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Brooks Macdonald Group plc

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FY2015 Annual Report · Brooks Macdonald Group plc
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Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  i

Annual Report & Accounts
for the year ended 30 June 2015

Contents

Business performance
01
Financial highlights  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
Chairman’s statement  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
02
Chief Executive’s review  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   03-04
Strategic report .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .    05-17

Corporate governance
Report of the directors  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   18-19
20
Statement of directors’ responsibilities  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

Consolidated financial statements
Independent auditors’ report to the  
members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc  .  .  .  .  .   22-23
Consolidated statement of  
comprehensive income  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
Consolidated statement of financial position   .  .  .  
Consolidated statement of changes in equity  .  .  .  

24
25
26

Consolidated statement of cash flows   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
27
Notes to the consolidated financial statements  .  .   28-60

Company financial statements
Independent auditors’ report to the  
members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc  .  .  .  .  .  
61
Company balance sheet   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
62
Notes to the company financial statements   .  .  .  .   63-68

Shareholders’ information
Explanatory notes to the Annual General  
Meeting resolutions   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   69-70 
Notice of Annual General Meeting    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   71-73 
Form of Proxy    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
75

Other information
Directors and advisers   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

IBC

Financial highlights

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  01

Funds under management (£m)

Earnings per share (p)

Dividend per share (p)

7,410

6,550

57.43

51.92

69.01

68.30

65.88

30.5

26.0

22.5

18.5

15.0

5,110

3,520

2,969

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

+8%

Pre-tax profit for the year  
was £11 .420 million compared  
to £10 .568 million in 2014 .

+13%

Discretionary funds under  
management increased from  
£6 .55 billion to £7 .41 billion  
during the year .

+6%

Underlying basic earnings per 
share* increased from 86 .24p  
to 91 .33p

+13%

Underlying pre-tax profit*  
for the year was £15 .078 million  
compared to £13 .316 million  
in 2014 .

+17%

Total dividend per share has 
increased from 26 .0p to 30 .5p, 
including a proposed final dividend  
of 20 .5p per share .

* Excludes acquisition costs, finance costs of deferred consideration and amortisation of intangible assets .

02  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Chairman’s statement

We have grown the business organically over the last year and 
with the continued changes to the regulatory landscape we are 
pleased with the progress we have made.

Christopher Knight  Chairman

This has been a year of 
significant progress in which 
we have continued to invest in 
the Group’s future, increased 
our profits and grown our 
funds under management.

Underlying pre-tax profits for the year were 

£15 .1m (2014: £13 .3m), a rise of 13 .5%, 

and underlying earnings per share have 

risen to 91 .33p (2014: 86 .24p) .

These appointments broaden the senior 

management team and will provide Chris 

Macdonald with more time to focus on 

delivering the Group’s growth ambitions .

The Group has continued to change  

and develop over the last year . We are 

undertaking a complete IT upgrade for  

all our investment businesses, we continue 

to invest in regulatory oversight, our 

investment performance remains strong 

and we remain focused on delivering high 

The board is recommending a final dividend 

performance and service standards for  

of 20 .5p per share which, if approved by 

our clients . We have grown the business 

shareholders, will result in total dividends 

organically over the last year and with  

for the year of 30 .5p . This represents an 

the continued changes to the regulatory 

increase of 17% over the total dividends 

landscape we are pleased with the progress 

paid the previous year of 26 .0p per share . 

we have made .

The final dividend will be paid on 28 October 

2015 to shareholders who are on the register 

at the close of business on 25 September 

2015 . We remain cash generative as a 

Christopher Knight 

Chairman

business and your board will continue  

16 September 2015

its progressive dividend policy .

Our discretionary funds under management 

grew strongly over the year and as at 30 June 

2015 totalled £7 .41bn (2014: £6 .55bn), a 

rise of 13 .13% . This compares favourably  

to the growth of the WMA index of 3 .75% . 

In August we were pleased to announce 

the appointment of Andrew Shepherd  

as the Group’s Deputy Chief Executive . 

Andrew joined Brooks Macdonald in 2002 

and for the last seven years has been joint 

managing director of Brooks Macdonald 

Asset Management (‘BMAM’) . At the  

same time Nick Holmes was appointed  

the sole Managing Director of BMAM . 

 
Chief Executive’s review

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  03

Introduction
I would like to start by thanking all our 

staff for their hard work for the Group 

over the last 12 months . In an industry  

that is highly dynamic, from a regulatory, 

distribution and market perspective, the 

Group has made significant progress and 

this is only possible with their commitment .

Over the year we achieved double digit 

growth in underlying pre-tax profits, 

continued to increase our discretionary 

funds under management, improved our 

distribution both on and offshore and 

continued to invest in infrastructure, 

governance and IT, as well as remaining 

one of the Sunday Times Best 100 

companies to work for . 

We also successfully moved our London 

head office in May to new West End 

premises; this will facilitate further 

expansion and underlines our growth 

ambitions for the future . We have also 

broadened the senior management  

team and, coupled with our continued 

investment programme, these developments 

have the objective of ensuring we continue 

to grow in a highly disciplined manner .

Funds under management
Our discretionary funds under management 

rose to over £7 .4bn, an increase of over 

£860m over the year . This represents an 

increase of 13 .1% supported by investment 

markets; investment performance across 

the Group accounted for £218m and net 

new business for £645m . Across the 

business we have three avenues for growth 

in our discretionary funds; our Bespoke 

Portfolio Service (‘BPS’), Managed Portfolio 

Services (‘MPS’) and Funds . In all cases  

we work closely with institutions and 

professional intermediaries to introduce 

business and I am delighted that we now 

work with over 770 firms both in the  

UK and offshore . We remain firmly 

committed to working closely with  

these firms and are grateful for their 

ongoing and growing support .

Our core offering, BPS, which targets 

individuals with £200,000 or more to 

invest, continues to attract funds and our 

service is split between the management  

of pension funds (largely Self Invested 

Personal Pensions –‘SIPPs’) private  

portfolios and charities and trusts . The 

dynamics behind all three areas constantly 

evolve . Pension legislation changes continue 

to make SIPPs more attractive but at the 

same time ‘lifetime caps’ now restrict the 

size of individual pension funds . Private 

portfolios remain a significant area of 

growth, which is supported by the backdrop 

of a low interest rate environment, and we 

are also seeing growth in our trust remits, 

most notably offshore .

MPS, which is a discretionary service 

targeted at those with £20,000 or more  

to invest, has three areas of growth .  

The first two relate to smaller investment 

clients, firstly those portfolios that we 

administer and secondly, portfolios  

that are held on external administrative 

platforms . In both cases there have been 

pricing pressures over the last few years 

that have now plateaued .

Chris Macdonald Chief ExecutiveThis has been a year of substantive progress for the group. We have continued to grow funds under management and increase profits whilst making considerable progress on our IT development, our distribution, improving our governance, completing two strategic alliances, broadening the senior management team and moving our head office.04  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Chief Executive’s review 

continued

Funds under management 
continued
The third area of growth for MPS is the 

Industry background
The amount of change in the sector and 

industry does not slow down . In the sector 

multi-asset funds which sit within our 

we continue to see consolidation and  

Funds business . The growth of our Funds 

I believe this trend will continue largely  

business, which now has £663m under 

due to the growth of wealth management 

management (2014: £518m), stems  

from our specialist funds as well as  

the multi-asset funds within MPS . 

as an industry and the high cost base 

required to be able to manage and 

administer client assets .

In our Channel Islands business there  

Regulatory costs have been high over  

have been some management changes  

the past two years with the required 

as well as increased collaboration with 

repapering of all clients, the Retail 

professional intermediaries overseas . The 

Distribution Review (‘RDR’), FATCA and 

business is now more integrated into the 

the like, but we believe these have now 

Group . Funds under management have 

stabilised . However, MiFID II, which will 

We continue to grow the number of firms 

where we have strategic relationships  

and I am pleased that this has grown  

to 17 during the past financial year .

In addition to organic opportunities we 

always look to recruit quality experienced 

staff across the Group and we will continue 

with our successful trainee programme .

Summary and outlook
This has been a year of substantive progress 

for the business . We have continued to 

grow funds under management and 

increase profits whilst making considerable 

progress on our IT development, our 

distribution, improving our governance, 

completing two strategic alliances, 

broadening the senior management  

team and moving our head office . 

now grown to £1 .16bn .

In all cases we manage money on a team 

and risk based approach, working off  

a centralised investment process . This 

continues to deliver strong risk adjusted 

returns for our clients and allows the 

business to publish its performance data, 

ensuring a robust and scalable investment 

management proposition .

Braemar Estates, our specialist property 

manager, had a tough year . Whilst  

assets under administration are broadly 

unchanged, new business in the first half 

was slower than we had hoped for . This 

has been addressed in the second half 

impact in January 2017 will bring further 

business requirements and additional 

costs . We are sheltered to some degree  

as we are undertaking a full IT system 

upgrade, which is due to be completed  

Over the coming year we will look to 

in the final calendar quarter of 2016 .  

continue with the progress made and  

We have built in as many of the known 

look to drive performance, service and  

requirements of MiFID II as possible into 

new business . Investment markets remain 

the system specifications to enable us to 

volatile and this is clearly a headwind for 

comply with this new European legislation .

the industry as a whole, but encouragingly 

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 new business has been strong for the 

first quarter of the new financial year .

Chris Macdonald 

Chief Executive

16 September 2015

with mandate wins that will benefit the 

Our main strategic focus remains working 

second half of the new financial year .

with quality professional advisers . We have 

Financial planning has had a mixed year; 

our consulting business was ahead of 

expectations but employee benefits proved 

more challenging than we had hoped,  

not assisted by the substantive changes 

required to deliver an auto enrol solution 

to businesses in a profitable manner . This 

is an area where we are looking to dovetail 

more work with our Asset Management 

business and I expect progress here over 

the next six months and beyond .

seen this sector grow in the UK over the 

last 12 months and the opportunities to 

work with more firms across all of our 

regional offices is greater today than 

before the implementation of RDR in  

2012 . Offshore, we are focussing on  

three principal areas: South Africa, where 

we have recently obtained regulatory 

permissions to market our services to 

intermediaries and clients alike; the Far 

East (mainly MPS funds); and the Middle 

East working with intermediaries .

 
Strategic report

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  05

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 
Management Limited  
(‘BMAM’)

Brooks Macdonald Financial 
Consulting Limited (‘BMFC’)

London, Hampshire, 
Manchester, Tunbridge 
Wells, Edinburgh, 
Taunton, York and 
Leamington Spa

London and York

Discretionary investment
management, custody,  
nominee and dealing

Private individuals, charities and trusts

Independent financial advice,  
personal tax and mortgage services

Private individuals and families

Employee benefits consultancy

Businesses and their employees

Brooks Macdonald Funds  
Limited (‘BMF’)

Hale and London

Manager to a range of regulated 
OEICs and specialist property and 
structured return funds 

Private individuals, charities and trusts

Braemar Estates (Residential) 
Limited 

Brooks Macdonald Asset 
Management (International)  
Limited (‘BMI’)

Brooks Macdonald Retirement 
Services (International) Limited 
(‘BMRSI’)

Hale

Estate and block property 
management

Institutions, property fund managers 
and private individuals

Jersey and Guernsey

Discretionary investment 
management, custody, nominee, 
dealing, advisory and stockbroking 

Jersey and Guernsey

Independent financial advice

Private individuals, charities and trusts

Private individuals, families, trusts  
and businesses

06  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategic report 

continued

Performance for the year 
The financial year 2015 has seen some uncertainty and volatility in the financial markets and yet despite this the Group has increased 

revenue by 12% to £77 .69m (2014: £69 .13m) . Underlying profits before tax have increased by 13% to £15 .08m (2014: £13 .31m) and profit 

before tax has increased by 8% to £11 .42m (2014: £10 .57m) .

Extracts from the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Operating revenue

Underlying operating expenses

Net finance income and losses on investments

Underlying profit before tax1

Underlying operating margin2

Profit before tax

Effective tax rate

Taxation 

Profit after tax

Underlying earnings per share

Earnings per share

Dividend per share3

2015 
£m

77.7

(62.5)

(0.1)

15.1

19.4%

11.4

20.9%

(2.3)

9.1

2014 
£m

69 .1

(55 .8)

–

13 .3

19 .2%

10 .6

14 .3%

(1 .5)

9 .0

91.33p

68.30p

86 .24p

69 .01p

30.5p

26 .0p

1   Profit before tax excluding charges in relation to amortisation of client relationships, finance costs and adjustments to deferred consideration and acquisition costs .

2  Underlying profit before tax as a % of operating revenue .

3  The total interim dividend and final proposed for the financial year .

Underlying operating expenses
The major part of the underlying operating expenses of the Group are staff costs comprising 66% (2014: 65%) and of the total staff costs, 

37% (2014: 38%) were variable costs . During the year the Group continued to invest into enhanced IT systems in order to improve the 

services we offer clients and to realise operational efficiencies across the business as a whole .

In May 2015, on the expiry of the leases on our offices, we moved into new head office premises in the West End giving the Group further 

room for expansion and the benefits of locating all staff on one floor . The additional costs of this new property are estimated at £0 .7m in a 

full year .

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 and we have incurred an increase in the levies from the FSCS to £0 .5m (2014: £0 .3m) .

Underlying profit before tax 
Underlying profit before tax and underlying earnings per share are non GAAP alternative performance measures, considered by the board to 

be a better reflection of true business performance than looking at the Group’s results on a statutory basis only . These measures are widely 

used by research analysts covering the company . Underlying results exclude expenditure falling into the categories explained below and a 

full reconciliation between underlying profit and the profit attributable to shareholders is provided in the following table . 

