| |
Remuneration Report

No it aint!
Not if we can help it. |
Unaudited information
Until 24 March 2003 the Remuneration Committee consisted of Mr Michael
Cassidy, Mr Derek Higgs, Lord Burns and Mr Robert Swannell. On that date
the Committee was reconstituted as follows: Mr Derek Higgs, Chairman of
the Remuneration Committee, Lord Burns, Dr Christopher Gibson-Smith and
Mr David Michels. The Remuneration Committee took advice during the year
from Mr John Ritblat, Mr John Weston Smith, Mr Anthony Braine and from
Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow.
The Remuneration Committee appointed Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow as adviser
to the Committee. In addition Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow acts as actuary
to the British Land Group Final Salary Pension Scheme and gives advice
on share scheme and personnel policy matters to the Company.
Statement of Company's Policy
on directors' remuneration
The Company has developed over the years a policy that involves each director
having a remuneration package consisting of several remuneration components.
The fixed part of the package is a combination of basic salary and benefits.
In addition, the Company has an annual incentive plan and a long-term
incentive plan. The policy is tailored to support the strategic objective
of delivering long-term value to shareholders.
i
Basic salary and benefits
Basic salary and benefits in kind for each executive director are reviewed
annually by the Remuneration Committee and take into account individual
responsibility, experience and performance as well as the market-place
for similar positions in comparable companies. Benefits normally include
the provision of a car, fuel, private medical insurance and permanent
health insurance. Pensions are provided under approved and unapproved
schemes. The aim has been to provide executives with at least 20 years
service at age 60 with benefits equivalent to a pension at that age of
two-thirds of basic salary less the single person's basic state pension.
The Company policy will need to be reviewed if the Inland Revenue proposed
changes to pensions set out in the Green Paper of December 2002 are enacted.
ii Annual incentive plan
The annual incentive plan consists of a cash bonus payable to executive
directors reflecting the individual 's contribution to the Company during
the preceding year and team performance. Target award levels are 40% of
base salary for above satisfactory performance and 75% of salary for outstanding
performance. The awards are not contractual and are not pensionable. In
assessing corporate performance the Remuneration Committee looks at a
number of performance measures as appropriate to the particular year.
All of the performance measures are consistent with the long-term growth
of the net asset value of the Company.
iii Long-term incentives
The long-term incentive plans that have been used are an Executive Share
Option Scheme and a Restricted Share Plan.
Under the Executive Share Option Scheme, market value options are granted
at the discretion of the Committee. Options may become exercisable after
three years (or five years in certain cases), dependent on the performance
target being met. The performance target, agreed following consultation
with the Association of British Insurers and the National Association
of Pension Funds, requires growth in net asset value per share over a
rolling three year period equal to or exceeding the growth in the capital
growth component of the Investment Property Databank annual Index. No
options have been granted under this scheme since 1996.
Under the Restricted Share Plan, executives and directors are granted
provisional interests in securities of the Company that vest according
to performance against a target, agreed following consultation with the
Association of British Insurers and the National Association of Pension
Funds, which requires growth in net asset value per share over a rolling
three year period equal to or exceeding the growth in the capital growth
component of the Investment Property Databank annual Index. There is a
stepped incentive scale in bands of achievement as follows:
| Percentage by which British Land's average annual
Net Asset Value Growth per share exceeds the average annual increase
in the capital growth component of the Investment Property Databank
annual Index |
Relevant Percentage
to be applied to number
of ordinary shares
provisionally granted
|
|
| 5% or more |
150%
|
| 4% or more but less than 5% |
125%
|
| 3% or more but less than 4% |
100%
|
| 2% or more but less than 3% |
75%
|
| 1% or more but less than 2% |
50%
|
| 0% or more but less than 1% |
25%
|
| Less than 0% |
0%
|
|
The Committee reviews these performance conditions on a regular basis
to ensure that they are both sufficiently stretching and that they remain
relevant to the Company 's strategic objectives.
The following summarises the annual package and relative importance for
an index base salary of 100 for each executive director.
|
| Salary |
100
|
| Benefits |
10
|
| Bonuses |
up to 40-75
|
|
In addition annual grants under the long-term incentive plan are targeted
at 100-150.
Messrs Bowden, Nicholas Ritblat and Roberts also receive pension benefits
as set out here.
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Performance measure for current
long-term incentives
The Company has given much thought as to the most appropriate performance
measure to use to align the interest of the executive with that of the Company,
and to strengthen links between individual and shareholder interests.
The Company considers that the most relevant measure of success in determining
whether its strategy has been achieved is by reference to growth in net
asset value per share.
