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Brooks Macdonald Group plc

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FY2014 Annual Report · Brooks Macdonald Group plc
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Annual Report & Accounts 
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Business performance 
Financial highlights 
Chairman’s statement 
Chief Executive’s review 
Strategic report 

Directors’ reports 
Report of the directors 
Statement of directors’ responsibilities 

1
2
3-4
5-15 

16-17
18

Consolidated financial statements 
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Brooks 
Macdonald Group plc 
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
Consolidated statement of financial position 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
Consolidated statement of cash flows 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

19-20
21
22
23
24
25-59

Company financial statements 
Independent auditors’ report to the members of Brooks 
Macdonald Group plc 
Company balance sheet 
Notes to the company financial statements 

60
61
62-66

Shareholders’ information 
Explanatory notes to the Annual General  
Meeting resolutions 
Notice of Annual General Meeting 
Form of proxy 

Other information 
Directors and advisers 

67-68
69-70
71

IBC

 
 
 
Financial highlights

+28%

+16%

+2%

Discretionary funds under 
management increased from 
£5.11 billion to £6.55 billion 
during the year

Total dividends per share have 
increased from 22.5p to 26.0p, 
including a proposed final 
dividend of 19.0p per share

Pre-tax profit for the year was 
£10.6 million compared to  
£10.4 million in 2013

+5%

+14%

Basic earnings per share increased 
from 65.88p to 69.01p

Post-tax profit for the year 
attributable to shareholders  
was £9.1 million compared to 
£8.0 million in 2013

Funds under management (£m)

Earnings per share (p)

Dividend per share (p)

6,550

5,110

57.43

51.92

38.10

3,520

2,969

2,186

69.01

65.88

26.0

22.5

18.5

15.0

9.0

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

1

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcChairman’s statement

Christopher Knight, Chairman

“The strength of our brand 
and the professionalism 
of our staff, coupled with 
the continued investment 
in the business… enable 
us to look forward 
with confidence” 

2

This has been a year of 
significant change, in 
which we have made large 
investments in the Group’s 
future, maintained our 
profits and grown  
our discretionary funds 
under management.

Profit before tax has risen marginally to 

(‘Levitas’), further expanding our Funds 

business and also our exposure in the 

growing field of pensions fund 

management, largely stemming from the 

Government’s auto enrolment initiative.

Our discretionary funds under management 

grew strongly over the year and as at  

30 June 2014 totalled £6.55bn (2013: 

£5.11bn), a rise of 28%. Net of the DPZ 

acquisition this represents a rise of over 

21%, compared to the WMA Balanced 

index that grew by 6.2% over the year.

£10.6m, in line with expectations. Earnings 

As well as this increase in discretionary funds 

per share have risen to 69.01p.

under management we also saw growth in 

The board is recommending a final dividend 

of 19.0p per share which, if approved by 

shareholders, will result in total dividends for 

the year of 26.0p. This represents an increase 

of 16% over the total dividends paid last year 

of 22.5p per share. The final dividend will be 

all parts of the Group. Advisory assets 

increased to over £450m (2013: £348m), 

property assets under administration grew 

to £1.13bn (2013: £1.04bn) and third party 

assets under administration grew to £200m 

(2013: £140m).

paid on 28 October 2014 to shareholders 

In addition to the acquisitions mentioned 

who are on the register at the close of 

above the Group has continued to grow 

business on 26 September 2014.

Richard Price joined us as a non-executive 

director in August. He is a former partner in 

KPMG and brings us the benefit of his 

considerable experience and expertise in the 

financial services industry.

organically with a combination of strong 

new business flow and by providing risk 

adjusted returns for our clients. We expect 

to continue to invest in the future of the 

business – in further development of our IT 

systems and in our investment and wealth 

management process. The strength of our 

DPZ Capital Limited (‘DPZ’) became part of 

brand and the professionalism of our staff, 

the Group in April 2014 and now forms part 

coupled with the continued investment in 

of Brooks Macdonald International, based in 

the business to which I have referred, enable 

Jersey. This acquisition added £360m of 

us to look forward with confidence.

discretionary funds under management and 

brings further scale and skill sets to our 

existing offshore offering. After the year end 

we completed the acquisition of Levitas 

Christopher Knight 
Chairman

Investment Management Services Limited 

16 September 2014

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcChief Executive’s review

Chris Macdonald, Chief Executive

“In a year of continued 
change the Group has  
made good progress 
particularly in the growth 
of our discretionary funds 
under management”

Introduction
After the considerable changes within the 

charities and both our MPS and BPS 

offerings are benefiting from the increasing 

industry in recent years, this has been a year 

popularity of Self-invested Personal  

where the business has continued to evolve, 

Pensions (SIPPs) and other money purchase 

we have invested in the future and grown 

pension arrangements.

funds under management and 

administration. We have maintained profits 

and positioned the Group for a return to 

profit growth despite increased costs. The 

growth in funds and changes have only 

been possible with the hard work and 

dedication of all our staff. In addition we 

continue to receive considerable support 

from professional intermediaries both in and 

outside the UK and I would like to thank 

them for the confidence they have shown in 

the Group.

Funds under management
Our discretionary funds under management 

rose to over £6.5bn, a rise of over £1.4bn 

over the year. This represents an increase of 

28.2% supported by the DPZ acquisition and 

investment markets. Investment performance 

across the Group accounted for 6.5% over 

the year (£330m), DPZ 7.0% (£360m) and 

net new business 14.7% (£750m).

We have seen growth in each of our 

investment services. Our Bespoke Portfolio 

Service (‘BPS’) is our core private client 

offering and is offered on and offshore with 

the principal source of business being 

referrals from professional advisers. Our 

Managed Portfolio Service (‘MPS’) is 

available either as a portfolio or as a unit 

and after a period of margin pressure I am 

pleased to report that pricing appears to 

have stabilised. This service has principally 

been marketed onshore but we will, post 

the DPZ acquisition, be marketing this to 

Our Funds business has grown to £518m in 

funds under management (2013: £390m) 

and continues to gain momentum. 

We are now also managing over £1.1bn of 

discretionary assets offshore including the 

recently acquired DPZ funds. This has 

grown net of the acquisition by over £180m 

over the last financial year. In addition we 

have over £450m of advisory assets, all of 

which are based offshore.

Braemar Estates, our specialist property 

manager, continues to grow and now has 

property assets under management of 

£1.13bn (2013: £1.04bn).

Our UK Financial Planning income grew by 

65% to £3.8m (2013: £2.3m).

Industry background
Eighteen months after the introduction of 

the Retail Distribution Review (‘RDR’) in the 

UK, it is worth commenting on the changes 

that the wealth management industry has 

undergone. The legislation was introduced, 

amongst other things, to improve 

transparency, the stability of financial 

institutions and competition for clients. We 

were and remain supportive of these 

objectives but RDR has led to significant 

industry changes. We have had to invest 

heavily in systems, reissue application forms 

to all our clients and change the pricing of 

our MPS proposition. The costs of regulation 

have risen very significantly but we have 

embraced these changes and are now 

professional intermediaries offshore. Clients 

positioned to continue to grow the business 

include private individuals, trusts and 

in the new regulatory environment. 

3

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcChief Executive’s review

Alliances (which refer significant amounts of 

We have continued to be recognised 

business into our discretionary offering).

externally with a series of awards over the 

Strategies for growth
We continue to focus on our core strategies 

for growth: organic, service and 

performance development and on-going 

investment in the business.

Our organic growth revolves around 

working with professional intermediaries, 

principally financial advisers, trust 

companies, and private client legal and 

accountancy practices. This remains a 

We continually look to improve our service 

offering and performance development. 

Over the last year we have entered into a 

new partnership (North Row Capital LLP) 

and as result launched the IFSL North Row 

Liquid Property Fund; we have enabled our 

AIM investment service to be distributed via 

professional intermediaries; we are 

critical area for growth for the business and I 

launching our offshore MPS proposition; we 

am pleased to report that we now work 

with more than 670 professional 

intermediary firms covering Asset 

Management on and offshore, Funds and 

Financial Consulting. Over the last year we 

have also expanded our reach with 

continue to invest in risk monitoring tools 

for investment portfolios and to expand our 

research capabilities. Investment 

performance for our clients remains strong, 

particularly for low, low-to-medium and 

medium risk client mandates, in which the 

professional intermediaries offshore and this 

vast majority of our clients sit. We also 

will remain an area of focus during 2014 

and beyond.

In addition we continue to grow our brand, 

recruit high quality staff and invest in our 

trainee programme. We have in the last year 

believe the opportunity for SIPPs and the 

management of pension funds to be 

another opportunity for the Group and this 

remains an area of focus onshore.

made several senior appointments including 

We completed the acquisition of DPZ in 

our Head of Investment Services (David 

April and its integration into Brooks 

Lewis-Irlam) and Head of Group Governance 

Macdonald International (‘BMI’) continues 

(Simon Broomfield) and seven new trainee 

apace. As well as adding scale to our 

international presence DPZ bring specific 

MPS and fixed interest skill sets. I would like 

to take this opportunity to thank the teams 

in BMI and DPZ for all their hard work in 

making this happen. 

appointments as well as six trainees 

qualifying. We now have over 80 investment 

managers, 30 consultants and 17 trainees. 

Organic growth has been geographically well 

spread. With the opening of our office in 

Leamington Spa last year (and openings in 

York and Taunton in recent years) we now 

have a much stronger regional footprint 

across the UK. This allows us to provide a 

strong local service as well as providing a 

nationwide service where needed by larger 

last year and as a people business I was 

delighted that we were again recognised as 

being in the Sunday Times Top 100 Medium 

Sized Companies to Work For. I am pleased 

to report that the Group has been identified 

as the only discretionary fund manager to 

achieve the highest level of Defaqto (an 

independent, financial research company in 

the UK) Star and Diamond Rating in all four 

categories of discretionary management 

(MPS, Bespoke, Funds and Platforms).

Summary and outlook
The amount of change in the financial 

services industry has not slowed down and 

we have been quick to adapt where 

necessary. This has required investment of 

both capital and a huge amount of hard 

work for all members of staff. In a year of 

continued change the Group has made 

good progress particularly in the growth of 

Markets have been supportive, particularly 

in the first half of the calendar year and our 

outlook for investment returns remains 

cautiously optimistic, balancing economic 

recovery and the end of quantitative easing 

against the potential rise in UK interest rates. 

We will continue to invest in systems 

development and remain optimistic for new 

business flows. After a year of flat profits we 

At the end of July (post the year end) we 

expect to return to profit growth. New 

completed the acquisition of Levitas 

business has started the year well and the 

pursuant to the purchase of the option in 

Board remains confident for the future of 

December 2013. Levitas has two risk-rated 

the Group. 

funds specifically designed for the employee 

benefits market. At the time of completion 

Chris Macdonald 

Chief Executive

firms of professional intermediaries. Linked to 

Levitas funds totalled £89.4m and this 

this is where we work closely with a number 

of strategic partners and I am pleased that 

we now have 15 (2013: 12) Strategic 

dovetails with our belief in the significant 

16 September 2014

opportunity around auto enrolment and the 

growth of personal pension provision.

4

We made two acquisitions during the year. 

our discretionary funds under management.

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcStrategic report

Principal activities
The Group is an integrated wealth management group offering a range of fee-based bespoke advice and services principally to private 

high-net-worth individuals, charities and trusts. The Group offers the services through six principal companies and operates out of ten UK 

based offices giving broad geographic coverage and two offshore offices in Jersey and Guernsey.

Company

Location

Services

Clients

Brooks Macdonald Asset 

London, Hampshire,  

Discretionary investment 

Private individuals, charities and trusts

Management Limited (‘BMAM’)

Manchester, Tunbridge Wells, 

management, custody, nominee 

Edinburgh, Taunton, York  

and dealing

and Leamington Spa

Brooks Macdonald Asset 

Jersey and Guernsey

Discretionary investment 

Private individuals, charities and trusts

Management (International) 

Limited (‘BMI’)

management, custody, nominee, 

dealing, advisory and stockbroking

Brooks Macdonald Financial 

London and York

Independent financial advice, 

Private individuals and families

Consulting Limited (‘BMFC’)

personal tax and mortgage services

Employee benefits consultancy

Businesses and their employees

Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited 

Hale and London

Manager to a range of regulated 

Private individuals, charities and trusts

(‘BMF’)

OEICs and specialist property and 

structured return funds

Braemar Estates (Residential) 

Hale

Estate and block property 

Institutions, property fund managers 

Limited

management

and private individuals

Brooks Macdonald Retirement 

Jersey and Guernsey

Independent financial advice

Private individuals, families, trusts  

Services (International) Limited 

(‘BMRSI’)

and businesses

Results and cash position
The Group has seen continued revenue growth in the year with an 

Cash flow from operating activities as detailed in note 23 increased 

4% to £13.7m (2013: £13.2m) and, subject to approval by 

increase of 9% to £69.13m (2013: £63.16m), despite pressure on 

shareholders at the Annual General Meeting, a final dividend of 

pricing in some parts of the Group. The Group is also in a period of 

19.0p per share will be paid on 28 October 2014 to shareholders on 

significant IT investment in order to enhance the services we offer 

the register at 26 September. This makes total dividends for the year 

clients and to realise operational efficiencies across the business as a 

of 26.0p (2013: 22.5p), which is an increase of 16%.

whole. In line with the increasing regulatory requirements of the 

financial services industry generally we are also investing further in 

our corporate governance, risk and compliance departments. 

Statutory pre-tax profits for the year increased marginally to £10.6m 

(2013: £10.4m) and basic earnings per share increased by 5% to 

69.01p (2013: 65.88p).

The Group had no borrowings at 30 June 2014 (2013: £nil) and, in a 

year of considerable investment as detailed in the consolidated 

statement of cash flows on page 24, closing cash balances were 

maintained at £18.1m (2013: £18.4m). As disclosed in note 22 there 

are amounts due within one year of £8.3m in respect of the deferred 

consideration on the acquisitions of DPZ Capital Limited, JPAM Limited 

and Brooks Macdonald International. On 31 July 2014 the company 

exercised its option to acquire Levitas (see note 34) and made the initial 

payment of £0.7m under the terms of the agreement.

5

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcStrategic report

Strategy and outlook
A key part of the strategy for the Group remains to grow the 

BMAM, BMI and BMF 

At 1 July 2013 

business both organically and through strategic investments to 

supplement and complement existing parts of the Group. The 

Group has made the recent acquisition of DPZ Capital Limited (see 

Inflows – net new discretionary business* 

– acquired through DPZ Capital Limited 

– investment growth 

note 9), a wealth management business based in Jersey and, on  

At 30 June 2014 

31 July 2014, exercised an option to acquire 100% of the share 

capital of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited (see 

Organic growth net of markets 

note 34). The Group also made an investment in North Row Capital 

Total net growth 

Funds under management (£m)

5,110

750

360

330

6,550

14.7%

28.2%

LLP during the year (see note 14), which manages a fund providing 

investors with liquid exposure to the global real estate market. Each 

of these transactions has enhanced the range of services and 

strengthened the offering of the Group. 

* Includes clients leaving and capital or income withdrawals of larger than £50,000 
for Bespoke Portfolio Service and larger than £20,000 for Managed Portfolio Service

It has been another year of considerable growth for Brooks 

Macdonald Funds, as part of the increase in the table shown above, 

There has been continued development and investment in the IT 

with total FUM increasing significantly to £518m (2013: £390m) at 

systems across the Group together with an increasing cost in 

30 June 2014, an increase of 33%. This growth was achieved both 

relation to our regulatory and compliance responsibilities. These 

organically through the net new investment in the existing seven 

specific cost areas, together with other investments in staff and 

funds, as well as by the investment in North Row Capital LLP, which 

general infrastructure, have resulted in a year of static profits for the 

manages the IFSL North Row Liquid Property Fund that was 

Group, but whilst we will continue to invest in our systems 

launched in February 2014 and has contributed £16m to the year 

development we expect to return to profits growth next year. 

end total of FUM.

BMAM, BMI and BMF - discretionary 
investment management
The investment management service principally provides 

discretionary investment management to private investors, charities 

and trusts. Despite considerable changes within the industry we 

have continued to grow funds under management (‘FUM’) which is 

one of the main key performance indicators (‘KPIs’) of the Group. In 

April 2014 we made the acquisition of DPZ Capital Limited (see 

note 9) in Jersey, but we have additionally grown FUM organically 

(including net new business and investment growth) by over £1bn 

during the year. The detailed movement in FUM over the year is 

shown below.

A large proportion of the new organic business comes from 

professional intermediaries with whom we have worked over a 

number of years. As well as introducing discretionary management 

funds they also introduce to other parts of the Group and are 

another KPI. The number of introducing firms has increased to 670 

(2013: 544) at 30 June 2014.

BMFC and BMRSI
BMFC, the UK based financial consulting business, had a strong year 

of growth with revenue increasing by 65% in the year to 30 June 

2014 to £3.81m (2013: £2.32m). The business delivers both 

fee-based financial planning to high-net-worth individuals and 

employee benefits consultancy to small and medium sized 

employers throughout the UK. It saw growth across both areas with 

revenue starting to flow from “auto enrolment” advice resulting 

from the Pensions Act 2008. BMFC is in a period of investment with 

additional staff and systems to enable it to take opportunities 

presented by auto enrolment and the cost of this investment 

resulted in a loss for the year.

6

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc  
  
Strategic report

BMRSI had a year of consolidation and is now starting to look at 

committees. Each risk committee is responsible for reviewing 

international pension opportunities in a number of jurisdictions and 

identified risks and implementing procedure reviews and mitigating 

is repositioning the service in Jersey and Guernsey. 

action as necessary. Business-level risk committees report up to the 

Braemar Estates
Braemar Estates has continued its growth in the property 

management sector winning further mandates and the value of 

assets under administration as at 30 June 2014 was £1.13bn (2013: 

£1.04bn), an increase of 9% in the year. 

Corporate governance
The principal board committees are the Audit, Remuneration and 

Risk and Compliance Committee.

The membership of the Risk and Compliance Committee is made up 

of the Group’s four non-executive directors and is chaired by Colin 

Harris. As necessary, the committee meetings are also attended by 

senior business managers and relevant key staff including the Chief 

Executive, Finance Director, other members of the Group Board, 

heads of various business units and the head of departments for 

compliance, risk and group governance.

Risk and Compliance committees, all of which have specific terms of 

During the year ended 30 June 2014 the committee met on seven 

reference which are periodically reviewed and approved by the 

occasions. Its principal responsibilities include overseeing the current 

Board. These terms of reference are available on the Group website.

risk exposures of the Group, reviewing the risk assessment 

Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are three of the non-executive 

directors: Christopher Knight, Colin Harris and, since his appointment 

on 1 August, Richard Price. On 8 September 2014 Richard Price was 

appointed Chairman of the committee in succession to Christopher 

Knight. The board is satisfied that all members of the committee have 

recent and relevant financial experience.

The committee met five times during the year ended 30 June 2014. 

As well as being responsible for reviewing the external audit 

arrangements with regard to compensation, scope and period of 

office, the committee also considers the accounting policies of the 

processes, assessing material breaches of risk limits and the 

adequacy of proposed remedial action and reviewing client 

complaints.

The Group has made some changes to its governance and risk 

management functions. The Risk and Compliance department has 

been divided into two separate departments, which together with 

the Legal department, reports to a new Head of Group Governance. 

These changes allow the Compliance, Risk and Legal departments to 

operate independently of and provide an effective check on each 

other whilst ensuring efficient communication and appropriate 

sharing of information between them. Apart from these structural 

changes, the risk management framework remains broadly the same 

Group and the significant issues and judgements in connection with 

as for the previous year.

regulatory financial reporting.

The committee reviews the audit control memorandum and the 

audit engagement letters and has discussions with the auditor 

without management present.

The principal risks assessed by management as having a potential 

material impact on the Group are detailed below, together with the 

principal means in which these risks are mitigated.