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  07

Strategic report 

continued

Reconciliation of underlying profit before tax to profit before tax

Underlying profit before tax

Amortisation of client relationships and software

Finance costs on deferred consideration 

Changes in fair value of deferred consideration 

Acquisition costs 

Profit before tax

2015
£m

15.1

(2.7)

(0.8)

(0.1)

(0.1)

11.4

2014
£m

13 .3

(2 .2)

(0 .3)

–

(0 .2)

10 .6

Amortisation of client relationships and software (note 14)
As explained in notes 2(d) and 2(m), client relationship intangible assets are created in the course of acquiring funds under management . 

The amortisation charge associated with these assets and software represents a significant non-cash item and it has therefore been 

excluded from underlying profit, which represents largely cash-based earnings .

Finance costs and changes in fair value of deferred consideration
When the Group makes acquisitions of both corporate entities and teams of fund managers in the course of acquiring funds under management 

the typical structure of the acquisition, in order to continue to incentivise and motivate the vendors, is to make deferred payments over a period  

of time based on the retention and growth in funds under management . The initial estimated fair value of the deferred payments will be based on 

future projections of funds under management and where the actual payment is different from the original estimates then charges or credits will 

be made in arriving at the profit before tax . The directors consider that the effect of these changes to the original projected payments can distort 

the results of a particular period and have therefore excluded them from underlying profit . 

Initial estimates of the deferred cash payments are recognised in the financial statements at their present value based on an inherent rate of 

implied interest . The difference between the discounted present value of deferred consideration and the estimated future cash payment is 

recognised as a charge over the duration of the deferral period in arriving at profit before tax . The directors consider that this charge, which  

is a non-cash item can distort the results of a particular period and have therefore excluded the charge from underlying profit .

Acquisition costs
The acquisition cost in the year were incurred in relation to the purchase of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited .

Cash resources and regulatory capital
The Group is cash generative and cash flow from operating activities as detailed in note 26 increased to £20 .1m (2014: £13 .7m) . During the year, 

as detailed in the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows on page 27, deferred consideration payments in respect of acquisitions increased by 

£6 .6m over the previous year which, together with increased payments for intangible assets and dividends paid to shareholders, resulted in an 

increase in cash resources at the year end of £1 .2m to £19 .3m (2014: £18 .1m) . The Group had no borrowings at 30 June 2015 (2014: £nil) .

As required under Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) rules and both Jersey and Guernsey Financial Services Commissions we perform a regular 

Internal Capital Adequacy Assessment Process (ICAAP) and Adjusted Net Liquid Asset (ANLA) calculation which includes performing a range of 

stress tests to determine the appropriate level of regulatory capital and liquidity that the Group needs to hold . Surplus levels of capital are forecast 

taking into account investment requirements and proposed dividends to ensure that appropriate buffers are maintained . The Group’s Pillar 3 

disclosures are published annually on our website (www .brooksmacdonald .com) .

Segmental review
The Group reports its results in four key operating segments; Investment management, Financial planning Fund and property management 

and Channel Islands . The principal activities of the Group are described in detail above on page 5 . 

08  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategic report 

continued

Segmental review continued
One of the key performance indicators is the growth in discretionary funds under management in total across all parts of the Group which 

are reported on a quarterly basis throughout the year . The increase in the year is analysed in the table below .

At 1 July 2014

Inflows – net new discretionary business*

– acquisitions

– investment growth

At 30 June 2015

Organic growth net of markets

Total net growth

Funds under 
management (£m) 

6,550

645

–

218

7,413

9 .8%

13 .2%

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

Service (‘MPS’) .

A large proportion of the net new discretionary 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 the number  

of introducing firms has increased to 770 (2014: 670) at 30 June 2015 .

Investment management 
The investment management service is the core part of the Group contributing 70% (2014: 71%) of the Group turnover and delivering  

96% (2014: 85%) of the Group profit on a segmental basis as detailed in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements . Investment 

management principally provides discretionary investment management to private investors, charities and trusts through BPS and MPS . 

Despite considerable changes within the industry and volatility within the financial markets we have continued to grow funds under 

management (‘FUM’) as shown in the table above . 

Financial planning
The financial planning 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 and remains a major introducer of new investment management to the Group . 

During the year there was further revenue growth to £4 .2m (2014: £4 .0m) as the business continued to invest in additional staff and 

systems, particularly as part of the employment benefits consultancy resulting in a small loss for the year of £0 .1m (loss 2014: £0 .1m) .  

The Board believes that the business is now positioned to return to profitability in the next financial year . 

Fund and property management
It has been another year of considerable growth for Brooks Macdonald Funds, as part of the increase in the table shown above, with  

total FUM increasing by 28% to £663m (2014: £518m) at 30 June 2015 . This growth was achieved both organically through the net new 

investment in the existing seven funds, as well as by the investment in North Row Capital LLP, which manages the Liquid Property Fund that 

was launched in February 2014 and has contributed £30m to the year end total of FUM . The Group exercised its option to acquire Levitas 

on 31 July 2014 with FUM of £89m and at 30 June 2015 this had increased to £114m .

Brooks Macdonald Funds has broken even for this financial year and given the current level of FUM and projected growth it is expected to 

make a net contribution to the Group in the year ending 30 June 2016 .

Braemar Estates has had particularly difficult year with assets under administration broadly unchanged at £1 .14bn (2014: £1 .13bn) against an 

increased cost base and the loss of a number of mandates . New business instructions were slower in the first half of the financial year than 

anticipated although this has improved and the benefits of this will be seen in the second half of the new financial year . Since the year end a 

strategic review of the business had been undertaken resulting in a number of changes to the board of Braemar Estates which the directors 

believe will result in an improved performance in the forthcoming year .

Strategic report 

continued

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  09

Channel Islands
Our Channel Islands business as detailed above comprises BMI and BMRSI both operating in Jersey and Guernsey and results from the 

acquisition of Spearpoint Limited in November 2012 and DPZ Capital Limited (‘DPZ’) in April 2014 . 

During the year both businesses have undergone significant changes in personnel and integration costs following the acquisition of DPZ  

and during the year the both the chief executives of BMI and BMRSI left the Group resulting in some one-off costs . Darren Zaman has been 

appointed as CEO and has led a reorganisation of the structure of the businesses and the services offered, including the initiation of an 

international MPS and the development of links with professional intermediaries overseas focussing on three principal areas: South Africa, where 

we have recently obtained regulatory permissions to market our services to intermediaries and clients alike; the Far East; and the Middle East .

The profits from the Channel Islands as shown in the segmental analysis on page 35 have reduced in the year to £1 .3m (2014: £2 .4m) as a 

result of the increased costs and a reduction in some of the higher margin but more transactional revenues . With a number of opportunities 

that we are pursuing internationally, the directors believe there will be an improvement in profitability in year to 30 June 2016 .

Corporate governance
The principal board committees are the Audit, Remuneration and Risk and Compliance committees, all of which have specific terms of 

reference which are periodically reviewed and approved by the Board . These terms of reference are available on the Group website .

Audit Committee
The members of the Audit Committee are three of the non-executive directors: Richard Price (Chairman), Christopher Knight and Colin 

Harris . Richard Price became a member of the committee from the date of his appointment to the board, 1 August 2014, and was 

appointed Chairman on 8 September 2014 in succession to Christopher Knight . The board is satisfied that all members of the committee 

have recent and relevant financial experience .

The committee met four times during the year ended 30 June 2015 . 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  

Group and the significant issues and judgements in connection with statutory financial reporting .

The committee reviews the audit control memorandum and the audit engagement letters and has discussions with the auditor without 

management present .

Risk and Compliance Committee
The Group’s risk management framework is designed to ensure risks are identified, reported and managed at every level of the corporate 

structure . Individual business units follow documented processes and procedures and their activities are monitored on an ongoing basis . 

Monitoring output is reported to business managers and identified risks are reported to business-level risk committees . Each risk committee  

is responsible for reviewing identified risks and implementing procedure reviews and mitigating action as necessary . Identified risks are 

ranked according to potential impact and reported up through the risk management framework according to the Group’s escalation policy . 

Business-level risk committees report to a Group Risk Committee and, ultimately, to the Risk and Compliance Committee of the Group 

Board .

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 . 

Business managers and representatives from the legal, risk and compliance functions attend committee meetings as necessary to report on 

identified risks and mitigating action .

During the year ended 30 June 2015 the committee met on seven occasions . Its principal responsibilities include monitoring identified risks 

and the effectiveness of mitigating action, keeping risk assessment processes under review, assessing material breaches of risk limits and 

reviewing client complaints .

The Group’s risk management framework is subject to ongoing review .

The principal risks identified as having a potential material impact on the Group are detailed below, together with the principal means  

of mitigation .

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 32 to the consolidated financial statements . Further details on capital management processes can be found  

in note 33 .

10  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategic report 

continued

Non-financial risks
The significant non-financial risks faced by Group have been reviewed by the committee, which believes 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 .

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
The Group monitors compliance with existing law and regulations 
and keeps abreast of future changes to assess likely business impact 
and to ensure that the Group has sufficient resources to implement 
any necessary changes .

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 and motivation is measured 
through a sentiment index . Structured training is provided by the 
Group’s Learning & Development team .

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 . Business continuity is assured 
through our network of offices and our remote working capabilities .

Strategic report 

continued

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  11

Non-financial risks 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 keep our key outsourcing 
partners under review and have in place procedures to regularly 
assess the performance of such suppliers as well as 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 keeps its client documentation under review and 
updates it regularly to ensure clients are properly informed  
about investment policy and risks .

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 for all staff across the Group and reviews all awards made under various 

long-term incentive schemes operated by the Group . 

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;

• 

inclusion of both annual and long term elements;

•  differentiation by merit and performance;

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

• 

compliant with financial services rules and regulations; 

•  alignment with shareholders’ interests with significant long term equity participation; and 

• 

clarity, transparency and fairness of process .

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 .

12  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategic report 

continued

Remuneration Committee continued
Single total figure of remuneration for each director

The remuneration of directors in 2015 and 2014 is set out in the table below .

Salary and fees
2015  
£’000

2014 
£’000

Taxable benefits
2014 
£’000

2015  
£’000

Annual bonus1
2015  
£’000

2014 
£’000

Long term 
incentive 
schemes

20152
£’000

20143
£’000

Pension related 
benefits

2015  
£’000

2014 
£’000

Total

 2015  
£’000

2014  
£’000

Executives

C A J Macdonald

N I Holmes

S J Jackson

A W Shepherd

R H Spencer

S P Wombwell

253

166

188

188

188

194

247

162

167

167

183

189

3

2

4

2

3

3

3

2

3

2

3

3

272

192

140

176

148

104

1,177

1,115

17

16

1,032

Non-executives

C J Knight (Chairman)

C R Harris (Senior  
  independent director)

D Seymour-Williams

R Price (appointed  
  1 August 2014)

86

45

40

37

75

40

36

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

256

160

120

160

132

132

960

–

–

–

–

88

133

48

132

42

159

602

–

–

–

–

58

29

38

29

34

–

–

25

–

–

–

–

–

24

18

18

–

–

616

518

380

498

381

460

564

377

346

376

352

324

188

25

60

2,853

2,339

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

86

45

40

37

75

40

36

–

Total

1,385

1,266

17

16

1,032

960

602

188

25

60

3,061

2,490

Notes
1   The annual bonus represents the cash amount receivable for the relevant financial year . An additional amount of 20% for each executive director is deferred and awarded 

by way of ordinary shares under the terms of the LTIS as disclosed below in table 2 .

2   The amounts represent the value vested in the year from three year long term incentive plans awards arising from the deferred element of the 2011 annual bonus 

together with any additional awards made on similar terms . The awards satisfied the performance conditions requiring 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 the 
grant falls and ending with the financial year in which the third anniversary of the date of the grant falls . The vesting date was 20 October 2014 and the market price on 
that date was £13 .42 .

3   The amounts represent the value vested in the year from three-year Long Term Incentive Scheme awards arising from the deferred element of the 2010 annual bonus 
together with any additional awards made on similar terms . The awards satisfied the performance conditions requiring 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 the 
grant falls and ending with the financial year in which the third anniversary of the date of the grant falls . The vesting date was 27 October 2013 and the market price on 
that date was £14 .02 .

Notes to the single total figure of remuneration for each director table

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 companies of a similar size and complexity, 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% . 

Strategic report 

continued

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  13

Remuneration Committee continued

Notes to the single total figure of remuneration for each director table continued

Non-executive directors’ fees

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 . 

The Chairman’s fee was increased from £75,000 to £90,000 on 1 September 2014 and the basic non-executive director’s fee was increased 

from £36,000 to £40,000 on 1 July 2014 .

Taxable benefits

Taxable benefits are the provision of private medical insurance for the executive directors and their dependents and the provision of interest-

free season ticket loans as disclosed in note 35 to the consolidated financial statements . 

Annual bonus

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

the region of 10-20% 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 . The total bonus payment to all senior employees who participate in this scheme was 11 .9% (2014: 12 .1%) .

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 . 

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 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 .

The LTIS awards reported are the historic awards vesting at the end of the three year cycle valued using the share price on the date of the 

vesting . In addition to the deferred element of the annual bonus described above the executive directors are awarded rights to acquire 

ordinary shares . 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 .

Pensions

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 .

14  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategic report 

continued

Remuneration Committee continued

Directors’ interests in shares

At 30 June 2015, directors’ shareholdings were as set out in table 1 .