In benchmarking performance the Company compares its net asset value per
share performance with the capital growth component of the Investment Property
Databank annual Index. The Investment Property Databank Index contains the
greatest number of properties similar in nature to those in which the Company
invests. It is the standard benchmark for investors to analyse the performance
of property in the UK market and thus provides a straightforward and well
recognised comparison. The Company is geared whilst the index is not and
therefore stretching out-performance is required for the entire award to
vest.
Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow undertakes the measurement of performance and
submits a report to the Company showing the results for each specific award.
Directors' contracts
The general policy of the Company is to have service contracts with notice
periods of one year. However, it is sometimes necessary when recruiting
a new director to give a service contract with an initial term of longer
than one year. In such circumstances it is the policy of the Company that
the notice period should reduce to one year after an initial period of
service.
The Company applies the principle of mitigation in the event of early
termination of service contracts.
Mr John Ritblat, Mr Metliss, Mr Weston Smith and Mr Bowden do not have
service contracts with the Company.
Mr Nicholas Ritblat has a service contract dated 12 November 1991 and
amended by side letters dated 9 June 1997 and 29 May 2002. It is a rolling
contract providing for one year's notice.
Mr Roberts joined the Company in January 2002 as an executive director
under a service contract dated 19 November 2001. Mr Roberts' service contract
provided on his appointment as a director for 12 months' notice to expire
on or any time after 1 January 2005.
There are no further provisions for compensation payable on termination
of service contracts of directors. There has been no compensation paid
to departing directors during the year.
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Performance Graph
The graph below is prepared in accordance with The Directors' Remuneration
Report Regulations 2002. It shows the Company's total return and that
of the FTSE Real Estate Sector Total Return Index for the five years from
1 April 1998 to 31 March 2003.
The FTSE Real Estate Sector Index was chosen because that is where the
shares of the Company are classified. Hewitt Bacon & Woodrow prepared
the graph based on underlying data provided by Datastream.
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Non-executive Directors
The remuneration of the non-executive directors is a matter for the executive
members of the Board. Their remuneration comprises a standard director's
fee, a fee for additional responsibilities and an attendance fee based
on the number of meetings attended during the year. The remuneration provided
takes into account the level of responsibility, experience and abilities
required and the market- place for similar positions in comparable companies.
Audited Information
Directors' emoluments
| |
|
Annual |
|
|
|
Annual |
|
|
| |
Salary |
Bonus |
Benefits |
2003 Total |
Salary |
Bonus |
Benefits |
2002 Total |
| |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
£ |
|
| J. H. Ritblat |
776,500 |
450,000 |
20,396 |
1,246,896 |
697,250 |
550,000 |
19,526 |
1,266,776 |
| C. Metliss |
201,950 |
100,000 |
26,605 |
328,555 |
201,950 |
150,000 |
22,156 |
374,106 |
| J. H. Weston Smith |
351,500 |
100,000 |
24,145 |
475,645 |
331,500 |
150,000 |
22,728 |
504,228 |
| N. S. J. Ritblat |
321,500 |
125,000 |
21,224 |
467,724 |
265,500 |
100,000 |
20,772 |
386,272 |
| M. J. Cassidy |
30,000 |
|
|
30,000 |
29,569 |
|
|
29,569 |
| R. E. Bowden |
301,500 |
60,000 |
34,264 |
395,764 |
251,500 |
75,000 |
14,836 |
341,336 |
| R. W. A. Swannell* |
30,000 |
|
|
30,000 |
29,569 |
|
|
29,569 |
| D. A. Higgs |
35,000 |
|
|
35,000 |
33,461 |
|
|
33,461 |
| Lord Burns |
27,500 |
|
|
27,500 |
27,141 |
|
|
27,141 |
| G. C. Roberts |
232,125 |
140,000 |
16,875 |
389,000 |
56,625 |
|
4,606 |
61,231 |
| D. Michels |
6,875 |
|
|
6,875 |
|
|
|
|
| C. Gibson-Smith |
6,875 |
|
|
6,875 |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
2,321,325 |
975,000 |
143,509 |
3,439,834 |
1,924,065 |
1,025,000 |
104,624 |
3,053,689 |
|
*Fees in respect of Mr Swannell's services are paid
to Citigroup.
Directors' emoluments reflect all amounts payable in relation to services
provided during that year. Bonuses were previously disclosed in the year
in which they were paid.
