1999.
Each plan has been extended until September 2004, subject to good leaver,
change of control and other specified provisions, when the awards vest.
Consequently their value cannot be established until that time. Under
arrangements made with Sir Martin Sorrell relating to the payment on his
behalf of US withholding tax under the CIP and pension payments made under
the US Agreement, WPP Group USA Inc. has made payments of which the maximum
amount outstanding during the year was (Pounds)480,000 and which remained
outstanding at December 31, 2000.
4. Includes dividends received in respect of vested restricted stock which
have been reinvested in the acquisition of further ordinary shares.
5. Represents LTIP units, rather than shares, under the long-term incentive
plan, referred to elsewhere in Item 6.
39
The Company's approach to utilising share options within the overall
remuneration policy is discussed elsewhere in Item 6.
Directors' Interests
Ordinary Shares
Directors' interests in the Company's share capital, all of which were
beneficial, were as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Other Other
Shares acquired interests at Shares acquired interests
through long-term Dec 31, through long-term acquired
At Jan 1, 2000 incentive plan 2000 inc. incentive plan awards (disposed
or date of awards in 2000/(1)/ shares in 2001 of) since
appointment ------------------------ purchased At Dec 31, --------------------- Dec 31, At May 4,
if later Vested (sold) in 2000/(2)/ 2000(1) Vested (sold)(1) 2000 2001
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
B J Brooks 346,788 48,535 (33,540) - 361,783 57,042 (28,527) - 390,298
J J D Bullmore 20,065 - - - 20,065 - - - 20,065
M J Dolan/(2)(7)(11)/ 3,613,645 - - (71,100)(10) 3,542,545 - - 417,500(12) 3,960,045
E Dyson - - - - - - - 5,000 5,000
F W Hellman/(2)(7)/ 1,193,665(9) - - 8,380(10) 1,202,045 - - - 1,202,045
M Inagaki/(4)/ - - - - - - - - -
J B H Jackson 12,500 - - - 12,500 - - - 12,500
M H Jordan/(2)(7)/ 16,695(9) - - 3,490(10) 20,185 - - - 20,185
P Lader/(8)/ - - - - - - - - -
C Lewinton/(2)(7)/ 8,350(9) - - 13,395(10) 21,745 - - - 21,745
C Mackenzie - - - 10,000 10,000 - - - 10,000
H Maxwell 35,000 - - - 35,000 - - - 35,000
S W Morten 20,000 - - - 20,000 - - - 20,000
J A Quelch 10,000 - - 2,000 12,000 - - - 12,000
P W G Richardson 331,176 44,047 (44,047) 19,567 350,743 55,179 (22,073) - 383,849
E R Salama 409,177 40,291 (19,892) - 429,576 49,584 (35,706) - 443,454
G C Sampson/(8)/ 554,313 - - - - - - - -
J E Smilow/(8)/ 100,000 - - - - - - - -
M S Sorrell/(2)/ 13,293,414 - - 93,540 13,386,954 - - - 13,386,954
- ------------------- ------------- ---------- --------- ------------- ------------- ------- ---------- --------- ------------
Notes
1. Further details of long-term incentive plans are given elsewhere in Item 6
within the table entitled "Other long-term incentive plan awards".
2. Interests include unexercised options. In the case of Sir Martin Sorrell
interests include 1,571,190 and 577,391 unexercised phantom options granted
in 1993 and 1994 respectively as referred to elsewhere in Item 6, 4,691,392
shares in respect of the Capital Investment Plan and 1,754,520 shares in
respect of the Notional Share Award Plan.
3. Each of the executive directors has a technical interest as an employee and
potential beneficiary in one of the Company's ESOPs in shares in the
Company held under the relevant ESOP. At December 31, 2000, the Company's
ESOPs held in total 36,208,185 shares in the Company, (1999: 27,889,000
shares).
4. M Inagaki is a director and chairman of Asatsu-DK, which at May 4, 2001 was
interested in 31,295,646 shares representing 2.60% of the issued share
capital of the Company.
- ---------------------
40
5. Save as disclosed above and elsewhere in Item 6, no director had any
interest in any contract of significance with the Group during the year.
6. The above Interests do not include the Interests of the executive directors
in the Performance Share Plan but include shares held by them and committed
to the Leadership Equity Acquisition Plan (LEAP) referred to elsewhere in
Item 6, although they do not include any matching shares which may vest
under LEAP.
7. Appointed in September 2000. Shares were acquired in ADS form following the
completion of the merger between the Company and Young & Rubicam Inc., in
accordance with the terms of the merger agreement and include the interests
of Messrs Dolan, Hellman, Jordan and Lewinton under Young & Rubicam
incentive plans.
8. G C Sampson retired in May 2000, J E Smilow in September 2000 and P Lader
was appointed in February 2001.
9. Includes shares made available as a result of the Young & Rubicam Inc.
Directors Stock Option Plan.
10. Includes shares made available as a result of the Young & Rubicam Inc.
Directors Deferred Fee Plan.
11. Includes shares made available as a result of the Young & Rubicam Inc.
Restricted Stock and Incentive Compensation Plans.
12. Represents shares made available as a result of the Young & Rubicam Inc.
Incentive Compensation Plan. A Further 417,500 options vest under this Plan
in April 2002.
Share Options
Other than as referred to in the notes above and also below, no director has
been granted options over ordinary shares or ADSs in 2000 and as at May 4, 2001
no director had any options outstanding and unexercised.
2,196,190 phantom options were granted to JMS in relation to 1993 at a base
price of 52.5p per share, exercisable between April 1996 and April 2003 and
577,391 in relation to 1994 at a base price of 115p per share, exercisable in
March 2004. In 1997, JMS exercised 625,000 phantom options granted in relation
to 1993. This leaves 1,571,190 unexercised phantom options granted in relation
to 1993. JMS has indicated that it does not intend to exercise the 1993 phantom
options until March 2003, subject to good leaver and change of control
provisions.
Under the terms of Michael Dolan's service contract, Mr Dolan is entitled to
receive in September 2001, a grant of options to acquire WPP ADSs under the
terms of the WPP Executive Share Option Plan having an aggregate fair market
value equal to his base salary at that time.
An analysis of share options is shown in Note 23 of the Consolidated Financial
Statements in Item 19. This includes both the movement in the year and an
analysis of unexercised options at December 31, 2000.
41
Options granted in 2000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stock options, % of total options Potential realisable value at assumed
granted granted by Company Exercise price annual rates of stock price appreciation
(number of ADRs) in 2000 ($ per share) Expiry date for option term
0% 5% 10%
$000 $000 $000
--------------------------------------------------
M S Sorrell - - - - - - -
S Lazarus 15,807 2.1% 63.26 2 Sept 2010 - 629 1,594
C Jones 11,855 1.6% 63.26 2 Sept 2010 - 472 1,195
I Gotlieb - - - 2 Sept 2010 - - -
H Paster 8,694 1.1% 63.26 2 Sept 2010 - 346 877
R Seltzer 7,113 0.9% 63.26 2 Sept 2010 - 283 717
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
All options granted to executives in this table are exercisable three years from
the grant date and expire ten years from the grant date.
Stock option, SAR and phantom stock exercises in last financial year
and final year-end share option, SAR and phantom stock values
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of ordinary shares Value of unexercised
Ordinary Market value at underlying unexercised share options, in-the-money share options, SARs
shares acquired exercise date SARs and phantom stocks at year end and phantom stocks at year end ($)(1)
on exercise ($) ----------------------------------- --------------------------------------
Exercisable Unexerciseable Exercisable Unexerciseable
M S Sorrell - - 1,571,190 577,391 19,232,734 6,528,738
S Lazarus 592,428 8,292,649 434,531 454,735 4,144,241 2,773,366
C Jones 341,586 3,082,321 - 290,316 - 1,563,968
I Gotlieb - - - 484,130 - 1,581,895
H Paster - - 247,219 179,820 2,480,271 860,831
R Seltzer - - 86,752 164,162 762,587 851,679
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1. The value is calculated by subtracting the exercise price from the fair
market value of the Company's ordinary shares on December 31, 2000, namely
(Pounds)8.72 and using an exchange rate of $1.4937 to (Pounds)1.
Employees
The assets of marketing and communications services businesses are primarily its
people, and the Company is highly dependent on the talent, creative abilities
and technical skills of its personnel and the relationships its personnel have
with clients. The Company believes that its operating companies have
established reputations in the industry which attract talented personnel.
However, the Company, like all marketing and communications services businesses,
is vulnerable to adverse consequences from the loss of key employees due to the
competition among these businesses for talented personnel. On December 31, 2000
the Group had 51,195 employees located in approximately 1,300 offices, in 102
countries compared with 29,168 employees on December 31, 1999 and 26,184 in
1998. Including all the Group's affiliated companies, total employees were
approximately 65,000 on December 31, 2000. The average number of employees in
2000 was 36,157 compared with 27,711 in 1999 and 25,589 in 1998. Their
geographical distribution was as follows:
_________________
42
2000 1999 1998
Number Number Number
------ ------ ------
United Kingdom 5,425 4,439 3,973
United States 11,058 8,033 7,082
Continental Europe 7,985 5,650 4,922
Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa and Middle East 11,689 9,589 9,612
------ ------ ------
36,157 27,711 25,589
Total staff costs in 2000 were (Pounds)1,617.6 million compared with
(Pounds)1,091.3 million in 1999. The Company's staff cost to gross margin ratio
excluding incentives fell to 54.8% from 55.0%. Variable staff costs as a
proportion of total staff costs increased to 12.1% and as a proportion of
revenues, to 6.6%.
ITEM 7. MAJOR SHAREHOLDERS AND RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Control of registrant
As of the dates shown below, the Company is aware of the following interests of
3% or more in the issued ordinary share capital of the Company:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Months Ending May 31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Putnam Investment Management 5.60% 63,400,000 3.05% 23,723,701 * * - -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Legg-Mason 3.51% 39,832,402 5.27% 41,010,741 5.85% 45,004,913 * *
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP-ESOP 3.45% 39,168,965 3.95% 30,768,244 3.25% 25,171,250 * *
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chase Manhattan Bank 3.01% 34,118,838 * * * * * *
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asatsu-DK * * 4.02% 31,295,646 4.07% 31,295,646 - -
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Morgan Stanley * * * * 6.75% 51,878,181 10.90% 80,538,131
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scudder Stevens & Clark Inc. - - - - * * 6.32% 46,671,391
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tiger Management Corporation - - - - - - 5.03% 37,178,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Barclays * * 3.25% 25,276,536 * * * *
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Less than 3% interests in the issued ordinary share capital of the Company.
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
None of these shareholders has voting rights that are different from those of
the holders of the Company's ordinary shares generally.
As far as WPP is aware, it is neither directly nor indirectly owned or
controlled by one or more corporations or by any government, or by any other
natural or legal persons severally or jointly.
Related party transactions
None.
43
ITEM 8. FINANCIAL INFORMATION
See Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company as at December 31, 2000,
1999 and 1998 (page F-1).
44
ITEM 9. THE OFFER AND LISTING
Share price history
The Company's ordinary shares have been traded on The London Stock Exchange
since 1971. The Company currently has authorisation to purchase up to 10% of the
outstanding ordinary shares of the Company pursuant to its share buy back
program. Management is authorised to use its discretion in planning purchases of
ordinary shares under the share buy back program.
The following table sets forth, for the quarters indicated, the reported high
and low middle-market quotations for the Company's ordinary shares on The London
Stock Exchange, based on its Daily Official List. Such quotations have been
translated in each case into United States dollars at the closing daily
mid-trade rate reported by Bloomberg on each of the respective dates of such
quotations.
Translated into
Pounds per United States
Ordinary Share Dollars
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
High Low High Low
---- --- ---- ---
1996 2.54 1.57 4.36 2.42
1997 2.92 2.36 4.96 3.96
1998 4.67 2.02 7.68 3.41
1999
- ----
First Quarter 5.49 3.59 8.88 5.95
Second Quarter 5.75 4.98 9.29 8.03
Third Quarter 6.27 5.39 10.15 8.72
Fourth Quarter 9.96 5.70 16.09 9.44
2000
- ----
First Quarter 13.24 8.68 20.83 14.28
Second Quarter 10.98 7.69 17.13 11.46
Third Quarter 10.16 8.10 14.84 11.97
Fourth Quarter 9.41 6.93 13.71 10.12
2001
- ----
January 8.89 7.87 13.05 11.84
February 8.84 7.95 13.07 11.52
March 8.73 7.04 12.81 10.00
First Quarter 8.89 7.04 13.05 10.00
April 8.47 6.78 12.18 9.71
May 8.66 7.67 12.34 10.88
June* 7.64 7.60 10.79 10.77
Second Quarter* 8.66 6.78 12.34 9.71
*to June 5, 2001
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The ordinary shares have traded in the United States since December 29, 1987 in
the form of ADSs which are evidenced by ADRs. From November 16, 1999 onwards,
each ADS represents 5 ordinary shares (previously 10 ordinary shares since
November 15, 1995 and 2 ordinary shares prior to that date). The depositary for
the ADSs is Citibank, N.A. in New York. The following table sets forth, for the
quarters indicated, the reported high and low sales prices of the ADSs as
reported on by Nasdaq. High and low sales prices of the ADSs prior to November
16, 1999 have been restated for comparative purposes to represent one ADS for
every 5 ordinary shares.
45
US dollars per ADS
------------------
High Low
- -----------------------------------------------
1996 19.25 11.94
1997 24.88 19.56
1998 38.50 18.00
1999
- ----
First Quarter 44.38 30.44
Second Quarter 46.00 39.75
Third Quarter 50.44 42.69
Fourth Quarter 83.13 47.50
2000
- ----
First Quarter 102.56 70.13
Second Quarter 85.50 56.50
Third Quarter 73.38 59.31
Fourth Quarter 67.45 50.25
2001
- ----
January 65.31 59.00
February 65.00 58.25
March 64.00 51.50
First Quarter 65.31 51.50
April 61.46 48.00
May 61.77 54.14
June* 53.99 53.92
Second Quarter* 61.77 48.00
*to June 5, 2001
- -----------------------------------------------
The depositary for the ADSs as at December 31, 2000 held 143,098,360 ordinary
shares, approximately 12.9% of the outstanding ordinary shares, backing
28,619,672 outstanding ADRs.
46
ITEM 10. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
B. MEMORANDUM AND ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
The following summarizes certain provisions of our memorandum and articles
of association and applicable English law. This summary is qualified in its
entirety by reference to the UK Companies Act 1985 and our memorandum and
articles of association. A copy of our articles of association in the form
adopted on June 25, 2001 is being filed as an exhibit to this annual report on
Form 20-F.
Objects and Purposes
We are a public limited company incorporated under the name "WPP Group plc"
in England and Wales with registered number 1003653. Clause 4 of our memorandum
of association provides that our principal objects are to carry on the business
or businesses of media advertising, market research, public relations, sales
promotion and specialist communications and to develop concepts for advertising,
marketing, research, sales promotion and similar operations. Our memorandum
grants us a range of corporate capabilities to effect these objects.
Directors
Interested Transactions. Subject to any restrictions under the Companies
Act 1985, and provided the director has disclosed the nature and extent of the
interest to the board, the director may:
. have any kind of interest in a contract with or involving the company or
another company in which WPP has an interest;
. have any kind of interest in a company in which WPP has an interest;
. hold a position, other than auditor, for the company or another company in
which WPP has an interest on terms and conditions decided by the board; and
. either alone, or through a firm with which the director is associated, do
paid professional work other than as an auditor for WPP or another company in
which WPP has an interest on terms and conditions decided by the board.
When a director knows that he or she is in any way interested in a contract
with WPP he or she must disclose the nature of that interest at a meeting of the
directors. A general notice given to the board that a director has an interest
of the kind stated in the notice in a contract involving a person identified in
the notice is treated as a standing disclosure that the director has that
interest.
Subject to the provisions of our articles of association, a director shall
not vote (or be counted in the quorum at the meeting) on a resolution about a
contract in which the director, or a person who is connected with the director,
to his knowledge has a material interest. The director can vote, however, if
the interest is only an interest in WPP's shares, debentures or other
securities. In addition, a director can vote and be counted in the quorum on a
resolution in which the director has a material interest, provided the material
interest arises only because the resolution relates to:
. the giving of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of money lent or
obligations incurred by the director or that other person at the request of,
or for the benefit of, the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings;
47
. the giving of a guarantee, security or indemnity in respect of a debt or
obligation of the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings to that other
person, if the director has taken responsibility for all or any part of that
debt or obligation by giving a guarantee, security or indemnity;
. the offer by the company or any of its subsidiary undertakings of any shares,
debentures or other securities for subscription or purchase if the director
takes part because the director is a holder of shares, debentures or other
securities, or if the director takes part in the underwriting or sub-
underwriting of the offer;
. a contract involving any other company if the director, and any person
connected with the director, has any kind of interest in that company. This
does not apply if the director owns 1% or more of that company;
. a contract regarding an arrangement for the benefit of employees of the
company or any of its subsidiary undertakings which only give the director
benefits which are also generally given to the employees to whom the
arrangement relates; or
. a contract relating to the purchase of any insurance for the benefit of
persons including directors.
A director shall not vote or be counted in a quorum on a resolution
relating to his own appointment (including fixing or varying its terms) or the
termination of his own appointment, as the holder of any office or place of
profit with WPP or a company in which WPP is interested.
Subject to any restrictions under the Companies Act 1985 and our articles
of association, the board may exercise or arrange the exercise of the voting
rights attached to any shares in another company held by WPP and may exercise
voting rights which they have as directors of that company in any way they
decide. This includes voting in favor of a resolution appointment any of them
as directors or officers of that company and determining their remuneration.
Remuneration. The directors (other than any director who for the time
being holds an executive office of employment with WPP or a subsidiary of WPP)
shall be paid out of the funds of WPP by way of remuneration for their services
as directors such fees not exceeding in aggregate (Pounds)450,000 per annum or
such larger sum as WPP may, by ordinary resolution, determine. Such
remuneration shall be divided among the directors in such proportion and manner
as the board may decide. The board may also make arrangements for such
proportion of the fees payable to any director to be provided in the form of
fully paid ordinary shares in the capital of the company in accordance with the
provisions of the articles of association.
The board may also repay to a director all expenses properly incurred in
attending and returning from general meetings, board meetings or board committee
meetings, or expenses arising in any other way in connection with the company.
A director may also be paid out of the funds of WPP all expenses incurred by him
in obtaining professional advice in connection with the affairs of the company
or the discharge of his duties as a director.
The board may grant special remuneration to a director who performs any
special or extra services which the board considers extends beyond the ordinary
duties of a director. Such special remuneration may be paid by way of lump sum,
salary, commission, profit sharing or otherwise as decided by the board and may
be paid in addition to any other remuneration payable.
The board may decide whether to provide pensions, annual payments or other
allowances or benefits to any person, including those who are or who were
directors, their relations or dependants,
48
or anyone connected to them. The board may also decide to contribute to a
scheme, pension or fund or to pay premiums to a third party for these purposes.
Appointment. Directors may be appointed by the shareholders by ordinary
resolution or by the board of directors. A director appointed by the board
holds office only until the next annual general meeting but shall be eligible
for reappointment. Unless otherwise determined by ordinary resolution, the
number of directors shall not be less than six in number. There is no
requirement of share ownership for a director's qualification.
Retirement and Age Limit. At each annual general meeting, any director
then in office who has been appointed by the board since the previous annual
general meeting, or any director who at the date of the notice convening the
annual general meeting has held office for more than 30 months since he was
appointed or last reappointed by the company in general meeting, shall retire
from office but shall be eligible for reappointment. There is no age limit for
directors.
Borrowing Powers. The board may exercise all the powers of the company to
borrow money, mortgage or charge all or part of its undertaking, property and
assets (present and future) and uncalled capital and to issue debentures and
other securities and give security either outright or as collateral security for
any debt, liability or obligation of the company or of any third party.
The board shall restrict the borrowings of the company and exercise all
voting and other rights or powers of control exercisable by the company in
relation to its subsidiary undertakings so as to secure that the aggregate
amount of all borrowings at any time is not more than two and a half times
adjusted capital and reserves. This affects subsidiary undertakings only to the
extent the board can do this by exercising these rights or powers of control.
This limit can be exceeded if the consent of the shareowners has been given in
advance by passing an ordinary resolution. The limit does not include the
borrowings owing by one group company to another group company.