Table 1: Directors’ shareholdings and interest in shares at 30 June 2015

Number of shares or options

Executives

C A J Macdonald

N I Holmes

S J Jackson

A W Shepherd

R H Spencer

S P Wombwell

Non-executives

C J Knight (Chairman)

C R Harris (Senior independent director)

D Seymour-Williams

R Price (appointed 1 August 2014)

Beneficially 
owned  
shares

LTIS2

Sharesave

Interest in shares

EMI  

schemes

CSOP 

Total 

835,410

54,895

79,534

47,915

776,743

89,189

71,585

6,086

5,000

–

18,371

12,210

10,991

13,316

10,306

10,416

–

–

–

–

649

1,298

1,298

1,494

1,455

1,298

–

–

–

–

–

10,500

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,067

2,067

2,067

1,0871

2,067

–

–

–

–

19,020

26,075

14,356

16,877

12,848

13,781

–

–

–

–

Total

1,966,357

75,610

7,492

10,500

9,355

102,957

Notes
1   In the year ended 30 June 2015, 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 2015 .

2   In the year ended 30 June 2015 further awards were made to the executive directors under the LTIS scheme together with the deferred element of the annual bonus 
award . The monetary values of the awards are shown below and the actual number of shares awarded will be determined based on the share price at the grant date in 
October 2015 .

Table 2: Monetary value of awards made under LTIS

Executives

C A J Macdonald

N I Holmes

S J Jackson

A W Shepherd

R H Spencer

S P Wombwell

Total

Deferred 
bonus 
£’000

Additional 
awards 
£’000 

Total  
£’000

68

48

35

44

37

26

–

30

25

40

–

25

68

78

60

84

37

51

258

120

378

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  15

Strategic report 

continued

Remuneration Committee continued

Directors’ interests in shares continued

Table 3: LTIS

Plan  
cycle

Performance 
period  

end date

Vesting  
date

At 
1 July 
2014

Granted  
in the  
year

Exercised  
in the  
year

At 
30 June  
2015 

C A J Macdonald

 2010-13 

30 .06 .2013

27 .10 .2013

 2011-14 

30 .06 .2014

20 .10 .2014

 2012-15 

30 .06 .2015

25 .10 .2015

 2013-16 

30 .06 .2016

01 .11 .2016

 2014-17 

30 .06 .2017

14 .10 .2017

N I Holmes

 2010-13 

30 .06 .2013

27 .10 .2013

 2011-14 

30 .06 .2014

20 .10 .2014

 2012-15 

30 .06 .2015

25 .10 .2015

 2013-16 

30 .06 .2016

01 .11 .2016

 2014-17 

30 .06 .2017

14 .10 .2017

S J Jackson

 2010-13 

30 .06 .2013

27 .10 .2013

 2011-14 

30 .06 .2014

20 .10 .2014

 2012-15 

30 .06 .2015

25 .10 .2015

 2013-16 

30 .06 .2016

01 .11 .2016

 2014-17 

30 .06 .2017

14 .10 .2017

A W Shepherd

 2010-13 

30 .06 .2013

27 .10 .2013

 2011-14 

30 .06 .2014

20 .10 .2014

 2012-15 

30 .06 .2015

25 .10 .2015

 2013-16 

30 .06 .2016

01 .11 .2016

 2014-17 

30 .06 .2017

14 .10 .2017

R H Spencer

 2010-13 

30 .06 .2013

27 .10 .2013

 2011-14 

30 .06 .2014

20 .10 .2014

 2012-15 

30 .06 .2015

25 .10 .2015

 2013-16 

30 .06 .2016

01 .11 .2016

 2014-17 

30 .06 .2017

14 .10 .2017

S P Wombwell

 2011-14 

30 .06 .2014

20 .10 .2014

 2012-15 

30 .06 .2015

25 .10 .2015

 2013-16 

30 .06 .2016

01 .11 .2016

 2014-17 

30 .06 .2017

14 .10 .2017

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

–

–

–

–

–

4,533

–

–

–

–

4,958

–

–

–

–

3,896

–

–

–

–

4,958

–

–

–

–

2,338

–

–

–

4,108

–

(6,536)

–

–

–

(2,095)

(9,886)

–

–

–

(2,715)

(3,595)

–

–

–

(2,095)

(9,804)

–

–

–

(2,405)

–

–

–

–

(11,847)

–

–

–

4,112

–

5,354

4,372

4,533

–

–

4,724

2,528

4,958

–

–

4,567

2,528

3,896

–

–

4,567

3,791

4,958

–

3,105

2,677

2,186

2,338

–

3,780

2,528

4,108

Total

101,797

24,791

(50,978)

75,610

16  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Strategic report 

continued

Remuneration Committee continued

Directors’ interests in shares continued

Table 4: Sharesave

Number of options

Grant 
date

At 
1 July 
2014

Granted 
in the 
year

Exercised
in the 
year

Lapsed  
in the 
year

At 
30 June 
2014

Earliest 
exercise 
date

Latest 
exercise 
date

C A J Macdonald

21 .05 .14

649

N I Holmes

S J Jackson

A W Shepherd

R H Spencer

21 .05 .14

1,298

21 .05 .14

1,298

14 .05 .13

22 .05 .15

21 .05 .14

22 .05 .15

767

–

1,298

–

–

–

–

727

–

S P Wombwell

21 .05 .14

1,298

–

Total

6,608

2,182

Sharesave Scheme (‘Sharesave’)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

649

01 .06 .17

01 .12 .17

1,298

01 .06 .17

01 .12 .17

1,298

01 .06 .17

01 .12 .17

767

727

01 .06 .16

01 .12 .16

01 .06 .18

01 .12 .18

(1,298)

–

01 .06 .17

01 .12 .17

–

–

(1,298)

7,492

(£)
Market 
value of 
shares at 
grant 
date

(£)

Exercise 
price

17 .32

17 .32

17 .32

14 .65

15 .46

17 .32

15 .46

13 .86

13 .86

13 .86

11 .72

12 .37

13 .86

12 .37

–

1,455

1,455

01 .06 .18

01 .12 .18

1,298

01 .06 .17

01 .12 .17

17 .32

13 .86

All directors are entitled to take part in the HMRC approved Brooks Macdonald Group Sharesave Scheme (‘Sharesave’) 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 

option grants are made at 80% of the closing mid-market price on the day of the offer .

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 .

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  17

Strategic report 

continued

Remuneration Committee continued

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 .

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

Prior approval of any new appointment is required by the Board with any fees in excess of £15,000 per annum paid to the Company .

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 .

18  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Report of the directors

The directors present herewith their annual 

report, together with the audited financial 

statements of the Group for the year 

Retirement and  
re-appointment of directors
Andrew Shepherd, Nick Holmes and Simon 

ended 30 June 2015 .

Results and dividends
The profit before taxation for the year 

ended 30 June 2015 was £11,420,000 

(2014: £10,568,000) and the profit after 

taxation was £9,151,000 (2014: £9,056,000) .

The Company paid an interim dividend 

during the year of 10 .0p (2014: 7 .0p) per 

share . The directors recommend a final 

dividend of 20 .5p (2014: 19 .0p) per  

share . This results in total dividends for 

the year of 30 .5p (2014: 26 .0p) per 

ordinary share . These dividends amount 

to a total distribution to shareholders  

of £4,102,000 (2014: £3,453,000)  

in the year .

Wombwell will retire by rotation at the 

annual general meeting and are eligible  

to nominate themselves for re-election .

Directors’ indemnities 
The Company has made qualifying third 

party indemnity provisions for the benefit 

of its directors and these remain in force  

at the date of the report .

Employment policies 
Employees are encouraged to identify  

and become involved with the financial 

performance of the Group and are 

rewarded by involvement in profit sharing 

arrangements . Employees also have the 

opportunity to participate in the Group’s 

share incentive plans .

Directors and their interests
The directors of the company, who were in office during the year and up to the date of 

signing the financial statements, are listed below together with their beneficial interests  

in the share capital of the Company .

At 30 June 
2015 
 Number  
of shares 

At 30 June 
2014 
 Number  
of shares 

The Group considers that communication 

with our employees is very important and 

indeed vital for the success of the Group . 

Employees 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 

fund 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 

orientation . Applications from disabled 

persons are always considered and where 

employees become disabled efforts are 

made to continue their employment within 

the group by providing training and the 

supply of equipment if necessary so that 

Chairman

C J Knight

Executives

CA J Macdonald

N I Holmes

S J Jackson

A W Shepherd

R H Spencer

S P Wombwell

Non-executives

C R Harris

R Price 

D Seymour-Williams

71,585

71,585

they are able to continue their role . 

835,410

828,874

54,895

79,534

47,915

776,743

89,189

6,086

–

5,000

41,495

79,534

48,915

774,338

89,189

6,086

–

5,000

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 .

Under the terms of the Pensions Act 2008, 

on commencing employment all eligible 

employees are ‘auto-enrolled’ into the 

Group pension scheme .

Details of share options held by the directors at the beginning and the end of the year can be found within the 
Remuneration Committee report on pages 11 to 17 .

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  19

Report of the directors 

continued

Employment policies continued
As at 1 September 2015, the Company had received notification of substantial interests  

in its shares of 3% or more as follows:

Substantial shareholdings

Liontrust Asset Management

Octopus Investments

Artemis Fund Managers

Hargreave Hale

C A J Macdonald

R H Spencer

Standard Life Investments

J M Gumpel

Invesco Asset Management

Number  
of shares 

Percentage 
holding 

2,423,872

17 .74%

1,025,713

972,843

932,426

835,410

776,743

749,082

661,265

467,211

7 .51%

7 .12%

6 .83%

6 .12%

5 .69%

5 .48%

4 .84%

3 .42%

Events since the end of the year
Details of events after the reporting date 

Annual general meeting
The 2015 annual general meeting will be 

are set out in note 37 to the consolidated 

held on 27 October 2015 at 72 Welbeck 

Street, London, W1G 0AY . The notice of 

the meeting is on pages 71 to 73 with 

details of the resolutions proposed and 

explanatory notes on pages 69 to 70 .

On behalf of the Board of Directors .

S Broomfield 

Company Secretary

16 September 2015

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 .

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 .

 
20  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Statement of directors’ responsibilities

The directors are responsible for preparing 

The directors are responsible for keeping 

the Annual Report and the financial 

adequate accounting records that are 

statements in accordance with applicable 

sufficient to show and explain the 

law 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 

Company’s transactions and disclose 

with reasonable accuracy at any time the 

financial position of the Company and 

enable them to ensure that the financial 

statements comply with the Companies 

Act 2006 . 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 .

Accepted Accounting Practice (United 

The directors are responsible for the 

Kingdom Accounting Standards and 

maintenance and integrity of the Group’s 

applicable law) . Under company law the 

website . Legislation in the United 

directors must not approve the financial 

Kingdom governing the preparation and 

statements unless they are satisfied that 

dissemination of financial statements may 

they give a true and fair view of the state 

differ from legislation in other jurisdictions .

of affairs of the Group and the Company 

and of the profit or loss of the Group for 

that period . In preparing these financial 

statements, the directors are required to:

• 

select suitable accounting policies and 

then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting 

estimates that are reasonable and 

prudent;

• 

state whether IFRSs as adopted by 

the European Union and applicable 

UK Accounting Standards have been 

followed, subject to any material 

departures disclosed and explained 

in the Group and parent company 

financial statements respectively;

•  prepare the financial statements on 

the going concern basis unless it is 

inappropriate to presume that the 

Company will continue in business .

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  21

Financial statements

Consolidated financial statements
Independent auditors’ report to the  
members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc  .  .  .  .  .   22-23
Consolidated statement of  
24
comprehensive income  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
25
Consolidated statement of financial position   .  .  .  
26
Consolidated statement of changes in equity  .  .  .  
Consolidated statement of cash flows   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
27
Notes to the consolidated financial statements  .  .   28-60

Company financial statements
Independent auditors’ report to the  
members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc  .  .  .  .  .  
61
62
Company balance sheet   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  
Notes to the company financial statements   .  .  .  .   63-68

Shareholders’ information
Explanatory notes to the Annual General  
Meeting resolutions   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   69-70 
Notice of Annual General Meeting    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   71-73 
75
Form of Proxy    .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

Other information
Directors and advisers   .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  

IBC

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued22  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Independent auditors’ report 

to the members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Report on the group  
financial statements

Our opinion

In our opinion, Brooks Macdonald Group 

The financial reporting framework that has 

remuneration specified by law are not 

been applied in the preparation of the 

made . We have no exceptions to report 

financial statements is applicable law and 

arising from this responsibility . 

IFRSs as adopted by the European Union .

plc’s group financial statements (the 

In applying the financial reporting 

‘financial statements’):

•  give a true and fair view of the state of 

the Group’s affairs as at 30 June 2015 

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 .

What we have audited

The financial statements comprise:

• 

the Consolidated Statement of Financial 

Position as at 30 June 2015;

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 .

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

• 

the Consolidated Statement of 

Adequacy of information and 

Comprehensive Income for the year 

explanations received

then ended;

• 

the Consolidated Statement of Cash 

Flows for the year then ended;

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 . 

• 

the Consolidated Statement of Changes 

We have no exceptions to report arising 

in Equity for the year then ended; and

from this responsibility . 

• 

the notes to the financial statements, 

which include a summary of significant 

accounting policies and other 

explanatory information .

Directors’ remuneration

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are 

required to report to you if, in our opinion, 

certain disclosures of directors’ 

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 20, the directors are responsible for 

the preparation of the financial statements 

and for being satisfied that they give a 

true and fair view .

Our responsibility is to audit and express 

an opinion on the financial statements  

in accordance with applicable law and 

International Standards on Auditing  

(UK and Ireland) (‘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 .

