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B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC

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FY2013 Annual Report · B.P. Marsh & Partners PLC
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b.  p.  m a r s h   &   p a r t n e r s   p l c

2 0 1 3   a n n u a l   r e p o r t

C O M P A N Y   I N F O R M A T I O N

Directors
Brian Marsh OBE (Chairman)
Jonathan Newman (Group Director of Finance)
Daniel Topping (Director)
Camilla Kenyon (Director)
Natasha Dunbar (Director)
Stephen Clarke (Non-executive)
Philip Mortlock (Non-executive)
Campbell Scoones (Non-executive)

company secretary
Sinead O’Haire

company number
05674962

registereD office
2nd Floor, 36 Broadway
London, SW1H 0BH

auDitor
Rawlinson & Hunter, 8th Floor
6 New Street Square,  
London, EC4A 3AQ

broker anD nominateD aDviser
Panmure Gordon (UK) Limited
One New Change
London, EC4M 9AF

registrar
Capita Registrars
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU

C O N T E N T S

GROUP PROFiLE 

CHAiRMAN’S STATEMENT 

iNvESTMENTS REviEW

Directors’ Report And Consolidated Financial Statements 

DiRECTORS 

CORPORATE GOvERNANCE

REPORT OF THE REMUNERATiON COMMiTTEE

GROUP REPORT OF THE DiRECTORS

iNDEPENDENT AUDiTOR’S REPORT

CONSOLiDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSivE iNCOME

CONSOLiDATED & COMPANY STATEMENTS OF FiNANCiAL POSiTiON

CONSOLiDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

CONSOLiDATED & COMPANY STATEMENTS OF CHANGES iN EQUiTY

NOTES TO THE CONSOLiDATED FiNANCiAL STATEMENTS

1 

3

8

11

12

14

16

23

25

26

27

28

28

29

G R O U P   P R O F I L E

The B. P. Marsh Group (the “Group” or the “Company”) is a niche venture capital provider to early stage financial 
services businesses. it will consider investing in start-ups, management buy-outs, management buy-ins, hive-offs 
and similar opportunities. it is also able to provide follow-on funding for successful companies in its portfolio when 
required for further growth.

The Group typically invests up to £2.5 million in financial service investment opportunities based in the United 
Kingdom, but will also consider opportunities in Europe, North America and occasionally elsewhere. it likes to 
invest in people businesses with good management.

The Group does not seek to impose exit pressures on its investee companies, but prefers to work with management 
to develop a mutually acceptable exit route.

The Group has a considerable bank of experience in the financial services sector and seeks to use this experience 
to add value to its investments. it is also able to provide consultancy and administrative services to its portfolio of 
investments when required.

The Group’s aim is to be the capital provider of choice to the financial services intermediary sector.

1

We are in the business of planting things, 

not shooting at them – We are farmers 

not hunters

C H A I R M A N ’ S  S T A T E M E N T

i am pleased to present the audited Consolidated Financial Statements of B. P. Marsh & Partners Plc for the year 
ended 31st January 2013.

in this, our 23rd year of operations, i am pleased to be able to report that we have again been able to increase our NAv 
by 10.6%, as more particularly set out below.

Our eight investee companies, large and small, are all in good heart and facing the opportunities and challenges of 
2013 with confidence and enthusiasm.

Whilst we expect major developments and changes to take place in our portfolio over the coming months, we have 
every confidence in the future of our business, which continues to enjoy much diversity and a truly global reach.

Agreement has been reached for a sale of 80% of our shareholding in Hyperion insurance Group Ltd, however this 
is still subject to regulatory consent. We are not in the habit of setting out plans until we know with a degree of 
certainty what will prevail.

financial performance
At  31st  January  2013,  the  net  asset  value  of  the  Group  was  £55.5m  (2012:  £50.1m),  after  making  allowance  for 
deferred corporation tax, an increase of 10.6%. This equates to a net asset value of 190p per ordinary share as at 
31st January 2013 (2012: 171p).

The  Group  has  therefore  achieved  an  annual  compound  growth  rate  of  11.9%  after  running  costs,  realisations, 
losses and distributions and having made an appropriate allowance for deferred corporation tax since the Group’s 
establishment in 1990 (excluding £10.1m raised on flotation).

Reflecting  investment  portfolio  movement,  including  the  unrealised  increase  on  revaluation  of  the  portfolio, 
the consolidated profit on ordinary activities after tax for the year was £5.7m (2012: profit of £3.6m), an increase 
of  55.7%.  However,  excluding  portfolio  movement  the  Group  made  a  pre-tax  profit  of  £0.06m  (2012:  profit  of 
£0.11m). The Group aims each year to at least break even on an underlying basis, before taking into account any 
portfolio movement.

£3.7m  of  gains  were  realised  on  the  sale  of  investments  during  the  year,  as  set  out  below.  Due  to  the  value  of 
these investments being included at sale price within the 31st January 2012 portfolio valuation, no profit was shown 
directly within the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income as the uplift in valuation had been previously 
reflected as unrealised gains in previous years. On sale the £3.7m realised gains were therefore transferred from the 
fair value reserve to retained earnings within the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

The Board believes that the Group’s prospects remain good, despite the continued difficult outlook for the global 
economy. The directors continue to explore all opportunities for realisations and development within the portfolio.

summary of Developments in the portfolio
During the financial year ended 31st January 2013, the following developments took place within the Group and its 
portfolio:

• Hyperion Insurance Group Limited (“Hyperion”)

Partial disposal of shares to Murofo Investments SL (“Murofo”)
in May 2012 the Group sold 2.75% of its 18.94% shareholding in Hyperion to a fellow investor, Murofo, for a 
total consideration of £4.54m, or the equivalent of £3.80 per share.

3

g r o u p   v a l u a t i o n s

55.50

52.00

50.12

46.48

43.88

40.61

S
N
O
I
L
L
I
M
£

60

55

50

45

40

35

30

25

20

15

10

5

0

22.10

8.69

4.77

2.50

st

31  Jan 90

st

31  Jan 95

st

31  Jan 99

st

31  Jan 05

st

31  Jan 07*

st

31  Jan 09

st

31  Jan 11

st

31  Jan 12

st

31  Jul 12

st

31  Jan 13

YEAR ENDED 

SIX MONTHS ENDED 

YEAR ENDED 
NET OF DEFERRED TAX

* NB: The valuation at 31st January 2007 includes £10.1m net proceeds raised on AIM.

 
C H A I R M A N ’ S  S T A T E M E N T
( c o n t i n u e d )

This  sale  resulted  in  the  Group  realising  what  was  its  overall  equity  investment  in  Hyperion,  (£4.35m  over 
17 years) whilst allowing it to continue with a significant shareholding and the prospect of further growth. This 
sale delivered £3.7m in profit for the Group.

in July 2012 Hyperion completed the acquisition of Windsor Limited, an international insurance and reinsurance 
Lloyd’s  broking  group.  As  a  result  of  this  acquisition,  the  Group’s  shareholding  was  diluted  from  16.19%  to 
13.97%.

• Besso Insurance Group Limited (“Besso”)

Acquisition of further 6.71% shareholding
On 1st November 2012 the Group increased its shareholding by 6.71% for a cash consideration of £0.78m. The 
Group’s equity interest in Besso increased from 30% to 36.71% as a result (with economic rights over 36.48%).

This further investment was made alongside a consortium of American investors, who are well-known to Besso’s 
business, who acquired 5.85% of Besso for a cash consideration of £0.70m.

Subsequent  to  the  above,  Besso  had  a  positive  2012  financial  year  and  is  in  the  final  stages  of  negotiations  to 
complete several value accretive acquisitions. The Group, having worked alongside Besso’s management team in 
reviewing these investments, is of the opinion that these would be positive additions to Besso.

• LEBC Holdings Limited (“LEBC”)

LEBC Group Limited (“LEBC Group”), the trading subsidiary of LEBC, has announced a significant turnaround 
in its financial performance, which sees the national iFA and employee benefits consultancy secure a year-on-year 
turnaround in profit before tax of £1.1m (FY2012 profit of £0.5m versus FY2011 loss of £0.6m), on a turnover of 
£10.2m, for the year ended 30th September 2012.

The Edinburgh-headquartered firm, which has 13 branches throughout the United Kingdom, has also reported 
a positive start to the new year, with strong revenue and profit growth.

• Summa Insurance Brokerage SL (“Summa”)

Despite the economic environment in Spain, Summa grew revenue in 2012 and maintained a satisfactory profit 
margin, which is in stark comparison to many other insurance operations in the Spanish market.

The Group has been working alongside Summa’s Management team to develop their interaction with the Lloyd’s 
and London Market, and has made various introductions to augment Summa’s service offering to their clients.

The Group has also assisted Summa in the sourcing and recruitment of a new Chief Financial Officer so as to 
further improve the infrastructure for growth within this investment.

Notwithstanding  the  above,  2013  is  likely  to  be  a  challenging  year  for  Summa  and  the  Board  have  reflected 
continued uncertainty surrounding the Spanish economy within its valuation of the business.

• The Broucour Group Limited (“Broucour”)

By  31st  January  2013  Turner  Butler  Limited,  a  specialist  SME  business  sales  agency  and  a  subsidiary  of 
Broucour reached £0.5m revenue in just six months trading since its acquisition for £0.4m on 27th July 2012, 
over double its budgeted target. This acquisition was funded by loan financing provided by the Group. As 
a result of this performance the first loan repayment of £0.05m was made in March 2013, over two months 
ahead of schedule.

5

C H A I R M A N ’ S  S T A T E M E N T
( c o n t i n u e d )

post balance sheet events

• Hyperion–Partial disposal of shares to General Atlantic

On 27th March 2013, the Group reached agreement with General Atlantic to sell 80% of its shareholding 
in Hyperion (11.04% of Hyperion’s issued share capital) alongside 3i, at £5.20 per share. Due to its size in 
relation to the remainder of the portfolio, this transaction was put before the Company’s shareholders at a 
General Meeting on 16th April 2013 where it was duly approved, and completion is now conditional upon 
regulatory  approvals  being  granted  in  Spain,  Singapore  and  Texas,  USA.  Completion  of  this  transaction 
will  see  the  Company  in  receipt  of  £29.2m  pre-tax,  and  represents  an  effective  uplift  of  £4.3m  upon  the 
Company’s 31st July 2012 valuation.

The Group will continue to hold a 2.76% shareholding in Hyperion, which will be held under a Call Option 
with General Atlantic, who will be able to purchase the shares at £5.20 for a period of three years, or when 
Hyperion undertakes an initial Public Offering, whichever is the sooner. in addition, the Company will no 
longer benefit from its previous minority protections or a nominee director on the Hyperion Board due to 
its reduced shareholding.

One of the terms of the transaction was that the Company provide an ongoing £6m loan to enable Hyperion 
to refinance a majority of the existing shareholder debt, and this has been agreed at an interest rate of 7.5% 
(increasing if the Bank of England Base rate increases beyond 2.5%) for a minimum term of 12 months.

Due to the sale price being agreed and significant due diligence having been carried out prior to the year-
end, the valuation of Hyperion as at 31st January 2013 is reflective of this offer.

• LEBC

The Group can confirm that LEBC (the holding company for LEBC Group) has completed the acquisition 
of Sesame Bankhall Group’s remaining 10% stake in LEBC Group, which Sesame has held since its initial 
investment in LEBC Group in 2000. LEBC Group is now a 100% subsidiary of LEBC.

The Group is also happy to announce that LEBC Group won the award for Best Retirement Advisor at the 
Money Marketing Financial Services Awards 2013. This is a fine vindication of the service offering provided by 
LEBC.

Directors’ loan
The Group repaid the £1.25m drawn down on the £4.325m Directors’ Loan facility upon receipt of funds from the 
sale of Hyperion shares to Murofo, such that at the year-end no amounts were due. Since 31st January 2013 £2.08m 
of Directors’ loans were used to fund a draw down by US Risk (UK) of its loan facility and a new acquisition for 
Besso, and a further £2.25m has been drawn down to fund a new investment opportunity due to complete shortly. 
The facility will be repaid in full following completion of the Hyperion disposal to General Atlantic and the facility 
will thereafter be cancelled.

business strategy
The Group typically invests amounts of up to £2.5m and only takes minority equity positions, normally acquiring 
between 15% and 45% of an investee company’s total equity. Based on our current portfolio, the average investment 
has  been  held  for  approximately  9  years.  The  Group  requires  its  investee  companies  to  adopt  certain  minority 
shareholder protections and appoints a director to its board. The Group’s successful track record is based upon a 
number of factors that include, amongst other things, a robust investment process, the management’s considerable 
experience of the Financial Services sector and a flexible approach towards exit-strategies.