Indemnity of Directors. Subject to any restrictions under the Companies
Act 1985, every director or other officer (excluding an auditor) of the company
shall be indemnified out of the assets of the company against all liabilities
incurred by him in the actual or purported execution or discharge of his duties,
or the exercise or purported exercise of his powers or otherwise in relation to
or in connection with his duties, powers or office. This indemnity shall not
apply to any liability to the extent that it is recovered from any other person.
Ordinary Shares
Each of the issued WPP ordinary shares is fully paid and not subject to any
further calls or assessments by WPP. There are no conversion rights, redemption
provisions or sinking fund provisions relating to any WPP ordinary shares. The
WPP ordinary shares are issued in registered form.
[WPP may, subject to the Statutes and the articles of association issue
share warrants with respect to fully paid shares. It may also, with the
approval of shareowners in general meeting, convert all or any of its paid up
shares into stock and re-convert stock into paid up shares of any denomination.]
Voting Rights and General Meetings. At a general meeting an ordinary
resolution or any other question (other than a special or extraordinary
resolution) put the vote shall be decided by a show of hands unless a poll is
duly demanded. A poll may be demanded by:
. the chairman of the meeting;
49
. at least five shareowners present in person or by proxy, and who are entitled
to vote on the resolution;
. any shareowner(s) present in person or by proxy, who represent in the
aggregate at least 10% of the voting rights of all shareholders entitled to
vote on the resolution; or
. any shareowner(s) present in person or by proxy, who hold shares providing a
right to vote on the resolution on which the aggregate sum paid up on such
shares is equal to not less than 10% of the total sum paid up on all the
shares providing that right.
All special resolutions and extraordinary resolutions shall be decided on a
poll.
Subject to disenfranchisement in the event of (i) non-payment of any call or
other sum due and payable in respect of any shares or (ii) any non-compliance
with any statutory notice requiring disclosure of the beneficial ownership of
any shares, and subject to any special rights or restrictions as to voting for
the time being attached to any shares on a show of hands, every holder of WPP
ordinary shares who (being an individual) is present in person or (being a
corporation) is present by a duly authorized representative at a general meeting
of WPP will have one vote and every person present who has been appointed as a
proxy shall have one vote, and on a poll, every holder of WPP ordinary shares
who is present in person or by proxy will have one vote per share. In addition
any proxy who has been appointed by the ADR Depositary shall have such number of
votes as equals the number of shares in relation to which such proxy has been
appointed.
In the case of joint holders, the vote of the person whose name stands first
in the register of members and who tenders a vote is accepted to the exclusion
of any votes tendered by any other joint holders.
The necessary quorum for a general shareholder meeting is a minimum of two
persons entitled to vote on the business to be transacted, each being a
shareholder or a proxy for a shareholder or a duly authorized representative of
a corporate shareholder.
An annual general meeting and an extraordinary general meeting called for the
passing of a special resolution or a resolution of which special notice is
required by the Statutes or a resolution appointing any person (other than a
retiring director) as a director shall be called by not less than twenty one
clear days' notice. All other extraordinary general meetings shall be called by
not less that 14 clear days' notice. Only those shareowners entered in the
register of members 48 hours prior to the date of the meeting are entitled to
vote at that meeting and the number of shares then registered in their
respective names shall determine the number of votes such shareowner is entitled
to cast at that meeting.
Dividends. WPP may, by ordinary resolution declare a dividend to be paid to
the members according to their respective rights and interests in profits, and
may fix the time for payment of such dividend. No dividend may be declared in
excess of the amount recommended by the directors. The directors may from time
to time declare and pay to the shareowners of WPP such interim dividends as
appear to the directors to be justified by the profits of WPP available for
distribution. There are no fixed dates on which entitlement to dividends arises
on WPP ordinary shares.
The shareowners may pass, on the recommendation of the directors, an ordinary
resolution to direct all or any part of a dividend to be paid by distributing
specific assets, in particular paid up shares or debentures of any other
company.
50
The articles also permit a scrip dividend scheme under which shareowners may
be given the opportunity to elect to receive fully paid WPP ordinary shares
instead of cash, or a combination of shares and cash, with respect to future
dividends.
If a shareowner owes any money to the company relating in any way to shares,
the board may deduct any of this money from any dividend on any shares held by
the shareowner, or from other money payable by the company in respect of the
shares. Money deducted in this way may be used to pay the amount owed to the
company.
Unclaimed dividends and other money payable in respect of a share can be
invested or otherwise used by directors for the benefit of the company until
they are claimed. A dividend or other money remaining unclaimed twelve years
after it was declared of first became due for payment will be forfeited and
cease to remain owing by the company.
Return of capital. In the event of a winding-up or other return of capital of
WPP, the assets of WPP available for distribution among the shareowners will be
divided, subject to the rights attached to any other shares issued on any
special terms and conditions, between the holders of WPP ordinary shares
according to the respective amounts of nominal (par) value paid up on those
shares and in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 1985. The
liquidator may, if authorized by an extraordinary resolution of shareowners and
subject to the Companies Act 1985, divide and distribute among the shareowners,
the whole or any part of the non-cash assets of WPP in such manner as he may
determine.
The liquidator may also, with the same authority, transfer any assets to
trustees upon any trusts for the benefit of shareowners as the liquidator
decides. No past or present shareowner can be compelled to accept any shares or
other property which could subject him or her to a liability.
Alteration of Share Capital. WPP may from time by ordinary resolution of our
shareowners:
. increase its share capital by the amount, to be divided into shares of the
amounts, that the resolution prescribes;
. consolidate and divide all or any of its share capital into shares of a
larger amount than the existing shares;
. cancel any shares which, at the date of the passing of the resolution, have
not been taken, or agreed to be taken, by any person and diminish the amount
of the share capital by the amount of the shares cancelled; and
. subject to the Statutes, subdivide any of its shares into shares of a smaller
amount than that fixed by the memorandum of association, provided that the
proportion between the amount paid and the amount, if any, unpaid on each
reduced share must be the same as on the share from which the reduced share
is derived, and the resolution may determine that any of the shares resulting
from the sub-division may have any preference or advantage or have qualified
or deferred rights or be subject to any restrictions.
Subject to the Statutes, WPP may purchase or enter into a contract to purchase
any of its own shares of any class (including any redeemable shares, if we
should decide to issue any) provided that the approval of either more than 50%
(in the case of open market purchases) or 75% (in the case of private purchases)
of attending shareholders present in person or by proxy at a general meeting of
shareowners is given. However, shares may only be repurchased out of
distributable profits or the proceeds of a fresh issue of shares made for that
purpose, and, if a premium is paid it must be paid out of distributable profits.
51
WPP may, by special resolution, reduce its share capital or any capital
redemption reserve, share premium account or other nondistributable reserve,
subject in each case to confirmation by the English Courts.
Transfer of Shares
Unless the articles of association specify otherwise, a shareowner may
transfer some or all of his or her shares to another person in any manner which
is permitted by the Statutes and is approved by the board. Transfers of
uncertificated shares must be carried out using the relevant system. The
instrument of transfer for certificated shares must be signed by or on behalf of
the transferor and except in the case of a fully paid share, by or on behalf of
the transferee and must be delivered to the registered office or any other place
the directors decide.
The directors may refuse to register a transfer:
. if it is of shares which are not fully paid;
. if it is of shares on which WPP has a lien;
. if it is not stamped and duly presented for registration, together with the
share certificate and
. evidence of title as the board reasonably requires;
. if it is with respect to more than one class of shares;
. if it is in favor of more than four persons jointly; or
. in certain circumstances, if the holder has failed to provide the required
particulars to the investigating power referred to under "Disclosure of
interests in shares" below.
WPP may not refuse to register transfers of WPP ordinary shares if this
refusal would prevent dealings in the shares which have been admitted to
official listing by the UK Listing Authority from taking place on an open and
proper basis. If the board refuses to register a transfer of a share, it shall,
within two months after the date on which the transfer was lodged or the
Operator - instruction was received, send to the transferee notice of the
refusal. The registration of transfers may be suspended at any time and for any
period as the directors may determine. The register of shareowners may not be
closed for more than 30 days in any year.
Variation of Rights
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 1985 and unless otherwise
provided by the terms of issue of that class, the rights attached to any class
of shares may be varied with the written consent of the holders of three-fourths
in nominal (par) value of the issued shares of that class, or with the sanction
of an extraordinary resolution passed at a separate general meeting of the
holders of the shares of that class. At any separate general meeting, the
necessary quorum is two persons holding or representing by proxy not less than
one-third in nominal (par) value of the issued shares of the class in question
(but at any adjourned meeting, any person holding shares of the class or his
proxy is a quorum).
52
Preemption Rights
Under the Companies Act 1985, the issuance of equity securities, that are, or
are to be, paid for wholly in cash, except shares held under an employees' share
scheme, must be offered in the first instance to the existing equity shareowners
in proportion to the respective nominal (par) values of their holdings on the
same or more favorable terms, unless a special resolution to the contrary has
been passed in a general meeting of shareowners. In this context, equity
securities generally means, in relation to WPP, WPP ordinary shares, or shares
with no restrictions on the amounts receivable in a distribution of dividends or
capital, and all rights to subscribe for or convert into such shares.
Shareholder Notices
Record date for service. WPP may serve or deliver any notice, document or
other communication by reference to the register of members at any time not more
than 21 days before the date of service of delivery. No change in the register
after that time shall invalidate that service or delivery.
Untraced Shareowners. WPP may sell, in such manner as the board may
determine, any shares (including any share issued in right of a share) if:
. during the previous twelve years the shares have been in issue, at least three
dividends have become payable and no dividend was claimed or payment cashed;
. after this twelve-year period, notice is given of the company's intention to
sell the shares by advertisement in a UK national newspaper and a newspaper
appearing in the area which includes the address held by the company for
delivery of notices relating to the shares; and
. during this twelve-year period, and for three months after the last
advertisement appears in the newspaper, the company has not heard from the
shareholder or a person who is automatically entitled to the shares by law.
Notice to Shareowners with Foreign Addresses.
A shareowner whose registered address is outside the UK and who gives to the
company an address in the UK where notices, documents or communications may be
given shall be entitled to have notices, documents or communications given to
him at that address. Otherwise, the shareowner is not entitled to receive any
notices, documents or communications from the company.
Limitations on Voting and Shareholding
There are no limitations imposed by English law or our memorandum or articles
of association on the right of non-residents or foreign persons to hold or vote
WPP's ordinary shares or ADSs, other than limitations that would apply generally
to all of the shareowners.
Change of Control.
There are currently no provisions in our memorandum or articles of association
that would have an effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in of
our control and that would operate only with respect to a merger, acquisition or
corporate restructuring involving the company or any of its subsidiaries.
As an English public limited company we are, however, subject to the UK City
Code on
53
Takeovers and Mergers. The applicability of the City Code may make it difficult
or undesirable for a purchaser to acquire a substantial percentage of WPP shares
and could, under certain circumstances, have the effect of delaying, deferring
or preventing a change in our control. The City code does not have the force of
law, but compliance with it is often required in practice by any public limited
company considered to be resident in the United Kingdom, such as ourselves, and
of any person wishing to use the facilities of the UK securities market.
Under the City Code, except with the consent of the UK panel on takeovers
and Mergers, any person or persons acting in concert who:
. acquire shares which (together with shares already held by them) carry 30%
or more of our voting rights; or
. hold 30% to 50% of the voting rights and acquire, within a 12 month period,
further shares
must make an offer for all of WPP's equity and voting non-equity share capital
in which such person or persons acting in concert hold shares. The offer must be
made in cash, or have a cash alternative, for at least the highest price paid by
the offeror or persons acting in concert with it for such shares in the previous
12 months.
Disclosure of interests in shares
The Companies Act 1985 gives WPP power to require persons who it knows,
or reasonably believes are, or have been within the previous three years,
interested in its relevant share capital to disclose prescribed particulars of
those interests. For this purpose "relevant share capital" means issued share
capital of WPP carrying the right to vote in all circumstances at a general
meeting of WPP. Failure to provide the information requested within a
prescribed period after the dates of sending of the notice may result in
sanctions being imposed against the holder of the relevant shares as provided
in the Companies Act 1985. Under our articles of association, WPP may also
apply the following restrictions: the withdrawal of voting and certain other
rights of such shares of the class, restrictions on the rights to receive
dividends and to transfer such shares. In this context, the term "interest"
is broadly defined and will generally include an interest of any kind in
shares, including the interest of a holder of a WPP ordinary share.
In addition, under the Companies Act 1985, any person who acquires either
alone or, in certain circumstances, with others a direct or indirect interest
in the relevant share capital of WPP in excess of the "notifiable percentage",
currently 3% or 10% for certain types of interest, is obligated to disclose
prescribed information to WPP with respect to those shares within two days.
An obligation of disclosure also arises where such person's notifiable
interest subsequently falls below the notifiable percentage or where, above
that level, the percentage, expressed in whole numbers of WPP's relevant
capital in which such person is interested increases or decreases.
54
Exchange Controls and Other Limitations Affecting Security Holders
Until October 21, 1979, the rules issued under the United Kingdom Exchange
Control Act of 1947 imposed restrictions on remittances by United Kingdom
residents to persons not resident in the United Kingdom or certain other
territories. These restrictions did not apply to remittances of dividends to
persons resident or treated as resident in the United States or Canada who were
not domiciled in the United Kingdom.
The legislation pursuant to which such exchange controls were imposed has been
repealed and there are currently no such United Kingdom foreign exchange control
restrictions on remittances of dividends on the ordinary shares or on the
conduct of the Registrant's operations.
Under the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and English law in
force at the date of this Report, persons who are neither residents nor
nationals of the United Kingdom may freely hold, vote and transfer ordinary
shares in the same manner as United Kingdom residents or nationals.
Taxation
The taxation discussion set forth below is intended only as a descriptive
summary and does not purport to be a complete technical analysis or listing of
all potential tax effects relevant to a decision to purchase, hold or in any way
transfer ordinary shares or ADRs. The statements of United Kingdom and United
States tax laws set out below are based on the laws in force as of the date of
this Annual Report, and are subject to any changes in United States or United
Kingdom law, and in any double taxation convention between the United States and
the United Kingdom, occurring after that date.
The following summary of certain United States and United Kingdom tax
consequences is not exhaustive of all possible tax considerations and
prospective purchasers of ADSs are advised to satisfy themselves as to the
overall tax consequences of their ownership of ADSs and the ordinary shares
represented thereby by consulting their own tax advisers. In addition, this
summary provides no advice with respect to a United States shareholder (either
corporate or individual) where the shareholder controls, or is deemed to
control, 10% or more of the voting stock of the Company.
As used herein, the term "United States corporation" means any corporation
organized under the laws of the United States or any state or the District of
Columbia.
For the purposes of the current United States - United Kingdom double taxation
conventions and for the purposes of the United States Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended (the "Code"), discussed below, the holders of ADSs will be
treated as the owners of the underlying ordinary shares represented by the ADSs
that are evidenced by such ADRs.
Taxation of Dividends
United Kingdom Residents. In respect of dividends paid after April 6, 1999, the
- -------------------------
notional tax credit that will be available for an individual shareholder
resident in the United Kingdom will be 1/9th of the dividend. Tax credits are
no longer repayable to UK holders with no tax liability. Individuals whose
income is not within the higher income tax band are liable to tax at 10% on the
dividend income and the notional tax credit will continue to satisfy their
income tax liability on UK dividends. The higher rate of tax on dividend income
was also reduced to 32.5% from April 6, 1999.
In the case of an individual who is a United States citizen and a resident of
the United Kingdom, the dividend must be reported as income in the shareholder's
United States income tax liability, and the notional United Kingdom tax credit
attached to the dividend and any further UK taxes suffered on the dividend
income will be eligible to be claimed as a credit against the individual
shareholder's
55
United States income tax liability, subject to certain limitations and, in any
case, only to the extent that such tax exceeds the amount of ACT credit in
respect of the related dividend.
United States Residents. In the case of an individual who is a United States
- ------------------------
citizen and not a resident of the United Kingdom, the dividend (i.e. the cash
dividend exclusive of any notional tax credit in respect of such dividend) must
be reported as income in the shareholder's United States income tax liability,
and the United Kingdom tax (including withholding taxes) actually paid or
accrued to the Inland Revenue will be eligible to be claimed as a credit against
the individual shareholder's United States income tax liability, subject to
certain limitations and, in any case, only to the extent that such tax exceeds
the amount of ACT credit in respect of the related dividend.
Under the Income Tax Convention between the United States and the United Kingdom
the tax treatment depends upon the status of the shareholder. A shareholder who
is a United States resident individual or a United States corporation (other
than a corporation which controls at least 10% of the voting stock of the
Company), and whose holding is not effectively connected with (a) a permanent
establishment through which the shareholder carries on business in the United
Kingdom or (b) a fixed base regularly available and situated in the United
Kingdom from which the shareholder performs independent personal services, is
entitled to a payment equal to the tax credit to which a United Kingdom resident
individual would have been entitled in respect of such dividend, subject to a
withholding tax of 15% of the net dividend plus credit. Since April 6, 1999,
this payment is effectively reduced to nil (as withholding tax is greater than
the tax credit).
However, a portfolio investor (i.e. all investors holding less than 10% of the
voting stock of the company) may elect to be treated as receiving the amount due
from the UK government (i.e. 10 x tax credit less 15% withholding tax) by
indicating the election on a timely filed form 8833 for the relevant year. With
the election, a portfolio investor is treated as having received an additional
dividend equal to the gross amount of the tax credit and having paid the
withholding tax due, on the date of the distribution. The portfolio investor can
thus include the gross payment received in dividend income and may claim a
foreign tax credit. The amount of the creditable withholding tax cannot exceed
the tax credit payable to the investor. Alternatively, portfolio investors can
choose to be taxed on the net dividend received. Shareholders should consult
with their tax advisor to determine whether there is an advantage in filing form
8833 in their case.
The gross dividend (the sum of the dividend paid by the Company plus any related
United Kingdom tax credit) will be treated as foreign source dividend income for
United States Federal income tax purposes provided that such dividend is paid
out of the company's earnings and profits, as defined for United States Income
Tax purposes. If the dividend is not paid out of earnings and profits, it will
be treated as a return of capital (up to the holders' tax basis in their
shares).
Any excess above the combination of the amounts treated as dividends and returns
of capital will be treated as a capital gain. Dividends paid out of earnings and
profits to a holder who is a United States citizen or a United States resident
will not be eligible for the 70% dividends received deduction allowed to United
States corporations under Section 243 of the Code. However, subject to certain
limitations on foreign tax credits generally, the applicable United Kingdom
withholding tax (if any) will be treated as a foreign income tax eligible for
credit against such share owners' United States Federal income taxes.
In certain cases the tax treatment under the Income Tax Convention described
above may be limited or denied if the holder acquired the ADRs or ordinary
shares primarily to secure the benefits of the Convention and not for bona fide
commercial reasons.
Taxation of Capital Gains
An individual shareholder resident in the United Kingdom will be liable to
United Kingdom taxation on capital gains realized on the disposal of their ADSs
or ordinary shares.
Holders of ADSs or ordinary shares who are United States resident individuals or
United States corporations, and who are not resident or ordinarily resident in
the United Kingdom, will not be liable to United Kingdom taxation of capital
gains realized on the disposal of their ADSs or ordinary shares unless the ADSs
or ordinary shares are used or held for the purposes of a trade carried on in
the United Kingdom through a permanent establishment. However, a holder of ADSs
or ordinary shares who is a United States citizen or a United States resident
(as defined above) will be liable to taxation on such capital gains under the
laws of the United States.
56
Estate and Gift Tax
The current Estate and Gift Tax Convention between the United States and the
United Kingdom generally relieves from United Kingdom inheritance tax (the
equivalent of United States estate and gift tax) the transfer of ordinary shares
or of ADSs where the shareholder or holder of the ADS's making the transfer is
domiciled for the purposes of the Convention in the United States and is not a
national of the United Kingdom. This will not apply if the ordinary shares or
ADSs are part of the business property of an individual's permanent
establishment in the United Kingdom or are related to the fixed base in the
United Kingdom of a person providing independent personal services.
If no relief is given under the Convention, inheritance tax will be charged at a
rate worked out on a cumulative basis on the amount by which the value of the
transferor's estate is reduced as a result of any transfer (unless the transfer
is exempt or "potentially exempt") made by way of gift or other gratuitous
transaction by an individual or on the death of an individual or into certain
defined trusts.