Risk and Compliance Committee
The Group’s risk management framework is embedded throughout 

the organisation. Individual business units adhere to documented 

business processes, which are monitored by the Group’s compliance 

Financial risks

The Group’s principal financial risks relate to credit risk, liquidity risk 

and market risk and the measures and policies for the management 

of those risks are set out in note 30 to the consolidated financial 

statements. Further details on capital management processes can be 

and risk functions. Monitoring output is reported to business 

managers and identified risks are reported to business-level risk 

found in note 31.

7

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcStrategic report

Risk and Compliance Committee (continued)

Non-financial risks

The significant non-financial risks faced by Group have been reviewed by the committee, who believe they remain broadly the same as in 

previous years and are as follows:

Reputational risk

Impact
The Group has a growing reputation as a provider of high quality 
investment and wealth management services. There is a risk that 
significant damage to reputation could lead to the loss of existing 
clients as well as impacting on the ability to gain new clients, which 
would lead to a fall in financial income. Such risk could arise from 
events such as poor investment performance, poor client service or 
regulatory censure.

Mitigation
This risk is minimised by ensuring the Group maintains a culture of 
high ethical and professional standards whilst focussing on delivering 
a first class service to all of our clients. The Group maintains separate, 
independent risk and compliance departments, which ensures 
conformity with the regulations of the Financial Conduct Authority,  
as well as relevant statutes, in all of our dealings with our clients.

Regulatory risk

Impact
The sector in which the Group operates is heavily regulated and any 
breach of regulations could lead to fines or disciplinary action 
against the Group or its staff.

Mitigation
The Group monitors compliance with existing regulations and any 
impending changes in regulations in order to assess the impact on 
the business and to ensure that the Group has sufficient resources to 
implement any necessary changes.

People risk

Impact
Our business is dependent on client relationships with our staff. 
Operating in a competitive market there is a risk of loss of  
existing clients due to poor performance or service, a failure to 
respond to changes in the market place, or the loss of key 
investment professionals.

Technology risk

Impact
A key part of the high quality service delivered to clients is 
facilitated by a flexible and robust internal ICT infrastructure.

Mitigation
To minimise this risk, the Group continues to invest in its employees 
and monitors developments in the marketplace in which it operates 
to ensure that the Group continues to offer a wide range of services. 
Recruitment policies are designed to attract high quality staff and 
the Group regularly reviews and benchmarks its remuneration 
packages and contractual arrangements in order to retain and 
motivate staff. The Learning & Development team, as part of 
Human Resources, provides structured training plans in order to 
ensure all staff continue to develop their careers within the Group.

Mitigation
New ICT projects are regularly reviewed and appraised at board 
meetings in order to ensure that the Group continues to develop 
and maintain its ICT capabilities. As well as our regional offices 
providing back up facilities for our London offices, we have a fully 
tested disaster recovery plan which would facilitate remote 
working capabilities.

8

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcStrategic report

Risk and Compliance Committee (continued) 

Operational risk

Impact
Operational risk is the risk that the Group suffers a loss of 
business resulting from inadequate or failed internal processes, 
people and systems or from the failure of outsourcing partners 
or external suppliers.

Investment performance risk

Impact
There is a risk that portfolios will not meet their investment 
objectives which could result in the Group suffering loss of 
business. There is a risk on the suitability of portfolios for clients 
and where the suitability responsibility lies between a professional 
introducing the client and the group company.

Mitigation
Due diligence takes place prior to the commencement of any 
outsourcing or supply, to maintain a robust procurement process 
and good contract governance. We have completed a review of key 
outsourcing partners across the Group and have in place procedures 
to regularly assess the performance of such suppliers as well 
identifying suitable and viable alternatives.

Mitigation
Portfolio performance, valuations and risk profiles are monitored by 
management, allowing issues to be identified and mitigated as they 
arise. The Group has in place BITA Monitor portfolio risk oversight 
tools to assist with supervising portfolio management. The Group 
has completed a re-papering exercise for all of its Managed Portfolio 
Service clients and is well advanced in a similar exercise for all other 
discretionary clients in order to agree the suitability of their 
individual portfolios.

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee comprises Diane Seymour-Williams (Chair), Christopher Knight and Colin Harris. The committee (in 

consultation with the Chief Executive) determines the specific remuneration packages for each executive director and certain senior 

executives including base salary, annual bonus, long-term incentives, benefits and terms of employment. The committee is also responsible 

for setting the broad parameters for the annual base salary review across the Group and reviews all awards made under various long-term 

incentive schemes operated across the Group.

In response to shareholders’ feedback in 2013 the committee has decided that the directors’ remuneration report will be subject to a 

shareholder vote at the Annual General Meeting on 27 October 2014.

Remuneration policy

Brooks Macdonald recognises the importance of its employees to the success of the Group and consequently the remuneration policy is 

designed to be market competitive in order to attract, retain and motivate high-calibre individuals. External third party data is used to 

validate rather than to benchmark the total reward.

The remuneration policy, which applies to directors and employees of the Group, is based on the following key principles:

•  designed to encourage the retention of staff through deferred variable compensation, where appropriate; 

• 

the need to provide a market competitive balanced package of benefits;

•  differentiation by merit and performance;

•  an emphasis on variable, performance driven remuneration to bonus payments funded from retained profits;

• 

consistency with the FCA Remuneration Code and across the Group;

•  alignment with shareholders’ interests through significant and widespread equity ownership opportunities; and 

• 

clarity, transparency and fairness of process

9

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcStrategic report

Remuneration Committee (continued)

Remuneration policy (continued)

The current remuneration package for an executive director has four main elements: basic salary and benefits, profit-related bonus, 

long-term equity based incentives and pension. The total reward is designed to include a balance of fixed and variable pay with an element 

of deferral.

Basic salary

Basic salary is paid monthly in cash through payroll determined by the committee and any changes are implemented from 1 July each year 

or when an individual changes position or responsibility. In deciding appropriate levels the committee considers salaries throughout the 

Group and information on comparable AIM-listed and financial services companies and firms provided by advisers to the committee. The 

views of the Chief Executive are taken into consideration when setting the salary of other directors. 

The base salaries of executive directors were increased on 1 July 2014 by a total of 2.6% compared to an overall average increase for all 

employees of 3.7%. The non-executive directors’ salaries were similarly reviewed and increased on average by 9.3% with the approval of 

the board to reflect their additional responsibilities and commitments as the Group grows. 

Annual profit-related bonus award

Awards to executive directors and some other senior employees of the Group of profit-related bonuses are made from a pool of profits of 

15-25% of the Group pre-tax profit after the payment of all bonuses to all other staff. The committee determines the overall size of the pool 

based on the performance of the Group against a number of key performance indicators including the growth in profits, the movement in 

funds under management, various internal client service metrics and the performance against budget of each of the operating divisions. 

The total payment to executive directors, including the amounts deferred into shares, represented 10.0% (2013: 10.9%) of Group pre-tax profit.

Awards to individual executive directors are determined by the committee following recommendations from the Chief Executive, taking into 

account a number of financial and non-financial factors. These are intended to give a broad assessment of the annual performance 

objectives of each director, including the results of the business, investment performance, net new business, management of risks facing the 

Group and cost control within each individual’s area of responsibility. 

The Remuneration Committee has decided that 20% of the bonus awarded will be made in shares deferred for a period of three years under 

a Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’). In addition, directors may choose to defer a further amount of any bonus awarded, up to a 

maximum of 20%, making 40% in total, into shares under the LTIS. The scheme has performance conditions attached to the deferred 

award, requiring a minimum growth in the diluted earnings per share of the Group of 2% per annum above the increase in the Retail Price 

Index (RPI) over the three year period.

Benefits

The executive directors receive a range of benefits on a similar basis to other employees of the Group. Benefits available include private 

healthcare, life assurance, critical illness cover and permanent health insurance as well as interest free season ticket loans as disclosed in note 

33 to the consolidated financial statements. The non-executive directors do not receive any benefits except that they are entitled to reclaim 

for expenses incurred in carrying out the Group’s business.

Pension

Executive directors may participate in the pension arrangements of the Group or receive cash in lieu of pension on the same basis as other 

employees. The Group’s contributions are currently 15% of base salary.

10

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcStrategic report

Remuneration Committee (continued)

The elements of remuneration packages are summarised below.

Directors’ remuneration

Salary 
or fee 

£’000 

75 

247 
162 
167 
167 
183 
189 
- 
- 

40 
36 
- 
1,266 

Chairman 
C J Knight 

Executives 
C A J Macdonald 
N I Holmes 
S J Jackson 
A W Shepherd 
R H Spencer 
S P Wombwell 
J M Gumpel* 
N H Lawes* 

Non-executives 
C R Harris 
D Seymour-Williams 
R Price† 
Total 

*Resigned 19 October 2012

†Appointed 1 August 2014

Equity incentives

bonus -  
cash 

Profit related  Profit related 
bonus -  
deferred 
shares 
£’000 

£’000 

Benefits 

Total 
2014 

Total 
2013 

Pension 

Pension
contributions  contributions
2013

2014 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000 

£’000

- 

256 
160 
120 
160 
132 
132 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
960 

- 

64 
40 
30 
40 
33 
33 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
240 

- 

3 
2 
3 
2 
3 
3 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
16 

75 

60 

570 
364 
320 
369 
351 
357 
- 
- 

581 
349 
350 
349 
346 
377 
106 
77 

40 
36 
- 
2,482 

38 
35 
- 
2,668 

- 

- 
24 
18 
18 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

60 

-

-
24
24
24
-
-
-
7

-
-

79

Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’) and Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’)

The Group established an EBT on 3 December 2010. The Trust was established to acquire ordinary shares in the Company in connection 

with the deferred share element of the profit-related bonus under the LTIS as detailed above. The EBT is also used for other long-term 

awards to members of the Board and other long-term awards to other senior employees.

The Remuneration Committee has made additional awards under the LTIS to certain executive directors and other senior employees. The 

conditional awards are subject to the same performance and other conditions as those applying to the deferred profit-related bonus 

share options.

Details of the awards granted to the directors of the Company under the terms of the LTIS during the year ended 30 June 2014, in respect 

of the deferred element of the profit-related bonus for the previous year together with any additional awards, are detailed below. The 

market value of the Company’s shares at the date the awards were made, 1 November 2013, was £14.64.

11

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report

Remuneration Committee (continued) 

Equity incentives (continued)

Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’) and Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’) (continued)

C A J Macdonald 

N I Holmes 

S J Jackson 

A W Shepherd 

R H Spencer 

S P Wombwell 

At  
1 July 
2013 

4,112 
6,536 
5,354 
- 

2,095 
9,886 
4,724 
- 

2,715 
3,595 
4,567 
- 

2,095 
9,804 
4,567 
- 

2,405 
3,105 
2,677 
- 

11,847 
3,780 
- 

Profit-related bonus - 
deferred shares 
2014  

 Additional awards 
under terms of LTIS 
 2014 

At 
30 June 
2014 

- 
- 
- 
4,372 

- 
- 
- 
2,528 

- 
- 
- 
2,528 

- 
- 
- 
3,791 

- 
- 
- 
2,186 

- 
- 
2,528 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 

4,112 
6,536 
5,354 
4,372 

2,095 
9,886 
4,724 
2,528 

2,715 
3,595 
4,567 
2,528 

2,095 
9,804 
4,567 
3,791 

2,405 
3,105 
2,677 
2,186 

11,847 
3,780 
2,528 

 Earliest 
exercise 
date

27.10.13
20.10.14
25.10.15
01.11.16

27.10.13
20.10.14
25.10.15
01.11.16

27.10.13
20.10.14
25.10.15
01.11.16

27.10.13
20.10.14
25.10.15
01.11.16

27.10.13
20.10.14
25.10.15
01.11.16

20.10.14
25.10.15
01.11.16

During the year none of the directors exercised any shares under the LTIS (2013: none). The LTIS options have a £nil exercise price and no 

expiry date.

Sharesave Scheme

All directors are entitled to take part in the HMRC approved Brooks Macdonald Group Sharesave Scheme on the same terms as all other 

employees. Annual invitations to participate in the scheme, which commences each year on 1 June, are sent to directors and subject to 

rules of the scheme various option grants were made for new three-year fixed term contracts as detailed below:

12

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report

Remuneration Committee (continued) 

Equity incentives (continued)

Sharesave Scheme (continued)

At 1 July   
2013 

Awarded 
in the year 

Exercised 
in the year 

At 30 June 
2014 

Exercise 
price 

Earliest 
exercise date 

C A J Macdonald 

N I Holmes 

S J Jackson 

A W Shepherd 

R H Spencer 

S P Wombwell 

985 
- 

985 
- 

985 
- 

767 

985 
- 

985 
- 

- 
649 

- 
1,298 

- 
1,298 

- 

- 
1,298 

- 
1,298 

(985) 
- 

(985) 
- 

(985) 
- 

- 

(985) 
- 

(985) 
- 

- 
649 

- 
1,298 

- 
1,298 

767 

- 
1,298 

- 
1,298 

916p 
1386p 

916p 
1386p 

916p 
1386p 

1172p 

916p 
1386p 

916p 
1386p 

Expiry 
date

30.11.14
30.11.17

30.11.14
30.11.17

30.11.14
30.11.17

01.06.14 
01.06.17 

01.06.14 
01.06.17 

01.06.14 
01.06.17 

01.06.16 

30.11.16

01.06.14 
01.06.17 

01.06.14 
01.06.17 

30.11.14
30.11.17

30.11.14
30.11.17

On the expiry of the 2011 Sharesave Scheme the directors exercised their options as detailed above. The aggregate gain on exercise was 

£31,000 (2013: £nil). As none of the shares had been sold by 30 June 2014 the aggregate realised gain was £nil (2013: £nil). The 

Company’s share price at the various dates of exercise was between £14.91 and £15.49.

Under the rules of the scheme, Colin Harris, Christopher Knight, Richard Price and Diane Seymour-Williams were not eligible to participate 

in the Sharesave Scheme and therefore held no options at either the beginning or the end of the year or at the date of their appointment.

Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (‘EMI’) 

The Brooks Macdonald Group Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (EMI) was adopted by the shareholders of the Company on  

11 February 2005. 

Options granted can be exercised if there has been an increase in the diluted earnings per share of the Company of at least 2% per annum 

more than the increase in the RPI over the period of three financial years starting with the financial year in which the date of grant falls and 

ending with the financial year in which the third anniversary of the date of grant falls.

Options may not normally be exercised before the third anniversary of the date of the grant and expire on the tenth anniversary of the 

grant. Due to the increase in the size of the Company it is no longer eligible under HMRC rules to grant options under this EMI scheme and 

the last options were awarded to directors under this scheme on 17 October 2007.

13

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report

Remuneration Committee (continued)

Equity incentives (continued)

Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (‘EMI’) (continued)

The details of the remaining grants under the scheme to directors are shown below:

N I Holmes 

S J Jackson 

At 1 July  
2013 

15,000 

4,500 

6,000 

17,000 

12,500 

Awarded 
in the year 

Exercised 
in the year 

At 30 June 
2014 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(17,000) 

(12,500) 

15,000 

4,500 

6,000 

- 

- 

Exercise 
price 

155.5p 

215.0p 

290.5p 

215.0p 

290.5p 

Earliest 
exercise date 

01.11.08 

18.10.09 

17.10.10 

18.10.09 

17.10.10 

Expiry 
date

01.11.15

17.10.16

31.10.17

17.10.16

31.10.17

The aggregate gain during the year from the exercise of the above EMI share options was £427,000 (2013: £301,000). The Company’s 

share price at the exercise date was £16.950 (2013: £12.905).

None of the other directors held any EMI share options at either the beginning or the end of the year or at the date of their appointment.

The average share price during the year was £14.87 (2013: £13.27). Details of the share option schemes are provided in note 21 and note 

26 to the consolidated financial statements. The market price at the end of the year was £15.65 (2013: £14.35) and the highest and lowest 

prices during the year were £18.02 (2013: £14.96) and £11.84 (2013: £11.35) respectively.

Company Share Option Plan (‘CSOP’)

Following discussions regarding remuneration structures and incentives schemes for senior employees and directors the Company decided to set 

up a CSOP which was approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 17 October 2013 and by HMRC on 21 November 2013.

The scheme is a discretionary scheme whereby employees or directors are granted an option to purchase the Company’s shares in the 

future at a price set on the date of the grant. The maximum award under the terms of the scheme for an individual is a total market value of 

£30,000. There are performance conditions attaching to the scheme similar to those in place for the EMI Scheme above whereby there 

must be an increase in the diluted earnings per share of the Company of 2% more than the increase in the RPI over the three years starting 

with the financial year in which the option is granted.

Details of the number of options granted to the directors of the Company under the terms of the CSOP during the year ended 30 June 

2014, in respect of awards made in the previous financial year, are shown in the table below. The options were granted on 21 November 

2013 with an exercise price of £14.52.

N I Holmes 

S J Jackson 

A W Shepherd 

S P Wombwell 

At 1 July  
2013 

Granted  
in the year 

Exercised 
in the year 

At 30 June 
2014 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2,067 

2,067 

2,067 

2,067 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2,067 

2,067 

2,067 

2,067 

Exercise 
price

1,452.0p

1,452.0p

1,452.0p

1,452.0p

In the year ended 30 June 2014, a new award with an aggregate market value of £15,000 was made under the CSOP to R H Spencer. The 

number of options to be granted and the option price for this award will be determined based on the share price at the grant date in 

October 2014. None of the other directors held any CSOP share options at either the beginning or the end of the year or at the date of 

their appointment.

14

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Strategic report

Remuneration Committee (continued) 

Equity incentives (continued)

Company Share Option Plan (‘CSOP’) (continued)

Dilution

Not more than 15% of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company (adjusted for bonus and rights issues) will be issued for all EMI and 

share incentive schemes operated by the Company in any ten year rolling period. The Company satisfies the various equity-based schemes 

it operates using a combination of market purchased, newly issued and treasury shares.

Service contracts for executive directors

The Company has service contracts with its executive directors with a notice period of 12 months and it is company policy that such 

contracts should not normally contain periods of more than 12 months. 

External appointments

Executive directors are encouraged to take on external appointments as non-executive directors but are discouraged from taking more than 

one other position given the time commitment. Prior approval of any new appointment is required by the Board with any fees in excess of 

£10,000 per annum paid to the Company.

Advisers to the Remuneration Committee

During the year the Remuneration Committee have employed professional advisers to assist with the implications of the FCA Remuneration 

Code and to provide industry specific comparative information regarding compensation and pay packages.

Non-executive directors

Non-executive directors do not have contracts of employment but as with other directors are now required to stand for re-election. The 

executive directors are responsible for determining the fees of the non-executive directors who do not receive pension or other benefits 

from the Group and do not participate in any Group incentive schemes.

15

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
Report of the directors 

The directors present herewith their annual report, together with 

Retirement and re-appointment of directors

the audited financial statements of the Group for the year ended  

Richard Price has been appointed as an additional director since the 

30 June 2014.

Results and dividends

Annual General Meeting in 2013 and accordingly, the company’s 

articles of association require him to retire from office at the 

forthcoming Annual General Meeting and to offer himself  

The profit before taxation for the year ended 30 June 2014 was 

for re-election.

£10,568,000 (2013: £10,398,000) and the profit after taxation was 

£9,056,000 (2013: £8,030,000).

Simon Jackson, Diane Seymour-Williams and Richard Spencer will 

also retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting and are 

The Company paid an interim dividend during the year of 7.0p 

eligible to nominate themselves for re-election.

(2013: 6.5p) per share. The directors recommend a final dividend of 

19.0p per share (2013: 16.0p). This results in total dividends for the 

Directors’ indemnities 

year of 26.0p (2013: 22.5p) per ordinary share. These dividends 

The Company has made qualifying third party indemnity provisions 

amount to a total distribution to shareholders of £3,453,000  

for the benefit of its directors and these remain in force at the date 

(2013: £2,938,000).

of the report.

Directors and their interests

Employment policies 

The directors of the company, who were in office during the year 

Employees are encouraged to identify and become involved with 

and up to the date of signing the financial statements, are listed 

the financial performance of the Group and are rewarded by 

below together with their beneficial interests in the share capital of 

involvement in profit sharing arrangements. Employees also have 

the Company.

the opportunity to participate in the Group’s share incentive plans.