6

C H A I R M A N ’ S  S T A T E M E N T
( c o n t i n u e d )

At the year end, the Group had £1.79m in cash, plus a further £4.325m Directors’ loan facility available. Of the 
£6.1m, £4.0m is available for new investment opportunities after providing for commitments to loan funding for 
existing investments.

boarD composition
The Board appointed Natasha Dunbar as an executive director in February 2013, in order to reflect her increased 
involvement in the Company and the executive duties that she had taken on. Natasha served as Managing Director 
of the Company between 2002 and 2008, following which she was appointed as a non-executive director.

Pursuant  to  the  above  transfer  of  duties  the  Board  felt  that  an  additional  non-executive  director  would  assist  to 
rebalance the Board, and duly invited Campbell Scoones to join the Board as a non-executive director and member 
of the Remuneration Committee with effect from 19th April 2013.

investment opportunities
The  Group  continued  to  receive  a  strong  inflow  of  opportunities  in  the  year  ended  31st  January  2013  and 
believes  that  this  trend  will  continue.  The  New  Business  Department  gave  its  detailed  consideration  to  a 
number  of  these;  including  propositions  from  within  the  insurance  intermediary  and  wealth  management 
sectors.  The  Group  is  currently  in  the  final  stages  of  completing  a  new  investment  and  hopes  to  make  an 
announcement regarding this within the next week. The Board will continue to pursue opportunities in the 
best interests of the Group’s shareholders.

The  Group’s  investment  strategy  remains  unchanged;  to  take  minority  positions  in  profitable  businesses  with 
strong management teams and good growth potential. The directors consider that the Group remains unique in its 
investment sector and we continue to see a sufficient number of investment opportunities with good management 
and business plans that would fit with our tried and tested business strategy.

Brian Marsh OBE
4th June 2013

7

I N v E S T M E N T S  R E v I E w

As at 31st January 2013 the Group’s equity interests were as follows:

Besso Insurance Group Limited
(www.besso.co.uk)
in February 1995 the Group assisted a specialist team departing from insurance broker Jardine Lloyd Thompson 
Group  in  establishing  Besso  Holdings  Limited.  The  company  specialises  in  insurance  broking  for  the  North 
American wholesale market and changed its name to Besso insurance Group Limited in June 2011.
Date of investment: February 1995
Equity stake: 36.71%
31st January 2013 valuation: £5,223,000

The Broucour Group Limited
(www.amberglobe.co.uk) 
(www.turnerbutler.co.uk)
in March 2008 the Group assisted in establishing Amberglobe, a business sales platform that provides valuation and 
negotiation services for the sale of SME businesses in the sub £3m sector. in July 2012 Broucour was formed as a 
new holding company for Amberglobe, and the Group financed the acquisition of Turner Butler.
Date of investment: March 2008
Equity stake: 49.0%
31st January 2013 valuation: £173,000

Hyperion Insurance Group Limited
(www.hyperiongrp.com)
The Group first invested in Hyperion in 1994. Hyperion owns, amongst other things, an insurance broker specialising 
in directors’ and officers’ (“D&O”) and professional indemnity (“Pi”) insurance. A subsidiary of Hyperion became 
a registered Lloyd’s insurance broker. in 1998 Hyperion set up an insurance managing general agency specialising 
in developing D&O and Pi business in Europe.
Date of investment: November 1994
Equity: 13.84%
31st January 2013 valuation: £35,456,000

LEBC Holdings Limited
(www.lebc-group.com)
in April 2007 the Group invested in LEBC, an independent Financial Advisory company providing services to 
individuals, corporates and partnerships, principally in employee benefits, investment and life product areas.
Date of investment: April 2007
Equity stake: 21.95%
31st January 2013 valuation: £3,460,000

Paterson Squared, LLC
(www.paterson2.com)
Paterson  Squared  was  founded  by  a  group  of  professionals  from  the  actuarial,  capital  markets  and  reinsurance 
advisory sectors in conjunction with the Group. The company uses sophisticated modelling techniques to assess 
risk, with a view to providing counter-party risk transaction advice.
Date of investment: April 2004
Equity stake: 22.5%
31st January 2013 valuation: £0

8

I N v E S T M E N T S  R E v I E w
( c o n t i n u e d )

Portfolio Design Group International Limited
(www.surrendalink.co.uk)
in March 1994 the Group invested in the Portfolio Design Group, a company which sells with-profits life endowment 
policies to large financial institutions. in 2002 the company diversified into investment management.
Date of investment: March 1994
Equity stake: 20.0%
31st January 2013 valuation: £1,721,000

Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc
(www.rqih.com)
Randall & Quilter investment Holdings is an AiM listed run-off management service provider and acquirer of 
solvent insurance companies in run-off. The Group invested in Randall & Quilter in January 2010, the result of a 
share exchange with the Group’s shareholding in JMD Specialist insurance Services Group Limited, which Randall 
& Quilter have now wholly acquired.
Date of investment: January 2010
Equity stake: 1.35%
31st January 2013 valuation: £785,000

Summa Insurance Brokerage, S. L.
(www.grupo-summa.com)
in January 2005 the Group provided finance to a Spanish management team with the objective of acquiring and 
consolidating regional insurance brokers in Spain.
Date of investment: January 2005
Equity stake: 48.63%
31st January 2013 valuation: £3,486,000

US Risk (UK) Limited
(www.oxfordinsurancebrokers.co.uk)
(jhinternational.co.uk)
in  July  2010  the  Group  completed  its  investment  in  US  Risk  (UK),  the  parent  company  of  Oxford  insurance 
Brokers  Limited,  a  London-based  Lloyd’s  insurance  and  reinsurance  broker  and  James  Hampden  international 
Brokers Ltd, a specialist international reinsurance and insurance broking company. 
Date of investment: July 2010
Equity stake: 29.28%
31st January 2013 valuation: £2,407,000

These investments have been valued in accordance with the accounting policies on investments set out in note 1 of 
the Consolidated Financial Statements.

9

b. p. marsh & partners plc
Directors’ report anD consoliDateD financial statements

for the year enDeD 31st January 2013

References throughout the Reports and Consolidated Financial Statements 
to the “Company” or “B. P. Marsh” refers to B. P. Marsh & Partners Plc, 
and references to the “Group” refers to the consolidated group, being the 
Company and its subsidiary undertakings.

10

D I R E C T O R S

Brian Marsh OBE
Chairman, aged 72 (R) (i) (v)
Brian  started  his  career  in  insurance  broking  and 
underwriting in Lloyd’s and the London and overseas 
market  50  years  ago  and  was,  from  1979  to  1990, 
chairman of Nelson Hurst & Marsh (Holdings) Ltd, 
before founding the Group. Brian has over 30 years’ 
experience in building, buying and selling financial 
services  businesses  particularly  in  the  insurance 
sector. Brian is a majority shareholder in B. P. Marsh 
owning 59.2% of the Company.

Jonathan Newman ACMA, CGMA, MCSI
(Group Finance Director), aged 38 (i) (v)
Jonathan  is  a  Chartered  Management  Accountant 
with  over  15  years’  experience  in  the  financial 
services industry. He joined the Group in November 
1999  and  was  appointed  a  director  of  B.  P.  Marsh 
in  September  2001  and  Group  Finance  Director 
in  December  2003.  Jonathan  is  responsible  for  the 
Group’s finance function, evaluates new investment 
opportunities  and  is  also  the  Group’s  nominee 
director on the boards of three investee companies.

Daniel Topping MCSI, ACIS
(Director), aged 29 (i) 
Daniel  is  a  Member  of  the  Chartered  institute  of 
Securities and investment (MCSi) and an Associate 
Member  of  the  institute  of  Chartered  Secretaries 
and  Administrators 
(ACiS),  having  graduated 
from  the  University  of  Durham.  He  joined  B.  P. 
Marsh  in  February  2007  having  started  his  career 
at  WiltonGroup.  in  2011,  having  spent  a  period  of 
time as investment Assistant to the Chairman he was 
appointed as a director of B. P. Marsh and currently 
has  four  nominee  appointments  and  evaluates  new 
investment opportunities. Daniel owns 802 ordinary 
shares in B. P. Marsh.

Camilla Kenyon
(Director), aged 40 (i) 
Millie was appointed as Head  of  investor Relations 
at B. P. Marsh in February 2009, having 4 years of 
prior experience with the Company. She is Head of 
the  New  Business  Department  and  chairs  the  New 
Business  Committee.  Millie  has  a  background  in 
media  and  public  relations,  is  a  qualified  journalist 
(National  Council  for  the  Training  of  Journalists) 
and holds a Certificate in investor Relations. Millie 
currently has two nominee appointments.

Natasha Dunbar BBA
(Non-executive*), aged 43 (R)
Natasha has over 18 years’ experience in the financial 
services  industry.  Having    joined  the  Company  in 
1994  she  was  made  Managing  Director  in  March 
2002, 
subsequently  becoming  a  non-executive 
director of the Company in 2008, a position she held 
for five years. Natasha currently holds non-executive 
appointments  at  three  of  the  Group’s 
investee 
companies. Trustees on behalf of Natasha own 4.9% 
of the Company.

Stephen Clarke FCA
(Non-executive), aged 75 (R) (A) 
A Chartered Accountant, Stephen gained many years’ 
experience with Charterhouse Development Capital 
in  the  structuring  of  venture  capital  projects  in  all 
fields  including  financial  services,  and  in  guiding 
and monitoring their progress. He joined the Group 
in  1993  and  has  over  40  years’  experience  of  the 
financial  services  sector.  Stephen  continues  to  give 
specialist advice to B. P. Marsh on the structuring of 
entry and exit deals.

Philip Mortlock MA, FCA
(Non-executive), aged 75 (R) (A) (v)
A Chartered Accountant with over 40 years’ insurance 
experience, Philip entered the Lloyd’s insurance world 
in 1965 and, after some years with Fenchurch Group, 
joined  Nelson  Hurst  &  Marsh  group  as  Finance 
Director and Company Secretary until 1990. He joined 
the Group in 1990 and has a great deal of experience 
of  the  special  nature  of  broking  and  underwriting 
finances.  Philip  continues  to  give  a  broad  range  of 
advice to B. P. Marsh and is also the Group’s nominee 
director on the board of one of its investee companies.

Campbell Scoones
(Non-executive), aged 66
Campbell  joined  B.  P.  Marsh  in  April  2013  and 
has  over  45  years’  experience  in  the  Lloyds  and 
overseas 
insurance  broking  and  underwriting 
markets.  Having started his career in 1966 Campbell 
has  worked  for  a  number  of  Lloyd’s  insurance 
broking  and  underwriting  firms  during  this  time, 
including,  inter  alia,  Nelson  Hurst  &  Marsh, 
Citicorp  investment  Limited,  Marsh  &  McLennan 
Companies  and  Admiral/Encon  Underwriting.  
Campbell  is  currently  a  member  of  the  Company’s 
Remuneration Committee. Campbell owns 35,800 
ordinary shares in B. P. Marsh.

*  Natasha was reappointed as a director in February 2013, resigning her position upon the Company’s Remuneration Committee 

and subsequently becoming a member of the Company’s Investment Committee.

Key

( R ) Member of the Remuneration Committee during the year

(  i  ) Member of the investment Committee during the year

( A ) Member of the Audit Committee during the year

( v ) Member of the valuation Committee during the year

11

C O R P O R A T E  G O v E R N A N C E

The board of B. P. Marsh (“the Board”) is responsible for the Group’s corporate governance policies and recognises 
the importance of high standards of integrity, and consistently seeks to apply the principles set out in the revised UK 
Corporate Governance Code (the “Code”) by the Financial Reporting Council to the extent that they are appropriate 
for, and applicable to, a company of B. P. Marsh’s size quoted on the Alternative investment Market (“AiM”).

Directors
Details of the appointment and resignation dates of directors are shown in the Group Report of the Directors. All 
directors are subject to re-election within a three-year period.

All the directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary and may, in furtherance of their 
duties, take independent legal and financial advice at the Company’s expense. They also have access to the minutes of 
the Board, in which any concerns expressed by them regarding matters pertaining to the Group are recorded.

A formal review of the performance and effectiveness of each director, including the non-executive directors, takes 
place annually and is assessed on an on-going basis by the other members of the Board and Committees of the Board.

The Group recognises that its non-executive directors are not “independent”, as recommended by the Code, however 
it feels that, given the size and nature of the Group, the benefit derived from the collective relevant experience of its 
non-executive directors justifies their position on the Board.

boarD meetings
The Board meets at least quarterly and at such other times as required, and receives regular reports on a wide range of 
key issues including investment performance, investment opportunities, disposals and corporate strategy. All major 
decisions affecting the Group are taken at Board level and all the directors are free to bring any matter to the attention 
of the Board at any time.

committees of the boarD
The  Board  has  established  four  standing  committees,  the  Audit  Committee,  the  Remuneration  Committee,  the 
investment Committee and the valuation Committee. As the Board deals with all matters relating to recruitment 
and appointment, the Board has decided not to establish a Nominations Committee at the present time.