Potentially exempt transfers are transfers made to certain specified classes of
person and become wholly exempt if made at least more than seven years before
the death of the transferor and it becomes chargeable if not so made. Special
rules apply to gifts made subject to a reservation of benefit. In the unusual
case where ordinary shares or ADSs are subject to both United Kingdom
inheritance tax and United States gift or estate tax, the Convention generally
provides for tax paid in the United Kingdom to be credited against tax payable
in the United States or for tax paid in the United States to be credited against
tax payable in the United Kingdom based on priority rules set forth in the
Convention.
Stamp Duty and Stamp Duty Reserve Tax
Under the Finance Act 1986 (the "Finance Act"), no UK Stamp Duty will be payable
on any transfer of an ADS or on any delivery or negotiation of an ADR, provided
that the instrument of transfer is executed and remains outside the UK nor will
there be any liability to Stamp Duty Reserve Tax in respect of any agreement for
transfer of ADSs. Dealings in ADRs in bearer form outside the UK will be free of
Stamp Duty, but certain bearer dealings within the UK may attract Stamp Duty at
the rate of 1.5%.
The Finance Act provides that, as from October 27, 1986, there will be a charge
to ad valorem Stamp Duty on any instrument transferring ordinary shares to a
nominee or agent for a depositary which then issues depositary receipts (such as
the ADRs). Where the instrument is liable to Stamp Duty as a "conveyance on
sale" then the rate of duty is 1.5% of the consideration for the sale
implemented by the instrument.
Where the instrument of transfer is not stampable as a conveyance on sale, then
the rate of duty is 1.5% of the market value of the security transferred by the
instrument, except that the rate of duty is reduced to 1% in the case of certain
transfers effected by a qualified dealer in securities (as defined in the
Finance Act).
The Finance Act also provides that there is to be a charge to Stamp Duty Reserve
Tax which will apply where ordinary shares are transferred, issued or
appropriated to a nominee or agent for a depositary under an arrangement under
which the depositary issues ADRs. Stamp Duty Reserve Tax, which is payable by
the depositary, is charged at a rate of 1.5% of the consideration for the
transfer. Where there is no such consideration, the rate of Stamp Duty Reserve
Tax is 1.5% of the market value of the securities transferred or 1% in the case
of certain transfers effected by a qualified dealer in securities (as defined in
the Finance Act). The charge to Stamp Duty Reserve Tax will, however, be reduced
by the amount, if any, of ad valorem Stamp Duty paid on the instrument
transferring the ordinary shares.
In the case of conveyances or transfers of ordinary shares executed pursuant to
contracts made after October 27, 1986 the rate of duty is 1/2% of the
consideration, if any, for the transfer. There is a charge to Stamp Duty Reserve
Tax at a rate of 1/2% of the consideration for the transaction where there is an
agreement for the sale of ordinary shares. The Stamp Duty Reserve Tax will in
general be payable by the purchaser of the ordinary shares but regulations have
been made which provide for the tax to be collected in certain circumstances
from persons other than the purchaser (e.g. a market maker). The charge to Stamp
Duty Reserve Tax will, however, be reduced by the amount, if any, of ad valorem
Stamp Duty paid on the instrument transferring the ordinary shares.
A gift for no consideration of ordinary shares (other than as part of ADR
arrangements) will not attract a Stamp Duty charge after May 1, 1987 (if
appropriately certified) and is exempt from Stamp Duty Reserve Tax.
57
A transfer of ordinary shares from a depositary or its agent or nominee to a
person purchasing from an ADS holder on cancellation of an ADR is liable to duty
as a "conveyance on sale" because it completes a sale of such ordinary shares
and will be liable to ad valorem Stamp Duty, payable by the purchaser.
A transfer of ordinary shares from a depositary or its agent or nominee to an
ADS holder on cancellation of an ADR which is not liable to duty as a
"conveyance on sale" is currently understood to be liable to a fixed Duty of
50p.
ITEM 11. QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK
The Company's principal market risks are changes in interest rates and currency
exchange rates. Following evaluation of these positions, the Company selectively
enters into derivative financial instruments to manage its risk exposure.
The Company has entered into interest rate swap agreements with off-balance
sheet risk in order to reduce its exposure to changes in interest rates on its
variable rate long-term debt. As of December 31, 2000, the Company had obtained
interest rate protection agreements with respect to $350 million of indebtedness
maturing at various times through 2003. The fair value of the swaps at December
31, 2000 was $349.3 million (at December 31, 1999 -$353.4 million). All interest
rate derivative contracts are approved by senior financial management prior to
execution.
Credit risk related to the interest rate swap agreements is the possibility that
the counterparty will fail to fulfill its contractual commitment, and the amount
of this risk is represented by the positive fair value of the interest rate
swaps outstanding at the given time. The Company only enters into derivative
contracts with well known trading banks which are members of the Revolving
Credit Facility syndicate and which are investment grade. The following table
provides the Company's outstanding interest rate swaps with the notional
principal value and the weighted average fixed interest rate by maturity date.
$ millions 2000 2001 2002
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notional Principal Outstanding at $ 350 $ 250 $ 200
December 31, 2000
Weighted Average Fixed Rate Payable 6.17% 6.20% 6.22%
Average Variable Rate Receivable Six-month Six-month Six-month
LIBOR LIBOR LIBOR
The variable rate receivable on the interest rate swaps is based on three and
six month LIBOR and is not forecast in this table. The six-month LIBOR rate at
December 31, 2000 was 5.87%. However, the rate on the underlying variable rate
debt drawn under the Revolving Credit Facility is payable based on LIBOR plus a
margin, offsetting the interest rate receivable under the interest rate swap
(excluding the margin).
Analysis of fixed and floating rate debt by currency:
(Pounds)m Fixed Floating Period
Currency rate /1/ basis (months)/1/
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ 624.9/2/ 5.37% n/a 42
US$ 148.0 n/a LIBOR n/a
(Pounds) 178.0 n/a LIBOR n/a
Euro 71.6 n/a LIBOR n/a
Other 3.7 n/a various n/a
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,026.2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
58
/1/Weighted average.
/2/Including drawings on working capital facility.
At December 31, 2000 the Group had one forward rate agreement in place capping
short-term US$ interest rates at an average rate of 5.65% on $25 million of
borrowings.
The Company's approach to managing foreign exchange rate risk is discussed in
Item 5-Operating and Financial Review and Prospects.
ITEM 12. DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES OTHER THAN EQUITY SECURITIES
Not applicable.
59
PART II
ITEM 13. DEFAULTS, DIVIDEND ARREARAGES AND DELINQUENCIES
None.
60
ITEM 14. MATERIAL MODIFICATIONS TO THE RIGHTS OF SECURITY HOLDERS AND USE OF
PROCEEDS
In October 2000, in connection with the Company's acquisition of Young &
Rubicam, the Company agreed to guarantee Young & Rubicam's outstanding 3%
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005 (the "Y&R Notes"). In connection with
the Company's guarantee, the indenture for the Y&R Notes was amended to permit
WPP to satisfy Young & Rubicam's obligation thereunder to file public reports
by: (1) filing with the SEC all periodic reports WPP is required to file under
Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; and (2) furnishing to the holders of the Y&R Notes and the indenture
trustee all financial information WPP furnishes to the holders of its ADSs. In
addition, in view of the fact that the Y&R Notes would be convertiable into WPP
ADSs after the merger and the registration in connection with the merger of the
Y&R Notes and the ADSs issuable upon conversion of the Y&R Notes, a registration
agreement between Young & Rubicam and the holders of the Y&R notes was amended
to release Young & Rubicam from its obligation to register the Y&R Notes and the
securities issuable upon conversion of the Y&R Notes.
ITEM 15. [Reserved]
ITEM 16. [Reserved]
ITEM 17. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
The Registrant has responded to Item 18 in lieu of responding to this item.
61
PART III
ITEM 18. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
Consolidated Financial Statements of WPP Group plc as at December 31, 2000,
1999, and 1998
(page F-1)
62
ITEM 19. EXHIBITS.
Exhibit No. Exhibit Title
- ----------- ----------------------------------------------------------------
1.1 Memorandum and Articles of Association of WPP Group plc.*
2.1 Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated as of October 24,
1995, among WPP Group plc, Citibank, N.A., as Depositary, and all
holders and beneficial owners from time to time of American
Depositary Receipts issued thereunder (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit (a) of the Registration Statement on Form
F-6 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on October
31, 1996 (Reg. No. 333-5906)).
2.2 Amendment No. 1 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated
as of November 9, 1999, by and among WPP Group plc, Citibank,
N.A., as Depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from
time to time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(i) of Amendment
No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-6 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 1999 (Reg. No.
333-5906)).
2.3 Amendment No. 2 to Amended and Restated Deposit Agreement, dated
October 3, 2000, among WPP Group plc, Citibank, N.A., as
Depositary, and all holders and beneficial owners from time to
time of American Depositary Receipts issued thereunder
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit (a)(i) of Amendment
No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form F-6, filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on June 30, 2000 (Reg. No.
333-5906).
2.4 Registration Agreement dated as of January 20, 2000 between Young
& Rubicam Inc. and Salomon Smith Barney Inc., Bear Stearns & Co.
Inc., Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated and Thomas Weisel Partners LLC. (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 filed by Young & Rubicam Inc. with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 17, 2000 (Reg. No. 333-34948)).
2.5 Form of Amendment to Registration Agreement between Young &
Rubicam Inc. and the initial purchasers of Young & Rubicam's 3%
Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.10 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form F-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 29, 2000 (File Nos. 333-43650 and
333-43640)).
2.6 Indenture dated as of January 20, 2000 between Young & Rubicam
Inc. and The Bank of New York as trustee (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 10.28 to Young & Rubicam Inc.'s Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999 (File
No. 001-14093)).
2.7 Form of 3% Convertible Subordinated Note due 2005 (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit A to Exhibit 10.28 to Young &
Rubicam Inc.'s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999 (File No. 001-14093)).
2.8 Form of First Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture dated as of
January 20, 2000 for the 3% Convertible Subordinated Notes due
2005, among Young & Rubicam Inc., WPP Group plc, and The Bank of
New York (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.7 of
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2000
(File Nos. 333-43650 and 333-43640)).
63
2.9 Form of Second Supplemental Indenture to the Indenture dated as
of January 20, 2000 for the 3% Convertible Subordinated Notes due
2005, among Young & Rubicam Inc., WPP Group plc, and The Bank of
New York (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.8 of
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement on Form F-4 filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 29, 2000
(File Nos. 333-43650 and 333-43640)).
2.10 Indenture dated as of July 15, 1998 between WPP Finance (USA)
Corporation, WPP Group plc and Bankers Trust Company, as Trustee,
in connection with the issuance of 6 5/8% Notes due July 15, 2005
and 6 7/8% Notes due July 15, 2008 (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4.1 to WPP Finance (USA) Corporation's and
WPP Group plc's Registration Statement on Form F-3 filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission on July 8, 1998 (File No.
333-9058)).
2.11 Forms of 6 5/8% Notes due July 15, 2005 and 6 7/8% Notes due July
15, 2008 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to WPP
Finance (USA) Corporation's and WPP Group plc's Registration
Statement on Form F-3 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 8, 1998 (File No. 333-9058)).
2.12 Agreement of Registrant to file, if requested by Securities and
Exchange Commission, indenture and form of notes relating to the
issuance of 5.125% Bonds due June 2004 and the issuance of 6.0%
Bonds due June 2008.*
4.1 Amended and Restated Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated as of
May 11, 2000, by and among WPP Group plc, Young & Rubicam Inc.,
York Merger Corp. and York II Merger Corp. (incorporated herein
by reference to Exhibit 2 of Amendment No. 1 to the Registration
Statement on Form F-4 filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 25, 2000).
4.2 Consolidated Revolving Credit Facility Agreement, dated July 3,
1998, amending, modifying and restating the Revolving Credit
Facility Agreement dated July 4, 1997 by and between WPP Group
plc, the original Borrowers, the Guarantors, Bankers Trust
Company (as facility agent) and the Lenders and Arrangers
referred to therein (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1(b) of
the Annual Report on Form 20-F filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission on July 2, 1999).
4.3 Revolving Credit Facility and Term Out Facility Agreement, dated
August 7, 2000 (incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 99.1
of Form 6-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on
August 28, 2000).
4.4 The WPP Executive Stock Option Plan (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 99 of the Registration Statement on Form S-8
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on August 6,
1996 (File No. 333-04302).
4.5 Leadership Equity Acquisition Plan, adopted by WPP Group plc in
September 1999.*
4.6 WPP Group plc Performance Share Plan.*
4.7 2001-2003 Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") The Ogilvy Group,
Inc. Participant Guide.*
4.8 2001-2003 Long Term Incentive Plan ("LTIP") J. Walter Thompson
Company, Inc. Participant Guide.*
4.9 J. Walter Thompson Company, Inc. Retained Benefit Supplemental
Employee Retirement Plan.*
4.10 Young & Rubicam Inc. Deferred Compensation Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.26 to Young & Rubicam's Registration
Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-46929)).
64
4.11 Amendment No. 1 to Young & Rubicam Inc. Deferred Compensation
Plan effective as of November 19, 1997 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.26 to Young & Rubicam's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1998).
4.12 Amendment No. 2 to Young & Rubicam Inc. Deferred Compensation
Plan effective as of January 1, 1999 (incorporated by reference
to Exhibit 10.27 to Young & Rubicam's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1998).
4.13 Young & Rubicam Holdings Inc. Restricted Stock Plan (incorporated
by reference to Exhibit 10.4 to the Young & Rubicam's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-46929)).
4.14 Young & Rubicam Holdings Inc. Management Stock Option Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.5 to Young & Rubicam's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-46929)).
4.15 Young & Rubicam Inc. 1997 Incentive Compensation Plan
(incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.6 to Young & Rubicam's
Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-46929)).
4.16 Amendment to Young & Rubicam Inc. 1997 Incentive Compensation
Plan (incorporated by reference from Exhibit 10.28 to Young &
Rubicam's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-46929)).
4.17 Amendment No. 2 to Young & Rubicam Inc. 1997 Incentive
Compensation Plan (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.23 to
Young & Rubicam's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1999).
4.18 Young & Rubicam Inc. Director Stock Option Plan (incorporated by
reference to Exhibit 10.25 to Young & Rubicam's Annual Report on
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1999).
4.19 Young & Rubicam Inc. Executive Income Deferral Program.*
4.20 Ogilvy & Mather ERISA Excess Plan Summary Plan Description.*
4.21 Ogilvy & Mather Executive Savings Plan Summary Plan Description,
in connection with a 25% matching contribution.*
4.22 Ogilvy & Mather Executive Savings Plan Summary Plan Description,
in connection with a 50% matching contribution.*
4.23 Ogilvy & Mather Deferred Compensation Plan Summary Plan
Description.*
8.1 List of subsidiaries.*
10.1 Consent Of Independent Chartered Accountants.*
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*filed herewith.
65
Signatures
Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, the Registrant certifies that it meets all of the requirements for filing
on Form 20-F and has duly caused this annual report to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned thereunto duly authorised.
WPP Group plc
By: /S/ P W G Richardson
-----------------------
Paul W G Richardson
Group Finance Director
66
WPP GROUP plc
INDEX TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
ITEM 18.
Financial
Statement
Number Page
- ------ ----
A. Consolidated Financial Statements of WPP Group plc as of
the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998
(i) Report of Independent Chartered Accountants F-2
(iii) Accounting policies F-3
(iv) Consolidated profit and loss account for the years ended
December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 F-6
(v) Consolidated statement of cash flows for the years
ended December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 F-7
(vi) Consolidated statement of recognised gains and losses
for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 F-7
(vii) Consolidated balance sheet as of December 2000,
1999, and 1998 F-8
(viii) Consolidated statement of changes in share owners'
funds for the years ended December 31, 2000, 1999,
and 1998 F-9
(ix) Notes to the consolidated profit and loss account F-10
(x) Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement F-13
(xi) Notes to the consolidated balance sheet F-15
(xii) Reconciliation to Generally Accepted US Accounting Principles F-22
F-1
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT CHARTERED ACCOUNTANTS
To the Board of Directors and share owners of WPP Group plc:
We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of WPP Group plc
and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 and the related
consolidated statement of income, statement of changes in share owners' funds,
statement of recognised gains and losses and cash flows for the years then
ended. 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 auditing standards generally accepted
in the United Kingdom and the 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 financial position of WPP Group plc and subsidiaries
as of December 31, 2000, 1999, and 1998 and the results of their operations and
their cash flows for the years then ended December 31, 2000 in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles in the United Kingdom.
Certain accounting practices of WPP Group plc used in preparing the accompanying
consolidated financial statements conform with generally accepted accounting
principles in the United Kingdom, but do not conform with accounting principles
generally accepted in the United States. A description of these differences and
the adjustments required to conform the consolidated financial statements to
accounting principles generally accepted in the United States are set forth on
F-22 to F-23.
May 4, 2001 Arthur Andersen
Chartered Accountants
and Registered Auditors
London, England
F-2
Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with applicable
accounting standards in the United Kingdom. A summary of the Group's principal
accounting policies, which have been applied consistently throughout the year
and the preceding year (except as disclosed in accounting policy 14), is set out
below.
1 Basis of accounting and presentation of financial statements.
The financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention.
2 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the results of the Company and all
its subsidiary undertakings made up to the same accounting date. The results of
subsidiary undertakings acquired or disposed of during the year are included or
excluded from the profit and loss account from the effective date of acquisition
or disposal.
3 Goodwill and intangible fixed assets
Intangible fixed assets comprise goodwill and certain acquired separable
corporate brand names.
Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value attributed to investments
in businesses or subsidiary undertakings over the fair value of the underlying
net assets at the date of their acquisition. In accordance with FRS 10, for
acquisitions made on or after 1 January 1998, goodwill has been capitalised as
an intangible asset. Goodwill arising on acquisitions prior to that date was
written off to reserves in accordance with the accounting standard then in
force. On disposal or closure of a business, the attributable amount of goodwill
previously written off to reserves is included in determining the profit or loss
on disposal.
Corporate brand names acquired as part of acquisitions of business are
capitalised separately from goodwill as intangible fixed assets if their value
can be measured reliably on initial recognition.
The directors have reassessed their opinion that all the goodwill and
intangible assets of the Group have an infinite economic life. For certain
acquisitions, where the directors consider it more appropriate, goodwill is now
amortised over its useful life up to a 20 year period, from the date of
acquisition. The remaining goodwill and intangible assets of the Group are
considered to have an infinite economic life because of the institutional nature
of the corporate brand names, their proven ability to maintain market leadership
and profitable operations over long periods of time and WPP's commitment to
develop and enhance their value. The carrying value of these intangible assets
will continue to be reviewed annually for impairment and adjusted to the
recoverable amount if required.
The financial statements depart from the specific requirement of companies
legislation to amortise goodwill over a finite period in order to give a true
and fair view. The directors consider this to be necessary for the reasons given
above. Because of the infinite life of these intangible assets, it is not
possible to quantify its impact.
4 Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are shown at cost less accumulated depreciation with the
exception of freehold land which is not depreciated. Depreciation is provided at
rates calculated to write off the cost
F-3
less estimated residual value of each asset on a straight-line basis over its
estimated useful life, as follows:
Freehold buildings - 2% per annum
Leasehold land and buildings - over the term of the lease
Fixtures, fittings and equipment - 10%-33% per annum
Computer equipment - 33% per annum
5 Investments
Except as stated below, fixed asset investments are shown at cost less provision
for diminution in value.
The Group's share of the profits less losses of associated undertakings is
included in the consolidated profit and loss account and the investments are
shown in the Group balance sheet as the Group's share of the net assets. The
Group's share of the profits less losses and net assets is based on current
information produced by the undertakings, adjusted to conform with the
accounting policies of the Group.
6 Stocks and work in progress
Work in progress is valued at cost or on a percentage of completion basis. Cost
comprises outlays incurred on behalf of clients and an appropriate proportion of
direct costs and overheads on incomplete assignments. Provision is made for
irrecoverable costs where appropriate. Stocks are stated at the lower of cost
and net realisable value.
7 Debtors
Debtors are stated net of provisions for bad and doubtful debts.