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Directors and their interests
in share and loan capital
Beneficial interests of the Directors in the share and loan capital of the
Company.
| |
Fully Paid Ordinary Shares |
6%
Irredeemable
Convertible Bonds
(£ nominal) |
Options over Ordinary Shares
|
Rights under
Restricted Share Plan
Ordinary Shares
|
| |
|
| |
Sharesave Scheme |
1984 Option Scheme |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
31 March 2002 |
31
March 2003 |
31 March 2002 |
31
March 2003 |
31 March 2002 |
31
March 2003 |
31 March 2002 |
31
March 2003 |
31 March 2002 |
31
March 2003 |
| |
|
| J. H. Ritblat |
2,307,754 |
2,472,716 |
|
|
4,753 |
4,753 |
295,783 |
295,783 |
411,943 |
444,018 |
| C. Metliss |
111,776 |
113,332 |
|
|
4,753 |
4,753 |
|
|
|
|
| J. H. Weston Smith |
88,170 |
134,726 |
|
|
4,753 |
4,753 |
150,283 |
150,283 |
205,971 |
212,574 |
| N. S. J. Ritblat |
17,634 |
80,449 |
374,250 |
374,250 |
3,554 |
2,463 |
59,201 |
59,201 |
215,971 |
203,140 |
| M. J. Cassidy |
5,000 |
14,500 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| R. E. Bowden |
38,246 |
75,802 |
81,250 |
81,250 |
2,427 |
2,427 |
184,250 |
184,250 |
195,971 |
212,574 |
| R. W. A. Swannell |
3,750 |
3,750 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Lord Burns |
1,505 |
2,767 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| D. A. Higgs |
5,652 |
6,874 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| G. C. Roberts |
10,000 |
11,556 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
75,000 |
122,169 |
|
On 8 April 2003 Mr Higgs and Lord Burns were each
allotted 376 fully paid 25p ordinary shares and Dr Gibson-Smith was allotted
1,034 shares, all in satisfaction of directors' fees for the quarter ended
31 March 2003. The shares allotted were priced at the middle market quotation
at close of business on 3 April 2003, which was 398.75p.
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Directors' options and Restricted Share Plan interests
by date of grant and exercise price
(i)1984 Share Option Scheme
Beneficial interests of the Directors under the Company's 1984 Share Option
Scheme in Ordinary Shares of the Company.
| |
|
|
|
|
|
J. H. Ritblat |
J. H. Weston Smith |
N. S. J. Ritblat |
R. E. Bowden |
| Date Granted |
Exercise
Price
p |
Earliest
Exercise
Date |
Expiry
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
1 April
2002 |
31
March 2003 |
1 April
2002 |
31
March 2003 |
1 April
2002 |
31
March 2003 |
1 April
2002 |
31
March
2003 |
|
| 06.07.94 |
380 |
06.07.97 |
05.07.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
60,600 |
60,600 |
| 06.07.94 |
322 |
06.07.99 |
05.07.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,200 |
20,200 |
| 06.07.94 |
380 |
06.07.97 |
05.07.04 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
20,200* |
20,200* |
| 23.01.96 |
394 |
23.01.99 |
22.01.06 |
|
132,418 |
132,418 |
60,092 |
60,092 |
11,244 |
11,244 |
103,450 |
103,450 |
| 23.01.96 |
394 |
23.01.01 |
22.01.06 |
|
163,365 |
163,365 |
90,191 |
90,191 |
47,957 |
47,957 |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
|
295,783 |
295,783 |
150,283 |
150,283 |
59,201 |
59,201 |
184,250 |
184,250 |
|
No options were granted to or were exercised by Directors
under the 1984 Share Option Scheme during the year.
*These options are linked to corresponding grants of options. Accordingly
the exercise of one linked option over a number of shares automatically
causes its counterpart to lapse in respect of the same number of shares; therefore these options do not increase the total number of shares under
option. The totals in the table reflect the number of shares under option.
All new grants of options are subject to a performance target which has
been approved by the Association of British Insurers and the National Association
of Pension Funds. The middle market quotation for the Ordinary 25p shares
of the Company at the close of business on 31 March 2003 was 410.75p. The
highest and lowest middle market quotations during the year to 31 March
2003 were 628.5p and 403p.
