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ceps · NASDAQ Financial Services
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FY2015 Annual Report · Cantor Equity Partners VI, Inc. Class A Ordinary Shares
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2015

chelverton
equity partners

Annual Report

CEPS PLC
Registered address:
12b George Street
Bath BA1 2EH
T 01225 483030
www.cepsplc.com
Incorporated in 
England & Wales 
00507461

CEPS PLC  Company number 00507461

Contents

Chairman’s Statement

Strategic Report

Directors’ Report

Corporate Governance

Independent Auditors’ Report

Consolidated Statement
of Comprehensive Income

Consolidated and Company
Statements of Financial Position

Consolidated and Company
Statements of Cash Flows

Consolidated and Company
Statements of Changes in Equity

Notes to the Financial Statements

Notice of Meeting

Group Information

page

2

6

7

9

11

13

14

15

16

18

57

60

1

CEPS PLC

Chairman’s Statement

Review of the period

This is my first Chairman’s Statement and I thought I would take the opportunity to set
out again the original plan on which I led the refinancing of what was then called Dinkie
Heel plc and was renamed CEPS plc (Chelverton Equity PartnerS).

The  objective  then,  and  today,  is  to  acquire  profitable  cash  generative  companies
operating  in  niche  market  sectors  in  partnership  with  the  ‘business  drivers’  of  these
companies.    With  the  input,  both  strategic  and  financial  from  the  CEPS  Board,  the
intention  is  to  encourage  and  help  the  management  teams  to  develop  the  businesses
and to grow them steadily over time.

As  the  companies  grow  their  profits  and  generate  cash,  the  free  cash  will  be  used  to
repay the funding used to originally acquire the company.  The style and structure of this
approach has more in common with the creation of a conglomerate and is different to
the private equity approach, where companies are owned for up to five years and then
sold.  Once the acquisition debt due to banks, vendor shareholders and CEPS has been
repaid then the free cash generated will be used to pay dividends and to further develop
the company.  CEPS will receive its share of any dividends paid and will also support any
company initiative requiring further investment.

The original plan was to acquire one company a year financed as to 50% in equity and
50%  in  bank  debt.    It  was  felt  that  once  eight  companies  had  been  acquired,  further
development of those eight companies and further acquisitions would then be financed
from  the  Group’s  cash  flow  with  no  further  equity  issuance.    With  the  acquisition  of
Friedman’s in 2005 and then Sunline in early 2007, the plan was on track.  However, the
onset  of  the  Credit  Crunch  and  the  ‘Great  Recession’  put  everything  on  hold  as  the
trading of companies became less predictable and it also became impossible to obtain
bank debt to finance further acquisitions.

It was not until five years later, in 2012, that CEPS made its next acquisition with other
investors in the partial purchase of CEM Press.  Since then CEPS has acquired Aford
Awards  in  November  2014,  the  balance  of  CEM  Press  in  October  2015  and,  very
recently, Hickton Consultants in January 2016.

CEPS  now  has  six  subsidiaries  and  has  made  very  significant  progress  in  the  past
eighteen months both in increasing the breadth of the business and also in investing in
the  development  and  improvement  of  the  CEPS’  businesses.    As  ever  evidence  of
improvement  takes  a  while  to  become  clear  to  people  not  involved  day  to  day  in  the
companies.

Shareholder value in CEPS is created as follows:

1. The size of a target company generally means that it is too small for a private equity
investor  to  deem  worthwhile  applying  time  and  large  resources  to.    At  the  same  time,
there  are  few  individuals  with  adequate  resources  to  compete.    Therefore,  there  is
generally very little price competition when CEPS acquires a company.

2. Because CEPS is effectively a conglomerate, no acquired company has any particular
strategic value and, therefore, CEPS will not overpay.

3. Vendors are asked to retain part of their consideration as interest bearing loan notes,
which has the dual effect of mitigating the risk of purchase and, also, provides an element
of gearing.

4. The management team invests in the shares of a new company established to buy the
target  and  also  to  provide  a  measure  of  commitment  to  a  five  year  plan  by  providing
interest bearing loan finance.

2

Financial review

CEPS PLC

Chairman’s Statement continued

5. The  repayment,  in  time,  of  all  of  the  purchase  price  bar  £100,000,  being  the  share
capital of the new company, means that CEPS and the management team get all of their
investment back whilst still owning the company.

6. Under the ownership of CEPS, these acquired companies will become better quality
companies  as  the  appropriate  elements  of  corporate  governance  are  gradually  and
appropriately introduced.

7. Finally, and of greatest importance, we will aim to acquire companies whose profits
are steadily growing and will consequently become more valuable.

Further  acquisitions  will  be  either  as  stand-alone  companies  or  additions  to  existing
subsidiaries.

The results for the year do not evidence the significant positive developments that have
taken place in each of the subsidiaries over the past 12 months.  We expect this progress
to be more apparent at the interim stage in September and, of course, for the full set of
results for the current year.

As  a  result  of  the  three  purchases  mentioned  above,  CEPS  is  now  a  much  broader
Group than eighteen months ago and the profit contribution from these acquisitions is
expected to make a material difference to the Group accounts.

Overall,  Group  revenue  at  £18.2m  for  the  year  (2014:  £17.0m)  was  up  by  7%  whilst
operating profit grew almost 100% to £486,000 from £244,000.  Profit before tax was
up 60.8% at £394,000 (2014: £245,000) before an exceptional charge of £138,000 due
to  the  required  accounting  treatment  in  respect  of  the  CEM  Press  acquisition.    Group
costs were marginally higher than last year at £370,000, but include a £79,000 write-off
of historic goodwill.  If this is excluded, Group costs are down by £61,000 at £291,000
(2014: £352,000) mainly reflecting the non‑replacement of Peter Cook, the former Group
Managing  Director,  but  including  an  ex‑gratia  payment  to  him.    Post-tax  profit  was
£57,000 (2014: £251:000) due to a significant tax charge of £199,000 (2014: credit of
£6,000  resulting  from  a  deferred  tax  adjustment).    Earnings  per  share  on  a  basic  and
diluted basis were (3.65p) (2014: (3.13p)).  In the year there was an improvement in cash
generated  from  operations  amounting  to  £889,000  (2014:  £580,000)  and  there  was  a
net increase in cash and cash equivalents of £206,000 (2014: £177,000).  Year end cash
and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts) were £854,000 (2014: £346,000).  The
enlarged Group has contributed to these improvements and cash is expected to improve
further in future years.

Operational review

Aford Awards

We looked to expand the business in 2015 by making a small acquisition.  However, we
were not prepared to meet the price expectations of the vendor.  We will continue to look
at  ways  of  expanding  the  business  both  organically  and  by  acquisition,  in  2016.    The
creation of a new showroom and investment in a new engraving machine will improve the
sales and marketing capability and manufacturing capacity.

CEM Press

CEPS completed the purchase of CEM Press through a new company with the existing
management  team  at  the  end  of  September  2015.    As  the  business  had  been
underinvested  for  several  years,  a  number  of  projects  are  now  underway  aimed  at
improving efficiency and quality.  This will, as ever, take a little while.  However, we are
pleased that in this brief period of majority ownership, improvements in the operational
efficiencies are beginning to be evident.

3

CEPS PLC

Chairman’s Statement continued

Davies Odell

Trading continued to be difficult in 2015 and sadly it was necessary to address the cost
base by making eight people redundant.  A considerable amount of effort has gone into
addressing the issues in the company and progress is now being made.  We expect that
Davies Odell will make some progress in 2016.

Friedman’s

The  company  has  had  an  excellent  2015  and  we  expect  it  to  do  well  in  2016,
notwithstanding the cost impact of a weakening Pound.  The continuing development of
Funki Fabrics is expected to become a major profit driver in 2016 and beyond.

Hickton

Hickton  was  acquired  after  the  financial  year  end  with  a  number  of  investors  from  the
Chelverton Investor Club and the managing director of the company.  Trading has gone
well in the brief period of ownership and we expect Hickton to make a good contribution
to the Group in 2016.

Sunline

After the very difficult operational issues in 2014, it is pleasing to be able to report that
Sunline’s original  business  moved back into profit  in  2015, albeit  with the use  of  extra
labour to ensure no repeat of the problems experienced in 2014.  In 2016 the emphasis
will  be  on  fine-tuning  the  labour  costs,  now  that  the  capacity  and  efficiency  of  the
production line has been established.  Also, additional sales resource has been recruited
to fill the extra capacity of the new plant.

The  ‘Pick,  Pack  and  Despatch’  business  which  was  started  in  2014  made  very  good
progress in 2015, although it is still loss-making as it has yet to reach critical mass.  It is
expected that the business will break into profit on a monthly basis at the end of this year
and, thereafter, will become a valuable earnings stream and an important adjunct to the
polywrap business.

A dividend is not proposed at this time (2014: £nil), but the situation will be kept under
review.

The Company will be convening its Annual General Meeting to be held on 20 June 2016.
Among  other  resolutions  to  be  proposed,  the  Board  will  seek  authority  to  allot  shares
equating to 100% of its present issued ordinary share capital in line with the requirements
of our acquisition strategy.

Dividend

Power to issue and 
purchase shares

4

CEPS PLC

Chairman’s Statement continued

People

The Board is most grateful for the diligent efforts of all the Group’s employees in 2015.

Prospects

I am sorry to have to report that Peter Cook, formerly Group Managing Director, has had
to retire from the Company as a consequence of a serious illness.

Also Richard Organ has stated that he wishes to step down from the Board at the AGM.
I would like to thank Richard for all he has done for the Group over the past 16 years.
We all wish him well in his gradual retirement.

We are currently considering potential candidates for the role of Non-Executive Director
and hope to be in a position to make an announcement shortly.

Underlying trading in the Group companies is improving.  Steps have been taken in all of
the subsidiaries to promote further development and, once the uncertainty caused by the
European  Union  Referendum  is  removed,  one  way  or  the  other,  we  believe  our
companies will continue to make progress.

Against  this  background,  we  anticipate  further  recovery  at  Sunline,  continued  good
results  from  Friedman’s  and  a  good  maiden  contribution  from  Hickton  Consultants.
Aford Awards and CEM Press are expected to make steady progress and Davies Odell
should, as the year progresses, begin to show a return to appropriate profits.

Trading  in  the  year  to  date  is  in  line  with  the  Board’s  expectations.    Whilst  there  is
currently  great  uncertainty  at  the  macro  level  in  the  UK  economy,  our  companies  are
working hard to make multiple small improvements in their trading.  We expect the Group
to make further significant progress as the year unfolds.

David Horner
Chairman
29 April 2016

5

Review of the business

CEPS PLC

Strategic Report

The  directors  present  their  Strategic  Report  on  the  Group  for  the  year  ended
31 December 2015.

The principal activities of CEPS PLC are that of an industrial holding company, acquiring
majority stakes in stable, profitable and steadily growing entrepreneurial companies.  The
activities of the Company’s trading subsidiaries are described in note 17 to the accounts.
Segmental analysis is given in note 4 to the accounts.

A review of the business and its prospects are set out in the Chairman’s Statement on
pages 2 to 5.

The Group’s internal reporting system enables the Board to assess the strategic direction
of  the  Group  against  agreed  targets.    The  table  below  shows  the  most  important  key
performance indicators used by the Group:

2015)

2014)

Revenue
Segmental result (EBITDA)
Profit before tax
Profit after tax
Total equity
Net debt (total borrowing less cash)
Gearing ratio (net debt/total equity)

£18,229,000)
£1,280,000)
£256,000)
£57,000)
£5,061,000)
£3,740,000)
74%)

£16,981,000)
£919,000)
£245,000)
£251,000)
£4,068,000)
£3,936,000)
97%)

The Chairman has commented on the main key performance indicators in his Statement
on pages 2 to 5.

The Board also monitors matters relating to health and safety and the environment and
reviews them at its regular meetings.  The risks to the business arising from changes to
the trading environment and employee retention and training are also regularly monitored
and reviewed.

The Board operates a continuous process for identifying, evaluating and managing risk.
The internal controls seek to minimise the impact of identified risks, as explained in the
Corporate Governance statement on pages 9 and 10.

The key risks the Board seeks to mitigate are: competition, dependence on key personnel
and the supply chain.

Competition  – while  the  Group’s  trade  is  differentiated,  there  is  still  significant  pricing
pressure  and  the  barriers  to  entry  are  relatively  low.    As  a  result  there  is  the  risk  that
competitors could emerge to challenge the products offered by the Group.  This could
result,  over  time,  in  price  competition  and  margin  pressure.    In  order  to  mitigate  this
pressure,  local  management  seek  to  hold  regular  discussions  with  customers  and
actively monitor the market for changes in competitors’ prices.

Dependence  on  key  personnel  – the  Group’s  performance  is  largely  dependent  on  its
subsidiary staff and managers.  The success of the Group will continue to be dependent
on the expertise and experience of the directors and the management team, and the loss
of personnel could still have an adverse effect on the Group.  This risk is mitigated by
ensuring that key personnel are suitably incentivised and contractually bound.

Supply chain – the differentiated nature of the Group’s trade means that it is exposed to
a reliance on a small number of suppliers.  The Group mitigates this risk through effective
supplier selection and procurement practices.

See note 2 for an assessment of the financial risks.

Future developments

A review of the business and its prospects are set out in the Chairman’s Statement on
pages 2 to 5.

By order of the Board
V E Langford
Company Secretary
29 April 2016

6

Directors

CEPS PLC

Directors’ Report

The  directors  have  pleasure  in  submitting  their  report  and  the  audited  consolidated
financial  statements  of  the  Group  for  the  year  ended  31  December  2015.    Certain
information required by the Companies Act 2006 relating to information to be provided
in the Directors' Report is set out in the Chairman's Statement and Strategic Report and
includes: principal activity, review of the business and principal risks and uncertainties.

The directors of the Company who were in office during the year and up to the date of
signing the financial statements were as follows:

D  A  Horner  (56)  is  an  executive  director  and  Chairman.    He  qualified  as  a  Chartered
Accountant in 1985 with Touche Ross & Co.  In 1986 he joined 3i Corporate Finance
Limited.  In 1997 he set up Chelverton Asset Management Limited which specialises in
managing portfolios of investments in private companies and small to medium size public
companies.  He set up and manages Chelverton Growth Trust Plc, manages the Small
Companies  Dividend  Trust  Plc  and  is  a  director  of  a  number  of  private  companies.
In 2013 he resigned his membership of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England
and Wales, as his career is now fully involved in fund management.