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  23

Independent auditors’ report 

to the members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc | continued

What an audit of financial  

In addition, we read all the financial and 

statements involves

non-financial information in the Annual 

We conducted our audit in accordance 

Report and Accounts to identify material 

with ISAs (UK & Ireland) . An audit involves 

inconsistencies with the audited financial 

obtaining evidence about the amounts  

statements and to identify any information 

and disclosures in the financial statements 

that is apparently materially incorrect 

sufficient to give reasonable assurance  

based on, or materially inconsistent with, 

that the financial statements are free from 

the knowledge acquired by us in the 

material misstatement, whether caused 

course of performing the audit . If we 

by fraud or error . This includes an 

become aware of any apparent material 

assessment of: 

•  whether the accounting policies are 

misstatements or inconsistencies we 

consider the implications for our report .

appropriate to the Group’s circumstances 

and have been consistently applied and 

Other matter
We have reported separately on the 

parent company financial statements  

of Brooks Macdonald Group plc for  

the year ended 30 June 2015 .

Marcus Hine (Senior Statutory 

Auditor) for and on behalf of 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 

Chartered Accountants and 

Statutory Auditors

London 

16 September 2015

adequately disclosed; 

• 

the reasonableness of significant 

accounting estimates made by the 

directors; and 

• 

the overall presentation of the financial 

statements . 

We primarily focus our work in these areas 

by assessing the directors’ judgements 

against available evidence, forming our 

own judgements, and evaluating the 

disclosures in the financial statements .

We test and examine information, using 

sampling and other auditing techniques,  

to the extent we consider necessary to 

provide a reasonable basis for us to draw 

conclusions . We obtain audit evidence 

through testing the effectiveness  

of controls, substantive procedures  

or a combination of both .

24  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income 

for the year ended 30 June 2015

Revenue

Administrative costs

Realised gain on investment

Other gains and losses

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

Revaluation reserve recycled to profit or loss

Total comprehensive income for the year

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

Note

4

5

6

7

9

9

17

10

10

16

11

11

2015  
£’000

77,686

(65,371)

540

(754)

12,101

86

(763)

(4)

11,420

(2,269)

9,151

–

68

9,219

68.30p

68.14p

2014  
£’000

69,133

(58,207)

–

–

10,926

119

(349)

(128)

10,568

(1,512)

9,056

(131)

–

8,925

69 .01p

68 .67p

The accompanying notes on pages 28 to 60 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements .

Consolidated statement of financial position 

as at 30 June 2015

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  25

Note

2015  
£’000

2014  
£’000

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

Deferred tax liabilities 

Provisions

Total current liabilities

Net assets

Equity

Share capital

Share premium account

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total equity

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

18

23

24

18

25

27

27

28

28

65,258

3,539

1,532

628

709

71,666

21,402

3

19,274

40,679

54,874

2,971

2,182

232

809

61,068

21,432

478

18,056

39,966

112,345

101,034

(9,442)

(4,694)

(95)

(14,231)

(16,894)

(1,463)

(119)

(5,474)

(23,950)

74,164

136

35,600

5,101

33,327

74,164

(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

The consolidated financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 16 September 2015, 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 28 to 60 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements .

 
 
 
26  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

for the year ended 30 June 2015

Balance at 1 July 2013

133

31,868

3,952

21,607

57,560

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

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 12)

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 30 June 2014

Comprehensive income

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:

Revaluation of available for sale financial asset

Revaluation reserve recycled

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 12)

Total transactions with owners

Balance at 30 June 2015

–

–

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

2

135

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

–

–

1

–

–

–

3,279

–

–

–

–

–

3,279

35,147

–

–

–

–

453

–

–

–

–

–

453

–

9,056

9,056

(131)

(131)

–

1,288

(545)

–

156

–

899

–

9,056

–

–

545

(732)

–

(3,020)

(3,207)

(131)

8,925

3,281

1,288

–

(732)

156

(3,020)

973

4,720

27,456

67,458

–

–

68

68

–

1,315

(1,334)

–

332

–

313

9,151

9,151

–

–

–

68

9,151

9,219

–

–

1,334

(742)

–

454

1,315

–

(742)

332

(3,872)

(3,872)

(3,280)

(2,513)

136

35,600

5,101

33,327 

74,164

The accompanying notes on pages 28 to 60 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements .

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

for the year ended 30 June 2015

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  27

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

Deferred consideration paid

Interest received

Purchase of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Proceeds of sale of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

Investment in joint venture

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 financing activities

Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Note

26

15

14

16

13

22

9

20

20

17

27

28

12

21

2015  
£’000

20,094

(1,756)

18,338

(1,558)

(1,879)

(250)

37

(9,218)

86

(40)

263

(400)

2014  
£’000

13,671

(2,318)

11,353

(1,342)

(552)

(750)

(3,340)

(1,866)

119

(478)

–

(360)

(12,959)

(8,569)

454

(742)

(3,873)

(4,161)

1,218

18,056

19,274

584

(732)

(3,020)

(3,168)

(384)

18,440

18,056

The accompanying notes on pages 28 to 60 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements .

28  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

for the year ended 30 June 2015

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 72 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 0AY .

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 (IFRS)  

and IFRS Interpretations Committee (IFRS IC) interpretations, as adopted by the European Union 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 are a consolidation of the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries . The underlying financial 

statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as the Company, using consistent accounting policies . Subsidiaries 

(including structured entities) are all entities controlled by the Company, deemed to exist where the Company is exposed to, or has rights to, 

variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity . 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 .

The Group has disclosed all of its subsidiary undertakings in note 41 in the parent company’s financial statements .

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 2014 .

New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations adopted in the year

In the year ended 30 June 2015 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

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

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

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

IFRIC 21 ‘Levies’

Contributions to defined benefit plans (amendments to IAS 19)

IFRS3 clarifications relating to business combinations

IFRS 13 amendment of  the treatment of short term receivables and payables 

Effective date

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

1 January 2014

17 June 2014

1 July 2014

1 July 2014

1 July 2014

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  29

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
c)  Changes in accounting policies continued

New accounting standards, amendments and interpretations not yet adopted 

c)  Changes in accounting policies

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 2015:

d)  Critical accounting estimates and judgements 

Standard, amendment or interpretation

Revenue from Contracts with Customers  (IFRS15)

Financial Instruments  (amendments to IFRS 9)

IFRS 11 amendments for accounting for acquisitions of interests in joint operations 

IAS16 and IAS38 clarification of acceptable methods of depreciation and amortisation

Effective date

1 January 2017

1 January 2018

1 January 2016

1 January 2016

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

financial statements .

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 13), through separate purchase and purchased with newly employed teams of fund managers (as described in note 

14) . 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 14 .

Deferred consideration

As described in note 22, the Group has a deferred consideration balance in respect of the acquisition of JPAM Limited in July 2012; DPZ in 

April 2014; and Levitas Investment Management Services Limited in July 2015 . 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 estimated cost of capital . The Group considers that reasonably possible changes to these assumptions 

would not result in a material change in the fair value of the deferred consideration . 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued30  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

d)  Critical accounting estimates and judgements

Share-based payments

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
d)  Critical accounting estimates and judgements continued

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 

24 and 29) . 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 .

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 Group’s 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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  31

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
g)  Fees, commissions and interest continued

Performance fees are earned from some clients when contractually agreed performance levels are exceeded within specified performance 

g)  Fees, 

measurement periods . They are only recognised, at the end of these performance periods, when a reliable estimate of the fee can be made 

commissions and 

and it is almost certain that it will be received . 

interest

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 .

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 . 

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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued32  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
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 . 

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 to 20 years and those acquired with 

investment managers over 5 years . Both types of intangible asset are reviewed annually to determine whether there exists an indicator of 

impairment or an indicator that the assumed useful economic life has changed .

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)  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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  33

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
o)  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 assets as quoted in active markets . Changes in fair value are recognised directly in equity, 

through the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, with the exception of impairment losses which are recognised in the 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income . The cumulative gain or loss recognised in equity is recycled to the Consolidated 

Statement of Comprehensive Income when an available for sale financial asset is derecognised or impaired .

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 .

p)  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 .

q)  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 .

r)  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 .

s)  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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued34  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

s)  Taxation

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
s)  Taxation continued
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 . 

t)  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 .

u)  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 .

v)  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 .

w)  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 .

x)  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 .

y)  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 Structured Entity, as defined in note 36 . 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 .

z)  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 Company purchases its own equity share capital (treasury shares) the consideration paid, including any directly incremental costs 

(i .e . 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 . 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  35

2.  Principal accounting policies continued
aa)  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 . 

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 .

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 .

2.  Principal accounting policies

Year ended 30 June 2015

Total segment revenues

Inter segment revenues

External revenues

Segment result

Unallocated items

Profit before tax

Taxation

Profit for the year

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

Investment 
management
£’000

Financial
planning
£’000

Fund and 
property 
management
£’000

54,464

(101)

54,363

15,774

4,191

(69)

4,122

(68)

6,044

(43)

6,001

(564)

Channel 
Islands
£’000

13,200

–

13,200

1,315

Investment 
management
£’000

Financial
planning
£’000

Fund and 
property 
management
£’000

48,988

(156)

48,832

12,324

4,034

(223)

3,811

(109)

5,061

(127)

4,934

(102)

Channel  
Islands
£’000

11,556

–

11,556

2,376

Total
£’000

77,899

(213)

77,686

16,457

(5,037)

11,420

2,269

9,151

Total
£’000

69,639

(506)

69,133

14,489

(3,921)

10,568

(1,512)

9,056

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued36  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

3.  Segmental information

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

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

Advisory and other income

Total revenue

2015
£’000

64,486

13,200

77,686

2015
£’000

66,443

235

11,008

77,686

2014
£’000

57,577

11,556

69,133

2014
£’000

59,197

291

9,645

69,133

5.  Realised gain on investment
During the year, the Group realised a gain of £540,000 on disposal of its investment in Sancus Holdings Limited (‘SHL’) (note 16) .

6.  Other gains and losses
Other gains and losses represent the net changes in the fair value of the Group’s financial instruments recognised in the Consolidated 

Statement of Comprehensive Income .

Impairment of available for sale financial assets (note 16)

Loss from changes in fair value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (note 20)

Gain from changes in fair value of deferred consideration (note 22)

Other gains and losses

2015
£’000

(718)

(252)

216

(754)

2014
£’000

–

–

–

–

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  37

7.  Operating profit
Operating profit is stated after charging:

Staff costs (note 8)

Acquisition costs (see below)

Auditors’ remuneration (see below)

Financial Services Compensation Scheme Levy (see below)

Depreciation (note 15)

Amortisation (note 14)

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

– Other advisory services

Total auditors’ remuneration

Acquisition costs

2015
£’000

38,558

120

280

510

990

2014
£’000

33,872

187

220

351

981

2,708

2,212

2015
£’000

61

185

34

–

280

2014
£’000

37

145

29

9

220

Administrative costs for the year ended 30 June 2015 include £120,000 (2014: £187,000) of directly attributable business acquisition costs  

in relation to the exercise of the Group’s option to purchase Levitas Investment Management Services Limited (note 13) .

Financial Services Compensation Scheme levies

Administrative costs for the year ended 30 June 2015 include a charge of £510,000 (2014: £351,000) in respect of the Financial Services 

Compensation Scheme (‘FSCS’) levy . This includes the Group’s levy for the 2015/16 scheme year of £502,000 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued38  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

8.  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

2015
£’000

32,670

3,129

1,331

1,428

38,558

2015

183

284

467

2014
£’000

28,867

2,863

1,012

1,130

33,872

2014

169

253

422

The compensation of the key management personnel of the Group, defined as the Group Board of Directors including both the executives 

and non-executives, is set out below .

Short-term employee benefits
Post-employment benefits

Share-based payments

Total compensation

2015
£’000

2,434

25
346

2,805

2014
£’000

2,242

60
398

2,700

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  39

8.  Employee information continued
d)  Directors’ emoluments

Further details of directors’ emoluments are included within the Remuneration Committee Report on pages 11 to 17 . 

8.  Employee information

Salaries and bonuses

Non-executive directors’ fees

Benefits in kind

Pension contributions
Amounts receivable under long term incentive schemes

Total directors’ remuneration

2015
£’000

2,209

208

17

2,434

25

378

2,837

The aggregate amount of gains made by directors on the exercise of share options during the year was £913,000 (2014: £458,000) . 

Retirement benefits are accruing to one directors (2014: three) 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

2015
£’000

528

68

596

2014
£’000

2,075

151

16

2,242

60

240

2,542

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 £90,000 (2014: £6,000) .

9.  Finance income and finance costs

Finance income

Bank interest on deposits

Tax repayment supplement

Total finance income

Finance costs

Bank interest paid

Finance cost of deferred consideration

Total finance costs

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

86

–

86

3

760

763

109

10

119

–

349

349

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued40  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

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

UK Corporation Tax at 20 .75% (2014: 22 .5%)

Over provision in prior years

Total current tax

Deferred tax credits

Effect of change in tax rate on deferred tax

Income tax expense

2015
£’000

2,776

(231)

2,545

(276)

–

2,269

2014
£’000

2,477

(17)

2,460

(473)

(475)

1,512

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 20 .75% 

(2014: 22 .5%)

Tax effect of:

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

– Disallowable expenses

– Non-taxable income

– Tax losses unutilised on which no deferred tax is provided

– Change in rate of Corporation Tax applicable to deferred tax

– Over provision in prior years

Tax charge for the year

2015
£’000

11,420

2014
£’000

10,568

2,370

2,378

(255)

385

–

–

–

(231)

2,269

(618)

77

(1)

168

(475)

(17)

1,512

The deferred tax credits totalling £276,000 (2014: £473,000) represent a charge of £28,000 (2014: £122,000 credit) arising from the share 

option reserve at the balance sheet date, a charge of £117,000 (2014: £10,000 credit) relating to accelerated capital allowances and a credit 

of £421,000 (2014: £341,000) arising from the amortisation of acquired client relationship contracts .