8 Taxation
Corporate taxes are payable on taxable profits at current rates.
9 Incentive plans
The Group's share based incentive plans are accounted for in accordance with
Urgent Issues Task Force ('UITF') Abstract 17 'Employee Share Schemes'. The cost
of shares acquired by the Group's ESOP trusts or the fair market value of the
shares at the date of the grant, less any consideration to be received from the
employee, is charged to the Group's profit and loss account over the period to
which the employee's performance relates. Where awards are contingent upon
future events (other than continued employment) an assessment of the likelihood
of these conditions being achieved is made at the end of each reporting period
and an appropriate accrual made.
F-4
10 Pension costs
The charge to the profit and loss account in respect of defined benefit pension
schemes is the estimated regular cost of providing the benefits accrued in the
year, adjusted to reflect variations from that cost. The regular cost is
calculated to achieve a substantially level percentage of the current and
expected future pensionable payroll. Variations from regular costs are allocated
to the profit and loss account over a period approximating to the scheme
members' average remaining service lives. For defined contribution schemes,
contributions are charged to the profit and loss account as payable in respect
of the accounting period.
11 Operating leases
Operating lease rentals are charged to the profit and loss account on a
systematic basis. Any premium or discount on the acquisition of a lease is
spread over the life of the lease or until the date of the first rent review.
12 Turnover, cost of sales and revenue recognition
Turnover comprises the gross amounts billed to clients in respect
of commission-based income together with the total of other fees earned. Cost of
sales comprises media payments and production costs. Revenue comprises
commission and fees earned in respect of turnover. Turnover and revenue are
stated exclusive of VAT, sales taxes and trade discounts.
Advertising and media investment management
Revenue is typically derived from commissions on media placements and fees for
advertising services. Traditionally, the Group's advertising clients were
charged a standard commission on their total media and production expenditure.
In recent years, however, this frequently has tended to become a matter of
individual negotiation. Compensation may therefore consist of various
arrangements involving commissions, fees, incentive-based compensation or a
combination of the three, as agreed upon with each client.
Revenue is recognised when the service is performed, in accordance with
the terms of the contractual arrangement. Incentive-based compensation typically
comprises both quantitative and qualitative elements; on the element related to
quantitative targets, revenue is recognised when the quantitative targets have
been achieved; on the element related to qualitative targets, revenue is
recognised when the incentive is received/receivable.
Public relations & public affairs and Branding & identity, healthcare and
specialist communications Revenue is typically derived from retainer fees and
services to be performed subject to specific agreement. Revenue is recognised
when the service is performed, in accordance with the terms of the contractual
arrangement. Revenue is recognised on long-term contracts, if the final outcome
can be assessed with reasonable certainty, by including in the profit and loss
account revenue and related costs as contract activity progresses.
Information & consultancy
Revenue is recognised on each market research contract in proportion to the
level of service performed. Costs, including an appropriate proportion of
overheads relating to contracts in progress at the balance sheet date, are
carried forward in work in progress. Losses are recognised as soon as they are
foreseen.
13 Translation of foreign currencies
Foreign currency transactions arising from normal trading activities are
recorded in local currency at current exchange rates. Monetary assets and
liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the year-end are translated at
the year-end exchange rate. Foreign currency gains and losses are credited or
charged to the profit and loss account as they arise. The profit and loss
accounts of overseas subsidiary undertakings are translated into pounds sterling
at average exchange rates and the year-end net investments in these companies
are translated at year-end exchange rates. Exchange differences arising from
retranslation at year-end exchange rates of the opening net investments and
results for the year are dealt with as movements in reserves.
14 Changes in accounting policies
The Group adopted FRS 19 (Deferred Tax) during the year. Deferred tax is
recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not
reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions or events that result in
an obligation to pay more tax in the future or a right to pay less tax in the
future have occurred at the balance sheet date. Timing differences are
differences between the Group's taxable profits and its results as stated in the
financial statements that arise from the inclusion of gains and losses in tax
assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in the
financial statements. A net deferred tax asset is regarded as recoverable and
therefore recognised only when, on the basis of all available evidence, it can
be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits
from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be
deducted.
The Group also adopted FRS 15 (Tangible Fixed Assets) and FRS 16 (Current
Tax) during the year. There has been no material impact on the financial
statements as a result of the adoption of these new standards.
F-5
Consolidated profit and loss account
For the years ended 31 December 2000, 1999 and 1998
2000
-----------------------------------------
Acquisitions
Continuing (Young &
operations* Rubicam only) Total 1999 1998
Note (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Turnover (gross billings) 12,212.7 1,736.7 13,949.4 9,345.9 8,000.1
Cost of sales (9,591.4) (1,377.3) (10,968.7) (7,173.3) (6,081.7)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Revenue 2,621.3 359.4 2,980.7 2,172.6 1,918.4
Direct costs (244.6) - (244.6) (317.3) (285.9)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 2,376.7 359.4 2,736.1 1,855.3 1,632.5
2 Operating costs (2,046.3) (311.8) (2,358.1) (1,591.8) (1,403.4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit 330.4 47.6 378.0 263.5 229.1
Income from associates 35.4 2.6 38.0 27.3 16.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Profit on ordinary activities
before interest and taxation 365.8 50.2 416.0 290.8 245.2
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Net interest payable and
similar charges (47.8) (2.5) (50.3) (35.4) (32.4)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 318.0 47.7 365.7 255.4 212.8
5 Taxation on profit on ordinary activities (109.7) (76.6) (67.0)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 256.0 178.8 145.8
Minority interests (11.3) (6.0) (5.5)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to ordinary share owners 244.7 172.8 140.3
6 Ordinary dividends (37.8) (24.0) (19.6)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained profit for the year 206.9 148.8 120.7
============================================================================================================================
7 Earnings per share
Basic earnings per ordinary share 29.3p 22.9p 19.1p
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per ordinary share 28.4p 22.5p 18.8p
============================================================================================================================
6 Ordinary dividend per share
Interim dividend 1.2p 1.0p 0.84p
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final dividend 2.55p 2.1p 1.72p
============================================================================================================================
Earnings per ADR
Basic earnings per ADR 146.5p 114.5p 95.5p
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per ADR 142.0p 112.5p 94.0p
============================================================================================================================
Ordinary dividend per ADR (net)
Interim 6.0p 5.0p 4.2p
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Final 12.8p 10.5p 8.6p
============================================================================================================================
The accompanying notes form an integral part of this profit and loss
account.
There is no material difference between the results disclosed in the profit
and loss account and the historical cost profit as defined by FRS 3.
Movements in share owners' funds are set out on page F-9.
The 1998 figures in the profit and loss account have been restated
following a change in the ratio of ordinary shares per ADR from 10 ordinary
shares per ADR to five ordinary shares per ADR in 1999.
*The figures presented for continuing operations include 2000 acquisitions,
other than Young & Rubicam Inc. Aggregated figures for acquisitions were
revenue of (Pounds)438.9 million, operating profit of (Pounds)61.5 million
and PBIT of (Pounds)66.4 million.
F-6
Consolidated cash flow statement
For the years ended 31 December 2000, 1999 and 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
Notes (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9 Net cash inflow from operating activities 623.0 348.5 256.0
Dividends received from associates 7.6 4.3 3.4
10 Return on investments and servicing of finance (64.6) (37.1) (28.7)
United Kingdom and overseas tax paid (81.4) (58.4) (59.0)
10 Capital expenditure and financial investment (199.1) (80.5) (82.1)
10 Acquisition payments (281.0) (202.2) (115.5)
Equity dividends paid (25.6) (21.1) (16.6)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash outflow before financing (21.1) (46.5) (42.5)
10 Net cash inflow from financing 204.6 270.0 78.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Increase in cash and overdrafts for the year 183.5 223.5 35.6
Translation difference 35.1 (0.6) 0.9
Balance of cash and overdrafts at beginning of year 551.4 328.5 292.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance of cash and overdrafts at end of year 770.0 551.4 328.5
==============================================================================================================
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds:
Increase in cash and overdrafts for the year 183.5 223.5 35.6
Cash inflow from increase in debt financing (126.6) (258.0) (95.2)
Debt acquired (194.9) - -
Other movements (1.9) (1.7) (0.9)
Translation difference 23.4 (6.2) 0.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movement in net (debt)/funds in the year (116.5) (42.4) (60.4)
8 Net funds at beginning of year 91.9 134.3 194.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
8 Net (debt)/funds at end of year (24.6) 91.9 134.3
==============================================================================================================
The accompanying notes form an integral part of this cash flow
statement.
Consolidated statement of total recognised gains and losses
For the years ended 31 December 2000, 1999 and 1998
====================================================================================================================
2000 1999 1998
Notes (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit for the financial year 244.7 172.8 140.3
Exchange adjustments on foreign currency net investments (133.0) (31.2) 4.0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recognised gains and losses relating to the year 111.7 141.6 144.3
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prior year adjustment on implementation of FRS 19 (Deferred Tax) 28.0
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total gains and losses recognised since last annual report 139.7
====================================================================================================================
The accompanying notes form an integral part of this statement of total
recognised gains and losses.
F-7
Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31 December 2000, 1999 and 1998
=========================================================================================================================
2000 1999 1998
Restated* Restated*
Notes (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed assets
Intangible assets
13 Corporate brands 950.0 350.0 350.0
13 Goodwill 3,497.3 410.3 158.0
14 Tangible assets 390.2 196.7 166.7
15 Investments 551.5 356.9 268.2
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
5,389.0 1,313.9 942.9
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Current assets
16 Stocks and work in progress 241.1 113.5 107.3
17 Debtors 2,181.0 1,068.4 921.1
18 Debtors within working capital facility:
Gross debts 464.9 345.7 294.5
Non-returnable proceeds (231.6) (214.1) (209.2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
233.3 131.6 85.3
Cash at bank and in hand 1,067.6 607.0 423.9
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3,723.0 1,920.5 1,537.6
19 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year (4,252.4) (2,148.0) (1,777.3)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net current liabilities (529.4) (227.5) (239.7)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets less current liabilities 4,859.6 1,086.4 703.2
20 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
(including convertible loan note) (1,279.6) (652.5) (401.5)
21 Provisions for liabilities and charges (145.9) (79.2) (77.9)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets 3,434.1 354.7 223.8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital and reserves
23 Called up share capital 111.2 77.5 76.6
Share premium account 709.0 602.9 562.9
Shares to be issued 386.7 - -
Merger reserve 2,630.2 121.3 120.5
24 Other reserves (256.2) (123.2) (92.0)
Profit and loss account (171.0) (332.3) (452.3)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Equity share owners' funds 3,409.9 346.2 215.7
Minority interests 24.2 8.5 8.1
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total capital employed 3,434.1 354.7 223.8
=========================================================================================================================
The accompanying notes form an integral part of this balance sheet.
*The 1999 and 1998 balance sheets have been restated as a result of the
implementation of FRS 19 in the Group's 2000 financial statements. The
resulting prior year adjustment is shown on F-9.
Signed on behalf of the Board on 4 May 2001:
Sir Martin Sorrell
Group chief executive
P W G Richardson
Group finance director
F-8
Consolidated statement of share owners' funds
For the years ended 31 December 2000, 1999 and 1998
Movements during the year were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ordinary Share Shares Profit
share premium to be Merger Other and loss
capital account issued reserve reserves account/1/ Total
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at 1 January 1998 73.6 421.6 - - (1,082.0) 561.6 (25.2)
FRS 19 (Deferred Tax) Restatement - - - - - 28.0 28.0
Adjusted balance at 1 January 1998 73.6 421.6 - - (1,082.0) 589.6 2.8
1998 movements
Ordinary shares issued in respect of acquisitions 3.1 129.6 - - - (27.3)/2/ 105.4
Other ordinary shares issued 0.5 11.7 - - - (8.1) 4.1
Transfers between reserves - - - 120.5 985.4 (1,105.9) -
Currency translation movement - - - - 4.0 - 4.0
Retained profit for the financial year - - - - - 120.7 120.7
Share buy-backs (0.6) - - - 0.6 (21.3) (21.3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted balance at 31 December 1998 76.6 562.9 - 120.5 (92.0) (452.3) 215.7
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1999 movements
Ordinary shares issued 0.9 40.0 - 0.8 - (28.8)/2/ 12.9
Currency translation movement - - - - (31.2) - (31.2)
Retained profit for the financial year - - - - - 148.8 148.8
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjusted balance at 31 December 1999 77.5 602.9 - 121.3 (123.2) (332.3) 346.2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 movements
Ordinary shares issued in respect of acquisitions 30.2 - 547.3 2,383.3 - - 2,960.8
Exercises of options granted on acquisition of
Young & Rubicam Inc. 2.9 62.5 (160.6) 160.6 - (13.9) 51.5
Share issue costs charged to merger reserve - - - (35.0) - - (35.0)
Other ordinary shares issued 0.6 43.6 - - - (31.7)/2/ 12.5
Currency translation movement - - - - (133.0) - (133.0)
Retained profit for the financial year - - - - - 206.9 206.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at 31 December 2000 111.2 709.0 386.7 2,630.2 (256.2) (171.0) 3,409.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/1/Share owners' funds have been restated as a result of the implementation of
FRS 19 in the Group's 2000 financial statements. The impact of this on opening
funds of (Pounds)318.2 million as previously reported, is to increase these to
(Pounds)346.2 million as restated.
/2/Represents the difference between the legal share capital and premium,
recorded on the issue of new shares to satisfy option exercises, and the cash
proceeds received on exercise.
F-9
Notes to the consolidated profit and loss account
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Segment information
The Group is the leading worldwide communications services organisation offering
national and multinational clients a comprehensive range of communications
services. These services include advertising and media investment management,
information and consultancy, public relations and public affairs, and branding &
identity, healthcare and specialist communications. The Group derives a
substantial proportion of its revenue and operating income from North America,
the United Kingdom and Continental Europe and the Group's performance has
historically been linked with the economic performance of these regions.
Contributions by geographical area were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquisitions
(Young &
Continuing Rubicam Total
operations* only) 2000 Change 1999 Change 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m % (Pounds)m % (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover
United Kingdom 1,235.7 100.6 1,336.3 17.9 1,133.7 25.7 902.1
United States 5,158.9 864.9 6,023.8 49.8 4,021.3 13.8 3,534.9
Continental Europe 2,907.1 437.2 3,344.3 50.0 2,230.2 21.1 1,841.2
Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin America,
Africa & Middle East 2,911.0 334.0 3,245.0 65.5 1,960.7 13.9 1,721.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12,212.7 1,736.7 13,949.4 49.3 9,345.9 16.8 8,000.1
====================================================================================================================================
Revenue
United Kingdom 503.4 29.0 532.4 22.5 434.7 10.5 393.5
United States 1,096.8 176.8 1,273.6 39.2 915.2 19.7 764.4
Continental Europe 499.1 87.2 586.3 37.6 426.2 7.6 396.0
Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin America,
Africa & Middle East 522.0 66.4 588.4 48.4 396.5 8.8 364.5
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,621.3 359.4 2,980.7 37.2 2,172.6 13.3 1,918.4
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PBIT/1/
United Kingdom 61.5 1.5 63.0 22.3 51.5 22.0 42.2
United States 171.1 20.5 191.6 37.8 139.0 24.6 111.6
Continental Europe 67.8 14.1 81.9 46.8 55.8 1.5 55.0
Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin America,
Africa & Middle East 65.4 14.1 79.5 78.7 44.5 22.3 36.4
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
365.8 50.2 416.0 43.1 290.8 18.6 245.2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
There is no significant cross-border trading.
Contributions by operating sector were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquisitions
(Young &
Continuing Rubicam Total
operations* only) 2000 Change 1999 Change 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m % (Pounds)m % (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover
Advertising and media investment
management 10,100.9 1,354.7 11,455.6 49.0 7,690.1 16.8 6,582.5
Information & consultancy 517.5 0.0 517.5 21.6 425.5 8.6 391.9
Public relations & public affairs 287.3 135.2 422.5 112.2 199.1 20.9 164.7
Branding & identity, healthcare and
specialist communications 1,307.0 246.8 1,553.8 50.7 1,031.2 19.8 861.0
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12,212.7 1,736.7 13,949.4 49.3 9,345.9 16.8 8,000.1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue
Advertising and media investment
management 1,227.7 171.3 1,399.0 38.1 1,013.1 6.5 951.3
Information & consultancy 512.1 0.0 512.1 22.0 419.7 14.3 367.2
Public relations & public affairs 262.2 67.9 330.1 84.5 178.9 32.7 134.8
Branding & identity, healthcare and
specialist communications 619.3 120.2 739.5 31.8 560.9 20.6 465.1
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,621.3 359.4 2,980.7 37.2 2,172.6 13.3 1,918.4
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PBIT/1/
Advertising and media investment
management 192.3 39.0 231.3 48.4 155.9 10.3 141.3
Information & consultancy 51.6 0.0 51.6 22.6 42.1 7.1 39.3
Public relations & public affairs 39.1 4.2 43.3 81.2 23.9 52.2 15.7
Branding & identity, healthcare and
specialist communications 82.8 7.0 89.8 30.3 68.9 40.9 48.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
365.8 50.2 416.0 43.1 290.8 18.6 245.2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/1/PBIT: Profit on ordinary activities before interest and taxation.
* The figures presented for continuing operations include 2000 acquisitions,
other than Young & Rubicam Inc.
F-10
Notes to the consolidated profit and loss account continued
================================================================================
1 Segment information continued
Profit before tax ('Income before income taxes') comprised the following:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Domestic (UK) 37.3 45.1 39.4
Foreign 326.9 210.3 173.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Income before income taxes 364.2 255.4 212.8
================================================================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Operating costs 2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total staff costs (note 3) 1,617.6 1,091.3 952.9
Establishment costs 216.8 158.3 142.4
Other operating expenses (net) 522.4 341.3 307.2
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets 1.3 0.9 0.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,358.1 1,591.8 1,403.4
================================================================================
Operating expenses include:
Depreciation of tangible fixed assets 63.8 42.2 33.7
Amortisation of intangible fixed assets 6.6 - -
Impairment of intangible fixed assets 8.5 - -
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating lease rentals:
Property (excluding real estate taxes) 125.2 83.1 72.5
Plant and machinery 21.8 19.6 16.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
147.0 102.7 88.9
================================================================================
Auditors' remuneration:
Audit fees
- - Andersen 3.7 2.4 2.0
- - other 0.4 0.3 0.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4.1 2.7 2.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fees in respect of other advisory work 6.4 3.7 2.8
================================================================================
Fees paid to the auditors in respect of other advisory work include advice to
the Group on taxation, acquisitions and, in 2000, work performed in connection
with the acquisition of Young & Rubicam Inc.
Minimum committed annual rentals
Amounts payable (net of taxes) in 2001 under the foregoing leases will be as
follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Plant and machinery Property
--------------------------------- ----------------------------------
2001 2000 1999 2001 2000 1999
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In respect of operating leases
which expire:
- - within one year 5.4 4.7 5.1 10.2 4.8 7.0
- - within two to five years 16.2 15.9 13.2 39.1 24.7 20.4
- - after five years 0.3 1.5 0.2 62.3 65.8 49.2
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
21.9 22.1 18.5 111.6 95.3 76.6
================================================================================================================
Future minimum annual amounts payable (net of taxes) under lease commitments in
existence at 31 December 2000 are as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum Less
rental sub-let Net
payments rentals payment
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended 31 December
2001 133.5 (11.3) 122.2
2002 158.7 (8.9) 149.8
2003 147.2 (8.1) 139.1
2004 120.0 (7.7) 112.3
2005 109.5 (7.2) 102.3
Later years (to 2011) 322.0 (44.6) 277.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
990.9 (87.8) 903.1
================================================================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Our people
Our staff numbers averaged 36,157 against 27,711 in 1999, up 31%, including
acquisitions. Their geographical distribution was as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
Number Number Number
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom 5,425 4,439 3,973
United States 11,058 8,033 7,082
Continental Europe 7,985 5,650 4,922
Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Africa & Middle East 11,689 9,589 9,612
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36,157 27,711 25,589
=================================================================================================
At the end of 2000 staff numbers were 51,195 compared with 29,168 in 1999.