R T Organ BA(Hons) FRSA (63) is a non-executive director.  He has significant experience
of  manufacturing  and  marketing  in  the  footwear  and  clothing  industries  gained  with
C & J Clark Limited and Coats Viyella PLC.

G  C  Martin  (71)  is  a  non-executive  director.    He  is  a  Chartered  Accountant  who  was
previously Finance Director and Company Secretary of the Group.

V E Langford (54) is Group Finance Director.  She is a Chartered Accountant and is also
the Company Secretary of CEPS PLC.

P G Cook (64) stepped down as Group Managing Director on 9 December 2015 due to
ill health.

The directors retiring by rotation in accordance with Articles 71 and 72 are V E Langford
who,  being  eligible,  offers  herself  for  re-election,  and  R  T  Organ  who  will  be  resigning
from the Board at the Annual General Meeting on 20 June 2016.

The  Company  purchased  and  maintained  throughout  the  financial  year  and  up  to  the
date of this report, Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance in respect of itself and its
directors.

Significant shareholdings

In  addition  to  directors’  shareholdings  shown  on  page  33,  the  following  shareholders
held more than 3% of the Company’s ordinary shares at 20 April 2016:

Chelverton Growth Trust Plc
FXCM Nominees Limited
Praxis Trustees Limited
Nigel Cobby
Mark Pollard
Lynchwood Nominees Limited

Shares)
1,535,000
1,143,333
500,000
333,333
333,333
312,500

%
16.0
11.9
5.2
3.5
3.5
3.3

Financial and treasury policy The Group finances its operations by a combination of retained profits, management of
working capital, bank overdraft and debtor backed working capital facilities and medium-
term  loans.    The  disclosures  for  financial  instruments  are  made  in  note  22a  to  the
accounts on page 52.

For further details of Group financial risk and management thereof see note 2 on pages
25 to 27.

No dividend is recommended for the period (2014: £nil).

7

CEPS PLC

Directors’ Report continued

Disclosure of information
to auditors

So far as each director is aware, there is no relevant information of which the Company’s
auditors  are  unaware.    Relevant  information  is  defined  as  ‘information  needed  by  the
Company’s auditors in connection with preparing their report’.  Each director has taken all
the  steps  (such  as  making  enquiries  of  other  directors  and  the  auditors  and  any  other
steps required by the director’s duty to exercise due care, skill and diligence) that he/she
ought to have taken in his/her duty as a director in order to make himself/herself aware of
any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of
that information.

Independent auditors

PKF  Littlejohn  LLP  are  willing  to  continue  in  office  and  a  resolution  proposing  their
re-appointment will be submitted to the Annual General Meeting.

Going concern

At  the  time  of  approving  the  financial  statements  the  directors  consider  that  it  is
appropriate to adopt the going concern basis of preparation.

The directors have considered the impact of the current economic environment on the
Company's and Group’s future cash flows and their ability to meet liabilities as they fall
due, being a period of not less than 12 months from the date of approving the financial
statements.    The  directors  have  also  considered  compliance  with  future  banking
covenants, and the borrowings structure of the Group.

Statement of directors’
responsibilities

The directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and financial statements in
accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year.
Under that law the directors have prepared the Group and Company financial statements
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the
European  Union.    Under  company  law  the  directors  must  not  approve  the  financial
statements  unless  they  are  satisfied  that  they  give  a  true  and  fair  view  of  the  state  of
affairs  of  the  Group  and  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  applicable  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  have  been 
followed,  subject  to  any  material  departures  disclosed  and  explained  in  the  financial 
statements;

– prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis, unless it is inappropriate 

to presume that the Company and the Group will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient
to show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy
at  any  time  the  financial  position  of  the  Company  and  the  Group  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.

The  directors  are  responsible  for  the  maintenance  and  integrity  of  the  corporate  and
financial  information  on  the  Company’s  website.    Legislation  in  the  United  Kingdom
governing  the  preparation  and  dissemination  of  financial  statements  may  differ  from
legislation in other jurisdictions.

The Company is compliant with the AIM Rule 26 regarding the Company's website.

By order of the Board
V E Langford
Company Secretary
29 April 2016

8

CEPS PLC

Corporate Governance

The Board

Audit committee

The Board is committed to high standards of corporate governance and recognises that
it  is  accountable  to  shareholders  for  good  governance.    The  Company’s  corporate
governance procedures define the duties and constitution of the Board and the various
Board committees and, as appropriate, specify responsibilities and level of responsibility.
The principal procedures are summarised below:

The  Board  comprises  the  Chairman,  the  Finance  Director  and  two  non-executive
directors.  Further details of the Board members are given in the Directors’ Report on
pages 7 and 8.

All directors are subject to retirement by rotation and re-election by the shareholders in
accordance with the Articles of Association.

The Board meets regularly, at least six times a year and with additional meetings being
arranged when necessary.

The  Company  seeks  constructive  dialogue  with  institutional  and  private  shareholders
through direct contact and through the opportunity for all shareholders to attend and ask
questions at the Annual General Meeting.

This committee comprises G C Martin (Chair) and R T Organ.  The audit committee is
responsible for the appointment of the external auditors, agreeing the nature and scope
of the audit and reviewing and making recommendations to the Board on matters related
to the issue of financial information to the public.  It assists all directors in discharging
their responsibility to ensure that accounting records are adequate and that the financial
statements give a true and fair view.

Nomination committee

This committee is comprised of D A Horner (Chair) and R T Organ.  It is responsible for
making recommendations to the Board on any appointment to the Board.

Remuneration committee

This committee is comprised of R T Organ (Chair) and D A Horner.

The remuneration committee sets the remuneration and other terms of employment of
executive directors.  Remuneration levels are set by reference to individual performance,
experience and market conditions with a view to providing a package appropriate for the
responsibilities involved.

Directors’ contracts are designed to provide the assurance of continuity which the Company
desires.  There are no provisions for pre-determined compensation on termination.

Pensions for directors were based on salary alone and were provided by the Company
defined contribution scheme and defined benefits scheme.  Contributions were paid to
these schemes in accordance with independent actuarial recommendations or funding
rates determined by the remuneration committee as appropriate to the type of scheme.
From 2010 no benefits have accrued to directors under these schemes.

Non-executive  directors  have  no  service  contracts  and  no  pension  contributions  are
made on their behalf.

Full  details  of  directors’  remuneration  and  benefits  are  given  in  note  7  to  the  financial
statements on page 33.

9

CEPS PLC

Corporate Governance continued

AIM compliance committee

Internal financial control

In  accordance  with  AIM  Rule  31  the  Company  is  required  to  have  in  place  sufficient
procedures, resources and controls to enable its compliance with the AIM Rules; seek
advice from its nominated adviser (‘Nomad’) regarding its compliance with the AIM Rules
whenever appropriate and take that advice into account; provide the Company’s Nomad
with  any  information  it  requests  in  order  for  the  Nomad  to  carry  out  its  responsibilities
under the AIM Rules for Companies and the AIM Rules for Nominated Advisers; ensure
that  each  of  the  Company’s  directors  accepts  full  responsibility,  collectively  and
individually, for compliance with the AIM Rules; and ensure that each director discloses
without  delay  all  information  which  the  Company  needs  in  order  to  comply  with
AIM  Rule  17  (Disclosure  of  Miscellaneous  Information)  insofar  as  that  information  is
known to the director or could with reasonable diligence be ascertained by the director.

In order to ensure that these obligations are being discharged, the Board has established
a committee of the Board (the ‘AIM committee’), chaired by V E Langford.

Having reviewed relevant Board papers, and met with the Company’s Executive Board
and the Nomad to ensure that such is the case, the AIM committee is satisfied that the
Company’s  obligations  under  AIM  Rule  31  have  been  satisfied  during  the  year  under
review.

The  Board  has  overall  responsibility  for  the  system  of  internal  financial  control  which  is
designed with regard to the size of the Company to provide reasonable, but not absolute,
assurance against material misstatement or loss.  The Board reviews the effectiveness of the
internal  controls  and  has  concluded  that  the  internal  financial  control  environment  is
appropriate, with no significant matters noted.  The organisational structure of the Group
gives clear management responsibilities in relation to internal financial control.  Financial risks
are  controlled  through  clearly  laid  down  authorisation  levels.    There  is  an  annual  budget
which is approved by the directors.  The results are reported monthly and compared to the
budget.  The audit committee receives a report from the external auditors annually.

10

CEPS PLC

Independent Auditors’ Report
to the members of CEPS PLC

We  have  audited  the  Group  and  parent  Company  financial  statements  (the  ‘financial
statements’) of CEPS PLC for the year ended 31 December 2015 which comprise the
Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income,  the  Consolidated  and  Company
Statements  of  Financial  Position,  the  Consolidated  and  Company  Statements  of  Cash
Flows  and  the  Consolidated  and  Company  Statement  of  Changes  in  Equity  and  the
related  notes.    The  financial  reporting  framework  that  has  been  applied  in  their
preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as
adopted  by  the  European  Union  and,  as  regards  the  parent  Company  financial
statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with
Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006.  Our audit work has been undertaken
so that we might state to the Company’s members those matters which we are required
to state to them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose.  To the fullest extent
permitted by law we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone, other than the
Company and the Company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or
for the opinions we have formed.

As explained more fully in the statement of directors’ responsibilities, set out on page 8,
the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being
satisfied that they give a true and fair view.  Our responsibility is to audit and express an
opinion on the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).  Those standards require us to comply with the
Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

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  Group’s  and
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.  In addition, we read
all  the  financial  and  non-financial  information  in  the  Chairman’s  Statement,  Strategic
Report,  Directors’  Report  and  Corporate  Governance  Report  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 during the course of performing the audit.  If we become aware of any
apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our
report.

Respective responsibilities
of directors and auditors

Scope of the audit of the
financial instruments

11

CEPS PLC

Independent Auditors’ Report
to the members of CEPS PLC continued

Opinion on financial
statements

In our opinion:

– the  financial  statements  give  a  true  and  fair  view  of  the  state  of  the  Group’s  and
of the parent Company’s affairs as at 31 December 2015 and of the Group’s profit and
Group's and parent Company's cash flows for the year then ended;

– the  Group  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with 

IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

– the  parent  Company  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance 
with  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  and  as  applied  in  accordance  with  the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

– the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of 

the Companies Act 2006.

Opinion on other matters
prescribed by the
Companies Act 2006

In  our  opinion  the  information  given  in  the  Chairman’s  Statement,  Directors’  Report,
Strategic Report and Corporate Governance Report for the financial year for which the
financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

Matters on which we are
required to report by
exception

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act
2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion:

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

– the  parent  Company  financial  statements  are  not  in  agreement  with  the  accounting

records and returns; or

– certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

– we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

Joseph Archer (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PKF Littlejohn LLP
Statutory Auditor
1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD
29 April 2016

12

CEPS PLC  Year ended 31 December 2015

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Notes

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

Continuing operations:
Revenue)
Cost of sales)

Gross profit)

Distribution costs
Administration expenses

Operating profit

Analysis of operating profit
CCTrading
CCGroup costs

Finance income
Finance costs
Loss on step acquisition
Share of investment accounted for using
CCthe equity method

Profit before tax
Taxation

4

5

9
9
15

17

10

Profit for the year from continuing operations

Other comprehensive loss:
Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss
Re-measurement of post employment benefit obligations 8

Items that may be subsequently reclassified 
to profit or loss

Other comprehensive loss for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive (loss)/income for the year

(Loss)/profit attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interest

Total comprehensive (loss)/income attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Non-controlling interest

18,229)
(15,035)
)
3,194)

(180)
(2,528)
)
486)

16,981)
(14,640)
)
2,341)

(207)
(1,890)
)
244)

856)
(370)
)
486)

8)
(121)
(138)

21)
)
256)
(199)
)
57)
)

(68)
)

–)
)
(68)
)
(11)
)

(275)
332)
)
57)
)

(343)
332)
)
(11)
)

596)
(352)
)
244)

11)
(24)
–)

14)
)
245)
6)
)
251)
)

(87)
)

–)
)
(87)
)
164)
)

(169)
420)
)
251)
)

(256)
420)
)
164)
)

Earnings per share from continuing operations
attributable to equity holders of the parent
CCbasic and diluted

12

(3.65)p)
)

(3.13)p)
)

The notes on pages 18 to 56 form part of the financial statements.

13

CEPS PLC  As at 31 December 2015

Consolidated and Company Statements of Financial Position
Company number 00507461

Group

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

Company

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

Notes

Assets

Equity

Liabilities

Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment 14
16
Intangible assets
Investments in subsidiaries
17
Investment using the
CCequity method
Deferred tax asset

17
23

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
CC(excluding bank overdrafts) 28

18
19

Total assets

Capital and reserves attributable
to owners of the parent
Called up share capital
Share premium
Retained earnings

25

Non-controlling interest in equity

Total equity

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Deferred tax liability
Provisions for liabilities
CCand charges

Current liabilities
Borrowings
Trade and other payables
Current tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

21
23

24

21
20

2,122)
4,652)
–)

–)
440)
)
7,214)
)

2,030)
3,155)

854)
)
6,039)
)
13,253)
)

957)
3,943)
(712)
)
4,188)
873)
)
5,061)
)

2,275)
77)

55)
)
2,407)
)

2,319)
3,359)
107)
)
5,785)
)
8,192)
)
13,253)
)

1,999)
3,285)
–))

568))
487))
)
6,339))
)

1,914)
2,569)

346)
)
4,829)
)
11,168)
)

541)
3,114)
(281)
)
3,374)
694)
)
4,068)
)

1,406)
36)

55)
)
1,497)
)

2,876)
2,672)
55)
)
5,603)
)
7,100)
)
11,168)
)

–)
–)
2,959)

–)
–)
)
2,959)
)

–)
132)

270)
)
402)
)
3,361)
)

957)
3,995)
(1,800)
)
3,152)
–)
)
3,152)
)

–)
–)

–)
)
–)
)

–)
209)
–)
)
209)
)
209)
)
3,361)
)

–)
79)
2,294)

500)
–)
)
2,873)
)

–)
363)

73)
)
436)
)
3,309)
)

541)
3,166)
(1,322)
)
2,385)
–)
)
2,385)
)

–)
–)

–)
)
–)
)

800)
124)
–)
)
924)
)
924)
)
3,309)
)

The notes on pages 18 to 56 form part of the financial statements.