Audit Committee
The Audit Committee is comprised of two of the non-executive directors of the Company and is chaired by Philip 
Mortlock. The external auditors, together with the Group Finance Director and other financial staff are invited to 
attend these meetings.

in  accordance  with  its  terms  of  reference,  one  of  the  principal  functions  of  this  committee  is  to  determine  the 
appropriateness  of  accounting  policies  to  be  used  in  the  Group’s  annual  financial  statements.  in  addition  the 
Committee is responsible for assessing the Group’s audit arrangements and the Group’s system of internal controls, 
and to review the half-yearly and annual results before publication.

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee is comprised of the three non-executive directors of the Company and Brian Marsh 
and is chaired by Philip Mortlock. in accordance with its terms of reference the Committee determines the level and 
make-up of remuneration (including bonuses and awards) of the executive directors and members of staff. 

The Report of the Remuneration Committee to the shareholders on how directors are remunerated, together with 
details of individual directors’ remuneration packages, is to be found on pages 14 to 15.

12

C O R P O R A T E  G O v E R N A N C E
( c o n t i n u e d )

Investment Committee
The  investment  Committee  is  comprised  of  all  the  executive  directors  of  the  Company  and  meets  whenever 
significant investment matters arise which are not dealt with in the normal course of Board business. 

valuation Committee
The valuation Committee is comprised of Philip Mortlock, Brian Marsh and Jonathan Newman and, in accordance 
with its terms of reference, is responsible for preparing investment valuations and reviewing the suitability of the 
Company’s investee company valuation policy in conjunction with the Company’s auditors. 

relations with shareholDers
The Board attaches great importance to maintaining good relationships with all of its shareholders. The executive 
directors meet with representatives of institutional investors and analysts to discuss their views and ensure that the 
corporate objectives and strategies of the Group are well understood. The Company reports formally to the shareholders 
twice  a  year,  when  its  half-yearly  and  full-year  results  are  announced,  when  reports  are  sent  to  shareholders  and 
published on the Company’s website (www.bpmarsh.co.uk). The Company also produces quarterly trading updates, 
in order to ensure a consistent flow of information throughout the year.

The Company will advise shareholders attending the Annual General Meeting (“AGM”) of the number of proxy 
votes lodged for and against each resolution. Members of the Board will be in attendance at the AGM and will be 
available to meet shareholders informally after the meeting. 

internal controls anD risk management
The Board is responsible for ensuring the Group has effective internal controls in place throughout the year, as well 
as procedures necessary for reviewing the Group’s system of internal controls and assessing the nature and extent of 
the risks facing the Group.

The  Board  believes  that  its  Annual  Report  and  these  consolidated  financial  statements  play  an  important  part  in 
presenting  all  shareholders  with  an  assessment  of  the  Group’s  position  and  prospects.  The  Chairman’s  Statement 
included within the Annual Report contains a detailed consideration of the Group’s position and prospects.

A statement of the directors’ responsibilities in respect of the consolidated financial statements is set out on page 16.

By order of the Board
S. C. O’Haire
Company Secretary
3rd June 2013

13

R E P O R T O F T H E R E M U N E R A T I O N C O M M I T T E E

The Remuneration Committee of the Board (the “Committee”) during the year comprised of three non-executive 
directors of the Company, Philip Mortlock, Stephen Clarke and Natasha Dunbar as well as the Chairman, Brian 
Marsh. The Committee is responsible for setting the remuneration of the executive directors and other members of 
staff. On 13th February 2013 Natasha resigned from the Remuneration Committee and was replaced by Campbell 
Scoones on 19th April 2013 (see below).

remuneration policy
The Committee reviews remuneration levels annually and seeks to ensure that they are set at a level which is in 
line  with  comparable  companies  in  the  industry,  are  capable  of  attracting,  retaining  and  motivating  directors  of 
appropriate calibre, are consistent with the performance of the Company and at the same time are aligned with the 
best interests of the shareholders.

The Committee receives advice from external remuneration advisers where appropriate.

Directors’ service agreements
The executive directors entered into service agreements with the Company on the following dates:

Director

B. P. Marsh
J. S. Newman
D. J. Topping
C. S. Kenyon

Date of
service agreement

30th January 2006
30th January 2006
1st March 2011
1st March 2011

term

Continuous
Continuous
Continuous
Continuous

notice
perioD

6 months
6 months
6 months
6 months

The  non-executive  directors  do  not  have  service  agreements,  but  their  letters  of  appointment  provide  that  their 
tenure of office is for an initial period of 12 months and shall continue until either terminated by the non-executive 
director or the Company, on giving to the other, 3 months prior written notice.

Director

P. J. Mortlock
S. S. Clarke
J. K. N. Dunbar*

Date of
office tenure

30th January 2006
30th January 2006
1st December 2009

initial
perioD

12 months
12 months
12 months

notice
perioD

3 months
3 months
3 months

*  J. K. N. Dunbar resigned as a non-executive director of the Company on 13th February 2013 and was appointed an executive director 
on the Board of the Company on the same date. On 19th April 2013 Campbell Scoones was appointed a director of the Company.

14

R E P O R T O F T H E R E M U N E R A T I O N C O M M I T T E E

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auDiteD information

Aggregate Directors’ Remuneration

Emoluments
Fees
Pension contributions

2013 (£)

2012 (£)

882,386
43,403
26,300

793,745
35,550
24,444

Aggregate Directors’ Emoluments

salaries
anD fees

(£)

140,000
132,000
92,000
70,717
72,000
51,903
32,500

benefits

(£)

1,439
4,056
1,743
3,156
775
-
-

annual 
bonuses

(£)

-
38,500
23,500
11,500
-
-
-

long term 
incentive 
payments
(£)

2013 emoluments 
excluDing pension 
contributions
(£)

-
250,000
-
-
-
-
-

141,439
424,556
117,243
85,373
72,775
51,903
32,500

B. P. Marsh
J. S. Newman
D. J. Topping
C. S. Kenyon
J. K. N. Dunbar
P. J. Mortlock
S. S. Clarke

in addition to the above, Mr S. S. Clarke has an entitlement to a gain based on a carried interest, as outlined in Note 
17 on page 45 of these financial statements.

Furthermore, one of the executive directors participates in a long-term incentive arrangement, as outlined in Note 
24 on page 48 of these financial statements.

Directors’ Pensions
The executive directors received the following pension contributions during the year:

B. P. Marsh
J. S. Newman
D. J. Topping
C. S. Kenyon

2013 (£)

-
13,200
4,600
8,500

This report has been approved by the Remuneration Committee and the Board as a whole and has been signed on 
behalf of the Chairman of the Remuneration Committee, Philip Mortlock on 3rd June 2013.

By order of the Board
S. C. O’Haire
Company Secretary
3rd June 2013

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G R O U P R E P O R T O F T H E D I R E C T O R S

Directors
B. P. Marsh OBE (Chairman) 
J. S. Newman ACMA, CGMA, MCSi 
D. J. Topping MCSi, ACiS
C. S. Kenyon
J. K. N. Dunbar BBA (resigned as non-executive director and reappointed as an executive director on 13th February 2013)
S. S. Clarke FCA (non-executive) 
P. J. Mortlock FCA (non-executive)
C. R. Scoones (non-executive) (appointed 19th April 2013)

The directors submit their report and the audited financial statements of the Company and the Group for the year 
ended 31st January 2013.

statement of Directors’ responsibilities
The  directors  are  responsible  for  preparing  the  annual  report  and  the  financial  statements  in  accordance  with 
applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare Group and Company 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 (iFRS) as adopted by the EU. 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 the Group’s profit or loss 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 investments Market. 

in preparing 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 iFRS as adopted by the EU subject to any material 

departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; and 

• prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group 

and the Company will continue in business.

The directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the financial statements.

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 Group and 
Company and enable them to ensure the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

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 on-going integrity of the financial statements contained therein.

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Disclosure of information to the auDitors
Each of the persons who are directors at the time when the Group Report of the Directors is approved has confirmed 
that:

• so  far  as  that  director  is  aware,  there  is  no  relevant  audit  information  of  which  the  Company’s  auditors  are 

unaware; and 

• that director has taken all steps that ought to have been taken as a director in order to be aware of any information 
needed by the Company and Group’s auditors in connection with preparing their report and to establish that the 
auditors are aware of that information.

This  information  is  given  and  should  be  interpreted  in  accordance  with  the  provisions  of  Section  418  of  the 
Companies Act 2006.

principal activity
The principal activity of the Group during the year was the provision of consultancy services to, as well as making 
and trading investments in, financial services businesses.

country of incorporation anD registration
B. P. Marsh & Partners Plc was incorporated and is registered in England and Wales.

business review
During the year the major activities of the Group were as follows:

• The Group repaid the £1,250,000 directors’ loan outstanding (from a total available facility of £4,325,000) as at 
31st January 2012. £250,000 and £1,000,000 was repaid on 24th February 2012 and 18th June 2012 respectively 
(see Notes 16 and 26). 

• On  16th  March  2012  the  Group  made  a  partial  disposal  of  4.02%  of  its  then  total  34.02%  equity  interest  in 
Besso insurance Group Limited (“Besso”) for consideration of £278,698. The partial disposal was made from an 
11.29% equity interest in Besso originally acquired on 31st March 2011 by B. P. Marsh & Company Limited, a 
wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which at the time increased the Group’s overall holding from 22.73% 
to  34.02%.  The  4.02%  disposal  represented  the  proportion  of  shares  which  were  available  for  buy-back  by 
Besso following the exercise of a Call Option agreement (entered into on 26th May 2011) for subsequent issue 
to  management  under  a  share  incentive  scheme.  Following  the  exercise  of  the  Call  Option  and  the  Group’s 
subsequent subscription on 18th April 2012 to 126,833 2p voting only shares in Besso for consideration of £2,537 
(in order, as a founder shareholder, to maintain its voting rights), the Group’s overall holding in Besso stood at 
at 30%.

• On 19th March 2012, in order to facilitate both the exercise of the Call Option above and the upfront payment 
of a three year loan arrangement fee to the Group totalling £300,000, the Group agreed to provide £578,698 of 
further loan funding to Besso (in addition to the £400,000 loan facility already drawn down as at 31st January 
2012), bringing the total outstanding as at 31st January 2013 to £978,698, excluding loan notes. Both the partial 
disposal and the provision of further loan funding had no cash impact for the Group.

• On 5th April 2012 the Group entered into a Monitoring Agreement with U.S. Risk insurance Group, inc. (the 
USA-domiciled  parent  company  of  U.S.  Risk  (UK)  Limited  (“U.S.  Risk”),  an  associated  company).  Under 
the  agreement,  the  Group  assists  in  providing  certain  services  to  U.S.  Risk  insurance  Group,  inc.  including 
review, oversight and audit of certain aspects of the day to day operations of U.S. Risk and its subsidiaries, in 
return for an annual “Monitoring Services Fee” equivalent to the Bank of England base rate plus 4% (subject to a 
minimum of 11% per annum) of the original investment in the company’s preference shares of £1,396,417. This 
fee arrangement replaces the Group’s entitlement to a preference dividend of the equivalent amount (effective 
from 1st January 2011) as set out in the original agreements between the Group and U.S. Risk entered into in 
July 2010.

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• On 17th May 2012 the Group made a disposal of 2.75% of its total 18.94% equity interest in Hyperion insurance 
Group Limited (“Hyperion”). 1,193,500 shares (from a total holding of 8,222,900 shares) were sold to an existing 
Hyperion shareholder and co-investor, Murofo investments S.L., for cash consideration of £4,535,330.

• The  Group  received  loan  repayments  of  £92,250  from  Hyperion.  in  July  2012  the  loan  was  converted  from 
quarterly repayments to full repayment on 3rd October 2017 as part of the agreed terms for Hyperion’s acquisition 
of  Windsor  Limited.  As  a  result  of  this  acquisition  the  Group’s  equity  holding  at  that  time  in  Hyperion  was 
diluted from 16.19% to 13.97%.

• in August 2012 the Company repurchased 56,143 of its ordinary shares at a price of 89 pence per share. These 
shares were immediately cancelled upon purchase, resulting in a reduction in the number of ordinary shares in 
issue from 29,286,143 to 29,230,000. 