Chairman

C J Knight 

Executives 

C A J Macdonald 

N I Holmes 

S J Jackson 

A W Shepherd 

R H Spencer 

S P Wombwell 

Non-executives 

C R Harris 

D Seymour-Williams 

At 30 June 2014 
Number of shares 

At 30 June 2013 
Number of shares

The Group considers that communication with our employees is very 

important and indeed vital for the success of the Group. Employees 

71,585 

71,585

828,874 

827,889

41,495 

79,534 

48,915 

774,338 

89,189 

6,086 

5,000 

40,510

56,799

51,165

773,353

88,204

6,086

5,000

are informed of important issues by electronic mail and seminars.

The Group considers that regular training is extremely important. This 

is achieved by the provision of in-house and external training courses 

and the training team provide a number of continuing professional 

development activities. All staff are encouraged to report their specific 

training needs to their line managers, which are then co-ordinated 

through the central Learning and Development department.

The Group operates a graduate training scheme in respect of its 

trainee investment managers and financial planning consultants.

The Group is an equal opportunities employer. All job applicants 

and employees are treated fairly and on merit, regardless of their 

race, gender, marital status, age, disability, religious belief or sexual 

Details of share options held by the directors at the beginning and 

orientation. Applications from disabled persons are always 

the end of the year can be found within the Remuneration 

considered and where employees become disabled efforts are made 

Committee report on pages 9 to 15.

to continue their employment within the Group by providing 

training and the supply of equipment if necessary so that they are 

able to continue their role. 

16

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
Report of the directors 

Employment policies (continued)

All staff have the option to take an interest free annual season ticket 

loan. To retain the Group’s employees and to improve staff morale, 

the Group recognises the need for employees to have an 

appropriate work-life balance. Long serving employees are entitled 

to additional annual leave dependent on their length of service.

On 1 February 2014 the Group became eligible for “auto 

enrolment” under the terms of the Pensions Act 2008 and on 

commencing employment all eligible employees are now enrolled 

into the Group pension scheme.

Substantial shareholdings

As at 29 August 2014, the Company had received notification of 

substantial interests in its shares of 3% or more as follows:

Each of the directors in office at the date of signing this report 
confirms that, so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit 
information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware. Each 
director has taken all reasonable steps that he or she ought to have 
taken as a director in order to make him or herself aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s 
auditor is aware of that information.

Annual General Meeting

The 2014 Annual General Meeting will be held on 27 October 2014 

at 111 Park Street, London, W1K 7JL. The notice of the meeting is 

on pages 69 to 70 with details of the resolutions proposed and 

explanatory notes on pages 67 to 68.

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Liontrust Asset Management 

Artemis Fund Managers 

C A J Macdonald 

Hargreave Hale 

R H Spencer 

Standard Life Investments 

J M Gumpel 

Kames Capital 

Octopus Investments 

Spearpoint Holdings 

L L Cook 
Company Secretary

16 September 2014

Number 
of shares 

2,193,606 

1,347,817 

828,874 

801,373 

774,338 

749,082 

643,445 

611,957 

610,415 

409,218 

Percentage  
holding

16.14%

9.92%

6.10%

5.90%

5.70%

5.51%

4.73%

4.50%

4.49%

3.01%

Events since the end of the year

Details of events after the reporting date are set out in note 34 to 

the consolidated financial statements.

Independent auditors

The Audit Committee has recommended to the Board of Directors 

that the incumbent auditor, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, be 

reappointed. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP have expressed their 

willingness to continue in office as auditor and a resolution to 

reappoint them as auditor will be proposed at the forthcoming 

Annual General Meeting.

17

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
Statement of directors’ responsibilities

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and 

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting 

the financial statements in accordance with applicable law 

records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 

and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements 

for each financial year. Under that law the directors have prepared 

the Group financial statements in accordance with International 

Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European 

Union, and the parent company financial statements in accordance 

with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice 

(United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under 

transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the 

financial position of the Company and the Group and enable them 

to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies 

Act 2006 and, as regards the group financial statements, Article 4 of 

the IAS Regulation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the 

assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking 

reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and 

other irregularities.

company law the directors must not approve the financial 

The directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of 

statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair 

the Group’s website. Legislation in the United Kingdom governing 

view of the state of affairs of the Group and the Company and of 

the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ 

the profit or loss of the Company and Group for that period. In 

from legislation in other jurisdictions.

preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

The directors consider that the Annual Report & Accounts, taken as 

• 

 select suitable accounting policies and then apply them 

a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the 

consistently;

• 

 make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent;

• 

 state whether IFRSs as adopted by the European Union and 

information necessary for shareholders to assess a company’s 

performance, business model and strategy. 

Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed in the 

report of the directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge:

applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject 

• 

 the group financial statements, which have been prepared in 

to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Group 

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, give a true and fair 

and parent company financial statements respectively;

view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the 

• 

 prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis 

Group; and

unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will 

• 

 the strategic report and the report of the directors include a fair 

continue in business

review of the development and performance of the business and 

the position of the Group, together with a description of the 

principal risks and uncertainties that it faces

18

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcIndependent auditors’ report 
to the members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc 

Report on the group financial statements

What an audit of financial statements involves

Our opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards 

on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”). An audit 

In our opinion the financial statements, defined below:

involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in 

• 

 give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 

30 June 2014 and of its profit and cash flows for the year 

then ended;

• 

 have been properly prepared in accordance with International 

Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the 

European Union; and

• 

 have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 

Companies Act 2006

This opinion is to be read in the context of what we say in the 

remainder of this report.

What we have audited

the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that 

the financial statements are free from material misstatement, 

whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: 

• 

 whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’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 Annual Report & Accounts to identify material inconsistencies 

with the audited financial statements and to identify any 

The group financial statements (the “financial statements”), which 

information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or 

are prepared by Brooks Macdonald Group plc, comprise:

materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us in the 

• 

 the consolidated statement of financial position as at  

30 June 2014;

• 

 the consolidated statement of comprehensive Income for the 

year then ended;

• 

 the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended;

• 

 the consolidated statement of changes in equity for the year 

then ended; and

• 

 the notes to the financial statements, which include a  

summary of significant accounting policies and other 

explanatory information

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their 

preparation is applicable law and IFRSs as adopted by the 

European Union.

course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent 

material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the 

implications for our report.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006

In our opinion the information given in the strategic report and the 

report of the directors for the financial year for which the financial 

statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

Other matters on which we are required to report 
by exception

Adequacy of information and explanations received

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, 

in our opinion, we have not received all the information and 

In applying the financial reporting framework, the directors have 

explanations we require for our audit. We have no exceptions to 

made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of 

report arising from this responsibility. 

significant accounting estimates. In making such estimates, they 

have made assumptions and considered future events.

19

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcIndependent auditors’ report 
to the members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc 

Directors’ remuneration

Other matter

We have reported separately on the company financial statements 

of Brooks Macdonald Group plc for the year ended 30 June 2014.

Marcus Hine (Senior Statutory Auditor)

for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors

London

16 September 2014

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, 

in our opinion, certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration 

specified by law are not made. We have no exceptions to report 

arising from this responsibility. 

Responsibilities for the financial statements and 
the audit

Our responsibilities and those of the directors

As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities 

set out on page 18, the directors are responsible for the preparation 

of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a 

true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial 

statements in accordance with applicable law and ISAs (UK & 

Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing 

Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only 

for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 

3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. 

We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume responsibility 

for any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is 

shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly 

agreed by our prior consent in writing.

20

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcConsolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Revenue 

Administrative costs 

Operating profit 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

Share of results of joint venture 

Profit before tax 

Taxation 

Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the Company 

Other comprehensive income: 

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss 

Revaluation of available for sale financial assets 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Earnings per share* 

Basic 

Diluted 

Note 

4 

5 

7 

7 

14 

8 

8 

27 

27 

2014 
£’000  

69,133 

(58,207) 

10,926 

119 

(349)  

(128) 

10,568 

(1,512) 

9,056 

(131) 

8,925 

69.01p 

68.67p 

*Comparative amounts have been restated to reflect the impact of new shares issued as consideration on the acquisition of DPZ

The accompanying notes on pages 25 to 59 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

2013 
£’000

63,159

(52,661)

10,498

179

(279)

-

10,398

(2,368)

8,030

(9)

8,021

65.88p

65.28p

21

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of financial position 
as at 30 June 2014

Assets
Non-current assets 
Intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Available for sale financial assets 
Investment in joint venture 

Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables 
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Liabilities 
Non-current liabilities 
Deferred consideration 
Deferred tax liabilities 
Other non-current liabilities 

Total non-current liabilities 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Current tax liabilities 
Provisions 

Total current liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity 
Share capital 
Share premium account 
Other reserves 
Retained earnings 

Total equity 

Note 

11 
12 
13 
14 

15 

16 
17 

18 

19 
15 
20 

21 

22 

24 
24 
25 
25 

2014 
£’000  

54,874 
2,971 
2,182 
232 

809 

61,068 

21,432 
478 

18,056 

39,966 

101,034 

(2,943) 
(5,117) 
(115) 

(8,175) 

(15,178) 
(1,076) 
(9,147) 

(25,401) 

67,458 

135 
35,147 
4,720 
27,456 

67,458 

2013 
£’000

44,624
2,421
1,582
-

858

49,485

17,773
-

18,440

36,213

85,698

(5,804)
(4,498)
(125)

(10,427)

(13,779)
(1,149)
(2,783)

(17,711)

57,560

133
31,868
3,952
21,607

57,560

The consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 16 September 2014, signed on 
their behalf by:

C A J Macdonald 
Chief Executive 

S J Jackson 
Finance Director 

Company Registration Number 4402058. 

The accompanying notes on pages 25 to 59 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

22

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Balance at 1 July 2012 

109 

4,423 

2,988 

16,190 

23,710

Share capital 
£’000 

Share premium 
account 
£’000 

Other reserves 
£’000 

Retained earnings 
£’000 

Total 
£’000

Comprehensive income  

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income: 

Revaluation of available for sale financial asset 

Total comprehensive income 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

24 

27,445 

Transactions with owners 

Issue of ordinary shares 

Share-based payments  

Share-based payments transfer 

Purchase of own shares by employee benefit trust 

Tax on share options 

Dividends paid (note 10) 

Total transactions with owners 

Balance at 30 June 2013 

Comprehensive income 

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive income: 

Revaluation of available for sale financial asset 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners 

Issue of ordinary shares 

Share-based payments  

Share-based payments transfer 

Purchase of own shares by employee benefit trust 

Tax on share options 

Dividends paid (note 10) 

Total transactions with owners 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

24 

133 

- 

- 

- 

2 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2 

Balance at 30 June 2014 

135 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

27,445 

31,868 

- 

- 

- 

3,279 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3,279 

35,147 

- 

(9) 

(9) 

- 

1,111 

(350) 

- 

212 

- 

973 

3,952 

8,030 

8,030

- 

8,030 

(9)

8,021

- 

- 

350 

(779) 

- 

(2,184) 

(2,613) 

21,607 

27,469

1,111

-

(779)

212

(2,184)

25,829

57,560

- 

9,056 

9,056

(131) 

(131) 

- 

1,288 

(545) 

- 

156 

- 

899 

4,720 

- 

9,056 

(131)

8,925

- 

- 

545 

(732) 

- 

(3,020) 

(3,207) 

27,456 

3,281

1,288

-

(732)

156

(3,020)

973

67,458

The accompanying notes on pages 25 to 59 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

23

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Consolidated statement of cash flows
for the year ended 30 June 2014

Note 

23 

Cash flow from operating activities 

Cash generated from operations 

Taxation paid 

Net cash generated from operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of intangible assets 

Purchase of available for sale financial assets 

Acquisition of subsidiary companies, net of cash acquired 

9 

Deferred consideration paid 

Interest received 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 

Investment in joint venture 

Proceeds of sale of intangible assets 

Proceeds of sale of available for sale financial assets 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities 

Proceeds of issue of shares 

Purchase of own shares by employee benefit trust 

Dividends paid to shareholders 

Net cash (used in) / generated from financing activities 

Net (decrease) / increase in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

18 

2014 

£’000  

13,671 

(2,318) 

11,353 

(1,342) 

(552) 

(750) 

(3,340) 

(1,866) 

119 

(478) 

(360) 

- 

- 

(8,569) 

584 

(732) 

(3,020) 

(3,168) 

(384) 

18,440 

18,056 

2013 
(restated)* 
£’000

13,155

(1,661)

11,494

(863)

(617)

-

(20,757)

(3,637)

179

-

-

32

63

(25,600)

22,020

(779)

(2,184)

19,057

4,951

13,489

18,440

*Comparative amounts have been restated to show deferred consideration paid within cash flows from investing activities

The accompanying notes on pages 25 to 59 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements.

24

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

1.  General information

Brooks Macdonald Group plc (‘the Company’) is the parent company of a group of companies (‘the Group’), which offers a range of investment 

management services and related professional advice to private high-net-worth individuals, charities, and trusts. The Group also provides financial 

planning as well as offshore fund management and administration services and acts as fund manager to regulated OEICs, providing specialist funds 

in the property and structured return sectors and managing property assets on behalf of these funds and other clients.

The Company is a public limited company, incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006 and listed on AIM. 

The address of its registered office is 111 Park Street, London, W1K 7JL.

2.  Principal accounting policies

The general accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been applied 

consistently to all years presented, unless otherwise stated.

a)  Basis of preparation

 The Group’s consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted 

by the European Union, IFRS IC interpretations, and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The financial 

statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except for the revaluation of available for sale financial assets such that they are 

measured at their fair value.

 At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate 

resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in 

preparing the financial statements.

b)  Basis of consolidation

 The Group’s financial statements comprise a consolidation of the financial statements of the parent company (Brooks Macdonald Group plc) 

and its subsidiaries. The underlying financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as the parent company, 

using consistent accounting policies. Subsidiaries are all entities controlled by the Company, deemed to exist where the Company has the 

power to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities. The financial statements of the 

subsidiaries are included from the date on which control is transferred to the Group to the date that control ceases.

All intercompany transactions and balances between Group companies are eliminated on consolidation.

c)  Changes in accounting policies

 The Group’s accounting policies applied to these financial statements are consistent with those disclosed within the financial statements for the 

year ended 30 June 2013, except as described below.

New accounting policies

During the year the Group entered into a joint venture (note 14) and adopted the accounting policy below:

i) 

Investments in joint ventures

 A joint venture is an entity in which the Group holds a long-term interest and is jointly controlled by the Group and one or more third 

parties under a contractual agreement. Under the equity method of accounting, interests in joint ventures are initially recognised at cost in 

the consolidated statement of financial position and subsequently adjusted to reflect changes in the Group’s share of the net assets of the 

entities. The Group’s share of the results of joint ventures is included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

 If the Group’s share of the losses of a joint venture equals or exceeds its investment, the Group does not recognise further losses, unless it 

has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture.

25

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

c)  Changes in accounting policies (continued)

New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations adopted in the year

 In the year ended 30 June 2014 the Group did not adopt any new standards or amendments issued by the IASB or interpretations issued by the 

IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC) that have had a material impact on the consolidated financial statements. 

 Other new standards, amendments and interpretations adopted, that have not had a material impact on the amounts reported in these 

financial statements but may impact the accounting for future transactions and arrangements, were:

Standard, amendment or interpretation 

Disclosures: offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities (amendments to IFRS 7) 

Annual improvements (2009-2011 cycle) 

Transition guidance: Consolidated Financial Statements, Joint Arrangements and  

Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities (amendments to IFRS 10, 11 and 12) 

IFRS 10 ‘Consolidated Financial Statements’ 

IFRS 11 ‘Joint Arrangements’ 

IFRS 12 ‘Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities’ 

IFRS 13 ‘Fair Value Measurement’ 

IAS 27 (revised 2011) ‘Separate Financial Statements’ 

IAS 28 (revised 2011) ‘Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures’ 

Effective date

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

1 January 2013

New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted

 A number of new standards, amendments and interpretations, which have not been applied in preparing these financial statements, have been 

issued and are effective for annual and interim periods beginning after 1 July 2013:

Standard, amendment or interpretation 

Consolidation of investment entities (amendments to IFRS 10, 12 and IAS 27) 

Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities (amendments to IAS 32)   

Recoverable amount disclosures for non-financial assets (amendments to IAS 36) 

Novation of derivatives and continuation of hedge accounting (amendments to IAS 39) 

IFRIC 21 ‘Levies’ 

Contributions to defined benefit plans (amendments to IAS 19) 

General hedge accounting (amendments to IFRS 9) 

Effective date

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 July 2014

1 January 2018

 These changes are currently being assessed but none are expected to have a significant impact on the Group’s future consolidated 

financial statements.

26

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

d)  Critical accounting estimates and judgements

 The preparation of financial information requires the use of assumptions, estimates and judgements about future conditions. Use of currently available 

information and application of judgement are inherent in the formation of estimates. Actual results in the future may differ from those reported. In this 

regard, the directors believe that the accounting policies where judgement is necessarily applied are those that relate to the measurement of intangible 

assets, deferred consideration, the estimation of the fair value of share-based payments and client compensation provisions.

 The underlying assumptions made are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which 

the estimate is revised only if the revision affects both current and future periods.

Further information about key assumptions and sources of estimation uncertainty are set out below.

Intangible assets

 The Group has acquired client relationships and the associated investment management contracts as part of business combinations (as 

described in note 9), through separate purchase and purchased with newly employed teams of fund managers (as described in note 11). In 

assessing the fair value of these assets the Group has estimated their finite life based on information about the typical length of existing client 

relationships. Contracts acquired with fund managers and acquired client relationship contracts are amortised on a straight line basis over their 

estimated useful lives, ranging from 5 to 20 years.

 Goodwill recognised as part of a business combination is reviewed annually for impairment, or when a change in circumstances indicates that it 

might be impaired. The recoverable amounts of cash generating units are determined by value in use calculations, which require the use of 

estimates to derive the projected future cash flows attributable to each unit. Details of the more significant assumptions are given in note 11.

Deferred consideration

 As described in note 19, the Group has a deferred consideration balance in respect of the acquisition of JPAM Limited in July 2012; Brooks 

Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited and Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited in November 2012; and 

DPZ Capital Limited in April 2014. Deferred consideration is recognised at its fair value, being an estimate of the amount that will ultimately be 

payable in future periods. This has been calculated allowing for estimated growth in the acquired funds, discounted by the cost of capital. The 

Group considers that potential changes to these assumptions would not result in a material change in the fair value of the deferred consideration. 

Share-based payments

 The Group operates various share-based payment schemes in respect of services received from certain employees. Estimating the fair value of 

these share-based payments requires the Group to apply an appropriate valuation model and determine the inputs to that model (notes 21 and 

26). The charge to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in respect of share-based payments is calculated using assumptions 

about the number of eligible employees that will leave the Group and the number of employees that will satisfy the relevant performance 

conditions. These estimates are reviewed regularly.

Provisions 

 In the ordinary course of business, the Group may receive complaints from clients in relation to the services provided. Complaints are assessed 

on a case-by-case basis and provisions are made where it is judged to be likely that compensation will be paid.

e)  Exceptional items

 Exceptional items are disclosed and described separately in the financial statements where it is necessary to do so to provide further 

understanding of the underlying financial performance of the Group. These include material items of income or expense that are shown 

separately due to the significance of their nature or amount.

27

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

f)  Business combinations

 Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of an acquisition is measured at the fair value of the aggregate 
amount of the consideration transferred at the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any minority interest. Acquisition costs are charged 
to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in the year of acquisition.

 When the Group acquires a business, it assesses the financial assets and liabilities assumed for appropriate classification and designation in 
accordance with the contractual terms, economic circumstances and pertinent conditions at the acquisition date. If the business combination is 
achieved in stages, the fair value of the Groups’ previously held equity interest is re-measured at the acquisition date and the difference is 
credited or charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. Identifiable assets and liabilities assumed on acquisition are 
recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position at their fair value at the date of acquisition.