The financial statements on pages 13 to 56 were approved by the Board of Directors on
29 April 2016 and signed on its behalf by

D A Horner
Director

14

CEPS PLC  Year ended 31 December 2015

Consolidated and Company Statements of Cash Flows

Cash flows from operating activities Cash generated from/(used in) operations

Income tax paid
Interest received
Interest paid

Net cash generated from/(used in)
CCoperations

Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of subsidiary net of

CCcash acquired
Purchase of property, plant and
CCequipment
Proceeds from sale of assets
Purchase of intangibles
Repayment of loan stock
Loan to a subsidiary
Disposal of property, plant and
CCequipment
Interest received

Net cash used in investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from/(repayment of) borrowings

Cash generated from/(used in)
operations

Proceeds from share issue net of
CCissue costs
Dividend paid to non-controlling interest
Share issue net of costs
Repayment of capital element
CCof finance leases

Net cash (used in)/generated from
CCfinancing activities

Net increase in cash and cash
CCequivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at the
CCbeginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents
CCat the end of the year (note 28)

Profit/(loss) before income tax
Adjustments for:
CCDepreciation and amortisation
CCIntangible assets written off
CCAmounts written-off in relation to
CCCCa subsidiary undertaking
CCProfit of associate
CCLoss on disposal on step acquisition
CCNet finance costs
CCRetirement benefit obligations
Changes in working capital:
CCDecrease/(increase) in inventories
CC(Increase)/decrease in trade
CCCCand other receivables
CC(Decrease)/increase in trade
CCCCand other payables
CCDecrease in provisions

Cash generated from/(used in) operations

Group

2015)
£’000)

889)
(59)
8)
(18)
)

820)
)

2014)
£’000)

580)
(113)
–)
(24)
)

443)
)

Company

2015)
£’000)

123)
–)
–)
(41)
)

82)
)

(267)

(1,054)

(270)

(205)
12)
(35)
–)
–)

295)
–)
)
(200)
)
(1,306)

–)
(180)
1,245)

(173)
)

(414)
)

206)

(95)
)

111)
)
256)

503)
–)

–)
(21)
138)
113)
–)

165)

(112)

(93)
(60)
)
889)
)

(517)
–)
(14)
–)
–)

–)
–)
)
(1,585)
)
1,574)

–)
(45)
–)

(210)
)

1,319)
)

177)

(272)
)

(95)
)
245)

320)
–)

–)
(14)
45)
13)
(77)

(134)

(37)

233)
(14)
)
580)
)

–)
–)
–)
–)
(60)

–)
–)
)
(330)
)
(800)

1,245)
–)
–)

–)
)

445)
)

197)

73)
)

270)
)
(479)

–)
79)

298)
–)
150)
41)
–)

–)

(7)

41)
–)
)
123)
)

2014)
£’000)

(200)
–)
–)
(14)
)

(214)
)

(770)

–)
–)
–)
89)
–)

–)
106)
)
(575)
)
800)

–)
–)
–)

–)
)

800)
)

11)

62)
)

73)
)
(1,301)

–)
–)

1,159)
–)
–)
(124)
–)

–)

61)

5)
–)
)
(200)
)

The notes on pages 18 to 56 form part of the financial statements.

15

CEPS PLC  Year ended 31 December 2015

Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity

)

Share) Retained)
Share capital) premium) earnings)
£'000)

£'000)

£'000)

Attributable
to owners)

Non-)
of the) controlling)
interest)
parent)
£'000)
£'000)

Total)
equity)
£'000)

Group

At 1 January 2014

541)
)

3,114)
)

(25)
)

3,630)
)

235)
)

3,865)
)

Other comprehensive income:
CCre-measurement of post
CCemployee benefit obligations
(Loss)/profit for the year

Total comprehensive 
CC(loss)/income for the year

Dividend paid to
CCnon-controlling interest

Total transactions recognised
CCdirectly in equity

Change in ownership
CCinterest in a subsidiary not
CCresulting in loss of control
Acquisition of a subsidiary

Total changes in ownership
CCthat do not result in a loss
CCof control

Total transactions with owners
CCrecognised directly in equity

At 31 December 2014

Other comprehensive income:
CCre-measurement of post
CCemployee benefit obligations
(Loss)/profit for the year

Total comprehensive
CC(loss)/income for the year

Proceeds from shares issued
CCnet of expenses

Total contributions by owners
CCof the parent recognised
CCin equity

Dividend paid to
CCnon-controlling interest

Total transactions recognised
CCdirectly in equity

Change in ownership
CCinterest in an associate
Acquisition of a subsidiary

Total changes in ownership
CCinterest that do not result
CCin a loss of control

Total transactions with owners
CCrecognised directly in equity

At 31 December 2015

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
)
541)
)

–)
)
3,114)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

416)
)

416)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

829)
)

829)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

(87)
(169)
)

(256)
)

(87)
(169)
)

(256)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
)
(281)
)

(68)
(275)
)

(343)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
)

(88)
–)
)

(88)
)

–)
)

–)
)

–)
–)
)

–)
)

–)
)
3,374)
)

(68)
(275)
)

(343)
)

1,245)
)

1,245)
)

–)
)

–)
)

(88)
–)
)

(88)
)

–)
420)
)

420)
)

(45)
)

(45)
)

54)
30)
)

84)
)

39)
)
694)
)

–)
332)
)

332)
)

–)
)

–)
)

(180)
)

(180)
)

–)
27)
)

27)
)

(87)
251)
)

164)

(45)
)

(45)
)

54)
30)
))

84)
))

39)
)
4,068)
)

(68)
57)
)

(11)
)

1,245)
)

1,245)
)

(180)
)

(180)
)

(88)
27)
)

(61)
))

–)
)
957)
)

–)
)
3,943)
)

(88)
)
(712)
)

(88)
)
4,188)
)

(153)
)
873)
)

(241)
)
5,061)
)

The notes on pages 18 to 56 form part of the financial statements.

16

CEPS PLC  Year ended 31 December 2015

Consolidated and Company Statements of Changes in Equity
continued

Company

)

At 1 January 2014

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive income

At 31 December 2014

Loss for the year and total
CCcomprehensive loss
Proceeds from shares issued
CCnet of costs

Total transactions with owners
CCof the parent recognised
CCdirectly in equity

At 31 December 2015

Share capital)
£'000)

541)
)
–)
)
–)
)
541)
)

–)

416)
)

416)
)

957)
)

Share)
premium)
£'000)

3,166)
)
–)
)
–)
)
3,166)
)

Retained)
earnings)
£'000)

(21)
)
(1,301)
)
(1,301)
)
(1,322)
)

Total)
equity)
£'000)

3,686)
)
(1,301)
)
(1,301)
)
2,385)
)

–)

(478)

(478)

829)
)

829)
)

–)
)

–)
)

3,995)
)

(1,800)
)

1,245)
)

1,245)
)

3,152)
)

The notes on pages 18 to 56 form part of the financial statements.

17

1.  Accounting policies

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements

CEPS PLC (the ‘Company’) is a company incorporated and domiciled in England and
Wales.  The Company is a public limited company, which is listed on the AIM market of
the London Stock Exchange.  The address of the registered office is 12b George Street,
Bath BA1 2EH.

The  principal  activities  of  the  Company  are  that  of  an  industrial  holding  company,
acquiring stakes in stable, profitable and steadily growing entrepreneurial companies.  The
activities  of  the  Company's  trading  subsidiaries  are  described  in  note  17.    Segmental
analysis is given in note 4.

The financial statements are presented in British Pounds Sterling (£), the currency of the
primary  economic  environment  in  which  the  Group's  activities  are  operated  and  are
reported in £’000.  The Group comprises CEPS PLC and its subsidiary companies as set
out in note 17.

The registered number of the Company is 00507461.

The  principal  accounting  policies  applied  in  the  preparation  of  these  consolidated
financial  statements  are  set  out  below.    These  policies  have  been  consistently  applied
throughout the year, unless otherwise stated.

Basis of preparation
These  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  International
Financial  Reporting  Standards  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  (‘IFRS’),  IFRIC
interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 as applicable to companies reporting under
IFRS.

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis and
under  the  historical  cost  convention.    The  Group's  business  activities  and  financial
position likely to affect its future development, performance and position are set out in
the front end of the report.  The directors have carried out a detailed assessment of going
concern as part of the financial reporting process and, having conducted a full review of
the updated business plan, budgets and associated commitments at the year end, have
concluded  that  the  Group  has  adequate  financial  resources  to  continue  in  operational
existence for at least 12 months from the date of the signing of these financial statements
and,  therefore,  continue  to  adopt  the  going  concern  basis  in  the  preparation  of  these
accounts.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain
critical accounting estimates.  It also requires management to exercise its judgement in
the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies.  The areas involving a higher
degree  of  judgement  or  complexity,  or  areas  where  assumptions  and  estimates  are
significant to the consolidated financial statements are disclosed in note 3.

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption under the Companies Act 2006 not
to present its own Statement of Comprehensive Income.  Information about the Company
result for the year is given in note 13.

At  the  date  of  authorisation  of  these  financial  statements,  the  following  standards  and
relevant interpretations, which have not been applied in these financial statements, were
in issue but not yet effective, and have not been early adopted by the Group:

Standards issued but not yet effective:
IAS 1 (Amendments), Presentation of Financial Statements: Disclosure initiative
IAS 7 (Amendments), Disclosure initiative
IAS 12 (Amendments), Recognition of Deferred Tax
IAS 16 (Amendment), Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Depreciation
IAS 19 (Amendment), Defined Benefit Plans: Employee Contributions
IAS 27 (Amendments), Equity method in Separate Financial Statements

18

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

1.  Accounting policies
1.  continued

IAS 38 (Amendments), Clarification of Acceptable Methods of Amortisation
IFRS 9, Financial Instruments
IFRS 10 (Amendments), Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate
or Joint Venture
IFRS 11 (Amendments), Joint Arrangements: Accounting for Acquisitions of Interests in
Joint Operations
IFRS 15, Revenue from Contracts with Customers
IFRS 16, Leases
Annual Improvements, 2011-2013 Cycle
Annual Improvements, 2012-2014 Cycle

Whilst the directors do not anticipate the adoption of these standards and interpretation
in future reporting periods will have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements,
they have yet to complete their full assessment in relation to the impact of IFRS 15.

Basis of consolidation
The  consolidated  financial  statements  incorporate  the  financial  statements  of  the
Company and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’).

The financial statements of the subsidiaries are prepared for the same reporting year as
the parent Company using consistent accounting policies.  Control is achieved where the
Group is exposed, or has rights, to variable returns from its involvement with the investee
entity  and  has  the  ability  to  affect  these  returns  through  its  power  over  the  investee.
Control  is  lost  when  the  Group  no  longer  has  rights  to  variable  returns  from  its
involvement with an investee entity and no longer has the ability to affect those returns
as it no longer has power over the investee.  When control is lost the subsidiaries are
de-recognised and no longer consolidated.

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income from the effective date of acquisition
or up to the effective date of disposal, as appropriate.

The  Group  uses  the  acquisition  method  of  accounting  to  account  for  business
combinations.  The consideration transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair
values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by
the Group.  The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability
resulting  from  a  contingent  consideration  agreement.    Acquisition  related  costs  are
expensed as incurred.  Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities
assumed  in  a  business  combination  are  measured  initially  at  their  fair  values  at  the
acquisition date.  On an acquisition by acquisition basis, the Group recognises any non-
controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest's
proportionate share of the acquiree's net assets.

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest
in the acquiree and the acquisition date fair value of any previous equity interest in the
acquiree over the fair value of the Group's share of the identifiable net assets acquired is
recorded as goodwill.  If this is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary
acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, the difference is recognised directly in the
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment.  Acquisition related
costs  are  expressed  as  incurred.    Cost  is  adjusted  to  reflect  changes  in  consideration
arising from contingent consideration amendments.

Inter-company  transactions,  balances  and  unrealised  gains  on  transactions  between
Group  companies  are  eliminated.    Unrealised  losses  are  also  eliminated.    Accounting
policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with
the policies adopted by the Group.

19

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

1.  Accounting policies
1.  continued

Changes in ownership interests in subsidiaries without change of control
Transactions  with  non-controlling  interests  that  do  not  result  in  loss  of  control  are
accounted for as equity transactions; that is, as transactions with owners in their capacity
as owners.  The difference between fair value of any consideration paid and the relevant
share acquired of the carrying value of net assets of the subsidiary is recorded in equity.
Gains or losses on disposals to non-controlling interests are also recorded in equity.

Associates
Associates are all entities over which the Group has significant influence, but not control,
generally accompanying a shareholding of between 20% and 50% of the voting rights.
Investments  in  associates  are  accounted  for  using  the  equity  method  of  accounting.
Under the equity method, the investment is initially recognised at cost and the carrying
amount is increased or decreased to recognise the investor's share of the profit or loss
of  the  investee  after  the  date  of  acquisition.    The  Group’s  investment  in  associates
includes goodwill identified on acquisition.

The Group’s share of post-acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the Consolidated
Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income  and  its  share  of  post-acquisition  movements  in
other  comprehensive  income  is  recognised  in  other  comprehensive  income  with  a
corresponding adjustment to the carrying amount of the investment.  When the Group’s
share of losses in an associate equals or exceeds its interest in the associate, including
any other unsecured receivables, the Group does not recognise further losses, unless it
has  incurred  legal  or  constructive  obligations  or  made  payments  on  behalf  of  the
associate.

Profits  and  losses  resulting  from  upstream  and  downstream  transactions  between  the
Group and its associate are recognised in the Group's financial statements only to the
extent  of  unrelated  investor's  interests  in  the  associates.    Unrealised  losses  are
eliminated  unless  the  transaction  provides  evidence  of  an  impairment  of  the  asset
transferred.  Accounting policies of associates have been changed where necessary to
ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

Segmental reporting
A business segment is a group of assets and operations engaged in providing products
or  services  that  are  subject  to  risks  and  returns  that  are  different  from  those  of  other
business  segments.    A  geographical  segment  is  engaged  in  providing  products  or
services within a particular economic environment that are subject to risks and returns
that are different from those of segments operating in other economic environments.

Operating  segments  are  reported  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  internal  reporting
provided  to  the  chief  operating  decision-maker,  the  Board,  and  used  to  assess
performance.    Information  is  given  for  all  operating  segments  where  discrete  financial
information is available.

Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognised when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured; when it is
probable that future economic benefits will flow to the entity; and when specific criteria
have been met.  The Company bases its estimate of return on historical results, taking
into account the customer type, transaction type and the specifics of each arrangement. 

The  revenues  of  Aford  Awards,  Friedman’s  and  Davies  Odell  arise  from  the  fair  values
received or receivable for goods sold which are recognised on despatch and exclude VAT.