Total staff costs were made up as follows:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wages and salaries 1,125.1 763.6 666.4
Payments and provisions charged under short- and
long-term incentive plans 118.3 71.3 58.6
Social security costs 120.5 86.3 76.7
Other pension costs 40.8 27.7 20.7
Other staff costs 212.9 142.4 130.5
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,617.6 1,091.3 952.9
========================================================================================
================================================================================
4 Net interest payable and similar charges
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
On bank loans and overdrafts, and other loans
- - repayable within five years, by instalments 3.2 3.7 2.0
- - repayable within five years, not by instalments 38.7 16.0 21.1
- - on all other loans (including corporate bond) 14.7 14.1 6.9
Total interest payable 56.6 33.8 30.0
Interest receivable (22.5) (10.4) (10.8)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest payable 34.1 23.4 19.2
Charges in respect of working capital facilities 16.2 12.0 13.2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
50.3 35.4 32.4
================================================================================================
Net interest payable increased to (Pounds)34.1 million from (Pounds)23.4
million, reflecting the increased level of acquisitions and share repurchases
during the year.
Interest on the majority of the Group's borrowings, other than the USA
bond, is payable at a margin of between 0.20% and 0.55% over relevant LIBOR
depending on certain covenant conditions being met and, for a significant
proportion of borrowings, is hedged to January 2003 at US dollar LIBOR rates of
6.25% or less (excluding margin costs).
The majority of the Group's long-term debt is represented by $300 million
of USA bonds at a weighted average interest rate of 6.71% and $287.5 million of
convertible bonds at a rate of 3%. Average borrowings under the Syndicated
Revolving Credit Facilities (note 8) amounted to $422 million at an average
interest rate of 6.2% (1999: 6.1%, 1998: 5.7%) inclusive of margin.
Derivative financial instruments
The Group entered into various types of US dollar interest rate contracts in
managing its interest rate risk, as below. The rates below exclude margin costs.
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Swaps 2000 1999 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Notional principal amount $350m $350m $350m
Average pay rate 6.17% 6.17% 5.84%
Average receive rate LIBOR LIBOR LIBOR
Average term 5 months 5 months 6 months
Latest maturity date Jan 2003 Jan 2003 Jan 2003
=============================================================================
The Group enters into interest rate swap agreements to reduce the impact of
changes in interest rates on its floating rate debt. Under the swap agreements
the Group agrees with other parties to exchange, at specified intervals, the
difference between the fixed strike rate and prevailing relevant floating US
dollar LIBOR calculated by reference to the agreed notional principal amount.
The differential paid or received by the Group on the swap agreements is
charged/ (credited) to interest expense in the year to which it relates.
F-11
================================================================================
4 Net interest payable and similar charges continued
The term of such instruments is not greater than the term of the debt being
hedged and any anticipated refinancing or extension of the debt.
The Group is exposed to credit-related losses in the event of non-
performance by counterparties to financial instruments, but it does not expect
any counterparties to fail to meet their obligations given the Group's policy of
selecting only counterparties with high credit ratings.
Other than the above, the Group has no significant utilisation of
derivative financial instruments.
The fair value of derivatives is disclosed in note 22.
================================================================================
5 Tax on profit on ordinary activities
The tax charge is based on the profit for the year and comprises:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporation tax at 30.0% (1999: 30.25%, 1998: 31.0%) 6.4 12.4 12.9
Deferred taxation (10.6) (0.7) -
Overseas taxation 100.3 56.5 51.4
Tax on profits of associate companies 13.6 8.1 6.8
Write-back of previously written-off ACT - - (4.1)
Advance corporation tax written off - 0.3 -
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
109.7 76.6 67.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Effective tax rate on profit before tax 30.0% 30.0% 31.5%
============================================================================================
Reconciliation of the Group's tax to the United Kingdom statutory tax rate:
===============================================================================================
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax on pre-tax income at statutory rates of 30.0% 109.7 77.3 66.0
(1999: 30.25% and 1998: 31.0%)
Effects of:
Permanent differences between expenditures charged
in arriving at income and expenditures allowed for
tax purposes (4.1) (3.4) 4.3
Utilisation of tax losses brought forward (9.7) (4.7) (5.6)
Unused tax losses carried forward 9.4 6.3 4.6
Differences between UK and overseas statutory standard
tax rates 4.4 0.8 1.8
Write-back of previously written-off ACT - - (4.1)
Advance corporation tax written off - 0.3 -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Tax on profit on ordinary activities 109.7 76.6 67.0
===============================================================================================
There are tax losses available within the Young & Rubicam Inc. business which
may be available to the Group going forward.
================================================================================
6 Ordinary dividends
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 2000 1999 1998
-----------------------
Pence per share (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Interim dividend paid 1.20p 1.0p 0.84p 9.3 7.8 6.2
Final dividend proposed 2.55p 2.1p 1.72p 28.5 16.2 13.4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3.75p 3.1p 2.56p 37.8 24.0 19.6
================================================================================
No ACT is payable in respect of the 1998 final dividend, the 1999 and 2000
dividends, owing to the abolition of ACT with effect from April 1999.
================================================================================
7 Earnings per ordinary share
Basic and diluted earnings per share have been calculated in accordance with FRS
14 'Earnings per Share'.
Basic earnings per share have been calculated using earnings of
(Pounds)244.7 million (1999: (Pounds)172.8 million, 1998:(Pounds)140.3 million)
and weighted average shares in issue during the year of 834,280,801 shares
(1999: 753,324,054 shares, 1998: 735,700,122 shares).
Diluted earnings per share have been calculated using earnings
of(Pounds)244.7 million (1999: (Pounds)172.8 million, 1998:(Pounds)140.3
million), as adjusted for income arising on the convertible loan note
of(Pounds)0.9 million (1999:(Pounds)nil, 1998:(Pounds)nil). The weighted average
shares used was 865,978,000 shares (1999: 768,691,993 shares, 1998: 746,939,733
shares). This takes into account the exercise of employee share options where
these are expected to dilute earnings and the $287.5 million of convertible
bond.
Basic and diluted earnings per ADR have been calculated using the same
method as for earnings per share, multiplied by a factor of five. The 1998
figures have been restated following a change in the ratio of ordinary shares
per ADR from 10 ordinary shares per ADR to five ordinary shares per ADR.
F-12
Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement
================================================================================
8 Sources of finance
The following table is a supplementary disclosure to the consolidated cash flow
statement, summarising the equity and debt financing of the Group, and changes
during the year:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2000 1999 1999 1998 1998
Shares Debt Shares Debt Shares Debt
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Analysis of changes in
financing
Beginning of year 680.4 459.5 639.5 194.2 495.2 97.3
Shares issued in respect of
acquisitions 30.2 - - - 132.7 -
Other issues of share capital 109.6 - 40.9 - 12.2 -
Shares bought back
and cancelled - - - - (0.6) -
Increase in drawings on
bank loans - 126.6 - 258.0 - 97.3
Debt acquired - 194.9 - - - -
Amortisation/(payment) of
financing costs included in
net debt - 0.5 - 1.7 - (1.2)
Exchange adjustments on
long-term borrowings - 13.1 - 5.6 - 0.8
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
End of year 820.2 794.6 680.4 459.5 639.5 194.2
============================================================================================================
The above table excludes bank overdrafts which fall within cash for the purposes
of the consolidated cash flow statement.
Shares
At 31 December 2000, the Company's share base was entirely composed of ordinary
equity share capital and share premium of (pound)820.2 million (1999:
(pound)680.4 million, 1998: (pound)639.5 million), further details of which are
disclosed on pages F-9, F-19 and F-20.
Debt
USA bond The Group has in issue US$200 million of 6.625% Notes due 2005 and
US$100 million of 6.875% Notes due 2008.
Revolving Credit Facilities The Group's debt is also funded by a $500 million
syndicated Revolving Credit Facility dated July 1998 and a $700 million facility
dated August 2000. The $500 million facility is due to expire in July 2002 and
the $700 million facility is due to expire in August 2001 although the Group has
the ability to extend drawings under this facility until August 2003. The
Group's syndicated borrowings drawn down under these agreements averaged $422
million during the year.
Borrowings under the Revolving Credit Facilities are governed by
certain financial covenants based on the results and financial position of the
Group.
================================================================================
8 Sources of finance continued
Convertible Debt
In October 2000, with the purchase of Young & Rubicam Inc., the Group acquired
$287.5 million of 3% Convertible Notes due 15 January 2005. At the option of the
holder, the notes are convertible into shares of our common stock at a
conversion price of $87.856 per ADR. The notes may be redeemed at WPP's option
on or after 20 January 2003. Additionally, under certain circumstances, holders
of the notes may have the right to require WPP to repurchase the notes. Interest
on the notes is payable on 15 January and 15 July of each year, beginning on 15
July 2000. The notes are unsecured obligations of Y&R and are guaranteed by WPP.
The following table is an analysis of net funds with debt analysed by
year of repayment:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change Change
2000 in year/1/ 1999 in year 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt
Within one year - 92.7 (92.7) (92.7) -
Between one and two years - - - - -
Between two and five years (727.7) (544.6) (183.1) (168.0) (15.1)
Over five years - by instalments (66.9) 116.8 (183.7) (4.6) (179.1)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Debt financing under the Credit
Facility Agreement and from
unsecured loan notes (794.6) (335.1) (459.5) (263.5) (194.2)
Short-term overdrafts - within one year (297.6) (242.0) (55.6) 39.8 (95.4)
Cash at bank and in hand 1,067.6 460.6 607.0 183.1 423.9
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net (debt)/funds (24.6) (116.5) 91.9 (42.4) 134.3
=====================================================================================================================
/1/ Includes (Pounds)194.9 million of debt, (Pounds)117.1 million of short-term
overdrafts and (Pounds)83.5 million of cash at bank acquired.
Analysis of fixed and floating rate debt by currency:
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed Floating Period
Currency (Pounds)m rate/1/ basis (months)/1/
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
US$ 624.92/2/ 5.37% n/a 42
US$ 148.0 n/a LIBOR n/a
(Pounds) 178.0 n/a LIBOR n/a
Euro 71.6 n/a LIBOR n/a
Other 3.7 n/a various n/a
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,026.2
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
/1/ Weighted average.
/2/ Including drawings on working capital facility as described in note 18.
============================================================================
9 Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating
activities
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit 378.0 263.5 229.1
Depreciation, amortisation and impairment charge 78.9 42.2 33.7
Decrease/(increase) in working capital and provisions 164.8 41.9 (7.7)
Loss on sale of tangible fixed assets 1.3 0.9 0.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow from operating activities 623.0 348.5 256.0
====================================================================================================================================
The following table analyses the changes in working capital and provisions that
have contributed to the net cash inflow from operating activities in the
consolidated cash flow statement:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in working capital and provisions
(Increase)/decrease in stocks and work in progress (14.7) (1.5) 0.2
(Increase)/decrease in debtors (434.9) (165.3) 23.9
Increase/(decrease) in creditors - short term 537.8 155.4 (29.2)
- long term 1.7 43.2 (7.9)
Increase in provisions 74.9 10.1 5.3
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Decrease/(increase) in working capital
and provisions 164.8 41.9 (7.7)
F-13
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Analysis of non-operating cash flows
The following tables analyse the items included within the main cash flow
headings on page F-7:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Returns on investments and servicing of finance
Interest and similar charges paid (74.8) (42.0) (36.8)
Interest received 17.9 9.3 10.6
Dividends paid to minorities (7.7) (4.4) (2.5)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash outflow (64.6) (37.1) (28.7)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital expenditure and financial investment
Purchase of tangible fixed assets (note 14) (111.9) (64.6) (51.6)
Purchase of own shares by ESOP trust (note 15) (94.1) (17.9) (33.3)
Proceeds from sale of tangible fixed assets 6.9 2.0 2.8
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash outflow (199.1) (80.5) (82.1)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Acquisition payments
Cash consideration for acquisitions (206.5) (242.2) (111.8)
Less (overdraft)/cash acquired (33.6) 51.8 6.1
Net purchase of other investments (40.9) (11.8) (9.8)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash outflow (281.0) (202.2) (115.5)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Financing activities
Increase/(reduction) in drawings on bank loans 126.6 258.0 (81.4)
Share buy-backs - - (21.3)
Financing costs - - (2.3)
Proceeds from issue of shares 78.0 12.0 4.3
Proceeds from issue of bond - - 178.8
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow 204.6 270.0 78.1
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Long-term debt repayments are due as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000
(Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2001 -
2002 -
2003 402.8
2004 -
2005 324.9
2006 and beyond 66.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-14
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
11 Major non-cash transactions
A certain proportion of the consideration for the acquisitions of subsidiary
undertakings during the year comprised the issue of shares. Further details are
given in note 25.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
12 Segment information
Assets by geographical area were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-interest bearing
Total assets employed assets/(liabilities)
---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 2000 1999 1998
Restated* Restated* Restated* Restated*
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
United Kingdom 981.8 624.6 436.9 144.4 143.2 54.0
United States 5,131.0 990.4 651.4 2,631.0 (296.0) (331.9)
Continental Europe 1,454.5 714.7 621.2 296.9 144.4 95.6
Canada, Asia Pacific, Latin
America, Africa & Middle East 1,544.7 904.7 771.0 386.4 271.2 271.8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9,112.0 3,234.4 2,480.5 3,458.7 262.8 89.5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest bearing (debt)/funds (24.6) 91.9 134.3
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets
in the consolidated
balance sheet 3,434.1 354.7 223.8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Assets by operating sector were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Non-interest bearing
Total assets employed assets/(liabilities)
---------------------------------- ---------------------------------
2000 1999 1998 2000 1999 1998
Restated* Restated* Restated* Restated*
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Advertising and media
investment management 6,494.9 1,878.8 1,644.0 2,582.4 (231.3) (111.2)
Information & consultancy 630.1 455.0 294.8 154.6 173.5 71.8
Public relations & public
affairs 552.7 247.7 167.8 223.3 121.4 68.3
Branding & identity,
healthcare and specialist
communications 1,434.3 652.9 373.9 498.4 199.2 60.6
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
9,112.0 3,234.4 2,480.5 3,458.7 262.8 89.5
- ------------------------------------------------------------------
Net interest bearing (debt)/funds (24.6) 91.9 134.3
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets
in the consolidated
balance sheet 3,434.1 354.7 223.8
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Certain items, including the valuation of corporate brand names, have been
allocated within the above analyses on the basis of the revenue of the
subsidiary undertakings to which they relate.
* The 1999 and 1998 balance sheets have been restated as a result of the
implementation of FRS 19 in the Group's 2000 financial statements, increasing
the deferred tax asset by (Pounds)28 million.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 Intangible fixed assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate brand names 950.0 350.0 350.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brought forward corporate brand names represent J. Walter Thompson, Hill and
Knowlton and Ogilvy & Mather Worldwide. The Group has capitalised an additional
(Pounds)600 million for the corporate brand names from the Young & Rubicam
Group, which was acquired during the year. These assets are carried at
historical cost in accordance with the Group's accounting policy for intangible
fixed assets as stated on page F-4.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
13 Intangible fixed assets continued
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1999 158.0
Additions 252.3
31 December 1999 410.3
Additions 3,102.1
Amortisation (6.6)
Impairment (8.5)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 2000 3,497.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Additions represent goodwill arising on the acquisition of subsidiary
undertakings. This includes (Pounds)2,818.5 million arising from the acquisition
of Young & Rubicam Inc., which was completed on 4 October 2000. Goodwill arising
on the acquisition of associate undertakings is shown within fixed asset
investments in note 15. Gross goodwill of (Pounds)131.0 million is subject to
amortisation.
================================================================================
14 Tangible fixed assets
The movements in 2000 and 1999 were as follows:
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Land and buildings
-----------------------
Fixtures,
fittings
Short and Computer
Freehold/1/ leasehold equipment equipment Total
Cost: (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1999 11.6 124.9 98.3 131.6 366.4
Additions 0.3 13.0 15.3 36.0 64.6
New acquisitions 0.4 5.0 7.7 5.3 18.4
Disposals - (2.8) (3.0) (7.7) (13.5)
Exchange adjustments 0.1 1.5 0.6 (1.0) 1.2
31 December 1999 12.4 141.6 118.9 164.2 437.1
Additions 1.0 31.2 22.4 57.3 111.9
New acquisitions 57.8 66.2 111.4 104.0 339.4
Disposals (0.6) (6.0) (9.0) (10.2) (25.8)
Exchange adjustments (0.3) 6.8 3.6 4.3 14.4
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 2000 70.3 239.8 247.3 319.6 877.0
==============================================================================================
Depreciation:
1 January 1999 2.8 50.9 61.9 84.1 199.7
New acquisitions 0.1 2.2 3.5 2.4 8.2
Charge 0.3 8.7 11.8 21.4 42.2
Disposals - (1.9) (2.0) (6.7) (10.6)
Exchange adjustments 0.1 1.0 0.4 (0.6) 0.9
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 1999 3.3 60.9 75.6 100.6 240.4
New acquisitions 15.5 29.9 74.3 69.9 189.6
Charge 0.7 13.5 10.0 39.6 63.8
Disposals (0.5) (1.8) (5.2) (10.1) (17.6)
Exchange adjustments (0.3) 3.9 3.1 3.9 10.6
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 2000 18.7 106.4 157.8 203.9 486.8
==============================================================================================
Net book value:
31 December 2000 51.6 133.4 89.5 115.7 390.2
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 1999 9.1 80.7 43.3 63.6 196.7
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1999 8.8 74.0 36.4 47.5 166.7
==============================================================================================
/1/Includes land of(Pounds)18.3 million.
Leased assets (other than leasehold property) included above have a net book
value of (Pounds)3.6 million (1999: (Pounds)3.1 million, 1998: (Pounds)2.3
million).
At the end of the year, capital commitments contracted, but not provided for
were:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital commitments 12.6 1.4 0.6
=======================================================================
F-15
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet continued
================================================================================
15 Fixed asset investments
The following are included in the net book value of fixed asset investments:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill on
Associate associate Other
under- under- Own invest-
takings takings shares ments Total
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1999 86.4 90.6 58.1 33.1 268.2
Additions 2.6 - 17.9 19.2 39.7
Goodwill arising on acquisition
of new associates - 40.5 - - 40.5
Share of profits after tax of
associate undertakings 19.2 - - - 19.2
Dividends and other movements (6.3) - - (1.5) (7.8)
Exchange adjustments 7.6 - - - 7.6
Disposals (2.3) - (4.7) (3.5) (10.5)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 1999 107.2 131.1 71.3 47.3 356.9
Additions 50.6 - 94.1 42.3 187.0
Goodwill arising on acquisition
of new associates - 5.1 - - 5.1
Share of profits after tax of
associate undertakings 22.1 - - - 22.1
Dividends (7.4) - - - (7.4)
Other movements (2.0) 5.8 - (5.8) (2.0)
Exchange adjustments (4.7) - - - (4.7)
Disposals - - (5.2) (0.3) (5.5)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 2000 165.8 142.0 160.2 83.5 551.5
===========================================================================================================
The Group's principal associate undertakings include:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Country of
% controlled incorporation
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Asatsu-DK 20.0 Japan
Batey Ads (Pte) Limited 32.4 Singapore
Brierley & Partners 20.0 USA
Chime Communications PLC 24.9 United Kingdom
DYR Tokyo Agency1 49.0 Japan
High Co S.A. 30.0 France
IBOPE Group 31.0 Brazil
Singleton, Ogilvy & Mather (Holdings) Pty Limited 40.7 Australia
=========================================================================================
/1/acquired in 2000
The Company's holdings of own shares are stated at cost and represent purchases
by the Employee Share Option Plan ('ESOP') trust of shares in WPP Group plc for
the purpose of funding certain of the Group's long-term incentive plan
liabilities.
The trustees of the ESOP purchase the Company's ordinary shares in the
open market using funds provided by the Company. The Company also has an
obligation to make regular contributions to the ESOP to enable it to meet its
administrative costs.
The number and market value of the ordinary shares of the Company held
by the ESOP at 31 December 2000 was 36,208,185, (1999: 27,888,766, 1998:
25,532,484) and (Pounds)315.7 million (1999: (Pounds)273.6 million,
1998: (Pounds)93.4 million) respectively.
The market value of the Group's shares in its principal listed
associate undertakings at 31 December 2000 was as follows: Asatsu-DK -
(Pounds)166.0 million, Chime Communications PLC - (Pounds)76.5 million, High Co
S.A. - (Pounds)19.8 million. The Group's investments in its principal associate
undertakings are represented by ordinary shares.