• On 27th July 2012 the Company’s wholly owned subsidiary B. P. Marsh & Company Limited entered into a Share 
Exchange Agreement with The Broucour Group Limited (“the Broucour Group”) in respect of its 49% equity 
investment in Amberglobe Limited (“Amberglobe”). On this date the Broucour Group acquired the entire issued 
share capital of Amberglobe (£200,000 divided into £130,000 ordinary shares and £70,000 preference shares of 
£1 each, of which the Group, through its subsidiary undertaking, owned £98,000 divided into £28,000 ordinary 
shares and £70,000 preference shares). The Broucour Group was incorporated in July 2012 as a holding company 
to facilitate the acquisition of the assets of Turner Butler Limited (“Turner Butler”). The Group assisted in this 
acquisition  by  providing  the  Broucour  Group  with  a  £600,000  loan  facility  to  fund  the  acquisition  cost  and 
associated working capital requirements which was drawn down in full on 27th July 2012 and as at 31st January 
2013 remained outstanding. As a result of this transaction, the Group’s original investment in Amberglobe is 
now held in the Broucour Group, with Amberglobe now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Broucour Group.
• On  1st  November  2012  the  Group,  in  conjunction  with  a  consortium  of  American  investors,  took  up  the 
opportunity to increase its equity position in Besso by purchasing Michael Wade’s stake (the former Chairman 
of  Besso).  The  Group  increased  its  shareholding  by  6.71%  from  30%  to  36.71%  (with  economic  rights  over 
36.48%) for cash consideration of £775,000. On the same date the Group also subscribed for a further £135,000 
of 14% loan stock in Besso. This transaction, together with the £25,000 of loan notes subscribed for on 24th May 
2012, brings the total amount of loan stock held by the Group to £2,700,000 as at 31st January 2013 together with 
£978,698 of other loans outstanding.

• On 21st December 2012 the Group entered into an agreement to provide a further €400,000 (£333,238) loan to 

Summa insurance Brokerage, S.L. (“Summa”). 

• The Group also received loan repayments totalling €370,800 (£302,902) in respect of its shareholder loans to 
Summa. As at 31st January 2013 loans totalling €1,971,879 (£1,688,251) remained outstanding to the Group.
• On 30th January 2013 the Group acquired a further 102 ordinary shares (0.85%) in U.S. Risk (UK) Limited 

(“U.S. Risk”) for consideration of £38,783, increasing its shareholding from 28.43% to 29.28%.

Financial Performance 
At 31st January 2013, the net asset value of the Group was £55.5m (2012: £50.1m) including a provision for deferred 
tax. This equates to an increase in net asset value of 10.6%, or an increase of 11.2% excluding the dividend payment 
(2012: increase of 7.8%). The increase in net asset value was mainly as a result of revaluing the portfolio in line with 
current market conditions, and the underlying business (excluding portfolio movement) showed a pre-tax profit of 
£0.06m (2012: £0.11m).

The net asset value of £55.5m at 31st January 2013 represented a total increase in net asset value of £42.9m since the 
Group was originally formed in 1990 having adjusted for the £10.1m net proceeds raised on AiM and the original 
capital investment of £2.5m. The directors note that the Group has delivered an annual compound growth rate of 
11.9% in Group net asset value after running costs, realisations, losses, distributions and deferred tax since 1990.

Based upon the above figures the Group’s net asset value per share as at 31st January 2013 was 190p (2012: 171p).

The consolidated profit on ordinary activities after taxation was £5.7m (2012: profit of £3.6m). The consolidated 
profit on ordinary activities before taxation was £6.2m (2012: profit of £4.4m). This profit includes unrealised gains 
of £6.1m on investment revaluations (2012: gains of £4.6m), and therefore the increase in profit compared to 2012 
is principally as a result of the investment portfolio being valued higher than in 2012 and reflects improvement in 
investment performance.

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Overall income from investments was marginally down on 2012 as a result of reduced dividend yields, although 
interest and fee earnings increased, reflecting new arrangements made with the Group’s existing investee companies 
during the year. Operating expenses include long term incentive payments of £0.25m (2012: £0.12m). Excluding 
these, expenses are consistent with 2012. The Group continued its strategy of covering operational expenses through 
portfolio yield without the requirement for significant realisations.

The Group’s investment portfolio movement during the year was as follows:

31st January 
2012 valuation

acquisitions
at cost

Disposals 
proceeDs

impairment 
provisions 

aDJusteD 
31st January 
2012 valuation

31st January 
2013 valuation

£50.6m

£0.8m

£(4.9)m

£nil

£46.5m

£52.7m

This equates to an increase in the portfolio valuation of 13.3% (2012: increase of 10.0%).

Future Prospects
During the year under review, although no new investments were made, the Group continued to assist and support 
its investments through follow-on funding to enable continued growth. A number of prospective investments were 
considered and the Group continues to receive a strong pipeline of opportunities and continues to evaluate them for 
investment potential.

financial risk management
The Group’s operations expose it to a variety of financial risks. The Group manages the risk to limit the adverse 
effects on the financial performance of the Group by monitoring those risks and acting accordingly. As at 31st January 
2013 the Group was debt free (31st January 2012: £1.25m debt as part of a drawdown of a £4.325m Directors’ Loan 
Facility). During the year, following the receipt of funds from the partial disposal of an investment (Note 12), the 
Group  repaid  the  £1.25m  of  the  Directors’  Loan  Facility  outstanding  as  at  31st  January  2012  (Notes  16  and  26). 
The Group has since 31st January 2013 drawn down the facility in full (£4.325m) to fund an agreed loan facility 
draw down request from one of its investee companies (noted below in the ‘Post Balance Sheet Events’ section of 
this report) as well as to finance a new investment which is expected to complete within a week of signing these 
consolidated financial statements.

The monitoring of the financial risk management is the responsibility of the Board. The policies of the Board of 
directors are implemented by the Group’s finance department under specific guidelines.

Price risk
The Group is exposed to private equity securities price risk. The Group manages the risk by ensuring that a director 
is appointed to the board of each investee company. in this capacity, the appointed director can advise the Group’s 
Board of the investee companies’ activities and prompt action can be taken to protect the value of the investment. 
Management reports are required to be prepared by investee companies for the review of the appointed director and 
by the Group Board.

Credit risk
The Group provides consulting services to its investee companies which are investigated before an investment is 
made and are continually monitored. As such the directors believe that the credit risk is adequately managed.

Liquidity risk
The  directors  assess  and  review  the  Group’s  liquidity  position  and  funding  requirements  on  a  regular  basis  and 
this  is  an  agenda  item  for  its  Board  meetings.  They  consider  that  the  Group  has  sufficient  liquidity  to  manage 
current commitments.

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Interest rate cash flow risk
At 31st January 2013, the Group had no interest bearing liabilities but had interest bearing assets. interest bearing 
assets are loans made available to investee companies to aid their expansion, and are normally subject to a minimum 
interest rate to protect the Group from a period of low interest rates.

Currency risk
Although the Group’s investments are predominantly within the UK it also makes investments and derives income 
outside the UK. As such some of the Group’s income and assets are subject to movement in foreign currencies which 
will affect the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income in accordance with the Group’s accounting policy. 
The Board monitors the movements and manages the risk accordingly.

results of the business
The results for the year are set out on page 25. The directors consider the current state of affairs of the Group to be 
satisfactory.

DiviDenDs
A final dividend of £292,861 (1p per share) was paid on 30th July 2012 in respect of the previous financial year (2012: 
£nil). The directors do not recommend a final dividend in respect of the current year.

substantial interests 
As at 16th May 2013 the directors have been made aware that the following shareholders held disclosable interests of 
3% or more of the issued share capital of the Company:

beneficial owner

no. of orDinary shares
of 10p each helD

% of issueD
share capital

Mr B. P. Marsh
The Tasha Dunbar Trust
The Stephen Crowther Trust
Henderson Global investors
iS Partners AG
AXA Framlington
James Sharp & Co

17,304,771
1,428,614
1,428,614
1,400,000
1,245,000
966,720
955,080

59.2%
4.9%
4.9%
4.8%
4.3%
3.3%
3.3%

Directors
The names of the directors who served at any time during the year are stated at the head of this report.

The directors’ interests in the shares of the Company were:

Mr B. P. Marsh
The Tasha Dunbar Trust
Mr D. J. Topping

31st January 2013
orDinary shares of
10p each

31st January 2012
orDinary shares of
10p each

17,304,771
1,428,614
802

17,304,771
1,428,614
802

The Tasha Dunbar Trust holds shares in trust for Natasha Dunbar who is a director of the Company.

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policy on payment of suppliers
The Group’s policy on the payment of suppliers is to settle transactions based upon the supplier’s agreed terms of 
trade. Average supplier days were 19 (2012: 21) during the year.

post balance sheet events
On 1st March 2013 the Group subscribed for a further £50,000 of 14% loan stock in Besso insurance Group Limited 
(“Besso”). The loan stock is in addition to the £2,700,000 already held by the Group as at 31st January 2013, bringing 
the total 14% loan stock held to £2,750,000 as at the date of this report.

On 21st March 2013 the Group utilised £875,000 of the Directors’ Loan Facility (see Note 16) in order to ensure 
that sufficient funds are available to pursue the various new business opportunities that it is currently investigating. 
On 25th March 2013 the Group utilised a further £1,200,000 of this facility in order to fund a reciprocal loan draw 
down request from U.S. Risk (UK) Limited (noted below). On 31st May 2013 the Group utilised the remaining 
£2,250,000 of the facility to finance a new investment which is expected to complete within a week of signing these 
consolidated financial statements, therefore as at the date of this report the £4,325,000 facility had been drawn down 
in full.

On  27th  March  2013  the  Group  announced  that,  subject  to  FCA  and  other  overseas  regulatory  approval,  it  had 
agreed to sell 5,623,520 shares (from a total holding of 7,029,400 shares) in Hyperion insurance Group Limited 
(“Hyperion”) to the global growth equity firm General Atlantic for a cash consideration of £29,242,304 (£5.20 per 
A  Ordinary  share).  On  completion  the  Group  will  retain  a  2.76%  stake  in  Hyperion  subject  to  a  Call  Option 
arrangement which will allow General Atlantic to purchase the Group’s remaining stake of 1,405,880 A Ordinary 
shares of Hyperion at £5.20 per share. The Call Option will expire and fall away upon the third anniversary of 
completion or upon Hyperion undertaking an initial Public Offering (“iPO”), whichever is the earlier. The Share 
Purchase  Agreement  includes  an  anti-embarrassment  provision  which  provides  that  if  Hyperion  undertakes  an 
iPO within twelve months of completion, at a price at or in excess of £6.25 per A Ordinary share, there will be an 
additional amount payable to the Group, up to a maximum of £0.30 per A Ordinary share.

As  part  of  the  above  agreement,  and  subject  to  banking  consent,  the  Group  has  also  agreed  to  provide  circa 
£6,100,000 in loan funding to Hyperion at an interest rate of Bank of England Base rate plus 5% (minimum 7.5%) 
for a minimum term of 12 months to refinance existing shareholder loans (including £2,754,392 that the Group 
has already provided to Hyperion). The loan will be repayable on an iPO or a change of control of Hyperion or 
3rd October 2017, whichever is the earlier, but following the first anniversary of this facility Hyperion will be able to 
pre-pay the loan prior to these events on the giving of one months’ notice.

On 2nd April 2013 the Group provided £1,200,000 of an agreed £1,950,000 loan facility to U.S. Risk (UK) Limited 
to fund the continued expansion of the business.

On 13th May 2013, following the £25,000,000 placing of new shares by Randall & Quilter investment Holdings 
plc (“R&Q”) being approved by its shareholders and the shares being admitted to the market, the Group subscribed 
to its pro-rata proportion at 120p per share (total consideration of £337,022), maintaining its 1.35% shareholding.

On 29th May 2013, the Group provided Besso with a loan facility of £747,000, of which it drew down on £265,000, 
to enable it to finance a new acquisition.  Together with £2,750,000 of 14% loan stock and other loans of £978,698, 
total loans amounted to £3,993,698 at the reporting date.

Directors’ anD officers’ liability insurance
The Company has purchased insurance cover to cover directors’ and officers’ liability, as permitted by Section 233 
of the Companies Act 2006.

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going concern
The directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. This is because the 
directors, after making enquiries and following a review of the Group’s budget for 2014 and 2015, including cash 
flows  and  borrowing  facilities,  consider  that  the  Group  has  adequate  resources  to  continue  its  operation  for  the 
foreseeable future.

auDitors
The auditors, Rawlinson & Hunter, will be proposed for re-appointment in accordance with relevant legislation.

By order of the Board
S. C. O’Haire
Company Secretary
3rd June 2013

Registered Office:  
2nd Floor 
36 Broadway 
London 
SW1H 0BH 

22

I N D E P E N D E N T  A U D I T O R’

S  R E P O R T

t o  tHe

  MeM B

e r s  o F   B . p .