 Any contingent consideration to be paid by the Group to the vendor is recognised at its fair value at the acquisition date. Subsequent changes 
to the fair value of contingent consideration are recognised in accordance with IAS 39 in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

 Goodwill is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the consideration transferred over the acquired company’s net identifiable assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed. If the consideration is lower than the fair value of the net assets acquired, the difference is recognised as a gain 
on a bargain purchase in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Impairment
 Goodwill and other intangible assets with an indefinite life are tested annually for impairment. For the purposes of impairment testing, goodwill 
acquired in a business combination is allocated to each of the Group’s cash generating units that are expected to benefit from the combination, 
irrespective of whether other assets or liabilities of the acquisition are assigned to those units. The carrying amount of each cash generating unit 
is compared to its recoverable amount, which is determined using a discounted future cash flow model.

 Where goodwill forms part of a cash-generating unit and part of the operation within that unit is disposed of, the goodwill associated with the 
operation disposed of is included in the carrying amount of the operation when determining the gain or loss on disposal of the operation. 
Goodwill disposed of in this circumstance is measured based on the relative values of the operation disposed of and the portion of the cash 
generating unit retained.

g)  Fees, commissions and interest

 Portfolio management and other advisory and custody services are billed in arrears but are recognised over the period the service is provided. 
Fees are calculated on the basis of a percentage of the value of the portfolio over the period. Dealing charges are levied at the time a deal is 
placed for a client. Fees are only recognised when the fee amount can be estimated reliably and it is probable that the fee will be receivable. 
Amounts are shown net of rebates paid to significant investors.

 Performance fees are earned from some clients when contractually agreed performance levels are exceeded within specified performance 
measurement periods. They are only recognised, at the end of these performance periods, when a reliable estimate of the fee can be made and 
it is almost certain that it will be received.

 Financial consulting fees are charged to clients using an hourly rate or by a fixed fee arrangement and are recognised over the period the 
service is provided. Commissions receivable and payable are accounted for in the period in which they are earned.

 Where amounts due are conditional on the successful completion of fund raising for investment vehicles, revenue is recognised where, in the 
opinion of the directors, there is reasonable certainty that sufficient funds have been raised to enable the successful operation of that investment 
vehicle. Amounts due on an annual basis for the management of third party investment vehicles are recognised on a time apportioned basis.

Interest receivable is recognised on an accruals basis.

h)  Cash and cash equivalents 

 Cash comprises cash in hand and call deposits held with banks. Cash equivalents comprise short-term, highly liquid investments, with a 

maturity of less than three months from the date of acquisition.

28

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

i) 

Share-based payments

Equity settled schemes 
 The Group engages in equity settled share-based payment transactions in respect of services received from certain employees. The fair value of 
the services received is measured by reference to the fair value of the shares or share options on the grant date. This cost is then recognised in 
the consolidated statement of comprehensive income over the vesting period, with a corresponding credit to equity.

 The fair value of the options granted is determined using option pricing models, which take into account the exercise price of the option, the 
current share price, the risk free rate of interest, the expected volatility of the Company’s share price over the life of the award and other 
relevant factors.

Cash settled schemes 
 The Group engages in cash settled share-based payment transactions in respect of services received from certain employees. On the grant date, 
the liability is measured at its fair value. The liability is subsequently re-measured at the end of each reporting period and on the date of settlement, 
with any changes in fair value recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The cost of the services received from 
employees in respect of this scheme is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income with a corresponding credit to accruals. 

j) 

Segmental reporting 

 The Group determines and presents operating segments based on the information that is provided internally to the Group Board of Directors, 
which is the Group’s chief operating decision maker. The Group’s reportable segments were amended in the year to include the Channel Islands 
as a separate segment, reflecting the way in which reporting to the Board has evolved with the continued integration of BMI and BMRSI into 
the Group. Comparative information for the year ended 30 June 2013 has been restated accordingly.

k)  Fiduciary activities 

 The Group commonly acts as trustee and in other fiduciary capacities that result in the holding or placing of assets on behalf of individuals, 
trusts, retirement benefit plans and other institutions. These assets and income arising thereon are excluded from these financial statements, as 
they are not assets of the Group.

 The Group holds money on behalf of some clients in accordance with the client money rules of the Financial Conduct Authority. Such monies 
and the corresponding liability to clients are not included within the consolidated statement of financial position as the Group is not beneficially 
entitled thereto.

l)  Property, plant and equipment 

 All property, plant and equipment is included in the consolidated statement of financial position at historical cost less accumulated depreciation 
and impairment. Costs include the original purchase cost of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset into a working condition 
for its intended use.

 Provision is made for depreciation to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset, using a straight line method, over its expected 

useful life as follows:

Fixtures and fittings 

Equipment 

Leasehold improvements 

Motor vehicles 

3 to 6.67 years

5 years

over the term of the lease

4 years

 The assets’ residual values and useful economic lives are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period. Gains and 
losses arising on disposal are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount. These are included in the consolidated 
statement of comprehensive income. 

29

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

m)  Intangible assets

 Amortisation of intangible assets is charged to administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a straight 
line basis over the estimated useful lives of the assets (4 to 20 years).

 Acquired client relationship contracts and contracts acquired with fund managers
 Intangible assets are recognised where client relationship contracts are either separately acquired or acquired with investment managers who 
are employed by the Group. These are initially recognised at cost and are subsequently amortised on a straight line basis over their estimated 
useful economic life. Separately acquired client relationship contracts are amortised over 15 years and those acquired with investment managers 
over five years. Both types of intangible asset are reviewed annually to determine whether an indicator of impairment exists.

Computer software
Computer software costs are amortised on a straight line basis over an estimated useful life of four years.

Goodwill 
 Goodwill arising as part of a business combination is initially measured at cost, being the excess of the fair value of the consideration transferred 
over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the separately identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the subsidiary at date of 
acquisition. In accordance with IFRS 3 ‘Business Combinations’, goodwill is not amortised but is reviewed annually for impairment and is 
therefore stated at cost less any provision for impairment of value. Any impairment is recognised immediately in the consolidated statement of 
comprehensive income and is not subsequently reversed. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill 
relating to the entity sold. On acquisition, any goodwill acquired is allocated to cash generating units for the purposes of impairment testing. If 
the cost of the acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, the difference is recognised directly in the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

n)  Financial investments 

 The Group classifies financial assets in the following categories: fair value through profit or loss; available for sale; loans and receivables; and 
held-to-maturity. The classification is determined by management on initial recognition of the financial asset, which depends on the purpose for 
which it was acquired. 

Fair value through profit or loss
 Financial instruments are classified as fair value through profit or loss if they are either held for trading or specifically designated in this category 
on initial recognition. Assets in this category are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently re-measured, with gains or losses arising from 

changes in fair value being recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

 Available for sale
 Available for sale financial assets are non-derivatives that are either specifically designated in this category or are not classified in any of the other 
categories. They are included in non-current assets unless the investment matures or management intends to dispose of it within 12 months of 
the end of the reporting period. Available for sale financial assets are initially recognised at fair value and are subsequently revalued based on 
the current bid prices of the asset as quoted in active markets. 

Loans and receivables 
 Loans and receivables are non-derivative assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. They are included 
in current assets except where they have maturities of more than 12 months after the end of the reporting period, in which case they are 
classified as non-current assets. The Group’s loans and receivables are recognised within ‘trade and other receivables’.

Held-to-maturity
 Held-to-maturity financial assets are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinate payments and fixed maturities that the Group’s 
management has the positive intention and ability to hold to maturity. Held-to-maturity financial assets are measured at amortised cost.

30

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

o)  Provisions

 Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation as a result of a past event, where it is probable that it will result in an 
outflow of economic benefits and can be reliably estimated. Provisions are measured at the present value of the expenditures expected to be 
required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks 
specific to the obligation.

 Client compensation 
 Complaints are assessed on a case-by-case basis and provisions for compensation are made where it is judged necessary.

p)  Foreign currency translation

 The Group’s functional and presentational currency is the Pound Sterling. Foreign currency transactions are translated using the exchange rate 
prevailing at the transaction date. At the reporting date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are 
retranslated at the prevailing rates on that date. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from settlement of such transactions and from the 
translation of period-end monetary assets and liabilities are recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

q)  Retirement benefit costs

 Contributions in respect of the Group’s defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income as they fall due.

r)  Taxation 

 Tax on the profit for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year, 
using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

 Deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and 
their carrying amounts in the Group’s financial statements. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to 
apply to the period when the asset is realised or the liability settled based on tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted or substantively 
enacted at the reporting date.

 Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the temporary 

differences can be utilised.

s)  Trade receivables 

 Trade receivables are initially recognised and subsequently measured at the original invoice amount less an allowance for any amounts that are 
expected to be uncollectable. Doubtful debts are provided for when the collection of the full amount is no longer probable, whilst bad debts 
are immediately written off when identified.

t)  Trade payables 

 Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from suppliers. These are 
classified as current liabilities if payment is due within 12 months or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer). Otherwise, 
they are presented as non-current liabilities in the consolidated statement of financial position.

Trade payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

u)  Operating lease payments 

 Rent payments due under operating leases are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over the 
term of the lease. Where leases include lease incentives such as rent-free periods, the benefit of these incentives is recognised over the lease 
term as a reduction in the rental expense. 

31

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

2.  Principal accounting policies (continued)

v)  Financial instruments 

 The Group classifies financial instruments, or their component parts, on initial recognition as a financial asset, a financial liability or an equity 
instrument in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangement. Financial instruments are recognised in the consolidated 
statement of financial position at fair value when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.

w)  Carried interest receivable 

 The Group earns a performance fee, carried interest receivable, on some of the funds it manages on behalf of its investors. Carried interest 
receivable is recognised where, at the reporting date, the performance criteria have been met based on the valuations of the funds. Carried 
interest that has been earned but is not yet due for payment is discounted to its present value. This is included within current liabilities in the 
consolidated statement of financial position.

x)  Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’)

 The Company provides finance to an EBT to purchase the Company’s shares on the open market in order to meet its obligation to provide 
shares when an employee exercises certain options or awards made under the Group’s share-based payment schemes. The administration and 
finance costs connected with the EBT are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income. The cost of the shares held by the 
EBT is deducted from equity. A transfer is made between other reserves and retained earnings over the vesting periods of the related share 
options or awards to reflect the ultimate proceeds receivable from employees on exercise. The trustees have waived their rights to receive 
dividends on the shares.

 The EBT is considered to be a Special Purpose Entity (‘SPE’) where the substance of the relationship between the Group and the SPE indicates 
that the SPE is controlled by the Group. In substance, the activities of the trust are being conducted on behalf of the Group according to its 
specific business needs, in order to obtain benefits from its operation. On this basis, the assets held by the trust are consolidated into the 
Group’s financial statements.

y)  Share capital

 Ordinary share capital is classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new ordinary shares or options are shown in 
equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.

 Where the parent company purchases the Company’s equity share capital (treasury shares) the consideration paid, including any directly 
incremental costs (ie net of income taxes) is deducted from equity attributable to the Company’s equity holders until the shares are cancelled or 
reissued. Where such ordinary shares are subsequently reissued, any consideration received (net of any directly attributable incremental 
transaction costs and the related income tax effects) is included within equity attributable to the Company’s equity holders. 

z)  Dividend distribution

 The dividend distribution to the Company’s shareholders is recognised as a liability in the Group’s financial statements in the period in which 

the dividend is authorised and no longer at the discretion of the Company. Final dividends are recognised when approved by the Company’s 

shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and interim dividends are recognised when paid.

32

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

3.  Segmental information

For management purposes the Group’s activities are organised into four operating divisions: investment management, financial planning, fund and 

property management and the Channel Islands. The Group’s other activity, offering nominee and custody services to clients, is included within 

investment management. These divisions are the basis on which the Group reports its primary segmental information. In accordance with IFRS 8 

‘Operating Segments’, disclosures are required to reflect the information which the Board uses internally for evaluating the performance of its 

operating segments and allocating resources to those segments. The information presented in this note follows the presentation for internal 

reporting to the Group Board of Directors.

During the year the Group identified the Channel Islands as being a separate reportable segment. This comprises the results of BMI and BMRSI along 

with the recently acquired DPZ. Previously, BMI and BMRSI were included within the investment management and financial planning segments 

respectively. The comparatives for the year ended 30 June 2013 have been restated in accordance with IFRS 8 to reflect this change.

Revenues and expenses are allocated to the business segment that originated the transaction. Revenues and expenses that are not directly originated 

by a particular business segment are reported as unallocated. Sales between segments are carried out at arm’s length. Centrally incurred expenses 

are allocated to business segments on an appropriate pro-rata basis. Segmental assets and liabilities comprise operating assets and liabilities, those 

being the majority of the balance sheet.

Investment 
management 
£’000 

48,988  

(156) 

48,832  

12,324  

Investment 
management 
£’000 

49,581 

- 

49,581 

13,106 

Financial 
planning 
£’000 

Fund and  
property management 
£’000 

4,034  

(223) 

3,811  

(109) 

Financial 
planning 
£’000 

3,633 

(1,317) 

2,316 

191 

5,061  

(127) 

4,934  

(102) 

Fund and  
property management 
£’000 

4,636 

- 

4,636 

(482) 

Channel 
 Islands 
£’000 

11,556  

-  

11,556  

2,376  

Channel 
 Islands 
£’000 

6,626 

- 

6,626 

1,799 

Year ended 30 June 2014 

Total segment revenues 

Inter segment revenues 

External revenues 

Segment result 

Unallocated items 

Profit before tax 

Taxation 

Profit for the year 

Year ended 30 June 2013 (restated) 

Total segment revenues 

Inter segment revenues 

External revenues 

Segment result 

Unallocated items 

Profit before tax 

Taxation 

Profit for the year 

Total 
£’000

69,639 

(506)

69,133

14,489

(3,921)

10,568

(1,512)

9,056

Total 
£’000

64,476

(1,317)

63,159

14,614

(4,216)

10,398

(2,368)

8,030

33

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

3.  Segmental information (continued)

a)  Geographic analysis 

 The Group’s operations are located in the United Kingdom and the Channel Islands. The following table presents underlying operating income 

analysed by the geographical location of the Group entity providing the service.

United Kingdom 

Channel Islands 

Total operating income 

b)  Major clients

2014 
£’000 

57,577 

11,556 

69,133 

The Group is not reliant on any one client or group of connected clients for the generation of revenues.

4. 

 Revenue

Fee income 

Financial services commission 

Total revenue 

5.  Operating profit

Operating profit is stated after charging:

Staff costs (note 6) 

Acquisition costs (see below) 

Auditors’ remuneration (see below) 

Financial Services Compensation Scheme Levy (see below) 

Depreciation (note 12) 

Amortisation (note 11) 

A more detailed analysis of auditors’ remuneration is provided below: 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the  

consolidated group and parent company financial statements 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services: 

– audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation 

– audit-related assurance services 

– tax advisory services 

– other assurance services 

– other advisory services 

Total auditors’ remuneration 

34

2014 
£’000 

66,394 

2,739 

69,133 

2014 
£’000 

33,872 

187 

220 

351 

981 

2,212 

2014 
£’000 

37 

145 

29 

- 

- 

9 

220 

2013 
£’000

56,533

6,626

63,159

2013 
£’000

59,431

3,728

63,159

2013 
£’000

26,907

1,047

282

359

863

1,865

2013 
£’000

44

150

22

6

60

-

282

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

5.  Operating profit (continued)

Acquisition costs

Administrative costs for the year ended 30 June 2014 include £187,000 (2013: £1,047,000) of directly attributable business acquisition costs: £61,000 

in relation to the acquisition of DPZ Capital Limited, £46,000 incurred in the establishment of North Row Capital LLP and £80,000 in respect of the 

option to purchase Levitas Investment Management Services Limited (2013: £30,000 in respect of the acquisition of JPAM and £1,017,000 in respect of 

the acquisition of BMI and BMRSI). The Group exercised the option to purchase Levitas in July 2014, as further explained in note 34.

Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies

Administrative costs for the year ended 30 June 2014 include a charge of £351,000 (2013: £359,000) for the Financial Services Compensation Scheme 

(‘FSCS’) levy. The Group received no invoices during the year for additional levies on previous scheme years (2013: invoices totalling £119,000 were 

received) but a provision of £351,000 (2013: £240,000) has been made for the estimated levy by the FSCS for the 2014/15 scheme year (note 22).

6.  Employee information 

a)   Staff costs

  Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Other pension costs 

Share-based payments 

Total staff costs 

Pension costs relate entirely to a defined contribution scheme.

b)    Number of employees

The average monthly number of employees during the year, including directors, was as follows:

Professional staff 

Administrative staff 

Total staff 

c)  Key management compensation

2014 
£’000 

28,867 

2,863 

1,012 

1,130 

33,872 

2014 

169 

253 

422 

2013 
£’000

21,920

2,738

625

1,624

26,907

2013

156

207

363

 Key management compensation relates to the Group Board of Directors, including both the executive directors and non-executive directors for 

the years presented.

Short-term employee benefits 

Post-employment benefits 

Share-based payments 

Total compensation 

2014 
£’000 

2,242 

60 

398 

2,700 

2013 
£’000

2,390

79

387

2,856

35

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

6.  Employee information (continued)

d)   Directors’ emoluments

Further details of director’s emoluments are included within the Remuneration Committee report on pages 9 to 15.

Salaries 

Non-executive directors’ fees 

Benefits in kind 

Pension contributions 

Amounts receivable under long-term incentive schemes 

Total directors’ remuneration 

2014 
£’000 

2,075 

151 

16 

2,242 

60 

240 

2,542 

2013 
£’000

2,238

133

19

2,390

79

278

2,747

 The aggregate amount of gains made by directors on the exercise of share options during the year was £458,000 (2013: £301,000). Retirement 

benefits are accruing to six directors (2013: six) under a defined contribution pension scheme. 

The remuneration of the highest paid director during the year was as follows:

Remuneration and benefits in kind 

Amounts receivable under long-term incentive schemes 

Total remuneration 

2014 
£’000 

506 

64 

570 

The amount of gains made by the highest paid director on the exercise of share options during the year was £6,000 (2013: £176,000).

2014 
£’000 

109 

10 

119 

2014 
£’000 

349 

349 

7.  Finance income and finance costs

Finance income 

Bank interest on deposits 

Tax repayment supplement 

Total finance income 

Finance costs 

Finance cost of deferred consideration 

Total finance costs 

36

2013 
£’000

517

64

581

2013 
£’000

177

2

179

2013 
£’000

279

279

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

8.  Taxation

The tax charge on profit on ordinary activities for the year was as follows:

UK Corporation Tax at 22.50% (2013: 23.75%) 

(Over)/under provision in prior years 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax credit 

Effect of change in tax rate on deferred tax 

Income tax expense 

2014 
£’000 

2,477 

(17) 

2,460 

(473) 

(475) 

1,512 

2013 
£’000

2,618

424

3,042

(673)

(1)

2,368

Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.

The tax on the Group’s profit before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the time apportioned tax rate applicable to profits 

of the consolidated entities in the UK as follows: 

Profit on ordinary activities before tax 

Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard  

rate of tax in the UK of 22.50% (2013: 23.75%) 

Tax effect of: 

– lower tax rates in other countries in which the Group operates 

– disallowable expenses 

– non-taxable income 

– tax losses unutilised/(utilised) on which no deferred tax is provided 

– change in rate of Corporation Tax applicable to deferred tax 

– (over)/under provision in prior years 

Tax charge for the year 

2014 
£’000 

10,568 

2,378 

(618) 

77 

(1) 

168 

(475) 

(17) 

1,512 

2013 
£’000

10,398

2,469

(398)

189

(260)

(55)

(1)

424

2,368

The deferred tax credits totalling £948,000 (2013: £674,000) represent a credit of £122,000 (2013: £287,000) arising from the share option reserve 
at the balance sheet date, a credit of £10,000 (2013: £10,000) relating to accelerated capital allowances, a credit of £341,000 (2013: £377,000) 
arising from the amortisation of acquired client relationship contracts and a credit due to a change in tax rates of £475,000 (2013: £nil).

On 1 April 2014, the standard rate of Corporation Tax in the UK was reduced from 23% to 21%. As a result the effective rate of Corporation Tax 
applied to the taxable profit for the year ended 30 June 2014 is 22.50% (2013: 23.75%).

