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2023 Reportwww.aukettswanke.com A U K E T T S W A N K E G R O U P P L C A N N U A L R E P O R T A N D A C C O U N T S 2 0 1 5 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC 2015 Designed and produced by Aukett Swanke Graphics | © Copyright 2016 Aukett Swanke Group Plc ARA15_COVER.indd 1 23/02/2016 17:55 Chairman’s statement Operational highlights Financial highlights Five year summary Corporate information Strategic report Directors’ report Statement of directors’ responsibilities Independent auditor’s report FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Consolidated income statement Consolidated statement of comprehensive income Consolidated statement of financial position Company statement of financial position Consolidated statement of cash flows Company statement of cash flows Consolidated statement of changes in equity Company statement of changes in equity Notes to the financial statements Notice of meeting Shareholder information 28 30 31 32 32 33 41 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 91 92 Aukett Swanke provides design services, focusing on architecture, master planning, space planning and interior design The practice designs and delivers commercial projects throughout Europe, Russia and the Middle East Aukett Swanke is an award-winning architecture and interior design practice. Its talented and international teams act as custodians for a sustainable built environment, working on grand heritage projects as well as bold new additions to urban and rural landscapes. 125 WOOD STREET, LONDON EC2 Encompassing over 60 years of professional experience, Aukett Swanke has a network of over 370 staff in 11 offices across 6 countries: UK, Germany, Russia, Turkey, UAE and Czech Republic. The studios' expertise includes work in mixed-use, commercial office, hotel, retail, residential, education Orchard Street Investment Management commissioned Aukett Swanke to and healthcare sectors as well as workplace consulting. transform this property. The exercise was to turn a brick clad 1990 building, in a prime position, into one that could compete with the best in the City today, retaining only the original concrete frame of the building in the process. The result of the scheme has been spectacular. Net space is more than 30% increased, and the standard of the accommodation is top class. In addition, completely new facades give the building a modern and commanding presence to rival any in this important part of the City. To prove the quality of the design, the building has let extremely well - a prime asset to take its place in our client's fund. Chris Bartram Founder and former Chairman of OSIM Front cover: 125 Wood Street, London EC2 ARA15_COVER.indd 2 23/02/2016 17:55 OUR CLIENTS INCLUDE... AB Development / ABN Amro Bank / Absolut Development / Abu Dhabi Tourism and Culture Authority Acteum / Acred / ADNH (Abu Dhabi National Hotels) / ADWEA / AEG Europe / Ahred Real Estate / Alarko Real Estate / Aldar / Al-Futtaim Group Real Estate / Al Hamra Real Estate Development / Allen & Overy / Allianz Insurance / Allied World Assurance / Arup / Ascot Underwriting / Avgur Estate / Aviva Bank of America Merrill Lynch / Bank of Moscow / BAT-Russia C+T Group / Batıkent Yapi Sanayi ve Ticaret / Bautek A.S / BCM McAlpine / Bell Hammer / Bermuda Hospital Board / BioIstanbul / BioMed Realty / Blackstone Group / Bloomberg / BNP Paribas Fortis / BNY Mellon / Bovis Lendlease / Bowmer & Kirkland / Bristows / Bundesdruckerei / Buro Happold / Buwog Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Trust / Canadian Embassy, Moscow / Candy & Candy / Carillion / CBRE / Cedar Capital / Cengiz Holding / Central Properties / CIN LaSalle / Cisco / City of London Academy / City Lofts / Cofunds / Comstrin / Commercial Estates / Commerzbank / Corinthia Hotel Group / Corporation of London / Cornerstone Investment & Real Estate / Costain / Countryside Properties / CPI / CR City / CR Office / Credit Suisse / Crest Nicholson / Crowne Plaza Hotels Dacorum Borough Council / Daimler Chrysler / Damac / DB Schenker / Decathlon / Deloitte / Deutsche Bank / Development Securities / Diageo / DGV Consulting / Doğuş GYO / Donstroy / DTC de Beers / DTZ / Du / Dunhill Eastman Group / E C Harris / Ede & Ravenscroft / Eli Lilly / Emaar Hospitality Group LLC / Emlak Konut / Endurance Estates / English Partnerships / EO Engineers Office (Dubai) / Equa Bank / Ernst & Young / Er Yatırım / Etisalat / Eurofinance Bank / European Medicines Agency / Extensa / Exxon Mobil F&C Reit / Fenwick / Fiba Gayrimenkul / FIM Group / Firoka / First Bank Gazprom / Gazpromstroyinvest / GD Investments / GE Capital / Gertler / GLAV UPDK / Glavstroy / GSK / GMO Group / Goldman Sachs / Goodman / Google / Great Portland Estates / GroupM / Grosvenor Estates / GTN Global Properties / GUM / Güneri Insaat A.S PriceWaterhouseCoopers / Procter & Gamble / PSN / Princeton Holdings / Prologis / Protos Halk GYO / Hammer AG / Helical Bar / Henderson Global Investors / Hexal / Hilton International / Hochtief / Homerton University Hospital / Honeywell / Horus Capital / HSBC ICAP / ICKM / ICT Istroconti / Imperial College / Ince & Co / Infosys / ING Real Estate / Intellectcom / Intercontinental Hotels Group / Investa / Irausa UK / ISG / IşGYO / Italian Embassy, Czech Republic / ITAR TASS News Agency J&T Global / Jarrold & Son / John Martin Gallery / Johnson Controls / Jones Lang LaSalle / JP Morgan / JP Morgan Chase Russia / JTI Russia Kalinka Realty / KFW Bank / Khansaheb / Kier Build / Kiler Holding / Knight Dragon / Knight Frank / Koray Inşaat / Korine Property Partners / KORTROS / KPMG / KR Properties / Kuznetsky Most Development Laing O’Rourke Middle East Holdings / Lakhta Centre St.Petersburg / La Meridien / Lambert Smith Hampton / Land Securities / LaSalle Investment / Lawyers Enterprise / Legion Development / Lendlease / Lenovo / L’Oréal / Loughborough University M&G Investments / Macquarie Bank / MAN Group / Marks & Spencer / Mars, Wrigley, Royal Canin / Marsan AS. / Marriott / Mercury / Merkur Development / MFI / MICEX / Microsoft / Midland Development / Millhouse Capital / Miral / Mirax Group / Mobile TeleSystems (MTS) / Moodys Eastern Europe / Moody’s Investor Services / Molson Coors / Morgans Hotel Group / Mott Macdonald / Mouchel / MR Group Napp Pharmaceuticals / National Grid / Nations Bank / NATS / NDA / Network Rail / Nextra / Nicholson Estates / NIDA Insaat / Nike / Nurol GYO Oceanic Estates / Open University / Opin Group / Optima Corporation / Oracle / Orchard Homes / Orchard Street Investments / Oxford Properties Palestra / Park City / Pera Gayrimenkul / Peresvet Region Kuban / Pfizer / Phillips / Phoenix Development / Pilsner Urquel / PIK / Quantum Homes / Quintain R&R Industrial SAS / Radisson Edwardian / Radisson Blu / Ralph Trustees / Railway Pension Nominees / Ramboll / Red Engineering / Redevco / Reignwood Investment UK / Renaissance Capital / Renova Stroy Group / Reuters / Rezidor / Richemont / Rio Tinto / Robin Oil / Rocco Forte Hotels / Rodrigo Hidalgo / Rönesans Gayrimenkul Yatırım / Rovner Investment Group / Royal Bank of Scotland / Royal Exchange / Rublevo- Arkhangelskoye / Rushydro / RWE npower SAB Miller / SAP / Savills / Sberbank / Second Watch Factory Slava / Servotel / Scarborough Borough Council / Schlumberger / Scottish Development Agency / Scottish Widows / Segro / Seniats / Severn Trent Water / Shell / Sibneft / Sibneftegaz / Siemens / Sir Robert McAlpine / Sistema Hals / Skanska / Skype / SMBC Nikko Capital Markets / Sminex / Southampton City Council / Southampton Solent University / Soyak Inşaat / Standard Life Investments / St Martin’s Property / Staropramen Breweries / Stephenson Harwood / Stolny Grad Development / South Cambridgeshire District Council / Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) / Sun Microsystems / Suse Linux / Swan Operations / Symantec / Syngenta International Tahincioğlu Gayrimenkul / Talan / TAT Immobilen / Taylor Wimpey / TechInvest / Tekar / Tekfen Emlak / Tenkhoff Properties / The London Clinic / The New Ring of Moscow / The Mercers’ Company / The Royal College of Surgeons of England / Tiffany s.r.o. / Tishman Speyer / Tonstate / Transport for London / Trinity Hall / Türkiye Finans Katılım Bankasi UGMK Holding / University of Cambridge / University of Sheffield Vesper / Vestas / VMWare / Vodafone / Voreda / VTB Capital Bank / Vysota Wates / Welbeck Land / Westminster City Council / White & Case / Willis Group Zurich Insurance Group UK / 170 PEOPLE CONTINENTAL EUROPE / 162 PEOPLE UAE / 42 PEOPLE 36-40 York Way LONDON N1 9AB United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7843 3000 london@aukettswanke.com 25 Christopher Street LONDON EC2A 2BS United Kingdom T +44 (0)20 7454 8200 london@aukettswanke.com Bin Arar Tower, Building 521 Fatima Bint Mubarak St. (Najda Street) ABU DHABI United Arab Emirates T +971 (0)2 495 2731 abudhabi@aukettswanke.com PO Box 31043 Humaid Bin Drai Building Office 103 13th Street Umm Ramool DUBAI United Arab Emirates T: +971 (0)4 286 2831 dubai@johnrharris.com OUR STUDIOS 18 Prospekt Andropova bld. 7, Floor 11, Office 5 MOSCOW 115432 Russia T +7 (499) 683 0145 moscow@aukettswanke.com Kore Sehitleri 34/6 Deniz Is Hani 34394 Zincirlikuyu ISTANBUL Turkey T +90 212 318 0400 istanbul@aukettswanke.com Budapester Strasse 43 10787 BERLIN Germany T +49 30 230994 0 mail@aukett-heese.de Gutleutstrasse 163 60327 FRANKFURT AM MAIN Germany T +49 (0)69 76806 0 mail@aukett-heese-frankfurt.de Janackovo Nabrezi 471/49 150 00 PRAGUE 5 Czech Republic T +420 224 220 025 aukett@aukett.cz ASSOCIATED OFFICES Queen Charlotte Studio 53 Queen Charlotte Street BRISTOL BS1 4HQ United Kingdom T +44 (0)117 929 9285 info@coda-architects.co.uk 10 Mortimers Park Ower Romsey SOUTHAMPTON SO51 6AF United Kingdom T +44 (0)2380 813034 christian.morris@as-yotomo.com 2 Back to Contents AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Back to Contents 3 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 HIGHLIGHTS AND AWARDS We have always been a forward looking practice and, in 2011 despite a difficult market, we recruited four talented graduates . . . Suzette Vela Burkett, Managing Director - UK takes up the story on page 18 Acquisition of JHRP Stephen Embley, Managing Director of our Middle East Operations, discusses how this has enhanced and strengthened our position in the region . . . read more on page 8p8 Aukett Swanke has been ranked 51st in the World Architecture 100 Global Rankings The practice is 6th largest in the UK by international measurement 125 Wood Street, EC2 for Orchard Street Investment Management, was winner of the Office Agents Society City Development of the Year Award in 2015 . . . read more about the project on page 7 Aukett Swanke were placed at 20 in the AJ120 Centenary League Table M&S Cheshire Oaks has won Building Magazine’s 2015 'Test of Time' Award, to add to more than a dozen awards it has received since its completion in 2012 Tom Alexander, director at Aukett Swanke, says that 'Knowledge Transfer' is an essential and liberating exchange of ideas, data and value . . . read why on page 20 Arcus III has won two awards: the Commercial Real Estate Awards 2015, Moscow: 'Business Center Class A' and the Office Next Awards 2015 for Best Business Centre Lobby and Entrance Design Robert Fry, Managing Director - International, discusses how Aukett Swanke have faced the challenges presented by the recent difficult economic and political conditions in the Russian Federation . . . read his account on page 15 Our associate office CODA Architects' project for Bristol Royal Infirmary has been shortlisted for the Building Design, Architect of the Year Award, Public Building, 2016. Previously it was winner of the Best Public Building (South West) at the UK Property Awards. The first phase of our refurbishment of Adelphi in London, for Blackstone, was launched in October 2015 . . . read more about the project on page 22 4 Back to Contents Back to Contents 5 p7p15p22p20p18AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 UK STUDIOS 125 WOOD STREET, LONDON EC2 Our refurbishment and extension of an existing 45,000sqft office building in the City of London delivers 63,000sqft of prime office space. Located at a prestigious address close to St Paul’s Cathedral, the existing brick clad building was built in the mid-1980s and offered opportunities to increase area within the site footprint. The significant uplift in net area was achieved through extending the footprint of typical floors, adding two new office floors and a new plant enclosure at high level. Besides a significant uplift in floor area the building now has a new contemporary façade and interior which seamlessly integrates the existing retained structure into an impressive new building of civic distinction. Overall, the project epitomises both the benefits that recycling an existing building can bring and how to successfully meet and achieve the challenges posed in coordination and construction. One year on from practical completion the building is now 100% let - testament to the appeal of the completed product. The building was completed in autumn 2014 and was winner of the OAS City Development of the Year Award 2015. Our long-standing involvement with Imperial College’s new White City Campus, London reached a significant milestone with the topping-out of our latest building for the College - The Molecular Science Research Hub together with its partner building the Translation and Innovation Hub Three projects in Cambridge have recently received Planning Approval: Site 6, Granta Park for Bio Med Realty, The Bradfield Centre for Trinity Hall and Radio House for Orchard Street Investment Management The London studios of Aukett Swanke are part of the practice network of the new London School of Architecture. The inaugural year’s intake of over 30 students will undertake a practice placement in the first year of the two year qualification, alongside their academic work, creating the potential for critical reflection on both practice and education at this important stage of their professional development In June 2015, our London studio took part in 'Open Studios' as part of the London Festival of Architecture Construction on Aspire, Bristol for CEG, is due to begin in summer 2016 with completion due in 2018 6 Back to Contents Back to Contents AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 SIZE REALLY DOES MATTER… by STEPHEN EMBLEY Stephen Embley, Managing Director of our Middle East Operations, discusses how our recent acquisition of an established practice in Dubai, and thus creating a team of forty, has enhanced and strengthened our position in the region ‘It seems like only yesterday’. Eight years ago I left my role as joint MD of the UK operation and arrived at Abu Dhabi Airport early one September morning to be welcomed by the heat, humidity and a sense that anything was possible here. In that time, I have come to believe that ‘size really does matter’, at least in terms of Middle East architectural practices. Growing the size of our Middle East operation while maintaining the quality of our design and service to clients has been a major part of our current five-year Middle Eastern plan, now in its third year. STRATEGIC M&A - THE NEED TO GROW The need and intention to grow has been clearly stated in previous annual reports. In acquiring John R Harris & Partners, based in Dubai, to become part of our Middle East offer we have delivered on the first stage of this growth promise. This has created a forty-strong team in the UAE with a premier architectural and design brand which is part of an award winning international group approaching four hundred strong. This offers the UAE and Middle Eastern clients a new and tested alternative to the limited number of existing architectural or engineering led architectural practices currently available to them. Although organic growth was considered, Middle East market characteristics and an in depth evaluation of the current and future potential markets led us at this time to a growth model that included strategic M&A. We believe that both the current and future markets have potential for growth and an increase in our market share. This new market position of our brand has already led to a different client perception of us. New commissions in the first quarter of our financial year > page 10 KEMPINSKI HOTEL, DUBAI We were lead consultant and architect for the phased refurbishment of Majid Al Futtaim’s flagship hotel asset, the 5* Kempinski Hotel at the Mall of the Emirates to keep the hotel at the forefont of Dubai’s hotels and to increase guest enjoyment and increase the asset value. The project included façade renovations, the refurbishment of 393 guestrooms and upgrade of the executive lounge, meeting rooms, spa and public restrooms. The hotel remained in operation throughout the project and the first phase of the refurbishment was unveiled in December 2015. 8 Back to Contents Back to Contents AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 < page 8 from leading clients included ALDAR, Kerzner and Emaar, and there are ongoing requests for proposals for other significant and exciting projects; all this in spite of uncertain market conditions such as the slowdown in some of the worlds key economies, the price of oil and the hostilities in the Yemen. THE UAE - VISION The United Arab Emirates has been the home of our combined Middle Eastern entities since the early 1960s and has a vision and destiny championed by its leaders beyond normal short term economical drivers. This vision of using its oil and gas legacy to grow and diversify its economy, to create an enlightened and tolerant Islamic State and world class cities that enriches financially, social and intellectually its people and those who have made their home here, has been the making of the region since the 1960s. We are proud of our heritage in being part of this vision from the beginning and the continuing part we play today to deliver this vision in a changing world. With crude oil prices around $30 and local cost production cost at $12 combined with difficulties in some world economies and the ever present threat of terrorism and hostilities, we face new short term challenges both in terms of the market and competition. The IMF World Economic Outlook, October 2015 “Adjusting to lower commodity prices “ explores these challenges but still predicts that the real GDP annual rate of change for the UAE as 2016, 3.1% and 2020, 3.8%. The US dollar and its current strength, and the UAE dirham being pegged to it, will soon improve the competitive strength in the UAE of a number of world best consultants - many in the economic doldrums of their own economies. We look positively at this competition in raising the local standards and the opportunities it will bring due to the unique characteristics of the UAE market. Dubai Expo 2020 and Qatar World Cup 2022 are fast approaching in infrastructure and real estate time scales and these will also influence the dynamics of the future UAE property and consultancy market. With these changes the regional property market is maturing and our clients will, quite rightly, demand more from their local consultants. It is our view that many of the existing local consultants will not be able to provide the design and services that clients need and expect in the future. PROJECTS - SIZE COUNTS All markets have their own unique characteristics and challenges and the UAE and Middle East are no exception. Company establishment, entry and registration is difficult and regulated; taking both time and investment with different operational restrictions even to those that have been registered for many years. The desire to achieve world best architecture and design will continue to attract international signature architects on an individual project basis especially with exchange rates and turbulent world economies. Here many clients and consultants have had painful experiences of dealing with fly in - fly out consultants and the difference in the local high expectation of response time and the quantity and quality of information provided. This has led to a drive to have key consultant on the ground in country. Projects can be large and cover a range of sectors and have very short lead in times. This coupled with overheads and current payment results in only the larger practices being able to respond effectively. THE FUTURE... Size is not without its challenges as well as opportunities and the first step is to embrace and address these head on, so that our personal and professional service levels can be maintained, whilst delivering appropriate design solutions. Experience and Group processes and systems count for a lot but ultimately as a professional consultancy we are a people business and our key asset is our staff and the other consultants we associate with. Through our management and our staff’s dedication, skill and hard work we will continue to communicate our brand and service benefits and what differentiates us. Succession and staff development have for a long time been a key foundation of the Group and with the increase in size of the UAE operation this will remain; and, we will continue to strengthen our team in order to ensure that our offer to clients is continually regenerated and refreshed with the goal of exceeding their needs and expectations. The practice has come a long way since the 1960s and my eight years here have seen many changes; good and bad times, but I believe we have an exciting future ahead us and it is a journey I am very much looking forward to taking with my colleagues and our clients. 