On 1 April 2015, the standard rate of Corporation Tax in the UK was reduced from 21% to 20% . As a result the effective rate of 

Corporation Tax applied to the taxable profit for the year ended 30 June 2015 is 20 .75% (2014: 22 .5%) .

In addition to the change in the rate of UK Corporation Tax disclosed above, the Finance Bill 2015 (which has yet to be substantively 

enacted) will further reduce the main rate of UK Corporation Tax to 19% in 2017 and 18% in 2020 . 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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  41

10.  Taxation continued
Consequently the tax rate used to determine the deferred tax assets and liabilities remains at 20% (2014: 20%) and will be reviewed when 

10.  Taxation

the aforementioned legislation has passed through Parliament . 

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

2015
£’000

–

–

–

2014
£’000

(150)

19

(131)

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

earnings per share are calculated based on ‘underlying earnings’, which is defined as earnings before acquisition costs, finance costs and 

changes in the fair value of deferred consideration and amortisation of intangible non-current assets . The tax effect of these adjustments 

has also been considered .

Earnings for the year used to calculate earnings per share as reported in these consolidated financial statements were as follows:

Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders

Acquisition costs (note 7)

Finance cost of deferred consideration (note 9)

Changes in fair value of deferred consideration

Amortisation (note 14)

Tax impact of adjustments

2015
£’000

9,151

120

760

70

2,708

(571)

2014
£’000

9,056

187

349

–

2,212

(486)

Underlying earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders

12,238

11,318

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number of shares  

in issue throughout the year . Diluted earnings per share represents the basic earnings per share adjusted for the effect of dilutive potential 

shares issuable on exercise of employee share options under the Group’s share-based payment schemes, weighted for the relevant period .

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

Weighted average number of shares in issue

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

2015

Number  

of shares

13,399,031

30,996

2014 
Number  
of shares

13,123,634

64,289

Diluted weighted average number of shares in issue

13,430,027

13,187,923

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued42  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

11.  Earnings per share

11.  Earnings per share continued
Earnings per share for the year attributable to equity holders of the Company were: 

Based on reported earnings:
Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

Based on underlying earnings:
Basic earnings per share

Diluted earnings per share

12.  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 2014 of 19 .0p 

(2014: 16 .0p) per share

Interim dividend paid for the year ended 30 June 2015 of 10 .0p 

(2014: 7 .0p) per share

Total dividends

Final dividend proposed for the year ended 30 June 2015 of 20 .5p (2014: 19 .0p) per share

The interim dividend of 10 .0p (2014: 7 .0p) per share was paid on 21 April 2015 . 

2015
(p)

68.30

68.14

91.33

91.12

2015
£’000

2,535

1,338

3,873

2,757

2014
(p)

69 .01

68 .67

86 .24

85 .82

2014
£’000

2,102

918

3,020

2,535

A final dividend for the year ended 30 June 2015 of 20 .5p (2014: 19 .0p) per share was declared by the Board of Directors on 16 September 

2015 and is subject to approval by the shareholders at the Company’s annual general meeting . It will be paid on 28 October 2015 to 

shareholders who are on the register at the close of business on 25 September 2015 . In accordance with IAS 10 ‘Events After the Reporting 

Period’, this dividend has not been included as a liability in these financial statements .

13.  Business combinations
On 31 July 2014, the Group exercised its option to acquire the entire 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 exercise of the 

option were £89m . 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 is dependent on the future assets under management in the Levitas funds, calculated at agreed 

milestones up to 1 November 2018 and payable in a series of instalments, with the final payment date being on or around 8 November 

2020 . Under the terms of the option agreement, the maximum consideration payable will be £24,000,000 . The fair value of the liability  

at the acquisition date was measured at £11,264,000, based on the Levitas business plan and forecasts . This included an initial payment  

of £724,000, which was made to the vendors following the exercise of the option .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  43

13.  Business combinations continued
Directly attributable acquisition costs of £120,000 were incurred during the year as a result of the acquisition and have been charged to the 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income .

Goodwill of £11,213,000 was recognised on acquisition in respect of the expected future growth of the Levitas funds and the resulting 

economic benefit to the Group in the form of sponsorship income earned by Levitas .

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 . The value of finite lived intangible assets is 

considered immaterial .

In the financial year ended 30 June 2014, the Group acquired the entire share capital of DPZ Capital Limited (‘DPZ’) . Details of the 

acquisition are disclosed in note 9 of the 2014 Annual Report and Accounts . There have been no adjustments to the goodwill recognised  

in relation to the acquisition of DPZ .

a)  Net assets acquired through business combinations

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Other current liabilities

Total net assets recognised by acquired company

Net identifiable assets

Goodwill

Total purchase consideration

b)  Results from date of acquisition

Levitas Investment Management Services Limited 

£’000

37

37

(23)

51

51

11,213

11,264

Revenues 
from
external
customers
£’000

Profit for the
year
£’000

382

118

Had Levitas Investment Management Services Limited been consolidated from 1 July 2014, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive 

Income would show pro-forma revenue of £77,778,000 and post-tax profit for the year of £9,182,000 .

c)  Net cash outflow resulting from business combinations

Total purchase consideration (note 13a)

Less: deferred cash consideration

Cash paid to acquire subsidiary

Less: cash held by subsidiary acquired

Cash paid to acquire subsidiary net of cash acquired

£’000

11,264

(10,540)

724

 (37)

687

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued44  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

14.  Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 July 2013

Additions

Disposals

At 30 June 2014

Additions

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries at fair value

At 30 June 2015

Accumulated amortisation

At 1 July 2013

Amortisation charge

At 30 June 2014

Amortisation charge

At 30 June 2015

Net book value

At 1 July 2013

At 30 June 2014

At 30 June 2015

a)  Goodwill

Goodwill
£’000

Computer
software
£’000

Acquired
client
relationship
contracts
£’000

Contracts
acquired with
fund
managers
£’000

20,758

4,035

–

24,793

–

11,213

36,006

–

–

–

–

–

20,758

24,793

36,006

333

78

–

411

1,405

–

1,816

159

110

269

129

398

174

142

1,418

24,872

7,875

–

32,747

–

–

32,747

2,013

1,758

3,771

2,167

5,938

22,859

28,976

26,809

2,574

474

–

3,048

474

–

3,522

1,741

344

2,085

412

2,497

833

963

1,025

Total
£’000

48,537

12,462

–

60,999

1,879

11,213

74,091

3,913

2,212

6,125

2,708

8,833

44,624

54,874

65,258

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 2015 comprises £3,550,000 in respect of the Braemar Group 

Limited (‘Braemar’) CGU, £21,243,000 in respect of the Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited, Brooks Macdonald 

Retirement Services (International) Limited and DPZ (collectively ‘Brooks Macdonald International’) CGU and £11,213,000 in respect of the 

Levitas Investment Management Services Limited (‘Levitas’) CGU .

Goodwill is reviewed annually for impairment and its recoverability has been assessed at 30 June 2015 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 relevant subsidiary boards of directors, covering a 

period of up to five years . Cash flows are then extrapolated beyond the forecast period using an expected long-term growth rate .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  45

14.  Intangible assets continued
a)  Goodwill continued

Based on the value-in-use calculation, at 30 June 2015 the calculated recoverable amount of the Brooks Macdonald International CGU was 

£35,120,000, 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 9 .25% 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 

between 13% and 32% are forecast over the next five financial years, the period covered by the most recent forecasts, which reflect historic 

actual growth and planned management actions 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 .

In relation to the Levitas CGU, based on the value-in-use calculation the calculated recoverable amount at 30 June 2015 was £22,195,000, 

indicating that there is no impairment . The key underlying assumptions of the calculation are the discount rate, the growth in funds under 

management of the Levitas funds and the long-term growth rate of the business . A pre-tax discount rate of 9 .25% has been used, based on 

the Group’s assessment of the risk-free rate of interest and specific risks relating to Levitas . Annual funds under management growth rates 

of between 16% and 91% are forecast in the next five financial years, the period covered by the most recent forecasts, which reflect historic 

actual growth and planned management activities 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 industry in which 

the CGU operates . 

The key assumptions inherent in the value-in-use calculations for the Braemar CGU were similarly a pre-tax discount rate of 9 .25%, annual 

revenue growth rates ranging from 13% to 28% and a long-term growth rate of 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 2015, the Group acquired client relationship contracts of £nil (2014: £7,875,000) as part of business 

combinations (note 13), which were recognised as separately identifiable intangible assets in the Consolidated Statement of Financial 

Position . 

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 .

a)  Goodwill

14.  Intangible assets

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued     
46  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

15.  Property, plant and equipment

Cost

At 1 July 2013

Additions

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries

At 30 June 2014

Additions

Disposals 

At 30 June 2015

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 July 2013

Depreciation charge

At 30 June 2014

Depreciation charge

At 30 June 2015

Net book value

At 1 July 2013

At 30 June 2014

At 30 June 2015

16.  Available for sale financial assets

At beginning of year

Additions

Disposals

Loss from changes in fair value

Accumulated loss on revaluation reserve recycled

Impairment loss

At end of year

Motor 
vehicles
£’000

Fixtures and 
fittings
£’000

Equipment and 
leasehold 
improvements
£’000

35

–

–

35

25

–

60

4

9

13

15

28

31

22

32

1,622

276

189

2,087

69

(64)

2,092

668

291

959

307

1,266

954

1,128

826

4,748

1,066

–

5,814

1,528

–

7,342

3,312

681

3,993

668

4,661

1,436

1,821

2,681

2015
£’000

2,182

250

(250)

–

68

(718)

1,532

Total
£’000

6,405

1,342

189

7,936

1,622

(64)

9,494

3,984

981

4,965

990

5,955

2,421

2,971

3,539

2014
£’000

1,582

750

–

(150)

–

–

2,182

The Group holds investments of 1,426,793 .64 class B ordinary shares, representing an interest of 10 .88% in Braemar Group PCC Limited 

Student Accommodation Cell (‘Student Accommodation fund’) and 750,000 zero dividend preference shares in GLI Finance Limited (‘GLIF’), 

an AIM-listed company incorporated in the Channel Islands . 

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued16.  Available 

for sale 

financial 

assets

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  47

16.  Available for sale financial assets continued
The Student Accommodation 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 

2015, based on the most recent valuation, the fair value of the investment was £782,000 (2014: £1,432,000) . An impairment loss of £718,000 

was recognised on this investment in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income during the year, reflecting the perceived permanent 

diminution of value of the underlying assets of the fund . This included the recycling of the accumulated loss on the revaluation reserve of 

£68,000 as at 30 June 2014 and an additional £650,000 loss from changes in fair value in the current year . In the year ended 30 June 2014,  

a revaluation loss of £150,000 was recognised in other comprehensive income in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income .

At 1 July 2014, the Group had an investment of £250,000 in the ordinary shares of SHL, an unlisted company incorporated in the Channel 

Islands . In December 2014 SHL sold its subsidiary company, Sancus Limited, to GLIF for consideration of £17 .75m, settled through the issue 

of new ordinary GLIF shares . SHL subsequently sold its shareholding in GLIF and distributed the proceeds to its ordinary shareholders, prior 

to being voluntarily liquidated . Through this transaction, the Group realised a gain of £540,000 on its original investment of £250,000 in 

SHL ordinary shares, which is recognised as a realised gain on investment in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income . 

Prior to the sale of Sancus Limited, the Group made an additional investment of £250,000 in SHL zero dividend preference shares increasing 

the Group’s total investment to £750,000 . As part of the transaction, the Group’s entire holding of SHL zero dividend preference shares  

was exchanged for newly issued £1 GLIF zero dividend preference shares . In the opinion of the directors, the market value of the GLIF  

zero dividend preference shares at 30 June 2015 remains £750,000 as the conditions attached to these shares are similar to those of the 

equivalent SHL zero dividend preference shares for which they were exchanged .

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

GLI Finance Limited

Total

There were no movements  between any of the levels during the year .

Level 1
£’000

Level 2
£’000

Level 3
£’000

–

–

–

–

782

–

–

782

–

–

750

750

Total
£’000

782

–

750

1,532

17.  Investment in joint venture 
In the year ended 30 June 2014, Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited, a Group company, 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 £135,000 by Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited and 

additional working capital of £400,000 (2014: £225,000) in the year ended 30 June 2015 . The Group’s share of the loss for the year 

reported by North Row Capital LLP was £4,000 (2014: £128,000 loss), 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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued48  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

18.  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 10)

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 2013

Credit to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Charge to equity

At 30 June 2014

Charge to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Charge to equity

At 30 June 2015

2015
£’000

207

502

709

(4,694)

(119)

(4,813)

2015
£’000

(4,308)

276

–

(72)

–

(4,104)

2014
£’000

204

605

809

(5,115)

(2)

(5,117)

2014
£’000

(3,640)

948

19

(60)

(1,575)

(4,308)

Share-based 
payments
£’000

858

11

(60)

809

(28)

(72)

709

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  49

18.  Deferred income tax continued
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 . 

18.  Deferred 

income tax

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances
£’000

Available for 
sale financial 
assets
£’000

Intangible 
asset 
amortisation
£’000

12

–

(10)

–

2

–

117

–

119

19

–

-

(19)

–

–

–

–

Deferred tax liabilities

At 1 July 2013

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries

Credit to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Charge to other comprehensive income

At 30 June 2014

Additions on acquisition of subsidiaries

Debit/(credit) to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Charge to other comprehensive income

At 30 June 2015

19.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

Total trade and other receivables

20.  Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss

At beginning of year

Additions

Disposals

Loss from change in fair value

At end of year

These investments are classified as Level 1 as defined in note 16 .