Other investments include a UK listed investment of (Pounds)24.3
million (1999: (Pounds)24.3 million, 1998: (Pounds)19.9 million). This
represents an interest of 17.5% (1999: 18.1%, 1998: 17.9%) in the ordinary share
capital of Tempus Group PLC, Europe's second-largest independent media
investment manager.
================================================================================
16 Stocks and work in progress
The following are included in the net book value of stocks and work in progress:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Work in progress 238.2 110.4 104.5
Stocks 2.9 3.1 2.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
241.1 113.5 107.3
================================================================================
================================================================================
17 Debtors
The following are included in debtors:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
Restated* Restated*
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amounts falling due within one year
Trade debtors outside working capital facility 1,699.4 770.0 678.9
VAT and sales taxes recoverable 20.9 13.5 4.0
Corporate income taxes recoverable 13.2 8.7 9.9
Deferred tax 57.4 28.0 28.0
Other debtors 229.6 143.4 126.5
Prepayments and accrued income 121.4 64.3 46.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,141.9 1,027.9 894.1
================================================================================
Amounts falling due after more than one year
Other debtors 31.2 34.7 20.5
Prepayments and accrued income 7.9 5.8 6.5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39.1 40.5 27.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,181.0 1,068.4 921.1
================================================================================
Movements on bad debt provisions were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at beginning of year 16.6 16.5 15.6
Charged/(credited):
To costs and expenses 16.5 4.0 4.6
Exchange adjustments 0.8 (0.1) (0.4)
Other (10.5) (3.8) (3.3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance at end of year 23.4 16.6 16.5
================================================================================
The allowance for doubtful debts is equivalent to 1.2% (1999: 1.8%, 1998: 2.1%)
of gross trade accounts receivable.
Deferred taxation
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
Restated* Restated*
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Deferred tax assets:
Unutilised tax losses 12.0 7.0 11.3
Deferred compensation 67.5 46.4 29.0
Acquisition related provisions 20.0 - -
Other 7.1 8.1 7.6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
106.6 61.5 47.9
Less:
Provision against (14.3) (4.1) -
deferred tax assets
Deferred tax liabilities:
Accelerated capital allowances (3.8) (3.7) (4.1)
Interest receivable (19.6) (17.2) (15.8)
Other (11.5) (8.5) -
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Temporary timing differences (34.9) (29.4) (19.9)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
57.4 28.0 28.0
==============================================================================
Unutilised tax losses include tax losses arising in the US. These losses do not
expire for more than 10 years. The life of losses carried forward in other
international jurisdictions varies according to local tax laws. Deferred tax
liabilities and assets attributable to different tax jurisdictions have not been
offset.
A deferred tax asset of (Pounds)77 million has not been recognised on
losses available to carry forward across the Group. These will be offsettable
only against taxable profits generated in the entities concerned, and currently
there is insufficient evidence that any asset would be recoverable.
*The 1999 and 1998 balance sheets have been restated as a result of the
implementation of FRS 19 in the Group's 2000 financial statements. The impact of
this restatement is to increase debtors falling due within one year by
(Pounds)28.0 million in 1998 and 1999. There was no impact on the tax charge in
1998 or 1999 as a result of this restatement.
F-16
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet continued
===============================================================================
18 Debtors within working capital facility
The following are included in debtors within the Group's working capital
facilities:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross debts 464.9 345.7 294.5
Non-returnable proceeds (231.6) (214.1) (209.2)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
233.3 131.6 85.3
===============================================================================
Within the Group's overall working capital facilities, certain trade debts have
been assigned as security against the advance of cash. This security is
represented by the assignment of a pool of trade debts, held by one of the
Group's subsidiaries, to a trust for the benefit of the providers of this
working capital facility. The financing provided against this pool takes into
account, inter alia, the risks that may be attached to individual debtors and
the expected collection period.
The Group is not obliged (and does not intend) to support any credit-
related losses arising from the assigned debts against which cash has been
advanced. The providers of the finance have confirmed in writing that, in the
event of default in payment by a debtor, they will only seek repayment of cash
advanced from the remainder of the pool of debts in which they hold an interest,
and that repayment will not be sought from the Group in any other way.
===============================================================================
19 Creditors: amounts falling due within one year
The following are included in creditors falling due within one year:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bank loans and overdrafts (note 8) 297.6 148.3 95.4
Trade creditors 2,574.9 1,315.0 1,102.4
Corporate income taxes payable 42.4 34.6 50.0
Other taxation and social security 122.5 68.9 52.0
Dividends proposed 28.5 16.2 13.4
Payments due to vendors 94.1 41.2 14.3
Other creditors and accruals 824.8 398.0 338.7
Deferred income 267.6 125.8 111.1
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4,252.4 2,148.0 1,777.3
===============================================================================
Bank loans and overdrafts include overdrafts of (Pounds)297.6 million
(1999:(Pounds)55.6 million, 1998: (Pounds)95.4 million).
===============================================================================
20 Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
The following are included in creditors falling due after more than one year:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Corporate bond, convertible loan note and
bank loans (note 8) 794.6 366.8 194.2
Corporate income taxes payable 212.5 122.9 91.3
Payments due to vendors 208.2 131.2 83.6
Other creditors and accruals 64.3 31.6 32.4
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,279.6 652.5 401.5
===============================================================================
===============================================================================
21 Provisions for liabilities, charges and contingent liabilities
The movement in the year on provisions comprises:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pensions
and other Long-
post- term
retirement incentive
benefits plans Other Total
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 January 1999 42.7 21.8 13.4 77.9
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charged to the profit and loss account 4.1 15.2 2.5 21.8
New acquisitions - - 0.8 0.8
Utilised (3.2) (14.4) (1.8) (19.4)
Transfers 0.4 - (0.3) 0.1
Exchange adjustments (2.1) - 0.1 (2.0)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 1999 41.9 22.6 14.7 79.2
===============================================================================
Charged to the profit and loss account 5.1 17.5 1.2 23.8
New acquisitions 25.3 - 27.6 52.9
Utilised (2.8) (9.3) (4.1) (16.2)
Transfers 0.2 - 2.1 2.3
Exchange adjustments 0.7 1.4 1.8 3.9
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 December 2000 70.4 32.2 43.3 145.9
===============================================================================
During the year (Pounds)7.9 million of excess provisions relating to prior year
acquisitions were released to the profit and loss account.
Long-term incentive plans
Long-term incentive plans are operated by certain of the Group's subsidiaries,
the provision representing accrued compensation to 31 December 2000 that may
become payable after more than one year.
Other provisions
Other provisions comprise other liabilities where there is uncertainty about the
timing of settlement, but where a reliable estimate can be made of the amount.
These include certain contingent liabilities where the likelihood of settlement
is considered probable.
Contingent liabilities
The Company and various of its subsidiaries are, from time to time, parties to
legal proceedings and claims which arise in the ordinary course of business. The
directors do not anticipate that the outcome of these proceedings and claims
will have a material adverse effect on the Group's financial position or on the
results of its operations.
F-17
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet continued
================================================================================
21 Provisions for liabilities, charges and contingent liabilities continued
Pension provisions and pension arrangements
Companies within the Group operate a large number of both defined benefit and
defined contribution pension schemes, the forms and benefits of which vary with
conditions and practices in the countries concerned.
The Group's pension costs are analysed as follows:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
(pounds)m (pounds)m (pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defined contribution schemes 25.3 21.4 14.7
Defined benefit schemes 10.7 6.4 5.9
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
36.0 27.8 20.6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defined benefit schemes
Defined benefit schemes exist in many countries. However, the principal schemes
are operated in the US, UK and Japan. Pension costs for these schemes are
assessed in accordance with actuarial advice/+/. Valuations of the principal
schemes have generally been carried out as at 31 December 2000. The following
table discloses the method and assumptions used to derive the pensions charge
for the principal schemes:
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Main actuarial assumptions
-------------------------------------
Market
2000 valuation Valuation Investment Salary Pension Dividend Spreading Funding
Pension cost of assets/1/ method return increase increase growth method ratio
(pounds)m (pounds)m % pa % pa % pa % pa %
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US Schemes
O&M Account
Balance Plan 4.1 51.6 projected unit 7.5 5.50 nil n/a straight line 97%
Ogilvy PR 0.8 4.0 projected unit 8.0 5.25 nil n/a straight line 83%
Y&R Pension Plan 0.1 91.4 projected unit 8.25 7.57 nil n/a straight line 102%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
UK Schemes
O&M Pension Plan 0.9 74.8 Attained Age 9.50 6.00 5.0 5.00 Fixed % of pay 97%
JWT Pension Scheme 0.7 45.0 Attained Age 6(pre)/5.25(post) 4.00 3.0 n/a Fixed % of pay 93%
JWT Directors' Scheme 0.3 28.6 Attained Age 6(pre)/5.25(post) 0.00 3.0 n/a Fixed % of pay 90%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan Schemes
JWT Employee
Retirement Plan 2.3 0.8 projected unit 3.00 2.00 nil n/a straight line 11%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
/+/ From an independent qualified actuary.
/1/ All schemes allow for the market value of assets for funding and accounting
purposes, except for the UK O&M Pension Plan, which allows for an actuarial
value of assets of (pound)46.2 million.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
22 Fair value of financial instruments
Derivative financial instruments
The fair value of derivatives, based on the amount that would be receivable or
(payable) if the Group had sought to enter into such transactions, based on
quoted market prices where possible, was as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
31 March 2001 31 December 2000 31 December 1999
------------- ---------------- ----------------
Swaps Swaps Swaps
(pounds)m (pounds)m (pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value (3.8) (0.5) 3.7
Book value nil nil nil
===============================================================================
Non-derivative financial instruments
The Group estimates that the aggregate fair value of non-derivative financial
instruments at 31 December 2000 does not differ materially from their aggregate
carrying values recorded in the consolidated balance sheet.
The Group has used the methods and assumptions detailed below to estimate
the fair values of the Group's financial instruments.
Cash, accounts receivable, accounts payable, overdrafts and short-term
borrowings (including those drawn under the Revolving Credit Facilities) -
considered to approximate to fair value because of the short maturity of such
instruments.
The fair value of our US$300 million bonds and US$287.5 million convertible
debt at 31 December 2000 was (Pounds)394.0 million. This is calculated by
reference to market prices at 31 December 2000. Considerable judgement is
required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value,
and, accordingly, the estimates are not necessarily indicative of the amounts
that could be realised in a current market exchange.
F-18
Notes to consolidated balance sheet continued
===============================================================================
23 Authorised and issued share capital
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 2000 1999 1999 1998 1998
Number Number Number
m (Pounds)m m (Pounds)m m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorised:
Equity ordinary shares of
10p each 1,750 175.0 1,250 125.0 1,250 125.0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Issued:
Equity ordinary shares of
10p each 1,111.9 111.2 774.5 77.5 766.5 76.6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movements in each year are shown in note 24.
Share options
As at 31 December 2000, unexercised options over ordinary shares of 20,342,000
and unexercised options over ADRs of 16,373,106 have been granted under the WPP
Executive Share Option Scheme as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of ordinary Exercise price
shares under option per share(Pounds) Exercise dates
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
39,879 1.330 1996 - 2001
91,474 0.560 1997 - 2002
90,052 0.295 1995 - 2002
161,183 1.020 1996 - 2003
19,194 1.150 1997 - 2004
1,503,799 1.190 1997 - 2004
834,181 1.080 1998 - 2005
3,088,265 1.540 1998 - 2005
918,723 2.140 1999 - 2006
3,630,607 2.335 1999 - 2006
12,074 2.535 2000 - 2007
3,478,770 2.835 2000 - 2007
30,132 3.030 2001 - 2008
4,333,770 2.930 2001 - 2008
47,450 3.270 2001 - 2008
419,811 5.185 2002 - 2009
766,479 5.700 2002 - 2009
94,691 10.770 2003 - 2010
781,466 9.010 2003 - 2010
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
===============================================================================
23 Authorised and issued share capital continued
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of ADRs Exercise price
under option per adr ($) Exercise dates
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,241,707 2.300 2000 - 2006
1,708,927 9.200 2000 - 2006
243,173 9.200 2000 - 2007
4,062,843 14.750 2000 - 2007
34,504 14.750 2000 - 2008
42,397 17.150 2000 - 2008
125,250 17.950 2000 - 2008
33,400 29.950 2000 - 2008
125,250 34.000 2000 - 2008
470,426 34.050 2000 - 2008
16,700 34.150 2000 - 2008
76,820 35.650 2000 - 2008
146,125 37.150 2000 - 2008
1,714,551 44.600 2000 - 2009
8,350 45.800 2000 - 2009
477,228 46.475 2002 - 2009
78,885 46.550 2000 - 2009
8,350 47.700 2000 - 2009
16,700 48.200 2000 - 2010
16,700 48.500 2000 - 2009
104,375 48.800 2000 - 2009
4,175 50.300 2000 - 2010
1,155,546 51.050 2001 - 2010
1,155,546 51.050 2002 - 2010
1,155,546 51.050 2003 - 2010
8,350 51.350 2000 - 2009
16,700 51.850 2000 - 2009
35,070 53.450 2000 - 2009
253,005 54.050 2000 - 2009
2,088 54.800 2000 - 2009
4,175 54.850 2000 - 2009
8,350 55.300 2000 - 2009
75,150 56.300 2000 - 2009
4,886 56.300 2000 - 2010
12,525 57.200 2000 - 2009
2,227 59.650 2001 - 2010
2,227 59.650 2002 - 2010
2,227 59.650 2003 - 2010
6,976 60.000 2003 - 2010
1,392 60.350 2001 - 2010
1,392 60.350 2002 - 2010
1,392 60.350 2003 - 2010
6,263 60.500 2000 - 2010
4,830 62.110 2005 - 2010
106,694 62.110 2003 - 2010
402,505 63.263 2003 - 2010
2,227 63.450 2001 - 2010
2,227 63.450 2002 - 2010
2,227 63.450 2003 - 2010
6,958 63.700 2001 - 2010
6,958 63.700 2002 - 2010
6,958 63.700 2003 - 2010
1,948 63.750 2001 - 2010
1,948 63.750 2002 - 2010
1,948 63.750 2003 - 2010
33,400 64.350 2000 - 2010
2,783 64.600 2001 - 2010
2,783 64.600 2002 - 2010
2,783 64.600 2003 - 2010
1,391 65.100 2001 - 2010
1,391 65.100 2002 - 2010
1,391 65.100 2003 - 2010
7,120 66.700 2001 - 2010
7,120 66.700 2002 - 2010
7,120 66.700 2003 - 2010
2,227 67.050 2001 - 2010
2,227 67.050 2002 - 2010
2,227 67.050 2003 - 2010
2,783 68.500 2001 - 2010
2,783 68.500 2002 - 2010
2,783 68.500 2003 - 2010
15,865 71.800 2000 - 2010
1,058 72.600 2001 - 2010
1,058 72.600 2002 - 2010
1,058 72.600 2003 - 2010
41,428 84.485 2003 - 2010
15,030 84.750 2000 - 2010
===============================================================================
F-19
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet continued
===============================================================================
23 Authorised and issued share capital continued
As at 31 December 2000, unexercised options totalling 4,634,490 have been
granted under the WPP Worldwide Share Ownership Program as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Number of ordinary Exercise price
shares under option per share (Pounds) Exercise dates
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Worldwide Share Ownership Programme
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
266,325 2.695 2000 - 2007
1,762,075 3.030 2001 - 2008
1,394,225 5.315 2002 - 2009
1,211,865 7.790 2003 - 2010
===============================================================================
Further grants were made on 19 March 2001 of 1,024 options on ordinary shares at
(Pounds)8.11 exercisable between 2005 and 2011; 2,560 options on ordinary shares
at (Pounds)8.11 exercisable between 2004 and 2005; 133,877 options on ordinary
shares at (Pounds)8.11 exercisable between 2004 and 2011; 69,805 options on ADRs
at $58.2375 exercisable between 2004 and 2011.
The aggregate status of the WPP Share Option Schemes during 2000 was as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Movement on options granted (represented in ordinary shares)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Granted as
consideration
1 January for the 31 December
2000 Granted acquisition Exercised Lapsed 2000
number number of Y&R number number number
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP 32,940,834 6,419,489 - 6,196,125 2,989,401 30,174,797
Y&R - - 105,229,764 28,562,541 - 76,667,223
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32,940,834 6,419,489 105,229,764 34,758,666 2,989,401 106,842,020
===============================================================================
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options outstanding over ordinary shares
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of Weighted average Weighted average
exercise prices exercise price contractual life
(pound) (pound) Months
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
0.2950-10.77 3.15 79.51
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options outstanding over ADRs
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Range of Weighted average Weighted average
exercise prices exercise price contractual life
$ $ Months
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2.30-84.75 28.94 91.79
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The weighted average fair value of options granted in the year calculated using
the Black-Scholes model, was as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value of UK options (shares) 286.1p 134.0p 71.5p
Fair value of US options (ADRs) $ 16.18 - -
Weighted average assumptions:
UK Risk-free interest rate 6.02% 5.23% 5.84%
US Risk-free interest rate 5.94% - -
Expected life (months) 36 36 36
Expected volatility 40% 28% 25%
Dividend yield 0.6% 0.6% 0.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Options are issued at an exercise price equal to market value on the date of
grant.
The weighted average fair value of the awards made under the Leadership Equity
Acquisition Program (`LEAP') in the year, calculated using the Black-Scholes
model, were as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair value 299.9p 233.8p
Weighted average assumptions:
Risk-free interest rate 5.80% 5.23%
Expected life (months) 48 60
Expected volatility 40% 28%
Dividend yield 0.6% 0.6%
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
LEAP awards were made at an exercise price equal to market value on the date of
grant.
24 Shareowner's funds
Other reserves at 31 December 2000 comprise: currency translation
deficit(Pounds)257.5 million (1999:(Pounds)124.5 million, 1998 (Pounds)93.3
million), capital redemption reserve(Pounds)1.3 million (1999:(Pounds)1.3
million, 1998:(Pounds)1.3 million) and goodwill write-off reserve (Pounds)nil
(1999:(Pounds)nil, 1998:(Pounds)1,160.4 million).
===============================================================================
25 Acquisition of Young & Rubicam, Inc.
On 4 October 2000 the Company finalised its acquisition of Young & Rubicam Inc.
As a result the value of the consideration which was satisfied entirely by the
issue of new WPP ordinary shares or WPP American Depositary Shares has been
calculated by reference to the opening WPP share price on 4 October 2000 of
(Pounds)7.99.
The following table sets out the book values of the identifiable assets and
liabilities acquired and their fair value to the group:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Book Account- Fair value Fair
value at ing policy adjust- value
acquisition alignments/1/ ments/2/ to Group
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Goodwill and intangible fixed assets 34.5 (8.6) 597.8/(i)/ 623.7
Tangible fixed assets 128.6 (5.1) 14.4/(ii)/ 137.9
Investments 102.8 - (54.1)/(iii)/ 48.7
Current assets 1,113.5 - (164.8)/(iv)/ 948.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total assets 1,379.4 (13.7) 393.3 1,759.0
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Payments due to vendors within one year - (15.0) - (15.0)
Other creditors due within one year (1,104.3) - (51.7)/(v)/ (1,156.0)
Payments due to vendors after one year - (53.0) - (53.0)
Other creditors due after one year (281.5) - - (281.5)
Provision for reorganisation
and restructuring/3/ (23.9) - - (23.9)
Other provisions (39.9) - (19.6)/(vi)/ (59.5)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total liabilities (1,449.6) (68.0) (71.3) (1,588.9)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net assets (70.2) (81.7) 322.0 170.1
========================================================================================================
F-20
Notes to the consolidated balance sheet continued
===============================================================================
25 Acquisition of Young & Rubicam, Inc. continued
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Book Account- Fair value Fair
value at ing policy adjust- value
acquisition alignments/1/ ments/2/ to Group
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minority interest (9.7)
Goodwill 2,818.5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consideration 2,978.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Consideration satisfied by:
Shares issued 2,412.1
Shares to be issued 547.3
Capitalised acquisition costs 19.5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2,978.9
========================================================================================================
Notes
The table above sets out the details of the merger with Young & Rubicam Inc.,
which was completed on 4 October 2000 and has been accounted for as an
acquisition.