  Ma r sH   &  p a r t n e r s

 p l c

We have audited the Group and Company financial statements of B. P. Marsh & Partners Plc for the year ended 
31st  January  2013  which  comprise  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehensive  income,  the  Consolidated 
and  Company  Statements  of  Financial  Position,  the  Consolidated  and  Company  Statements  of  Cash  Flows,  the 
Consolidated  and  Company  Statements  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 EU and, as regards the 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 auditor
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities set out in the Group Report of the Directors, 
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 to 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 Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards for Auditors.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An  audit  involves  obtaining  evidence  about  the  amounts  and  disclosures  in  the  financial  statements  sufficient 
to  give  reasonable  assurance  that  the  financial  statements  are  free  from  material  misstatements,  whether  caused 
by  fraud  or  error.  This  includes  an  assessment  of:  whether  the  accounting  policies  are  appropriate  to  the  Group 
and Company’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of 
significant  accounting  estimates  made  by  the  directors;  and  the  overall  presentation  of  the  financial  statements. 
in  addition,  we  read  all  the  financial  and  non-financial  information  in  the  Directors’  Report  and  Consolidated 
Financial Statements to identify material inconsistencies with the audited financial statements. if we become aware 
of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on financial statements
in our opinion: 
• the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Company’s affairs as at 

31st January 2013 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

• the Group’s financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with iFRSs as adopted by the EU;
• the Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with iFRSs as adopted by the EU 

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 part of the Report of the Remuneration Committee to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance 

with the Companies Act 2006; and

• the  information  given  in  the  Group  Report  of  the  Directors  for  the  financial  year  for  which  the  financial 

statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

23

I N D E P E N D E N T  A U D I T O R’

S  R E P O R T

t o  tHe

  MeM B

e r s  o F   B . p .

  Ma r sH   &  p a r t n e r s

 p l c

( c o n t i n u e d )

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 Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 

received from branches not visited by us; or

• the Company’s 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
• we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Kulwarn Nagra (Senior Statutory Auditor)
For and on behalf of

RAwLINSON & HUNTER
Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants
Eighth Floor
6 New Street Square
New Fetter Lane
London
EC4A 3AQ

3rd June 2013

24

C O N S O L I D A T E D   S T A T E M E N T   O F 
C O M P R E H E N S I v E   I N C O M E
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

notes

2013

2012

(£’000)

(£’000)

(£’000)

(£’000)

(20)
(339)
4,592
32

6,140

4,265

661
859
594

-
(104)
(51)

2,114
6,379

(1,817)

4,562

(155)

4,407

(30)

4,377

(732)

3,645

12.4p

2,085
8,225

(2,007)

6,218

(23)

6,195

-

6,195

(518)

5,677

19.4p

5
-
6,130
5

301
929
855

5
(65)
37

Gains on investments
Realised gains / (losses) on disposal of investments 1,13
impairment of investments and loans
15
Unrealised gains on investment revaluation
Carried interest provision

2,17

12

1

Income
Dividends
income from loans and receivables
Fees receivable

Operating income 

Operating expenses

Operating profit

Financial income
Financial expenses
Exchange movements

Profit on ordinary activities 
before exceptional items

Exceptional item

Profit on ordinary activities 
before taxation

Taxation

Profit on ordinary activities 
after taxation attributable 
to equity holders

1,26

1,26

1,26

2

2

2,4

2,3

2,8

5,6

8

9

21

Earnings per share – basic and diluted (pence)

10

The result for the year is wholly attributable to continuing activities.

The notes on pages 29 to 51 form part of these financial statements.

25

 
 
C O N S O L I D A T E D   &   C O M P A N Y 

S T A T E M E N T S O F F I N A N C I A L P O S I T I O N

F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

( C O M P A N Y  N U M B E R :   0 5 6 7 4 9 6 2 )

Assets

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
investments
Loans and receivables

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets

Liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Loans and other payables
Carried interest provision
Deferred tax liabilities
Total non-current liabilities

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Total current liabilities
Total liabilities

Net assets

Capital and reserves - equity

Called up share capital
Share premium account
Fair value reserve
Reverse acquisition reserve
Capital redemption reserve
Retained earnings
Shareholders’ funds - equity

group

company

notes

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

11

12

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

21

21

21

21

21

7
52,711
8,587
61,305

1,174
1,787
2,961
64,266

(100)
(294)
(7,933)
(8,327)

(484)
(484)
(8,811)

14
50,624
5,983
56,621

2,093
666
2,759
59,380

(1,250)
(299)
(7,415)
(8,964)

(295)
(295)
(9,259)

-
45,299
10,155
55,454

-
1
1
55,455

-
39,965
10,155
50,120

-
1
1
50,121

-
-
-
-

-
-
-

-
-
-
-

-
-
-

55,455

50,121

55,455

50,121

2,923
9,370
26,348
393
6
16,415
55,455

2,929
9,370
24,656
393
-
12,773
50,121

2,923
9,370
43,155
-
6
1
55,455

2,929
9,370
37,821
-
-
1
50,121

The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 3rd June 2013 and 
signed on its behalf by:

B. P. Marsh & J. S. Newman

The notes on pages 29 to 51 form part of these financial statements.

26

 
C O N S O L I D A T E D   S T A T E M E N T 
O F   C A S H F L O w S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

notes

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

Cash from operating activities
income from loans to investees
Dividends 
Fees received from investment activity
Operating expenses
Exceptional item - termination payment
increase in receivables
increase in payables
Depreciation

Net cash from operating activities

Net cash from / (used by) investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of investments
Proceeds from investments

Net cash from / (used by) investing activities

Net cash (used by) / from financing activities
(Repayment) / advances of borrowings
Net payments of loans to investee companies
Financial income 
Financial expenses
Dividends paid
Payments made to repurchase Company shares

Net cash (used by) / from financing activities

Change in cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period

Exchange movement

Cash and cash equivalents at end of period

11

11

12

12

16

4

3

7

21

929
301
855
(2,007)
-
(361)
287
8

12

(1)
(822)
4,870

4,047

(1,250)
(1,276)
5
(65)
(293)
(50)

(2,929)

1,130
666

(9)*

£1,787

859
661
594
(1,817)
(30)
(95)
20
23

215

(4)
(735)
51

(688)

1,250
(515)
-
(104)
-
-

631

158
515

(7)*

£666

*The exchange movement as noted in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income is a gain of £37k (2012: loss of £51k). 
The exchange movement in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows excludes an exchange gain of £46k (2012: loss of £44k) 
relating to the revaluation of a loan denominated in Euros as this is a non-cash movement.

The notes on pages 29 to 51 form part of these financial statements.

27

 
 
C O M P A N Y   S T A T E M E N T   O F   C A S H   F L O w S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

No Company Statement of Cash Flows has been prepared as there has been no cash flow movement in the Company 
during  the  current  and  previous  period,  other  than  dividends  received  from  B.  P.  Marsh  &  Company  Limited 
(“BPMCL”), a subsidiary company, which were settled via an intercompany adjustment. The ordinary dividend 
payment to the Company’s members and the share repurchase during the year were physically made by BPMCL 
and reflected in the Company through an intercompany adjustment. Accordingly the Company’s “cash and cash 
equivalents” balance as at 31st January 2013 is £1k (2012: £1k).

C O N S O L I D A T E D   &   C O M P A N Y 
S T A T E M E N T S  O F   C H A N G E S   I N   E Q U I T Y
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

Opening total equity
Total recognised income and expense for period
Dividends paid
Repurchase of Company shares 

group

company

2013
(£’000)

50,121
5,677
(293)
(50)

2012
(£’000)

46,476
3,645
-
-

2013
(£’000)

50,121
5,677
(293)
(50)

2012
(£’000)

46,476
3,645
-
-

Total equity

55,455

50,121

55,455

50,121

Refer to Note 21 for detailed analysis of the changes in the components of equity.

The notes on pages 29 to 51 form part of these financial statements.

28

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

1.  accounting policies

Basis of preparation of financial statements
These  consolidated  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  international  Financial 
Reporting  Standards  as  adopted  for  use  by  the  European  Union  (“iFRS”),  and  in  accordance  with  the 
Companies Act 2006.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by 
the revaluation of certain financial assets and financial liabilities through profit and loss.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with iFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting 
estimates particularly in relation to investment valuation. it also requires management to exercise its judgement 
in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies.

New standards effective during the year
None  of  the  new  standards,  interpretations  or  amendments,  which  are  effective  for  the  first  time  in  these 
consolidated financial statements, has had a material impact on these consolidated financial statements.

Basis of consolidation
The Group financial statements consolidate the results and net assets of the Company and all of its subsidiary 
undertakings.

Business combinations
The results of subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that 
control commences until the date that control ceases. Control exists where the Group has the power to govern 
the financial and operating policies of the entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. Accounting policies of 
the subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

All  business  combinations  are  accounted  for  by  using  the  acquisition  accounting  method.  This  involves 
recognising identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquired business at fair value. Goodwill represents the excess 
of the fair value of the purchase consideration for the interests in subsidiary undertakings over the fair value 
to  the  Group  of  the  net  assets  and  any  contingent  liabilities  acquired.  The  one  exception  to  the  use  of  the 
acquisition accounting method was in 2006 when B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc became the legal parent company 
of B.P. Marsh & Company Limited in a share for share exchange transaction. This was accounted for as a reverse 
acquisition, such that no goodwill arose, and a merger reserve was created reflecting the difference between the 
book value of the shares issued by B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc as consideration for the acquisition of the share 
capital of B.P. Marsh & Company Limited. This compliance with iFRS 3 also represented a departure from the 
Companies Act.

intra-group  balances  and  any  unrealised  gains  and  losses  or  income  and  expenses  arising  from  intra-group 
transactions are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Associates are those entities in which the Group has significant influence, but not control, over the financial 
and  operating  policies.  investments  that  are  held  as  part  of  the  Group’s  investment  portfolio  are  carried  in 
the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Financial  Position  at  fair  value  even  though  the  Group  may  have  significant 
influence over those companies. This treatment is permitted by iAS 28 investment in Associates (“iAS 28”), 
which  requires  investments  held  by  venture  capital  organisations  to  be  excluded  from  its  scope  where  those 
investments are designated, upon initial recognition, as at fair value through profit or loss and accounted for in 
accordance with iAS 39, with changes in fair value recognised in the profit or loss in the period of the change. 
The Group has no interests in associates through which it carries on its business.

29

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

1.  accounting policies (continueD)

Business combinations (continued)
No  Statement  of  Comprehensive  income  is  prepared  for  the  Company,  as  permitted  by  Section  408  of  the 
Companies Act 2006. The Company made a profit for the year of £5,676,742, prior to a dividend distribution 
of £292,861 (2012: profit of £3,644,959).

Investments
All investments are designated as “fair value through profit or loss” assets and are initially recognised at the fair 
value of the consideration. They are measured at subsequent reporting dates at fair value.

The Board conducts the valuations of investments. in valuing investments, the Board applies guidelines issued 
by the international Private Equity and venture Capital valuation (“iPEvCv”) Committee. The following 
valuation methodologies have been used in reaching the fair value of investments, some of which are in early 
stage companies:
a) 

at cost, unless there has been a significant round of new equity finance in which case the investment is valued 
at  the  price  paid  by  an  independent  third  party.  Where  subsequent  events  or  changes  to  circumstances 
indicate  that  an  impairment  may  have  occurred,  the  carrying  value  is  reduced  to  reflect  the  estimated 
extent of impairment;

b)  by reference to underlying funds under management;
c)  by applying appropriate multiples to the earnings and revenues of the investee company; or
d)  by reference to expected future cash flow from the investment where a realisation or flotation is imminent.

Both realised and unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are taken to the Consolidated 
Statement  of  Comprehensive  income  for  the  year.  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Financial  Position  the 
unrealised gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are shown within a “fair value reserve” separate from 
retained earnings. Transaction costs on acquisition or disposal of investments are expensed in the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive income.

Income from investments
income from investments comprises:
a)  gross interest from loans, which is taken to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income on an 

accruals basis;

b)  dividends from equity investments are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income 

c) 

when the shareholders rights to receive payment have been established; and
advisory  fees  from  management  services  provided  to  investee  companies,  which  are  recognised  on  an 
accruals basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant investment advisory agreement.

Carried interest provision
This  represents  the  amount  payable  to  a  director  in  the  event  of  a  particular  investment  being  sold  and  is 
calculated on the fair value of that investment at the end of each reporting period.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to 
write off the property, plant and equipment cost less their estimated residual value, over their expected useful 
lives on the following bases:

Furniture & equipment – 5 years
Leasehold fixtures and fittings – over the life of the lease

30

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

1.  accounting policies (continueD)

Foreign currencies
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting period are translated at the 
exchange rate ruling at the reporting period.

Transactions in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the foreign exchange rate ruling at the date of 
the transaction.

Exchange gains and losses are recognised in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income.

Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and any deferred tax. The tax currently payable 
is based on the estimated taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the 
Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehensive  income  because  it  excludes  items  of  income  or  expense  that  are 
taxable  or  deductible  in  other  years  and  it  further  excludes  items  that  are  never  taxable  or  deductible.  The 
Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by 
the date of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of 
assets and of liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of 
taxable profit, and it is accounted for using the liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised 
for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that 
taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and 
liabilities are not recognised if the temporary differences arise from goodwill or from the initial recognition 
(other  than  in  a  business  combination)  of  other  assets  and  liabilities  in  a  transaction  that  affects  neither  the 
taxable profit nor the accounting profit.

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries, 
except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each date of the Consolidated Statement of Financial 
Position and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to 
allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability is settled or 
the asset realised. Deferred tax is charged or credited to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income, 
except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt 
with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets 
against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the 
Group intends to settle its current assets and liabilities on a net basis.