The revenues of CEM Press and Sunline arise from the fair value received or receivable
for services provided which is recognised on completion of the service and excludes VAT.

20

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

1.  Accounting policies
1.  continued

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at initial cost, less accumulated depreciation and
impairment losses.  Cost includes the original price of the asset and the costs attributable
to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended use.

Depreciation is calculated on an appropriate basis over the deemed useful life of an asset
and is applied to the cost less any residual value.  The asset classes are depreciated over
the following periods (the useful life, the residual value and the depreciation method are
assessed annually):

Plant and machinery, tools and moulds: Between  5  and  10  years,  over  the  period 
of the contract, or between 15% to 25% on a 
reducing balance basis

Motor vehicles:

5 years straight line, or 25% reducing balance

Leasehold property improvements:

Over  the  term  of  the  lease  on  a  straight  line 
basis.

The residual values and useful lives are reviewed and adjusted if appropriate at each date
of the statement of financial position.

Gains  and  losses  on  disposals  are  determined  by  comparing  the  proceeds  with  the
carrying amount and are recognised within administration expenses in the Consolidated
Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Intangible assets

a)  Goodwill
Goodwill  arises  on  the  acquisition  of  subsidiaries  and  represents  the  excess  of  the
consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree over
the  fair  value  of  any  previous  equity  interest  in  the  acquiree  over  the  fair  value  of  the
identifiable  net  assets  acquired.    If  the  total  consideration  transferred,  non-controlling
interest recognised and previously held interest measured at fair value is less than the fair
value of the net assets acquired, the difference is recognised directly in equity.

Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.  Goodwill is allocated
to  appropriate  cash  generating  units  (those  expected  to  benefit  from  the  business
combination) and is not amortised, but is tested for impairment at the operating segment
level.

b)  Customer lists
Customer  lists  acquired  in  a  business  combination  are  recognised  at  fair  value  at  the
acquisition  date.    They  are  considered  to  have  an  indefinite  useful  life  and  impairment
reviews  are  undertaken  annually  or  if  changes  in  circumstances  indicate  a  potential
impairment.

c)  Computer software and websites
Computer  software  and  costs  incurred  in  the  development  of  websites  are  stated  at
cost  less  accumulated  amortisation.    Non-integral  computer  software  purchases  are
capitalised at cost.  These costs are amortised over their estimated useful lives (between
3 and 10 years).  Costs associated with implementing or maintaining computer software
programmes are recognised as an expense as incurred.

Costs incurred in the development of new websites are capitalised only where the cost
can be directly attributed to developing the website to operate in the manner intended
by management and only to the extent of the future economic benefits expected from its
use.  These costs are amortised over their useful lives (between 3 and 5 years).  Costs
associated with maintaining websites are recognised as an expense as incurred.

21

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

1.  Accounting policies
1.  continued

Impairment of intangible assets and property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets that have an indefinite useful life are not subject to amortisation, but are
reviewed  for  impairment  annually  or  whenever  events  or  changes  in  circumstances
indicate  that  the  carrying  amount  may  not  be  recoverable.    Assets  that  are  subject  to
amortisation or depreciation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in
circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  An impairment
loss is recognised for the amount by which the carrying amount of the asset exceeds its
recoverable amount.  The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less
costs  to  sell  and  value  in  use.    For  the  purposes  of  assessing  impairment,  assets  are
grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-
generating units).  Any impairment losses relating to goodwill are not reversed.

Investments
Investments in subsidiaries and associates are stated at cost, which reflects the fair value
of the consideration paid.  The investments are reviewed for impairment whenever events
or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

Inventories
Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value.  Raw materials are
valued on a first in first out basis at net invoice values charged by suppliers.  The value
of work in progress and finished goods includes the direct cost of materials and labour
together  with  an  appropriate  proportion  of  factory  overheads,  where  applicable.
Provision is made against the value of inventory, where relevant, to reduce the carrying
value of slow moving, obsolete and defective inventory to its net realisable value.

Current and deferred taxation
The tax charge for the year comprises current and deferred tax.  The current income tax
charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the
date  of  the  statement  of  financial  position  in  the  countries  where  the  Company’s
subsidiaries  and  associates  operate  and  generate  taxable  income.    Management
periodically  evaluates  positions  taken  in  tax  returns  with  respect  to  situations  in  which
applicable  tax  regulation  is  subject  to  interpretation  and  establishes  provisions  where
appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

Deferred  income  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 consolidated financial statements.  However, the deferred income tax is
not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction
other  than  a  business  combination  that  at  the  time  of  the  transaction  affects  neither
accounting nor taxable profit or loss.  Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates
(and laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the date of the statement
of  financial  position  and  are  expected  to  apply  when  the  related  deferred  income  tax
asset is realised or the deferred income tax liability is settled.

Deferred  tax  assets  are  recognised  to  the  extent  that  it  is  probable  that  future  taxable
profits will be generated enabling the utilisation of the temporary timing differences.

Foreign currencies
The results are recorded in British Pounds Sterling which is deemed to be the functional
currency of the Group, the Company and all its subsidiaries.

Foreign currency transactions are expressed in Sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at
the  date  of  the  transaction.    Monetary  assets  and  liabilities  denominated  in  foreign
currencies at the year end are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the date of
the statement of financial position.  Differences arising from changes in exchange rates
during the year are taken to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

22

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

1.  Accounting policies
1.  continued

Pensions
The  Group  operates  a  defined  benefit  pension  scheme  for  the  benefit  of  some  of  its
former employees, the assets of which are held separately from those of the Group in
independently administered funds.

Pension scheme assets are measured using market value.  Pension scheme liabilities are
measured using the projected unit actuarial method and are discounted at the current
rate of return on a high quality corporate bond of equivalent terms and currency to the
liability.  The increase in the present value of the liabilities of the Group’s defined benefit
pension schemes expected to arise from employee service in the period is charged to
operating  profit.    Actuarial  gains  and  losses  arising  from  experience  adjustments  and
changes  in  actuarial  assumptions  are  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of
Comprehensive Income.

Pension schemes’ surpluses, only to the extent that they are considered recoverable, are
recognised in full and presented on the face of the Statement of Financial Position.

Defined  benefit  pension  costs  are  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of
Comprehensive Income.  Contributions to the defined contribution schemes are charged
to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred.  The Group has
no further payment obligations once contributions have been paid.

Operating leases
Leases  in  which  a  significant  proportion  of  the  risks  and  rewards  of  ownership  are
retained by the lessor are classified as operating leases.

The  annual  costs  of  operating  leases  are  charged  to  the  Consolidated  Statement  of
Comprehensive Income on a straight line basis over the lease term.

Hire purchase leases
For leases where a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership is obtained
or where legal title is to pass to the Group, the assets are capitalised at the lower of cost
of the fair value of the asset or the present value of the minimum lease payments in the
Statement of Financial Position and depreciated over the expected useful economic life.
The interest element of the rental obligation is charged to the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive  Income  over  the  period  of  the  lease  and  represents  a  constant
proportion of the balance of capital repayment outstanding.

Non-controlling interest
Non-controlling interests represent the interest of shareholders in subsidiaries which are
not wholly owned by the Group.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation
as a result of past events, it is probable that an outflow of resources will be required to
settle  the  obligation  and  the  amount  has  been  reliably  estimated.    Provisions  are  not
recognised for future operating losses.

Provisions  are  measured  at  the  present  value  of  the  expenditures  expected  to  be
required  to  settle  the  obligation  using  a  pre-tax  rate  that  reflects  current  market
assessments  of  the  time  value  of  money  and  the  risks  specific  to  the  obligation.    The
increase in the provision due to passage of time is recognised as interest expense.

Further details on provisions recognised are disclosed in note 24.

Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity while redeemable preference shares are classified
as liabilities.

23

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

1.  Accounting policies
1.  continued

Financial instruments
The Group and Company 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 on the Statement of Financial Position at fair value
when  the  Group  and  Company  becomes  a  party  to  the  contractual  provisions  of  the
instrument.

a)  Loans and receivables
Trade  receivables  are  amounts  due  from  customers  for  merchandise  sold  or  services
performed in the ordinary course of business.  If collection is expected in one year or less
(or in the normal operating cycle of the business if longer), they are classified as current
assets.  If not, they are presented as non-current assets.

Trade  and  other  receivables  are  recognised  initially  at  fair  value  and  subsequently
measured  at  amortised  cost.    A  provision  for  impairment  of  trade  receivables  is
established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all
amounts  due  according  to  the  original  terms  of  the  receivables.    Significant  financial
difficulties  of  the  debtor,  probability  that  the  debtor  will  enter  bankruptcy  or  financial
reorganisation, and default or delinquency in payments (more than 30 days overdue) are
considered indicators that the trade receivable is impaired.  The amount of the provision
is the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and its estimated future cash
flow.    The  carrying  amount  of  the  asset  is  reduced  through  the  use  of  a  bad  debt
provision  and  the  amount  of  the  loss  is  recognised  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of
Comprehensive Income within cost of sales.  When a trade receivable is uncollectible it
is  written  off  against  the  bad  debt  provision.    Subsequent  recoveries  of  amounts
previously written off are credited against cost of sales in the Consolidated Statement of
Comprehensive Income.

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, short-term bank deposits held at call
and bank overdrafts.  Bank overdrafts are shown in current liabilities as borrowings.  All
are carried at cost in the Statement of Financial Position.

b)  Trade payables
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods and services that have been acquired in
the ordinary course of business.  Accounts payable are classified as current liabilities if
payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal operating cycle of the business
if longer).  If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities.

Trade and other payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured
at  amortised  cost  using  the  effective  interest  method.    Trade  payables  includes  trade
payables, other payables and accruals.

c)  Borrowings
Borrowings  are  initially  recognised  at  fair  value,  net  of  transaction  costs  incurred,  and
subsequently stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method.  Borrowings
include  bank  overdrafts,  bank  loans,  other  loans,  trade  receivables  backed  working
capital facilities and hire purchase obligations.

Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right
to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the date of the Statement
of Financial Position.

24

2.  Financial risk
2.  management

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

2.1  Financial risk factors
The Group and Company’s activities expose it to a variety of financial risks: market risk
(including foreign exchange risk and cash flow and fair value interest rate risk), credit risk
and  liquidity  risk.    The  Group  and  Company’s  overall  risk  management  programme
focuses  on  the  unpredictability  of  financial  markets  and  seeks  to  minimise  potential
adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance.

Risk management is carried out by local management under policies approved by the
Board of Directors.

a)  Market risk
i)   Foreign exchange risk
The Group undertakes transactions internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange
risk arising from various currency exposures, primarily with respect to the Euro and US
Dollar  and  Sterling.    Foreign  exchange  risk  arises  from  future  commercial  transactions
and recognised assets and liabilities.

Management has a policy to require Group companies to manage their foreign exchange
risk against their functional currency.  The policy is to match as far as possible through
the normal course of trade the level of sales and purchases in foreign currencies and,
where  applicable,  to  enter  forward  foreign  exchange  contracts  as  hedges  of  foreign
exchange risk on specific assets, liabilities or future transactions.

ii)  Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk
As  the  Group  has  no  significant  interest-bearing  assets,  the  Group’s  income  and
operating cash flows are substantially independent of changes in market interest rates.

The Group’s interest rate risk arises from long-term borrowings.  Borrowings issued at
variable  rates  expose  the  Group  to  cash  flow  interest  rate  risk.    Borrowings  issued  at
fixed rates expose the Group to fair value interest rate risk.

Group  policy  is  to  maintain  an  appropriate  balance  between  borrowings  expressed  in
fixed rates and those at variable rates.  All of the Group’s borrowings are denominated in
Sterling.  The strategy of CEPS PLC is as far as possible to use the assets of businesses
in which it makes investments to secure the necessary borrowings for those investments.

b)  Credit risk
The Group is exposed to the credit risk inherent in non-payment by either its customers
or  the  counterparties  of  its  financial  instruments.    The  Group  utilises  credit  insurance
policies  to  mitigate  its  risk  from  some  of  its  trading  exposure,  especially  in  overseas
markets, and in all cases seeks satisfactory references and the best possible terms of
payment.    It  mitigates  its  exposure  on  financial  instruments  by  only  using  instruments
from banks and financial institutions with a minimum rating of ‘A-1+’.

c)  Liquidity risk
Prudent  liquidity  risk  management  implies  maintaining  sufficient  cash  and  having
available an adequate amount of committed credit facilities.

Management monitors rolling forecasts of the Group’s available liquidity on the basis of
expected future cash flows.  Forecasts are generated in the first instance at local level in
the operating subsidiaries of the Group.

25

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

2.  Financial risk
2.  management  continued

2.1  Financial risk factors  continued
The table below analyses the Group’s financial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings
based on the remaining period at the date of the statement of financial position to the
contractual  maturity  date.    The  amounts  disclosed  in  the  table  are  the  contractual
undiscounted cash flows.  Balances due within 12 months equal their carrying balances
as the impact of discounting is not significant.

At 31 December 2015
Trade and other payables
Other loans
Bank overdrafts
Trade receivables backed
CCworking capital facilities
Finance lease obligations

At 31 December 2014
Trade and other payables
Others loans
Bank overdrafts
Trade receivables backed
CCworking capital facilities
Finance lease obligations

Less than
1 year
£’000

Between
1 and 2 years
£’000

Between
2 and 5 years
£’000

Over 5 years
£’000

3,359 
293
743

948
334

–
971
–

–
400

–
716
–

–
351

5,677

1,371

1,067

2,626
996
441

1,262
329

5,654

–
496
–

–
302

798

–
190
–

–
474

664

–
–
–

–
–

–

–
–
–

–
–

–

26

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

2.  Financial risk
2.  management  continued

2.2  Capital risk management
The  Group’s  objectives  when  managing  capital  (being  the  equity  and  reserves  of  the
Group) are to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to
provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an
optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In  order  to  maintain  or  adjust  the  capital  structure,  the  Group  may  pay  dividends  to
shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce
debt.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio.  This ratio measures net
debt  as  a  proportion  of  total  equity  as  shown  in  the  Statement  of  Financial  Position.
Net debt is calculated as total borrowings less cash and cash equivalents.

The gearing ratios at 31 December 2015 and 2014 were as follows:

Total borrowings
Less: cash and cash equivalents

Net debt

Total equity

Gearing ratio

2015)
£’000)

4,594)
(854)
)
3,740)
)
5,061)
)
74%)

2014)
£’000)

4,282)
(346)
)
3,936)
)
4,068)
)
97%)

2.3  Fair value estimation
The  carrying  value  less  impairment  provision  of  trade  receivables  and  payables  are
assumed  to  approximate  their  fair  values.    The  fair  value  of  the  financial  liabilities  for
disclosure purposes is estimated by discounting the future contractual cash flows at the
current interest rate.