In addition to the change in the rate of UK Corporation Tax disclosed above, the Finance Act 2013 (substantively enacted on 2 July 2013) will further 
reduce the main rate of UK Corporation Tax to 20% with effect from 1 April 2015. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated at the rate that is 
expected to be in force when the temporary differences unwind, but limited to the extent that such rates have been substantively enacted. 

Consequently the tax rate used to determine the deferred tax assets and liabilities is 20% (2013: 23%).

The tax charge relating to components of other comprehensive income is as follows:

Revaluation of available for sale financial assets 

Tax credit on revaluation of available for sale financial assets 

Total other comprehensive income 

2014 
£’000 

(150) 

19 

(131) 

2013 
£’000

(12)

3

(9)

37

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

9.  Business combinations

On 11 April 2014, the Group acquired the entire share capital of DPZ Capital Limited (‘DPZ’). DPZ is a well established wealth management business 

based in Jersey. It manages a range of distinct investment strategies founded on its core competencies: asset allocation; manager selection; fixed 

interest and credit investing; and equity selection. On acquisition, DPZ had funds under management of approximately £430m, £360m of which 

was managed on a discretionary basis, £60m on an advisory basis and £10m on an execution only basis. 

In the financial year ended 30 June 2013, the Group acquired the entire share capital of JPAM Limited, Brooks Macdonald Asset Management 

(International) Limited (formerly Spearpoint Limited) and Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited (formerly Spearpoint 

Retirement Services Limited). Details of these acquisitions are disclosed in note 9 of the 2013 Annual Report.

The total consideration for the acquisition of DPZ was £11,678,000, comprising of: cash of £4,155,000; the issue of 158,032 shares in Brooks 

Macdonald Group plc with a value of £2,697,000; and a contingent balance of £4,826,000 payable in two instalments in October 2014 and May 

2016 and based on the future value of the discretionary funds under management acquired. The fair value of the liability is currently the maximum 

consideration that could be paid under the terms of the acquisition, assuming that there is no reduction in the level of discretionary client 

funds retained. 

Directly attributable acquisition costs of £61,000 were incurred as a result of the acquisition and have been charged to the consolidated statement of 

comprehensive income.

Goodwill of £4,035,000 was recognised on acquisition in respect of expected synergies from combining the operations of DPZ with the Group’s 

existing offshore operations, as well as intangible assets that do not qualify for separate recognition and the experience of the investment 

management staff employed by DPZ.

The fair values of the assets acquired are the gross contractual amounts and all are considered to be fully recoverable. The fair value of the 

identifiable assets and liabilities acquired, at the date of acquisition, are detailed in (a) below.

a)  Net assets acquired through business combinations

Property, plant and equipment 

Trade and other receivables  

Cash and cash equivalents  

Other current assets  

Trade and other payables  

Other current liabilities 

Total net assets recognised by acquired company 

Fair value adjustments: 

– client relationship contracts  

– deferred tax liability on client relationship contracts  

Net identifiable assets 

Goodwill 

Total purchase consideration 

38

£’000 

7,875

(1,575)

£’000

189 

569 

815 

179 

(138) 

(271)

1,343

6,300

7,643

4,035

11,678

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

9.  Business combinations (continued)

b) 

Impact on reported results from date of acquisition

DPZ Capital Limited 

Revenues from 
external customers 
£’000 

727 

Profit for the 
year  

£’000

161

Had DPZ Capital Limited been consolidated from 1 July 2013, the consolidated statement of comprehensive income would show Group  

pro-forma revenue of £71,658,000 and post-tax profit for the year of £9,193,000.

c)  Net cash outflow resulting from business combinations

Total purchase consideration (note 9a) 

Less: 

– shares issued as consideration 

– deferred cash consideration 

Cash paid to acquire subsidiaries 

Less: cash held by subsidiaries acquired 

Cash paid to acquire subsidiary net of cash acquired 

10.  Dividends 

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders of the Company in the year were as follows:

Final dividend paid for the year ended 30 June 2013 of 16.0p (2012: 12.5p) per share 

Interim dividend paid for the year ended 30 June 2014 of 7.0p (2013: 6.5p) per share 

Total dividends 

2014 
£’000 

2,102 

918 

3,020 

Final dividend proposed for the year ended 30 June 2014 of 19.0p (2013: 16.0p) per share 

2,535 

The interim dividend of 7.0p (2013: 6.5p) per share was paid on 17 April 2014.  

£’000

11,678

(2,697)

(4,826)

4,155

(815)

3,340 

2013 
£’000

1,348

836

2,184

2,102

A final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2014 of 19.0p (2013: 16.0p) per share was declared by the Board of Directors on 16 September 2014 

and is subject to approval by the shareholders at the Company’s Annual General Meeting. It will be paid on 28 October 2014 to shareholders who 

are on the register at the close of business on 26 September 2014. In accordance with IAS 10 ‘Events After the Reporting Period’, this dividend has 

not been included as a liability in these financial statements.

39

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

11.  Intangible assets

Cost  
At 1 July 2012 

Additions 
Disposals 

At 30 June 2013 

Additions 
Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries at fair value 

At 30 June 2014 

Accumulated amortisation 
At 1 July 2012 
Amortisation charge 

At 30 June 2013 
Amortisation charge 

At 30 June 2014 

Net book value 
At 1 July 2012 
At 30 June 2013 

At 30 June 2014 

a)  Goodwill

Goodwill  
£’000 

Computer 
software 
£’000 

Acquired client 
relationship contracts 
£’000 

Contracts acquired 
with fund managers 
£’000 

3,550 

17,208 
- 

20,758 

- 
4,035 

24,793 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

3,550 
20,758 

24,793 

90 

243 
- 

333 

78 
- 

411 

46 
113 

159 
110 

269 

44 
174 

142 

6,867 

18,037 
(32) 

24,872 

- 
7,875 

32,747 

536 
1,477 

2,013 
1,758 

3,771 

6,331 
22,859 

28,976 

1,973 

601 
- 

2,574 

474 
- 

3,048 

1,466 
275 

1,741 
344 

2,085 

507 
833 

963 

Total 
£’000

12,480

36,089
(32)

48,537

552
11,910

60,999

2,048
1,865

3,913
2,212

6,125

10,432
44,624

54,874

 Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated at acquisition to the cash generating units (‘CGUs’) that are expected to benefit from 

that business combination. The carrying amount of goodwill at 30 June 2014 comprises £3,550,000 in respect of the Braemar Group Limited 

(‘Braemar’) CGU, £17,208,000 in respect of the Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited and Brooks Macdonald 

Retirement Services (International) Limited (collectively ‘Brooks Macdonald International’) CGU and £4,035,000 in respect of the DPZ Capital 

Limited (‘DPZ’) CGU.

 Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment and its recoverability has been assessed at 30 June 2014 by comparing the carrying amount of 

the CGUs to their expected recoverable amount, estimated on a value-in-use basis. The value-in-use of each CGU has been calculated using 

pre-tax discounted cash flow projections based on the most recent budgets approved by the Board, covering a period of up to five years. Cash 

flows are then extrapolated beyond the forecast period using an expected long-term growth rate.

40

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

11.  Intangible assets (continued)

a)  Goodwill (continued)

 Based on the value-in-use calculation, at 30 June 2014 the calculated recoverable amount of the Brooks Macdonald International CGU was 

£26,520,000, indicating that there is no impairment. The key underlying assumptions of the calculation are the discount rate, the short-term 

growth in earnings and the long-term growth rate of the business. A pre-tax discount rate of 10% has been used, based on the Group’s 

assessment of the risk-free rate of interest and specific risks relating to Brooks Macdonald International. Annual earnings growth rates of 7% 

and 5% respectively are forecast in the next two financial years, the period covered by the most recent forecasts, which reflect historic actual 

growth and are considered to be achievable given current market and industry trends. The 2% long-term growth rate applied is considered 

prudent in the context of the long-term average growth rate for the funds, investment management and financial planning industries in 

which the CGU operates.

 The key assumptions inherent in the value-in-use calculations for the Braemar and DPZ CGUs were similarly a pre-tax discount rate of 10%, 

annual revenue growth rates ranging from 10% to 27% and a long-term growth rate of up to 2%. Significant headroom exists in the 

calculations of the respective recoverable amounts of these CGUs over the carrying amounts of the goodwill allocated to them. On this basis, 

the directors have concluded that there is no impairment.

 The directors consider that no reasonably foreseeable change in any of the key assumptions would result in an impairment of goodwill,  

given the margin by which the estimated recoverable amounts of the CGUs exceed the carrying amounts of the goodwill allocated to each.

b)  Computer software

Software costs are amortised over an estimated useful life of four years on a straight line basis.

c)  Acquired client relationship contracts

 This asset represents the fair value of future benefits accruing to the Group from acquired client relationship contracts. The amortisation of 

client relationships is charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over their estimated useful 

lives (15 to 20 years).

 During the year ended 30 June 2014, the Group acquired client relationship contracts totalling £7,875,000 (2013: £18,037,000), as part of 

business combinations (note 9), which were recognised as separately identifiable intangible assets in the consolidated statement of financial 

position. These related to the acquisition of DPZ.

d)  Contracts acquired with fund managers

 This asset represents the fair value of the future benefits accruing to the Group from contracts acquired with fund managers. Payments made to 

acquire such contracts are stated at cost and amortised on a straight line basis over an estimated useful life of five years.

41

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

12.  Property, plant and equipment 

Cost  
At 1 July 2012 

Additions 
Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries 

At 30 June 2013 
Additions 
Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries 

At 30 June 2014 

Accumulated depreciation 
At 1 July 2012 

Depreciation charge 

At 30 June 2013 
Depreciation charge 

At 30 June 2014 

Net book value 
At 1 July 2012 
At 30 June 2013 

At 30 June 2014 

13.  Available for sale financial assets 

 Motor  
vehicles 
£’000 

Fixtures and 
fittings 
£’000 

Equipment and leasehold 
improvements 
£’000 

- 

35 
- 

35 
- 
- 

35 

- 

4 

4 
9 

13 

- 
31 

22 

1,417 

151 
54 

1,622 
276 
189 

2,087 

434 

234 

668 
291 

959 

983 
954 

1,128 

4,071 

677 
- 

4,748 
1,066 
- 

5,814 

2,687 

625 

3,312 
681 

3,993 

1,384 
1,436 

1,821 

Total 
£’000

5,488

863
54

6,405
1,342
189

7,936

3,121

863

3,984
981

4,965

2,367
2,421

2,971

The Group holds an investment of 1,426,793.64 B shares in Braemar Group PCC Limited Student Accommodation Cell. The fund is promoted by 

Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited, a subsidiary of the Group. Although trading is currently suspended on this fund, the fund manager continues to 

publish a price based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund. At 30 June 2014, based on the most recent valuation, the fair value of the 

investment was £1,432,000 (2013: £1,582,000). The loss of £150,000 (2013: loss of £12,000) has been recognised in other comprehensive income 

in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

During the year the Group made an investment of £750,000 in Sancus Holdings Limited (‘Sancus’), an unlisted company incorporated in the 

Channel Islands. Sancus is a Peer-to-Peer (‘P2P’) secured lender, concentrating on traditional P2P transactions and focused on working with 

entrepreneurs and businesses. The business helps clients to lend or borrow directly, to or from fellow entrepreneurs and professionals, to assist the 

real economy. In the opinion of the directors, the market value of the investment at 30 June 2014 remains £750,000 based on the most recent 

transaction price.

During the year ended 30 June 2013, a £50,000 investment in UK Farming plc was de-recognised as the entity is now considered to be controlled by 

the Group and its assets and liabilities have been consolidated accordingly.

The Group disposed of no investments in the current year (2013: £nil).

42

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

13.  Available for sale financial assets (continued)

At beginning of year 

Additions 

Disposals 

De-recognised on consolidation of former investment 

Loss from changes in fair value 

At end of year 

2014 
£’000 

1,582 

750 

- 

- 

(150) 

2,182 

2013 
£’000

1,657

-

(13)

(50)

(12)

1,582

The table below provides an analysis of the financial instruments that, subsequent to initial recognition, are measured at fair value. These are grouped 

into the following levels within the fair value hierarchy, based on the degree to which the inputs used to determine the fair value are observable:

• 

• 

• 

level 1 – derived from quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities at the measurement date; 

level 2 – derived from inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that are observable, either directly or indirectly; and  

level 3 – derived from inputs that are not based on observable market data

Braemar Group PCC Limited Student Accommodation Cell 

Sancus Holdings Limited 

Total 

There has been no movement between any of the levels during the year.

14.  Investment in joint venture 

Level 1 
£’000 

- 

- 

- 

Level 2 
£’000 

1,432 

- 

1,432 

Level 3 
£’000 

- 

750 

750 

Total 
£’000

1,432

750

2,182

During the year Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, entered into a new partnership, North Row Capital LLP, in which it 

holds a 60% interest and has joint control. The balance is owned by two individual partners who developed the investment approach behind the 

IFSL North Row Liquid Property Fund, which was launched in February 2014. The fund offers investors liquid exposure to global real estate markets 

by investing predominantly in property derivatives, as well as property equity and debt, to gain exposure to the direct property markets.

The establishment of the partnership and the fund required an initial investment of approximately £135,000 by Brooks Macdonald Funds and 

additional working capital of £225,000 in the year ended 30 June 2014. The Group’s share of the loss for the year reported by North Row Capital 

LLP was £128,000, which has been recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income with a corresponding reduction in the 

investment in joint venture recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position.

43

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

15.  Deferred income tax

Deferred income tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available against which the 

temporary differences can be utilised. An analysis of the Group’s deferred assets and deferred tax liabilities is shown below.

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets to be settled after more than 12 months 

Deferred tax assets to be settled within 12 months 

Total deferred tax assets 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities to be settled after more than 12 months 

Deferred tax liabilities to be settled within 12 months 

Total deferred tax liabilities 

The gross movement on the deferred income tax account during the year was as follows:

At 1 July 

Credit to the statement of comprehensive income (note 8) 

Credit recognised in other comprehensive income 

Charge recognised in equity 

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries 

At 30 June 

The change in deferred income tax assets and liabilities during the year was as follows:

Deferred tax assets 

At 1 July 2012 

Charge to the statement of comprehensive income 

Charge to equity 

At 30 June 2013 

Credit to the statement of comprehensive income 

Charge to equity 

At 30 June 2014 

2014 
£’000 

204 

605 

809 

(5,115) 

(2) 

(5,117) 

2014 
£’000 

(3,640) 

948 

19 

(60) 

(1,575) 

(4,308) 

2013 
£’000

234

624

858

(4,468)

(30)

(4,498)

2013 
£’000

(25)

674

3

(97)

(4,195)

(3,640)

Share-based payments  

£’000

668

287

(97)

858

11

(60)

809

The carrying amount of the deferred tax asset is reviewed at each reporting date and is only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future 

taxable profits of the Group will allow the asset to be recovered.

44

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

15.  Deferred income tax (continued) 

Deferred tax liabilities 

At 1 July 2012 

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries 

Credit to the statement of comprehensive income 

Charge to other comprehensive income 

At 30 June 2013 

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries 

Credit to the statement of comprehensive income 

Charge to other comprehensive income 

At 30 June 2014 

16.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income 

Total trade and other receivables 

  Accelerated capital  
allowances 
 £’000  

Available for sale 
financial assets 
£’000 

Intangible asset 
amortisation 
£’000 

22 

- 

(10) 

- 

12 

- 

(10) 

- 

2 

649 

4,195 

(377) 

- 

4,467 

1,575 

(927) 

- 

5,115 

22 

- 

- 

(3) 

19 

- 

- 

(19) 

- 

2014 
£’000 

9,653 

1,299 

10,480 

21,432 

Total 
 £’000 

693

4,195

(387)

(3)

4,498

1,575

(937)

(19)

5,117

2013 
£’000

5,158

766

11,849

17,773

17.  Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

During the year the Group acquired equity shareholding investments. The cost of these investments was £478,000 and their market value at 

30 June 2014 was £478,000. These investments are classified as level 1 as defined in note 13.

18.  Cash and cash equivalents 

Cash at bank  

Cash held in employee benefit trust 

Total cash and cash equivalents 

2014 
£’000 

17,994 

62 

18,056 

2013 
£’000

18,420 

20

18,440

Cash and cash equivalents are distributed across a range of financial institutions with high credit ratings in accordance with the Group’s treasury 

policy. Cash at bank comprises current accounts and immediately accessible deposit accounts.  

45

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

19.  Deferred consideration

Deferred consideration, which is also included within provisions in current liabilities to the extent that it is due to be paid within one year of 

the reporting date (note 22), relates to the directors’ best estimate of amounts payable in the future in respect of certain client relationships 

and subsidiary undertakings that were acquired by the Group. Deferred consideration is measured at its fair value based on the discounted 

expected future cash flows. The movements in the deferred consideration balance during the year were as follows:

At 1 July 

Added on acquisitions during the year 

Interest accrued 

Payments made during the year 

At 30 June 

Analysed as:

Amounts falling due within one year 

Amounts falling due after more than one year 

Total deferred consideration 

2014 
£’000 

7,927 

4,826 

349 

(1,866) 

11,236 

8,293 

2,943 

11,236 

2013 
£’000

2,309

8,976

279

(3,637)

7,927

2,123

5,804

7,927

Deferred consideration of £4,826,000 (2013: £8,976,000) was recognised during the year (note 9), relating to the acquisition of DPZ Capital 

Limited. Payments of £1,866,000 (2013: £3,637,000) were made during the year, representing £981,000 to the vendors of JPAM and £885,000 to 

Clarke Willmott LLP.

Amounts falling due after more than one year from the reporting date are presented in non-current liabilities as shown below: 

At 1 July 

Added on acquisitions during the year 

Interest accrued 

Transfer to current liabilities 

At 30 June 

2014 
£’000 

5,804 

2,435 

26 

(5,322) 

2,943 

2013 
£’000

959

5,597

207

(959)

5,804

The amount payable in respect of acquisitions during the year of £2,435,000 (2013: £5,597,000) is the deferred consideration relating to the 

acquisition of DPZ Capital Limited (note 9). An amount of £5,322,000 (2013: £959,000), representing the deferred consideration of £4,482,000 

payable in respect of the acquired client relationships of BMI and BMRSI and £840,000 relating to the acquisition of JPAM Limited, was transferred to 

provisions within current liabilities.

A range of final outcomes for the expected total deferred consideration payable cannot be estimated as the future value of the funds under 

management is dependent on several unpredictable variables, including client retention and market movements.

46

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

20.  Other non-current liabilities

Other non-current liabilities relate to employer’s National Insurance contributions arising from share option awards under the LTIS scheme. An 

additional liability of £82,000 (2013: £90,000) was recognised during the year in respect of existing awards, granted in previous years, which are 

expected to vest in the future. During the year, an amount of £92,000 (2013: £383,000) was transferred to current liabilities, reflecting awards that 

will vest within the next 12 months.

21.  Trade and other payables 

Trade payables 

Other taxes and social security 

Other payables 

Accruals and deferred income 

Total trade and other payables 

2014 
£’000 

2,134 

1,712 

1,319 

10,013 

15,178 

2013 
£’000

2,631

1,394

2,621

7,133

13,779

Included within accruals and deferred income is an accrual of £310,000 (2013: £837,000) in respect of the Phantom Share Option Schemes granted 

in October 2008 and October 2009 and employer’s National Insurance contributions arising from share option awards under the LTIS (note 26b). 

The schemes are cash settled and payments are made to participants in respect of their awards by the Group’s subsidiary undertakings. The options 

are awarded at no cost to the participants. The amount that is ultimately payable to participants of the scheme is equal to the increase in market 

value of the Company’s ordinary shares over a three year vesting period. The award will vest after three years to the extent that the performance 

conditions are satisfied and will be forfeited in total if performance fails to meet the minimum criteria. 