10 Back to Contents THE MATRIX, SPORTS CITY, DUBAI 34 storey residential tower for The First Group, on a site in Dubai Sports City, with amenities such as a gymnasium and a swimming pool for use by residents. The rippling facade and the ‘splash’ effect on the podium are a response to the building’s waterside location. Back to Contents AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 RECENT AND CURRENT INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS Lifestyle Shopping Mall, Mirdif 21,000sqm Lifestyle Mall has been designed to make a strong visual impact night and day Tekfen Oz Levent Ofis, Istanbul 16,000sqm office building in central Istanbul to a concept design by Molestina Architects. The aluminium screen provides solar shading and has a 'planted' facade which enriches the identity of the building and adds a unique backdrop to the internal office areas. It is set to achieve Leed Gold certification BERLIN ENTERTAINMENT DISTRICT Mercedes Platz Berlin-Friedrichshain Der Mercedes Platz wird das Herzstück des neuen Stadtquartiers an der Mühlenstraße, direkt vor der zukünftigen Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin- Friedrichshain. Der Bauherr ist die Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). AUKETT + HEESE ist hierbei verantwortlich für die Entwurfsplanung und Ausführung des Stadtquartiers mit einer Grundstücksfläche von 20.000 m². Realisiert wird bis 2018 eine multifunktionale Veranstaltungshalle für ca. 4.000 Besucher, ein Premierenkino mit ca. 2.500 Sitzplätzen in 14 Sälen, ein Lifestyle Bowling Konzept sowie Cafés, Restaurants, Bars, 2 Hotels und ein Bürogebäude, insgesamt auf ca. 60.000 m². Zusätzlich wird es eine Tiefgarage mit rund 400 PKW-Stellplätzen geben. Der Mercedes Platz teilt sich in einen städtischen Bereich, welcher im Süden Richtung Mühlenstraße liegt und den „Eventplatz“ im Norden. Visualisierung: Anschutz Entertainment Group The “Mercedes Platz” will be the heart of the new quarter between the Mercedes-Benz-Arena (current- ly the O2 Arena) and Muehlenstrasse which runs parallel to the River Spree at the Eastside Gallery in Berlin-Friedrichshain. The Client is the Anschutz Entertainment Group (AEG). AUKETT + HEESE are responsible for Design and Execution of the buildings on a site with 20.000 sq.m. area. A multifunctional hall (“Music Box”) for 4.000 visitors, a cinema complex with 2.500 seats and 14 screens, a lifestyle bowling concept as well as restaurants, bars, two hotels and an office building, together with a gross area of 60,000 sq.m., and with 400 car-parking spaces in an underground car-park, will be built by 2018. The public space – the “Platz” – is divided into an urban square in the south at Muehlenstrasse, and the event square in the north. Visualization: Anschutz Entertainment Group Mercedes Platz, Berlin New mixed use development on 20,000sqm site including a multifunctional hall for 4,000 visitors, a 14 screen cinema complex and a lifestyle bowling concept as well as restaurants, bars, two hotels and an office building, with a total gross area of 60,000sqm. Aukett + Heese are responsible for Design and Execution of the scheme which is due for completion in 2018 Bloomberg, Moscow Fitout of Bloomberg’s offices in Moscow in association with Studios Design Consultancy Private Limited. The Client’s brief was to create a modern workplace to reflect Bloomberg’s international corporate standards Microsoft, Germany / Switzerland Relocation of three local offices with client meeting, product presentation areas and non-territorial offices and communication zones The Gropius Passagen Shopping Centre, Berlin The first phase of the refurbishment of Berlin's largest shopping centre, The Gropius Passagen, has opened. The Berlin office of Aukett + Heese has been working with Saguez & Partners to convert the former Woolworth Store and other stores within the centre in Berlin-Neukölln. Phase 2 is due to open in 2018 Eston Mahallem, Istanbul New residential development of 41 blocks and 315 units has been designed to maximise the use of green space, encouraging social interaction and community spirit without compromising residents’ privacy Allianz, Istanbul 25,000sqm fitout on 20 floors including 180 seat auditorium, meeting suites, Allianz Academy training centre and one floor for other amenities such as cafeteria, supermarket and dry cleaning Nidakule Atasehir Kuzey & Guney, Istanbul JVC Tower, Dubai 150,000sqm development of two class A office buildings; one 31 storey and one 16 storey tower above a significant podium structure, landscaped to create an 'urban oasis' for office users. The project is scheduled for completion in mid 2016 and is set to achieve Leed Gold certification 12 storey residential tower located in Jumeirah Village Circle, one of Dubai’s most popular residential districts WinX, Frankfurt Meteor D, Prague 8,125sqm mixed use building comprising retail, office and residential, completed in April 2015 Aukett + Heese have been appointed by BAM Deutschland to prepare working drawings for a portal building and the 110m high WINX tower with a gross floor area of around 60,000sqm, the last phase of the Main-Tor district in Frankfurt 12 Back to Contents Back to Contents 13 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 MANAGING THE DOWNSIDE AND HOW TO MAKE IT BETTER Robert Fry, Managing Director - International, discusses how Aukett Swanke have faced the challenges presented by the recent difficult economic and political conditions in the Russian Federation 2014 The Aukett Fitzroy Robinson and Swanke Hayden Connell International Limited (AFR/SHCIL) merger in December 2013 foresaw a positive outlook for 2014 anticipating growth in our Moscow operations to a 50 person firm within two to three years. The Crimea crisis of early 2014 led to large exchange rate fluctuations and US/EU economic sanctions turned an already weakening economy into a recessive one, compounded in late 2014 by the unexpected worldwide collapse of the oil price. Our 2014 business plan brought together the Aukett Fitzroy Vostok ZAO and the Swanke Hayden Connell branch entities into a single location in October 2014 saving significant rental and service charge costs. With exchange rates falling from 55 to 107 Roubles to the UK Pound Sterling in just 5 months to January 2015 our key developer clients were unable to borrow to fund projects, setting the tone for a stormy 2015 and negative GDP growth of -3.5% for the year. Russian consumers found that their US Dollar based mortgage and premises rentals doubled in cost precipitating a major slowdown and reduction in office rentals and residential sales. Our response to these trends was to adjust our pricing models to remain competitive locally and limit the utilisation of the now more expensive London based skills on Russian projects. Management action to decouple local US Dollar based contracts for office rentals, service charges and some staff salaries to Rouble based ones in late 2014 reduced exchange rate risks, fixed operational costs and secured savings. > page 16 Business in the Russian Federation has often presented our creative design and management talent with significant challenges. A combination of hugely variable economic conditions, opaque relations between state and oligarchy, a proud and provocative international posture propped up by considerable bureaucracy is sufficient to prevent many internationally minded professional services businesses from setting up or staying there for the long term. We have been fortunate in having established a solid base in Moscow since 1989 by creating award winning master planning, architecture and interior design solutions for the top echelon of Russian developer clients, investors and international corporate occupiers. This continues as we deploy our talent in London and Moscow to design great buildings and environments supported by robust management strategies and expertise.. MONE RESIDENCE, MOSCOW Aukett Swanke’s international competition winning design for a 38,000sqm, 18 storey luxury residential tower in Moscow is now nearing completion. The development provides an exclusive and secure landscape with full services access in a discreet and efficient site layout. The main entrance includes a gallery space leading to a relaxing lounge, with a private garden forming a stunning visual backdrop to the 1,2 or 3 bedroom residential units above the ground floor and two penthouse levels at roof level. Back to Contents Back to Contents 15 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 ARCUS III, MOSCOW A 15 storey Class A office tower in north west Moscow designed for a client specifically seeking international design expertise. The site represents one of the best opportunities in the city for business park type developments due to its prominent location and good access. The building has two executive floors, a sophisticated reception lobby as well as retail and restaurant facilities at ground level, with two levels of underground parking. There is a new landscaped plaza between this and future phases of the site. The building has a staggered main façade, incorporating coloured glass and lighting elements, which lend dramatic proportions to the principal aspect while creating priority views over central Moscow. It was winner of Commercial Real Estate Awards 2015, Moscow: 'Business Center Class A' and also the Office Next Awards 2015, Moscow for Best Business Centre Lobby and Entrance Design. ARCUS III, MOSCOW < page 15 2015 This past year focused our marketing effort on the local Russian developer market in non-international ‘economy standard’ projects. Clients whose reputations were built upon international quality aspirations stalled as international design skills and products became unaffordable. Later in the year many developers revised their aspirations with most residential projects being re-positioned from ‘Business Class’ standard to greater numbers of smaller ‘Economy Class’ apartments. Facades became flatter and simpler and structural solutions more regular and quicker to build. In confronting these market trends local management roles were consolidated following the co-location of the two operating entities and the operation was optimised to reduce costs in the ‘new normal’ economic environment. Looking ahead to an era of no expansion until economic conditions improved and a lease expiry in late 2015 provided another opportunity to reduce accommodation costs and take advantage of much lower rent levels which were now denominated in Roubles instead of US Dollars. Our target to reduce property expenditure by up to 40% was achieved by relocating to the Nagatino i-Land Business Park located next to the newly opened Technopark Metro station late in December 2015. Although the office is located just off of the Metro ‘Circle’ Line our front door is a just a short distance away. 2015 also saw the early adoption by our Russian clientele of the ‘Aukett Swanke’ brand name and the local operation re- naming process being undertaken will be a welcome change. During all of these troubled times facing our staff and clients alike it was a credit to both parties that we suffered no bad debts during the period. 2016 The next step in the transition in the business in this coming year is the finalisation of the creation of ‘Aukett Swanke OOO’, a fully Russian entity that will supersede the current AFV ZAO and SHCIL Branch entities. This launch is planned to take place in April 2016. We are fortunate in having recently completed projects to showcase in these challenging times including the JTI fitout at the Moscow City development and the award winning Arcus 3 Office building. 2016 will also see the completion of the prestigious ‘Mone’ Residence apartment tower. Having retained our skill base in both design and delivery we continue to receive new enquiries as developers and investors, keen to create opportunities from adversity, take advantage of reduced interest rates, lower labour and product costs at home. We intend to continue providing our skills to support these entrepreneurial clients during 2016 and beyond. 16 Back to Contents AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Back to Contents 17 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 2011 was a year of change in the UK. With the vagaries of the recession subsiding and a new wave of project opportunities coming to the market, we saw the need to invest in the next generation of Architects. From a record number of over 700 applicants, four of the best joined our London studio. Creating an environment where the best idea wins, regardless of the level of experience of the creator, and providing development opportunities for professional and personal growth is key to our philosophy as a practice. Our 2011 recruits and the many other talented people here, joining before and since, are part of our investment in the future of Aukett Swanke and the future of the profession as a whole. If you are standing still, you are actually going backwards. Suzette Vela Burkett Managing Director - UK FOUR IN FOUR EMILY WILLIG Associate ROBERT SYMONDS Associate "Our progression to Associates over the last four years is ultimately the result of an exceptionally supportive environment forged by our talented colleagues at Aukett Swanke. Personally, my appetite for exposure to all things architecture has been obligingly fed by my immediate directors, allowing me to develop quickly from assistant to architect by working on a variety of interesting projects. After discussion with my contemporaries at other practices, it's clear Aukett Swanke is unique in fostering an open studio environment and less hierarchical culture. This philosophy has meant as young architects we have felt able to contribute meaningfully and flourish as individuals. I feel incredibly fortunate to be working at Aukett Swanke and excited about the future." "A passion for staff development and a studio culture that promotes a supportive and open environment enables staff at Aukett Swanke to develop their careers. Drive, enthusiasm and ambition are recognised by the studio, which is always looking to provide opportunities to nurture talent and skills. New ideas and initiatives are encouraged and supported, which enables a vibrant, collaborative and creative design studio. This ethos has helped me during my time here, including an early opportunity to lead a design competition and a new studio initiative being encouraged and facilitated. More recently I have benefited from working on the Forbury Place project from concept to completion. I am extremely grateful for the support and opportunities I’ve been given, and look forward to continuing to work in what is an exciting and bright future for Aukett Swanke." SIMON DAVIES Associate STEVEN KOK Associate "It seems like the past four years have just flown by at Aukett Swanke. However looking back so much has changed and developed both personally and for the practice, a development which could not have happened without the people who make up this place. Many talented individuals have joined the studio in my time here, all of whom have made a positive contribution towards a culture and set of values that was evident on arrival. The core values that the collective engender have been a constant presence throughout my time so far and will be the foundations that the future is built upon. A future that is very exciting and full of possibilities." "Reflecting upon the past four years of my career, I arrived at the practice amongst a generation of young architectural assistants that faced the midst of recession. Imagining a future beyond the immediate seemed impossible… to now find myself in this position, contributing to the shared development of the practice alongside those same individuals goes far beyond my expectations and I feel privileged to share this experience with them. This room to grow is part of the nurturing and supportive values that are inherently woven into the fabric of the practice's culture. The energy that this creates is stimulating and vibrant and underpins everyday life at Aukett Swanke, where mentorship and collaboration are the component parts that found the more recognisable outputs of design and delivery." 18 Back to Contents Back to Contents 19 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER BY DESIGN A NATURAL EXCHANGE BETWEEN PEOPLE 'Knowledge Transfer' is an essential and liberating exchange of ideas, data and value, says Tom Alexander, director at Aukett Swanke Forward looking educational, research and commercial organisations have embraced the values and processes of Knowledge Transfer for a long time, but how does design inspire and enable these exchanges to be variously formal, natural, serendipitous and successful? DESIGN CAN ENABLE KNOWLEDGE TRANSFER The design of a delightful variety of spaces can charm the best ideas and productivity out of a team, encouraging Knowledge Transfer by providing the right spaces and routes for both exchange and its resulting enhancements. Whilst Knowledge Transfer can embrace the ubiquitous and fluid virtual environments provided by technology, it is energised by direct human contact, therefore preferring physical environments for people to share in real time. People meeting people formally is the frequent way of sharing and debating, which requires prior arrangements to establish agreed times and places, but significantly it can often happen by chance. This accidental bumping can be encouraged, gently supported and inspired by the design of people’s movements through and around buildings and landscapes. These movements, or choreographed routes include walkways, stairs, lobbies, atria, refreshment points, terraces and break out spaces, ideally all having high visibility for others to see and potentially join in with the interactions. People seem to relax, open up and even get excited when pausing to talk to a colleague on the stair landing, quickly sharing observations, ideas and often agreeing to follow up meetings. This rapid and comfortable transfer is particularly valuable for knowledge intensive organisations where busy smart individuals can often be willing to share thoughts more keenly knowing they can move on swiftly if the chat wanders off their field of interest. Being on a route it is easy to pause, swap intel and move on without the shackles of time and protocol in a closed meeting room. Of course the destinations or gathering places that include meeting rooms and desk clusters are also vital for Knowledge Transfer, whether open or closed, and also provide the space to ponder on and develop the new knowledge gathered. The design of the destination’s proximities and adjacencies needs to be carefully composed with the routes in both two and three dimensions. Many traditional learning and work places think more about the plan, and their constrained lateral relationships, rather than the volume. Being able to see and move vertically as well as horizontally through an inspiring and healthy volume is an enjoyable and powerful benefit for progressive companies to facilitate interaction. This is well recognised in the media and technology sectors, their designs often fully embracing a looser fit variety of shared and private spaces over a number of floors with cut outs linked by social stairs, facilitating an equally varied and productive dialogue. BIG LOUNGE IN A VERTICAL CAMPUS FOR LIVING, LEARNING AND WORKING TALENT SEEKS TRANSFER BY DESIGN Spaces that enable easy knowledge transfer have now been designed into many UK and International universities, nurturing a generation of space sophisticated graduates who understand and demand the fluid and comfortable spatial benefits they experienced with pure learning, influencing their choice of workplace. The ease of information flow, or Knowledge Transfer, is inherent in the technology that students know so well, but can be echoed in the real world of gravity by clever design, maximising an employee’s creativity and output, and justifying an investment in some more adventurous spatial rules. So it follows that top student talent is being attracted to the colourful volumes of the TMT (Technology Media and Telephony) worlds that provide spaces and routes similar to the ones that supported their social and educational interactions at university. This has been noticed by the more corporate employers as they compete to capture and retain talent, resulting in floorplates being opened up with connecting stairs and projecting platforms into day lit and daring atria. Square metres have been sacrificed for wellbeing and interaction to create a more competitive productivity through knowledge exchange. Design is the key to understand and achieve these 3D compositions for exchange, whilst also considering the sustainable future of these designs by allowing them to adapt to new models of transfer and output. Our own research and development work with the TMT sector is leading to a collection of ideas and compositions that can create these inspiring places for natural knowledge transfer for cross sector use, reflecting a convergence of people focused places like the Big Lounge, a 3D village green in an incubator for co-working, an office atrium, a school assembly area, airside in an airport or a hotel lobby, and is drawing support and interest from both workplace and educational organisations, as well as challenging the market to consider alternative measuring tools for leasing, and construction approaches for churn. Knowledge Transfer needs our attention and design skills as it is transforming our future environments. 20 Back to Contents Back to Contents 21 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 THE ADELPHI BUILDING, LONDON WC2 Aukett Swanke won the redevelopment of the Adelphi for Blackstone in late 2012 and the first six floors, Phase 1, is now complete and partially let to Neuehouse and ACCA. Phases 2 and 3 are underway, with the remainder of the building due for completion by Q2 2017. grandeur aligned with the vision of the original architect and creates significantly improved and unique office space via the introduction of natural light through atria, and a redeveloped ground floor reception in keeping with the Art Deco era. The Art Deco building was built in 1938 and designed by Stanley Hamp, the same architect as for the nearby Savoy Hotel. Our project returns the previously heavily refurbished building back to a level of The construction of phase 1 was undertaken with the upper floor tenants in situ and involved complicated reconfiguring of core services and layouts in an operational building. Back to Contents Back to Contents KEY STAFF UK MANAGEMENT INTERNATIONAL MANAGEMENT LUKE SCHUBERTH Managing Director - UK ‡ SUZETTE VELA BURKETT Managing Director - UK ‡ STEPHEN EMBLEY Managing Director - Middle East ‡ ROBERT FRY Managing Director - International ‡ NEIL TULLIS Finance Director - International ‡ ABU DHABI - DUBAI ISTANBUL ANDREW MURDOCH Director DAVID HUGHES Director ‡ JAMES ATHA Director - Veretec KEITH MORGAN Managing Director - Veretec NICK BIRCHALL Director JOHN LISTER Director FRANK NOWACKI Director John R Harris & Partners BOB PUNCHARD Director John R Harris & Partners BURÇU SENPARLAK General Manager SHC Mimarlik MOSCOW PRAGUE NICK PELL Director PETER EATON Director STEVE BROWN Director TOM ALEXANDER Director STUDIO PRINCIPALS SENIOR ASSOCIATES Andrew Webster / Daniel Winters / Gordon McQuade David Smith / Tim Pettigrew / Toby Harling DESIGN PRINCIPALS TECHNICAL PRINCIPALS TOM NUGENT General Director ALEX NIKULSHKIN Chief Architect JANA LEHOTSKA Director Aukett sro TOMAS VOREL Director Aukett sro JV PARTNER - MUNICH BERLIN FRANKFURT Elias Niazi / Maurice van Eijs / Sam Castling Alex Rimmer / Calvin Grant / David Allen INTERIORS PRINCIPALS UK FINANCIAL CONTROLLER GROUP HEAD OF IT LUTZ HEESE Managing Director Aukett + Heese ANDREW HENNING JONES Director Aukett + Heese MARCUS DIETZSCH Director Aukett + Heese ASSOCIATE OFFICE - BRISTOL ASSOCIATE OFFICE - SOUTHAMPTON Angela Sasso / Colin Ells Mukthir Sian Freddie Cottis ‡ Member of the Group Managment Board 24 Back to Contents STEPHEN ATKINSON Director RONNIE RENNOLDSON Director Coda CRAIG BENNETT Director Coda CHRISTIAN MORRIS Director Yotomo Back to Contents 25 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 BOARD OF DIRECTORS ANTHONY SIMMONDS Non Executive Chairman *+ #^ BA(Hons) FCA FCCA Aged 71 NICHOLAS THOMPSON Chief Executive Officer #^‡ BSc(Hons) MBA Aged 61 BEVERLEY WRIGHT Chief Financial Officer & Company Secretary ^‡ BA(Hons) FCA Aged 57 JOHN BULLOUGH Non Executive Director +* FRICS Aged 65 ANDREW MURDOCH Executive Director # MA RIBA Aged 66 NICK PELL Nick Pell Executive Director BA(Hons) Aged 54 Anthony joined Aukett Swanke as a non executive director in 2009 and was appointed Non Executive Chairman in March 2012. He is a qualified chartered accountant and former senior partner of a top 50 accountancy practice. He has had many years' experience in dealing with quoted public companies on a professional basis including advising on corporate finance, M&A, due diligence, as well as initial introductions to the market. He has held a number of executive and non executive positions and is experienced in the strategic development of businesses and the management of financial risk. Nicholas is Aukett Swanke’s CEO and has over 30 years of experience in the property and consulting sector having originally joined Fitzroy Robinson as its Finance Director in 1994. He holds a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from City University and currently sits on the Cass MBA Advisory Board. He is also a qualified accountant and has a degree from Bath University. In 2015 he became a non executive director of the Wren Insurance Association Ltd, a mutual insurer for architectural practices, which is regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority. Nicholas is responsible