The fair values of all financial assets and liabilities approximate to their carrying values.

27

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

3.  Critical accounting
3.  assumptions, judgements
3.  and estimates

a)  Impairment of intangible assets (including goodwill)
The Group tests annually whether intangible assets (including goodwill) have suffered any
impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy stated in note 1.  The recoverable
amounts  of  the  cash-generating  units  have  been  determined  based  on  value-in-use
calculations.  The calculations require the use of estimates (note 16).

b)  Deferred tax assets
Certain  subsidiaries  of  the  Group  (principally  Davies  Odell)  have  accelerated  capital
allowances and brought forward tax losses.  Deferred tax assets have been recognised
in  respect  of  the  brought-forward  tax  losses.    The  recognition  of  the  assets  reflects
management’s estimate of the recoverable amounts in respect of these items.  See note 23
for further details.

c)  Retirement benefit liabilities
One subsidiary of the Group operates a defined benefits pension scheme.  The scheme
is  subject  to  triennial  actuarial  valuation  and  the  Group  commissions  an  independent
qualified actuary to update to each financial year end the previous triennial result.  The
results of this update are included in the financial statements.  In reaching the annually
updated results management makes assumptions and estimates.  These assumptions
and estimates are made advisedly, but are not any guarantee of the performance of the
scheme or of the outcome of each triennial review.  See note 8 for further details.

d)  Acquisitions
During the year the Group acquired CEM Teal Limited (see note 15).  Management has
made estimates concerning the intangible assets arising on acquisition as well as the fair
value of the assets and liabilities at the acquisition date.

28

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

4.  Segmental analysis

The Chief Operating Decision-Maker (‘CODM’) of the Group is its Board.  Each operating
segment regularly reports its performance to the Board which, based on those reports,
allocates resources to and assesses the performance of those operating segments.

The operating segments set out below are the only level for which discrete information is
available or utilised by the CODM.

Operating segments and their principal activities are as follows:

Aford Awards, a sports trophy and engraving company.

CEM Press, a manufacturer of fabric and wallpaper pattern books, swatches and shade
cards.

Davies  Odell,  a  manufacturer  and  distributor  of  protection  equipment,  matting  and
footwear components.

Friedman’s, a convertor and distributor of specialist Lycra.

Sunline, a supplier of services to the direct mail market.

Group costs, costs incurred at Head Office level to support the activities of the Group.

The United Kingdom is the main country of operation from which the Group derives its
revenue and operating profit and is the principal location of the assets and liabilities of
the  Group.    The  Group  information  provided  below,  therefore,  also  represents  the
geographical  segmental  analysis.    Of  the  £18,229,000  (2014:  £16,981,000)  revenue
£15,884,000  (2014:  £14,662,000)  is  derived  from  UK  customers  with  the  remaining
£2,345,000  (2014:  £2,319,000)  being  derived  from  a  number  of  overseas  countries,
none  of  which  is  material  in  isolation.    All  assets  and  liabilities  are  held  in  the  United
Kingdom.

The  Board  assesses  the  performance  of  each  operating  segment  by  a  measure  of
adjusted  earnings  before  interest,  tax,  Group  costs,  depreciation  and  amortisation
(EBITDA).  Other information provided to the Board is measured in a manner consistent
with that in the financial statements.

i)  Results by segment

Revenue

Segmental result (EBITDA)

Depreciation and 
CCamortisation charge
Group costs
Net finance costs
Loss on step acquisition
Share of investment
CCaccounted for using
CCthe equity method

Profit before taxation
Taxation

)

Profit for the year

29

Aford)
Awards)
2015)
£’000)

1,468)
)
273)
)

CEM)
Press)
2015)
£’000)

654)
)
(49)
)

Davies)

Odell) Friedman’s)
2015)
2015)
£’000)
£’000)

Sunline)
2015)
£’000)

Total)
2015)
£’000)

4,971)
)
(73)
)

4,221)
)
925)
)

6,915) 18,229)
)
1,280)

)
204)
)

(424)
(370)
(113)
(138)

21)
)
256)
(199)
)
57)
)

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

4.  Segmental analysis
2.  continued

i)  Results by segment continued

(323)
(352)
(13)

14)
)
245)
6)
)
251)
)

Aford)
Awards)
2014)
£’000)

)146)
)
(7)
)

CEM)
Press)
2014)
£’000)

Davies)

Odell) Friedman’s)
2014)
2014)
£’000)
£’000)

Sunline)
2014)
£’000)

Total)
2014)
£’000)

–)
)
–)
)

5,579)
)
216)
)

3,926)
)
643)
)

7,330) 16,981)
)
919)
)

)
67)
)

)

Revenue
)

Segmental result (EBITDA)

Depreciation and 
CCamortisation charge
Group costs
Net finance costs
Share of investment using
CCthe equity method

Profit before taxation
Taxation

)

Profit for the year

ii)  Assets and liabilities by segment as at 31 December

CEPS Group
Aford Awards
CEM Press
Davies Odell
Friedman’s
Sunline

Total – Group

Segment assets
2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

275)
1,393)
2,645)
2,147)
3,408)
3,385)
)

736)
1,350)
–)
2,430)
2,953)
3,699)
)
13,253) 11,168)
)

)

Segment liabilities

Segment net assets

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

(178)
(489)
(2,031)
(1,256)
(1,031)
(3,207)
)
(8,192)
)

(924)
(579)
–)
(1,308)
(853)
(3,436)
)
(7,100)
)

2015)
£’000)

97)
904)
614)
891)
2,377)
178)
)
5,061)
)

2014)
£’000)

(188)
771)
–)
1,122)
2,100)
263)
)
4,068)
)

iii)  Non-cash expenses and capital expenditure
Other than as stated above there were no significant non-cash expenses.

Capital expenditure

Aford Awards
CEM Press
Davies Odell
Friedman’s
Sunline
))
Total – Group

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000) 

5)
361)
74)
2)
93)
)
535)
)

29)
–)
121)
49)
1,152)
)
1,351)
)

30

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

5.  Operating profit

Operating profit is stated after charging/(crediting):
(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Exchange gain
Other operating lease rentals on land and buildings and 
CCon plant and machinery

Auditor remuneration
Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the 
CCGroup's and Company's annual accounts
Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its associates
CCfor other services:
CCAudit of the accounts of subsidiaries

Taxation compliance services
Other non-audit services

Total fees

)

Expenses by nature
Change in stocks of finished goods and work in progress
Raw materials and consumables
Employee benefit expenses
Depreciation and amortisation
Operating lease payments
Other expenses

2015)
£’000)

(1)
(9)

558)

)

2015)
£’000)

36)

36)
)
72)
15)
–)
)
87)
)

2014)
£’000)

45)
(10)

453)

)

2014)
£’000)

28)

31)
)
59)
14)
19)
)
92)
)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

(132)
7,639)
5,718)
424)
558)
3,536)
)
17,743)
)

124)
7,777)
5,015)
320)
453)
3,048)
)
16,737)
)

31

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

6.  Employees

The average monthly number of persons employed by the Group during the year was:

Management and administration
Production and sales

The aggregate costs of these persons were:

Wages and salaries
Social security costs
Other pension costs (note 8)

2015)
Number)

2014)
Number)

62)
210)
)
272)
)

2015)
£’000)

5,205)
427)
86)
)
5,718)
)

46)
146)
)
192)
)

2014)
£’000)

4,472)
419)
124)
)
5,015)
)

Key  management  personnel  are  deemed  to  be  members  of  the  Board  and  their
compensation is shown in note 7.

32

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

7.  Directors’ emoluments
7.  and interests

The aggregate remuneration of the directors was:

Short-term employee benefits

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

115)
)

173)
)

The remuneration of the Chairman, D A Horner, and of the other directors who served
during the year was:

P G Cook
D A Horner
V E Langford
G C Martin
R T Organ

Termination benefits

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

Short term employee benefits
Salaries and fees

Total

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

25)
–)
–)
–)
–)
)
25)
)

–)
–)
–)
–)
–)
)
–)
)

3)
21)
53)
17)
21)
)
115)
)

62)
16)
53)
16)
26)
)
173)
)

28)
21)
53)
17)
21)
)
140)
)

62)
16)
53)
16)
26)
)
173)
)

G C Martin has a pension secured in the Group defined benefits scheme from which he
is currently drawing.  He is not accruing any further additional benefit under this pension
scheme.

Of those directors who remain in office at the year end, their beneficial interests, including
those of their families, in shares of the Group were:

D A Horner
V E Langford
G C Martin
R T Organ

at 31 December 2015
shares

at 31 December 2014
shares

2,863,672
41,667
10,000
173,983

1,047,005
–
10,000
115,650

D  A  Horner's  shareholding  at  31  December  2015  includes  669,500  shares  held  by
Colinette  Holdings  Limited,  a  company  that  is  wholly  owned  by  Chelverton  Asset
Management  Holdings  Limited.    D  A  Horner  and  his  family  have  a  56%  interest  in
Chelverton Asset Management Holdings Limited.

The  register  of  directors’  interests,  which  is  open  to  inspection,  contains  full  details  of
directors’ shareholdings.

8.  Pension costs

The  Group  operates  a  number  of  defined  contribution  schemes.    The  assets  of  the
schemes  are  held  in  independently  administered  funds.    The  pension  cost  charge
represents  contributions  payable 
to  £86,000
(2014: £124,000).  At 31 December 2015 £nil (2014: £6,000) of pension contributions
remain outstanding.

funds  and  amounted 

the 

to 

The Group also operates a defined benefits scheme.  The scheme was closed to new
members in 1988.  The assets of the scheme are held separately from those of the Group
in  a  deposit  administration  contract  underwritten  by  an  insurance  company.
Contributions to the scheme are determined by a qualified external actuary on the basis
of  triennial  valuations  using,  for  accrued  service,  the  ‘projected  unit’  method  and,  for

33

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

8.  Pension costs  continued

future  service,  the  ‘attained  age’  method.    The  most  recent  actuarial  valuation  was  at
1 July 2013 and the main actuarial assumptions were investment returns of 3.8% before
retirement and 3.3% after retirement.  The valuation showed that the total value of the
scheme assets was £3,621,000 and that the level of funding on an ongoing basis is 88%.
At 1 October 2014 the Group agreed a recovery plan of £4,550 per month, an amount
intended to restore a 100% funding level over ten years.

The Group commissioned an independent qualified actuary to update to 31 December
2015 the results of the actuarial valuation at 1 July 2013.  The results of the update are
as follows:

Assumptions at 31 December

Interest rate for discounting liabilities
Expected return on plan assets
RPI price inflation
CPI price inflation
Pensions increase

Mortality
Current and future pensioners

Life expectancies (years)
For a 65 year old male
For a 65 year old female
For a 65 year old male, currently aged 45
For a 65 year old female, currently aged 45

2015)

2014)

3.70%)
5.50%)
2.90%)
2.20%)
2.90%)

3.40%)
5.50%)
2.90%)
2.20%)
2.90%)

PCA00)
year of birth)
long cohort)

PCA00)
year of birth)
long cohort)

23.2)
24.6)
24.6)
25.3)

23.2)
24.5)
24.5)
25.3)

The  independent  actuary  estimates  that  a  0.1%  change  in  the  discount  rate  would
change the value of scheme liabilities by approximately £49,000.

The expected return on plan assets has been determined by the current rate of return on
the plan, less allowances for future uncertainties on the plan and an allowance for costs
to be incurred in administering the plan.

The following amounts were measured in accordance with the requirements of IAS 19:

Amounts recognised in the statement of financial position 
are as follows:

Fair value of plan assets
Present value of defined benefit obligation
Actuarial surplus not recognised

Net surplus

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

3,740)
(3,053)
(687)
)
–)
)

3,348)
(3,157)
(191)
)
–)
)

The  actuarial  surplus  arising  on  the  defined  benefit  pension  scheme  has  not  been
recognised as the Group does not have an unconditional right to refunds of surpluses
arising in the scheme.

34

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

8.  Pension costs  continued

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

Pension cost recognised in the Consolidated Statement 
of Comprehensive Income

Finance cost:
Interest cost
Expected return on plan assets

Total pension credit

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Experience loss
Financial assumption gain/(loss)
Mortality assumption gain

Actuarial gain/(loss)

Experience gains on assets
Movement in actuarial surplus not recognised

Total loss

Movement in Statement of Financial Position for the year

Net pension liability at the start of the year
Employer’s pension cost
Other comprehensive income
Employer contributions

Net pension liability at the end of the year

Reconciliation of the defined benefit obligation

Defined benefit obligation at the start of the year
Interest cost
Actuarial (gain)/loss
Benefits paid

Defined benefit obligation at the end of the year

Reconciliation of plan assets

Fair value of plan assets at the start of the year
Expected return on plan assets
Experience gains on assets
Employer contributions
Benefits and expenses paid

Fair value of plan assets at the end of the year

35

106)
(114)
)
(8)
)
(8)
)

–)
150)
–)
)
150)

278)
(496)
)
(68)
)

–)
8)
(68)
60)
)
–)
)

3,157)
106)
(150)
(60)
)
3,053)
)

3,348)
114)
278)
60)
(60)
)
3,740)
)

124)
(134)
)
(10)
)
(10)
)

(74)
(323)
163)
)
(234)

157)
(10)
)
(87)
)

–)
10)
(87)
77)
)
–)
)

2,858)
124)
234)
(59)
)
3,157)
)

3,039)
134)
157)
77)
(59)
)
3,348)
)

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

8.  Pension costs continued

Asset categories at the end of the year

Equities
Bonds
Property
Cash

2015)

2014)

42.0%)
44.4%)
7.6%)
6.0%)

41.8%)
45.0%)
8.7%)
4.5%)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

2013)
£’000)

2012)
£’000)

2011)
£’000)

9.  Net finance costs

3,039)
(2,858)
(181)
)
–)
)

2,801)
(2,725)
(76)
)
–)
)

2,566)
(2,531)
(35)
)
–)
)

(79)
99)

(105)
)

(85)
)

(191)
149)

(173)
46)

(41)
)

(83)
)

30)
)

(97)
)

25)
)

110)
)

193)
)

Amounts for the current and
previous four years are as follows:

Plan assets
Defined benefit obligation
Actuarial surplus not recognised

Deficit in scheme

Actuarial gain/(losses) on
CCliabilities due to assumptions
Experience gains on assets
Movement in actuarial surplus
CCnot recognised

Total losses recognised
CCfor the year

Cumulative amount of gains
CCand losses recognised in the
CCConsolidated Statement of
CCComprehensive Income

Interest receivable
Pension scheme finance income
CC(note 8)

Total finance income

Interest payable on bank loans
CCand overdrafts
Interest payable on other loans
CCnet of write-back
Finance lease costs
Preference dividend written-back

Total finance costs

Net finance costs

36

3,740)
(3,053)
(687)
)
–)
)

150)
278)

(496)
)

(68)
)

(130)
)

3,348)
(3,157)
(191)
)
–)
)

(234)
157)

(10)
)

(87)
)

(62)
)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

–)

8)
)
8)
)

69)

(51)
103)
–)
)
121)
)
(113)
)

1)

10)
)
11)
)

56)

59)
43)
(134)
)
24)
)
(13)
)

10.  Taxation

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

Analysis of taxation in the year:
Current tax
Tax on profits of the year
Tax in respect of prior years

Total current tax

Deferred tax
Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Total deferred tax

Total tax charge/(credit)

Deferred tax charged to the Consolidated Statement
CCof Changes in Equity

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

111)
–)
)
111)
)

88)
)
88)
)
199)
)

–)
)

43)
(21)
)
22)
)

(28)
)
(28)
)
(6)
)

–)
)

The  tax  assessed  for  the  year  is  higher  (2014:  lower)  than  the  standard  rate  of
corporation tax in the UK (20.25%) (2014: 21.5%).