The options have been valued using a Black Scholes model based on the market price of the Company’s shares at the grant date (note 26). The total 

charge to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year for all Phantom Share Option Schemes and employer’s National 

Insurance contributions arising from share option awards under the LTIS (note 26b) was £150,000 (2013: £423,000). The number of Phantom  

Share Options outstanding at 30 June 2014 was as follows:

At 1 July 

Forfeited in the year 

Exercised in the year 

At 30 June 

Number of  
options 

37,103 

- 

(37,103) 

- 

2014 
Weighted average 
base price (£) 

9.415 

- 

9.415 

- 

Number of  
options 

133,103 

(45,000) 

(51,000) 

37,103 

2013 
Weighted average 
base price (£)

6.875

7.750

4.255

9.415

47

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

22.  Provisions

At 1 July 2012 

Charge to the statement of comprehensive income 

Added on acquisitions during the year 

Interest accrued 

Transfer from non-current liabilities 

Utilised during the year 

At 30 June 2013 

Charge to the statement of comprehensive income 

Added on acquisitions during the year 

Interest accrued 

Transfer from non-current liabilities 

Utilised during the year 

At 30 June 2014 

a)   Client compensation

Client   

compensation 
 £’000  

Deferred  
consideration 
£’000 

339 

246 

- 

- 

- 

(165) 

420 

233 

- 

- 

- 

(150) 

503 

1,350 

- 

3,379 

72 

959 

(3,637) 

2,123 

- 

2,367 

321 

5,348 

(1,866) 

8,293 

FSCS 
levy 
£’000 

- 

240 

- 

- 

- 

- 

240 

351 

- 

- 

- 

(240) 

351 

Total 
 £’000 

1,689

486

3,379

72

959

(3,802)

2,783

584

2,367

321

5,348

(2,256)

9,147

 Client compensation provisions relate to the potential liability arising from client complaints against the Group. Complaints are assessed on a case by 

case basis and provisions for compensation are made where judged necessary.

b)  Deferred consideration

Deferred consideration has been included within provisions as a current liability to the extent that it is due to be paid within one year of the 

reporting date.

Deferred consideration payable within one year of £2,367,000 (2013: £3,379,000) was recognised during the year. An amount of £5,348,000 (2013: 

£959,000) was transferred from non-current liabilities, representing a payment to the vendor of JPAM Limited and the final tranche of deferred 

consideration paid to Clarke Willmott LLP in November 2013 in respect of client relationships acquired in October 2011. Provisions of £1,866,000 

(2013: £3,637,000) were utilised during the year on payment of £981,000 to the vendors of JPAM and £885,000 to Clarke Willmott LLP.

c)  FSCS levy

 Following confirmation by the FSCS in April 2014 of its proposed 2014/15 annual industry levy, the Group has made a provision of £351,000 (2013: 

£240,000) for its estimated share.

48

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

23.  Reconciliation of operating profit to net cash inflow from operating activities 

Operating profit 

Adjustments for: 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Amortisation of intangible assets  

(Increase)/decrease in receivables 

Increase/(decrease) in payables 

Increase in provisions 

Decrease in non-current liabilities  

Share-based payments 

Net cash inflow from operating activities 

2014 
£’000 

10,926 

981 

2,212 

(2,910) 

990 

194 

(10) 

1,288 

13,671 

2013 (restated)* 

£’000

10,498

863

1,865

91

(1,301)

321

(293)

1,111

13,155

*Comparative amounts have been restated to show deferred consideration paid within cash flows from investing activities

In the year ended 30 June 2014, the Group obtained control of DPZ. The net cash outflow resulting from this business combination is presented  

in note 9(c).

24.  Share capital and share premium account

The movements in share capital and share premium during the year were as follows:

At 1 July 2012 

Shares issued: 

 – on placing 

 – on exercise of options 

 – to Sharesave Scheme 

At 30 June 2013  

Shares issued: 

 – as consideration 

 – on exercise of options 

 – to Sharesave Scheme 

At 30 June 2014 

Number 
of shares 

10,927,496 

Exercise 
price 
p 

2,288,193 

1,150.0 - 1,301.9 

73,100 

59,185 

13,347,974 

158,032 

29,500 

56,669 

13,592,175 

140.0 - 290.5 

240.0 - 578.0 

1,706.4 

215.0 - 290.5 

578.0 - 916.0 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

109 

23 

1 

- 

133 

2 

- 

- 

135 

Share premium 
account 
£’000 

4,423 

26,927 

327 

191 

31,868 

2,696 

72 

511 

35,147 

Total 
£’000

4,532

26,950

328

191

32,001

2,698

72

511

35,282

The total number of ordinary shares, issued and fully paid at 30 June 2014 was 13,592,175 (2013: 13,347,974) with a par value of 1p per share. 

On 12 April 2014, the Company issued 158,032 ordinary shares with a market value of £2,696,658 as part consideration for the acquisition of DPZ 

by Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited. 

Shares issued on exercise of options and to Sharesave Scheme members are shown as a having a £nil impact on share capital in the year ended  

30 June 2014 due to rounding (2013: £1,000 and £nil respectively).

49

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

24.  Share capital and share premium account (continued)

Employee Benefit Trust

The Group established an Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’) on 3 December 2010 to acquire ordinary shares in the Company to satisfy awards under the 

Group’s Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’) and other share-based payment schemes (note 26). At 30 June 2014, the EBT held 249,696 (2013: 

212,172) 1p ordinary shares in the Company, acquired for a total consideration of £3,168,000 (2013: £2,544,000) with a market value of 

£3,906,000 (2013: £3,045,000). They are classified as treasury shares in the consolidated financial statements and their cost has been deducted 

from retained earnings within shareholders’ equity.

25.  Other reserves and retained earnings

Other reserves are comprised of the following balances:

Share option reserve 

Merger reserve 
Available for sale reserve 

Total other reserves 

The movements in other reserves during the year were as follows:

Share option reserve 
At beginning of the year 
Share-based payments 
Transfer to retained earnings 
Tax on share-based payments 

At end of the year 

Merger reserve 
At beginning of the year 

At end of the year 

Available for sale reserve 
At beginning of the year 
Revaluation of available for sale financial assets 

At end of the year 

The movements in retained earnings during the year were as follows:

At beginning of the year 

Profit for the financial year 

Purchase of own shares by Employee Benefit Trust 

Transfer from share option reserve 

Dividends paid 

At end of the year 

50

2014 

£’000 

4,596 

192 
(68) 

4,720 

2014 

£’000 

3,697 
1,288 
(545) 
156 

4,596 

192 

192 

63 
(131) 

(68) 

2014 

£’000 

21,607 

9,056 

(732) 

545 

(3,020) 

27,456 

2013 

£’000

3,697

192
63

3,952

2013 

£’000

2,724
1,111
(350)
212

3,697

192

192

72
(9)

63

2013 

£’000

16,190

8,030

(779)

350

(2,184)

21,607

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

26.  Equity settled share-based payments

All share options granted to employees under the Group’s equity settled share-based payment schemes are valued using a Black Scholes model, based 
on the market price of the Company’s shares at the grant date and volatility ranging from 15% to 50% on an historic price, covering the period to the 
end of the contractual life. Volatility has been estimated on the basis of the Company’s historical share price subsequent to flotation. The risk-free annual 
rate of interest is deemed to be the yield on a gilt edged security with a maturity term of ten years, ranging from 0.34% to 2.00%.

For options granted during the year, the Black Scholes model was based on the market price of the Company’s shares at each respective grant date and 
volatility of 50% with no dividend yield, an expected vesting period of three years and a risk-free annual rate of interest of 0.34%.

The share options issued under the various equity settled share-based payment schemes have been valued at prices ranging from £nil to £14.64 per 
share. The charge to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year in respect of these was £1,288,000 (2013: £1,111,000). The 
weighted average remaining contractual life of all equity settled share-based payment schemes at 30 June 2014 was 2.08 years (2013: 2.61 years). The 
weighted average share price of all options exercised during the year was £15.79 (2013: £13.75). The total charge to the consolidated statement of 

comprehensive income for the year for all share-based payment schemes was £1,130,000 (2013: £1,624,000).

The exercise price and fair value of share options granted during the year was as follows:

Long Term Incentive Scheme 

Employee Sharesave Scheme 

 No options were granted under the EMI Scheme during the year.

a)  Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (‘EMI’)

Exercise price 
p 

nil 

1,386 

Fair value 
p

1,464

428

 Under the approved EMI Scheme, certain employees hold options to subscribe for shares in the Company at prices ranging from 140p to 775p. 

Options are conditional on the employee completing three years’ service (the vesting period) and are exercisable three years from the grant 

date. The options have a contractual option term of seven years from the date they become exercisable. The Group has no legal or constructive 

obligation to repurchase or settle the options in cash.

At 1 July 

Forfeited in the year 

Exercised in the year 

At 30 June 

Number  
of options  

98,753 

- 

(29,500) 

69,253 

2014 
Weighted average 
exercise price £ 

2.77 

- 

2.47 

2.90 

Number 
of options 

182,657 

(10,804) 

(73,100 

98,753 

2013 
Weighted average 
exercise price £

3.00

7.75

2.61

2.77

The number of share options outstanding at the reporting date was as follows:

Scheme year (grant date) 

Exercise price (p) 

Vesting period 

2014 
Number of options 

2013 
Number of options

2005 
2006 
2007 
2010 

All years 

155.5 
215.0 
290.5 
775.0 

2008 - 2015 
2009 - 2016 
2010 - 2017 
2013 - 2020 

25,000 
6,500 
29,650 
8,103 

69,253 

25,000
23,500
42,150
8,103

98,753

51

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

26.  Equity settled share-based payments (continued)

b)  Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’) 

 The Company has made annual awards under the LTIS to executive directors and other senior executives. The conditional awards, which vest 

three years after the grant date, are subject to the satisfaction of specified performance criteria, measured over a three year performance period. 

All such conditional awards are made at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee.

At 1 July 

Granted in the year 

Exercised in the year 

Forfeited in the year 

At 30 June 

2014 
Number of options 

2013 
Number of options

205,613 

45,068 

(11,376) 

(5,809) 

233,496 

128,343

78,954

-

(1,684)

205,613

The number of share options outstanding at the reporting date was as follows:

Scheme year (grant date) 

Exercise price (p) 

Vesting period 

2014 
Number of options 

2013 
Number of options

2010 
2011 
2012 
2013 

All years 

c)  Employee Benefit Trust (EBT)

nil 
nil 
nil 
nil 

2013 
2014 
2015 
2016 

22,962 
91,554 
74,937 
44,043 

233,496 

33,848
92,811
78,954
-

205,613

 Brooks Macdonald Group plc established an Employee Benefit Trust (‘the Trust’) on 3 December 2010. The Trust was established to acquire 
ordinary shares in the Company to satisfy rights to purchase shares on the exercise of options awarded under the LTIS. All finance costs and 
administration expenses connected with the Trust are charged to consolidated statement of comprehensive income as they accrue. The Trust 

has waived its rights to dividends. The following table shows the number of shares held by the Trust that have not yet vested unconditionally. 

2014 
Number of shares 

2013 
Number of shares

212,172 

48,900 

(11,376) 

249,696 

151,139

61,033

-

212,172

At 1 July 

Acquired in the year 

Exercised in the year  

At 30 June 

52

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

26.  Equity settled share-based payments (continued)

d)  Company Share Option Plan (‘CSOP’)

 The Company has established a Company Share Option Plan (‘CSOP’), which was approved by HMRC in November 2013. The CSOP is a 

discretionary scheme whereby employees or directors are granted an option to purchase the Company’s shares in the future at a price set on 

the date of the grant. The maximum award under the terms of the scheme is a total market value of £30,000 per recipient. The performance 

conditions attached to the scheme require an increase in the diluted earnings per share of the Company of 2% more than the increase in the 

RPI over the three years starting with the financial year in which the option is granted.

The number of share options outstanding at the reporting date was as follows:

At 1 July 

Granted in the year 

Lapsed in the year 

At 30 June 

e)  Employee Sharesave Scheme

Number  
of options  

- 

21,361 

(345) 

21,016 

2014 
Weighted average 
exercise price £ 

Number 
of options 

2013 
Weighted average 
exercise price £

- 

14.52 

14.52 

14.52 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

-

-

 Under the scheme, employees can contribute up to £500 a month over a three year period to acquire shares in the Company. At the end of the 

savings period, employees can elect to receive shares or receive their savings in cash. 

At 1 July 

Granted in the year 

Forfeited in the year 

Exercised in the year 

At 30 June 

Number  
of options  

147,323 

149,083 

(8,265) 

(56,669) 

231,472 

2014 
Weighted average 
exercise price £ 

10.23 

13.86 

10.52 

9.04 

12.85 

Number 
of options 

180,566 

39,489 

(13,547) 

(59,185) 

147,323 

2013 
Weighted average 
exercise price £

8.33

11.72

9.54

5.54

10.23

The number of share options outstanding at 30 June 2014 was as follows:

Scheme year (grant date) 

Exercise price (p) 

Vesting period 

2014 
Number of options 

2013 
Number of options

2010 
2011 
2012 
2013 
2014 

All years 

578.0 
916.0 
1,054.0 
1,172.0 
1,386.0 

2013 
2014 
2015 
2016 
2017 

- 
1,654 
44,512 
36,612 
148,694 

231,472 

2,040
58,536
48,332
38,415
-

147,323

53

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

27.  Earnings per share

 The directors believe that adjusted earnings per share provide a truer reflection of the Group’s underlying performance in the year. Adjusted earnings 

per share are calculated based on ‘adjusted earnings’, that is earnings before acquisition costs, finance costs of deferred consideration and 

amortisation of intangible non-current assets. The tax effect of these adjustments has also been considered.

Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders 

Acquisition costs (note 5) 

Finance cost of deferred consideration (note 7) 

Amortisation (note 11) 

Tax impact of adjustments 

Adjusted earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders 

The weighted average number of shares in issue during the year was as follows: 

Weighted average number of shares in issue* 

Adjustment for issue of shares on acquisition of DPZ 

Weighted average number of shares in issue† 

Effect of dilutive potential shares issuable on exercise of employee share options 

Diluted weighted average number of shares in issue† 

*2013 comparative as previously reported

†2013 comparative as restated

2014 
£’000 

9,056 

187 

349 

2,212 

(486) 

11,318 

2013 
£’000

8,030

1,047

279

1,865

(502)

10,719

2014 
Number of shares 

2013 
 Number of shares

13,145,314 

(21,680) 

13,123,634 

64,289 

13,187,923 

12,210,418

(20,834)

12,189,584

111,793

12,301,377

The comparative weighted average number of shares in issue and therefore the comparatives for basic earnings per share and diluted earnings per 

share have been restated to take account of shares issued at a premium to their market value as part of the DPZ acquisition.

2014 
p 

69.01 

68.67 

86.24 

85.82 

2013 
 p

65.88

65.28

87.94

87.14

Based on reported earnings†: 
Basic earnings per share 

Diluted earnings per share 

Based on adjusted earnings†: 
Basic earnings per share 

Diluted earnings per share 

†2013 comparative as restated

54

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

28.  Lease commitments

The Group leases various office premises under non-cancellable operating lease arrangements. The future aggregate minimum lease payments under 

these leases are as follows:

Within one year 

Second to fifth years inclusive 

After five years 

29.  Discretionary funds under management

2014 
£’000 

1,373 

1,882 

46 

2013 
£’000

1,162

2,240

38

The Group holds client money and assets on behalf of clients in accordance with the client money rules of the Financial Conduct Authority. Such 

money and the corresponding liabilities to clients are not shown in the consolidated statement of financial position as the Group is not beneficially 

entitled thereto. The total market value of client money and assets held is shown below: 

Client money bank accounts 

Client assets under management 

Total client funds under management 

2014 
£’000 

573,204 

5,976,796 

6,550,000 

2013 
£’000

595,365

4,514,635

5,110,000

55

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

30.  Financial risk management

The Group has identified the financial risks arising from its activities and has established policies and procedures as part of a formal structure for 

managing risk, including establishing risk lines, reporting lines, mandates and other control procedures. The structure is reviewed regularly. The 

Group does not use derivative financial instruments for risk management purposes.

a)  Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group is unable to meet its payment obligations associated with its financial liabilities when they fall due.

 The primary objective of the Group’s treasury policy is to manage short-term liquidity requirements and to ensure that the Group maintains a 

surplus of immediately realisable assets over its liabilities, such that all known and potential cash obligations can be met.

 The table below shows the cash inflows and outflows from the Group under non-derivative financial assets and liabilities, together with cash 

and bank balances available on demand.

On demand 
£’000 

Not more than 
3 months 
£’000 

After 3 months 
but not more  
than 1 year 
£’000 

After 1 year 
but not more 
than 5 years 
£’000 

Financial assets 
with no fixed 
repayment date 
£’000 

At 30 June 2014 

Cash flows from financial assets 

Available for sale financial assets 

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss 

Cash and balances at bank 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Cash flows from financial liabilities 

Trade payables 

Other financial liabilities 

- 

- 

18,056 

- 

- 

18,056 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

9,653 

- 

9,653 

2,134 

12,588 

14,722 

- 

- 

- 

- 

132 

132 

- 

7,891 

7,891 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

3,058 

3,058 

Total 
£’000

2,182

478

18,056

9,653

132

2,182 

478 

- 

- 

- 

2,660 

30,501

- 

- 

- 

2,134

23,537

25,671

Net liquidity gap 

18,056 

(5,069) 

(7,759) 

(3,058) 

2,660 

4,830

At 30 June 2013 

Cash flows from financial assets 

Available for sale financial assets 

Cash and balances at bank 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Cash flows from financial liabilities 

Trade payables 

Other financial liabilities 

- 

18,440 

- 

- 

18,440 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5,158 

- 

5,158 

2,631 

10,609 

13,240 

- 

- 

- 

107 

107 

- 

1,928 

1,928 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

5,929 

5,929 

1,582 

- 

- 

- 

1,582

18,440

5,158

107

1,582 

25,287

- 

- 

- 

2,631

18,466

21,097

Net liquidity gap 

18,440 

(8,082) 

(1,821) 

(5,929) 

1,582 

4,190

56

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

30.  Financial risk management (continued)

b)   Market risk

Interest rate risk

 The Group may elect to invest surplus cash balances in short-term cash deposits with maturity dates not exceeding three months. 

Consequently, the Group has a limited exposure to interest rate risk due to fluctuations in the prevailing level of market interest rates.

 A 1% fall in the average monthly interest rate receivable on the Group’s cash and cash equivalents would have the impact of reducing interest 

receivable and therefore profit before taxation by £180,000 (2013: £184,000). An increase of 1% would have an equal and opposite effect.

Foreign exchange risk

 The Group does not have any material exposure to transactional foreign currency risk and therefore no analysis of foreign exchange risk is provided.

Price risk

 Price risk is the risk that the fair value of the future cash flows from financial instruments will fluctuate due to changes in market prices (other 

than those arising from interest rate risk or currency risk). The Group is exposed to price risk through its holdings of equity securities and other 

financial assets, which are measured at fair value in the consolidated statement of financial position (notes 13 and 17). A 1% fall in the value of 

these financial instruments would have the impact of reducing other comprehensive income by £22,000 (2013: £12,000) and profit before tax 

by £5,000 (2013: £nil). An increase of 1% would have an equal and opposite effect.

c)   Credit risk

 The Group may elect to invest surplus cash balances in highly liquid money market instruments with maturity dates not exceeding three 

months. The difference between the fair value and the net book value of these instruments is not material. To reduce the risk of a counterparty 

default, the Group deposits the rest of its funds in approved, high quality banks. At 30 June 2014 there was no significant concentration of 

credit risk in any particular counterparty (2013: none).

 Assets exposed to credit risk recognised on the consolidated statement of financial position total £18,056,000 (2013: £18,440,000), being the 

Group’s total cash and cash equivalents.

 Trade receivables with a carrying amount of £9,653,000 (2013: £5,158,000) are neither past due nor impaired. Trade receivables have no 

external credit rating as they relate to individual clients, although the value of investments held in each individual client’s portfolio is always in 

excess of the total value of the receivable. All trade receivables fall due within three months (2013: all).

57

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

31.  Capital management

Capital is defined as the total of share capital, share premium, retained earnings and other reserves of the Company. Total capital at 30 June 2014 

was £67,458,000 (2013: £57,560,000). Regulatory capital is derived from the Group Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP), which 

is a requirement of the Capital Requirements Directive. The ICAAP draws on the Group’s risk management process which is embedded within the 

individual businesses, function heads and executive committees within the Group.