21.  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank

Cash held in employee benefit trust

Total cash and cash equivalents

Total
£’000

4,498

1,575

(937)

(19)

5,117

(304)

4,467

1,575

(927)

–

5,115

(421)

–

4,694

4,813

2015
£’000

5,854

3,426

12,122

21,402

2015
£’000

478

40

(263)

(252)

3

2015
£’000

19,240

34

19,274

2014
£’000

9,653

1,299

10,480

21,432

2014
£’000

–

478

–

–

478

2014
£’000

17,994

62

18,056

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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued50  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

22.  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 25), 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

Finance cost of deferred consideration

Fair value adjustments 

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

2015
£’000

11,236

11,264

760

(216)

(9,218)

13,826

4,384

9,442

13,826

2014
£’000

7,927

4,826

349

–

(1,866)

11,236

8,293

2,943

11,236

Deferred consideration of £11,264,000 (2014: £4,826,000) was recognised during the year (note 13), relating to the acquisition of  

Levitas Investment Management Services Limited . Payments of £9,218,000 (2014: £1,866,000) were made during the year, representing 

£1,010,000 to the vendors of JPAM Limited and £5,093,000 to vendors of Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited 

and Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited, £2,391,000 to vendors of DPZ and £724,000 to vendors of Levitas 

Investment Management Services Limited .

Deferred consideration is classified as Level 3 as described in note 16 .

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

Finance cost on acquisitions during the year

Transfer to current liabilities

At 30 June

2015
£’000

2,943

11,264

482

(5,247)

9,442

2014
£’000

5,804

2,435

26

(5,322)

2,943

The amount payable in respect of acquisitions during the year of £11,264,000 (2014: £2,435,000) is the deferred consideration relating to 
the acquisition of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited (note 13) . An amount of £5,247,000 (2014: £5,322,000), representing 
the deferred consideration of £2,304,000 payable in respect of the acquisition of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited, £482,000 
relating to the acquisition of JPAM Limited and £2,461,000 relating to the acquisition of DPZ, 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 .

23.  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 £74,000 (2014: £82,000) 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 £94,000 (2014: £92,000) was transferred to current liabilities, 

reflecting awards that will vest within the next 12 months .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  51

24.  Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Other taxes and social security

Other payables

Accruals and deferred income

Total trade and other payables

2015
£’000

2,854

2,580

1,429

10,031

16,894

2014
£’000

2,134

1,712

1,319

10,013

15,178

Included within accruals and deferred income in 2015 is an accrual of £282,000 in respect of employer’s National Insurance contributions 

arising from share option awards under the LTIS (note 29b) . In 2014 £310,000 was accrued which was also included in the Phantom Share 

Option Schemes granted in October 2008 and October 2009 . 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 29) . 

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 29b) was £114,000 (2014: £150,000) .  

No Phantom Share Options were outstanding at 30 June 2015 (at 30 June 2014: nil) .

25.  Provisions

At 1 July 2013

Charge to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Added on acquisitions during the year

Finance cost of deferred consideration

Transfer from non-current liabilities

Utilised during the year

At 30 June 2014

Charge to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

Added on acquisitions during the year

Finance cost of deferred consideration

Fair value adjustments 

Transfer from non-current liabilities

Utilised during the year

At 30 June 2015

a)  Client compensation

Client 
compensation
£’000

Deferred 
consideration
£’000

FSCS  
levy
£’000

420

233

–

–

–

(150)

503

400

–

–

–

–

(202)

701

2,123

–

2,367

321

5,348

(1,866)

8,293

–

2,304

278

(216)

2,943

(9,218)

4,384

Total
£’000

2,783

584

2,367

321

5,348

240

351

–

–

–

(240)

(2,256)

351

510

–

–

–

–

(472)

389

9,147

910

2,304

278

(216)

2,943

(9,892)

5,474

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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued52  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

25.  Provisions

25.  Provisions continued
b)  Deferred consideration continued
Deferred consideration payable within one year of £2,304,000 (2014: £2,367,000) was recognised during the year . An amount of 

£2,943,000 (2014: £5,348,000) was transferred from non-current liabilities, representing a payment to the vendor of JPAM Limited and a 

payment of deferred consideration paid to vendors of DPZ Capital Limited . Provisions of £9,218,000 (2014: £1,866,000) were utilised during 

the year on payment of £1,010,000 to the vendors of JPAM Limited, £2,391,000 paid to the vendors of DPZ, £5,093,000 to vendors of 

b)  Deferred consideration

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited and Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited and 

£724,000 paid to vendors of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited .  

c)  FSCS levy

Following confirmation by the FSCS in April 2015 of its final industry levy for 2015/16, the Group initially made a provision of £502,000 

(2014: £351,000) for its estimated share . At 30 June 2015, an amount of £389,000 is included within provisions for this levy, £113,000 

having been transferred to trade and other payables on receipt of invoices prior to the end of the year .

26.  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 
Other gains and losses 
Decrease / (increase) in receivables
Increase in payables
Increase in provisions
Decrease in non-current liabilities 
Share-based payments

Net cash inflow from operating activities

2015
£’000

12,101

990

2,708

1,004

67

1,693

236

(20)

1,315

20,094

2014
£’000

10,926

981

2,212

–

(2,910)

990

194

(10)

1,288

13,671

In the year ended 30 June 2015, the Group obtained control of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited . The net cash outflow 

resulting from this business combination is presented in note 13c .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  53

27.  Share capital and share premium account
The movements in share capital and share premium during the year were as follows:

At 1 July 2013

Shares issued:

– as consideration

– on exercise of options

– to Sharesave Scheme

At 30 June 2014

Shares issued:

– on exercise of options

– to Sharesave Scheme

At 30 June 2015

Number  

of shares

13,347,974

Exercise
price 
(p)

Share 
capital 
£’000

Share  

premium

account  
£’000

Total 
£’000

133

31,868

32,001

158,032

1,706 .4

29,500

215 .0-290 .5

56,669

578 .0-916 .0

2

–

–

2,696

2,698

72

511

72

511

13,592,175

135

35,147

35,282

29,500

155 .5-290 .5

38,545 916 .0-1,054 .0

–

1

50

403

50

404

13,660,220

136

35,600

35,736

The total number of ordinary shares, issued and fully paid at 30 June 2015 was 13,660,220 (2014: 13,592,175) 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 resulted in a £1,000 increase in share capital in the year ended  

30 June 2015 (2014: shown as £nil due to rounding) .

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 29) . At 30 June 2015, the EBT held 

207,532 (2014: 249,696) 1p ordinary shares in the Company, acquired for a total consideration of £2,803,000 (2014: £3,168,000) with a 

market value of £3,668,000 (2014: £3,906,000) . They are classified as treasury shares in the consolidated financial statements and their 

cost has been deducted from retained earnings within shareholders’ equity .

28.  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

2015
£’000

4,909

192

–

5,101

2014
£’000

4,596

192

(68)

4,720

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued54  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

28.  Other reserves and retained earnings continued
The movements in other reserves during the year were as follows: 

28.  Other reserves and 

retained earnings

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

Available for sale reserve

At beginning of the year

Recycling of reserve due to impairment

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

2015
£’000

4,596

1,315

(1,334)

332

4,909

(68)

68

–

2015
£’000

27,456

9,151

(742)

1,334

(3,872)

33,327

2014
£’000

3,697

1,288

(545)

156

4,596

63

(131)

(68)

2014
£’000

21,607

9,056

(732)

545

(3,020)

27,456

29.  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 annualised volatility of up to 50%, 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 3 years, ranging from 0 .30% 

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 27% to 28% with a dividend yield of 1 .8%, an expected vesting period of three years and a risk-free annual  

rate of interest of between 0 .9% and 1 .0% .

The share options issued under the various equity-settled share-based payment schemes have been valued at prices ranging from £0 .58  

to £14 .64 per share . The charge to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year in respect of these was £1,315,000 

(2014: £1,288,000) . The weighted average remaining contractual life of all equity-settled share-based payment schemes at 30 June 2015  

was 1 .62 years (2014: 2 .08 years) . The weighted average share price of all options exercised during the year was £14 .84 (2014: £15 .79) .  

The total charge to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year for all share-based payment schemes was 

£1,428,000 (2014: £1,130,000) .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  55

29.  Equity-settled share-based payments continued
The exercise price and fair value of share options granted during the year was as follows: 

Company Share Option Plan

Long Term Incentive Scheme

Employee Sharesave Scheme

29.  Equity-settled 

share-based 

payments

Exercise  
price (p)

Fair value
(p)

13,805

nil

1,237

231

1,335

471

a)  Enterprise Management Incentive Scheme (‘EMI’)

Under the approved EMI Scheme, certain employees hold options to subscribe for shares in the Company at prices ranging from 155 .5p 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

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

Scheme year (grant date)

2005

2006

2007

2010

All years

2015

2014

Number  
of options

69,253

–

(29,500)

39,753

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price (£)

2.90

–

1.71

3.81

Number  
of options

98,753

–

(29,500)

69,253

Weighted 
average 
exercise  
price (£)

2 .77

–

2 .47

2 .90

Exercise  
price (p)

Vesting  
period

2015

Number  

of options

2014
Number  

of options

155 .5

2008 – 2015

215 .0

2009 – 2016

290 .5

2010 – 2017

775 .0

2013 – 2020

–

4,500

27,150

8,103

25,000

6,500

29,650

8,103

39,753

69,253

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

2015

Number  

of options

2014 
Number  
of options

233,496

70,624

(95,215)

(10,614)

205,613

45,068

(11,376)

(5,809)

198,291

233,496

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued56  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

29.  Equity-settled share-based payments continued
b)  Long Term Incentive Scheme (‘LTIS’) (continued)

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

Scheme year (grant date)

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

All years

Exercise  
price (p)

Vesting  
period

nil

nil

nil

nil

nil

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2015

Number  

of options

10,550

10,622

68,320

42,163

66,636

2014
Number  

of options

22,962

91,554

74,937

44,043

–

198,291

233,496

c)  Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’)

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 .

At 1 July

Acquired in the year

Exercised in the year 

At 30 June

2015

Number  

of shares

249,696

53,051

(95,215)

207,532

2014
Number  
of shares

212,172

48,900

(11,376)

249,696

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 .

2015

2014

At 1 July

Granted in the year

Lapsed in the year

At 30 June

Number  

of options

21,016

22,110

(3,199)

39,927

Weighted 
average 
exercise  
price (£)

14.52

13.81

14.07

14.16

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

Scheme year (grant date)

2013

2014

All years

Exercise  
price (p)

14 .52

13 .81

Vesting  
period

2016

2017

Number  

of options

–

21,361

(345)

21,016

Weighted 
average 
exercise  
price (£)

–

14 .52

14 .52

14 .52

2015

Number  

of options

2014
Number  

of options

19,810

20,117

39,927

21,016

–

21,016

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedBrooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  57

29.  Equity-settled share-based payments continued
e)  Employee Sharesave Scheme

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 . 

29.  Equity-settled share-based 

payments

At 1 July

Granted in the year

Forfeited in the year

Exercised in the year

At 30 June

The number of share options outstanding at 30 June 2015 was as follows:

Scheme year (grant date)

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

All years

2015

2014

Number  

of options

231,472

96,466

(67,673) 

(36,601)

223,664

Weighted 
average 
exercise  
price (£)

12.85

12.37

13.39

10.48

12.86

Number  

of options

147,323

149,083

(8,265)

(56,669)

231,472

Weighted 
average 
exercise  
price (£)

10 .23

13 .86

10 .52

9 .04

12 .85

Exercise  
price (p)

Vesting  
period

2015

Number  

of options

2014
Number  

of options

916 .0

1,054 .0

1,172 .0

1,386 .0

1,237 .0

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

–

3,922

30,656

92,620

96,466

 1,654

44,512

36,612

148,694

–

223,664

231,472

30.  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

2015
£’000

1,234

5,892

1

2014
£’000

1,373

1,882

46

31.  Discretionary funds under management
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

2015
£’000

544,855

6,868,145

7,413,000

2014
£’000

573,204

5,976,796

6,550,000

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued58  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

32.  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 .

Not more 
than 3 
months
£’000

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

After 1 year 
but not more 
than 6 years
£’000

Financial 
assets with 
no fixed 
repayment 
date
£’000

Total
£’000

At 30 June 2015

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

On demand
£’000

–

–

19,274

–

–

–

–

–

5,854

9,936

19,274

15,790

–

–

–

2,854

12,331

15,185

–

–

–

–

122

122

–

4,602

4,602

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

9,537

9,537

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

Net liquidity gap

19,274

605

(4,480)

(9,537)

1,535

1,532

1,532

3

–

–

–

3

19,274

5,854

10,058

1,535

36,721

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,854

26,470

29,324

7,397

2,134

23,537

25,671

4,830

2,182

2,182

478

–

–

–

478

18,056

9,653

132

2,660

30,501

Net liquidity gap

18,056

(5,069)

(7,759)

(3,058)

2,660

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued32.  Financial risk management

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  59

32.  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 £190,000 (2014: £180,000) . 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 16 and 20) . A 1% fall 

in the value of these financial instruments would have the impact of reducing total comprehensive income by £15,000 (2014: £22,000) and 

profit before tax by £nil (2014: £5,000) . 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 2015 there was no significant 

concentration of credit risk in any particular counterparty (2014: none) .

