Accounting policies
Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to equity holders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue during the year, excluding shares held by the Company in the Employees’ Share Trust or as treasury shares.
Diluted earnings per share
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the basic earnings per share for the effect of conversion to ordinary shares associated with dilutive potential ordinary shares, which comprise share options and awards granted to employees.
Adjusted earnings per share
Adjusted earnings per share is a trend measure, which presents the long-term profitability of the Group excluding the impact of specific transactions that management considers affects the Group’s short-term profitability. The Group presents this measure to assist investors in their understanding of trends. Adjusted attributable profit is the numerator used for this measure. The Group has identified the following items as those to be excluded when arriving at adjusted attributable profit: acquisitions and disposals related items including amortisation and impairment of acquisition intangible assets; significant restructuring programmes; significant gains and losses arising from legal disputes and other significant items (including US tax reform) and taxation thereon.