The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to comply with the capital requirements set by the Financial Conduct Authority, to safeguard the 

Group’s ability to continue as a going concern so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to 

maintain a strong capital base to support the development of the business.

Capital adequacy and the use of regulatory capital are monitored daily by the Group’s management. The Group’s 2014 ICAAP was approved in 

August 2014. There have been no capital requirement breaches during the year. Brooks Macdonald Group plc’s Pillar III disclosure is presented on 

our website at www.brooksmacdonald.com.

32.  Guarantees and contingent liabilities

The Company has an agreement with the Royal Bank of Scotland plc to guarantee settlement for trading with CREST stock on behalf of clients. The 

Group holds client assets to fund such trading activity.

Additional levies by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme may give rise to further obligations based on the Group’s income in the current or 

previous years. Nevertheless, the ultimate cost to the Group of these levies remains uncertain and is dependent upon future claims resulting from 

institutional failures.

33.  Related party transactions

Certain directors have taken advantage of the Group’s interest-free season ticket loan facility which is available to all employees. The directors who 

have such loans are as follows:

Director 

N I Holmes 

S J Jackson 

Loan balance  
2014 
£’000 

Loan balance  
2013 
£’000 

Maximum amount 
2014 
£’000 

Maximum amount 
2013 
£’000

- 

5 

1 

5 

- 

10 

2

10

Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation. The Company’s individual 

financial statements include the amounts attributable to subsidiaries. These amounts have been disclosed in aggregate in the relevant company 

financial statements and in detail in the following table:

Amounts owed by  
related parties  
2014 
£’000 

Amounts owed by 
related parties  
2013 
£’000 

Amounts owed to 
related parties 
2014 
£’000 

Amounts owed to 
related parties 
2013 
£’000

Braemar Group Limited 

Brooks Macdonald Financial Consulting Limited 

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management Limited 

Brooks Macdonald Nominees Limited 

2,350 

311 

- 

- 

2,150 

955 

- 

- 

- 

- 

14,724 

2,583 

-

-

17,018

2,727

58

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

33.  Related party transactions (continued)

All of the above amounts are interest-free and, with the exception of the subordinated loan to Braemar Group Limited, are repayable on demand.

The Group manages a number of collective investment funds that are considered related parties. Available for sale financial assets include an 

investment of 1,426,793.64 B shares in Braemar Group PCC Limited Student Accommodation Cell (note 13). This transaction was conducted on an 

arm’s length basis at market value.

In the year ended 30 June 2014 Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited, a subsidiary of the Group, entered into a new partnership, North Row Capital LLP, 

in which it holds a 60% interest and has joint control. The balance is owned by two individual partners who developed the investment approach 

behind the IFSL North Row Liquid Property Fund, which was launched in February 2014. The fund offers investors liquid exposure to global real 

estate markets by investing predominantly in property derivatives, as well as property equity and debt, to gain exposure to the direct property 

markets.

The establishment of the partnership and the fund required an initial capital contribution of £135,000 by Brooks Macdonald Funds, with a further 

investment of £225,000. The Group’s share of the loss for the period reported by North Row Capital LLP was £128,000, which has been recognised 

in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income with a corresponding reduction in the investment in joint venture recognised in the 

consolidated statement of financial position.

34.  Events since the end of the year

On 31 July 2014, the Company exercised its option to acquire 100% of the share capital of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited 

(‘Levitas’). Levitas is the sponsor of two funds known as TM Levitas A and TM Levitas B, to which Brooks Macdonald Asset Management Limited acts 

as the investment adviser. The funds were launched in July 2012 and aggregate assets under management on completion of the acquisition were 

£89,353,000. The Levitas investment proposition uses a blend of the two funds to match investments to a client’s specific risk rating, thus 

simplifying the investment and rebalancing processes while keeping down costs. 

The consideration payable by the Group will be based on 3% of Levitas’ funds under management, calculated at agreed milestones up to 1 

November 2018. The maximum consideration payable by the Group will be £24,000,000 and is subject to reduction if the growth in funds under 

management fails to meet the agreed targets. Payment of the consideration will be made by the Group in cash in a series of instalments, with the 

final payment date being on or around 8 November 2020.

The acquisition will be accounted for as a business combination under IFRS 3 and it is anticipated that goodwill will be recognised. The goodwill 

represents the Levitas concept; the relationship with Aspira, the principal intermediary and vendor; and growth potential of the assets under 

management of the two funds in generating future fee income for Levitas. Transaction costs of £80,000 were incurred in the year ended 30 June 

2014 and are included within administrative costs in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Due to the acquisition occurring after the end of the financial year and the proximity to the date of issuing the Annual Report & Accounts, the 

directors are unable to provide the full disclosures required under IFRS 3 regarding acquisitions after the end of the reporting period but before the 

financial statements are due for issue. Specifically, an assessment of the acquisition date fair value of the consideration and identifiable assets and 

liabilities has not yet been completed as the required information is not currently available. This will be finalised in the 12 months following the 

acquisition and full disclosures will be provided in the Half Yearly Financial Report for the six months ending 31 December 2014.

59

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcIndependent auditors’ report 
to the members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Report on the company financial statements
Our opinion
In our opinion the financial statements, defined below:

• 

• 

• 

 give a true and fair view of the state of the Company’s affairs as at 
30 June 2014;

 have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom 
Generally Accepted Accounting Practice; and

 have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the 
Companies Act 2006

This opinion is to be read in the context of what we say in the remainder 
of this report.

What we have audited
The company financial statements (the “financial statements”), which 
are prepared by Brooks Macdonald Group plc, comprise:

• 

• 

the Company balance sheet as at 30 June 2014; and

the notes to the financial statements, which include a summary of  
significant accounting policies and other explanatory information

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their 
preparation is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards 
(United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). In applying 
the financial reporting framework, the directors have made a number of 
subjective judgements, for example in respect of significant accounting 
estimates. In making such estimates, they have made assumptions and 
considered future events.

What an audit of financial statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on 
Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”). 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 misstatement, whether caused by 
fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: 

• 

• 

 whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the 
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 
Annual Report & Accounts to identify material inconsistencies with the 
audited financial statements and to identify any information that is 
apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, 
the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the audit. If 
we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or 
inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the strategic report and the 
report of the directors for the financial year for which the financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

Other matters on which we are required to report  
by exception

Adequacy of accounting records and information and 
explanations received
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if,  
in our opinion:

• 

• 

• 

 we have not received all the information and explanations we 
require for our audit; or
 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 financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting 
records and returns

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our 
opinion, certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are 
not made. We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility. 

Responsibilities for the financial statements and the audit

Our responsibilities and those of the directors
As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities set out 
on page 18, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial 
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and ISAs (UK & Ireland). 
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s 
Ethical Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the 
Company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of 
the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving 
these opinions, accept or assume responsibility for any other purpose or to 
any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may 
come save where expressly agreed by our prior consent in writing.

Other matter 
We have reported separately on the group financial statements of Brooks 
Macdonald Group plc for the year ended 30 June 2014.

Marcus Hine (Senior Statutory Auditor)  
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors

London 
16 September 2014

60

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
Company balance sheet 
as at 30 June 2014 

Fixed assets

Investments 

Current assets 

Debtors 

Cash at bank and in hand 

Total current assets 

Note 

£’000 

38 

39 

6,730 

5,254 

11,984 

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year 

40 

(27,750) 

Net current liabilities 

Total assets less current liabilities 

Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year 

41 

Net assets 

Financed by: 

Capital and reserves 

Called up share capital 

Share premium account 

Share option reserve 

Revaluation reserve 

Profit and loss account 

Total shareholders’ funds 

42 

42 

43 

43 

43 

44 

£’000 

7,127 

10,274 

17,401 

(25,290) 

2014 
 £’000  

53,315 

(15,766) 

37,549 

- 

37,549 

135 

35,148 

4,202 

(68) 

(1,868) 

37,549 

2013
£’000

46,631

(7,889)

38,742

(4,482)

34,260

133

31,868

3,023

63

(827)

34,260

The company financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 16 September 2014, signed on their 

behalf by:

C A J Macdonald 

Chief Executive 

Company Registration Number: 4402058

S J Jackson 

Finance Director

The accompanying notes on pages 62 to 66 form an integral part of the company financial statements.

61

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements

35.  Principal accounting policies

The general accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have been applied consistently 

to all years presented, unless otherwise stated.

a)  Basis of preparation

 The Company’s financial statements are prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006 and applicable accounting standards in the 

United Kingdom. The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except for the revaluation of investments such that 

they are measured at their fair value.

 At the time of approving the financial statements, the directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue 

in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

b) 

Investments in subsidiary companies

Investments in subsidiaries are recognised at cost less provisions for impairment.

c)  Share-based payments

 The Company has applied the requirements of FRS 20 ‘Share-based Payment’ and has adopted the requirements of UITF 44. Equity settled 

share-based payments are measured at fair value at the grant date and the charge to the profit and loss account is recognised on a straight line 

basis over the period in which the related services are provided, based on the number of shares that are expected to vest.

d)  Operating lease payments

 Rent payments due under operating leases are charged to the profit and loss account on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. The 

Company benefited from a rent-free period under the terms of its current property lease. In accordance with UITF 28 ‘Operating Lease 

Incentives’, the benefit is allocated over the shorter of the lease term and the date of the market rent review specified in the lease. During the 

rent-free period a rental charge has been recognised in the profit and loss account and accrued as a liability in the balance sheet.

e)  Retirement benefit costs

 Contributions in respect of the Group’s defined contribution pension scheme are charged to the profit and loss account as they fall due.

f)  Employee Benefit Trust

 Where the Company holds its own equity shares through an Employee Benefit Trust these shares are shown as a reduction in shareholders’ 

equity. Any consideration paid or received for the purchase or sale of these shares is shown as a reduction in the reconciliation of movements in 

shareholders’ funds. No gain or loss is recognised in the profit and loss account or the statement of total recognised gains or losses on the 

purchase, sale, issue or cancellation of these shares.

g)  Other investments

 Other quoted investments are re-valued each reporting period to their fair value according to the most recently available market information.

36.  Profit for the year

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 the Company has elected not to present its own profit and loss account for the financial year. 

Brooks Macdonald Group plc reported profit after tax for year ended 30 June 2014 of £2,602,000 (2013: £2,902,000). Auditors’ remuneration is 

disclosed in note 5 of the consolidated financial statements. The average monthly number of employees during the year was nine (2013: nine). 

Directors’ emoluments are set out in note 6 of the consolidated financial statements.

37.  Dividends

Details of the Company’s dividends paid and proposed, subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, are set out in note 10 of the consolidated 

financial statements.

62

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements

38.  Investments

Net book value 

At 1 July 2012 

Additions: 

  – share options 

  – acquisition of subsidiary 

Revaluation 

At 30 June 2013 

Additions: 

  – share options 

  – acquisition of subsidiary 

Revaluation 

At 30 June 2014 

Group undertakings 
£’000 

Quoted investments 
£’000 

10,269 

1,111 

33,669 

- 

45,049 

1,288 

5,546 

- 

51,883 

1,594 

- 

- 

(12) 

1,582 

- 

- 

(150) 

1,432 

Total 
£’000

11,863

1,111

33,669

(12)

46,631

1,288

5,546 

(150)

53,315

Quoted investments represent the Company’s holding of 1,426,793.64 B shares in Braemar Group PCC Limited Student Accommodation Cell. The 

fund is promoted by Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited, a subsidiary of the Company. Although trading is currently suspended on this fund, the fund 

manager continues to publish a price based on the fair value of the underlying assets of the fund. At 30 June 2014, based on the most recent 

valuation, the investment was £1,432,000 (2013: £1,582,000), representing a loss during the year of £150,000 (2013: loss of £12,000).

Investments in group undertakings are recorded at cost, which is the fair value of the consideration paid to acquire the Company’s subsidiaries. 

Additions to group undertakings of £1,288,000 (2013: £1,111,000) represent the cost of share options issued during the year in accordance with FRS 

20. Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries of £5,546,000 represent the additional shares acquired in Brooks Macdonald Asset Management 

(International) Limited. In respect of the year ended 30 June 2013 additions of £33,669,000 represent the cost of the Company’s investment in Brooks 

Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited and Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited. Details of the Company’s 

subsidiary undertakings as at 30 June 2014, all of which were wholly owned and included in the consolidated financial statements, are shown below.

Company 

Braemar Group Limited 

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management Limited 

Type of share 
and par value 

Ordinary 1p 

Ordinary £1 

Country of 
incorporation 

Nature of 
business

UK 

UK 

Investment management

Investment management

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited 

Ordinary £1 

Channel Islands 

Investment management

Brooks Macdonald Financial Consulting Limited 

Brooks Macdonald Investment Services Limited 

Ordinary 5p 

Ordinary £1 

UK 

UK 

Financial consulting

Dormant

Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited 

Ordinary £1 

Channel Islands 

Retirement planning

Brooks Macdonald Tax Services Limited 

Ordinary £1 

UK 

Dormant

39.  Debtors

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Other debtors 

Total debtors 

2014 
£’000 

6,461 

269 

6,730 

2013 
£’000

7,105

22

7,127

Amounts owed by subsidiary companies are unsecured, interest-free and, with the exception of the subordinated loan to Braemar Group Limited, 

repayable on demand.

63

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements

40.  Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors 

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings 

Deferred tax 

Accruals 

Other creditors 

Total creditors due within one year 

2014 
£’000 

27 

21,307 

- 

1,711 

4,705 

27,750 

2013 
£’000

30

23,747

19

1,374

120

25,290

Amounts owed to subsidiary companies are unsecured, interest-free and are repayable on demand. Included in other creditors is £4,705,000, which 

is the directors’ best estimate of the deferred consideration payable in respect of the client relationships and subsidiary undertakings that were 

acquired by the company.

41.  Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year

As at 30 June 2014, there were no amounts falling due after more than one year. In respect of the year ended 30 June 2013, the creditors balance of 

£4,482,000, falling due after more than one year, related to the directors’ best estimate of the deferred consideration payable in respect of the client 

relationships and subsidiary undertakings that were acquired by the Company. Deferred consideration is measured at its fair value based on the 

discounted expected future cash flows. 

42.  Called up share capital and share premium account

The movements in share capital and share premium during the year were as follows:

At 1 July 2012 

Shares issued 

At 30 June 2013 

Shares issued 

At 30 June 2014 

Number of  
shares  

10,927,496 

2,420,478 

13,347,974 

244,201 

13,592,175 

Share capital 
£ ’000  

Share premium 
account 
£ ’000 

109 

24 

133 

2 

135 

4,423 

27,445 

31,868 

3,280 

35,148 

Total 
£’000

4,532

27,469

32,001

3,282

35,283

The total number of ordinary shares, issued and fully paid at 30 June 2014, was 13,592,175 (2013: 13,347,974) with a par value of 1p per share. 

Excluding 249,696 (2013: 212,172) treasury shares held by the EBT, the Company had 13,342,479 (2013: 13,135,802) ordinary 1p shares in issue 

as at 30 June 2014.

Long Term Incentive Scheme

The Group established an Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’) on 3 December 2010 to acquire ordinary shares in the Company to satisfy awards under the 

Group’s Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’) and other share-based payment schemes (note 26). All finance and administration expenses connected with 

the Trust are charged to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income as and when they accrue. The Trust has waived its rights to dividends.

As at 30 June 2014, the Company had paid £3,339,000 to the Trust, which had acquired 261,072 ordinary shares on the open market for 

consideration of £3,277,000.

In November 2013, in respect of the scheme granted in October 2010, the Trust received instructions to exercise 11,376 options. The cost of the 

shares released on exercise of these options amounted to £110,000. At 30 June 2014, the number of shares held by the Trust was 249,696 (2013: 

212,172) with a market value of £3,906,000 (2013: £3,045,000), acquired for a total consideration of £3,168,000 (2013: £2,544,000). These shares 

are presented as treasury shares in the Group financial statements and their cost is deducted from retained earnings within shareholders’ equity.

64

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements

42.  Called up share capital and share premium account (continued)

Long Term Incentive Scheme (continued)

The Company has made annual awards under the LTIS to executive directors and other senior executives. The conditional awards, which vest three 

years after the grant date, are subject to the satisfaction of specified performance criteria, measured over a three year performance period. All such 

conditional awards are made at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee.

43.  Reserves

Share option reserve 

At beginning of the year 

Share-based payments 

Share-based payment transfer  

At end of the year 

Revaluation reserve 

At beginning of the year 

Loss from changes in fair value  

Deferred tax on revaluation 

At end of the year 

Profit and loss account 

At beginning of the year 

Profit for the financial year 

Dividends paid 

Share-based payment transfer 

Purchase of own shares 

At end of the year 

Analysis of movement in profit and loss account 

Profit and loss account 

At beginning of the year 

Profit for the financial year 

Share-based payment transfer 

Employee Benefit Trust shares exercised 

Dividends paid 

At end of the year 

Employee Benefit Trust 

At beginning of the year 

Purchase of own shares 

Employee Benefit Trust shares exercised 

At end of the year 

Total profit and loss account at end of the year 

2014 
£’000 

3,023 

1,288 

(109) 

4,202 

63 

(131) 

- 

(68) 

(827) 

2,602 

(3,020) 

109 

(732) 

(1,868) 

1,717 

2,602 

109 

(109) 

(3,020) 

1,299 

(2,544) 

(732) 

109 

(3,167) 

(1,868) 

2013 
£’000

1,912

1,111

-

3,023

94

(9)

(22)

63

(766)

2,902

(2,184)

-

(779)

(827)

999

2,902

-

-

(2,184)

1,717

(1,765)

(779)

-

(2,544)

(827) 

65

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements

44.  Reconciliation of movements in total shareholders’ funds

Profit for the financial year 

Loss from changes in fair value 

Deferred tax on revaluation 

Total recognised gains and losses for the financial year 

Dividends paid 

Share-based payments 

Issue of new shares 

Purchase of own shares by EBT 

Net additions to shareholders’ funds 

Opening shareholders’ funds 

Closing shareholders’ funds 

45.  Lease commitments

2014 
£’000 

2,602 

(131) 

- 

2,471 

(3,020) 

1,288 

3,282 

(732) 

3,289 

34,260 

37,549 

2013 
£’000

2,902

(9)

(22)

2,871

(2,184)

1,111

27,469

(779)

28,488

5,772

34,260

The Company leases office premises under non-cancellable operating lease arrangements. The future aggregate minimum lease payments under 

these leases are as follows:

Within one year 

Second to fifth years inclusive 

After five years 

46.  Related party transactions

2014 
£’000 

959 

1,241 

46 

2013 
£’000

908

1,626

38

The Company has applied the exemption available under FRS 8 in electing not to disclose transactions and balances with its wholly owned subsidiary 

companies. Details of related party transactions with directors are provided in note 33 of the consolidated financial statements.

66

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Explanatory notes to the Annual General Meeting resolutions

Enclosed with this document is a notice convening the Annual General 

functions of the Group, with the managers of ICT, Human Resources and 

Meeting of the company for 27 October 2014. This explanatory note 

Learning and Development reporting to him. 

gives further information on the resolutions set out in the notice of 

Annual General Meeting.

He is a chartered accountant and joined the Group in 2000 having 

worked for a number of public and private companies at director level. 

Resolution 1 – Approval of the Report & Accounts
The directors propose that the Company’s annual accounts and reports 

Diane Seymour-Williams (55) joined the board of Brooks Macdonald 

Group plc in 2011. She has spent her entire career in the fund 

of the directors and the auditors for the year ended 30 June 2014 be 

management industry, both managing portfolios and businesses. Diane 

received and considered.

Resolution 2 – Approval of the directors’ remuneration report
While it is not a strict requirement for the Company, as a matter of good 

corporate governance the directors have decided to propose an ordinary 

resolution to approve the directors’ remuneration report for the year 

ended 30 June 2014. The directors’ remuneration report can be found 

spent 23 years at Morgan Grenfell/Deutsche Asset Management in a 

variety of roles, including Head of Asian Equities team, CEO & CIO Asia, 

and Head of Global Equity Product. 