for the Group’s strategic growth plans and has wide experience in this area. During his career he led the finance team of Bernard Thorpe, a major UK surveying practice, to create what later became DTZ in 1993; and followed this with a reverse takeover of Aukett Group Plc by Fitzroy Robinson Limited in 2005. In 2013 he led the negotiations to acquire Swanke Hayden Connell Europe Ltd and established a new international brand: Aukett Swanke; and followed this in 2015 with the acquisition of a controlling interest in John R Harris & Partners Ltd. Beverley joined Aukett Swanke in September 2014. She is a qualified Chartered Accountant and has over 25 years of experience with construction and engineering firms including significant experience in senior financial roles for international Companies. She spent 16 years with Mowlem Plc in a variety of roles, then in 2006 she took over as Commercial and Financial Director Europe and Middle East at CH2M, becoming International Commercial Director in 2012. Her roles have covered a very broad spectrum including tax, treasury, corporate finance, M&A and structuring, as well as commercial and financial management, analysis, control and governance. Since joining Aukett Swanke, in addition to ensuring good day to day financial management, Beverley has worked on both commercial and strategic matters. Much of her focus has been on the future shape of the group and she was heavily involved in the acquisition in the year of John R Harris & Partners Ltd. Nick was appointed to the Board in December 2013 upon the acquisition of Swanke Hayden Connell Europe Ltd and is International Interior Design Director. He has over 20 years of experience designing interiors projects across Europe having graduated from Kingston Polytechnic. Nick has established a reputation for designing creative interior solutions for a wide range of project types; hotels, restaurants, retail banks, residential, leisure facilities and commercial office space and he has led the design direction of several award winning projects. His projects are wide ranging, including the British Council for Offices award winning VISA HQ fit out,and an experimental hotel pilot project. John joined Aukett Swanke as a non executive director in June 2014. He has over 40 years of international experience in property development and investment. Following 18 years with Grosvenor, John joined ALDAR Properties PJSC in Abu Dhabi and was their Chief Executive until November 2010.He is a Fellow of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and is a Past President of the British Council of Shopping Centres. Andrew is a qualified architect who joined Fitzroy Robinson in 1984. He was Chairman of Fitzroy Robinson in the 1990s, and was appointed to the board in December 2013. He is architect to a number of significant buildings in London’s West End and the UK regions, and has a strong and enduring client following. His work includes the flagship Fenwick store in Bond Street, the Home of Alfred Dunhill in Mayfair, and the refurbishment of the Royal Exchange in the City. Andrew sat on the board of management of the British Council of Offices for 12 years. BOARD COMMITTEES * Member of the Audit Committee chaired by Anthony Simmonds + Member of the Remuneration Committee chaired by John Bullough # Member of the Nomination Committee chaired by Anthony Simmonds ^ Member of the Risk Committee chaired by Anthony Simmonds ‡ Member of the Group Managment Board 26 Back to Contents Back to Contents 27 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 CHAIRMAN'S STATEMENT I am pleased to report on another successful year for the Company to 30 September 2015 in which we achieved an improvement in each of our key financial criteria. Revenue increased by 8.1% to £18.7m (2014: £17.3m). However, it is pleasing to report that profit before tax increased by 33.6% to £1.9m (2014: £1.4m) reflecting our success in minimising the losses in those operations where revenues were delayed. Our results also benefitted from a lower effective tax rate thereby increasing our Earnings Per Share by 53.8% to 1.00p (2014: 0.65p). During the year we announced the acquisition of a majority interest (80%) in John R Harris & Partners Limited (JRHP) for a cash consideration of £897k which represents further progress in the evolution of our stated policy of growing the business through a non organic strategy. Following this acquisition we were still able to increase our net funds, which at the year end stood at £1.9m (2014: £1.8m). The Group remains debt free. We have also continued our policy of regular dividends and have declared two payments totalling 0.22 pence in the year. These dividends are covered 4.6 times by after tax profits. During the year John Bullough, one of our non executive directors, was appointed to the Audit Committee. On 22 December 2015, we announced that David Hughes, the former CEO of Swanke Hayden Connell Europe Limited (SHC) stepped down from the Board and will be dedicating his time to expanding his portfolio of commissions as an Expert Witness for the UK business. I would like to thank David for his contribution to the Board since the acquisition of SHC in December 2013. In 2016 we shall continue to focus on consolidating our success in the UK whilst expanding our operations in the Middle East, and more specifically in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where we believe there is both political stability and project opportunities. In those countries where difficult conditions have prevailed we shall seek to minimise any further adverse impact on the Group’s overall performance. I am therefore comfortable that the Company will continue to progress and maintain its financial strength and I am pleased to announce that we will pay a second and final dividend in respect of the year ended 30 September 2015 of 0.11 pence per share. Subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, this dividend will become payable on 22 April 2016 to shareholders on the register on 8 April 2016. I would like to thank all our staff for their continuing contributions to our success and for their hard work and dedication in delivering high quality projects and these excellent results, whilst at the same time maintaining and developing our blue chip client portfolio. I look forward to further success for your Company in 2016. Anthony Simmonds Non Executive Chairman 27 January 2016 1906 Walker & Gillette 1949 John R Harris 1955 Fitzroy Robinson 1972 Aukett 1975 Swanke Hayden Connell 2005 Aukett Fitzroy Robinson 2013 Aukett Swanke 2015 Aukett Swanke We are very pleased to be reporting a strong set of numbers despite a wide variety of market related issues. Considerable progress has been made in the evolution of the business. The integration of John R Harris & Partners Limited has gone well and we see further potential in the UAE. Nicholas Thompson Chief Executive Officer Meanwhile our other overseas operations have responded well to management actions given difficult trading conditions. 28 Back to Contents Back to Contents 29 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS Evolution of the business VIA NON ORGANIC GROWTH STRATEGY PROGRESSING Positive contribution FROM NEW ACQUISITION OF JOHN R HARRIS & PARTNERS LTD UK strong performance Overall profit FROM EUROPE OPERATIONS MIDDLE EAST POSITIONED FOR further growth £17.3m £18.7m £1.4m REVENUE UP 8.1% PBT UP 33.6% £1.9m 1.00p 0.65p EPS UP 53.8% 0.22p 0.2p £1.9m £1.8m FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT OF 0.11p NET FUNDS AT YEAR END 2014 2015 30 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Back to Contents Back to Contents 31 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 FIVE YEAR SUMMARY STRATEGIC REPORT Years ending 30 September Continuing operations 2015 £’000 2014 £’000 2013 £’000 2012 £’000 2011 £’000 The directors present their Strategic Report on the Group for the year ended 30 September 2015. STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES The Group’s two main objectives are to create shareholder wealth over the longer term and to achieve design excellence in our work. Revenue 18,668 17,326 8,406 9,150 8,617 Revenue less sub consultant costs 16,886 14,732 7,116 6,744 5,934 STRATEGY Profit / (loss) before tax 1,870 1,400 Basic earnings / (losses) per share (p) Dividends per share (p) 1.00 0.22 0.65 0.18 550 0.26 - 210 (1,205) 0.08 (0.64) - - Net assets Net funds 6,251 5,053 3,029 2,652 2,689 1,873 1,778 1,080 326 318 CORPORATE INFORMATION Registered office 36-40 York Way London N1 9AB www.aukettswanke.com Nominated adviser and broker finnCap www.finncap.com Bankers Coutts & Co www.coutts.com Solicitors Fox Williams www.foxwilliams.com Company secretary Beverley Wright cosec@aukettswanke.com Registered number England & Wales 2155571 Share registrars Equiniti www.equiniti.com 0121 415 7047 Auditors BDO www.bdo.co.uk Financial public relations Hermes Financial Public Relations www.hermesfinancialpr.co.uk The strategy of the Group is to become a major player in the professional services sector through the provision of architectural and design services both in the United Kingdom and the wider international market place. This is to be achieved through a focus on existing operations and their financial and design performance and the enlargement of the practice through a merger and acquisition strategy. In following this M&A strategy we have acquired two practices operating in the United Kingdom, Russia, Turkey and the Middle East over the past two years. These acquisitions have resulted in Aukett Swanke Group Plc climbing twenty two places in the recently published WA100 2016 rankings to 51st making us the sixth largest UK practice by international measurement. In the year just past our revenues grew to £18.7m, well on the way to achieving our short term target of reaching £20.0m. Profit before tax at £1.9m is comfortably ahead of our declared target of £1.5m. Our gross revenues (adjusted for 100% ownership of joint venture and associate revenues) now stands at £27.5m. In terms of design excellence, we received four new awards during the year, which are listed in the Business Review below, and were nominated in a number of categories, thereby maintaining a high and demonstrable standard of design and delivery skill in the markets in which we operate. Looking forward we remain confident of reaching our revenue target of £20.0m in 2016 and we retain our sustainable profit before tax target of £1.5m. With the practice achieving its existing sustainable growth targets in architectural and design services we shall also be pursuing an alternative acquisition strategy that encompasses less transactional revenues and broader services in order to move our overall performance to higher levels and ensure that the Group as a whole has less exposure to cyclical income. BUSINESS MODEL Following on from the most recent acquisition our business model is being adapted to reflect this enlarged structure. Our current arrangements in South America are incidental and coming to a natural close. We therefore see the practice as having three key geographical markets being; the United Kingdom, the Middle East and Continental Europe. The Middle East is specifically the UAE operations and Continental Europe comprises the Czech Republic’s, German, Russian and Turkish operations. John R Harris & Partners Limited In June 2015 we acquired an 80% holding in JRHP, a practice established in 1949 and carrying out the majority of its services in the Middle East. This brought an immediate return to the Group through a net profit achieved in the last quarter. Given that our continuing operation, even with the addition JRHP, remains under sized in its market, we do not expect any synergy cost savings to emerge in the short term. BUSINESS REVIEW Summary of overall Group financial performance Revenues grew during the year to £18.7m (2014: £17.3m), 8.1% higher. Our profit before tax was much improved at £1.9m (2014: £1.4m) showing a 34% growth rate. We had, however, hoped to report a better result but this became progressively unattainable following the negative events in both Russia and Turkey. After tax and the non controlling interests there is dividend cover of 4.6 times on an EPS of 1.00 pence per share (2014: 0.65 pence per share). Our balance sheet, including non controlling interests of £0.1m, has grown by over £1.2m to £6.3m (2014: £5.1m). Within this, net funds at £1.9m (2014: £1.8m) were slightly higher than the prior year and achieved after paying £897,000 in cash for JRHP (2014: £209k cash element for SHC). 32 Back to Contents Back to Contents 33 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 However design excellence is just as important as financial performance. This year we won four awards: two in Russia, and one in each of the United Kingdom and Germany. Our London and Moscow offices jointly achieved Winner of Golden Brick Award (CBRE awards) and Winner Best Lobby (Best office awards) for Arcus III in Moscow. Our retail store for M&S at Cheshire Oaks won its 14th award - this time the ‘Test of Time’ at the Buildings award ceremony. Finally our fit out for BNP in Frankfurt won a LEED Gold (the third for this office). We also had project representation at numerous other award ceremonies. Segmental analysis of financial performance The key performance indicators used within the Group for assessing financial performance are: • • revenue less sub consultant costs which reflects the revenue generated by our own technical staff but excludes the revenue attributable to sub consultants; the revenue less sub consultant costs being generated per full time equivalent (FTE) technical member of staff. For our larger operations this provides a barometer of near term efficiency and financial health. This figure when compared to the movement in total costs provides an insight into the likely direction of profitability; and • profit before taxation. The numbers of full time equivalent technical members of staff differs from the employee numbers disclosed in note 7 to the financial statements since the Group uses some non employed workers through agencies and freelance contracts. Also some staff work part time or have been on maternity leave. United Kingdom Revenue less sub consultant costs FTE technical staff (number) Revenue per FTE technical staff Operating costs Profit before tax 2015 £’000 14,368 135 106 (12,375) 1,993 2014 £’000 12,779 131 98 (10,964) 1,815 2013 £’000 6,083 56 109 (5,122) 961 The UK maintained its financial performance during the year but saw a slow down in the second half with costs catching up with previous revenue advances and one major project being temporarily suspended in the second half. As a result of these factors, whilst revenue increased by 12.4% compared to 2014, the profit before tax result of £2.0m (2014: £1.8m) grew more modestly at 9.8%. A combination of more FTE technical staff and higher productivity saw revenue per FTE technical staff improve from £98k per person to £106k. During the year we completed the integration of Aukett Fitzroy Robinson Limited and Swanke Hayden Connell International Limited and rebranded the business Aukett Swanke Limited (ASL). ASL and Veretec, our Executive architecture business, represent our UK trading companies. The UK workload in 2015 was underpinned by projects progressing to the construction site phase. This was well illustrated by the practice heading Building’s Top Architects by Project Value in December 2014 with 15 projects valued at £924m. There were numerous projects being constructed ‘on site’ in London including a major hotel at Ten Trinity Square in the City, a further academic building for Imperial College and two major office refurbishments - one for Tishman Speyer in Victoria and another for Blackstone near The Strand. 2015 also saw Veretec maintain its premium market position with a number of large residential schemes in progress including Lillie Square and De Vere Gardens for Sir Robert McAlpine along with schemes in Hanover Terrace, Charlotte Street and a single dwelling in Chelsea. TEN TRINITY SQUARE / VERDE SW1 34 Back to Contents Significantly, a higher proportion of our offices’ portfolio in the year has been outside London, including Eastside Locks in Birmingham for Goodman; Aspire, a redevelopment in Bristol; Forbury Place in Reading for M&G; the Bradfield Centre in Cambridge for Gilead; Gade Zone in Hemel Hempstead and a mixed use development, Staines Central. We also commenced work on a mid tech office park in Alconbury for Urban&Civic plc. The interiors business gained momentum in the year evidenced by project wins from Zurich ReInsurance, JP Morgan Chase, Ince & Co, Merrill Lynch, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation and Richemont. We have seen a significant increase in on site work during the year as we move through the development cycle. However, we now see the market having less momentum in the future and this will be further tempered by higher construction costs being evidenced in the market. Russia Revenue less sub consultant costs FTE technical staff (number) Revenue per FTE technical staff Operating costs (Loss) before tax (before impairment) FORBURY PLACE, READING 2015 £’000 638 14 46 (694) (56) 2014 £’000 774 20 39 (1,124) (350) 2013 £’000 781 18 43 (1,051) (270) Despite the challenges presented by the fall in the oil price and the devaluation of the Rouble, our Russian business only reported a small loss in the year. This creditable performance was achieved by the dedication and perseverance of our team who worked hard in difficult circumstances to deliver projects, maintain client relationships and to ensure that we did not incur bad debts. During the year we also invested considerable effort in constantly ensuring that appropriate staff levels were maintained and overhead costs were reduced as far as possible, whilst working to combine the SHC branch and the pre acquisition Russian operation, ZAO Aukett Fitzroy Vostok, into one self supporting business. The results in Sterling, compared to previous years, show a decrease in revenue less sub consultant costs. However taking account of the average devaluation in the value of the Rouble of 49% during the year, 2015 was in fact a stronger result in local currency than in prior years with revenue less subconsultant costs 24% higher than in 2014 and revenue per FTE up 78%. At a local level the operation was profitable before central cost allocations. Russia remains an important market for the Group, but the Board does not underestimate the difficulties in winning and delivering successful projects in a market which is equally challenging and unpredictable for our clients. 2016 will therefore be a year of further rigorous focus on cost control to ensure that our business model best suits the market circumstances. Turkey Revenue less sub consultant costs FTE technical staff (number) Revenue per FTE technical staff Operating costs (Loss) / profit before tax 2015 £’000 574 17 34 (707) (133) 2014 £’000 687 20 34 (597) 90 In contrast to last year’s performance and the outlook this time last year, 2015 has been a difficult year for our business in Turkey. This is almost exclusively attributable to external political factors, where the absence of an elected government, and the impasse associated with that, created a hiatus in the market, such that even contracted projects did not proceed. Back to Contents 35 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 This hiatus is highlighted by delays in planning submissions due to project zoning issues that created uncertainties in development volumes and property uses for our clients. As a result of this, we considerably downsized our operation and posted a small net loss before tax of £133k which compares to a profit before tax of £90k for the previous year. We have however maintained a sustainable presence with a highly capable team that is now well positioned to work on many opportunities that are re-emerging and coming to market, particularly from our retained, blue chip customer base which includes FIBA, Cengiz and Tahincioglu. The Berlin joint venture is again the star of our portfolio. Notwithstanding a weakening of the Euro compared to Sterling, revenues less sub consultant costs increased by 27% to £5.5m and the average number of technical staff increased to 79 compared to 51 last year. Profit before tax also rose, but by less than the revenue growth due to investment costs incurred in expanding the office. Our share of post tax profits amounted to £264k compared to £254k in the previous year. The comparable contribution of revenue per FTE technical staff was also impacted by exchange rate movements. Projects worked on were for a mix of local and large international clients, in Berlin as well as other German cities, including the Berlin Entertainment District at the Mercedes Platz, the 30 storey WinX office tower working drawings in Frankfurt for BAM, the Barceló Hotel in Berlin, the working drawings of a mixed use development in Berlin for Hines and the interior design of the five star Fontenay Hotel in Hamburg. NIDAKULE ATASEHIR DEVELOPMENT, ISTANBUL Middle East Revenue less sub consultant costs Operating costs Profit / (loss) before tax 2015 £’000 1,306 (1,259) 47 2014 £’000 492 (478) 14 2013 £’000 252 (384) (132) With the acquisition of JRHP in June 2015, we moved a step towards achieving our growth strategy in the Middle East. The results for the year reflect both JRHP’s contribution and that of our existing business Aukett Fitzroy Robinson International Limited (AFRI) and show a 165% increase in revenue less sub consultant costs. In the 3 months of ownership, JRHP performed in line with our expectation and contributed a positive result. During the year, AFRI continued to work on our key project with Majid Al Futtaim, which is now coming to a successful close. In addition, we have bid for and secured future work, also in conjunction with JRHP, thereby confirming our acquisition strategy. It has become clear, even in the short period ownership of JRHP, that our bidding success has improved as a result of our increased scale. However, we remain undersized in the market and as we wish to continue our expansion in the Middle East we will pursue growth options as well as invest in additional management capacity. Continental Europe As joint ventures or as an associate, the results of these operations are included in the financial statements as our share of after tax profits. However in order to provide a more insightful view of the true size and scale of each operation the figures shown below are 100% values. Berlin 100% figures in which the Group has a 25% share Revenue less sub consultant costs FTE technical staff (number) Revenue per FTE technical staff Operating costs Profit before tax 2015 £’000 5,497 79 70 (3,985) 1,512 2014 £’000 4,330 51 85 (2,873) 1,457 2013 £’000 4,096 48 85 (2,756) 1,340 Frankfurt 100% figures in which the Group has a 50% share Revenue less sub consultant costs Operating costs Profit before tax WINX TOWER, FRANKFURT 2014 £’000 909 (617) 292 2013 £’000 496 (438) 58 2015 £’000 592 (554) 38 After an exceptional result in 2014, the Frankfurt office reported a fall in revenues to £592k and profit before tax of £38k representing a more sustainable level of gradual improvement. The studio has continued to carry out planning, design and fit out work for local businesses as well as international clients such as Tishman Speyer and Microsoft. In addition the office has also been commissioned to provide construction drawing services for a large office and laboratory for Hochtief. Prague 100% figures in which the Group now has a 50% share Revenue less sub consultant costs Operating costs Profit / (loss) before tax 