Unilever Annual Report & Accounts
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DISCLAIMER This is a PDF version of the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 and is an exact copy of the document filed with the SEC at www.sec.gov. Certain sections of the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 have been audited. These are on pages 75 to 127 and the Guarantor Statements on pages 158 to 162. The maintenance and integrity of the Unilever website is the responsibility of the Directors; the work carried out by the auditors does not involve consideration of these matters. Accordingly, the auditors accept no responsibility for any changes that may have occurred to the financial statements since they were initially placed on the website. Legislation in the United Kingdom and the Netherlands governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. Except where you are a shareholder, this material is provided for information purposes only and is not, in particular, intended to confer any legal rights on you. This Annual Report on Form 20-F does not constitute an invitation to invest in Unilever shares. Any decisions you make in reliance on this information are solely your responsibility. The information is given as of the dates specified, is not updated, and any forward-looking statements are made subject to the reservations specified in the cautionary statement on the inside back cover of the Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018. Unilever accepts no responsibility for any information on other websites that may be accessed from this site by hyperlinks. MAKING SUSTAINABLE LIVING COMMONPLACE ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 20-F 2018 ANNUAL REPORT ON CONTENTS FORM 20-F 2018 Strategic Report ............................................................................... 1 This document is made up of the Strategic Report, the Governance About us .................................................................................................... 1 Report, the Financial Statements and Notes, and Additional Chairman’s statement .............................................................................. 2 Information for US Listing Purposes. Board of Directors .................................................................................... 3 The Unilever Group consists of Unilever N.V. (NV) and Unilever PLC Chief Executive Officer’s review ............................................................... 4 (PLC) together with the companies they control. The terms “Unilever”, the “Group”, “we”, “our” and “us” refer to the Unilever Group. Unilever Leadership Executive (ULE) ...................................................... 5 Our performance ...................................................................................... 6 Our Strategic Report, pages 1 to 35, contains information about us, how we create value and how we run our business. It includes Financial performance .......................................................................... 6 our strategy, business model, market outlook and key performance Unilever Sustainable Living Plan .......................................................... 7 indicators, as well as our approach to sustainability and risk. The A changing world ...................................................................................... 8 Strategic Report is only part of the Annual Report and Accounts 2018. The Strategic Report has been approved by the Boards and signed Our value creation model ......................................................................... 9 on their behalf by Ritva Sotamaa – Group Secretary. Our strategy ............................................................................................ 10 Our Governance Report, pages 36 to 65 contains detailed corporate Delivering long-term value for our stakeholders ................................. 11 governance information, our Committee reports and how we Our consumers .................................................................................... 11 remunerate our Directors. Society and environment ..................................................................... 13 Our Financial Statements and Notes are on pages 66 to 127. Sustainable Development Goals ......................................................... 15 Pages 1 to 147 constitute the Unilever Annual Report and Accounts Our people ............................................................................................ 16 2018 for UK and Dutch purposes, which we may also refer to as Our partners ........................................................................................ 17 ‘this Annual Report and Accounts’ throughout this document. Our shareholders ................................................................................. 18 The Directors’ Report of PLC on pages 36 to 49, 66 (Statement Non-financial information statement .................................................... 19 of Directors’ responsibilities), 97 (Dividends on ordinary capital), 110 to 115 (Treasury Risk Management), 133 and 137 (Post balance Financial Review ..................................................................................... 20 sheet event) and 145 (branch disclosure) has been approved by the Risks ....................................................................................................... 27 PLC Board and signed on its behalf by Ritva Sotamaa – Group Secretary. Governance Report ..........................................................................36 The Strategic Report, together with the Governance Report, Corporate Governance ........................................................................... 36 constitutes the report of the Directors within the meaning of Article Report of the Audit Committee .............................................................. 43 2:391 of the Dutch Civil Code and has been approved by the NV Board and signed on its behalf by Ritva Sotamaa – Group Secretary. Report of the Corporate Responsibility Committee .............................. 46 Pages 148 to 167 are included as Additional Information for Report of the Nominating and US Listing Purposes. Corporate Governance Committee ........................................................ 48 Directors’ Remuneration Report ........................................................... 50 Financial Statements .......................................................................66 ONLINE Statement of Directors’ responsibilities ................................................ 66 You can find more information about Unilever online at Independent auditors’ reports ............................................................... 67 www.unilever.com Consolidated financial statements ........................................................ 75 Consolidated income statement ............................................................ 75 For further information on the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (USLP) visit Consolidated statement of comprehensive income .............................. 75 Consolidated statement of changes in equity ....................................... 76 www.unilever.com/sustainable-living Consolidated balance sheet ................................................................... 77 The Annual Report on Form 20-F 2018 along with other relevant Consolidated cash flow statement ........................................................ 78 documents can be downloaded at Notes to the consolidated financial statements ................................... 79 www.unilever.com/ara2018/downloads Group Companies ..........................................................................138 Shareholder Information ...............................................................146 Index ..............................................................................................147 Additional Information for US Listing Purposes ............................148 ABOUT US AT A GLANCE OUR PURPOSE OUR BRANDS ARE AVAILABLE IN OVER 190 COUNTRIES. UNILEVER’S PURPOSE IS TO MAKE SUSTAINABLE LIVING THIS GIVES US A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY TO POSITIVELY COMMONPLACE. WE BELIEVE THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO IMPACT THE LIVES OF PEOPLE ALL OVER THE WORLD. DELIVER LONG-TERM SUSTAINABLE GROWTH. Every day, 2.5 billion people use our products to feel good, look good We believe long-term sustainable growth is best delivered through and get more out of life. Our range of around 400 household brands brands that offer great performance and have a genuine purpose. includes Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Rexona, Hellmann’s and Omo. We are Washing shirts whiter or making hair healthier and shinier is still one of the largest fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) companies vitally important, but product performance by itself is no longer globally. In 2018 we had 12 brands with turnover of over a billion euros enough. Consumers are looking for more. or more. The strength of our global brands is reflected in Kantar’s Brand Footprint report published in May 2018. It found that 13 of At Unilever, we encourage our brand managers to take a stance and the world’s top 50 FMCG brands – based on market penetration and make a positive difference to society. Purpose defines a brand in consumer interactions – are owned by Unilever with these brands people's minds and is best delivered through action. It's only through chosen 36 billion times each year. This is significantly more than any action that consumers will see purpose as more than marketing. other FMCG company in the study. Our company purpose ‘To make sustainable living commonplace’ Our portfolio