Financial information

Revenue

The measure:Revenue growth is the increase/decrease in revenue year-on-year.

Target: To deliver growth in revenue from expansion both geographically and by business segment.

Underlying profit (£m)

The measure: Underlying profit growth is the increase/decrease in underlying profit year-on-year. Underlying profit is calculated by adjusting reported pre-tax profit by exceptional items, profit on disposals, share-based payment adjustment and impairment and amortisation of goodwill and intangibles (excluding software) to give a fairer indication of profits and enable like-for-like comparisons between years.

Target: To deliver sustainable growth in underlying profit.

Operating margins (%)

The measure: Profitability after all operating costs but before the impact of exceptional costs, financing, taxation, and the results of associates and joint ventures.

Target: To deliver growth in operating margins by improving the profitablility of services offered.

Cash generation (£m)

The measure: The amount of cash the business has generated from operating activities.

Target: Maintain strong cash generation to fund working capital requirements, shareholder dividends and strategic initiatives of the Group.

Underlying earnings per share (pence)

The measure: Earnings per share (EPS) is the measure of profit generation. EPS is calculated by dividing underlying profit by the weighted average number of shares in issue.

Target: To deliver growth in EPS to enhance shareholder value.

For more information on our key financial and non financial data please refer to the financial review section of our Annual report 2008

† Underlying Group profit is calculated by adjusting reported pretax profit before exceptional items by profit on disposals of £0.5m (2007: £0.7m), share-based payments adjustments of £3.3m (2007: £4.8m) and add back amortisation of intangibles and impairment of goodwill and available-for-sale investments of £4.2m (2007: £5.1m).

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