2015 £’000 242 (242) - 2014 £’000 304 (305) (1) 2013 £’000 308 (296) 12 This was another difficult year for the Prague joint venture, where the local market remained very flat. Creditably the team again achieved break even and applied its high levels of skill and expertise supporting both the Berlin and UK studios as well as working with their own portfolio of clients including SAB Miller, the Riverside School, CPI and Moolson Coors. Group costs Group costs at £258k were lower than in the previous year (£398k) as corporate finance and legal costs were lower and there were no recruitment fees. 36 Back to Contents Back to Contents 37 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Financial position In monitoring the financial position of the Group the directors look principally at the net investment in project working capital together with the financing available to the business through capital and reserves, and cash and debt facilities. Outlook The pipeline of future work has decreased to 43% reflecting the greater uncertainties and visibility of earnings as we move from a predominantly site phased workload to newer concept and planning activities. Project working capital Project working capital comprises unpaid amounts invoiced to clients for progress billings plus / less amounts due from/ received from clients for contract work. Amounts due from / received from clients for contract work reflect the extent to which revenue recognised exceeds or falls short of progress billings. Percentage of budgeted workload secured at the start of the financial year 2016 43% 2015 51% 2014 48% Net trade receivables Amounts due from customers for contract work Advances received from customers for contract work Project working capital 2015 £’000 4,141 1,079 (2,572) 2,648 2014 £’000 4,258 581 (2,472) 2,367 2013 £’000 2,668 277 (2,065) 880 The project payment arrangements under which the Group operates vary significantly by geographical location: • • • • in the United Kingdom it is usual to agree in advance with the client at the start of a project a monthly billing schedule which generally leads to relatively low levels of amounts due from customers for contract work; in Russia it is usual for the project to be divided into contractual work stages. At the start of each stage a deposit is received from the client but no further amounts are received until the stage, or sub stage, is fully completed; in the Middle East it is usual to bill clients monthly, but the value of the monthly invoices raised is dependent upon demonstrating specific progress from the work performed, which generally leads to higher levels of amounts due from customers for contract work; in Turkey it is usual to either agree in advance with the client a monthly billing schedule or to agree a billing schedule based on deliverable work stages. Our project working capital has increased compared to the previous year, primarily as a result of the acquisition of JRHP. Financing At the year end the Group had total equity of £6.3m and net funds of £1.9m (2014: £5.1m and £1.8m respectively). The increase of £1.2m in net equity comprises retained earnings for the year of £1.1m, net of dividends paid of £0.3m and foreign exchange revaluation losses, principally in respect of the Russian Rouble’s devaluation, of £0.2m. The remainder £0.1m is due to the non controlling interest’s share. The net cash position of £1.9m comprises cash and cash equivalents of £1.9m with no short term borrowings (2014: £1.8m, £1.9m and £0.1m respectively). As explained in note 21, the Group is free of debt. The Group also has the benefit of a gross secured overdraft facility from its bankers Coutts & Co. This facility is used by the Group to hedge foreign exchange movements. The Group has a strong focus on cash management which is common across all of its businesses. It is a requirement that all businesses are cash generative or at least cash neutral. Excess funds are remitted to the Group’s head office on a regular basis and any loans or short term funding are subject to formal approval. Net funds Total equity Net gearing 2015 £’000 1,873 6,251 Nil 2014 £’000 1,778 5,053 Nil 2013 £’000 1,080 3,029 Nil There were no changes in the objectives, policies or processes for managing capital during the year. However the Group’s head office is increasingly acting as the Group’s internal banker, as explained above. Principal risks and uncertainties The directors consider the principal risks and uncertainties facing the business are as follows: Levels of property development activity Changes in development activity levels have a direct impact on the number of projects that are available. These changes can be identified by rises and falls in overall GDP, construction output, planning application submissions, construction tenders and starts, and investment into the property sector. Not all of this information is available in each market place and so we have to adapt to the information flow that is available. In addressing this risk the Group considers which markets and which clients to focus upon based on the strength of their financial covenant so there is clear ability to provide both project seed capital and geared funding to complete the delivery process. This avoids the dual risk of delays between stages during projects and deferrals of projects. Operational gearing and funding In common with other professional services businesses, the Group has a relatively high level of operational gearing, through staffing and property costs, which makes it difficult to reduce costs sufficiently quickly to immediately avoid losses and associated cash outflows, when faced by sharp unpredicted falls in revenue. The directors seek to ensure that the Group retains appropriate funding arrangements and regularly monitors expected future requirements through the Group’s annual budgeting, quarterly forecasting and monthly cashflow reporting processes. The Group’s principal bankers remain supportive and in January 2016 renewed the Group’s facilities for a further year. Where possible, the Group deploys three strategies to help reduce operational gearing: First, the Group has a well developed staffing plan which flexes the total number of staff using a combination of permanent employees, temporary employees, agency staff, and freelance staff as applicable to each legal jurisdiction; and in so doing matches resources to fee paying work as closely as possible, sometimes linking staff retention directly to specific projects. Second, the Group can sublet or licence occupation of part of its property space to other professional services businesses to offset some of the total occupancy cost. Lastly the Group seeks flexible contract terms with major suppliers such that certain costs can be suspended during times of economic difficulty. Staff skills and retention Our business model relies upon a certain standard and number of skilled individuals based on qualifications and project track record. Failure to retain such skills makes the strategies of the Group difficult to achieve. The Group conducts external surveys to ensure that salaries and benefits are appropriate and comparable to market levels and endeavours to provide a pleasant working environment for staff. Staff training programmes and education assistance are provided, including helping our professionally qualified staff comply with their continuing professional development obligations. Training programmes take various forms including external courses and external speakers. Quality of technical delivery In common with other firms providing professional services, the Group is subject to the risk of claims of professional negligence from clients. The Group seeks to minimise these risks by operating our quality assurance systems which have many facets. These systems include identifying specific individuals whose roles include focusing on maintaining quality assurance standards and spreading best practice. 38 Back to Contents Back to Contents 39 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 The Group’s principal UK operation is registered under ISO 9001 which reflects the quality of the internal systems under which we work. As part of these registrations an external assessor undertakes regular compliance reviews. In addition, as part of its service to members, the Mutual which provides professional indemnity insurance to the UK and part of the Middle East operations undertakes annual quality control assessments. The Group maintains professional indemnity insurance in respect of professional negligence claims but is exposed to the cost of excess deductibles on any successful claims. Contract pricing All mature markets are subject to downward pricing pressures as a result of the wide spectrum of available suppliers to each project. This pressure is increased if activity levels are low such as in the recent economic downturn and global recession. Additionally architects may be under pressure to work without fees (for a time) in order to win a project or retain sufficient qualified staff to complete the project if won. The Group mitigates this risk by focusing on markets where it has clear skills that are well above average, or avoids it by not lowering prices, thus risking the loss of such work. Additionally, all fee proposals to clients are prepared by experienced practice directors who will be responsible for the delivery of the projects. Fee proposals are based on appropriate due diligence regarding the scope and nature of the project, knowledge of similar projects previously undertaken by the Group, and estimates of the resources necessary to deliver the project. Fee proposals for larger projects are subject to review and approval by senior Group management and caveats are included where appropriate. When acting as general designer for projects located outside the UK, the Group is usually exposed to the risk of actual sub consultant costs varying from those anticipated when the overall fee was agreed with the client. To mitigate this risk, fee proposals are usually sought from sub consultants covering the major design disciplines as part of the process of preparing the overall fee proposal. Overseas diversification The Group continues to derive a proportion of its revenues from projects located outside the UK. This offers some protection for the Group by providing diversification but in turn exposes the Group to the economic environments and currencies of those locations. Building regulations, working practices and contractual arrangements often differ in these overseas locations when compared to the UK which may significantly increase the risks to the Group. To mitigate these risks: • • • • the overseas operations are managed by nationals, or highly experienced expatriates, with oversight from senior Group management. All offices are regularly visited by senior Group management and, where applicable joint venture partners, to monitor and review the businesses. There is regular, comprehensive management reporting and KPIs are used to review both contract pricing issues and staffing efficiency. the Group seeks to work for multinational or the larger and more established domestic clients who themselves often have significant international experience. when acting as general designer for projects located outside the UK the Group always seeks to appoint sub consultants with an established and successful track record on similar projects; and within the boundaries imposed by local laws and commercial constraints, the Group seeks to structure contractual arrangements with clients and sub consultants to minimise the significant contractual risks which can arise. In addition as far as possible foreign currency flows are matched to minimise any impact of exchange rate movements and significant exposures are hedged. Summary The 2015 results represent another year of growth and improved performance. The executive directors believe that the strong financial position of the Group will support further success in the future. By order of the Board Nicholas Thompson Chief Executive Officer 27 January 2016 Beverley Wright Chief Financial Officer DIRECTORS’ REPORT The directors present their report for the year ended 30 September 2015. Corporate governance The UK Corporate Governance Code issued in September 2014 by the Financial Reporting Council sets out standards of good practice in relation to board leadership and effectiveness, remuneration, accountability and relations with shareholders. Although under the rules of the Alternative Investment Market, the Company is not required to comply with the Code nor state any areas in which it does not comply, the Board has sought to take into account the provisions of the Code in so far as it considers them to be appropriate and practicable for a company of this size. In doing this the Board has considered the Corporate Governance Guidelines for Small and Mid-Size Quoted Companies published in 2013 by the Quoted Companies Alliance. Board of Directors The Group is headed by a Board of Directors which leads and controls the Group and which is accountable to shareholders for good corporate governance of the Group. The Board currently comprises four executive directors and two non executive directors who bring a wide range of experience and skills to the Company. The Board considers Anthony Simmonds and John Bullough to be independent non executive directors. The Board meets regularly to determine the policy and business strategy of the Group and has adopted a schedule of matters that are reserved as responsibilities of the Board. The Board has delegated certain authorities to board committees, each with formal terms of reference. Audit Committee The main role and responsibility of the Audit Committee is to monitor the integrity of the financial information published by the Group about its financial performance and position. It does this keeping under review the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal financial controls and by reviewing and challenging the selection and application of important accounting policies, the key judgements and estimates made in the preparation of the financial information and the adequacy of the accompanying narrative reporting. The Audit Committee is also responsible for overseeing the relationship with the external auditor which includes considering their selection, independence, terms of engagement, remuneration and performance. A formal statement of independence is received from the external auditor each year. It meets at least twice a year with the external auditor to discuss audit planning and the audit findings, with certain executive directors attending by invitation. If appropriate, the external auditor attends part of each committee meeting without the presence of any executive directors. The Audit Committee currently comprises Anthony Simmonds, as Chairman, and John Bullough and they report to the Board on matters discussed at the committee meetings. Remuneration Committee The Remuneration Committee meets as and when appropriate during the year and is responsible for determining all aspects of the executive directors’ remuneration, including share options and the terms and conditions of their service contracts. Where appropriate the committee consults the Chief Executive Officer about its proposals. The Remuneration Committee comprises Anthony Simmonds and John Bullough, with John Bullough as Chairman. No director plays a part in any discussion about their own remuneration. Nomination Committee The Nomination Committee is responsible for keeping under regular review the size, structure and composition (including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) of the Board. This includes considering succession planning for the senior management of the Group, taking into account the skills and expertise expected to be needed in the future. It is responsible for nominating new candidates for the Board, for which selection criteria are agreed in advance of any new appointment. The Nomination Committee is chaired by Anthony Simmonds with the other members being Nicholas Thompson and Andrew Murdoch. 40 Back to Contents Back to Contents 41 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Internal controls and Risk Committee The directors acknowledge that they are responsible for the Group’s system of internal controls and for reviewing its effectiveness (excluding joint ventures and associate). The directors, supported by the Risk Committee, review all controls including operational, compliance and risk management, as well as financial controls. Risk management and internal control are considered by the directors at Board meetings. Any such system of control is designed to manage risk and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. Substantial shareholdings At 27 January 2016 the Company had been informed of the following notifiable interests of three per cent or more in its share capital. Shareholder Notes Number of ordinary shares Percentage of ordinary shares The Risk Committee is chaired by Anthony Simmonds. Nicholas Thompson and Beverley Wright are also members. Nicholas Thompson Director of the Company Directors Anthony Simmonds, John Bullough, Nicholas Thompson, David Hughes, Andrew Murdoch, Nick Pell and Beverley Wright served as directors of the Company throughout the year ended 30 September 2015. Duncan Harper resigned as director on 10 October 2014. David Hughes resigned as director on 22 December 2015. Biographical details of the current directors are set out on pages 26 and 27. A resolution to re elect Anthony Simmonds will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting. The Company maintains directors and officers liability insurance. Directors’ interests Directors’ interests in the shares of the Company were as follows: Number of ordinary shares Anthony Simmonds Nicholas Thompson Beverley Wright John Bullough Andrew Murdoch Nick Pell David Hughes 30 September 2015 1,000,000 16,602,411 - 500,000 12,478,486 1,826,700 2,963,446 1 October 2014 400,000 16,602,411 - - 13,478,486 2,226,700 3,058,933 Directors’ service contracts The Company’s policy is to offer service agreements to executive directors with notice periods of not more than twelve months. Nicholas Thompson and Andrew Murdoch have rolling service contracts with the Company which are subject to twelve months’ notice of termination by either party. Nick Pell and Beverley Wright have rolling service contracts with the Company which are subject to six months’ notice of termination by either party. The remuneration packages of executive directors comprise basic salary, car allowance (except Nick Pell), contributions to defined contribution pension arrangements, annual bonus and benefits in kind such as medical expenses insurance. Non executive directors do not have service contracts with the Company, but the appointment of each is recorded in writing. Their remuneration is determined by the Board. Non executive directors do not receive any benefits in kind and are not eligible for bonuses or participation in either the share option schemes or pension arrangements. Jeremy Blake Andrew Murdoch Begonia 365 SL Raul Curiel Former employee of the Group Director of the Company Controlled by a former director of the Company Former director of the Company Stephen Atkinson Employee of the Group River & Mercantile Long Term Recovery Fund John Vincent Former director of the Company Broadwalk Asset Management 16,602,411 13,030,638 12,478,486 9,515,192 9,240,018 8,260,712 8,150,000 5,791,394 5,317,000 10.05% 7.89% 7.56% 5.76% 5.59% 5.00% 4.93% 3.51% 3.22% Share price The mid market closing price of the shares of the Company at 30 September 2015 was 6.13 pence and the range of mid market closing prices of the shares during the year was between 6.13 pence and 8.63 pence. Share capital The Board is seeking from shareholders at the Annual General Meeting renewal of its authority to allot equity securities. The authority would allow the board to allot securities up to a maximum aggregate nominal value of £826,068 representing 50% of the issued share capital of the Company. A resolution will also be put to the Annual General Meeting in respect of the issue of equity securities for cash up to an aggregate nominal amount of £165,214 representing 10% of the issued share capital, without first offering such shares to shareholders. The directors consider this authority desirable as it will give them the flexibility to make small issues of ordinary shares for cash if suitable opportunities arise without the necessity of first seeking shareholders’ approval. The renewed authorities will expire at the conclusion of the subsequent Annual General Meeting of the Company when it is intended that the directors will again seek their renewal. Environmental policy The Group promotes wherever possible a ‘green’ and ecologically sound policy in all its work, but always takes into account the considerable pressures of budget, commercial constraints and client preferences. Sustainability is essential to our design philosophy and studio ethos. It is an attitude of mind that is embedded within our thinking from the start of any project. We design innovative solutions and focus on: • • • • • incorporating passive design principles that mitigate solar gain and heat loss from the outset; reducing energy demand through active and passive renewable energy sources; the use of energy and resource efficient materials, methods, and forms; the re use of existing buildings and materials and flexibility for future change; and importantly the careful consideration of the experience and wellbeing of the end user in our buildings. We believe ourselves to be at the forefront of sustainability amongst our peers which is demonstrated by our track record in achieving 65 ‘Excellent’ or ‘Very Good’ BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) ratings awarded to buildings designed by the Group. We have also achieved 1 Ska ‘Gold’ and 2 Ska ‘Silver’ environmental assessment ratings and 3 LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) ‘Gold’ award and 5 ‘Silver’ awards. 