Pension costs
The Group operates a defined contribution scheme for some of its employees. The contributions payable to the 
scheme during the period are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income.

31

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

1.  accounting policies (continueD)

Operating leases
Rentals under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are recognised on a straight-line basis 
over the period until the date the rent is expected to be adjusted to the prevailing market rate.

Financial assets and liabilities
Financial  instruments  are  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Financial  Position  when  the  Group 
becomes party to the contractual provisions of the instrument. De-recognition occurs when rights to cash flows 
from a financial asset expire, or when a liability is extinguished.

Loans and receivables
Loans  and  receivables  are  non-derivative  financial  assets  with  fixed  or  determinable  payments  that  are  not 
quoted in an active market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months 
after the reporting period which are classified as non-current assets. 

Loans and borrowings
All loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received net of issue costs 
associated with the borrowings. After initial recognition, these are subsequently measured at amortised cost 
using  the  effective  interest  method,  which  is  the  rate  that  exactly  discounts  the  estimated  future  cash  flows 
through the expected life of the liabilities. Amortised cost is calculated by taking into account any issue costs 
and any discount or premium on settlement.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position are initially measured at original 
invoice amount and subsequently measured after deducting any provision for impairment.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position comprise cash at bank and in hand 
and short-term deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. For the purposes of the Consolidated 
Statement of Cash Flows, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash and short-term deposits as defined above and 
other short-term highly liquid investments that are readily convertible into cash and are subject to insignificant 
risk of changes in value, net of bank overdrafts.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are stated based on the amounts which are considered to be payable in respect of goods 
or services received up to the date of the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.

32

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

1.  accounting policies (continueD)

International Financial Reporting Standards in issue but not yet effective 
At the date of authorisation of these consolidated financial statements, the international Accounting Standards 
Board (“iASB”) and international Financial Reporting interpretations Committee (“iFRiC”) have issued the 
following standards, which are effective for annual accounting periods beginning on or after the stated effective 
date.

Effective for periods 
beginning on or after 

iAS 1 – Presentation of items of Other Comprehensive income (Amendment)

1st July 2012

iFRS 7 – Financial instruments: Disclosures (Amendments)

iFRS 13 – Fair value Measurement

iFRS 10, 11 & 12 and iAS 27 & 28 – investment Entities (Amendments)

iFRS 9 – Financial instruments

1st January 2013

1st January 2013

1st January 2014

1st January 2015

The  Group  is  currently  assessing  the  impact  of   iFRS  10  “investment  Entities”  (Amendments).  All  other 
standards and interpretations are not expected to have a material impact on the consolidated financial statements.

As the Group prepares its financial statements in accordance with iFRS as adopted by the European Union, the 
application of new standards and interpretations will be subject to their having been endorsed for use in the EU 
via the EU Endorsement mechanism. in the majority of cases this will result in an effective date consistent with 
that given in the original standard or interpretation but the need for endorsement restricts the Group’s discretion 
to early adopt standards.

2.  segmental reporting

The Group operates in one business segment, provision of consultancy services to, as well as making and trading 
investments in, financial services businesses.

The  Group  identifies  its  reportable  operating  segments  based  on  the  geographical  location  in  which  each  of 
its investments is incorporated and primarily operates. For management purposes, the Group is organised and 
reports its performance by two geographic segments: UK & Channel islands and Non-UK & Channel islands.

if material to the Group overall (where the segment revenues, reported profit or loss or combined assets exceed 
the quantitative thresholds prescribed by iFRS 8 Operating Segments (“iFRS 8”)), the segment information is 
reported separately. 

The Group allocates revenues, expenses, assets and liabilities to the operating segment where directly attributable 
to  that  segment.  All  indirect  items  are  apportioned  based  on  the  percentage  proportion  of  revenue  that  the 
operating  segment  contributes  to  the  total  Group  revenue  (excluding  any  unrealised  gains  and  losses  on  the 
Group’s non-current investments).

Each reportable segment derives its revenues from three main sources. These are described in further detail in 
Note 1 under ‘income from investments’.

All reportable segments derive their revenues entirely from external clients and there are no inter-segment sales.

33

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

2.  segmental reporting (continueD)

geographic segment 1: 
uk & channel islanDs

geographic segment 2:
non-uk & channel 
islanDs

group

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

9,180
Operating income / (loss)
Operating expenses
(1,558)
Segment operating profit / (loss)  7,622

6,076
(1,307)
4,769

(955)
(449)
(1,404)

Financial income
Financial expenses
Exchange movements
Exceptional items

Profit / (loss) before tax
income tax
Profit / (loss) for the year 

4
(51)
(9)
-

7,566
(834)
6,732

-
(75)
(8)
(30)

1
(14)
46
-

4,656
(805)
3,851

(1,371)
316
(1,055)

303
(510)
(207)

-
(29)
(43)
-

(279)
73
(206)

8,225
(2,007)
6,218

5
(65)
37
-

6,195
(518)
5,677

6,379
(1,817)
4,562

-
(104)
(51)
(30)

4,377
(732)
3,645

included within the operating income reported above are the following amounts requiring separate disclosure 
owing to the fact that they are derived from a single investee company and the total revenues attributable to 
that investee company are 10% or more of the total realised income generated by the Group during the period:

total income 
attributable to the 
investee company
(£’000)

% of total realiseD 
operating income

reportable geographic 
segment

2013

2012

2013

2012

2013

2012

Investee Company
Besso insurance Group Limited
Hyperion insurance 
Group Limited
Summa insurance Brokerage, S.L.
U.S. Risk (UK) Limited

724

590
312
210

550

599
425
209

35

28
15
10

26

28
20
10

1

1
2
1&2

1

1
2
1&2

34

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

2.  segmental reporting (continueD)

geographic segment 1: 
uk & channel islanDs

geographic segment 2:
non-uk & channel 
islanDs

group

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
investments
Loans and receivables

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Deferred tax assets

7
49,225
6,899
56,131

970
1,787
-
2,757

13
45,717
4,833
50,563

1,404
666
-
2,070

-
3,486
1,688
5,174

204
-
327
531

1
4,907
1,150
6,058

689
-
50
739

7
52,711
8,587
61,305

1,174
1,787
327
3,288

14
50,624
5,983
56,621

2,093
666
50
2,809

Total assets

58,888

52,633

5,705

6,797

64,593

59,430

Non-current liabilities
Loans and other payables
Carried interest provision
Deferred tax liabilities

Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Total liabilities

(100)
(294)
(8,260)
(8,654)

(484)
(9,138)

(1,250)
(299)
(7,465)
(9,014)

(295)
(9,309)

-
-
-
-

-
-

-
-
-
-

-
-

(100)
(294)
(8,260)
(8,654)

(484)
(9,138)

(1,250)
(299)
(7,465)
(9,014)

(295)
(9,309)

Net assets

49,750

43,324

5,705

6,797

55,455

50,121

-

1

-

41
-
(30)

11

-

2

100

(89)
-
(305)

1

8

-

12
4,047
(2,929)

(394)

1,130

4

23

339

215
(688)
631

158

Additions to property, plant 
and equipment 

Depreciation of property, plant 
and equipment

impairment of investments 
and loans

Cash flow arising from: 
Operating activities
investing activities
Financing activities
Change in cash and 
cash equivalents

1

7

-

(29)
4,047
(2,899)

1,119

4

21

239

304
(688)
936

552

35

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

3.  financial expenses

Other interest (Note 16)

4.  financial income

Bank interest 

5.  staff costs

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

65

104

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

5

-

The  average  number  of  employees,  including  all  directors  (executive  and  non-executive),  employed  by  the 
Group during the year was 16 (2012: 16). All remuneration was paid by B. P. Marsh & Company Limited.

The related staff costs were:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs 
Pension costs

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

1,219
153
43
1,415

1,055
125
37
1,217

included within the prior year wages and salaries total above was a one-off compensation payment of £30,000 
made to a director who left the Group during the year (see Note 6 below). This was included in the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive income as an exceptional item. No such payment was made to any of the employees 
in the current year.

6.  Directors’ emoluments

The aggregate emoluments of the directors were

Management services – remuneration 
Fees
Pension contributions – remuneration

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

883
43
26
952

794
36
24
854

in addition to the above, Mr S. S. Clarke has an entitlement to a gain based on a carried interest, as outlined in 
Note 17.

included within the prior year management services total above was a one-off compensation payment of £30,000 
made to a director who left the Group during that year. This was included in the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive  income  as  an  exceptional  item.  No  such  payment  was  made  to  any  of  the  directors  in  the 
current year.

36

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6.  Directors’ emoluments (continueD)

Highest paid director
Emoluments 
Long term incentive payments
Pension contribution

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

175
250
13
438

191
-
-
191

The Company contributes into its defined contribution pension scheme on behalf of certain employees and 
directors. Contributions payable are charged to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income in the 
period to which they relate.

During the period, 3 directors (2012: 4) accrued benefits under the defined contribution pension scheme.

7.  DiviDenDs

Ordinary dividends
Final dividend paid:
1 pence each on 29,286,143 Ordinary shares

8.  profit on orDinary activities before taxation

The profit for the period is arrived at after charging / (crediting):

Depreciation of owned tangible fixed assets
Auditors remuneration: 
     Audit fees for the Company 
     Other services: 
          – Audit of subsidiaries’ accounts 
          – Taxation 
          – Other advisory
Exchange (gain) / loss
Operating lease rentals of land and buildings

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

293
293

-
-

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

8

23

9
8
22
(37)
84

23

21

7
10
30
51
112

37

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

9.  taxation

The charge for tax comprises:

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

UK corporation tax charge for the year
Deferred tax charge for the year (Note 18)

Factors affecting the charge for the year
Profit on ordinary activities before tax

Tax at 24.33% on profit on ordinary activities (2012: 26.32%)
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Non taxable net unrealised gains
Capital gains on disposal of investments
Other effects:
Management expenses (utilised) / carried forward
Non-taxable income (dividends received)

Corporate tax charge for the year

-
518
518

6,195

1,507

25
(1,493)
953

(919)
(73)

-

-
732
732

4,377

1,152

20
(1,217)
5

214
(174)

-

There are no factors which may affect future tax charges except as set out in Note 18.

10. earnings per share from continuing operations attributable to the 

equity shareholDers

Earnings 
Earnings for the purpose of basic and diluted earnings per 
share being net profit attributable to equity shareholders

Earnings per share – basic and diluted 

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

5,677

19.4p

3,645

12.4p

number

number

Number of shares 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes 
of basic earnings per share

29,258,072

29,286,143

Number of dilutive shares under option

Nil

Nil

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes 
of dilutive earnings per share

29,258,072

29,286,143

in August 2012 the Company repurchased 56,143 ordinary shares at a price of 89 pence per ordinary share. 
These shares were immediately cancelled upon purchase, resulting in a reduction in the number of ordinary 
shares in issue from 29,286,143 to 29,230,000.

38

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

11. property, plant anD equipment

Group

Cost
At 1st February 2011
Additions
Disposals
At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Additions
Disposals
At 31st January 2013

Depreciation
At 1st February 2011
Eliminated on disposal
Charge for the year
At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Eliminated on disposal
Charge for the year
At 31st January 2013

Net book value
At 31st January 2013
At 31st January 2012
At 31st January 2011

furniture & 
equipment
(£’000)

leaseholD fixtures 
& fittings
(£’000)

total
(£’000)

51
-
-
51

51
-
-
51

37
-
14
51

51
-
-
51

-
-
14

114
4
-
118

118
1
(10)
109

81
-
23
104

104
(10)
8
102

7
14
33

63
4
-
67

67
1
(10)
58

44
-
9
53

53
(10)
8
51

7
14
19

39

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

12. non-current investments

Group

shares in investee companies 
total (£’000)

At valuation
At 1st February 2011
Additions
Disposals
Provisions
Unrealised gains in this period
At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Additions
Disposals
Provisions
Unrealised gains in this period
At 31st January 2013

At cost
At 1st February 2011
Additions
Disposals
Provisions
At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Additions
Disposals
Provisions
At 31st January 2013

47,143
735
(1,846)
-
4,592
50,624

50,624
822
(4,865)
-
6,130
52,711

19,375
735
(1,846)
-
18,264

18,264
822
(1,117)
-
17,969

The principal addition in the year relates to the acquisition on 1st November 2012 of a further 6.71% shareholding 
in Besso insurance Group Limited for £775,000.