Diane is currently a director of LGM Investments Limited, Lloyd George 

Investment Company plc, Witan Pacific Investment Trust plc, LG China 

Fund plc and BMO Investments (Ireland) plc.

on pages 9 to 15 of the Annual Report & Accounts. 

Richard Spencer (51) is the Chief Investment Officer (CIO) of Brooks 

Resolution 3 – To declare a final dividend
The directors recommend a final dividend of 19 pence per ordinary 

share. Subject to approval by shareholders, the final dividend will  

be paid on 28 October 2014 to shareholders on the register on  

26 September 2014. 

Macdonald Asset Management Limited where he is responsible for 

overseeing the investment management strategy and asset allocation. 

Richard joined the Company in 1991 as a founding director and has 

worked in the industry since 1985.

Richard Price (52) joined the board of Brooks Macdonald Group plc in 

August 2014. Richard spent 28 years at KPMG where he had 

Resolutions 4 to 7 – To re-elect certain of the directors
Richard Price has been appointed as an additional director since the 

considerable exposure to financial services clients, holding a number of 

roles including the UK Head of KPMG’s Financial Sector Transaction 

Annual General Meeting in 2013 and, accordingly, the Company’s 

Services practice.

articles of association require him to retire from office at this Annual 

General Meeting and to offer himself for re-election.

In addition, the Company’s articles of association state that one third of 

the directors (or the nearest whole number closest to one third) must 

retire from office at each Annual General Meeting and offer themselves 

for re-election. In addition, any director who has been in office for more 

than three years since their last appointment or re-appointment should 

also retire and offer themselves for re-election. Simon Jackson, Diane 

Seymour-Williams and Richard Spencer are therefore offering themselves 

for re-election on this basis. 

Information on each of the directors standing for re-election is set out 

below. The Board confirms that each of the directors offering themselves 

for re-election has extensive relevant experience of the Group and its 

business. The Board is therefore of the opinion that all such persons 

should be re-elected to the Board.

Simon Jackson (55) is finance director responsible for the Group’s 

management accounts. In addition to the finance function, Simon has 

Board responsibility for some of the other central administrative 

Richard is also a non-executive director of Think Money Group Limited. 

A copy of each service contract is available for inspection at the 

registered office of the Company and will be available for inspection at 

the Annual General Meeting.

Resolution 8 – To appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
as auditors
This Resolution proposes that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP should 
be appointed as the Company’s auditors and authorises the 
directors to determine their remuneration.

Resolution 9 – Authority to allot shares
The Companies Act 2006 prevents directors from allotting unissued 
shares without the authority of shareholders in general meeting. In 
certain circumstances this could be unduly restrictive. The directors’ 
existing authority to allot shares, which was granted at the Annual 
General Meeting held in 2013, will expire at the end of this year’s 
Annual General Meeting.

67

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcExplanatory notes to the Annual General Meeting resolutions

Resolution 9 - Authority to allot shares (continued)
Resolution 9 in the notice of Annual General Meeting will be proposed, as 

Resolution 11 – Company’s authority to purchase its own shares
Resolution 11 in the notice of Annual General Meeting, which will be 

an ordinary resolution, to authorise the directors to allot ordinary shares of 

proposed as a special resolution, will authorise the Company to make 

1 pence each in the capital of the Company up to a maximum nominal 

market purchases of up to 1,359,200 ordinary shares. The existing 

amount of £44,855 (ie up to 4,485,500 ordinary shares) representing 

authority to make market purchases of ordinary shares, which was 

approximately 33% of the ordinary shares in issue on 16 September 

granted at the Annual General Meeting held in 2013, will expire at the 

2014. The Company does not currently hold any shares in treasury. 

end of this year’s Annual General Meeting.

The authority conferred by this resolution will expire on the date which 

The number of ordinary shares stated in this resolution equals 

is 15 months after the passing of this resolution or, if sooner, at the end 

approximately 10% of the Company’s ordinary shares in issue on 16 

of next year’s Annual General Meeting.

Resolution 10 – To disapply pre-emption rights
Unless they are given an appropriate authority by shareholders, if the 

September 2014. The minimum price that may be paid is the nominal 

value of an ordinary share (ie 1 pence), and the maximum price shall 

not exceed 5% above the average of the middle market quotations for 

an ordinary share for the five business days before each purchase is 

directors wish to allot any of the unissued shares for cash or grant rights 

made (exclusive of expenses).

over shares or sell treasury shares for cash (other than pursuant to an 

employee share scheme) they must first offer them to existing 

shareholders in proportion to their existing holdings. This is known as 

pre-emption rights.

The existing disapplication of these statutory pre-emption rights, which 

was granted at the Annual General Meeting held in 2013, will expire at 

the end of this year’s Annual General Meeting. Accordingly, Resolution 10 

in the notice of Annual General Meeting will be proposed, as a special 

resolution, to give the directors power to allot shares without the 

application of these statutory pre-emption rights: first, in relation to offers 

The authority conferred by this resolution will expire on the date which 

falls 15 months after the passing of this resolution or, if sooner, at the 

end of next year’s Annual General Meeting.

The directors are committed to managing the Company’s capital 

effectively. Although the directors have no plans to make such 

purchases, buying back the Company’s ordinary shares is one of the 

options they keep under review. Purchases would only be made after 

considering the effect on earnings per share, and the benefits for 

shareholders generally.

of equity securities by way of rights issue, open offer or similar 

The Company may hold in treasury any of its own shares that it purchases 

arrangements; and second, in relation to the allotment of equity securities 

pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 and the authority conferred by this 

for cash up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £13,592 (ie up 

resolution. This would give the Company the ability to re-issue treasury 

to 1,359,200 ordinary shares) representing approximately 10% of the 

shares quickly and cost effectively and would provide the Company with 

ordinary shares in issue on 16 September 2014. 

greater flexibility in the management of its capital base.

The authority sought and limits set by this resolution will also apply to a 

sale by the Company of any shares it holds as treasury shares. The 

Companies Act 2006 allows shares purchased by the Company out of 

distributable profits to be held as treasury shares, which may then be 

cancelled, sold for cash or used to meet the Company’s obligations 

under its employee share-based incentive schemes. Any subsequent 

transfers of treasury shares by the Company to satisfy the requirements 

of employee share-based incentive schemes will be counted towards the 

anti-dilution limits for such share issues to the extent required by the 

Association of British Insurers guidelines.

The power conferred by this resolution will expire on the date which 

falls 15 months after the passing of this resolution or, if sooner, at the 

end of next year’s Annual General Meeting.

68

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plcNotice of Annual General Meeting 
Company Registration number: 4402058

Notice is given that the Annual General Meeting of Brooks  

Disapplication of pre-emption rights

Macdonald Group plc (the “Company”) will be held at 111 Park Street, 

To resolve as a special resolution:

London, W1K 7JL on Monday 27 October 2014 at 9.30 am for the 

following purposes.

Ordinary business
To resolve as ordinary resolutions:

10.   that, subject to the passing of resolution 9 above, the directors be 

generally empowered pursuant to sections 570 and 573 of the Act to 

allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) 

for cash, pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 9, as if 

section 561 of the Act did not apply to such allotment, provided that 

1. 

 to receive and consider the accounts and reports of the directors and 

this power shall expire on the date which is 15 months after the 

the auditors for the year ended 30 June 2014

2. 

 to approve the directors’ remuneration report for the year ended  

  30 June 2014

passing of this resolution or, if sooner, the end of the next Annual 

General Meeting of the Company. This power shall be limited to the 

allotment of equity securities:

3. 

 to declare a final dividend of 19 pence per ordinary share for the year 

10.1   in connection with an offer of equity securities (including, 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

ended 30 June 2014

to re-elect Richard Price as a director

to re-elect Simon Jackson as a director

to re-elect Diane Seymour-Williams as a director

to re-elect Richard Spencer as a director

 to appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s auditors 

and to authorise the directors to determine their remuneration

Special business
Directors’ authority to allot shares

To resolve as an ordinary resolution:

9. 

 that the directors be generally and unconditionally authorised 

pursuant to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) to 

exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares in the 

Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any 

security into, shares in the Company (“Relevant Securities”), up to a 

maximum aggregate nominal amount of £44,855, for a period 

expiring (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) on the date 

which is 15 months after the passing of this resolution or, if sooner, 

the end of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company. 

However, in each case the Company may, before such expiry, make 

an offer or agreement which would or might require Relevant 

Securities to be allotted after this authority expires and the directors 

may allot Relevant Securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement 

as if this authority had not expired.

without limitation, under a rights issue, open offer or similar 

arrangement) in favour of holders of ordinary shares in the 

capital of the Company in proportion (as nearly as may be 

practicable) to their existing holdings of ordinary shares but 

subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the 

directors deem necessary or expedient in relation to fractional 

entitlements or any legal, regulatory or practical problems 

under the laws of any territory, or the requirements of any 

regulatory body or stock exchange; and 

10.2   otherwise than pursuant to paragraph 10.1 up to an aggregate 

nominal amount of £13,592; 

 but the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or 

agreement which would or might require equity securities to be 

allotted after this power expires and the directors may allot 

equity securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if 

this power had not expired. 

 This power applies in relation to a sale of shares which is an 

allotment of equity securities by virtue of section 560(2)(b) of 

the Act as if in the first paragraph of this resolution the words 

“pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 9” were 

omitted.

 All previous unutilised powers given to the directors pursuant to 

sections 570 and 573 of the Act shall cease to have effect at the 

conclusion of this Annual General Meeting

Company’s authority to purchase its own shares

 All previous unutilised authorities given to the directors pursuant to 

To resolve as a special resolution:

section 551 of the Act shall cease to have effect at the conclusion of 

the Annual General Meeting, save to the extent that those authorities 

are exercisable pursuant to section 551(7) of the Act by reason of any 

offer or agreement made prior to the date of this resolution which 

would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to be granted 

on or after that date

11.   that the Company be generally authorised pursuant to section 701 

of the Act to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 

693(4) of the Act) of its ordinary shares of £0.01 each on such terms 

and in such manner as the directors shall determine, provided that:

69

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting 

11.1   the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to 

Procedure for appointing a proxy

be purchased is 1,359,200;

11.2  the maximum price which may be paid for each ordinary 

share shall be 5% above the average of the middle market 

quotations for an ordinary share (as derived from The Stock 

Exchange Daily Official List) for the five business days 

immediately before the day on which the purchase is made (in 

each case exclusive of expenses);

11.3   the minimum price which may be paid for each ordinary share 

shall be £0.01; and

11.4   this authority (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) 

shall expire on the date which is 15 months after the passing of 

this resolution or, if sooner, the end of the next Annual General 

Meeting of the Company, except in relation to the purchase of 

ordinary shares the contract for which was concluded before 

such date and which will or may be executed wholly or partly 

after such date

By order of the Board

L L Cook

Company Secretary

29 September 2014

Registered office:

111 Park Street, London, W1K 7JL

Notes:

Rights to appoint a proxy

1. 

 Members of the Company are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise 

all or any of their rights to attend and to speak and vote at a meeting 

of the Company. A proxy does not need to be a member of the 

Company. A member may appoint more than one proxy in relation 

to a meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the 

rights attached to a different share or shares held by that member

2. 

 A proxy form which may be used to make such appointment and 

give proxy directions accompanies this notice. If you do not receive 

a proxy form and believe that you should have one, or if you 

require additional proxy forms in order to appoint more than one 

proxy, please contact Capita Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham 

Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU

70

3. 

 To be valid, the proxy form must be received by post or (during 

normal business hours only) by hand at Capita Asset Services, PXS, 

34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU no later than 9.30 

am on Saturday 25 October 2014. It should be accompanied by 

the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is 

signed or a notarially certified (or certified by a solicitor with a 

current practising certificate) copy of such power or authority

4. 

 The return of a completed proxy form will not preclude a member 

from attending the Annual General Meeting and voting in person if 

he or she wishes to do so

Record date

5. 

 To be entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting 

(and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the 

votes they may cast), members must be registered in the register of 

members of the Company at 6.00 pm on Saturday 25 October 

2014 (or, in the event of any adjournment, at 6.00 pm on the day 

48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting). Changes to 

the register of members after the relevant deadline will be 

disregarded in determining the right of any person to attend and 

vote at the meeting

Corporate representatives

6. 

 Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more 

corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its 

powers as a member provided that they do not do so in relation to 

the same shares

Other rights of members

7. 

 Any member attending the meeting has the right to ask questions. 

The Company must cause to be answered any such question 

relating to the business being dealt with at the meeting but no 

such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly 

with the preparation for the meeting or involve the disclosure of 

confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on 

a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is 

undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of 

the meeting that the question be answered

Documents available for inspection

8. 

 There will be available for inspection at the registered office of the 

Company during normal business hours on any weekday (excluding 

Saturdays and public holidays) and at the place of the meeting for at 

least 15 minutes prior to and during the Annual General Meeting 

copies of:

• 

• 

the service contract of each executive director; and

the letter of appointment of each non-executive director

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
 
 
 
Form of proxy
Annual General Meeting on 27 October 2014 at 9.30 am

Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Please read the notice of meeting and the explanatory notes below before completing this form.

I/We (see note 5)   Name

Address

being a member/members of the above-named Company hereby appoint the chairman of the meeting (see note 6) OR

Name

Address

as my/our proxy to attend, speak and vote in my/our name and on my/our behalf at the Annual General Meeting of the Company to be held on  
27 October 2014 at 9.30 am and at any adjournment thereof.

 Please tick this box if this proxy appointment is one of multiple appointments being made by the same member (see note 2). 

D
L
O
F

The above proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to [all] OR  Number shares
held by me.

(see notes 1 and 2) of the ordinary shares 

I/we direct my/our proxy to vote on the resolutions set out in the notice of Annual General Meeting as I/we have indicated by placing a mark in the 
appropriate box below (see notes 7 and 8).

D
L
O
F

Ordinary business

FOR

AGAINST

VOTE WITHHELD

Resolution 1: To receive and consider the Annual Report & Accounts for the year ended 30 June 2014

Resolution 2: To approve the directors’ remuneration report for the year ended 30 June 2014

Resolution 3: To declare a final dividend of 19 pence per ordinary share 

Resolution 4: To re-elect Richard Price as a director

Resolution 5: To re-elect Simon Jackson as a director

Resolution 6: To re-elect Diane Seymour-Williams as a director

Resolution 7: To re-elect Richard Spencer as a director

Resolution 8: To appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s auditors and to authorise the directors to 
determine their remuneration

Special business

FOR

AGAINST

VOTE WITHHELD

Resolution 9: Ordinary resolution to give the directors authority to allot shares

Resolution 10: Special resolution to give the directors power to disapply pre-emption rights in relation to the 
allotment of shares

Resolution 11: Special resolution to give the Company a general authority to purchase its own shares

Signature: 

(To be valid, this proxy form must be signed) (see note 11)

Notes:

Date:  

/ 

/2014

2. 

Your rights to appoint a proxy
1.    As a member of the Company you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any of your rights to attend and to speak and vote at a meeting of the Company. A proxy does not need to 
be a member of the Company. You may appoint more than one proxy in relation to a meeting provided that each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to a different share or 
shares held by you
 You may appoint a proxy in respect of all or some only of the shares held by you. If you do not want to appoint a proxy in respect of all of the shares held by you, delete the word “all” in 
square brackets and insert the number of shares in respect of which you wish to appoint your proxy in the box provided. If you sign and return this proxy form with no number inserted, you 
will be deemed to have appointed your proxy in respect of all of the shares held by you
 If you require additional proxy forms in order to appoint more than one proxy, please contact the Company’s registrar, Capita Asset Services, or you may copy this form. Please indicate by 
ticking the box provided if the proxy appointment is one of multiple appointments being made. You must also indicate in the separate box the number of shares in relation to which the proxy 
holder is authorised to act as your proxy. All proxy forms must be signed and should, wherever possible, be returned together in one envelope
If you appoint a proxy, this does not preclude you from attending the meeting and voting in person

3. 

4. 

Procedure for appointing a proxy
5.  Please insert your full name and address in block capitals in the box
6. 

 To appoint as your proxy a person other than the chairman of the meeting, delete the words in square brackets and insert the full name and address of your chosen proxy in block capitals in 
the box. If you sign and return this proxy form with no name inserted in the box, the chairman of the meeting will be deemed to be your proxy. Where you appoint as your proxy someone 
other than the chairman of the meeting, it is your responsibility to ensure that that person attends the meeting and is aware of your voting intentions. If you wish your proxy to make any 
comments on your behalf, you will need to appoint someone other than the chairman of the meeting and give that person your directions

Directing your proxy how to vote
7. 

 To direct your proxy how to vote on the resolutions mark the appropriate box with an “X”. If no voting direction is given, your proxy can vote or abstain from voting as he or she chooses. 
Your proxy has the right to vote (or abstain from voting) as he or she chooses in relation to any other business (including a resolution to adjourn the meeting or to amend a resolution) which 
may properly come before the meeting
 The “vote withheld” option is provided to enable you to abstain on any particular resolution. However, it should be noted that a “vote withheld” is not a vote in law and will not be counted 
in the calculation of the proportion of the votes “for” and “against” a resolution

8. 

Other
9. 

 To be valid, this proxy form must be received by post or (during normal business hours only) by hand at Capita Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU no later 
than 9.30 am on Saturday 25 October 2014

10.   In the case of joint holders of any share, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy in respect of the same share, only the appointment submitted by the person 

whose name stands first in the register as one of the joint holders will be accepted

11.   This proxy form must be signed and dated by the member or his or her attorney duly authorised in writing. In the case of a member which is a company, this proxy form must be executed 

under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney for the company. Any power of attorney or other authority under which this proxy form is signed, or 
a copy of such power or authority, must be included with the proxy form

12.   In accordance with Regulation 41 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations Act only those shareholders entered on the register of members at 6.00 pm on Saturday 25 October 2014 are 

entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting to be held at 9.30 am on 27 October 2014

71

Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
  
 
 
 
 
Directors and advisers 

Directors

C J Knight 
C A J Macdonald 
C R Harris 
N I Holmes 
S J Jackson 
R S Price 
D Seymour-Williams 
A W Shepherd 
R H Spencer 
S P Wombwell 

Chairman
Chief Executive
Non-executive Director

Finance Director
Non-executive Director
Non-executive Director

Offices

Edinburgh 
Guernsey 
Hale 
Hampshire 
Jersey 
London 

Leamington Spa 
Manchester 
Taunton 
Tunbridge Wells 
York 

10 Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, EH3 7LU
Yorkshire House, Le Truchot, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, GY1 1WD
Richmond House, Heath Road, Hale, Cheshire, WA14 2XP
The Long Barn, Dean Estate, Wickham Road, Fareham, Hampshire, PO17 5BN
Liberation House, Castle Street, St. Helier, Jersey, JE2 3AT
110 & 111 Park Street, London, W1K 7JL
John Stow House, 18 Bevis Marks, London, EC3A 7JB
36 Hamilton Terrace, Holly Walk, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, CV32 4LY
1 Marsden Street, Manchester, M2 1HW
Ground Floor, Blackbrook Gate, Blackbrook Park Avenue, Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX
2 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1EE
Howard House, 3 St. Mary’s Court, Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AH

Company information

Company Secretary 
Company Registration Number 
Registered Office 
Website 

L L Cook
4402058
111 Park Street, London, W1K 7JL
www.brooksmacdonald.com

Independent auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

7 More London Riverside

London

SE1 2RT

Registrars

Capita Asset Services

The Registry

34 Beckenham Road

Kent

BR3 4TU

Solicitors

Macfarlanes LLP

20 Cursitor Street

London

EC4A 1LT

Nominated adviser and broker

Peel Hunt LLP

Moor House

120 London Wall

London

EC2Y 5ET

Principal bankers

The Royal Bank of Scotland plc

40 Islington High Street

London

N1 8JX

Public relations

MHP Communications Limited

60 Great Portland Street

London

W1W 7RT

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Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc 
 
 
www.brooksmacdonald.com

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Annual Report & Accounts 2014Brooks Macdonald Group plc