42 Back to Contents Back to Contents 43 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES Directors’ responsibilities The directors are responsible for preparing the strategic report, the directors’ report, and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the directors have elected to prepare the Group and Company financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union. Under Company law the directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. The directors are also required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the rules of the London Stock Exchange for companies trading securities on the Alternative Investment Market. In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to: • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; • make judgments and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent; • • state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business. The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. Website publication The directors are responsible for ensuring the annual report and the financial statements are made available on a website. Financial statements are published on the Company’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website is the responsibility of the directors. The directors’ responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein. Employees As a professional services business, the Group’s ability to achieve its commercial objectives and to service the needs of its clients in a profitable and effective manner depends upon the contribution of its employees. The Group seeks to keep its employees informed on all material aspects of the business affecting them through the operation of a structured management system, staff presentations and an intranet site. The Group’s employment policies do not discriminate between employees, or potential employees, on the grounds of age, gender, sexual orientation, ethnic origin or religious belief. The sole criterion for selection or promotion is the suitability of any applicant for the job. It is the policy of the Group to encourage and facilitate the continuing professional development of our employees to ensure that they are equipped to undertake the tasks for which they are employed, and to provide the opportunity for career development equally and without discrimination. Training and development is provided and is available to all levels and categories of staff. It is the Group’s policy to give fair consideration to application for employment for disabled persons wherever practicable and, where existing employees become disabled, efforts are made to find suitable positions for them. Health and safety The Group seeks to promote all aspects of health and safety at work throughout its operations in the interests of employees and visitors. The Group has established a health and safety steering committee chaired by Robert Fry to guide the Group’s health and safety policies and activities. Health and safety is included on the agenda of each board meeting. Group policies on health and safety are regularly reviewed and revised, and are made available on the intranet site. Appropriate training for employees is provided on a periodic basis. Disclosure of information to auditor Each of the directors who were in office at the date of approval of these financial statements has confirmed that: • • so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the auditor is unaware; and they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information. Future developments An indication of likely future developments in the business of the Group is contained in the Strategic Report. Financial instruments Information concerning the use of financial instruments by the Group is given in notes 28 to 32 of the financial statements. Dividends The Group has retained its stated policy of paying two dividends per annum, one each declared at the time of the interim results and final results respectively. The Directors recommend a second and final dividend in respect of the year ended 30 September 2015 of 0.11 pence per share. Subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, this dividend will become payable on 22 April 2016 to shareholders on the register on 8 April 2016. By order of the Board Beverley Wright Company Secretary Aukett Swanke Group Plc Registered number 2155571 27 January 2016 44 Back to Contents Back to Contents 45 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC We have audited the financial statements of Aukett Swanke Group Plc for the year ended 30 September 2015 which comprise the consolidated income statement, the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated and Company Statement of Financial Position, the consolidated and Company statement of cash flows, the consolidated and Company statement of changes in equity and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and, as regards the parent Company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Financial Reporting Council’s (FRC’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors. Scope of the audit of the financial statements A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. Opinion on financial statements In our opinion: • the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and the parent Company’s affairs as at 30 September 2015 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended; the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; the parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. • • • Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 In our opinion the information given in the strategic report and directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements. Matters on which we are required to report by exception We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: • adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or the parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or • • CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT For the year ended 30 September 2015 Note Revenue Sub consultant costs Revenue less sub consultant costs Personnel related costs Property related costs Other operating expenses Other operating income Operating profit Finance income Finance costs Profit after finance costs Share of results of associate and joint ventures Profit before tax Tax charge Profit from continuing operations Profit for the year Profit attributable to: Owners of Aukett Swanke Group Plc Non controlling interests Basic and diluted earnings per share for profit attributable to the ordinary equity holders of the Company: From continuing operations Total earnings per share 3 3 4 5 10 11 2015 £’000 18,668 (1,782) 16,886 (11,464) (2,730) (1,715) 626 1,603 3 (13) 1,593 277 1,870 (215) 1,655 1,655 1,653 2 1,655 1.00p 1.00p 2014 £’000 17,326 (2,594) 14,732 (9,868) (2,343) (1,861) 404 1,064 - (18) 1,046 354 1,400 (354) 1,046 1,046 1,046 - 1,046 0.65p 0.65p we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. Tim Neathercoat (senior statutory auditor) For and on behalf of BDO LLP, statutory auditor London United Kingdom 27 January 2016 BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127). 46 Back to Contents Back to Contents 47 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME For the year ended 30 September 2015 Profit for the year Other comprehensive income: Currency translation differences Other comprehensive income for the year Total comprehensive income for the year Total comprehensive income for the year is attributable to: Owners of Aukett Swanke Group Plc Non controlling interests ADELPHI, LONDON WC2 2015 £’000 1,655 (201) (201) 1,454 1,451 3 1,454 2014 £’000 1,046 (103) (103) 943 943 - 943 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION At 30 September 2015 Note 12 13 14 16 17 23 18 19 20 24 20 23 24 25 Non current assets Goodwill Other intangible assets Property, plant and equipment Investment in associate Investments in joint ventures Deferred tax Total non current assets Current assets Trade and other receivables Current tax Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets Total assets Current liabilities Trade and other payables Current tax Short term borrowings Provisions Total current liabilities Non current liabilities Long term borrowings Deferred tax Provisions Total non current liabilities Total liabilities Net assets Capital and reserves Share capital Merger reserve Foreign currency translation reserve Retained earnings Other distributable reserve Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Company Non controlling interests Total equity 2015 £’000 2,283 818 563 254 100 288 4,306 6,430 - 1,873 8,303 2014 £’000 1,835 594 648 244 131 290 3,742 6,379 - 1,891 8,270 12,609 12,012 (5,833) (117) - - (5,950) - (54) (354) (408) (6,358) 6,251 1,652 1,176 (276) 1,801 1,791 6,144 107 6,251 (6,540) (131) (113) (104) (6,888) - (71) - (71) (6,959) 5,053 1,652 1,176 (74) 148 2,151 5,053 - 5,053 48 Back to Contents The financial statements on pages 47 to 90 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 27 January 2016 and were signed on its behalf by: Nicholas Thompson Chief Executive Officer Beverley Wright Chief Financial Officer Back to Contents 49 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS At 30 September 2015 Note 15 18 18 23 19 25 Non current assets Investments Trade and other receivables Total non current assets Current assets Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Deferred tax Total current assets Total assets Current liabilities Trade and other payables Total current liabilities Total liabilities Net assets Capital and reserves Share capital Retained earnings Merger reserve Other distributable reserve Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Company 2015 £’000 4,321 48 4,369 432 1,007 2 1,441 5,810 (2,300) (2,300) (2,300) 3,510 1,652 (1,109) 1,176 1,791 3,510 2014 £’000 3,467 378 3,845 33 916 - 949 4,794 (1,681) (1,681) (1,681) 3,113 1,652 (1,866) 1,176 2,151 3,113 The financial statements on pages 47 to 90 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 27 January 2016 and were signed on its behalf by: Nicholas Thompson Chief Executive Officer Beverley Wright Chief Financial Officer For the year ended 30 September 2015 Note 27 Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from operations Interest paid Income taxes (paid) / received Net cash inflow from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of property, plant and equipment Sale of property, plant and equipment Acquisition of subsidiary, net of cash acquired Interest received Dividends received Net cash used in investing activities Net cash inflow before financing activities Cash flows from financing activities Repayment of bank loans Dividends paid Net cash used in financing activities Net change in cash, cash equivalents and bank overdraft Cash and cash equivalents and bank overdraft at start of year Currency translation differences Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdraft at end of year 22 2015 £’000 1,443 (13) (238) 1,192 (163) 2 (824) 3 278 (704) 488 (113) (360) (473) 15 1,891 (33) 1,873 2014 £’000 1,360 (18) 70 1,412 (523) 4 (57) - 184 (392) 1,020 (150) (291) (441) 579 1,343 (31) 1,891 50 Back to Contents Back to Contents 51 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY For the year ended 30 September 2015 For the year ended 30 September 2015 Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from / (used by) operations Income taxes paid Net cash inflow / (outflow) from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Purchase of subsidiaries Dividends received Net cash generated from investing activities Net cash flow before financing activities Cash flows from financing activities Dividends paid Net cash used in financing activities Net change in cash, cash equivalents and bank overdraft Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdraft at start of year Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdraft at end of year Note 27 2015 £’000 70 (1) 69 (897) 1,279 382 451 (360) (360) 91 916 1,007 2014 £’000 (164) - (164) (209) 1,166 957 793 (291) (291) 502 414 916 Foreign currency translation reserve Retained earnings Other distributable reserve Share capital £’000 1,456 - - 196 - At 30 September 2013 Profit for the year Other comprehensive income Issue of ordinary shares in relation to business combination Dividends paid Profit for the year Other comprehensive income Non controlling interest arising on business combination Dividends paid - - - - £’000 29 - (103) - - - (202) - - £’000 (898) 1,046 - - - 148 1,653 - - - At 30 September 2014 1,652 (74) At 30 September 2015 1,652 (276) 1,801 Merger reserve £’000 - - - 1,176 - 1,176 - - - - 1,176 Non- controlling Interests £’000 - - - - - - 2 1 104 - 107 Total £’000 3,029 1,046 (103) 1,372 (291) 5,053 1,653 (202) - (360) 6,144 Total Equity £’000 3,029 1,046 (103) 1,372 (291) 5,053 1,655 (201) 104 (360) 6,251 £’000 2,442 - - - (291) 2,151 - - - (360) 1,791 The other distributable reserve was created in September 2007 during a court and shareholder approved process to reduce the capital of the Company. 52 Back to Contents Back to Contents 53 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS For the year ended 30 September 2015 1 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES Share capital £’000 1,456 - - 196 - 1,652 - - - Retained earnings £’000 (2,029) 163 - - - (1,866) 757 - - At 30 September 2013 Profit for the year Share based payment value of employee services Issue of ordinary shares in relation to business combination Dividends paid At 30 September 2014 Profit for the year Share based payment value of employee services Dividends paid At 30 September 2015 1,652 (1,109) Other distributable reserve £’000 2,442 - - - (291) 2,151 - - (360) 1,791 Merger reserve £’000 - - - 1,176 - 1,176 - - - 1,176 Total £’000 1,869 163 - 1,372 (291) 3,113 757 - (360) 3,510 The other distributable reserve was created in September 2007 during a court and shareholder approved process to reduce the capital of the Company. All amounts are attributable to the equity holders of the Company. The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been consistently applied to all years presented unless otherwise stated. Basis of preparation The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting under IFRSs. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and on a going concern basis. New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations applied The following new accounting standards have required additional disclosures to this year’s financial statements. IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated financial statements’. The standard changes the definition of control and how control is deemed to arise within a group of companies. This has not had a material impact to the Group. IFRS 11 ‘Joint arrangements’. The standard amends the categories of joint arrangements and narrowly defines what can be considered a joint operation. The Group has investments in joint venture arrangements which have been accounted for under the equity method. This is unchanged from the prior year. IFRS 12 ‘Disclosure of interests in other entities’. The standard requires disclosure of information that enables users of financial statements to evaluate the nature of, and risks associated with, interests in other entities. The Group has included relevant disclosures within these financial statements. New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations not yet applied A review has been undertaken of new accounting standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards which have been issued but have an effective date making them applicable to future financial statements. The following standards are effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2015 and have not yet been adopted by the Group: i) ii) IFRS 15 ‘Revenues from contracts with customers’. The standard provides a single, principles based five-step model to be applied to all con- tracts with customers. The Group has yet to assess the full impact of this accounting standard. IFRS 9 ‘Financial instruments’. The standard provides a single classification and measurement model for financial assets and replaces the existing IAS 39. The Group has yet to assess the full impact of this accounting standard. iii) IFRS 16 ‘Leases’. The standard will require almost all leases to be on the balance sheet of lessees and introduces a single income statement model which basically treats all leases as finance leases. The Group has yet to assess the full impact of this accounting standard. There are no other IFRSs or International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group. Going concern The Group’s business activities, the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group, and the financial position of the Group are described in the Strategic Report. The liquidity risks faced by the Group are further described in note 32. The Group currently meets its day to day working capital requirements through its cash balances. It maintains its overdraft facility for additional financial flexibility and foreign currency hedging purposes. This overdraft facility was renewed for a further year in January 2016. The processes the directors have undertaken, and the reasons for the conclusions they have reached, regarding the applicability of a going concern basis are explained below. In undertaking their assessment the directors have followed the guidance issued in 2009 by the Financial Reporting Council entitled Going Concern and Liquidity Risk. Although the financial performance of the Group has improved significantly, the directors continue to use the Group’s pipeline of secure and potential future work to monitor on a continual basis likely forward demand for the Group’s services. 54 Back to Contents Back to Contents 55 125 WOOD STREET, LONDON EC2 Forecasts for the Group have been prepared on a monthly basis which comprise detailed income statements, statements of financial position and cash flow statements for each of the Group’s operations. AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 The base forecasts and projections show the Group should be able to comfortably operate within its currently available facilities and the directors believe this to be the case. The Group’s principal banker is Coutts & Co, with whom the Group has an excellent long term relationship extending through previous business cycles. Coutts & Co have been supportive of the Group in recent difficult economic times and have recently again renewed the Group’s facility as described in note 32. All of the directors, and most members of the Group’s senior management, have experience of managing businesses through challenging economic circumstances, in most cases over a number of business cycles. The Board, after making the enquiries described above, has a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason the Board considers it appropriate to prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis. Basis of consolidation and equity accounting The consolidated financial statements incorporate those of the Company and its subsidiaries. Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to variable returns from the investee and the ability of the Group to use its power to affect those variable returns and direct the activities of the entity. Intra group transactions, balances and any unrealised gains and losses on transactions between Group companies are eliminated on consolidation. Non controlling interests in the results and equity of subsidiaries are shown separately in the consolidated income statement, statement of comprehensive income, statement of changes in equity and balance sheet respectively. The purchase method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given and equity instruments issued. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in an acquisition are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date, irrespective of any non controlling interest. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. The consolidated financial statements also include the Group’s share of the results and reserves of its associate and joint ventures. Associates Associates are entities for which the Group has significant influence but not control or joint control. This is the case where the Group holds between 20% and 50% of the voting rights. Investments in associates are accounted for under the equity method. Joint ventures Under IFRS 11 ‘Joint arrangements’ investments in joint arrangements are classified as either joint operations or joint ventures. This classification depends on the contractual rights and obligations of the investor rather than the legal structure. The Group has joint ventures in Frankfurt and Czech Republic where ownership is contractual and the agreements require unanimous consent from all parties for relevant activities. The entities are considered joint ventures. Joint ventures are accounted for under the equity method. Borrowings Borrowings are initially recognised at fair value, net of any transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost. Any difference between the proceeds (net of any transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, bank current accounts held at call, bank deposits with very short maturity terms and bank overdrafts. Any bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities in the statement of financial position. Company income statement The Company has taken advantage of the exemption provided by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present its income statement for the year. The profit of the Company for the year was £757,000 (2014: Profit of £163,000). Deferred taxation Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the statement of financial position liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amount in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the date of the statement of financial position and are expected to apply when the related deferred income tax asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled. Deferred income tax liabilities are recognised in respect of the unremitted earnings of overseas operations where they are expected to be remitted to the United Kingdom in the foreseeable future. Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be generated against which the temporary differences can be utilised. Dividends Dividend payments are recognised as liabilities once they are no longer at the discretion of the Company. Dividend income from investments is recognised in the income statement when the shareholders’ rights to receive payment have been established. Equity instruments Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs. Financial instruments Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the statement of financial position when the Group or Company has become a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. Financial instruments are initially recognised at fair value. Foreign currency Transactions in currencies other than the functional currency of each operation are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At the date of each statement of financial position, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at the date of the statement of financial position. Gains and losses arising on retranslation are included in the income statement for the year. On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s overseas operations are translated from their functional currencies at exchange rates prevailing at the date of the statement of financial position. Income and expense items are translated from their functional currencies at the average exchange rates for the year. Exchange differences arising are recognised directly in equity and transferred to the Group’s foreign currency translation reserve. If an overseas operation is disposed of then the cumulative translation differences are recognised as realised income or an expense in the year disposal occurs. Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated at the closing exchange rate. The Group has elected to treat goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisitions before the date of transition to IFRS as sterling denominated assets and liabilities. Goodwill Goodwill arising on acquisitions represents the excess of the fair value of the consideration given over the fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment and an impairment loss would be recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. Impairment At the date of each statement of financial position, a review of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets (excluding goodwill) is carried out to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered any impairment. If any such indications exist, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of any impairment. Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit to which the asset belongs is estimated. 