1 Accounting policy alignments
These comprise adjustments to bring the assets and liabilities of Young &
Rubicam Inc. into compliance with WPP Group plc's UK GAAP accounting practices
and policies. These adjustments include recognition of contingent consideration
due to vendors based upon the directors' best estimate of payments likely to be
made as at the date of acquisition.
2 Fair value adjustments
These comprise adjustments to bring the book value of the assets and
liabilities of Young & Rubicam Inc. to fair value:
(i) Recognition of the corporate brand name of Young & Rubicam Inc.
(ii) Revaluation of freehold interest in Young & Rubicam's New York offices at
285 Madison Avenue to fair value and write down of certain other tangible fixed
assets, primarily computer equipment, to fair value.
(iii) Revaluation of internet investments to fair value.
(iv) Restatement of deferred tax assets.
(v) Recognition of accrual for social taxes payable on share options and
accruals for the costs of legal cases existing at the date of acquisition.
(vi) Provision for certain contingent liabilities where the likelihood of
settlement is considered probable at the date of acquisition.
3 Provision for reorganisation and restructuring
Accruals for severance payments arising from change in control clauses in
employee contracts, triggered as a result of the acquisition by WPP Group plc.
Net cash outflows in respect of the acquisition of Young & Rubicam Inc.
comprised:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cash at bank and in hand acquired 78.2
Bank overdrafts acquired (99.7)
Share issue and acquisition costs (24.6)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(46.1)
===============================================================================
Young & Rubicam Inc. contributed (pound)203.4 million to the Group's net
operating cash flows, paid (pound)3.3 million in respect of net returns on
investment and servicing of finance, paid (pound)7.2 million in respect of
taxation and utilised (pound)21.9 million for capital expenditure.
The summarised profit and loss accounts and statements of total recognised gains
and losses of Young & Rubicam Inc. for the period from 1 January 2000 to 4
October 2000 and the year ended 31 December 1999 are summarised below. These
amounts are shown in US Dollars, on the basis of the accounting policies of
Young & Rubicam Inc. prior to the acquisition. The post acquisition contribution
of Young & Rubicam Inc. is shown on the face of the group's profit and loss
account on page F-6.
================================================================================
25 Acquisition of Young & Rubicam, Inc. continued
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Young & Rubicam Inc.
Profit and loss account- Period ended Year ended
period ended 4 October 2000 4 October 2000 31 December 1999
$USm $USm
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover 6,208.1 8,530.9
Cost of sales (4,796.1) (6,813.7)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 1,412.0 1,717.2
Other operating expenses (net) (1,276.2) (1,509.1)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit 135.8 208.1
Exceptional items:
Merger costs (66.0) -
Other income/1/ 12.2 85.0
Finance charges (net) (13.9) (14.8)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities before taxation 68.1 278.3
Tax on profit on ordinary activities (47.3) (111.3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities after taxation 20.8 167.0
Equity income/2/ 3.0 4.5
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minority interests (2.2) (4.4)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit for the financial period 21.6 167.1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Statement of comprehensive income $USm $USm
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit for the financial period 21.6 167.1
Unrealised (deficit)/surplus on
revaluation
of equity securities (177.0) 145.0
Loss on foreign currency translation (22.7) (22.3)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Minimum pension liability - 0.4
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recognised gains and losses
relating to the period (178.1) 290.2
===============================================================================
/1/Other income in the period ended 4 October 2000 includes the gain on sale of
certain assets and rights known as Y&R Teamspace to eMotion Inc. and other net
gains from investing activities, including additional consideration received as
a result of achieving revenue and operating profit performance targets of the
Brand Dialogue assets contributed to Luminant Worldwide corporation in 1999.
Other income in 1999 includes the net pre-tax gain on the sale of certain assets
of Brand Dialogue operations in exchange for an ownership interest in Luminant
and additional consideration received as a result of achieving revenue and
operating profit performance targets of the Brand Dialogue contributed assets.
/2/Equity income has been presented below profit on ordinary activities after
taxation in accordance with US GAAP.
Other acquisitions
The Group undertook a number of other acquisitions in the year. Goodwill arising
on these acquisitions was calculated as follows:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fair
value Cost of
Book adjust- Fair acquisi-
value ments value tion Goodwill
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sifo Research & Consulting (10.6) (2.8) (13.4) 30.9 44.3
Other 11.9 (28.3) (16.4) 212.9 229.3
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1.3 (31.1) (29.8) 243.8 273.6
===============================================================================
Goodwill above of (Pounds)273.6 million includes (Pounds)268.5 million in
respect of the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings and (Pounds)5.1 million in
respect of associate undertakings. Included in these amounts are (Pounds)141.6
million of cash paid and (Pounds)102.2 million of additional future anticipated
payments to vendors, based on the directors' best estimates of future
obligations, which are dependent on future performance of the interests
acquired. Cash paid to vendors in respect of consideration accrued in prior
years amounted to (Pounds)40.3 million.
Fair value adjustments of (Pounds)31.1 million arising on these
acquisitions include (Pounds)17.1 million of additional tax liabilities and
(Pounds)14.0 million of other liabilities.
F-21
================================================================================
Reconciliation to US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
The following is a summary of the significant adjustments to profit and ordinary
share owners' funds which would be required if US Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles (US GAAP) had been applied:
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
For the year ended 31 December
--------------------------------
2000 1999* 1998*
Notes (pounds)m (pounds)m (pounds)m
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income
Profit attributable to ordinary share
owners under UK GAAP 244.7 172.8 140.3
US GAAP adjustments:
Amortisation of goodwill and other
intangibles 1 (83.2) (42.1) (38.2)
Executive compensation 1 (38.3) (58.4) (2.6)
Contingent consideration deemed as
compensation 1 (8.6) - -
Deferred tax items 1 8.3 9.6 0.9
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(121.8) (90.9) (39.9)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income as adjusted for US GAAP 122.9 81.9 100.4
===============================================================================
Statement of comprehensive income
Net income as adjusted for US GAAP 122.9 81.9 100.4
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revaluation of investments marked to market (6.8) 41.2 -
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Foreign currency net investment (133.0) (31.2) 4.0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total recognised gains & losses relating
to the period (16.9) 91.9 104.4
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share as adjusted for
US GAAP (p) 2 14.7 10.9 13.6
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Diluted earnings per share as adjusted for
US GAAP (p) 2 14.1 10.6 13.4
===============================================================================
A reconciliation from UK to US GAAP in respect of earnings per share is shown
below.
The Company applies US APB Opinion 25 and related interpretations when
accounting for its stock option plans. Had compensation cost for the Company's
stock option plans been determined based on the fair value at the grant date for
awards under those plans consistent with the method of SFAS Statement 123
'Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation', the Company's net income and earnings
per share under US GAAP would have been reduced to the pro forma amounts
indicated below:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income as adjusted for US GAAP:
As reported ((Pounds)m) 122.9 81.9 100.4
Pro forma ((Pounds)m) 116.0 77.7 97.7
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic earnings per share per US GAAP:
As reported (p) 14.7 10.9 13.6
Pro forma (p) 13.9 10.3 13.3
==============================================================================
Further details regarding stock option plans and the fair valuation of option
grants can be found on pages F-19 and F-20.
==============================================================================
As at 31 December
------------------------------------
2000 1999* 1998*
Notes (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share owners' funds
Share owners' funds under UK GAAP 3,409.9 346.2 215.7
US GAAP adjustments:
Capitalisation of goodwill arising on
acquisition (net of accumulated
amortisation and amounts capitalised
under UK GAAP) 1 834.5 685.2 762.7
Revaluation of investments marked to
market 34.4 41.2 -
Contingent consideration deemed as
compensation 1 (8.6) - -
Shares owned by Employee Share Option
Plan (ESOP) 1 (160.2) (71.3) (58.1)
Deferred tax items 1 14.3 6.0 (3.6)
Proposed final ordinary dividend, not
yet declared 1 28.5 16.2 13.4
Other (3.7) (3.9) (4.4)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
739.2 673.4 710.0
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share owners' funds as adjusted for US GAAP 2 4,149.1 1,019.6 925.7
==============================================================================
Gross goodwill capitalised under US GAAP (before accumulated amortisation)
amounted to (Pounds)4,776.8 million (1999: (Pounds)1,582.6 million, 1998:
(Pounds)1,509.5 million), net of disposals made. The movement in goodwill arises
due to the impact of acquisitions made during the year and also its denomination
in various currencies, resulting in exchange rate movements against sterling.
Movement in share owners' funds under US GAAP
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2000 1999* 1998*
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net income for the year under US GAAP 122.9 81.9 100.4
Prior year final dividend (16.2) (13.4) (10.5)
Current year interim dividend (9.3) (7.8) (6.2)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained earnings for the year 97.4 60.7 83.7
Ordinary shares issued in respect of acquisitions 3,225.3 0.8 105.4
Share issue costs charged to merger reserve (35.0) - -
Share options exercised 64.0 12.1 4.1
Shares owned by Employee Share Option Plan (88.9) (13.2) (31.1)
Revaluation of investments marked to market (6.8) 41.2 -
Share buy-backs - - (21.3)
Exchabge adjustments:
Revaluation of goodwill (31.8) (34.9) 43.1
Foreign currency net investment (133.0) 58.4 2.6
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
New additions to share owner's funds 3,129.6 93.9 190.6
Share owner's funds at 1 January 1,019.6 925.7 735.2
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share owner's funds at 31 December 4,149.1 1,019.6 925.7
==============================================================================
* The 1999 and 1998 balance sheets and net income statements have been restated
as a result of the implementation of FRS 19 (Deferred Tax) in the Group's 2000
financial statements.
F-22
Notes to Reconciliation to US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Significant differences between UK and US Accounting
Principles
The Group's financial statements are prepared in accordance with Generally
Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP) applicable in the UK which differ in
certain significant respects from those applicable in the US. These differences
relate principally to the following items:
Goodwill, US purchase accounting and long-lived assets
Under US and UK GAAP, purchase consideration in respect of subsidiaries acquired
is allocated on the basis of fair values to the various net assets, including
intangible fixed assets, of the subsidiaries at the dates of acquisition and any
net balance is treated as goodwill. Under UK GAAP, and in accordance with FRS 10
(Goodwill and Intangible Assets), goodwill arising on acquisitions on or after 1
January 1998 has been capitalised as an intangible asset. For certain
acquisitions, where the directors consider it more appropriate, goodwill is
amortised over its useful life up to a 20 year period, from the date of
acquisition. The remaining goodwill and intangible assets of the Group are
considered to have an infinite economic life for the reasons described in the
note on accounting policies in the financial statements. Goodwill arising on
acquisitions before 1 January 1998 was fully written off against share owners'
equity, in accordance with the then preferred treatment under UK GAAP. Under US
GAAP, goodwill in respect of business combinations accounted for as purchases
would be charged against income over its estimated useful life, being not more
than 40 years. Accordingly, for US GAAP purposes, the Group is amortising
goodwill over 40 years. The Group evaluates the carrying value of its tangible
and intangible assets whenever events or circumstances indicate their carrying
value may exceed their recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised when
the estimated future cash flows (undiscounted and without interest) expected to
result from the use of an asset are less than the carrying amount of the asset.
Measurement of an impairment loss is based on fair value of the asset computed
using discounted cash flows if the asset is expected to be held and used.
Contingent consideration
Under UK GAAP, the Group provides for contingent consideration as a liability
when it considers the likelihood of payment as probable. Under US GAAP,
contingent consideration is not recognised until the liability is determined
beyond reasonable doubt. At 31 December 2000, the Group's liabilities for vendor
payments under UK GAAP totalled (Pounds)302.3 million (1999: (Pounds)172.4
million, 1998: (Pounds)97.9 million). As these liabilities are represented by
goodwill arising on acquisition, there is no net effect on shareholders' funds.
In certain transactions the Group considers that there is a commercial need to
tie in vendors to the businesses acquired however believe that, in substance,
payments made under earnouts represent purchase consideration rather than
compensation for services. Under US GAAP, payments made to vendors which are
conditional upon them remaining in employment with the company under earnout are
required to be treated as compensation, regardless of the substance of the
transaction, and the anticipated compensation expense is therefore accrued on a
systematic basis over the earnout period.
Share consideration
Under UK GAAP, the share consideration for the acquisition of Young & Rubicam,
Inc. was measured by reference to the opening share price on 4 October 2000 of
(Pounds)7.99, which was when the acquisition became effective. The relevant
measurement date for US GAAP was 12 May 2000, being the date of the announcement
of the proposed acquisition and its recommendation to share owners by the
respective Boards of directors of WPP Group plc and Young & Rubicam, Inc. The
opening share price on 12 May 2000 was (Pounds)8.45.
Corporate brand names
Under UK GAAP, the Group carries corporate brand names as intangible fixed
assets in the balance sheet. The initial recognition of the J. Walter Thompson
corporate brand was booked as a revaluation in the year following acquisition
and is not recognised under US GAAP. The Ogilvy & Mather and Young & Rubicam,
Inc. brand names, acquired as part of The Ogilvy Group, Inc. and Young &
Rubicam, Inc. respectively, were booked as acquisition adjustments to balance
sheet assets acquired and are amortised as part of goodwill over 40 years.
Dividends
Under UK GAAP, final ordinary dividends are provided in the financial statements
on the basis of recommendation by the directors. This requires subsequent
approval by the share owners to become a legal obligation of the Group. Under US
GAAP, dividends are provided only when the legal obligation to pay arises.
Deferred tax
The Group adopted FRS 19 (Deferred Tax) during the year and, for UK GAAP, the
Group now accounts for deferred tax in accordance with the policy described in
the note on accounting policies in the financial statements. Under US GAAP,
deferred taxes are accounted for on all timing differences and a valuation
allowance is established in respect of those deferred tax assets where it is
more likely than not that some portion will remain unrealised.
Executive compensation
Under UK GAAP the part of executive compensation satisfied in stock is charged
through the profit and loss account at the cost to the Group of acquiring the
stock. Under US GAAP such compensation is measured at the fair value of WPP
common stock at the date the performance condition is met or the award vests
with the employee. Differences occur as the WPP Share Ownership Plan acquires
stock before the liability to the employee arises.
Additionally, under UK GAAP stock options granted with performance criteria
do not give rise to a profit and loss account charge provided that the exercise
price is equal to the fair value of the stock at the date of grant. Under US
GAAP stock options granted with performance criteria (other than a requirement
for employment to continue) are subject to variable plan accounting under APB
Opinion 25. Under variable plan accounting any appreciation in stock value from
the date of grant to the date upon which the performance conditions are
satisfied is charged to the profit and loss account.
Cash flows
Under UK GAAP the Group complies with the Financial Reporting Standard No. 1
Revised 'Cash Flow Statements' (FRS 1 Revised), the objective and principles of
which are similar to those set out in SFAS 95 'Statement of Cash Flows' (SFAS).
The principal difference between the two standards is in respect of
classification. Under FRS 1 Revised, the Group presents its cash flows for (a)
operating activities; (b) returns on investments and servicing of finance; (c)
taxation; (d) investing activities; (e) equity dividends paid and (f) financing
activities. SFAS 95 requires only three categories of cash flow activity (a)
operating; (b) investing; and (c) financing. Cash flows arising from taxation
and returns on investment and servicing of finance under FRS 1 Revised would be
included as a financing activity under SFAS 95. Payments made against provisions
set up on the acquisition of subsidiaries have been included in investing
activities in the consolidated statement of cash flows. Under US GAAP these
payments would be included in determining net cash provided by operating
activities.
Shares owned by Employee Share Option Plan (ESOP)
Under UK GAAP, shares purchased by the ESOP are recorded as fixed asset
investments at cost less amounts written off. Under US GAAP, these shares are
recorded at cost and deducted from share owners' equity. The Group's ESOPs
comprise trusts which acquire WPP shares in the open market to fulfil
obligations under the Group's stock-based compensation plans. These trusts do
not meet the definition of an 'ESOP' under US GAAP.
Listed investments
Under UK GAAP, the carrying value of listed investments, where these represent
an interest of less than 20%, is determined as cost less any provision for
diminution in value. Under US GAAP, such investments are marked to market and
any resulting unrealised gain or loss is taken to share owners' funds. Where the
decline in value is other than temporary, the resulting loss would be taken to
the profit and loss account under both UK and US GAAP. The material listed
investments of the Group are considered to be 'available for sale' securities
under US GAAP.
F-23
Notes to Reconciliation to US Generally Accepted Accounting Principles continued
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
2 Earnings per share - reconciliation from UK to US GAAP
Both basic and diluted earnings per share under US GAAP have been calculated by
dividing the net income as adjusted for US GAAP differences by the weighted
average number of shares in issue during the year. The calculation of the
weighted average number differs for UK and US GAAP purposes as follows:
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Basic Diluted
earnings earnings
per share per share
Year ended 31 December 2000 No. No.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under UK GAAP 834,280,801 865,978,000
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of share options issued
with exercise criteria not yet satisfied at
31 December 2000 - 4,830,727
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under US GAAP 834,280,801 879,808,727
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended 31 December 1999
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under UK GAAP 753,324,054 768,691,993
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of share options issued
with exercise criteria not yet satisfied at
31 December 1999 - 5,430,846
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under US GAAP 753,324,054 774,122,839
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Year ended 31 December 1998
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under UK GAAP 735,700,122 746,939,733
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted average number of share options issued
with exercise criteria not yet satisfied at
31 December 1998 - 4,115,097
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Under US GAAP 735,700,122 751,054,830
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3 Recent Accounting Pronouncements
Accounting for Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
In June 1998, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Statement of
Financial Accounting Standards No. 133, Accounting for Derivative Instruments
and Hedging Activities. The Statement establishes accounting and reporting
standards in the United States requiring that every derivative instrument
(including certain derivative instruments embedded in other contracts) be
recorded in the balance sheet as either an asset or liability measured at its
fair value. The Statement requires that changes in the derivative's fair value
be recognised currently in earnings unless specific hedge accounting criteria
are met. Special accounting for qualifying hedges allows a derivative's gains
and losses to offset related results on the hedged item in the income statement,
and requires that a company must formally document, designate, and assess the
effectiveness of transactions that receive hedge accounting.
Statement 133, as amended by Statement 137, is effective for fiscal years
beginning after 15 June 2000. A company may also implement the Statement as of
the beginning of any fiscal quarter after issuance (that is, fiscal quarters
beginning 16 June 1998 and thereafter). Statement 133 cannot be applied
retroactively. Statement 133 must be applied to (a) derivative instruments and
(b) certain derivative instruments embedded in hybrid contracts that were
issued, acquired, or substantively modified after 31 December 1997.
The Group has not yet quantified the impact of adopting Statement 133 on the
amounts presented under US generally accepted accounting standards. However, the
Statement could increase volatility in earnings and other comprehensive income.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4 Additional US pension disclosures
The following table shows the information required to be disclosed in accordance
with SFAS No.132 concerning the funded status of the Group's defined benefit
schemes at 31 December 2000.