The principal disposals relate to the following transactions in the year:

On 16th March 2012 the Group made a partial disposal of 4.02% of its then total 34.02% equity interest in 
Besso insurance Group Limited (“Besso”) with a carrying value of £279,000 for consideration of £278,698. 
The partial disposal was made from an 11.29% equity interest in Besso originally acquired on 31st March 2011 
by B. P. Marsh & Company Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which at the time increased 
the Group’s overall holding from 22.73% to 34.02%. The 4.02% disposal represented the proportion of shares 
which were available for buy-back by Besso following the exercise of a Call Option agreement (entered into 
on 26th May 2011) for subsequent issue to management under a share incentive scheme. As a result of the Call 
Option  being  exercised,  and  the  further  6.71%  acquired  on  1st  November  2012  (noted  above),  the  Group’s 
overall holding in Besso as at 31st January 2013 was 36.71%.

On 17th May 2012 the Group made a disposal of 2.75% of its then total 18.94% equity interest in Hyperion 
insurance Group Limited (“Hyperion”). 1,193,500 shares (from a total holding of 8,222,900 shares) were sold 
to  an  existing  Hyperion  shareholder  and  co-investor,  Murofo  investments  S.L.,  for  a  cash  consideration  of 
£4,535,330. Following a major acquisition by Hyperion on 3rd July 2012 which was part funded by the issue of 
new shares, as at 31st January 2013 the Group’s overall holding in Hyperion stood at 13.84%.

40

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

12. non-current investments (continueD)

Group (continued)
The unquoted investee companies, which are registered in England except Summa insurance Brokerage S. L. 
(Spain),  Preferred  Asset  Management  Limited  ( Jersey),  Close  Horizons  Limited  (isle  of  Man)  and  Paterson 
Squared, LLC (USA), are as follows:

name of company

% holDing
of share
capital

Date
information
available to

aggregate
capital anD
reserves (£)

post tax
profit/(loss)
for the year (£)

principal
activity

Amberglobe Limited

49.00

30.04.12

(789,729)

(50,789)

Business sales platform

Besso insurance 
Group Limited

Hyperion insurance 
Group Limited

LEBC Holdings 
Limited

Portfolio Design 
Group international 
Limited

Morex Commercial 
Limited

Preferred Asset 
Management 
Limited

Close Horizons 
Limited

Paterson Squared, 
LLC

Summa insurance 
Brokerage, S. L.

U.S. Risk (UK) 
Limited

36.71

31.12.12

6,383,049

14,163

13.84

30.09.12

37,940,000

20,572,000

21.95

30.09.12

619,910

360,006

20.00

31.12.12

6,442,713

(398,801)

20.00

31.12.12

446,923

44,255

20.00

30.09.12

368,720

139,813

20.00

31.12.12

1,442,900

153,939

22.50

31.12.10

364,411

279,575

48.625

31.12.11

9,968,299

1,097,805

29.28

31.12.12

1,879,733

(965,017)

investment holding 
company

insurance holding 
company 

independent financial 
advisor company

Fund managers of traded 
endowment policies

Trading in secondary 
life policies

Fund management 
company

investment holding 
company 

independent reinsurance 
transaction consultants

Consolidator of regional 
insurance brokers

Holding company for 
insurance intermediaries

41

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

12. non-current investments (continueD)

Group (continued)
in addition, as at 31st January 2013 the Group held 1.35% of the share capital of Randall & Quilter investment 
Holdings Plc (“R&Q”). R&Q is an AiM listed company. During the current year R&Q made two ‘return 
of value’ distributions totalling £55,442 to shareholders through the issue and subsequent cancellation of new 
shares. The Group elected to receive these distributions (£32,731 in June 2012 and £22,711 in November 2012) 
as ‘capital’ receipts rather than the dividend (income) alternative. The Group has treated these distributions as 
disposal proceeds and reduced the cost base of this investment accordingly, resulting in a £4,501 realised gain 
on disposal of investment (see Note 13) which is reflected in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 
income for the year. 

On  27th  July  2012  the  Company’s  wholly  owned  subsidiary  B.  P.  Marsh  &  Company  Limited  entered  into 
a  Share  Exchange  Agreement  with  The  Broucour  Group  Limited  (“the  Broucour  Group”)  in  respect  of  its 
49% equity investment in Amberglobe Limited (“Amberglobe”). On this date the Broucour Group acquired 
the entire issued share capital of Amberglobe (£200,000 divided into £130,000 ordinary shares and £70,000 
preference shares of £1 each, of which the Group, through its subsidiary undertaking, owned £98,000 divided 
into £28,000 ordinary shares and £70,000 preference shares). The Broucour Group was incorporated in July 
2012 as a holding company to facilitate the acquisition of the assets of Turner Butler Limited (“Turner Butler”). 
The Group assisted in this acquisition by providing the Broucour Group with a £600,000 loan facility to fund 
the acquisition cost and associated working capital requirements which was drawn down in full on 27th July 
2012. As a result of this transaction, the Group’s original investment in Amberglobe is now held in the Broucour 
Group, with Amberglobe now a wholly owned subsidiary of the Broucour Group. 

The aggregate capital and reserves and profit / (loss) for the year shown above are extracted from the relevant 
local GAAP accounts of the investee companies except for those of Hyperion insurance Group Limited which 
are prepared under iFRS.

Company

At valuation
At 1st February 2011
Additions
Unrealised gains in this period
At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Additions
Unrealised gains in this period
At 31st January 2013

At cost
At 1st February 2011
Additions
At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Additions
At 31st January 2013

shares in group
unDertakings
(£’000)

36,320
-
3,645
39,965

39,965
-
5,334
45,299

2,143
-
2,143

2,143
-
2,143

42

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

12. non-current investments (continueD)

Company (continued)

Shares in group undertakings
All group undertakings are registered in England and Wales. The details and results of group undertakings, 
which are extracted from the UK GAAP accounts of these companies, are as follows:

name of company

% holDing
of share
capital

aggregate
capital anD
reserves at
31st January 
2013 (£)

profit/(loss) for 
the year to
31st January
2013 (£)

principal
activity

B. P. Marsh & 
Company Limited

Marsh insurance 
Holdings Limited

B. P. Marsh Asset 
Management Limited

B. P. Marsh & Co. Trustee 
Company Limited

Marsh Development 
Capital Limited

100

53,232,062

4,519

100

100

100

100

11,082,299

54,836

1,000

1,000

1

-

-

-

Consulting services 
and investment 
holding company

investment holding 
company

Dormant

Dormant

Dormant

13. realiseD gains / (losses) on Disposal of investments

The realised gains on disposal of investments comprises of a gain of £4,501 in respect of capital distributions 
made by R&Q in the year (see Note 12). The amount included in realised losses on disposal of investments for 
the year ended 31st January 2012 was £20,740 which was also in respect of capital distributions made by R&Q.

in addition, during the year the Group also disposed of part of its investment in Hyperion insurance Group 
Limited (“Hyperion”) at its carrying value of £4,535,000. The Group also disposed of shares held under an option 
agreement in Besso insurance Group Limited (“Besso”) with a carrying value of £279,000 for consideration 
of £278,698 (see Note 12 for further details). As a result of these disposals being made at carrying value, no 
material gain or loss was included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive income in the current year. 

The above Hyperion and Besso disposals did, however, result in a release to Retained Earnings from the Fair 
value Reserve of £3,748,321 (see Note 21).

14. loans anD receivables – non-current

Trade receivables
Loans to investee companies (Note 26)
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

group

company

2013
(£’000)

127
8,460
-
£8,587

2012
(£’000)

-
5,983
-
£5,983

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

-
-
10,155
£10,155

-
-
10,155
£10,155

included within trade receivables is £127,214 (2012: £Nil) owed by the Group’s participating interests.

See Note 26 for terms of the loans.

43

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15. traDe anD other receivables - current

Trade receivables
Less provision for impairment of receivables

Loans to investee companies (Note 26)
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income

group

company

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

363
-
363
261
11
539
1,174

388
(123)
265
1,415
7
406
2,093

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-
-
-

included within trade receivables is £332,394 (2012: £244,952) owed by the Group’s participating interests. 

Trade receivables are provided for based on estimated irrecoverable amounts from the fees and interest charged 
to investee companies, determined by the Group’s management based on prior experience and their assessment 
of the current economic environment.

Movement in the allowance for doubtful debts:

group

company

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

Balance at 1st February
(Utilisation of ) / increase in provision in 
the period

Balance at 31st January

123

(123)

-

68

55

123

-

-

-

-

-

-

in determining the recoverability of a trade receivable, the Group considers any change in the credit quality of 
the trade receivable from the date credit was initially granted up to the reporting date. 

The Group’s net trade receivable balance (current and non-current) includes debtors with a carrying amount 
of £490,046 (2012: £263,552) which are past due at the reporting date for which the Group has not provided as 
there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the amounts are still considered recoverable. The 
Group does not hold any collateral over these balances.

Ageing of past due but not impaired:

0 – 30 days
31 – 60 days
61 – 90 days
More than 90 days

group

company

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

238
83
45
124

490

63
65
12
123

263

-
-
-
-

-

-
-
-
-

-

in the current year there were no provisions made against loans to investee companies (2012: £339,000). The 
total provision against loans relating to Fixed Asset investments as at 31st January 2013 stands at £785,000 (2012: 
£785,000).

See Note 26 for terms of the loans and Note 25 for further credit risk information.

44

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

16. loans anD other payables

During the year, the Group repaid £1,250,000 of a loan facility totalling £4,325,000, which certain directors 
and companies controlled by the directors, or other related parties, agreed to provide to the Group during the 
year to 31st January 2011. The loan facility is secured on the assets of the Company, accrues interest at a rate of 
UK Base Rate + 4% (subject to a minimum of 6.5%), and is repayable in full by 9th June 2013. As at 31st January 
2013 none of this facility remained drawn down (as at 31st January 2012: £1,250,000 drawn down).

interest  on  this  loan  facility  of  £64,760  (2012:  £103,524)  was  charged  to  the  Consolidated  Statement  of 
Comprehensive income for the current year (Note 3). 

in  addition,  during  the  year  the  Group  received  an  upfront  payment  of  £300,000  in  respect  of  a  three  year 
loan  arrangement  fee  from  Besso  insurance  Group  Limited  (“Besso”).  As  at  31st  January  2013  £100,000  of 
this  fee  was  included  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Financial  Position  under  ‘Non-current  liabilities’  as 
long-term deferred income. The remaining portion of the fee is included within the Consolidated Statement 
of Financial Position under ‘Current liabilities’ or has already been credited to the Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive income as fees receivable. The receipt of this upfront fee had no cash impact for the Group as it 
was funded through an increase to a loan facility provided to Besso in March 2012.

17. carrieD interest provision

Carried interest provision

group

company

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

294

294

299

299

-

-

-

-

This carried interest provision represents S. S. Clarke’s entitlement to a maximum of 20% of any gain, after deducting 
expenses and following the repayment of all loans, redemption of all preference shares, loan stock and equivalent 
finance provided by the Company, on the sale of certain agreed investments of the Company and its subsidiaries.

No amounts were paid under this contract during the year (2012: £Nil).

18. DeferreD tax liabilities – non-current

At 1st February 2011
Charged to Statement of Comprehensive income

At 31st January 2012

At 1st February 2012
Charged to Statement of Comprehensive income

At 31st January 2013

group
(£’000)

company
(£’000)

6,683
732

7,415

7,415
518

7,933

-
-

-

-
-

-

The  directors  estimate  that,  if  the  Group  were  to  dispose  of  all  its  investments  at  the  amount  stated  in  the 
Consolidated  Statement  of  Financial  Position,  £7,933,000  (2012:  £7,415,000)  of  tax  on  capital  gains  would 
become payable by the Group at a corporation tax rate of 23% (2012: 26%).

45

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

18. DeferreD tax liabilities – non-current (continueD)

The Government recently announced a further 2% reduction in the corporation tax rate from 23% to 21% with 
effect from 1 April 2014, which is expected to be legislated in the Finance Bill 2013.

As the 21% rate was not substantively enacted at the year end and is not effective until 1st April 2014 at the earliest, 
this  rate  has  not  been  used  in  calculating  the  deferred  tax  liabilities  arising  from  the  unrealised  gains  on  the 
revaluation of the Group’s investments.

19. traDe anD other payables – current

group

company

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

30
31
423

484

37
45
213

295

-
-
-

-

-
-
-

-

Trade payables
Other taxation & social security costs
Accruals and deferred income

20. calleD up share capital

Allotted, called up and fully paid
29,230,000 Ordinary shares of 10p each (2012: 29,286,143)

2013
(£’000)

2012
(£’000)

2,923

2,923

2,929

2,929

in August 2012 the Company repurchased 56,143 ordinary shares at a price of 89 pence per ordinary share. 
These shares were immediately cancelled upon purchase, resulting in a reduction in the number of ordinary 
shares in issue from 29,286,143 to 29,230,000.