56 Back to Contents Back to Contents 57 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Other intangibles assets Intangible assets acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequently the intangible assets are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment. Amortisation is charged on a straight line basis with the useful economic lives attributed as follows: Trade name – 25 years Trade licence – 10 years Customer relationships – 7 to 10 years Order book – Over the life of the contracts Amortisation is charged to other operating expenses within the consolidated income statement. Investments Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are held in the statement of financial position of the Company at historic cost less any allowance for impairment. Leases and asset finance arrangements Where asset finance arrangements result in substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership resting with the Group, the arrangement is treated as a finance lease with the assets included in the statement of financial position. Such assets are initially measured at the present value of the minimum asset finance payments and the present value of future payments is shown as a liability. The interest element of these arrangements is charged to the income statement over the period of the arrangement in proportion to the balance of capital payments outstanding. All other lease arrangements are treated as operating leases and the annual rentals are charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the lease term. Where a rent free period is received in respect of a property lease the incentive is considered an integral part of the agreement, and the cost of the lease net of the incentive is charged to the income statement on a straight line basis over the lease term. Operating segments The Group’s reportable operating segments are based on the geographical areas in which its studios are located. These are primarily identified by the different economic characteristics of these locations. Internally the Group prepares discrete financial information for each of its geographical segments. Each reportable operating segment provides the same type of service to clients, namely integrated professional design services for the built environment and internally the Group does not sub divide its business by type of service. Other operating expenses Other operating expenses include legal and professional costs, professional indemnity insurance premiums, marketing expenses and other general expenses. Property, plant and equipment All property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost of acquisition less depreciation and any impairment provisions. Historical cost of acquisition includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the items. Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is calculated to write off the cost of acquisition over the expected useful economic lives using the straight line method and over the following number of years: Leasehold improvements – Unexpired term of lease Office furniture – 4 years Office equipment – 4 years Computer equipment – 2 years Ownership of property, plant and equipment held under an asset finance arrangement reverts to the Group at the end of the arrangement and therefore such assets are depreciated over the same useful economic lives as assets not held under such arrangements. Provisions Provisions are recognised when a present obligation has arisen as a result of a past event which it is probable will result in an outflow of economic benefits that can be reliably estimated. Where the effect of the time value of money is material, the provision is based on the present value of future outflows, discounted at the pre tax discount rate that reflects the risks specific to the liability. Post retirement benefits Costs in respect of defined contribution pension arrangements are charged to the income statement on an accruals basis in line with the amounts payable in respect of the accounting period. The Group has no defined benefit pension arrangements. Revenue recognition Revenue represents the value of services performed for customers under contract (excluding value added taxes). Revenue from contracts is assessed on an individual basis with revenue earned being ascertained based on the stage of completion of the contract which is estimated using a combination of the milestones in the contract and the proportion of total time expected to be required to undertake the contract which had been performed. The amount by which revenue exceeds progress billings is classified as amounts due from customers for contract work and included in trade and other receivables. To the extent progress billings exceed relevant revenue, the excess is classified as advances received from customers for contract work and included in trade and other payables. Revenue is only recognised when there is a contractual right to consideration and any revenue earned can be estimated reliably. Variations in contract work, claims and incentive payments are only recognised when it is probable they will result in revenue and they are capable of being measured reliably. Share based payments The Group has issued share options to certain employees, in return for which the Group receives services from those employees. The fair value of the employee services received in exchange for the grant of the options is recognised as an expense. The total amount to be expensed is determined by reference to the fair value of the options granted including any market performance conditions (for example the Company’s share price) but excluding the impact of any service or non market performance vesting conditions (for example the requirement of the grantee to remain an employee of the Group). Non market vesting conditions are included in the assumptions regarding the number of options that are expected to vest. The total expense is recognised over the vesting period. At the end of each period the Group revises its estimates of the number of options expected to vest based on the non market vesting conditions. It recognises the impact of any revision in the income statement with a corresponding adjustment to equity. The grant by the Company of options over its shares to employees of subsidiary undertakings is treated as a capital contribution. The fair value of employee services received is recognised over the vesting period as an increase to investment in subsidiary undertakings, with a corresponding credit to equity. Trade receivables Trade receivables are amounts due from clients for services provided in the ordinary course of business and are stated net of any provision for impairment. An allowance for impairment of trade receivables is established when there are indicators suggesting that it is uncertain whether all the amounts due will be collectable. Known significant financial difficulties of the client and lengthy delinquency in receipt of payments are considered indicators that a trade receivable may be impaired. Where a trade receivable is considered impaired the carrying amount is reduced using an allowance and the amount of the loss is recognised in the income statement within other operating expenses. 2 ACCOUNTING ESTIMATES AND JUDGEMENTS Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. In preparing the financial statements, the directors make estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are considered to be: 58 Back to Contents Back to Contents 59 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Further quantitative information concerning trade receivables is shown in note 30. Segment revenue less sub consultant costs Recognition of contractual revenue Revenue from contracts is assessed on an individual basis with revenue earned being ascertained based on the stage of completion of the contract which is estimated using a combination of the milestones in the contract and the proportion of total time expected to be required to undertake the contract which had been performed. Estimates of the total time expected to be required to undertake the contracts are made on a regular basis and subject to management review. These estimates may differ from the actual results due to a variety of factors such as efficiency of working, accuracy of assessment of progress to date and client decision making. The amount by which revenue exceeds progress billing is shown as amounts due from customers for contract work in note 18. The amount by which progress billing exceeds revenue is shown as advances received from customers for contract work in note 19. Impairment of trade receivables The Group provides architectural, interior design and related services to a wide variety of clients including property developers, owner occupiers and governmental organisations, both in the United Kingdom and overseas. The Group endeavours to undertake work only for clients who have the financial strength to complete projects but even so, much property development is financed by funds not unconditionally committed at the commencement of the project. Problems with financing can on occasion unfortunately lead to clients being unable to pay their debts either on a temporary or more permanent basis. The Group monitors receipts from clients closely and undertakes a range of actions if there are indications a client is experiencing funding problems. The Group makes impairment allowances if it is considered there is a significant risk of non payment. The factors assessed when considering an impairment allowance include the ownership of the development site, the general financial strength of the client, likely use / demand for the completed project, and the length of time likely to be necessary to resolve the funding problems. The Group strives to maintain good relations with clients, but on occasions disputes do arise with clients requiring litigation to recover outstanding monies. In such circumstances, the directors carefully consider the individual facts relating to each case (such as strength of the legal arguments and financial strength of the client) when deciding the level of any impairment allowance. Impairment of goodwill Details of the impairment reviews undertaken in respect of the carrying value of goodwill are given in note 12. Recoverability of deferred tax assets As shown in note 23, the Group has recognised some deferred tax assets as recoverable, principally in the United Kingdom relating to historic trading losses. These trading losses arose during the three years ended 30 September 2011 as a result of the impact of the difficult economic environment on the business. As part of the Swanke Hayden Connell Europe Limited business combination in 2013 further tax losses were acquired in the United Kingdom. These trading losses arose during the years ended 31 December 2011 and 31 December 2012. As shown in note 3, the United Kingdom operation has returned to profitability and generated significant profits in 2014 and 2015 which has already led to the recovery of a large proportion of the deferred tax assets. The length of time taken to generate sufficient taxable profits to fully utilise these trading losses is primarily dependent on the strength of the property development market. In combination with the goodwill impairment review described in note 12, forecasts have been prepared of the projected utilisation of these trading losses. Historically the property development market has both declined more swiftly and recovered more sharply than the economy as a whole, however for the purposes of these forecasts the directors have prudently assumed that further recovery is slower and steadier than past property cycles. Based on these forecasts the directors believe that it is probable that the remaining recognised deferred tax assets will be recoverable. Potential deferred tax assets in jurisdictions where the directors believe that it is not probable that they will be recoverable through future taxable profits have not been recognised. As noted in note 23, the directors have prudently not recognised any deferred tax assets in the Russian operation. Recognition of fee claim revenue The nature of the project work undertaken by the Group means sometimes the scale and scope of a project increases after work has commenced. Subsequent changes to the scale and scope of the work may require negotiation with the clients for variations. Advance agreement of the quantum of variation fees is not always possible, in particular when the timescale for project completion is changing or where the cost of variations cannot be determined until the work has been undertaken. In such circumstances the revenue recognised is limited to the amounts considered both probably recoverable, and capable of reliable measurement, taking into account all the relevant circumstances of the individual project and client. 3 OPERATING SEGMENTS The Group comprises a single business segment and five separately reportable geographical segments (together with a Group costs segment). Geographical segments are based on the location of the operation undertaking each project. The Group’s associate and joint ventures are all based in Continental Europe. Income statement segment information Segment revenue United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Revenue United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Revenue less sub consultant costs All of the Group’s revenue relates to the value of services performed for customers under construction type contracts. Segment net finance expense United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Group costs Net finance expense 2015 £’000 (5) 3 - - - (8) (10) 2015 £’000 14,488 1,283 768 2,129 - 18,668 2015 £’000 14,368 638 574 1,306 - 16,886 2014 £’000 13,882 1,598 853 993 - 17,326 2014 £’000 12,779 774 687 492 - 14,732 2014 £’000 (17) - - - - (1) (18) 60 Back to Contents Back to Contents 61 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Segment depreciation United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Depreciation Segment amortisation United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Amortisation 2015 Segment result United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Group costs Profit before tax 2014 Segment result United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Group costs Profit before tax 2015 £’000 303 7 25 10 - 345 2015 £’000 27 1 20 32 - 80 Goodwill impairment £’000 - - - - - - - Before goodwill impairment £’000 1,993 (56) (133) 47 277 (258) 1,870 Before goodwill impairment Goodwill impairment £’000 1,815 (350) 90 14 354 (398) 1,525 £’000 - (125) - - - - (125) 2014 £’000 226 19 12 2 - 259 2014 £’000 20 1 61 - - 82 Total £’000 1,993 (56) (133) 47 277 (258) 1,870 Total £’000 1,815 (475) 90 14 354 (398) 1,400 Statement of financial position segment information Segment assets United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Trade receivables and amounts due from customers for contract work Other current assets Non current assets* Total assets *Non current assets include investments in associates and joint ventures. Geographical areas Revenue United Kingdom Country of domicile Russia Turkey United Arab Emirates Foreign countries Revenue Non current assets United Kingdom Country of domicile Russia Czech Republic Germany Turkey United Arab Emirates Foreign countries Non current assets excluding deferred tax Deferred tax Non current assets 2015 £’000 3,443 373 97 1,307 - 5,220 3,083 4,306 12,609 2015 £’000 14,488 14,488 1,283 768 2,129 4,180 18,668 2015 £’000 2,518 2,518 43 7 347 237 866 1,500 4,018 288 4,306 2014 £’000 4,073 236 194 336 - 4,839 3,431 3,742 12,012 2014 £’000 13,882 13,882 1,598 853 993 3,444 17,326 2014 £’000 2,675 2,675 64 7 368 336 2 777 3,452 290 3,742 62 Back to Contents Back to Contents 63 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Major clients During the year ended 30 September 2015 the Group derived 10% or more of its revenues from one (2014: one) client. 6 AUDITOR REMUNERATION During the year the Group incurred the following costs in relation to the Company’s auditor and associates of the Company’s auditor: Largest client revenues 2015 £’000 2,309 2014 £’000 2,346 The largest client revenues for 2015 relate to the United Kingdom operating segment and for 2014 related to the United Kingdom operating segment. Revenue by project site The geographical split of revenue based on the location of project sites was: United Kingdom Russia Turkey Middle East Continental Europe Rest of the World Revenue 4 FINANCE INCOME Receivable on bank deposits Other finance income Total finance income 5 FINANCE COSTS Payable on bank loans and overdrafts Other finance costs Total finance costs 2015 £’000 14,262 1,283 768 2,311 34 10 18,668 2015 £’000 - 3 3 2015 £’000 12 1 13 2014 £’000 12,267 1,921 884 1,744 183 327 17,326 2014 £’000 - - - 2014 £’000 21 (3) 18 Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company’s annual accounts Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services Audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation Non audit services - corporate finance advisory Non audit services - tax compliance services 2015 £’000 36 69 - 3 2014 £’000 37 91 30 - The figures presented above are for Aukett Swanke Group Plc and its subsidiaries as if they were a single entity. Aukett Swanke Group Plc has taken the exemption permitted by United Kingdom Statutory Instrument 2008/489 to omit information about its individual accounts. 7 EMPLOYEE INFORMATION The average number of persons employed by the Group during the year was as follows: Technical Administrative Total 2015 Number 201 43 244 2014 Number 173 45 218 In addition to the number of staff disclosed above, the Group’s associate and joint ventures employed an average of 105 persons (2014: 71 persons). The costs of the persons employed by the Group during the year were: Wages and salaries Social security costs Contributions to defined contribution pension arrangements Total 2015 £’000 8,783 895 347 10,025 2014 £’000 7,336 842 267 8,445 The wages and salaries costs above include £130,000 of restructuring costs (2014: £9,000). The Group contributes to defined contribution pension arrangements for its employees both in the UK and overseas. The assets of these arrangements are held by financial institutions entirely separately from those of the Group. The Group’s Turkish subsidiary is required to pay termination indemnities to each employee who completes one year of service and whose employment is terminated upon causes that qualify the employees to receive termination indemnity payments. The Group’s Middle East subsidiaries are required to pay termination indemnities to each employee who completes one year of service as stipulated by UAE labour laws. 64 Back to Contents Back to Contents 65 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 8 OPERATING LEASES The operating lease payments recognised as an expense during the year were: Property Plant & equipment Total 2015 £’000 1,144 33 1,177 2014 £’000 1,109 22 1,131 9 DIRECTORS’ EMOLUMENTS Under the terms of the acquisition of SHC one director waived salary of £1,000 in the year and £4,000 during the prior year. 2015 Anthony Simmonds Nicholas Thompson Beverley Wright John Bullough Andrew Murdoch Nick Pell David Hughes Duncan Harper Total Aggregate emoluments Pension contributions £’000 £’000 Total received £’000 Waived £’000 Total entitlement £’000 45 241 167 30 135 118 174 11 921 - 29 21 - 16 3 5 1 75 45 270 188 30 151 121 179 12 996 - - - - - 1 - - 1 45 270 188 30 151 122 179 12 997 Duncan Harper resigned on 10 October 2014. 2014 Anthony Simmonds Nicholas Thompson Beverley Wright John Bullough Andrew Murdoch Nick Pell David Hughes Duncan Harper John Vincent Total Aggregate emoluments Pension contributions £’000 £’000 Total received £’000 Waived £’000 Total entitlement £’000 37 223 7 10 117 84 133 110 40 761 - 28 1 - 13 1 1 15 4 63 37 251 8 10 130 85 134 125 44 824 - - - - - 4 - - - 4 37 251 8 10 130 89 134 125 44 828 Aggregate emoluments include bonuses awarded. Benefits were accruing to six directors (2014: seven directors) under defined contribution pension arrangements. The aggregate emoluments of the highest paid director were £241,000 (2014: £223,000). 10 TAX CHARGE Current tax Adjustment in respect of previous years Total current tax Origination and reversal of temporary differences Changes in tax rates Total deferred tax (note 23) Total tax charge 2015 £’000 261 (26) 235 (19) (1) (20) 215 2014 £’000 100 - 100 275 (21) 254 354 The standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom reduced from 23% to 21% in April 2014 and has reduced further to 20% in April 2015. The tax assessed for the year differs from the United Kingdom standard rate as explained below: Profit before tax Profit before tax multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 20.5% (2014: 22%) Effects of: non tax deductible goodwill impairment other non tax deductible expenses differences in overseas tax rates associate and joint ventures reported net of tax impact on deferred tax of change in UK tax rate tax losses not recognised utilisation of previously unrecognised tax losses current tax adjustment in respect of previous years income not taxable Total tax charge MID TECH INNOVATION MASTERPLAN 2015 £’000 1,870 383 - 69 (1) (57) (1) - (80) (26) (72) 215 2014 £’000 1,400 308 28 72 (4) (78) (20) 77 (29) - - 354 66 Back to Contents Back to Contents 67 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 11 EARNINGS PER SHARE The calculations of basic and diluted earnings per share are based on the following data: Earnings Continuing operations Profit for the year Number of shares Weighted average of Ordinary Shares in issue Effect of dilutive options Diluted weighted average of ordinary shares in issue 2015 £’000 1,653 1,653 2015 Number 165,213,652 305,482 165,519,134 2014 £’000 1,046 1,046 2014 Number 161,026,436 463,370 161,489,806 The net book value of goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash generating units as follows: United Kingdom £’000 1,244 496 - 1,740 - - - 1,740 Russia £’000 125 25 (125) 25 - - (9) 16 Turkey £’000 - 70 - 70 - - (14) 56 Middle East £’000 - - - - 481 - (10) 471 Total £’000 1,369 591 (125) 1,835 481 - (33) 2,283 At 30 September 2013 Acquisition of subsidiary Impairment At 30 September 2014 Acquisition of subsidiary Impairment Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 As explained in note 26 the Company has granted options over 1,000,000 of its Ordinary Shares. These have been included above as the average share price was above the exercise price in 2015 and they therefore have a dilutive effect. The goodwill allocated to each cash generating unit is tested annually for impairment. 