2. OPERATING COSTS

2021

2020

Before exceptional items

Exceptional items

(note 5)

Total

Before exceptional items

Exceptional items

(note 5)

Total

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

Raw material cost of goods sold/bought in finished goods

562.1

-

562.1

1,280.5

-

1,280.5

Inventory write-down (note 14)

0.9

5.8

6.7

2.2

-

2.2

Employee remuneration (note 3)

101.6

6.8

108.4

144.4

3.0

147.4

Direct brand marketing

13.5

-

13.5

18.2

-

18.2

Other operating, selling and administration costs

86.6

2.7

89.3

119.6

50.4

170.0

Foreign exchange

(0.6)

-

(0.6)

0.1

-

0.1

Depreciation (note 11) (note 19)

28.2

-

28.2

30.3

-

30.3

Amortisation (note 12)

2.6

-

2.6

2.5

-

2.5

Net profit on disposal of property, plant & equipment

0.3

(0.7)

(0.4)

(0.2)

-

(0.2)

Auditor’s remuneration (a)

1.3

-

1.3

0.9

-

0.9

Impairment of intangible assets (note 12)

-

0.3

0.3

-

36.6

36.6

Impairment of equity accounted investment (note 5)

-

9.1

9.1

Net revaluation/impairment of property, plant & machinery (note 11)

-

1.2

1.2

-

1.0

1.0

Total operating expenses

796.5

25.2

821.7

1,598.5

91.0

1,689.5

(a) Auditor remuneration: The remuneration of the Group’s statutory auditor, being the Irish firm of the principal auditor of the Group, Ernst & Young, Chartered Accountants is as follows:

EY Ireland 2021

Other EY Offices 2021

Total 2021

EY Ireland 2020

Other EY Offices 2020

Total 2020

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

€m

Audit of the Group financial statements

0.5

-

0.5

0.2

-

0.2

Audit of subsidiaries

0.4

0.4

0.8

0.1

0.6

0.7

Tax compliance and advisory services

-

-

-

-

-

-

Total

0.9

0.4

1.3

0.3

0.6

0.9

The audit fee for the audit of the financial statements of the Company was less than €0.1m in the current and prior financial year. There were no non-audit fees paid to Ernst & Young during the current or prior financial year.