One Health Group PLC - Half-year Report

2.          ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

The assets' residual values. useful lives and depreciation methods are reviewed, if appropriate at the end of each reporting period. The effect of any change is accounted for prospectively.

              Investment property

Investment property is shown at most recent valuation. Any aggregate surplus or deficit arising from changes in fair value is recognised in the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings.

Investment in a subsidiary company

Investment in subsidiary company is held at cost less accumulated impairment losses.

              Financial instruments

The Group has elected to apply the provisions of Section 11 'Basic Financial Instruments' and Section 12 'Other Financial Instruments Issues' of FRS 102 to all of its financial instruments.

Basic financial assets, including trade and other receivables, cash and bank balances and investments in commercial paper, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the transaction is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Such assets are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

At the end of each reporting period financial assets measured at amortised cost are assessed for objective evidence of impairment. If an asset is impaired the impairment loss is the difference between the carrying amount and the present value of the estimated cash flows discounted at the asset's original effective interest rate. The impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

If there is a decrease in the impairment loss arising from an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the impairment is reversed. The reversal is such that the current carrying amount does not exceed what the carrying amount would have been had the impairment not previously been recognised. The impairment reversal is recognised in profit or loss.

Financial assets are derecognised when (a) the contractual rights to the cash flows from the asset expire or are settled or (b) substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the asset are transferred to another party or (c) control of the asset has been transferred to another party who has the practical ability to unilaterally sell the asset to an unrelated third party without imposing additional restrictions.

Basic financial liabilities, including trade and other payables, bank loans, loans from fellow group companies and preference shares that are classified as debt, are initially recognised at transaction price, unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, where the debt instrument is measured at the present value of the future receipts discounted at a market rate of interest. Debt instruments are subsequently carried at amortised cost, using the effective interest rate method.

Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw-down occurs. To the extent there is no evidence that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down, the fee is capitalised as a pre-payment for liquidity services and amortised over the period of the facility to which it relates.

Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less. If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at transaction price and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Financial liabilities are derecognised when the liability is extinguished, that is when the contractual obligation is discharged, cancelled or expires.

2.          ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities.

Distributions to equity holders

Dividends and other distributions to the company's shareholders are recognised as a liability in the Interim Results in the period in which the dividends and other distributions are approved by the company's shareholders. These amounts are recognised in the statement of changes in equity.

Related party transactions

The Group discloses transactions with related parties which are not wholly owned with the same group. It does not disclose transactions with its parent or with members of the same group that are wholly owned.

              Taxation

Taxation for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement, except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income or directly in equity.

Current or deferred taxation assets and liabilities are not discounted.

Current tax is recognised at the amount of tax payable using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the statement of financial position date.

              Deferred tax

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the statement of financial position date.

Timing differences arise from the inclusion of income and expenses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in the Interim Results. Deferred tax is measured using tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the period end and that are expected to apply to the reversal of the timing difference.

Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that they will be recovered against the reversal of deferred tax liabilities or other future taxable profits.

              Hire purchase and leasing commitments

Rentals paid under operating leases are charged to the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings on a straight line basis over the period of the lease.

              Pension costs and other post-retirement benefits

The group operates a defined contribution pension scheme. Contributions payable to the group's pension scheme are charged to the Statement of Income and Retained Earnings in the period to which they relate.

Employee benefits

The group provides a range of benefits to employees, including annual bonus arrangements, paid holiday arrangements and defined benefit and defined contribution pension plans.

Short term benefits, including holiday pay and other similar non-monetary benefits, are recognised as an expense in the period in which the service is received.

2.          ACCOUNTING POLICIES - continued

The group operates a number of country-specific defined contribution plans for its employees. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the group pays fixed contributions into a separate entity. Once the contributions have been paid the group has no further payment obligations. The contributions are recognised as an expense when they are due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the group in independently administered funds.

The group operates a number of annual bonus plans for employees. An expense is recognised in the profit and loss account when the group has a legal or constructive obligation to make payments under the plans as a result of past events and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.

The group provides share-based payment arrangements to certain employees. Equity-settled arrangements are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non- market based vesting conditions) at the date of the grant. The fair value is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect the actual number of shares or options that will vest.

Where equity-settled arrangements are modified, and are of benefit to the employee, the incremental fair value is recognised over the period from the date of modification to date of vesting. Where a modification is not beneficial to the employee there is no change to the charge for share-based payment. Settlements and cancellations are treated as an acceleration of vesting and the unvested amount is recognised immediately in the income statement.

3.          EARNINGS PER SHARE

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares adjusted to assume the conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

Underlying EPS is calculated using underling EBITDA, which excludes costs relating to the IPO and share adjustments.

3.          EARNINGS PER SHARE - continued