12 GOODWILL Group Cost At 1 October 2013 Acquisition of subsidiary Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Acquisition of subsidiary (note 35) Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Impairment At 1 October 2013 Impairment At 30 September 2014 Charge At 30 September 2015 Net book value At 30 September 2015 At 30 September 2014 At 30 September 2013 The recoverable amount of a cash generating unit is determined based on value in use calculations. These calculations use pre tax cash flow projections based on financial budgets and forecasts covering a five year period. Cash flows beyond the five year period are extrapolated using long term average growth rates. The carrying value of goodwill allocated to the United Kingdom and the Middle East is significant in comparison with the total carrying value of goodwill but the carrying value of goodwill allocated to Russia and Turkey is not. The key assumptions in the discounted cash flow projections for the United Kingdom operation are: • • • • the future level of revenue - which is based on knowledge of past property development cycles and external forecasts such as the construction forecasts published by Experian. Historically the property development market has both declined more swiftly and recovered more sharply than the economy as a whole; the future level of costs - which is based on the expected variability with revenue of the various types of expenditure incurred, and in particular the average revenue earning capacity of members of staff. These assumptions are based on historical experience and an assessment of the current cost base; long term growth rate - which has been assumed to be 2.5% per annum based on the average historical growth in gross domestic product in the United Kingdom over the past fifty years; and the discount rate - which is the Group’s pre tax weighted average cost of capital and has been assessed at 19% (2014: 19%). This is considered appropriate as the United Kingdom operation produces the majority of the Group’s revenue less sub consultant costs. The key assumptions in the discounted cash flow projections for the Middle East operation are: • • • • • the future level of revenue - which is based on knowledge of the current and expected level of construction activity in the Middle East, in particular in the build up to the World Expo 2020; the future collection of trade receivables - which is based on management’s best estimates of recoverability in a geography where it is common to have high levels of over 30 days trade receivables; the future level of costs - which is based on the expected variability with revenue of the various types of expenditure incurred, and in particular the average revenue earning capacity of members of staff. These assumptions are based on historical experience and an assessment of the current cost base; long term growth rate - which has been assumed to be 5% per annum based on the average historical growth in gross domestic product in the Middle East over the past forty years; and the discount rate - the pre tax costs of capital has been assessed at 16%. This is considered appropriate as the Middle East operation does not suffer corporation tax. £’000 1,494 605 (14) 2,085 481 (33) 2,533 125 125 250 - 250 2,283 1,835 1,369 68 Back to Contents Back to Contents 69 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 13 OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS 14 PROPERTY, PLANT & EQUIPMENT Group Cost At 30 September 2013 Acquisition of subsidiary Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Acquisition of subsidiary (note 35) Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Amortisation At 30 September 2013 Charge Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Charge Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Net book value At 30 September 2015 At 30 September 2014 At 30 September 2013 Trade name £’000 Customer relationship £’000 Order book £’000 Trade licence £’000 - 415 (13) 402 - (23) 379 - 13 - 13 15 (1) 27 352 389 - - 249 (15) 234 158 (23) 369 - 29 - 29 37 (6) 60 309 205 - - 40 (4) 36 117 (4) 149 - 40 (4) 36 26 (7) 55 94 - - - - - - 63 2 65 - - - - 2 - 2 63 - - Total £’000 - 704 (32) 672 338 (48) 962 - 82 (4) 78 80 (14) 144 818 594 - Amortisation is included in other operating charges in the consolidated income statement. Trade name The trade name was acquired as part of the acquisition of SHC in December 2013 and reflects the inclusion of the Swanke name in the enlarged Group. The trade name is amortised on a straight line basis over a 25 year period from the acquisition date. Customer relationships The customer relationships were acquired as part of the acquisition of SHC in December 2013 and also the acquisition of JRHP (note 35) in the current year. This represents the value attributed to clients who provided repeat business to the Group on the strength of these relationships. Customer relationships are amortised on a straight line basis over a 7-10 year period from the acquisition dates. Order book The net book value of the order book was acquired as part of the acquisition of JRHP (note 35) in the current year. This represents the value of on going contracts acquired at the acquisition date. The amortisation of the order book is over the period to completion of the contracts. Trade licence The trade licence was acquired as part of the acquisition of JRHP (note 35) in the current year. This represents the value of licences granted to JRHP for architectural activities in the regions in which it operates. The licence is amortised on a straight line basis over a 10 year period from the acquisition date. Group Cost At 30 September 2013 Additions Acquisition of subsidiary Disposals Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 (restated) Additions Acquisition of subsidiary (note 35) Disposals Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Depreciation At 30 September 2013 Charge Disposals Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 (restated) Charge Disposals Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Net book value At 30 September 2015 At 30 September 2014 At 30 September 2013 Leasehold improvements £’000 317 241 16 - (5) 569 - - - (11) 558 161 67 - (1) 227 106 - (5) 328 230 342 156 Furniture & equipment £’000 816 282 53 (106) (20) 1,025 209 75 (25) (34) 1,250 646 192 (106) (13) 719 239 (19) (22) 917 333 306 170 Total £’000 1,133 523 69 (106) (25) 1,594 209 75 (25) (45) 1,808 807 259 (106) (14) 946 345 (19) (27) 1,245 563 648 326 Restatement of prior period The cost and depreciation at 30 September 2014 have been restated for a misallocation of disposals between the two categories. This restatement has no effect on the net book value as at 30 September 2014 or the Group’s income statement which remain unchanged. The correction has increased total cost at 30 September 2014 by £339,000 and increased accumulated depreciation at 30 September 2014 by the same amount. 70 Back to Contents Back to Contents 71 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 15 INVESTMENTS Company Cost At 30 September 2013 Additions Disposals At 30 September 2014 Additions Disposals Change in value of indemnification asset At 30 September 2015 Provisions At 30 September 2013 Charge At 30 September 2014 Charge At 30 September 2015 Net book value At 30 September 2015 At 30 September 2014 At 30 September 2013 Subsidiaries £’000 5,350 1,581 - 6,931 897 - (43) 7,785 3,032 465 3,497 - 3,497 4,288 3,434 2,318 Joint ventures £’000 Associate £’000 21 - - 21 - - - 21 - - - - - 21 21 21 12 - - 12 - - - 12 - - - - - 12 12 12 Total £’000 5,383 1,581 - 6,964 897 - (43) 7,818 3,032 465 3,497 - 3,497 4,321 3,467 2,351 Subsidiary operations The following are the subsidiary undertakings at 30 September 2015: Name Subsidiaries Aukett Swanke Limited Fitzroy Robinson Limited Aukett Fitzroy Robinson International Limited Veretec Limited Country of Incorporation England & Wales England & Wales England & Wales England & Wales ZAO Aukett Fitzroy Vostok Russia Swanke Hayden Connell Europe Limited England & Wales Class and proportion of ordinary equity held 2015 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Swanke Hayden Connell International Limited England & Wales 100% Swanke Hayden Connell Mimarlik AS Swanke Hayden Connell Architectes SARL Turkey France Swanke Limited England & Wales John R Harris & Partners Limited Cyprus John R Harris & Partners Limited England & Wales Aukett Fitzroy Robinson Limited England & Wales Thomas Nugent Architects Limited England & Wales Aukett Fitzroy Robinson Europe Limited Aukett Limited Aukett (UK) Limited Aukett Group Limited Fitzroy Robinson West & Midlands Limited England & Wales England & Wales England & Wales England & Wales England & Wales 100% 100% 100% 80% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 2014 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% - - 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% 100% Nature of business Architecture & design Non trading Architecture & design Architecture & design Architecture & design Non trading Architecture & design Architecture & design Non trading Dormant Architecture & design Dormant Dormant Dormant Dormant Dormant Dormant Dormant Dormant Aukett Fitzroy Robinson International Limited is incorporated in England & Wales, but, operates principally through its Middle East branch which is registered in the Abu Dhabi Emirate of the United Arab Emirates. John R Harris & Partners Limited incorporated in Cyprus, operates principally in the Middle East and is registered in the Dubai Emirate of the United Arab Emirates. It is the only subsidiary to have a different reporting date to the Group, of 31 December. This will be brought in line with the Group in the next financial year. It is also the only subsidiary for which there is a non controlling interest. The proportion of equity and voting rights held by these non controlling interests is 20%. 72 Back to Contents Back to Contents 73 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Interest in associate and joint ventures Set out below are the associate and joint ventures of the Group as at 30 September 2015. The entities listed below have share capital consisting solely of ordinary shares, held directly by the Group. The country of incorporation is also their principal place of business, and the proportion of ownership interest is the same as the proportion of voting rights held. Name of entity Country of incorporation % of ownership interest Nature of relationship Measurement method Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH Germany Aukett sro Czech Republic Aukett + Heese GmbH Germany 2015 50% 50% 25% 2014 50% 50% 25% Joint Venture Joint Venture Associate Equity Equity Equity All joint venture and associate entities provide architecture and design services. There are no contingent liabilities or commitments in relation to joint ventures or associates. 16 INVESTMENT IN ASSOCIATE As disclosed in note 15, the Group owns 25% of Aukett + Heese GmbH which is based in Berlin, Germany. The table below provides summarised financial information for Aukett + Heese GmbH as it is material to the Group. The information disclosed reflects Aukett + Heese GmbH relevant financial statements and not the Group’s share of those amounts. They have been amended to reflect adjustments made by the Group when using the equity method. Summarised balance sheet Assets Non current assets Current assets Total assets Liabilities Current liabilities Non current liabilities Total liabilities Net assets Reconciliation to carrying amounts: Opening net assets at 1 October Profit for the period Other comprehensive income Dividends paid Closing net assets Group’s share in % Group’s share in £’000 Carrying amount 2015 £’000 233 1,991 2,224 (1,207) - (1,207) 1,017 976 1,055 (49) (965) 1,017 25% 254 254 2014 £’000 110 2,392 2,502 (1,526) - (1,526) 976 760 1,017 (65) (736) 976 25% 244 244 Summarised statement of comprehensive income Revenue Sub consultant costs Revenue less sub consultant costs Operating costs Profit before tax Taxation Profit for the period from continuing operations Other comprehensive income Total comprehensive income 2015 £’000 7,713 (2,215) 5,498 (3,986) 1,512 (457) 1,055 (49) 1,006 2014 £’000 5,894 (1,564) 4,330 (2,872) 1,458 (441) 1,017 (65) 952 The Group received dividends of £241,000 (2014: £184,000) from Aukett + Heese GmbH. The principal risks and uncertainties associated with Aukett + Heese GmbH are the same as those detailed within the Group’s Strategic Report. 17 INVESTMENTS IN JOINT VENTURES Frankfurt As disclosed in note 15, the Group owns 50% of Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH which is based in Frankfurt. At 1 October 2013 Share of profits Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Share of profits Dividends paid Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 £’000 31 101 (8) 124 13 (37) (6) 94 The following amounts represent the Group’s 50% share of the assets and liabilities, and revenue and expenses of Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH. Assets Non current assets Current assets Total assets Liabilities Current liabilities Non current liabilities Total liabilities Net assets 2015 £’000 9 186 195 (101) - (101) 94 2014 £’000 15 360 375 (251) - (251) 124 74 Back to Contents Back to Contents 75 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Revenue Sub consultant costs Revenue less sub consultant costs Operating costs Profit before tax Taxation Profit after tax Prague As disclosed in note 15, the Group owns 50% of Aukett sro which is based in Prague. 2015 £’000 443 (147) 296 (277) 19 (6) 13 At 1 October 2013 Share of profits Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Share of profits Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 The following amounts represent the Group’s 50% share of the assets and liabilities of Aukett sro. 2014 £’000 718 (263) 455 (309) 146 (45) 101 £’000 8 (1) - 7 - (1) 6 Assets Non current assets Current assets Total assets Liabilities Current liabilities Non current liabilities Total liabilities Net assets 2015 £’000 2014 £’000 1 64 65 (59) - (59) 6 1 58 59 (52) - (52) 7 Revenue Sub consultant costs Revenue less sub consultant costs Operating costs (Loss) before tax Taxation (Loss) after tax 18 TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES Group Gross trade receivables Impairment allowances Net trade receivables Amounts due from customers for contract work Amounts owed by associate and joint ventures Other receivables Prepayments Total Company Amounts due after more than one year Amounts owed by subsidiaries Amounts owed by associate and joint ventures Total amounts due after more than one year Amounts due within one year Amounts owed by subsidiaries Amounts owed by associate and joint ventures Other receivables Prepayments Total amounts due within one year Total 2015 £’000 143 (22) 121 (121) - - - 2015 £’000 4,498 (357) 4,141 1,079 70 425 715 6,430 2015 £’000 - 48 48 382 22 16 12 432 480 2014 £’000 206 (55) 151 (152) (1) - (1) 2014 £’000 4,302 (44) 4,258 581 48 685 807 6,379 2014 £’000 330 48 378 - - 10 23 33 411 76 Back to Contents Back to Contents 77 The amounts owed by subsidiaries were secured in January 2013 by debentures over all the assets of the relevant subsidiaries. These debentures rank after the debentures securing the bank loan and overdraft. AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 19 TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES Group Trade payables Advances received from customers for contract work Amounts due to associate and joint ventures Other taxation and social security Other payables Accruals Total Company Trade payables Amounts owed to subsidiaries Other payables Accruals Total 20 BORROWINGS Group Short term borrowings Secured bank loan (note 21) Total Long term borrowings Secured bank loan (note 21) Total 21 SECURED BANK LOAN Group Instalments repayable within one year Current liability Instalments repayable between one and two years Instalments repayable between two and five years Non current liability Total 2015 £’000 881 2,572 4 704 236 1,436 5,833 2015 £’000 4 2,157 2 137 2,300 2015 £’000 - - 2015 £’000 - - 2015 £’000 - - - - - - 2014 £’000 808 2,472 31 921 207 2,101 6,540 2014 £’000 22 1,497 2 160 1,681 2014 £’000 113 113 2014 £’000 - - 2014 £’000 113 113 - - - 113 The bank loan and overdraft are secured by debentures over all the assets of the Company and certain of its United Kingdom subsidiaries. The bank loan and overdraft carry interest at 2.5% above the United Kingdom bank base rate. 22 ANALYSIS OF NET FUNDS Group Cash and cash equivalents Secured bank overdraft Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdraft Secured bank loan (note 21) Net funds 23 DEFERRED TAX Group Tax depreciation on plant and equipment £’000 47 83 (65) - 65 (5) - 60 At 30 September 2013 Acquisition of subsidiary Income statement Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Income statement Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Group Deferred tax assets Deferred tax liabilities Net deferred tax balance 2015 £’000 1,873 - 1,873 - 1,873 Other temporary differences £’000 50 (120) (5) 4 (71) 10 7 (54) 2015 £’000 288 (54) 234 2014 £’000 1,891 - 1,891 (113) 1,778 Total £’000 448 27 (254) (2) 219 20 (5) 234 2014 £’000 290 (71) 219 Trading losses £’000 357 64 (190) (6) 225 15 (12) 228 Unremitted overseas earnings £’000 (6) - 6 - - - - - Deferred income tax assets are recognised for tax losses carried forward to the extent that the realisation of the related tax benefit through future taxable profits is probable. The Group did not recognise deferred income tax assets of £1,000 (2014: £77,000) in respect of losses amounting to £5,000 (2014: £385,000) that can be carried forward against future taxable income in its Russian operation. Further information regarding the assessment of the recoverability of deferred tax assets is given in note 2. The Company has a deferred tax asset of £2,000 (2014: £nil) recognised in respect of other temporary differences. 78 Back to Contents Back to Contents 79 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 24 PROVISIONS Group At 1 October 2013 On acquisition of subsidiary Utilised Released Provided Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 On acquisition of subsidiary Utilised Released Provided Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 Redundancy provision £’000 - - - - 7 - 7 - (3) (1) - (3) - Property lease provision Employee benefit obligations £’000 50 259 (246) (11) - - 52 - - - 95 - 147 £’000 - 33 - - 12 - 45 164 (15) - 18 (5) 207 Total £’000 50 292 (246) (11) 19 - 104 164 (18) (1) 113 (8) 354 Redundancy provision The redundancy provision related to the expected costs of reducing staff numbers to better match staffing resources with projected workload. The provision arises from obligations contained in employment contracts and statutory obligations. Property lease provision The provision carried forward at 30 September 2015 is the future estimated cost of work to be performed after seeking appropriate external professional advice for the Groups two London premises, on obligations arising under its lease. Employee benefit obligations The Group’s Turkish subsidiary is required to pay termination indemnities to each employee who completes one year of service and whose employment is terminated upon causes that qualify the employees to receive termination indemnity. The liability has been measured in line with IAS 19. The Group’s Middle East subsidiaries are required to pay termination indemnities to each employee who completes one year of service as stipulated by UAE labour laws. 25 SHARE CAPITAL Group and Company Allocated, called up and fully paid 165,213,652 (2014: 165,213,652) ordinary shares of 1p each At 1 October 2013 Issue of ordinary shares related to business combination At 30 September 2014 No changes At 30 September 2015 2015 £’000 1,652 2014 £’000 1,652 Number 145,618,693 19,594,959 165,213,652 - 165,213,652 The objectives, policies and processes for managing capital are outlined in the strategic report. 26 SHARE OPTIONS The Company has granted options over its Ordinary Shares to Group employees as follows: At 1 October 2014 Number 1,500,000 1,500,000 Granted Number Lapsed Number At 30 September 2015 Number - - (500,000) 1,000,000 (500,000) 1,000,000 Granted 11 April 2011 Total Exercise price Pence 5.00 Earliest exercisable date Latest exercisable date 12 April 2013 11 April 2017 The share options were granted on 11 April 2011 and vest after two years’ service. They are exercisable between two and six years after grant. Duncan Harper resigned as a Director on 10 October 2014 his 500,000 share options initially granted lapsed and are no longer exercisable. The fair value of these share options has been estimated at £14,000 using the Black-Scholes option pricing model with the following inputs: Input Share price at date of grant Exercise price Expected option life Expected volatility Expected dividends Risk free interest rate The expected volatility was estimated based on the historical volatility over the three years prior to grant. Value 3.00 pence 5.00 pence 4 years 55% Nil 2.65% 80 Back to Contents Back to Contents 81 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 27 CASH GENERATED FROM OPERATIONS 28 FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS Group Profit before tax – continuing operations Finance income Finance costs Share of results of associate and joint ventures Goodwill impairment provision / write off Intangible amortisation Depreciation Profit on disposal of property, plant & equipment Change in trade and other receivables Change in trade and other payables Change in provisions Net cash generated from operations Company Profit before income tax Dividends received Finance costs Provision against investment in subsidiary Change in trade and other receivables Change in trade and other payables Net cash generated from / (used by) operations 2015 £’000 1,870 (3) 14 (277) - 80 345 (2) 597 (1,273) 92 1,443 2015 £’000 757 (1,279) 2 - (26) 616 70 2014 £’000 1,400 - 18 (354) 125 82 259 (4) (604) 676 (238) 1,360 2014 £’000 163 (1,166) - 465 270 104 (164) Risk management The Company and the Group hold financial instruments principally to finance their operations or as a direct consequence of their business activities. The principal risks considered to arise from financial instruments are foreign currency risk and interest rate risk (market risks), counterparty risk (credit risk) and liquidity risk. Neither the Company nor the Group trade in financial instruments. Categories of financial assets and liabilities Group Trade receivables Amounts due from customers for contract work Amounts owed by associate and joint ventures Other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Loans and receivables Trade payables Other payables Amounts due to associate and joint ventures Accruals Secured bank loan Provisions Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost Net financial instruments Company Amounts owed by subsidiaries Amount owed by associate & joint ventures Other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Loans and receivables Trade payables Amounts owed to subsidiaries Other payables Accruals Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost Net financial instruments 2015 £’000 4,141 1,079 70 425 1,873 7,588 (881) (236) (4) (1,436) - (354) (2,911) 4,677 2015 £’000 382 70 16 1,007 1,475 (4) (2,157) (2) (137) (2,300) (825) 2014 £’000 4,258 581 48 685 1,891 7,463 (808) (207) (31) (2,010) (113) (104) (3,273) 4,190 2014 £’000 330 48 10 916 1,304 (22) (1,497) (2) (160) (1,681) (377) CENGIZ GROUP OFFICES, KONYA, TURKEY The directors consider that there were no material differences between the carrying values and the fair values of all the Company’s and all the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities at each year end based on the expected future cash flows. 82 Back to Contents Back to Contents 83 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 Collateral As disclosed in note 21 the bank loan and overdraft are secured by a debenture over all the present and future assets of the Company and certain of its United Kingdom subsidiaries. The carrying amount of the financial assets covered by this debenture were: Group Company 2015 £’000 10,959 1,551 2014 £’000 13,011 1,625 Other receivables in the consolidated statement of financial position include a £148,000 rent security deposit (2014: £148,000) in respect of one of the Group’s London studio premises and a £10,000 rent deposit (2014: £44,000) in respect of the Group’s Moscow studio premises. 29 FOREIGN CURRENCY RISK The Group’s operations seek to contract with customers and suppliers in their own functional currencies to minimise exposure to foreign currency risk, however, for commercial reasons contracts are occasionally entered into in foreign currencies. Group Company 2015 Profit £’000 45 10 Equity £’000 35 - 2014 Profit £’000 56 3 Equity £’000 13 - The following foreign exchange gains / (losses) arising from financial assets and financial liabilities have been recognised in the income statement: Group Company 2015 £’000 (1) (12) 2014 £’000 (13) (10) The Group’s exchange loss of £1,000 (2014: loss of £13,000) includes cumulative exchange reserve losses of £Nil (2014: £nil) recycled through the income statement on discontinued operations. Where contracts are denominated in other currencies the Group usually seeks to minimise net foreign currency exposure from recognised project related assets and liabilities by using foreign currency denominated overdrafts. 