46

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

21. reconciliation of movements in shareholDers’ funDs

Group

share
capital
(£’000)

2,929
-

At 1st February 2011
Profit for the year

share
premium
account
(£’000)

fair value
reserve
(£’000)

reverse
acquisition
reserve
(£’000)

capital
reDemption
reserve
(£’000)

9,370
-

20,883
3,773

At 31st January 2012

2,929

9,370

24,656

At 1st February 2012

2,929

9,370

Profit for the year

Transfers on sale of 
investments (Note 13)

Dividends paid
(Note 7)

Share repurchase 
(Note 20)

-

-

-

(6)

-

-

-

-

24,656

5,440

(3,748)

-

-

393
-

393

393

-

-

-

-

At 31st January 2013

2,923

9,370

26,348

393

Company

share
capital
(£’000)

share
premium
account
(£’000)

fair value
reserve
(£’000)

capital
reDemption
reserve
(£’000)

retaineD
earnings
(£’000)

At 1st February 2011

2,929

Profit for the year

-

9,370

-

34,176

3,645

At 31st January 2012

2,929

9,370

37,821

At 1st February 2012

2,929

9,370

Profit for the year

Dividends paid 
(Note 7)

Share repurchase 
(Note 20)

-

-

(6)

-

-

-

37,821

5,334

-

-

At 31st January 2013

2,923

9,370

43,155

-

-

-

-

6

6

retaineD
earnings
(£’000)

12,901
(128)

total
(£’000)

46,476
3,645

12,773

50,121

12,773

237

50,121

5,677

3,748

-

(293)

(293)

(50)

(50)

16,415

55,455

total
(£’000)

46,476

3,645

50,121

50,121

5,677

-
-

-

-

-

-

-

6

6

1

-

1

1

343

(293)

(293)

(50)

(50)

1

55,455

22. operating lease commitments

The Group and Company was committed to making the following future aggregate minimum lease payments 
under non cancellable operating leases:

Earlier than one year
Between two and five years

47

2013
lanD anD
builDings
(£’000)

84
244

2012
lanD anD
builDings
(£’000)

84
329

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

23. loan anD equity commitments

On 10th March 2008 the Group entered into an agreement to provide a loan facility of £630,000 to Amberglobe 
Limited, a subsidiary undertaking of The Broucour Group Limited, an investee company. An additional loan 
facility of £65,000 was agreed on 30th November 2009 increasing the total facility to £695,000. As at 31st January 
2013 £685,000 of this facility had been drawn down.

On 22nd July 2010 the Group entered into an agreement to provide a loan facility of £1,950,000 to US Risk 
(UK) Limited, an investee company. As at 31st January 2013 none of this facility had been drawn down.

Refer  to  Note  27  for  details  of  a  loan  funding  commitment  entered  into  in  respect  of  Hyperion  insurance 
Group Limited after the balance sheet date.

24. contingent liabilities

The Group has entered into long-term incentive arrangements with certain employees and directors. Provided 
they remain in employment with the Group as at specified dates in the future, the Group has agreed to pay 
bonuses totalling £135,000 together with the Employers’ National insurance due thereon. £75,000, £30,000 
and £30,000 are due to be paid on 1st October 2013, 15th May 2015 and 15th May 2016 respectively. No amount 
has been included in these financial statements as the performance conditions relating to these incentives had 
not been met at the year end.

25. financial instruments

The  Group’s  financial  instruments  comprise  loans  to  participating  interests,  cash  and  liquid  resources  and 
various other items, such as trade debtors, trade creditors, other debtors and creditors and loans. These arise 
directly from the Group’s operations.

The Group has not entered into any derivatives transactions.

it is, and has been throughout the period under review, the Group’s policy that no trading in financial instruments 
shall be undertaken.

The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are price risk, credit risk, liquidity risk, interest 
rate cash flow risk and currency risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for managing each of these risks and 
they are summarised in the Group Report of the Directors under “Financial Risk Management”.

Interest rate profile
The Group has cash balances of £1,787,000 (2012: £666,000), which are part of the financing arrangements of 
the Group. The cash balances comprise bank current accounts and deposits placed at investment rates of interest, 
which ranged up to 0.3% p.a. in the period (2012: deposit rates of interest ranged up to 0.1% p.a.). During the 
period maturity periods ranged between immediate access and 1 month (2012: all cash balances were held in 
immediate access accounts).

Currency hedging
During the period, the Group did not engage in any form of currency hedging transaction (2012: None).

Financial liabilities
The Company had no borrowings as at 31st January 2013 (2012: £1,250,000). Please refer to Note 16 for further 
details.

48

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F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

25. financial instruments (continueD)

Fair values
The Group has adopted the amendment to iFRS 7 for financial instruments which are measured at fair value 
at the reporting date. This requires disclosure of fair value measurements by level of the following fair value 
measurement hierarchy:
•  Level 1:  Quoted prices unadjusted in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;
•  Level 2:   inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, 

observed either directly as prices or indirectly from prices; and
•  Level 3:  inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data.

The following table presents the Group’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value at 31st January 2013:

Assets
investments designated as “fair value 
through profit or loss” assets

level 1
(£’000)

level 2
(£’000)

level 3
(£’000)

total
(£’000)

785

785

-

-

51,926

51,926

52,711

52,711

The Group’s assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value at 31st January 2012 are presented in the following 
table:

level 1
(£’000)

level 2
(£’000)

level 3
(£’000)

total
(£’000)

Assets
investments designated as “fair value 
through profit or loss” assets

26. relateD party Disclosures

658

658

-

-

49,966

49,966

50,624

50,624

The following loans owed by the associated companies of the Company and its subsidiaries were outstanding 
at the year end:

The Broucour Group Ltd
Besso insurance Group Ltd
Hyperion insurance Group Ltd
Paterson Squared, LLC

Summa insurance Brokerage, S. L.

2013
(£)

2012
(£)

1,285,000
3,678,698
2,754,392
100,000

685,000
2,940,000
2,846,642
100,000

(e )

(e )

1,971,879

1,942,678

The loans are typically secured on the assets of the investee companies and an appropriate interest rate is charged 
based upon the risk profile of that company.

49

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

26. relateD party Disclosures (continueD)

During the year, the Group repaid part of an agreed £4,325,000 loan facility with certain directors, companies 
controlled by the directors, or other related parties (the “Lenders”), including Brian Marsh Enterprises Limited 
(£425,000 of a total £3,500,000 facility drawn down as at 31st January 2012 repaid in full during the year), Ms J. 
K. N. Dunbar (total facility of £500,000 drawn down as at 31st January 2012 repaid in full during the year), Mr 
P. J. Mortlock (total facility of £250,000 drawn down as at 31st January 2012 repaid in full during the year) and 
Mrs M. Newman (total facility of £75,000 drawn down as at 31st January 2012 repaid in full during the year) 
which was secured on the assets of the Company. 

The loan accrued interest at a rate of UK Base Rate + 4%, subject to a minimum of 6.5%, and was repayable 
in full by 9th June 2013. interest was payable on a quarterly basis. This rolling facility bears a charge of 1% p.a. 
on any undrawn amount. As at 31st January 2013 none of this facility remained drawn down (as at 31st January 
2012: £1,250,000).

Mr B. P. Marsh, the Chairman and majority shareholder of the Company is also the Chairman and majority 
shareholder  of  Brian  Marsh  Enterprises  Limited.  Ms  J.  K.  N.  Dunbar  (a  director  and  shareholder  of  the 
Company) and Ms C. S. Kenyon (a director of the Company) are also directors and minority shareholders of 
Brian Marsh Enterprises Limited.

income receivable, consisting of consultancy fees, interest on loans and dividends recognised in the Consolidated 
Statement of Comprehensive income in respect of the associated companies of the Company and its subsidiaries 
for the year were as follows:

The Broucour Group Limited
Besso insurance Group Limited
HQB Partners Limited
Hyperion insurance Group Limited
LEBC Group Limited
Paterson Squared, LLC
Portfolio Design Group international Limited
Summa insurance Brokerage, S. L.
U.S. Risk (UK) Limited and related entities

2013
(£)

2012
(£)

30,855
723,581
-
589,843
102,249
959
66,000
311,733
209,531

46,668
549,666
7,575
599,364
129,892
15,575
82,000
424,519
208,508

in  addition,  the  Group  made  management  charges  of  £35,000  (2012:  £35,000)  to  Marsh  Christian  Trust. 
Mr B. P. Marsh, the Chairman and majority shareholder of the Company, is also the Trustee and Settlor of 
Marsh Christian Trust.

The Group also made management charges of £15,000 (2012: £15,000) to Brian Marsh Enterprises Limited.

S. S. Clarke is entitled to a maximum of 20% of any gain, after deducting expenses and following the repayment 
of all loans, redemption of all preference shares, loan stock and equivalent finance provided by the Company, on 
the sale of certain agreed investments of the Company and its subsidiaries. The carried interest provided for at 
the year end was £294,000 (2012: £299,000).

All the above transactions were conducted on an arms length basis.

Of the total dividend payments made during the year of £292,861, £187,334 was paid to the directors and/or 
parties related to them (2012: £Nil).

50

N O T E S   T O   T H E   C O N S O L I D A T E D   F I N A N C I A L   S T A T E M E N T S
F O R   T H E   Y E A R   E N D E D   3 1ST   J A N U A R Y   2 0 1 3

27. post balance sheet events

On 1st March 2013 the Group subscribed for a further £50,000 of 14% loan stock in Besso insurance Group 
Limited (“Besso”). The loan stock is in addition to the £2,700,000 already held by the Group as at 31st January 
2013, bringing the total 14% loan stock held to £2,750,000 as at the date of this report.

On  21st  March  2013  the  Group  utilised  £875,000  of  the  Directors’  Loan  Facility  (see  Note  16)  in  order  to 
ensure that sufficient funds are available to pursue the various new business opportunities that it is currently 
investigating. On 25th March 2013 the Group utilised a further £1,200,000 of this facility in order to fund a 
reciprocal loan draw down request from U.S. Risk (UK) Limited (noted below). On 31st May 2013 the Group 
utilised the remaining £2,250,000 of the facility to finance a new investment which is expected to complete 
within  a  week  of  signing  these  consolidated  financial  statements,  therefore  as  at  the  date  of  this  report  the 
£4,325,000 facility had been drawn down in full.

On 27th March 2013 the Group announced that, subject to FCA and other overseas regulatory approval, it had 
agreed to sell 5,623,520 shares (from a total holding of 7,029,400 shares) in Hyperion insurance Group Limited 
(“Hyperion”)  to  the  global  growth  equity  firm  General  Atlantic  for  a  cash  consideration  of  £29,242,304 
(£5.20 per A Ordinary share). On completion the Group will retain a 2.76% stake in Hyperion subject to a Call 
Option arrangement which will allow General Atlantic to purchase the Group’s remaining stake of 1,405,880 
A Ordinary shares of Hyperion at £5.20 per share. The Call Option will expire and fall away upon the third 
anniversary  of  completion  or  upon  Hyperion  undertaking  an  initial  Public  Offering  (“iPO”),  whichever  is 
the earlier. The Share Purchase Agreement includes an anti-embarrassment provision which provides that if 
Hyperion undertakes an iPO within twelve months of completion, at a price at or in excess of £6.25 per A 
Ordinary share, there will be an additional amount payable to the Group, up to a maximum of £0.30 per A 
Ordinary share.

As part of the above agreement, and subject to banking consent, the Group has also agreed to provide circa 
£6,100,000 in loan funding to Hyperion at an interest rate of Bank of England Base rate plus 5% (minimum 
7.5%) for a minimum term of 12 months to refinance existing shareholder loans (including £2,754,392 that 
the Group has already provided to Hyperion). The loan will be repayable on an iPO or a change of control 
of Hyperion or 3rd October 2017, whichever is the earlier, but following the first anniversary of this facility 
Hyperion will be able to pre-pay prior to these events on the giving of one months’ notice.

On 2nd April 2013 the Group provided £1,200,000 of an agreed £1,950,000 loan facility to U.S. Risk (UK) 
Limited to fund the continued expansion of the business.

On  13th  May  2013,  following  the  £25,000,000  placing  of  new  shares  by  Randall  &  Quilter  investment 
Holdings plc (“R&Q”) being approved by its shareholders and the shares being admitted to the market, the 
Group subscribed to its pro-rata proportion at 120p per share (total consideration of £337,022), maintaining its 
1.35% shareholding.

On  29th  May  2013,  the  Group  provided  Besso  with  a  loan  facility  of  £747,000,  of  which  it  drew  down  on 
£265,000, to enable it to finance a new acquisition. Together with £2,750,000 of 14% loan stock and other loans 
of £978,698, total loans amounted to £3,993,698 at the reporting date.

28. ultimate controlling party

The directors consider Mr B. P. Marsh to be the ultimate controlling party.

51

N O T E S

52

You Never KNow How Good AN  

INvestmeNt Is uNtIl You HAve sold It

GrowtH, mAturItY 

ANd A vIsIoN for success.

B. P. Marsh & Partners Plc
2nd Floor
36 Broadway
London
SW1H 0BH
Tel: +44 (0)207 233 3112
Fax: +44 (0)207 222 0294
www.bpmarsh.co.uk

P H O T O G R A P H Y   B Y   R O D N E Y   S M i T H