Factors affecting current tax:
Profit before taxation

Profit multiplied by the standard rate of UK tax
CCof 20.25% (2014: 21.5%)
Effects of:
Permanent differences
Prior year adjustment, current tax

Total tax charge/(credit)

256)
)

52)

147)
–)
)
199)
)

245)
)

53)

(38)
(21)
)
(6)
)

The standard rate of corporation tax in the UK changed from 21% to 20% with effect
from 1 April 2015.  Accordingly, the Group’s profits for this accounting year are taxed at
an effective rate of 20.25%.

Reductions in the United Kingdom corporation tax rate to 19% (effective from 1 April 2017)
and 18% (effective from 1 April 2020) were substantively enacted on 26 October 2015.
This  will  reduce  the  Group’s  future  current  tax  charge  accordingly.    The  deferred  tax
balance has been calculated based on the rate of 20%.

37

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

11.  Dividends

No ordinary dividends have been paid or proposed for the year (2014: £nil).

12.  Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated on the loss for the year after taxation of £275,000
(2014: loss £169,000) and on 7,530,443 (2014: 5,407,155) ordinary shares, being the
weighted number in issue during the year.

No adjustment is required for dilution in either year as there are no items that would have
a dilutive impact on earnings per share.

13.  Loss of the holding
13.  company

Of the Group loss for the year a loss of £478,000 (2014: loss £1,301,000) is dealt with
in  the  financial  statements  of  CEPS  PLC.    The  directors  have  taken  advantage  of  the
exemption available under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and not presented
the results for the Company alone.

38

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

14.  Property, plant and
14.  equipment

14.  Group

Cost
at 1 January 2014
Additions at cost
Disposals

at 31 December 2014
Additions at cost
Assets acquired on purchase
CCof a subsidiary
Disposals

at 31 December 2015

Accumulated depreciation
at 1 January 2014
Charge for the year
Disposals

at 31 December 2014
Charge for the year

at 31 December 2015

Net book amount
at 31 December 2015

at 31 December 2014

Plant,)
Leasehold) machinery,)
tools and)
moulds)
£’000)

property)
improvements)
£’000)

Motor)
vehicles)
£’000)

131)
6)
–)
)
137)
1)

–)
–)
)
138)
)

72)
13)
–)
)
85)
11)
)
96)
)

42)
)
52)
)

3,988)
1,318)
(160)
)
5,146)
183)

330)
(2)
)
5,657)
)

3,102)
279)
(117)
)
3,264)
381)
)
3,645)
)

2,012)
)
1,882)
)

140)
27)
(22)
)
145)
21)

–)
–)
)
166)
)

81)
19)
(20)
)
80)
18)
)
98)
)

68)
)
65)
)

)
Total)
£’000)

4,259)
1,351)
(182)
)
5,428)
205)

330)
(2)
)
5,961)
)

3,255)
311)
(137)
)
3,429)
410)
)
3,839)
)

2,122)
)
1,999)
)

At  the  year  end,  assets  held  under  hire  purchase  contracts  and  capitalised  as  plant,
machinery, tools and moulds have a net book value of £1,453,000 (2014: £1,539,000)
and an accumulated depreciation balance of £1,699,000 (2014: £1,461,000).

The  depreciation  has  been  charged  to  cost  of  sales  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of
Comprehensive Income.

14.  Company

Throughout 2014 and 2015 the Company held no property, plant and equipment.

39

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

15.  Business combinations

Acquisition in 2015

During  the  year  CEPS  significantly  increased  its  indirect  shareholding  in  CEM  Press
Limited from 21.4% to 71.5% and, as a result, gained control.  CEPS previously acquired
its  shareholding  in  CEM  Press  Limited  through  CEM  Press  Holdings  Limited  (formerly
NG42 Acquisitions Limited) which was initially formed for the purpose of acquiring CEM
Press.

In line with CEPS’ financing strategy, the acquisition was effected by the introduction of
a new holding company, CEM Teal Limited, which has acquired 97.9% of CEM Press and
of which CEPS is a 73% shareholder.  Taking control of CEM Press will enable the Group
to modernise its working practices, reduce costs and develop relationships.

CEM Press is a manufacturer of fabric and wallpaper pattern books, swatches and shade
cards, with a focus on the high-end fabric and wallpaper market.

A  loss  of  £138,000  arose  as  a  result  of  the  step  acquisition  in  respect  of  the  original
investment in CEM Press.  Up to the date of acquisition the Group's share of CEM Press
results was £21,000 (profit).

The Group incurred acquisition related costs of £18,000 for legal expenses.  These have
been included in administrative expenses in the Statement of Consolidated Income.

The fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities acquired and their carrying values as
of the acquisition date were as follows:

)

Identifiable assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets (customer lists)
Stock
Cash and cash equivalents
Trade receivables
Other current assets

Total assets

Assumed liabilities
Current liabilities
CCTrade and other payables
Non-current liabilities
CCBorrowings
CCProvisions for liabilities and charges

Total liabilities

Total identifiable net assets

Purchase price consideration 
CC(cash £270,000, equity £90,000 and loan stock £1,532,000)
Total identifiable net assets
Non-controlling interests on acquisition

Goodwill

)

)

)
)

)
)

)

)
)
)
)
)

)
)
)

)

)

£’000)

330)
577)
281)
3)
682)
106)
)
1,979)
)

796)

78)
60)
)
934)
)
1,061)
)

1,892)
(1,061)
27)
)
858)
)

40

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

15.  Business combinations
15.  continued

Analysis of cash flows on acquisition
Year ended 31 December 2015
Cash paid
Less: net cash acquired with the subsidiary

Net cash flow on acquisition

£’000)

270)
(3)

)
267)
)

)

The fair values have been determined on a provisional basis.  The fair value of intangible
assets (CEM Press's customer relationships) has been determined provisionally pending
completion of management's valuation.

If  new  information  obtained  within  one  year  from  the  acquisition  date  about  facts  and
circumstances  that  existed  at  the  acquisition  date  identifies  adjustment  to  the  above
amounts,  or  any  additional  provisions  that  existed  at  the  acquisition  date,  then  the
acquisition accounting will be revised.

CEM Press has been successfully integrated post-acquisition into the Group.

From  the  date  of  acquisition,  CEM  Press  has  contributed  £655,000  of  revenue  and
contributed a loss before tax of £113,000, attributable to the continuing operations of the
Group.  If the business combination had taken place at the beginning of the year, revenue
from  continuing  operations  for  the  Group  would  have  been  £3,114,000  and  the  profit
before tax from continuing operations for the Group would have been £51,000.

41

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

16.  Intangible assets

15.  Group

Goodwill) Customer lists)
£’000)

£’000)

Other)
£’000)

Total)
£’000)

Cost
at 1 January 2014
Additions at cost

at 31 December 2014
Acquisition
Additions at cost
Impairment
Disposals

at 31 December 2015

Accumulated amortisation and impairment
at 1 January 2014
Amortisation charge

at 31 December 2014
Amortisation charge
Disposals

at 31 December 2015

Net book amount
at 31 December 2015

at 31 December 2014

4,839)
1,039)
)
5,878)
858)
–)
(79)
–)
)
6,657)
)

2,621)
–)
)
2,621)
–)
–)
)
2,621)
)

4,036)
)
3,257)
)

–)
–)
)
–)
577)
–)
–)
–)
)
577)
)

–)
–)
)
–)
–)
–)
)
–)
)

577)
)
–))
)

80)
)

(79)
)
1)
)

1)
)

–)
)
79)
)

82)
14)
)
96)
–)
35)
–)
(62)
)
69)
)

59)
9)
)
68)
14)
(52)
)
30)
)

39)
)
28)
)

17)
)

–)
)
17)
)

17)
)

–)
)
–)
)

4,921)
1,053)
)
5,974)
1,435)
35)
(79)
(62)
)
7,303)
)

2,680)
9)
)
2,689)
14)
(52)
)
2,651)
)

4,652)
)
3,285)
)

97)
)

(79)
)
18)
)

18)
)

–)
)
79)
)

15.  Company

Cost
at 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014

Impairment

at 31 December 2015

Accumulated amortisation
at 1 January 2014, 31 December 2014
and 31 December 2015

Net book amount
at 31 December 2015

at 31 December 2014

)

Goodwill is not amortised under IFRS, but is subject to impairment testing either annually
or  on  the  occurrence  of  a  triggering  event.    Amortisation  charges  are  included  in
administration expenses.

Customer lists are not amortised, but are subject to annual impairment reviews.

Other intangibles relate to computer software and website costs and are amortised over
their estimated economic lives.  The annual amortisation charge is expensed to cost of
sales in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income.

42

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

16.  Intangible assets
16.  continued

Impairment tests for intangible assets (goodwill and customer lists)

The Group tests goodwill and intangible assets arising on the acquisition of a subsidiary
(customer  lists)  annually  for  impairment  or  more  frequently  if  there  are  indications  that
goodwill or customer lists may be impaired.

For  the  purpose  of  impairment  testing,  goodwill  is  allocated  to  the  Group’s  cash
generating units (CGUs) on a business segment basis:

at 1 January 2014
Acquisition of subsidiary

at 31 December 2014
Acquisition of subsidiary:
CCGoodwill
CCCustomer lists
Amortisation charge

at 31 December 2015

Aford)
Awards)
£’000)

CEM)
Press) Friedman's)
£’000)
£’000)

Sunline)
£’000)

Total)
£’000)

–)
1,039)
)
1,039)

–)
–)
–)
)
1,039)
)

–)
–)
)
–)

858)
577)
–)
)
1,435)
)

1,529)
–)
)
1,529)

–)
–)
(1)
)
1,528)
)

689)
–)
)
689)

–)
–)
(78)
)
611)
)

2,218)
1,039)
)
3,257)

858)
577)
(79)
)
4,613)
)

The  recoverable  amount  of  a  CGU  is  based  on  value-in-use  calculations.    These
calculations  use  cash  flow  projections  based  on  financial  budgets  approved  by
management covering a five year period.  Cash flows beyond five years are assumed to
be  constant.    A  discount  rate  of  12.23%  (2014:  14.26%),  representing  the  estimated
pre-tax cost of capital, has been applied to these projections.

The key assumptions used in the value-in-use calculations are as follows:

Aford Awards
CEM Press
Friedman's
Sunline

Revenue growth
2014)
2015)
%)
%)

3.0)
2.0)
3.0)
3.0)

3.0)
–)
3.0)
3.0)

Gross margin

2015)
%)

38.1)
41.0)
34.1)
39.2)

2014)
%)

35.9)
–)
36.0)
43.7)

Long-term growth
2014)
2015)
%)
%)

2.0)
2.0)
2.0)
2.0)

2.0)
–)
2.0)
3.0)

Management has determined the budgeted revenue growth and gross margins based on
past performance and their expectations of market developments in the future.  Long-
term  growth  rates  are  based  on  the  lower  of  the  UK  long-term  growth  rate  and
management's general expectations for the relevant CGU.

The  value-in-use  calculation  is  sensitive  to  changes  in  the  gross  margin  percentage
assumed  and  the  discount  rate  assumed.    A  fall  of  10%  in  respect  of  the  above
assumptions does not give rise to an indication of impairment in relation to the carrying
value of the CGUs noted.  As such, management does not consider the carrying value
of the goodwill for each CGU to be impaired.

43

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

17.  Investments

14.  Group

Cost and net book amount
at 1 January
Share of net profit in associate
Deemed disposal as a result
CCof step acquisition (note 15)

at 31 December

Shares)
in Group)
subsidiaries)
£’000)

Investments in associate
2014)
£’000)

2015)
£’000)

568)
21)

(589)

)
–)
)

Loans)
to Group)

554)
14)

–)

)
568)
)

Total)

subsidiaries)in subsidiaries)
£’000)

investments) Investments)
in associate)
£’000)

£’000)

14.  Company

Cost and net book amount
at 1 January 2014

674)

1,561)

2,235)

Write-off
Acquisition
Repayments

at 31 December 2014

Disposal
Acquisition

at 31 December 2015

–)
70)
–)
)
744)

–)
73)
)
817)
)

(622)
700)
(89)
)
1,550)

–)
592)
)
2,142)
)

(622)
770)
(89)
)
2,294)

–)
665)
)
2,959)
)

500)

–)
–)
–)
)
500)

(500)
–)
)
–)
)

Total)
investments)
£’000)

2,735)

(622)
770)
(89)

2,794)

(500)
665)
)
2,959)
)

Of the loans to Group subsidiaries £592,000 is represented by 7% loan stock repayable
in  instalments  between  October  2018  and  September  2021  and  £850,000  by  5%
(originally  15%)  loan  stock  originally  repayable  in  instalments  between  April  2009  and
February  2012.    In  all  cases  repayments  will  only  be  requested  when  surplus  cash  is
available.

44

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

17.  Investments continued

Investments in subsidiary companies are stated at cost.  A list of subsidiary undertakings,
all of which have been included in the consolidation, is given below.