30 COUNTERPARTY RISK The Group does not hedge future revenues from contracts denominated in other currencies due to the rights of clients to suspend or cancel projects. The Board has taken a decision not to hedge the net assets of the Group’s overseas operations. The denomination of financial instruments by currency was: Group Czech Koruna EU Euro Polish Zloty Russian Rouble UAE Dirham UK Sterling US Dollar Turkish Lira Other Net financial instruments Company Czech Koruna EU Euro UK Sterling US Dollar UAE Dirham Net financial instruments 2015 £’000 48 63 (9) 408 512 3,961 (324) 18 - 4,677 2015 £’000 48 62 (929) (74) 68 (825) 2014 £’000 48 (6) (25) 244 461 3,580 (151) 39 - 4,190 2014 £’000 48 18 (403) (40) - (377) A 10% percent weakening of UK Sterling against all currencies at 30 September would have increased / (decreased) equity by the amounts shown below. This analysis is applied currency by currency in isolation (i.e. ignoring the impact of currency correlation and assumes that all other variables, in particular interest rates, remain consistent). A 10% strengthening of UK Sterling against all currencies would have an equal but opposite effect. Group No collateral is held in respect of any financial assets and therefore the maximum exposure to credit risk at the date of the statement of financial position is the carrying value of financial assets shown in note 28. Counterparty risk is only considered significant in relation to trade receivables, amounts due from customers for contract work, other receivables and cash and cash equivalents. The ageing of trade receivables against which no impairment allowance has been made, as the directors consider their recovery is probable, was: Not overdue Between 0 and 30 days overdue Between 30 and 60 days overdue Greater than 60 days overdue Total The movement on impairment allowances for trade receivables was as follows: 2015 £’000 1,978 753 510 900 4,141 At 1 October 2013 Acquisition of subsidiary Release to the income statement Allowance utilised Exchange differences At 30 September 2014 Acquisition of subsidiary Release to the income statement Allowance utilised Exchange differences At 30 September 2015 2014 £’000 2,259 776 353 870 4,258 £’000 642 3 (57) (541) (3) 44 321 (11) - 3 357 84 Back to Contents Back to Contents 85 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 All of the trade receivables considered to be impaired were greater than 90 days overdue. The processes undertaken when considering whether a trade receivable may be impaired are set out in note 2. All amounts overdue have been individually considered for any indications of impairment and provision for impairment made where considered appropriate. The concentration of counterparty risk within the £5,220,000 (2014: £4,839,000) of trade receivables and amounts due from customers for contract work is illustrated in the table below showing the three largest exposures to individual clients at 30 September. Largest exposure Second largest exposure Third largest exposure 2015 £’000 445 292 175 2014 £’000 932 612 309 The Group’s principal banker is Coutts & Co, a member of the Royal Bank of Scotland Group. At 30 September 2015 the largest exposure to a single financial institution represented 87% (2014: 69%) of the Group’s cash and cash equivalents. Company The Company does not have any trade receivables or amounts due from customers for contract work. The amounts owed by United Kingdom subsidiaries were secured in January 2013 by debentures over all the assets of the relevant subsidiaries. These debentures rank after the debentures securing the bank loan and overdraft. Prior to this all amounts owed by United Kingdom subsidiaries and by associate and joint ventures were unsecured. The amounts owed by associate and joint ventures remain unsecured. All of the Company’s cash and cash equivalents are held by Coutts & Co. The Company is exposed to counterparty risk though the guarantees set out in note 33. 31 INTEREST RATE RISK Group Amounts due from associate and joint ventures Other receivables Secured bank loan Interest bearing financial instruments Company Amounts due from associate and joint ventures Secured bank overdraft Interest bearing financial instruments 2015 £’000 - 148 - 148 2015 £’000 - (77) (77) 2014 £’000 - 148 (113) 35 2014 £’000 - (43) (43) Group Company 32 LIQUIDITY RISK 2015 £’000 2 (1) 2014 £’000 1 (1) The Group and the Company have no outstanding borrowings at 30 September 2015 after the repayment in the year of the ten year amortising facility in October 2014. The Group’s cash balances are held at call or in deposits with very short maturity terms. At 30 September 2015 the Group had £850,000 (2014: £750,000) of gross borrowing facility under its £850,000 (2014: 750,000) United Kingdom gross bank overdraft facility. In January 2016 Coutts & Co renewed the gross overdraft facility which is now next due for review in December 2016. The Group repaid its gross borrowing shown below on 1 October 2014. The maturity analysis of borrowings, including contractual payments of floating rate interest is as shown below: Gross borrowings Instalments repayable within one year Instalments repayable between one and two years Instalments repayable between two and five years Total gross borrowings Expected future finance charges Total net borrowings 2015 £’000 - - - - - - 2014 £’000 113 - - 113 - 113 33 GUARANTEES, CONTINGENT LIABILITIES AND OTHER COMMITMENTS A cross guarantee and offset agreement is in place between the Company and certain of its United Kingdom subsidiaries in respect of the United Kingdom bank loan and overdraft facility. Details of the UK bank loan are disclosed in note 21. At 30 September 2015 the overdrafts of its United Kingdom subsidiaries guaranteed by the Company totalled £205,000 (2014: £276,000). The Company and certain of its United Kingdom subsidiaries are members of a Group for Value Added Tax (VAT) purposes. At 30 September 2015 the net VAT payable balance of those subsidiaries was £356,000 (2014: £452,000). In common with other firms providing professional services, the Group is subject to the risk of claims of professional negligence from clients. The Group maintains professional indemnity insurance in respect of these risks but is exposed to the cost of excess deductibles on any successful claims. The directors assess each claim and make accruals for excess deductibles where, on the basis of professional advice received, it is considered that a liability is probable. The Group had the following aggregate commitments under operating leases. The property rent deposit earns variable rates of interest based on short term inter bank lending rates. Due to the current low levels of worldwide interest rates, and Group treasury management requirements, the cash and cash equivalents are in practice currently not interest bearing, and therefore have not been included in interest bearing financial instruments disclosures. The bank loan and overdraft carry interest at 2.5% above the United Kingdom bank base rate. A 1% point rise in worldwide interest rates would have the following impact on profit, assuming that all other variables, in particular the interest bearing balance, remain constant. A 1% fall in worldwide interest rates would have an equal but opposite effect. Not later than one year Later than one year and not later than five years Later than five years Total 2015 £’000 1,012 1,345 - 2,357 2014 £’000 1,137 2,355 - 3,492 The Group’s most significant lease relates to its two London studio premises which comprises £2,228,000 (2014: £3,144,000) of the amounts shown in the table above. 86 Back to Contents Back to Contents 87 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 The lease of its York Way studio does not contain any break clauses, expires in July 2018 and had an upwards only rent review in July 2013 which has been agreed. Transactions and balances with subsidiaries The names of the Company’s subsidiaries are set out in note 15. The lease of its Christopher Street studio expires in September 2017. The Company has no operating lease commitments (2014: £Nil). At both 30 September 2015 and 2014 neither the Group nor the Company had any capital commitments in respect of property, plant & equipment. The group also acts as a lessor through the sub let of the ground and first floors at its Christopher Street studio. The following is the aggregate receivables under these operating leases. Not later than one year Later than one year and not later than five years Later than five years Total 34 RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS 2015 £’000 346 258 - 604 2014 £’000 346 604 - 950 Key management personnel compensation The key management personnel of the Group comprise the directors of the Company together with the managing directors of the United Kingdom and international operations. As a result of the growth in the Group the management team has been increased in anticipation of the expansion of the business. Group Short term employee benefits Post employment benefits Total The key management personnel of the Company comprise its directors. Company Short term employee benefits Post employment benefits Total 2015 £’000 2,065 132 2,197 2015 £’000 1,035 76 1,111 2014 £’000 1,403 103 1,506 2014 £’000 862 62 924 Transactions and balances with associate and joint ventures The amount owed to the Group by Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH at 30 September 2015 was £22,093 (2014: £Nil) relating to management charges raised. Invoices issued by the group in respect of these services amounted to £18,000. The amount owed by the Group from Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH in respect of services rendered was £nil (2014: £31,000). The Group makes management charges to Aukett + Heese GmbH. Invoices issued by the Group during the year in respect of these services amounted to £60,000 (2014: £60,000). The amount owed to the Group by Aukett + Heese GmbH at 30 September 2015 in respect of these management charges was £Nil (2014: £Nil). The Company made management charges to its subsidiaries for management services of £782,000 (2014: £399,000) and paid charges to its subsidiaries for office accommodation and other related services of £390,000 (2014: £60,000). The treasury activities of the Company and its United Kingdom subsidiaries were managed on a consolidated basis by one of those subsidiaries, with funds being transferred to and from that subsidiary as required. At 30 September 2015 the Company was owed £382,000 (2014: £330,000) by its subsidiaries and owed £2,157,000 (2014: £1,497,000) to its subsidiaries. These balances arose through various past transactions including treasury management and management charges. The amounts owed by United Kingdom subsidiaries were secured in January 2013 by debentures over all the assets of the relevant subsidiaries. These debentures rank after the debentures securing the bank loan and overdraft. Prior to this all amounts owed by subsidiaries were unsecured. 35 BUSINESS COMBINATION On 15 June 2015 the Group acquired 80% of the issued share capital of John R Harris & Partners Limited (JRHP), a well-established firm of architects, interior designers, engineers and master planners incorporated in Cyprus and operating in the Middle East. The total consideration for the acquisition was £897,000 satisfied in cash. The acquisition considerably improves our market position and offer in the Middle East. The acquisition will further provide the opportunity for some overhead cost savings. The goodwill acquired on the acquisition represents the knowledge and experience of the assembled workforce in addition to expected integration savings and economies of scale. The goodwill is not considered deductible for income tax purposes. The table below summarises the consideration paid for JRHP, the fair value of assets acquired and liabilities assumed at the acquisition date. Consideration at 15 June 2015 Cash Total consideration transferred Recognised amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed Cash and cash equivalents Property, Plant and Equipment (note 14) Customer relationships (included in other intangible assets) (note 13) Order book (included in other intangible assets) (note 13) Trade licence (included in other intangible assets) (note 13) Amounts recoverable on contracts Trade and other receivables Trade and other payables Provision for liabilities (note 24) Total identifiable net assets Non-controlling interest Goodwill Total £’000 897 897 73 75 158 117 63 - 887 (689) (164) 520 (104) 481 897 As disclosed in note 15, the Group owns 50% of Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH and 25% of Aukett + Heese GmbH. The remaining 50% of Aukett + Heese Frankfurt GmbH and 75% of Aukett + Heese GmbH are owned by Lutz Heese, a former director of the Company. Acquisition costs of £57,000 have been included in other operating charges in the consolidated income statement for the year ended 30 September 2015. The amount owed to the Group and to the Company by Aukett sro at 30 September 2015 was £48,000 (2014: £48,000) relating to previously declared but not yet paid dividends and name licence charges. None of the balances with the associate or joint ventures are secured. 88 Back to Contents The fair value of trade and other receivables is £887,000 and includes trade receivables with a fair value of £845,000. The gross contractual amount for trade receivables due is £1,166,000, of which £321,000 is expected to be uncollectable. The fair value of trade and other receivables is provisional pending future receipts. Back to Contents 89 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 The fair values of the acquired identifiable intangibles are based on finalised valuations. The revenue included in the consolidated income statement since 15 June 2015 contributed by JRHP was £865,000. The revenue less sub consultant costs contributed by JRHP over the same period was £618,000. The profit before tax and amortisation contributed over the same period was £42,000. Had JRHP been consolidated from 1 October 2014 the consolidated income statement would show pro-forma revenue of £21,000,000 and profit before tax of £2,162,000. 36 CORPORATE INFORMATION General corporate information regarding the Company is shown on page 1. The addresses of the Group’s principal operations are shown on page 3. A description of the Group’s operations and principal activities is given within the Strategic Report. FORBURY PLACE, READING 90 Back to Contents NOTICE OF MEETING Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held at 10:00am on Wednesday 30 March 2016 at 25 Christopher Street, London, EC2A 2BS for the following purposes: Ordinary business 1 To receive and adopt the annual report for the year ended 30 September 2015. 2 3 4 To re elect Anthony Simmonds as a director. Anthony Simmonds retires by rotation. To re-appoint BDO LLP as auditors of the Company to hold office, from the conclusion of this meeting until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company, at a remuneration to be fixed by the directors. The final dividend of 0.11 pence per share recommended by the directors be declared to be payable on 22 April 2016 to holders of ordinary shares registered at the close of business on 8 April 2016. Special business 5 That the directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised for the purposes of section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the ‘Act’) to exercise all powers of the Company to allot shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £826,068 to such persons and upon such conditions as the directors may determine, such authority to expire at the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the Company save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares in the Company to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot shares in the Company in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired. 6 To propose as a special resolution that the directors be and are hereby empowered pursuant to section 570 of the Act to allot shares in the Company up to an aggregate nominal amount of £165,214 for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 6 above as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to such allotment, such authority to expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company save that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or agreement which would or might require shares in the Company to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot shares in the Company in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired. 7 To propose that the articles of association of the Company be amended by deleting in its entirety the text from articles 14, 19 and 20 and for such numbered articles to contain no substantive text and there instead be set out the wording ‘article deleted’. By order of the Board Beverley Wright Company Secretary 27 January 2016 Registered office: 36-40 York Way, London, N1 9AB Notes 1 Any member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may appoint another person, whether a member or not, as their proxy to attend and, on a poll, to vote instead of them. A form of proxy is enclosed for this purpose and to be valid must be lodged with the Company’s registrars together with any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed, not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting. Completion and return of the form of proxy will not preclude a member from attending and voting at the meeting. 2 In accordance with regulation 41 of Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001, the Company gives notice that only those shareholders entered on the register of members at 6pm on Monday 28 March 2016 (the ‘Specified Time’) will be entitled to attend or vote at the meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes to entries on the register after the Specified Time will be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at that meeting. Should the meeting be adjourned to a time not more than 48 hours after the Specified Time, that time will also apply for the purpose of determining the entitlement of members to attend and vote (and for the purpose of determining the number of votes they may cast) at the adjourned meeting. Should the meeting be adjourned for a longer period then to be so entitled members must be entered on the register at the time which is 48 hours before the time fixed for the adjourned meeting or, if the Company gives notice of the adjourned meeting, at the time specified in the notice. Explanatory note to resolution 7 Section 84 of The Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015 with effect from 26 May 2015 prohibits UK companies from issuing bearer shares regardless of whether they are permitted to do so in there Articles of Association. The Company is therefore proposing to delete these redundant provisions from its Articles of Association. Back to Contents 91 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION Listing information The shares of Aukett Swanke Group Plc are listed on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange. Tradable Instrument Display Mnemonic (TIDM formerly EPIC): AUK Stock Exchange Daily Official List (SEDOL) code: International Securities Identification Number (ISIN): 0061795 GB0000617950 Share price The Company’s share price is available from the website of the London Stock Exchange (www.londonstockexchange.co.uk). 28 30 41 46 50 The Company’s mid market share price is published daily in The Times, The Financial Times and The London Evening Standard newspapers. Chairman’s statement Operational highlights Registrars Enquiries relating to matters such as loss of a share certificate, dividend payments or notification of a change of address should be directed to Equiniti who are the Company’s registrars at Aspect House, Spencer Road, Lancing, West Sussex, BN99 6DA - 0371 384 2030 (Lines are open 8.30am to 5.30pm, Monday to Friday, excluding UK Public Holidays). Callers from outside the UK should dial +44 (0)121 415 7047 - www.equiniti.com Financial highlights Five year summary 31 32 Corporate information 32 Equiniti also provide a website which enables shareholders to view up to date information about their shareholding in the Company at www. shareview.co.uk Strategic report 33 Directors’ report Investor relations In accordance with AIM Rule 26 regarding Company information disclosure, various investor orientated information is available on our web site at www.aukettswanke.com Statement of directors’ responsibilities 45 Independent auditor’s report The Company Secretary can be contacted by email at cosec@aukettswanke.com FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Donate your shares The Company supports ShareGift, the charity share donation scheme administered by The Orr Mackintosh Foundation (registered charity number 1052686). Consolidated income statement Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 48 47 Through ShareGift, shareholders who have only a very small number of shares which might be considered uneconomic to sell are able to donate them to charity. Donated shares are aggregated and sold by ShareGift, the proceeds being passed onto a wide range of UK charities. Consolidated statement of financial position 49 Company statement of financial position Donating shares to charity gives rise neither to a gain or loss for UK capital gains tax purposes and UK taxpayers may also be able to claim income tax relief on such gifts of shares. Consolidated statement of cash flows 51 Further details about ShareGift can be obtained from ShareGift, 17 Carlton House Terrace, London, SW1Y 5AH - 020 7930 3737 - www.sharegift.org Company statement of cash flows 52 Consolidated statement of changes in equity Company statement of changes in equity Notes to the financial statements Notice of meeting Shareholder information 53 54 55 91 92 125 WOOD STREET, LONDON EC2 Orchard Street Investment Management commissioned Aukett Swanke to transform this property. The exercise was to turn a brick clad 1990 building, in a prime position, into one that could compete with the best in the City today, retaining only the original concrete frame of the building in the process. The result of the scheme has been spectacular. Net space is more than 30% increased, and the standard of the accommodation is top class. In addition, completely new facades give the building a modern and commanding presence to rival any in this important part of the City. To prove the quality of the design, the building has let extremely well - a prime asset to take its place in our client's fund. Chris Bartram Founder and former Chairman of OSIM Front cover: 125 Wood Street, London EC2 92 Back to Contents Back to Contents ARA15_COVER.indd 2 23/02/2016 17:55 AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC / ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2015 www.aukettswanke.com A U K E T T S W A N K E G R O U P P L C A N N U A L R E P O R T A N D A C C O U N T S 2 0 1 5 ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS AUKETT SWANKE GROUP PLC 2015 Designed and produced by Aukett Swanke Graphics | © Copyright 2016 Aukett Swanke Group Plc Back to Contents ARA15_COVER.indd 1 23/02/2016 17:55
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