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(ii)Sharesave Scheme
Beneficial interests of the Directors under the Company's Sharesave Scheme
in Ordinary Shares of the Company.
| |
|
|
|
J. H. Ritblat
|
C. Metliss
|
J. H. Weston Smith
|
N.S. J. Ritblat
|
R.E. Bowden
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Date
Granted |
Price
p
|
First
Exercise
Date
|
Expiry
Date
|
1 April 2002
|
31 March 2003
|
1 April 2002
|
31 March 2003
|
1 April 2002
|
31 March 2003
|
1 April 2002
|
31 March 2003
|
1 April 2002
|
31 March 2003
|
|
| 01.03.99 |
355
|
01.03.02
|
31.08.02
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,091
|
|
|
|
| 01.03.99 |
355
|
01.03.04
|
31.08.04
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
|
|
|
|
| 01.09.01 |
399
|
01.09.04
|
28.02.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,456
|
1,456
|
2,427
|
2,427
|
| 01.03.02 |
377
|
01.03.05
|
31.08.05
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
1,007
|
1,007
|
|
|
|
| |
|
|
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
4,753
|
3,554
|
2,463
|
2,427
|
2,427
|
|
The directors' participation in the Company's sharesave scheme, which
is not subject to performance criteria, is considered appropriate because
the scheme is open to all employees with over two years of service.
On 22 July 2002 Mr N S J Ritblat exercised his option over 1,091 shares
at an option price of 355p per share. The middle market quotation for
the Ordinary 25p shares of the Company on 22 July 2002 was 530p, realising
a notional gain of 175p per share, as he continues to hold these shares.
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(iii)Restricted
Share Plan
Beneficial interests of the Directors under the Company ’s Restricted
Share Plan in the Ordinary Shares of the Company.
| |
J. H.
Ritblat |
J. H. Weston Smith |
N. S. J.
Ritblat |
R. E.
Bowden |
G. C.
Roberts |
| |
|
|
|
|
|
| 01.09.99 Grant |
100,000 |
50,000
|
60,000
|
40,000
|
|
| 08.12.00 Grant |
150,000 |
75,000
|
75,000
|
75,000
|
|
| 22.06.01 Grant |
161,943 |
80,971
|
80,971
|
80,971
|
|
| 09.01.02 Grant |
|
|
|
|
75,000
|
| 23.07.02 Grant |
132,075 |
56,603
|
47,169
|
56,603
|
47,169
|
| 02.09.02 Grant* |
50,000 |
25,000
|
30,000
|
20,000
|
|
| 02.09.02 Release* |
(150,000) |
(75,000)
|
(90,000)
|
(60,000)
|
|
|
| 31.03.03 Total |
444,018 |
212,574
|
203,140
|
212,574
|
122,169
|
|
| Distribution in year to 31.03.02 |
£324,822 |
£162,411
|
£127,211
|
£111,288
|
£2,850
|
| Distribution in year to 31.03.03** |
£774,793 |
£386,198
|
£456,841
|
£314,358
|
£15,515
|
*These items represent the vesting of the awards
made on 1st September 1999 at 150%of their original nominal value on outperformance
of the performance target set.
**The amounts distributed in the year to 31 March 2003 represent the market
value of the grant which vested on 2 September 2002 together with dividends
arising on the beneficial interests for the year ended 31 March 2003.
The release on 2 September 2002 of the shares granted on 1 September 1999
at 150%of their original nominal value was subject to tax at 40%,on their
market value at vesting.In order to meet their tax liabilities certain
directors sold a number of these released ordinary 25p shares on 2 September
2002 as follows: Mr Weston Smith sold 30,000 shares, Mr N S J Ritblat
sold 36,000 shares and Mr Bowden sold 24,000 shares.The middle market
quotation of the ordinary 25p shares of the Company on 2 September 2002
was 469p.
Upon vesting shares are transferred out of the British Land Share Ownership
Plan (the Trust),a discretionary trust established to facilitate the operation
of the incentive schemes.The trustees of the Trust purchase the Company
’s ordinary shares in the open market and rights to dividends on
shares held by the Trust are payable in accordance with their awards to
employees participating in the Company's restricted share plan.
The number and market value of the ordinary shares held by the Trust at
31 March 2003 was 2,871,742 (2002: 2,459,917) and £11,795,680 (2002:
£12,730,070) respectively. The cost of these shares and any associated
expenses have been charged to the profit and loss account in the year
of purchase.
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Directors' pension benefits
for the year
Three executive directors, Mr N S J Ritblat, Mr Bowden and Mr Roberts,
earned pension benefits in The British Land Group of Companies Approved
Final Salary Pension Scheme during the year. Mr Bowden's and Mr Roberts'
benefits from the tax approved scheme are restricted by the earnings cap
and they are, therefore, entitled to benefit from the Company 's Funded
Unapproved Retirement Benefit Scheme (FURBS). The benefits provided by
the FURBS are defined lump sums.
Non-executive directors do not participate in any Company sponsored pension
arrangement.