Name of subsidiary and principal activity

Aford Awards (Holdings) Limited
CCHolding company for Aford Awards Limited

Aford Awards Limited
CCSuppliers of trophies and awards
CCand engraving specialists

CEM Teal Limited
CCHolding company for CEM Press 
CC(Holdings) Limited

CEM Press (Holdings) Limited
CCHolding company for CEM Group Limited

CEM Group Limited
CCHolding company for CEM Press Limited

CEM Press Limited
CCDesign and compilation of fabric, wallpaper
CCand carpet sample books

Davies Odell Limited
CCManufacturer and distributor of protection
CCequipment, matting and footwear components

Signature Fabrics Limited
CCHolding company for Friedman's Limited

Proportion of)
ownership)
*
Proportion of* held by non-)
controlling)
interest)

ownership*
interests*

)

Place of
operation

England

70%*

30%*

England

70%*

30%*

England

73%*

27%*

England

71%*

29%*

England

71%*

29%*

England

71%*

29%*

England

85%*

15%*

England

55%*

45%*

Friedman’s Limited
CCConversion and distribution of specialist Lycra

England

)55%*

45%*

Sunline Direct Mail (Holdings) Limited
CCHolding company for Sunline Direct Mail Limited) England

80%*

20%*

Sunline Direct Mail Limited
CCSupplier of services to the direct mail market

England

)80%*

20%*

England

85%*

15%*

England

85%*

15%*

England

85%*

15%*

England

85%*

15%*

Davies & Co (Kettering) Limited
CCDormant company

Phillips Rubber Limited
CCDormant company

Farmat Limited
CCDormant company

Davies and Company Limited
CCDormant company

* Held via subsidiaries.

45

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

17.  Investments continued

Details of non-wholly owned subsidiaries that have a material non-controlling interest are
disclosed below:

Statement of Financial Position

As at 31 December
Current
Assets
Liabilities

Total current net assets

Non-current
Assets
Liabilities

Total non-current net assets

Net assets

Statement of Comprehensive Income

For year ended 31 December
Revenue
Profit before income tax
Income tax expense
Post-tax profit from continuing operations
Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income allocated
CCto non-controlling interests
Dividends paid to non-controlling interests

Summarised cash flows

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Interest paid
Income tax paid

Net cash generated from operating activities

Net cash used in investing activities

Net cash used in financing activities

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents and bank overdrafts
Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of year

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at end of year

Signature Fabrics Group
2014)
£’000)

2015)
£’000)

1,737)
(976)
)
761)
)

143)
(55)
)
88)
)
849)
)

1,241)
(756)
)
485)
)

183)
(96)
)
87)
)
572)
)

Signature Fabrics Group
2014)
£’000)

2015)
£’000)

4,221)
835)
(157)
678)
–)
)
678)
)

305)
180)

3,926)
574)
(106)
468)
–)
)
468)
)

211)
45)

Signature Fabrics Group
2014)
£’000)

2015)
£’000)

534)
(4)
(61)
)
469)
)
(25)
)
(67)
)
377)
88)
)
465)
)

271)
(5)
(113)
)
153)
)
(120)
)
(28)
)
5)
83)
)
88)
)

There  are  no  restrictions  on  the  cash  flows  of  the  Group  arising  as  a  result  of  the
non-controlling interests within Group subsidiaries.

46

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

18.  Inventories

Raw materials and consumables
Work in progress
Finished goods and goods for resale

Group

Company

2015)
£’000)

707)
24)
1,299)
)
2,030)
)

2014)
£’000)

458)
23)
1,433)
)
1,914)
)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

–)
–)
–)
)
–)
)

–)
–)
–)
)
–)
)

The  cost  of  inventories  recognised  as  an  expense  and  included  in  cost  of  sales
amounted to £7,639,000 (2014: £7,777,000).

47

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

19.  Trade and other
18.  receivables

Trade receivables
less: provision for impairment
CCof trade receivables

Trade receivables – net
Amount due from subsidiary 
CCcompanies
Other receivables
Prepayments and accrued income

Group

Company

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

2,658)

2,281)

(9)
)
2,649)

–)
110)
396)
)
3,155)
)

(30)
)
2,251)

–)
81)
237)
)
2,569)
)

–)

–)
)
–)

127)
–)
5)
)
132)
)

–)

–)
)
–)

346)
12)
5)
)
363)
)

As at 31 December 2015, trade receivables of £1,658,000 (2014: £1,709,000) were fully
performing.

Trade receivables that are less than three months past due are not considered impaired.
As  of  31  December  2015,  trade  receivables  of  £925,000  (2014:  £482,000)  were  past
due, but not impaired.  These relate to a number of independent customers for whom
there is no recent history of default.

At  31  December  2015  trade  receivables  of  £75,000  (2014:  £90,000)  were  provided.
A significant portion of the receivables is expected to be recovered and a provision of
£9,000  (2014:  £30,000)  has  been  made  for  non-recovery.    The  individually  impaired
receivables  mainly  relate  to  customers  who  are  in  unexpectedly  difficult  economic
situations.  The ageing of these receivables is as follows:

3 to 6 months
Over 6 months

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

63)
12)
)
75)
)

81)
9)
)
90)
)

)
)

)
)
)
)
)

)

)
)
)
)
)

The carrying amounts of the Group trade and other receivables are denominated in the
following currencies:

Sterling
Euro
US $

2015)
£’000)

2,562)
82)
14)
)
2,658)
)

2014)
£’000)

2,197)
79)
5)
)
2,281)
)

)
)

)
)

)
)
)

)

)
)

)
)
)

48

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

19.  Trade and other
18.  receivables continued

20.  Trade and other
18.  payables

Movements in the Group provision for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:

At 1 January
Provision for receivables impairment
Receivables written off during the year
Unused amounts reversed

At 31 December

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

30)
6)
(27)
–)
)
9)
)

22)
10)
(19)
17)
)
30)
)

)
)

)
)
)

)
)
)

)

)
)
)

)
)
)

The  creation  and  release  of  provisions  for  impaired  receivables  have  been  included  in
cost  of  sales  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income.    Amounts
charged to the allowance account are generally written off when there is no expectation
of recovering additional cash.

The other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets.  The
Group does not hold any collateral as security.

The maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date is the carrying value of each
class of trade and other receivables.

Trade payables
Other tax and social security
Other payables
Accruals and deferred income

Group

Company

2015)
£’000)

2,042)
740)
31)
546)
)
3,359)
)

2014)
£’000)

1,690)
398)
116)
468)
)
2,672)
)

2015)
£’000)

–)
–)
–)
209)
)
209)
)

2014)
£’000)

–)
–)
–)
124)
)
124)
)

49

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

21.  Borrowings

Group

Company

Non-current:
Other loans
Hire purchase obligations

Current:
Bank overdraft
Trade receivables backed working
CCcapital facilities
Other loans
Hire purchase obligations

Total borrowings

2015)
£’000)

1,687)
588)
)
2,275)
)

2014)
£’000)

686)
720)
)
1,406)
)

743)

441)

948)
293)
335)
)
2,319)
)
4,594)
)

1,262)
900)
273)
)
2,876)
)
4,282)
)

2015)
£’000)

2014)
£’000)

–)
–)
)
–)
)

–)

–)
–)
–)
)
–)
)
–)
)

–)
–)
)
–)
)

–)

–)
800)
–)
)
800)
)
800)
)

Bank  borrowings  and  overdrafts  are  secured  by  fixed  and  floating  charges  over  the
assets of the subsidiary to which they relate.  Trade receivable backed working capital
facilities  are  secured  by  the  trade  receivable  to  which  they  relate.    All  borrowings  are
denominated in Sterling.

At 31 December 2015 the analysis of the security of bank borrowings and overdrafts and
trade receivables backed working capital facilities was as follows:

Secured on the assets of

Aford Awards
CEM Press
Davies Odell
Friedman’s
Sunline

By fixed and)
floating charges)
£’000)

By trade)
receivables)
£’000)

–)
189)
554)
–)
–)
)
743)
)

–)
–)
307)
–)
641)
)
948)
)

Total)
£’000)

–)
189)
861)
–)
641)
)
1,691)
)

At 31 December 2014 the analysis of the security of bank borrowings and overdrafts and
trade receivables backed working capital facilities was as follows:

By fixed and)
floating charges)
£’000)

By trade)
receivables)
£’000)

–)
–)
441)
–)
–)
)
441)
)

–)
–)
421)
29)
812)
)
1,262)
)

Total)
£’000)

–)
–)
862)
29)
812)
)
1,703)
)

Secured on the assets of

Aford Awards
CEM Press
Davies Odell
Friedman’s
Sunline

50

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

21.  Borrowings continued

The  exposure  of  the  Group’s  borrowings  to  interest  rate  changes  and  the  contractual
repricing dates at the dates of the Statement of Financial Position are as follows:

Within one year
Between one and two years
Between two and five years

2015)
Finance leases/)
Bank) Hire purchase)
£’000)
£’000)

2014)
Finance leases/)
Bank) Hire purchase)
£’000)
£’000)

1,691)
–)
–)
)
1,691)
)

335)
324)
264)
)
923)
)

1,703)
–)
–)
)
1,703)
)

273)
268)
452)
)
993)
)

The fair value of non-current borrowings equals their carrying amount, as the impact of
discounting is not significant.

There is no material difference between the carrying book value and the fair value of the
finance lease obligations.

£396,000 of other loans represent preference shares of £130,000, loan stock of £200,000
subscribed  by  non-controlling  interests  and  loan  stock  of  £66,000  issued  to  non-
controlling  interests  in  settlement  of  deferred  consideration.    Preference  shares  carry  a
dividend of 5% pa (reduced from 15%) and loan stock interest of 5% pa (reduced from
15%) and were repayable in quarterly instalments over three years commencing in April
2009.  However, repayment has been deferred until at least 2017.  The preference shares
and  loan  stock  are  held  by  the  non-controlling  interest  and  are  in  Sunline  Direct  Mail
(Holdings) Limited.

Other loans also include £963,000 of 4% Investor Loan Notes, £223,000 of 7% Vendor
Loan Notes and £108,000 of 7% Shareholder Loan Notes in CEM Teal.  20% (£193,000)
of the Investor Loan Notes are repayable at the end of September 2016, 40% (£385,000)
at the end of September 2017 and the balance (£385,000) at the end of September 2018.
CEPS  has  guaranteed  the  repayment  of  the  Investor  Loan  Notes  if  CEM  Teal  has
insufficient cash available to do so.  The Vendor Loan Notes and Shareholder Loan Notes
will be repaid in instalments by CEM Teal between October 2018 and September 2021,
subject to cash availability.

The minimum lease payments under hire purchase agreements fall due as follows:

Not more than one year
Between one and two years
Between two and five years

Finance charge

Present value of hire purchase agreement liabilities)

2015)
£’000)

334)
400)
351)
)
1,085)
(162)
)
923)
)

2014)
£’000)

329)
302)
474)
)
1,105)
(112)
)
993)
)

The carrying amounts of the Group’s borrowings are denominated in Sterling.

Trade receivables backed working capital facilities are available to the Group and are subject to
renegotiation  on  an  annual  basis.    The  Group  has  no  bank  loan  facilities  available  for  draw
down.

51

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

22a.  Financial instruments
21a. by category

The accounting policies for financial instruments have been applied to the line items below:

Group
31 December 2015
Assets as per Statement of Financial Position

Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments and accrued income)
Cash and cash equivalents

Total

Liabilities at amortised cost as per Statement of Financial Position

Bank borrowings (excluding hire purchase obligations)
Hire purchase obligations
Trade and other payables (excluding statutory liabilities)
Other loans

Total

Group
31 December 2014
Assets as per Statement of Financial Position

Trade and other receivables (excluding prepayments and accrued income)
Cash and cash equivalents

Total

Loans and)
receivables)
£’000)
2,759)
854)
)
3,613)
)

Other financial)
)liabilities)
)£’000)
1,691)
923)
2,619)
1,980)
)
7,213)
)

Loans and)
receivables)
£’000)
2,332)
346)
)
2,678)
)

Liabilities at amortised cost as per Statement of Financial Position

Bank borrowings (excluding hire purchase obligations)
Hire purchase obligations
Trade and other payables (excluding statutory liabilities)
Other loans

Other financial)
liabilities)
£’000)
1,703)
993)
2,274)
1,586)
)
6,556)
)
The Company’s assets in both the current and prior year are categorised as cash and
cash  equivalents  and  receivables.    The  Company’s  liabilities  are  categorised  as  other
financial liabilities at amortised cost.

Total

52

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

22b.  Credit quality of
21b.  financial assets

The  credit  quality  of  financial  assets  that  are  neither  past  due  nor  impaired  can  be
assessed by reference to external credit ratings (if available) or to historical information
about counterparty default rates:

Trade and other receivables are analysed between:

Group

CEPS Group
Aford Awards
CEM Press
Davies Odell
Friedman’s
Sunline

)

)
)
)

)
)
)
)
)

)
)

)
)
)

)
)
)
)
)

2015)
£’000)

5)
112)
692)
604)
470)
1,272)
)
3,155)
)

2014)
£’000)

17)
72)
–)
691)
449)
1,340)
)
2,569)
)

The Group has a customer base which is for the most part stable, long standing and well
known to the businesses.  Credit and credit terms are negotiated with these customers
taking into account their trading history with the Group and their payment record.  New
customers  are  only  given  credit  after  taking  references  or  making  trade  and  agency
enquiries.  Management does not believe there to be a credit exposure beyond that for
which provision has already been made.

The Company cash and cash equivalents includes £854,000 (2014: £346,000) which is
on account with differing financial institutions and is readily available.  The external credit
rating as assessed by Standard & Poor’s for short-term funds for each of the institutions
is A-1+.

23.  Deferred tax

The following are the major deferred tax assets and liabilities recognised by the Group,
and the movement thereon, during the current and prior years.

At 1 January 2014, asset/(liability)
Credit/(debit) to the Consolidated
CCStatement of Comprehensive Income

at 31 December 2014, asset/(liability)

Debit to the Consolidated Statement 
CCof Comprehensive Income

at 31 December 2015, asset/(liability)

)
)
Losses)
£’000)

Other) Accelerated)
timing)
capital)
allowances)
differences)
£’000)
£’000)

393)

39)
)
432)

(30)
)
402)
)

60)

(47)
)
13)

(43)
)
(30)
)

(30)

36)
)
6)

(15)
)
(9)
)

Total)
£’000)

423)

28)
)
451)

(88)
)
363)
)

The  deferred  income  tax  is  split  in  the  Consolidated  Statement  of  Financial  Position
between a deferred tax asset of £440,000 (2014: £487,000) and a deferred tax liability
of £77,000 (2014: £36,000).  These are shown net in the table above.