Assets exposed to credit risk recognised on the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position total £19,274,000 (2014: £18,056,000), being 

the Group’s total cash and cash equivalents .

Trade receivables with a carrying amount of £5,854,000 (2014: £9,653,000) 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 (2014: all) .

33.  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 

2015 was £74,164,000 (2014: £67,458,000) . 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 2015 ICAAP was 

approved in August 2015 . 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 .

34.  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 .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continued60  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

35.  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:

S J Jackson

Loan balance

Maximum amount

2015
£’000

5

2014
£’000

5

2015
£’000

10

2014
£’000

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:

Brooks Macdonald Funds  Limited 

Braemar Facilities Management Limited 

Braemar Estates (Residential) Limited 

North Row Capital LLP

Braemar Group Limited

Brooks Macdonald Financial Consulting Limited

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management Limited

Brooks Macdonald Nominees Limited

Amounts owed  
by related parties

Amounts owed  
to related parties

2015
£’000

1,126

2

42

2

655

259

–

–

2014
£’000

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

–

–

–

–

2,150

311

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

7,553

2,583

14,724

2,583

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 class B ordinary shares in Braemar Group PCC Limited Student Accommodation Cell (note 16) . This 

transaction was conducted on an arms length basis at market value .

The Group has an interest in a joint venture details of which are given in note 17 of these financial statements .

36.  Interest in unconsolidated structured entities 
Structured entities are those entities that have been designed so that voting or similar rights are not the dominant factor in deciding who 

has control, such as when any voting rights relate to administrative tasks only, or when the relevant activities are directed by means of 

contractual arrangements . The Group’s interests in consolidated and unconsolidated structured entities are described below .

The only consolidated structured entity is the Employee Benefit Trust (‘EBT’), details of which are given in note 27 .

The Group has interests in structured entities as a result of contractual arrangements arising from the management of assets on behalf of its 

clients . Assets under management within the Fund and Property management segment, include those managed within structured entities . 

These structured entities consist of unitised vehicles such as Open Ended Investment Companies (OEICs) which entitle investors to a 

percentage of the vehicle’s net asset value . The structured entities are financed by the purchase of units or shares by investors . As fund 

manager, the Group does not guarantee returns on its funds or commit to financially support its funds . Where external finance is raised, the 

Group does not provide a guarantee for the repayment of any borrowings . The business activity of all structured entities, in which the 

Group has an interest, is the management of assets in order to maximise investment returns for investors from capital appreciation and/or 

investment income . The Group earns a management fee from its structured entities, based on a percentage of the entity’s net asset value . 

The main risk the Group faces from its interest in FUM managed on behalf of external investors is the loss of fee income as a result of the withdrawal 

of funds by clients . Outflows from funds are dependent on market sentiment, asset performance and investor considerations . The assets under 

management for unconsolidated structured entities is £398m (2014: £232m) . Included in revenue on the consolidated statement of comprehensive 

income is management fee income of £1,980,000 (2014: £1,324,000) from unconsolidated structured entities managed by the Group .

37.  Events since the end of the year
There have been no significant events since the end of the financial year .

Notes to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2015 | continuedIndependent auditors’ report 

to the members of Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  61

Report on the parent company  
financial statements

•   we have not received all the information and 

explanations we require for our audit; or

Our opinion

In our opinion, Brooks Macdonald Group 
plc’s parent company financial statements 
(the ‘financial statements’):

•   give a true and fair view of the state of the 

parent company’s affairs as at 30 June 2015;

•  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 .

What we have audited

The financial statements comprise:

•   the Company Balance Sheet  

as at 30 June 2015; 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 the preparation of 
the financial statements 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 .

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:

•  adequate accounting records have not 
been kept by the parent company, or 
returns adequate for our audit have not 
been received from branches not visited 
by us; or

•  the 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 20, the directors are responsible for 
the preparation of the financial statements 
and for being satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view .

Our responsibility is to audit and express  
an opinion on the financial statements  
in accordance with applicable law and 
International Standards on Auditing (UK 
and Ireland) (‘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 .

What an audit of financial  

statements involves
We conducted our audit in accordance  

with 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 parent 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 . 

We primarily focus our work in these areas 
by assessing the directors’ judgements 
against available evidence, forming our own 
judgements, and evaluating the disclosures 
in the financial statements .

We test and examine information, using 
sampling and other auditing techniques, to  
the extent we consider necessary to provide  
a reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions . 
We obtain audit evidence through testing  
the effectiveness of controls, substantive 
procedures or a combination of both . 

In addition, we read all the financial and 
non-financial information in the Annual 
Report and 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 .

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 2015

62  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Company balance sheet 

as at 30 June 2015

Fixed assets

Investments

Current assets

Debtors

Cash at bank and in hand

Total current assets

Note

£’000

41

42

1,846

526

2,372

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

43

(13,051)

2015  
£’000

65,244

£’000

2014  
£’000

53,315

6,730

5,254

11,984

(27,750)

Net current liabilities

Total assets less current liabilities

Creditors: amounts falling due after more  
  than one year

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

44

45

45

46

46

46

47

(10,679)

54,565

(9,442)

45,123

136

35,600

4,404

–

4,983

45,123

(15,766)

37,549

–

37,549

135

35,148

4,202

(68)

(1,868)

37,549

The company financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 16 September 2015, 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 63 to 68 form an integral part of the consolidated financial statements .

 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the company financial statements 

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  63

38.  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 . As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the company has elected not to present its own Profit and 

Loss Account and Cash Flows Statement for the financial year .

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 designated as available for sale and re-valued each reporting period to their fair value according to the most 

recently available market information .

39.  Profit for the year
Brooks Macdonald Group plc reported profit after tax for year ended 30 June 2015 of £10,352,000 (2014: £2,602,000) . Auditors’ 

remuneration is disclosed in note 7 of the consolidated financial statements . The average monthly number of employees during the year  

was ten (2014: nine) . Directors’ emoluments are set out in note 8 of the consolidated financial statements .

40.  Dividends
Details of the Company’s dividends and proposed, subject to approval at the annual general meeting are set out in note 12 of the 

consolidated financial statements .

64  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Notes to the company financial statements 

continued

41.  Investments

Net book value

At 1 July 2013

Additions:

– Share options

– Acquisition of subsidiary

Revaluation

At 30 June 2014

Additions:

– Share options

– Acquisition of subsidiary

Transfer to profit and loss account on impairment

Impairment

At 30 June 2015

Group 
undertakings
£’000

Quoted 
investments
£’000

Total
£’000

45,049

1,582

46,631

1,288

5,546

–

–

–

(150)

1,288

5,546

(150)

51,883

1,432

53,315

1,315

11,264

–

–

64,462

–

–

68

(718)

782

1,315

11,264

68

(718)

65,244

Quoted investments represent the Company’s holding of 1,426,793 .64 B shares in Braemar Group PCC Limited Student Accommodation Cell .  

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 2015, based on the most recent valuation, the fair value of the investment was £782,000 (2014: £1,432,000) . An 

impairment loss of £718,000 was recognised on this investment in the Profit and Loss account during the year, reflecting the perceived permanent 

diminution of value of the underlying assets of the fund . This included the recycling of the accumulated loss on the revaluation reserve of £68,000 

as at 30 June 2014 and an additional £650,000 loss from changes in fair value in the current year . In the year ended 30 June 2014, a revaluation 

loss of £150,000 was recognised in the Profit and Loss account .

Notes to the company financial statements 

continued

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  65

41.  Investments continued
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 £1,315,000 (2014: £1,288,000) represent the cost of share options issued during the year 

in accordance with FRS 20 . In respect of the year ended 30 June 2015, additions on acquisition of subsidiary of £11,264,000 represent 

100% of the share capital of Levitas Investment Management Services Limited acquired 31 July 2014 . Details of the Company’s subsidiary 

undertakings as at 30 June 2015, all of which were wholly owned and included in the consolidated financial statements, are shown below .

Company

Braemar Estates (Mortgages & Finance) Limited

Braemar Estates (Residential) Limited

Braemar Facilities Management Limited

Braemar Group Limited

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management Limited

Type of shares
and par value

Country of
incorporation

Ordinary £1

Ordinary £1

Ordinary £1

Ordinary 1p

Ordinary £1

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Nature of
business

Dormant

Property management

Property management

Investment management

Investment management

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (International) Limited Ordinary 1p & Preference £1

Channel Islands

Investment management

Brooks Macdonald Asset Management (Tunbridge Wells) Limited

Brooks Macdonald Financial Consulting Limited

Brooks Macdonald Funds Limited

Brooks Macdonald Investment Services Limited

Brooks Macdonald Nominees Limited

Ordinary £1

Ordinary 5p

Ordinary £1

Ordinary £1

Ordinary £1

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Non-trading

Financial consulting

Fund management

Dormant

Non-trading

Brooks Macdonald Retirement Services (International) Limited

Ordinary £1

Channel Islands

Retirement planning

Brooks Macdonald Tax Services Limited

Ordinary £1

UK

Dormant

Ordinary £1

Channel Islands

Investment management

DPZ Capital Limited

DPZ Nominees Limited

JGHP Limited

JPAM Limited

Levitas Investment Management Services Limited 

Ordinary £1

Channel Islands

Ordinary £1

Ordinary £1

Ordinary £1

UK

UK

UK

Non-trading

Non-trading

Non-trading

Fund Sponsor 

Non-trading

Secure Nominees Limited

Ordinary £1

Channel Islands

UK Farming plc

42.  Debtors

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

Other debtors

Total debtors

Ordinary 50p

UK Agricultural land investment

2015  
£’000

1,729

117

1,846

2014  
£’000

6,461

269

6,730

Amounts owed by subsidiary companies are unsecured, interest-free and, with the exception of the subordinated loan to Braemar Group 

Limited, repayable on demand .

66  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Notes to the company financial statements 

continued

43.  Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Trade creditors

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Accruals

Other creditors

Total creditors due within one year

2015  
£’000

36

9,779

1,656

1,580

13,051

2014  
£’000

27

21,307

1,711

4,705

27,750

Amounts owed to subsidiary companies are unsecured, interest-free and are repayable on demand . Included in other creditors is 

£1,580,000, 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 .

44.  Creditors: amounts falling due after more than one year
As at 30 June 2015 the creditors balance of £9,442,000, falling due after more than one year, related to the directors’ best estimate of the 

deferred consideration payable in respect of the subsidiary undertaking that was acquired by the Company in the year . Deferred consideration 

is measured at its fair value based on the discounted expected future cash flows . As at 30 June 2014, there were no creditors falling due 

after more than one year .

45.  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 2013

Shares issued

At 30 June 2014

Shares issued

At 30 June 2015

Number  

of shares

13,347,974

244,201

13,592,175

68,045

13,660,220

Share
capital
£’000

133

2

135

1

136

Share 
premium 
account
£’000

31,868

3,280

35,148

452

Total
£’000

32,001

3,282

35,283

453

35,600

35,736

The total number of ordinary shares, issued and fully paid at 30 June 2015, was 13,660,220 (2014: 13,592,175) with a par value of 1p per 

share . Excluding 207,532 (2014: 249,696) treasury shares held by the EBT, the Company had 13,452,688 (2014: 13,342,479) ordinary 1p shares 

in issue as at 30 June 2015 .

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 29) . 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 .

During the year, in respect of the scheme granted in October 2010, the Trust received instructions to exercise 95,215 (2014: 11,376) options . 

The cost of the shares released on exercise of these options amounted to £1,113,000 (2014: £109,000) . At 30 June 2015, the number  

of shares held by the Trust was 207,532 (2014: 249,696) with a market value of £3,668,000 (2014: £3,906,000), acquired for a total 

consideration of £2,803,000 (2014: £3,168,000) . These shares are presented as treasury shares in the Group financial statements and  

their cost is deducted from retained earnings within shareholders’ equity .

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 .

Notes to the company financial statements 

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  67

continued

46.  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

Transfer to Profit and Loss account on impairment

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

2015  
£’000

4,202

1,315

(1,113)

4,404

(68)

–

68

–

(1,868)

10,352

(3,872)

1,113

(742)

4,983

1,299

10,352

1,113

(1,113)

(3,872)

7,779

(3,167)

(742)

1,113

(2,796)

4,983

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)

68  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Notes to the company financial statements 

continued

47.  Reconciliation of movements in total shareholders’ funds

Profit for the financial year

Changes in fair value

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

2015  
£’000

10,352

68

10,420

(3,872)

1,315

453

(742)

7,574

37,549

45,123

2014  
£’000

2,602

(131)

2,471

(3,020)

1,288

3,282

(732)

3,289

34,260

37,549

48.  Lease commitments
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

2015  
£’000

1,012

5,315

–

2014  
£’000

959

1,241

46

49.  Related party transactions
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 35 of the consolidated financial statements .

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  69

Explanatory notes to the  
Annual General Meeting resolutions 

Enclosed with this document is a notice 

Information on each of the directors 

Resolution 8 – Authority to allot shares

convening the Annual General Meeting  

standing for re-election is set out below . 