In consequence of the new Directors' Remuneration Report Regulations 2002,
company accounts are subject to two sets of disclosure requirements in
relation to directors' pensions rather than one. The extended Companies
Act 1985 requirements have to be observed in addition to, not in place
of, the current UK Listing Authority requirements. The requirements differ
slightly and these Regulations are expected to remain in force for the
next 2 or 3 years. The two tables shown below provide the details of the
directors' pensions necessary to satisfy the two sets of requirements.
The pension benefits earned during the year by Mr Ritblat, Mr Bowden and
Mr Roberts were as follows:
Companies Act 1985 Disclosure
Requirements
| Name |
Age at
year end |
Additional
pension
earned
during
the year
£ pa |
Accrued
pension
entitlement
at year end
£ pa |
Transfer
value of
accrued
pension at
start of year
£ |
Transfer
value of
accrued
pension
at year end
£ |
Increase
in
transfer value
less director's
contributions
paid
during the year*
£ |
Increase
in
accrued
FURBS lump
sum
entitlement
during the
year
£ |
Total
accrued
FURBS
lump sum
entitlement
at year end
£ |
|
| N. S. J. Ritblat |
41 |
21,700 |
93,100 |
514,500 |
739,800 |
225,300 |
|
|
| R. E. Bowden |
59 |
2,500 |
22,900 |
339,100 |
437,300 |
98,200 |
133,500 |
435,000 |
| G. C. Roberts |
44 |
3,300 |
4,100 |
6,700 |
37,600 |
30,900 |
74,900 |
92,900 |
|
*see note (3b)
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UK Listing Authority Disclosure Requirements
| |
Age
at
year end |
Increase
in
accrued
pension
during the year
(in excess
of inflation)
£ pa |
Total
accrued
pension
entitlement
at year end
£ pa |
Transfer
value
of
additional
pension
earned less
director's
contributions
paid
during the year*
£ |
Increase
in
accrued
FURBS lump
sum
entitlement
during
the year (in
excess
of inflation)
£ |
Total
accrued
FURBS
lump sum
entitlement at
year end
£ |
Premiums
paid
in respect of
life cover
£ |
| |
| |
| |
| |
| Name |
|
| N. S. J. Ritblat |
41 |
20,500 |
93,100 |
162,600 |
|
|
1,450 |
| R. E. Bowden |
59 |
2,100 |
22,900 |
40,500 |
128,400 |
435,000 |
9,100 |
| G. C. Roberts |
44 |
3,200 |
4,100 |
30,100 |
74,600 |
92,900 |
2,700 |
|
*see note (3b)
Notes:
1 The pension entitlement shown is that which would be paid annually
on retirement at age 60 based on service to the end of the year. The total
accrued FURBS lump sum entitlement shown is that which would be paid,
on retirement at age 60 based on service to the end of the year.
2 Members of the scheme have the option to pay Additional Voluntary
Contributions. Neither the contributions nor the resulting benefits are
included in the above table.
3 The following is additional information relating to directors
’ pensions for those included in the above table:
Main Scheme
a Normal retirement age for pension arrangements is age 60.
b Members of the scheme were not required to pay contributions during
the year.
c Retirement may take place at any age after 50 subject to the consent
of both the Company and the Trustees of the pension scheme. Pensions are
reduced to allow for their earlier payment.
d On death in service, the arrangement provides a capital sum equal
to four times salary and a spouse's pension of two-thirds of the member's
prospective pension at age 60. If a member is granted a deferred pension,
a spouse's pension of two-thirds of the member's accrued pension is payable
on death before or after retirement. These pensions are paid throughout
the spouse's lifetime or until the youngest child reaches age 18, if later.
e Pensions are guaranteed to increase each year in line with the
increase in the Retail Prices Index (RPI) subject to a maximum of 5%.
The Trustees may grant additional discretionary increases subject to the
consent of the Company. Statutory increases apply to pensions during deferment.
f The transfer values have been calculated on the basis of actuarial
advice in accordance with Actuarial Guidance Note GN11.
g Transfer value calculations allow for discretionary pension increases
such that, in aggregate, pension increases in line with increases in the
RPI are valued.
FURBS
a Normal retirement age for pension arrangements is age 60.
b Retirement may take place at any age after 50 subject to the Company
’s consent. Benefits are reduced to allow for their earlier payment.
c On death in service top up lump sums are provided so that, in
aggregate, the payee receives broadly the same value of benefits (net
of tax) as if the earnings cap did not apply. On death in deferment if
a spouse's or dependant's pension is payable from the main scheme a lump
sum of two-thirds of the member's accrued lump sum is also payable.
d In deferment accrued lump sums are increased in line with statutory
increases on pensions in deferment.
This report was approved by the Board on 27 May 2003.

Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
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