Year ending 31 December 2000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US Non-US
schemes schemes Total
Change in benefit obligation (Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Benefit obligation at beginning of year 60.3 137.5 197.8
Service cost 8.3 5.8 14.1
Interest cost 4.5 7.5 12.0
Member contributions 0.0 0.7 0.7
Amendments 0.0 0.0 0.0
Actuarial (gain)/loss 1.2 48.6 49.8
Acquisition 92.8 5.3 98.1
Adjustments (5.1) 44.4 39.3
Benefits paid (4.2) (7.6) (11.8)
Benefit obligation at end of year 157.8 242.2 400.0
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year 56.2 146.0 202.2
Actual return on plan assets 4.9 10.0 14.9
Acquisition 92.8 0.0 92.8
Adjustments (4.7) 50.5 45.8
Employer contributions 4.6 4.1 8.7
Members' contributions 0.0 0.7 0.7
Benefits paid (4.2) (7.6) (11.8)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year 149.6 203.7 353.3
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Funded status at end of year (8.2) (38.5) (46.7)
Unrecognised net actuarial (gain)/loss (12.0) 17.6 5.6
Unrecognised prior service cost 0.0 0.0 0.0
Unrecognised net transition (asset)/obligation 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net amount recognised (20.2) (20.9) (41.1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Prepaid/(accrued) benefit cost (20.2) (20.9) (41.1)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Components of net periodic pension cost
Service cost 8.3 5.8 14.1
Interest cost 4.5 7.5 12.0
Expected return on plan assets (3.7) (9.5) (13.2)
Amortisation of transition (asset)/obligation 0.1 (2.5) (2.4)
Amortisation of prior service cost 0.2 0.0 0.2
Amortisation of net (gain)/loss 0.0 0.0 0.0
Curtailment charge 0.0 0.0 0.0
Net periodic pension cost 9.4 1.3 10.7
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Weighted-average assumptions as of end of year
Discount rate 8.0% 5.5% 6.5%
Expected return on plan assets 8.8% 6.5% 7.3%
Rate of compensation increase 6.5% 4.5% 5.3%
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Footnotes:
1. The defined benefit pension cost for 2000 was (Pounds)10.7 million.
2. The pension cost for defined contribution schemes for 2000 was (Pounds)25.3 million.
3. A number of plans have an unfunded accumulated benefit obligation. The breakdown showing
this is as follows:
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
US Non-US
plans plans Total
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m (Pounds)m
Assets 0.0 181.5 181.5
Accumulated benefit obligation 5.3 212.1 217.4
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-24
NOTE 5. CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING FINANCIAL INFORMATION
Young & Rubicam Inc. ("Y&R Inc.") is an issuer of certain securities registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, guaranteed by WPP Group plc, thus subjecting
both Y&R Inc. and WPP Group plc to reporting requirements under Section 15 (d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. The following condensed consolidating
financial information is presented in lieu of consolidated financial statements
of these companies because the Y&R Inc. securities are fully and unconditionally
guaranteed by WPP Group plc. As the merger between WPP Group plc and Y&R Inc.
occurred October 4, 2000, any profit & loss account amounts for Y&R Inc. and its
consolidated subsidiaries (whether included in the Y&R Inc., Non-guarantor
Subsidiaries, or Reclassifications/Eliminations columns) are for the period from
October 5, 2000 through December 31, 2000. Note that prior to October 4, 2000,
Y&R Inc., whose common stock was listed on the New York Stock Exchange, filed
periodic reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
Consolidating profit and loss account (UK Sterling)
For the year ended 31 December 2000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Y&R Inc. Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover (gross billings) 858.3 13,091.1 13,949.4
Cost of sales (687.5) (10,281.2) (10,968.7)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue 170.8 2,809.9 2,980.7
Direct costs - (244.6) (244.6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 170.8 2,565.3 2,736.1
Operating costs 20.7 (163.1) (2,215.7) (2,358.1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit 20.7 7.7 349.6 378.0
Income from subsidiaries (687.3) 39.0 (16.1) 664.4 -
Income from associates - 0.1 37.9 38.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
before interest and taxation (666.6) 46.8 371.4 664.4 416.0
Investment Income 923 27.5 (950.5) -
Net interest payable and similar
charges (11.7) (2.2) (36.4) (50.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities 244.7 44.6 362.5 (286.1) 365.7
before taxation
Taxation on profit on ordinary
activities - 5.8 (115.5) - (109.7)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities 244.7 50.4 247.0 (286.1) 256.0
after taxation
Minority interests - - (11.3) (11.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to ordinary 244.7 50.4 235.7 (286.1) 244.7
share owners
Ordinary dividends (37.8) - - (37.8)
Intercompany dividends - (27.5) (923.0) 950.5 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained profit for the year 206.9 22.9 (687.3) 664.4 206.9
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-25
Consolidating cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Y&R Inc. Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow from
operating activities 65.3 100.6 457.1 623.0
Dividends received from
associates - - 7.6 7.6
Return on investments and
servicing of finance 3.4 (1.7) (23.0) (43.3) (64.6)
United Kingdom and overseas
tax paid (9.6) (2.5) (69.3) (81.4)
Capital expenditure and
financial investment (99.9) (12.3) (86.9) (199.1)
Acquisition payments, net
of cash and overdrafts
acquired (53.5) (71.5) (206.9) 50.9 (281.0)
Equity dividends paid (25.6) (27.5) (15.8) 43.3 (25.6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow)
before financing (119.9) (14.9) 62.8 50.9 (21.1)
Proceeds from issue of shares 78.0 - 50.9 (50.9) 78.0
Net change in intercompany
balance 283.6 (45.3) (238.3) -
Net increase (decrease) in
debt (180.3) 2.0 304.9 126.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow)
from financing 181.3 (43.3) 117.5 (50.9) 204.6
Increase in cash and
overdrafts for the year 61.4 (58.2) 180.3 183.5
Translation difference - 7.2 27.9 35.1
Balance of cash and
overdrafts at beginning of
year (23.1) 574.5 551.4
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance of cash and
overdrafts at end of year 38.3 (51.0) 782.7 - 770.0
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-26
Consolidating balance sheet
As at 31 December 2000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Y&R Inc. Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed assets
Goodwill/Intangible assets - 1,970.0 2,477.3 4,447.3
Tangible assets 13.4 91.1 285.7 390.2
Investment in subsidiaries 4,253.5 1,634.0 1,388.5 (7,276.0) -
Investments 160.2 28.5 362.8 551.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
4,427.1 3,723.6 4,514.3 (7,276.0) 5,389.0
Current assets
Stocks and work in progress - 41.2 199.9 241.1
Trade debtors - 265.2 1,667.5 1,932.7
Other debtors 35.8 21.4 424.4 481.6
Cash at bank and in hand 49.2 35.5 982.9 1,067.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
85.0 363.3 3,274.7 - 3,723.0
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
Bank overdrafts (10.9) (86.5) (200.2) (297.6)
Trade creditors - (503.6) (2,071.3) (2,574.9)
Deferred income - (40.0) (227.6) (267.6)
Other creditors and accruals (74.2) (145.7) (892.4) (1,112.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(85.1) (775.8) (3,391.5) - (4,252.4)
Net current assets (liabilities) (0.1) (412.5) (116.8) - (529.4)
Total assets less current 4,427.0 3,311.1 4,397.5 (7,276.0) 4,859.6
liabilities
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
(including convertible loan
note)
Loans - (192.7) (601.9) (794.6)
Other creditors and accruals (10.2) (115.0) (359.8) (485.0)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(10.2) (307.7) (961.7) - (1,279.6)
Provisions for liabilities and - (27.9) (118.0) (145.9)
charges
Intercompany receivable (982.7) 47.0 935.7 -
(payable)
Net assets 3,434.1 3,022.5 4,253.5 (7,276.0) 3,434.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-27
Reconciliation to US Accounting Principles
For the year ended and as at 31 December 2000
The following is a summary of the significant adjustments to profit and ordinary
share owners' funds which would be required if US Generally Accepted Accounting
Principles had been applied:
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Y&R Inc. Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to
ordinary share owners under
UK GAAP 244.7 50.4 235.7 (286.1) 244.7
US GAAP adjustments:
Income from subsidiaries (120.6) (14.8) 135.4 -
Amortisation of goodwill and
other intangibles (14.8) (68.4) (83.2)
Executive compensation (2.9) (35.4) (38.3)
Contingent consideration
deemed as compensation (8.6) (8.6)
Deferred tax items 1.7 6.6 8.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(121.8) (14.8) (120.6) 135.4 (121.8)
Net income as adjusted for US
GAAP 122.9 35.6 115.1 (150.7) 122.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share owners' funds under UK
GAAP (excludes minority
interest) 3,409.9 3,022.5 4,229.3 (7,251.8) 3,409.9
US GAAP adjustments:
Investment in subsidiaries 862.0 114.9 (976.9)
Capitalisation of goodwill
arising on acquisition (net
of accumulated amortisation
and amounts capitalised under
UK GAAP) 118.2 716.3 834.5
Revaluation of investments
marked to market (3.3) 37.7 34.4
Contingent consideration
deemed as compensation (8.6) (8.6)
Shares owned by Employee Share
Option Plan (ESOP) (160.2) (160.2)
Deferred tax items 8.9 5.4 14.3
Proposed final ordinary
dividend, not yet declared 28.5 28.5
Other (3.7) (3.7)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
739.2 114.9 862.0 (976.9) 739.2
Share owners' funds as
adjusted for US GAAP 4,149.1 3,137.4 5,091.3 (8,228.7) 4,149.1
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-28
Consolidating profit and loss account (UK Sterling)
For the year ended 31 December 1999
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover (gross billings) 9,345.9 9,345.9
Cost of sales (7,173.3) (7,173.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue 2,172.6 2,172.6
Direct costs (317.3) (317.3)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 1,855.3 1,855.3
Operating costs (0.8) (1,591.0) (1,591.8)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) (0.8) 264.3 263.5
Income from subsidiaries 145.2 - (145.2) -
Income from associates - 27.3 27.3
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
before interest and taxation 144.4 291.6 (145.2) 290.8
Investment Income 39.3 - (39.3) -
Net interest payable and similar
charges (9.4) (26.0) (35.4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
before taxation 174.3 265.6 (184.5) 255.4
Taxation on profit on ordinary
activities (1.5) (75.1) (76.6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
after taxation 172.8 190.5 (184.5) 178.8
Minority interests - (6.0) (6.0)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to ordinary
share owners 172.8 184.5 (184.5) 172.8
Ordinary dividends (24.0) - (24.0)
Intercompany dividends - (39.3) 39.3 -
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained profit for the year 148.8 145.2 (145.2) 148.8
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-29
Consolidating cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow) from
operating activities (20.8) 369.3 348.5
Dividends received from
associates - 4.3 4.3
Return on investments and
servicing of finance 16.9 (20.2) (33.8) (37.1)
United Kingdom and overseas tax
paid (6.9) (51.5) (58.4)
Capital expenditure and
financial investment (23.7) (56.8) (80.5)
Acquisition payments, net
of cash and overdrafts
acquired (69.2) (201.3) 68.3 (202.2)
Equity dividends paid (21.1) (33.8) 33.8 (21.1)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow)
before financing (124.8) 10.0 68.3 (46.5)
Proceeds from issue of shares 12.0 68.3 (68.3) 12.0
Net change in intercompany
balance (32.7) 32.7 -
Net increase (decrease) in debt 170.3 87.7 258.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow) from
financing 149.6 188.7 (68.3) 270.0
(Decrease) Increase in cash and
overdrafts for the year 24.8 198.7 223.5
Translation difference - (0.6) (0.6)
Balance of cash and overdrafts
at beginning of year (47.9) 376.4 328.5
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance of cash and overdrafts
at end of year (23.1) 574.5 551.4
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-30
Consolidating balance sheet
As at 31 December 1999
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed assets
Goodwill/Intangible assets 760.3 760.3
Tangible assets 10.3 186.4 196.7
Investment in subsidiaries 994.0 - (994.0) -
Investments 71.3 285.6 356.9
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1,075.6 1,232.3 (994.0) 1,313.9
Current assets
Stocks and work in progress - 113.5 113.5
Trade debtors - 901.6 901.6
Other debtors 39.0 259.4 298.4
Cash at bank and in hand 2.4 604.6 607.0
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
41.4 1,879.1 - 1,920.5
Creditors: amounts falling due
within one year
Bank overdraft/Short-term loans (25.5) (122.8) (148.3)
Trade creditors - (1,315.0) (1,315.0)
Deferred income - (125.8) (125.8)
Other creditors and accruals (31.5) (527.4) (558.9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(57.0) (2,091.0) - (2,148.0)
Net current assets (liabilities) (15.6) (211.9) (227.5)
Total assets less current
liabilities 1,060.0 1,020.4 (994.0) 1,086.4
Creditors: amounts falling due
after more than one year
(including convertible loan note)
Loans (180.3) (186.5) (366.8)
Other creditors and accruals (8.9) (276.8) (285.7)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(189.2) (463.3) - (652.5)
Provisions for liabilities and
charges - (79.2) (79.2)
Intercompany receivable (payable) (516.1) 516.1 -
Net assets 354.7 994.0 (994.0) 354.7
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-31
Reconciliation to US Accounting Principles
For the year ended and as at 31 December 1999
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to ordinary
share owners under UK GAAP 172.8 184.5 (184.5) 172.8
US GAAP adjustments:
Income from subsidiaries (75.7) 75.7
Amortisation of goodwill and
other intangibles (42.1) (42.1)
Executive compensation (22.4) (36.0) (58.4)
Deferred tax items 7.2 2.4 9.6
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(90.9) (75.7) 75.7 (90.9)
Net income as adjusted for US GAAP
81.9 108.8 (108.8) 81.9
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share owners' funds under UK GAAP
(excludes minority interest) 346.2 985.5 (985.5) 346.2
US GAAP adjustments:
Investment in subsidiaries 728.5 (728.5) -
Capitalisation of goodwill
arising on acquisition (net of
accumulated amortisation and
amounts capitalised under UK
GAAP) 685.2 685.2
Revaluation of investments marked
to market 41.2 41.2
Shares owned by
Employee Share Option
Plan (ESOP) (71.3) (71.3)
Deferred tax items 6.0 6.0
Proposed final ordinary dividend,
not yet declared 16.2 16.2
Other (3.9) (3.9)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
673.4 728.5 (728.5) 673.4
Share owners' funds as adjusted
for US GAAP 1,019.6 1,714.0 (1,714.0) 1,019.6
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-32
Consolidating profit and loss account (UK Sterling)
For the year ended 31 December 1998
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Turnover (gross billings) 8,000.1 8,000.1
Cost of sales (6,081.7) (6,081.7)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revenue 1,918.4 1,918.4
Direct costs (285.9) (285.9)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Gross profit 1,632.5 1,632.5
Operating costs (5.4) (1,398.0) (1,403.4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating profit (loss) (5.4) 234.5 229.1
Income from subsidiaries 149.7 (149.7) -
Income from associates - 16.1 16.1
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
before interest and taxation 144.3 250.6 (149.7) 245.2
Investment Income 31.5 (31.5) -
Net interest payable and similar
charges (27.3) (5.1) (32.4)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
before taxation 148.5 245.5 (181.2) 212.8
Taxation on profit on ordinary
activities (8.2) (58.8) (67.0)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit on ordinary activities
after taxation 140.3 186.7 (181.2) 145.8
Minority interests - (5.5) (5.5)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to ordinary
share owners 140.3 181.2 (181.2) 140.3
Intercompany dividends - (31.5) 31.5 -
Ordinary dividends (19.6) - - (19.6)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Retained profit for the year 120.7 149.7 (149.7) 120.7
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-33
Consolidating cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow) from
operating activities (13.8) 269.8 256.0
Dividends received from associates 3.4 3.4
Return on investments and
servicing of finance 13.1 (15.6) (26.2) (28.7)
United Kingdom and overseas tax
paid (5.6) (53.4) (59.0)
Capital expenditure and financial
investment (37.0) (45.1) (82.1)
Acquisition payments, net of cash
and overdrafts acquired (11.6) (110.4) 6.5 (115.5)
Equity dividends paid (16.6) (26.2) 26.2 (16.6)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow) before
financing (71.5) 22.5 6.5 (42.5)
Proceeds from issue of bond 178.8 178.8
Share buy-backs (21.3) (21.3)
Financing costs (2.3) (2.3)
Proceeds from issue of shares 4.3 6.5 (6.5) 4.3
Net change in intercompany balance 21.4 (21.4) -
Net increase (decrease) in debt 10.0 (91.4) (81.4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Net cash inflow (outflow) from
financing 35.7 48.9 (6.5) 78.1
(Decrease)/Increase in cash and
overdrafts for the year (35.8) 71.4 35.6
Translation difference - 0.9 0.9
Balance of cash and overdrafts at
beginning of year (12.1) 304.1 292.0
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Balance of cash and overdrafts at
end of year (47.9) 376.4 328.5
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-34
Consolidating balance sheet
As at 31 December 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m (Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fixed assets
Goodwill/Intangible assets - 508.0 508.0
Tangible assets 5.8 160.9 166.7
Investment in subsidiaries 774.1 - (774.1)
Investments 58.1 210.1 268.2
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
838.0 879.0 (774.1) 942.9
Current assets
Stocks and work in progress - 107.3 107.3
Trade debtors - 764.2 764.2
Other debtors 31.6 210.6 242.2
Cash at bank and in hand 1.2 422.7 423.9
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
32.8 1,504.8 - 1,537.6
Creditors: amounts falling due within
one year
Bank overdraft (49.1) (46.3) (95.4)
Trade creditors - (1,102.4) (1,102.4)
Deferred income - (111.1) (111.1)
Other creditors and accruals (35.4) (433.0) (468.4)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(84.5) (1,692.8) - (1,777.3)
Net current assets (liabilities) (51.7) (188.0) (239.7)
Total assets less current liabilities 786.3 691.0 (774.1) 703.2
Creditors: amounts falling due after
more than one year (including
convertible loan note)
Loans - (194.2) (194.2)
Other creditors and accruals (22.3) (185.0) (207.3)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(22.3) (379.2) - (401.5)
Provisions for liabilities and charges - (77.9) (77.9)
Intercompany receivable (payable) (540.2) 540.2 -
Net assets 223.8 774.1 (774.1) 223.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-35
Reconciliation to US Accounting Principles
For the year ended and as at 31 December 1998
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
WPP Group plc Non-guarantor Reclassifications/Eliminations Consolidated
(Pounds)m Subsidiaries (Pounds)m (Pounds)m WPP Group plc
(Pounds)m
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Profit attributable to ordinary share
owners under UK GAAP 140.3 181.2 (181.2) 140.3
US GAAP adjustments:
Income from subsidiaries (38.0) 38.0 -
Amortisation of goodwill and other
intangibles (38.2) (38.2)
Executive compensation (1.9) (0.7) (2.6)
Deferred tax items 0.9 0.9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(39.9) (38.0) 38.0 (39.9)
Net income as adjusted for US GAAP 100.4 143.2 (143.2) 100.4
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Share owners' funds under UK GAAP
(excludes minority interest) 215.7 766.0 (766.0) 215.7
US GAAP adjustments:
Investment in subsidiaries 754.7 (754.7) -
Capitalisation of goodwill arising on
acquisition (net of accumulated
amortisation and amounts capitalised
under UK GAAP) 762.7 762.7
Shares owned by Employee Share Option
Plan (ESOP) (58.1) (58.1)
Deferred tax items (3.6) (3.6)
Proposed final ordinary dividend, not
yet declared 13.4 13.4
Other (4.4) (4.4)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
710.0 754.7 (754.7) 710.0
Share owners' funds as adjusted for US
GAAP 925.7 1,520.7 (1,520.7) 925.7
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
F-36
Note 6 - Pro forma financial information (unaudited)
The following table sets out certain pro forma financial information for WPP
Group plc ("WPP") as if the acquisition of Young & Rubicam Inc ("Y&R Inc.")
had occurred at the beginning of each period presented. The proforma financial
information is stated in accordance with UK GAAP.
The financial information for Y&R Inc. for the year ended 31 December 1999 has
been extracted without material adjustment from the audited financial statements
contained in Y&R Inc.'s annual report filed on Form 10-K with the SEC for the
year ended 31 December 1999. These financial statements were prepared in
accordance with US GAAP. In order to arrive at a UK GAAP presentation, and one
consistent with the accounting policies adopted by WPP, a number of adjustments
have been made. These relate principally to the amortisation of goodwill, equity
accounting, the measurement of compensation in connection with share awards and
the recognition of gains on the disposal of fixed assets in exchange for an
equity interest in another entity.
The proforma financial information for the year ended 31 December 2000 has been
compiled in a similar manner.
The unaudited pro forma financial information has been prepared for comparative
purposes only and does not purport to be indicative of the results of operations
which would have actually resulted had the combination been in effect on
January 1, 1999 or January 1, 2000.
Proforma
-------------------------------------------------
Year ended Year ended
31 December 2000 31 December 1999
(pounds)m (pounds)m
Revenue 3,898.7 3,234.0
Income before extraordinary items* 305.0 281.1
Net income* 305.0 281.1
===== =====
Basic earnings per ordinary share 28.7 p 27.0 p
Diluted earnings per ordinary share 27.1 p 25.2 p
*Under UK GAAP, if repurchased Treasury stock is used for the purpose
of satisfying the Company's obligation upon exercise of stock options
issued to employees, the Company should record as an operating cost,
the excess of the cost of repurchasing the treasury stock over the
proceeds from employees on exercising stock options. In the pro forma
financial information for the year ended 31 December 2000, this
resulted in a charge (net of taxes) to the profit and loss account of
Y&R Inc. of (pound)17.6 million. For 1999, the difference between the
proceeds on exercise of employee share options and the cost of
satisfying these options was not material.
F-37