The Companies Act 2006 prevents 

of the Company for 27 October 2015 . This 

The Board confirms that each of the 

directors from allotting unissued shares 

explanatory note gives further information 

directors offering themselves for re-election 

without the authority of shareholders in 

on the resolutions set out in the notice  

has extensive relevant experience of the 

general meeting . In certain circumstances 

of annual general meeting .

group and its business . The Board is 

this could be unduly restrictive . The directors’ 

Resolution 1 – Approval of the Report 

and Accounts

therefore of the opinion that all such 

existing authority to allot shares, which 

persons should be re-elected to the Board .

was granted at the annual general meeting 

The directors propose that the Company’s 

Andrew Shepherd (42) is Deputy Chief 

annual accounts and reports of the directors 

Executive Officer for Brooks Macdonald 

held in 2014, will expire at the end of this 

year’s annual general meeting .

and the auditors for the year ended 30 June 

Group . Andrew joined Brooks Macdonald 

Resolution 8 in the notice of annual general 

2015 be received and considered .

Asset Management in 2002 as an 

meeting will be proposed, as an ordinary 

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 

investment manager . Since then he has 

resolution, to authorise the directors to  

been promoted to the role of Investment 

allot ordinary shares of 1 pence each in the 

Director and then to joint Managing 

capital of the Company up to a maximum 

Director, before moving to his current  

nominal amount of £45,079 (i .e . up to 

role in August 2015 .

propose an ordinary resolution to approve 

Nick Holmes (44) is Managing Director  

the directors’ remuneration report for the 

of Brooks Macdonald Asset Management 

year ended 30 June 2015 . The directors’ 

and is responsible for day-to-day 

remuneration report can be found on pages 

management .

11 to 17 of the Annual Report and Accounts . 

Simon Wombwell (54) is Chief Executive 

Resolution 3 – To declare a final dividend

Officer of Brooks Macdonald Funds which 

The directors recommend a final dividend 

was launched in July 2011 . Simon has 

of 20 .5 pence per ordinary share . Subject 

spent his entire career in the financial 

4,507,900 ordinary shares) representing 

approximately 33% of the ordinary shares 

in issue on 16 September 2015 . The Company 

does not currently hold any shares in treasury . 

The authority conferred by this resolution 

will expire on the date which is fifteen 

months after the passing of this resolution 

or, if sooner, at the end of next year’s 

annual general meeting .

to approval by shareholders, the final 

services industry, primarily involved in  

Resolution 9 – To disapply  

dividend will be paid on 28 October  

the development, sales and marketing  

pre-emption rights

2015 to shareholders on the register  

of investment products and was a 

Unless they are given an appropriate 

on 25 September 2015 . 

non-executive director of the Brooks 

authority by shareholders, if the directors 

Resolutions 4 to 6 – To re-elect certain 

of the directors

The Company’s articles of association  

Macdonald Group from 2002 until he  

wish to allot any of the unissued shares  

was appointed as an executive director  

for cash or grant rights over shares or sell 

in a full time capacity in February 2011 .

treasury shares for cash (other than pursuant 

state that one third of the directors (or the 

A copy of each service contract is available 

nearest whole number closest to one third) 

for inspection at the registered office of 

must retire from office at each annual 

the Company and will be available for 

general meeting and offer themselves for 

inspection at the annual general meeting .

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 . Andrew 

Shepherd, Nick Holmes and Simon 

Wombwell are therefore offering 

themselves for re-election on this basis . 

Resolution 7 – To re-appoint 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP  

as auditors

This Resolution proposes that 

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP should  

be re-appointed as the Company’s auditors  

and authorises the directors to determine 

their remuneration .

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 2014, will expire at the end of this 

year’s annual general meeting . Accordingly, 

Resolution 9 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  

70  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Explanatory notes to the  
Annual General Meeting resolutions | continued

of these statutory pre-emption rights: first,  

of an ordinary share (i .e . 1 pence), and  

in relation to offers of equity securities by 

the maximum price shall not exceed 5% 

way of rights issue, open offer or similar 

above the average of the middle market 

arrangements; and second, in relation to 

quotations for an ordinary share for the 

the allotment of equity securities for cash 

five business days before each purchase  

up to a maximum aggregate nominal 

is made (exclusive of expenses) .

amount of £13,660 (i .e . up to 1,366,000 

ordinary shares) representing approximately 

10% of the ordinary shares in issue  

on 16 September 2015 . 

The authority conferred by this resolution 

will expire on the date which falls fifteen 

months after the passing of this resolution 

or, if sooner, at the end of next year’s 

The authority sought and limits set by this 

annual general meeting .

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 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 .

the requirements of employee share-based 

The Company may hold in treasury any of 

incentive schemes will be counted towards 

its own shares that it purchases pursuant 

the anti-dilution limits for such share issues 

to the Companies Act 2006 and the 

to the extent required by the Association  

authority conferred by this resolution . This 

of British Insurers guidelines .

would give the Company the ability to 

re-issue treasury shares quickly and cost 

effectively and would provide the 

Company with greater flexibility in the 

management of its capital base .

The power conferred by this resolution  

will expire on the date which falls fifteen 

months after the passing of this resolution 

or, if sooner, at the end of next year’s 

annual general meeting .

Resolution 10 – Company’s authority 

to purchase its own shares

Resolution 10 in the notice of annual 

general meeting, which will be proposed 

as a special resolution, will authorise the 

Company to make market purchases of up 

to 1,366,000 ordinary shares . The existing 

authority to make market purchases of 

ordinary shares, which was granted at the 

annual general meeting held in 2014, will 

expire at the end of this year’s annual 

general meeting .

The number of ordinary shares stated in 

this resolution equals approximately 10% 

of the Company’s ordinary shares in issue 

on 16 September 2015 . The minimum 

price that may be paid is the nominal value 

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Company Registration number: 4402058

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  71

Notice is given that the annual general 

before such expiry, make an offer  

meeting of Brooks Macdonald Group plc 

or agreement which would or might 

(the “Company”) will be held at 72 Welbeck 

require Relevant Securities to be allotted 

Street, London, W1G 0AY on Tuesday  

after this authority expires and the 

27 October 2015 at 9 .00 am for the 

directors may allot Relevant Securities  

following purposes .

Ordinary business

To resolve as ordinary resolutions:

1 . 

 To receive and consider the accounts and 

reports of the directors and the auditors 

for the year ended 30 June 2015 .

in pursuance of such offer or  

agreement as if this authority  

had not expired .

 All previous unutilised authorities given 

to the directors pursuant to section 551 

of the Act shall cease to have effect at 

the conclusion of the annual general 

2 . 

 To approve the directors’ remuneration 

meeting, save to the extent that those 

report for the year ended 30 June 2015 .

authorities are exercisable pursuant to 

3 . 

 To declare a final dividend of 20 .5 pence 

per ordinary share for the year ended 

30 June 2015 .

4 .   To re-elect Andrew Shepherd  

as a director . 

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 .

5 .  To re-elect Nick Holmes as a director .

Disapplication of pre-emption rights

6 .   To re-elect Simon Wombwell  

as a director .

7 . 

 To re-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:

8 .   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 £45,079, 

for a period expiring (unless previously 

revoked, varied or renewed) on the date 

which is fifteen 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,  

To resolve as a special resolution:

9 . 

 That, subject to the passing of 

resolution 8 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 8, as if section 

561 of the Act did not apply to such 

allotment, provided that this power 

shall expire on the date which is 

fifteen months after the 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:

9 .1 

 in connection with an offer 

of equity securities (including, 

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 

 
 
72  |  Brooks Macdonald Group  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

continued

but subject to such exclusions 

Company’s authority to purchase  

or other arrangements as 

its own shares

the directors deem necessary 

To resolve as a special resolution:

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 .  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 

9 .2 

 otherwise than pursuant to 

determine, provided that:

paragraph 9 .1 up to an aggregate 

nominal amount of £13,660; 

 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 8” were 

10 .1 

 the maximum number  

of ordinary shares hereby 

authorised to be purchased  

is 1,366,000;

10 .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);

10 .3   the minimum price which may 

be paid for each ordinary share 

shall be £0 .01; and

omitted .

10 .4   this authority (unless previously 

 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 .

revoked, varied or renewed) 

shall expire on the date which 

is fifteen 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

Simon Broomfield 

Company Secretary

25 September 2015

Registered office: 

72 Welbeck Street, London W1G 0AY

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting 

continued

Brooks Macdonald Group plc  |  Annual Report and Accounts 2015  |  73

Notes:

Record date

Documents available for inspection

Rights to appoint a proxy

5 . 

 To be entitled to attend and vote at  

8 .   There will be available for inspection at 

1 . 

 Members of the Company are entitled 

the annual general meeting (and for  

the registered office of the Company 

to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any 

the purpose of the determination by  

during normal business hours on any 

of their rights to attend and to speak 

the Company of the votes they may  

weekday (excluding Saturdays and 

and vote at a meeting of the Company . 

cast), members must be registered in  

public holidays) and at the place of the 

A proxy does not need to be a member 

the register of members of the Company  

meeting for at least 15 minutes prior to 

of the Company . A member may 

at 6 .00 pm on Sunday 25 October 2015 

and during the annual general meeting 

appoint more than one proxy in relation 

(or, in the event of any adjournment, 

copies of:

• 

the service contract of each executive 

director; and

• 

the letter of appointment of each  

non-executive director .

to a meeting provided that each proxy 

48 hours before the time of the  

is appointed to exercise the rights 

adjourned meeting) . Changes to the  

attached to a different share or shares 

register of members after the relevant 

held by that member .

2 . 

 A proxy form which may be used to 

make such appointment and give proxy 

deadline will be disregarded in 

determining the right of any person  

to attend and vote at the meeting .

directions accompanies this notice . If 

Corporate representatives

you do not receive a proxy form and 

6 . 

 Any corporation which is a member 

believe that you should have one, or if 

can appoint one or more corporate 

you require additional proxy forms in 

representatives who may exercise on 

order to appoint more than one proxy, 

its behalf all of its powers as a member 

please contact Capita Asset Services on 

provided that they do not do so in 

0871 664 0300 (overseas callers should 

relation to the same shares .

use +44 (0) 208 639 3399, calls to 

this number cost 12 pence per minute 

from a BT landline; other providers’ 

costs may vary, lines open 9 .00 am to 

5 .30 pm, Monday to Friday) .

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 

Procedure for appointing a proxy

business being dealt with at the 

3 . 

 To be valid, the proxy form must be 

meeting but no such answer need be 

received by post or (during normal 

given if (a) to do so would interfere 

business hours only) by hand at Capita 

unduly with the preparation for the 

Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham 

meeting or involve the disclosure of 

Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU 

confidential information, (b) the answer 

no later than 9 .00 am on Sunday 

has already been given on a website in 

25 October 2015 . It should be 

the form of an answer to a question, 

accompanied by the power of attorney 

or (c) it is undesirable in the interests of 

or other authority (if any) under which 

the Company or the good order of the 

it is signed or a notarially certified (or 

meeting that the question be answered .

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 .

Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Annual Report & Accounts 2014

Form of proxy

Brooks Macdonald Group plc

Annual General Meeting on 27 October 2015 at 9.00 am

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 2015 at 9.00 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 and Accounts for the year ended 30 June 2015

Resolution 2: To approve the directors’ remuneration report for the year ended 30 June 2015

Resolution 3: To declare a final dividend of 20.5 pence per ordinary share 

Resolution 4: To re-elect Andrew Shepherd as a director

Resolution 5: To re-elect Nick Holmes as a director

Resolution 6: To re-elect Simon Wombwell as a director

Resolution 7: To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as the Company’s auditors and to authorise the directors 

to determine their remuneration

Special business

FOR

AGAINST

VOTE WITHHELD

Resolution 8: Ordinary resolution to give the directors authority to allot shares

Resolution 9: Special resolution to give the directors power to disapply pre-emption rights in relation 

to the allotment of shares

Resolution 10: 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:  

/ 

/2015

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 on 0871 664 0300 (overseas callers should use 
+44 (0) 208 639 3399, calls to this number cost 12 pence per minute from a BT landline; other providers’ costs may vary, lines open 9.00 am to 5.30 pm, Monday to Friday), 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.

2. 

3. 

Procedure for appointing a proxy
4.  Please insert your full name and address in block capitals in the box.
5. 

 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
6. 

 To direct your proxy how to vote on the resolutions mark the appropriate box with a “”or an “”. 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.

7. 

Other
8. 

 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 9.00 am on Sunday 25 October 2015. 

9.    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.

10.   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.

11.   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 Sunday 25 October 2015 

are entitled to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting to be held at 9.00 am on 27 October 2015.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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

Senior Independent Director

Group Finance Director

Non-executive Director

Non-executive Director

Deputy Chief Executive

Offices
Edinburgh  

Guernsey  

Hale  

Hampshire  

Jersey  

London  

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

 72 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 0AY 
John Stow House, 18 Bevis Marks, London, EC3A 7JB

Leamington Spa  

 36 Hamilton Terrace, Holly Walk, Leamington Spa,  
Warwickshire, CV32 4LY

Manchester  

1 Marsden Street, Manchester, M2 1HW

Taunton  

 Ground Floor, Blackbrook Gate, Blackbrook Park Avenue,  
Taunton, Somerset, TA1 2PX

Tunbridge Wells  

2 Mount Ephraim Road, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, TN1 1EE

York  

 Howard House, 3 St . Mary’s Court, Blossom Street, York, YO24 1AH

Company information
Company Secretary  

S Broomfield

Company Registration Number  

4402058

Registered Office  

Website  

72 Welbeck Street, London, W1G 0AY

www .brooksmacdonald .com

Independent auditors
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
7 More London Riverside 
London 
SE1 2RT

Registrars
Capita Asset Services 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham  
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 
280 Bishopsgate
London
EC2M 4RB

Public relations
MHP Communications Limited 
6-11 Agar Street 
London 
WC2N 4HN

www.brooksmacdonald.com