Deferred  income  tax  assets  and  liabilities  are  offset  only  when  there  is  a  legally
enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the
deferred income taxes relate to the same fiscal authority.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised for tax loss carry-forwards to the extent that
the realisation of the related tax benefit of the future taxable profits is probable.

53

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

24.  Provisions for
23.  liabilities and charges

At 1 January 2014
Amounts utilised for in year

At 31 December 2014

Amounts utilised for in year

At 31 December 2015

These amounts are expected to be settled
as follows:

Current
Non-current

Dilapidations)
£’000)

Redditch)
closure)
£’000)

)
Total)
£’000)

55)
–)
)
55)

–)
)
55)
)

–)
55)
)
55)
)

14)
(14)
)
–)

–)
)
–)
)

–)
–)
)
–)
)

69)
(14)
)
55)

–)
)
55)
)

–)
55)
)
55)
)

Dilapidations
Dilapidation  provisions  are  carried  against  the  costs  anticipated  on  termination  of
property leases.  The leases to which they relate are currently due to terminate in 2022.

Redditch closure costs
These  costs  relate  to  the  closure  of  an  operating  site  in  Sunline.    This  closure  was
completed in 2011.  However, some of the costs were not incurred until 2014 as they
relate to property matters of the site which were concluded then.  This provision has now
been fully utilised.

25.  Share capital and
25.  premium

)

At 1 January 2014 and 
CC31 December 2014

Shares issued
Transaction costs

at 31 December 2015

Number)
of shares)

5,407,155)
)
4,166,667)
)
)
9,573,822)
)

Ordinary)
shares)
£’000)

Share)
premium)
£’000)

541)
)
416)
–)
)
957)
)

3,114)
)
834)
(5)
)
3,943)
)

Total)
£’000)

3,655)
)
1,250)
(5)
)
4,900)
)

The Group issued 4,166,667 shares on 29 June 2015.  The ordinary shares issued
have the same rights as the other shares in issue.  The fair value of the shares issued
amounted to £1.25m (30 pence per share).  The related transaction costs amounting
to £5,000 have been netted off with the deemed proceeds.

54

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

26.  Operating lease
26.  commitments

The Group leases various offices, warehouses and light industrial premises under non-
cancellable  operating  lease  agreements.    The  leases  have  varying  terms,  escalation
clauses and renewal rights.

The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are:

27.  Related party
26.  transactions

Land and buildings:
CCwithin one year
CCwithin two to five years
CCafter more than five years

2015)
£’000)

615)
2,304)
506)
)
3,425)
)

2014)
£’000)

372)
1,187)
606)
)
2,165)
)

During the year the Company entered into the following transactions with its subsidiaries.

Aford)
Awards)

)

(Holdings)) CEM Teal)
Limited)
£’000)

Limited)
£’000)

–)
–)

–)
–)

56)
9)

20)
3)

–)
–)

–)
–)

10)
–)

–)
–)

Receipt of equity share dividend
– 2015
– 2014
Waiver of preference share dividend
– 2015
– 2014
Receipt/(write-back) of loan note
CCinterest
– 2015
– 2014
Receipt of management charge
CCincome
– 2015
– 2014

Amount owed to/(by) the Company
– 31 December 2015
– 31 December 2014

700)
700)

567)
–)

)

Sunline)
Davies) Signature) Direct Mail)
(Holdings))
Fabrics)
Limited)
Limited)
£’000)
£’000)

Odell)
Limited)
£’000)

–)
–)

–)
–)

–)
–)

15)
–)

74)
(1)

220)
55)

–)
–)

–)
2)

–)
–)

–)
(537)

(298)
127)

30)
12)

15)
15)

–)
–)

892)
1,196)

28.  Cash and cash
26.  equivalents

During the year the following directors subscribed for shares in CEPS: D A Horner 1,816,667
shares, V E Langford 41,667 shares, and R T Organ 58,333 shares.

During the year fees amounting to £62,844, inclusive of VAT, for the services of V E Langford
were recharged from Chelverton Asset Management.

Directors' remuneration is shown in note 7 on page 33.

Group

Company

2015)
£’000)

854)
(743)
)
111)
)

2014)
£’000)

346)
(441)
)
(95)
)

2015)
£’000)

270)
–)
)
270)
)

2014)
£’000)

73)
–)
)
73)
)

Cash at bank and in hand
Bank overdrafts repayable on demand

55

CEPS PLC  31 December 2015

Notes to the Financial Statements continued

29.  Events after the
29.  reporting period

On 1 February 2016 CEPS announced that it had acquired 54.97% of the issued share
capital of a newly incorporated company, Hickton Holdings Limited (formerly RAM (1003)
Limited) for an investment of £670,000 made up of 54,973 ordinary shares for £55,000
and £615,000 Shareholder Loan Notes with an 8% interest rate.  Hickton Holdings Limited
was formed to acquire 100% of Hickton Consultants Limited, a leading provider of clerk of
works services to the  construction  industry, providing a quality  assurance resource  on
larger  value  projects  across  the  UK,  with  customers  ranging  from  end-user  clients,
architects, project management firms and contractors.  The business was established in
1991 and is based in Elsecar, South Yorkshire.

In order to finance the acquisition, CEPS received a loan from a third party for £690,000.
The loan carries interest at 10% pa and is repayable on or before 31 January 2017 and
may be repaid in one or more instalments after 30 October 2016.  The loan is secured
against assets held (directly or indirectly) by D A Horner.

Details of net assets acquired and goodwill are as follows:

On acquisition)
£’000)

Purchase consideration:
CCCash paid
CCDeferred consideration

Total purchase consideration
Fair value of assets acquired (see below)
Non-controlling interest

1,415)
650)
)
2,065)
(701)
315)
)
1,679))
)
The above goodwill is attributable to Hickton Consultants' strong position and profitability
in trading in the clerk of works market.

Goodwill

The  assets  and  liabilities  arising  from  the  acquisition,  provisionally  determined,  are  as
follows:

Cash and cash equivalents
Property, plant and equipment
Trade and other receivables
Trade and other payables
Borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets acquired

On acquisition)
£’000)

600)
23)
660)
(402)
(176)
(4)
)
701)
)

If new information obtained within one year from the acquisition date about the facts and
circumstances  that  existed  at  the  acquisition  date  identifies  adjustments  to  the  above
amounts,  or  any  additional  provisions  that  existed  at  the  acquisition  date,  then  the
acquisition accounting will be revised.

56

CEPS PLC  Company number 00507461

Notice of Meeting

Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of CEPS PLC (the ‘Company’)
will be held at 12b George Street, Bath BA1 2EH on Monday 20 June 2016 at 11.30am
for the following purposes:

To  consider  and,  if  thought  fit,  to  pass  the  following  resolutions,  of  which  resolutions
numbered  1  to  5  will  be  proposed  as  ordinary  resolutions  and  resolutions  numbered
6 to 8 as special resolutions.

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

To receive, consider and adopt the Company’s annual accounts for the financial
year  ended  31  December  2015  together  with  the  Directors’  and  Auditors’
Reports on those accounts.

To re-elect V E Langford as a director.

To re-appoint PKF Littlejohn LLP, Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors,
as auditors of the Company to hold office from conclusion of the meeting to the
conclusion of the next meeting at which the accounts are to be laid.

To authorise the directors to agree the auditors’ remuneration.

THAT,  in  substitution  for  any  existing  authority  subsisting  at  the  date  of  this
resolution  to  the  extent  unused,  the  directors  be  generally  and  unconditionally
authorised in accordance with section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the ‘Act’)
to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any
security  into  shares  in  the  Company  up  to  an  aggregate  nominal  amount  of
£957,382,  such  authority  to  expire  at  the  commencement  of  the  next  Annual
General Meeting held after the date of the passing of this resolution, but so that
the Company may, before the expiry of such period, make an offer or agreement
which  would  or  might  require  equity  securities  to  be  allotted  after  the  expiry  of
such period and the directors may allot equity securities pursuant to such an offer
or agreement as if the authority had not expired.

To delete Article 3 from the Articles of Association.

THAT  subject  to  and  conditional  on  the  passing  of  resolution  number  5  and  in
substitution for any existing authority subsisting at the date of this resolution to
the extent unused, the directors be empowered, pursuant to section 570 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  number  5  as  if  section
561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power
shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities:

7.1 in  connection  with  an  offer  of  such  securities  by  way  of  rights  issue  (as
defined below);

For  the  purposes  of  this  resolution,  ‘rights  issue’  means  an  offer  of  equity
securities  to  holders  of  ordinary  shares  in  the  capital  of  the  Company  on  the
register on a record date fixed by the directors in proportion as nearly as may be
to the respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them, but subject to such
exclusions  or  other  arrangements  as  the  directors  may  deem  necessary  or
expedient  to  deal  with  any  treasury  shares,  fractional  entitlements  or  legal  or
practical issues arising under the laws of, or the requirements of any recognised
regulatory body or any stock exchange in, any territory or any other matter.

57

Annual General Meeting
continued

CEPS PLC  Company number 00507461

Notice of Meeting continued

7 continued

7.2 otherwise  than  pursuant  to  sub-paragraph  7.1  above  up  to  an  aggregate
nominal amount of £957,382 (such shares representing approximately 100% of
the  Company’s  issued  ordinary  capital  as  at  the  date  of  this  notice),  and  shall
expire at the commencement of the next Annual General Meeting held after the
date of the passing of this resolution, save that the Company may, before such
expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities
to  be  allotted  after  such  expiry  and  the  directors  may  allot  equity  securities  in
pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the power had not expired.

8

THAT the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised to make market
purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of ordinary shares of
10 pence each in the capital of the Company on such terms as the directors think
fit, provided that:

8.1 the maximum number of ordinary shares hereby authorised to be purchased
is  limited  to  an  aggregate  of  957,382  (such  shares  representing  approximately
10% of the Company’s issued ordinary capital as at the date of this notice);

8.2 the  minimum  price,  exclusive  of  any  expenses,  which  may  be  paid  for  an
ordinary share is 10 pence;

8.3 the maximum price, exclusive of any expenses, which may be paid for each
ordinary share is an amount equal to the higher of: (a) 105 per cent of the average
of the middle market quotations for an ordinary share, as derived from the London
Stock  Exchange  Daily  Official  List,  for  the  five  business  days  immediately
preceding the day on which the ordinary share is purchased; and (b) the amount
stipulated by Article 5(1) of the Buy-back and Stabilisation Regulation 2003; and

8.4 the  authority  hereby  conferred  shall,  unless  previously  revoked  and  varied,
expire at the commencement of the next Annual General Meeting held after the
date of the passing of the resolution (except in relation to the purchase of ordinary
shares the contract for which was concluded before the expiry of this authority
and which will or may be executed wholly or partly after such expiry).

On behalf of the Board
V E Langford
Company Secretary
29 April 2016

Registered office: 12b George Street, Bath BA1 2EH
Registered in England and Wales with number 00507461

58

CEPS PLC  Company number 00507461

Notice of Meeting continued

Annual General Meeting
continued

Notes

1. A member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint proxy(ies) to attend, speak
and vote instead of him.  A member may appoint more than one proxy, provided that
each proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to different shares.  A proxy
need not be a member of the Company.

2.

In  order  to  be  valid  an  appointment  of  proxy,  and  any  power  of  attorney  or  other
authority under which it is executed (or a duly certified copy of any such power or
authority) must be deposited at the office of the Registrars of the Company, Share
Registrars at Suite E, First Floor, 9 Lion and Lamb Yard, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7LL
not less than 48 hours, excluding any part of a day that is not a working day, before
the time for holding the meeting.

A proxy form is enclosed.  The appointment of a proxy will not prevent a shareholder
from subsequently attending and voting at the meeting in person.

3. Under  Regulation  41  of  the  Uncertificated  Securities  Regulations  2001,  only  those
shareholders  whose  names  are  on  the  register  of  members  of  the  Company  as  at
11.30am  on  Thursday  16  June  2016  or,  if  the  meeting  is  adjourned,  shareholders
entered on the Company’s register of members not later than 48 hours before the
time fixed for the adjourned meeting are entitled to attend and vote at the meeting in
respect of the shares registered in their names at that time.  Subsequent changes to
the register shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and
vote at the meeting.

59

Directors

Secretary and
registered office

Operating locations

CEPS PLC

Group Information

D A Horner, Chairman
V E Langford, Group Finance
G C Martin, Non-executive
R T Organ, Non-executive

V E Langford
12b George Street, Bath BA1 2EH
Company number 00507461
www.cepsplc.com

Aford Awards Limited
Grange House, Bearsted Green Business Centre, Maidstone, Kent ME14 4DF
telephone 01622 738711, fax 01622 630051
email orders@afordawards.co.uk; www.afordawards.co.uk

CEM Press Limited
Teal Close, Victoria Business Park, Netherfield, Nottingham NG24 2PE
telephone 0115 961 3581
email info@cemgroup.co.uk; www.cemgroup.co.uk

Davies Odell Limited
Portland Road, Rushden, Northants NN10 0DJ
telephone 01933 410818, fax 01933 315976
email info@daviesodell.co.uk; www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com
email info@davieskett.co.uk; www.equimat.co.uk

Friedman’s Limited
Sunaco House, Unit 2, Bletchley Road, Stockport SK4 3EF
telephone 0161 975 9002, fax 0161 975 9003
email sales@friedmans.co.uk; www.friedmans.co.uk; www.funkifabrics.com

Hickton Consultants Limited
51 Church Street, Elsecar, Barnsley, South Yorkshire S74 8HT
telephone 01226 743959
email info@hickton.co.uk; www.hickton.co.uk

Sunline Direct Mail Limited
Cotton Way, Weldon Road Industrial Estate, Loughborough LE11 5FJ
telephone 01509 263434, fax 01509 264225
email enquiries@sunlinedirect.co.uk; www.sunlinesolutions.com

Registrars and
share transfer office

Share Registrars Limited
Suite E, First Floor, 9 Lion and Lamb Yard, Farnham, Surrey GU9 7LL
telephone 01252 821390, lines are open 9.00am to 5.30pm Monday to Friday

Share price information

The  day-to-day  movement  of  the  share  price  on  the  London  Stock  Exchange  can  be
found on the Company’s website and at www.londonstockexchange.com (code CEPS)

Independent auditors

PKF Littlejohn LLP
1 Westferry Circus, Canary Wharf, London E14 4HD

Solicitors

Roxburgh Milkins Limited
Merchants House North, Wapping Road, Bristol BS1 4RW

Nominated adviser
and broker

Cairn Financial Advisers LLP
61 Cheapside, London EC2V 6AX

60