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The International 
Assistance Business 
of Choice

CPPGroup Plc
Annual Report & Accounts 2014

About CPP

CPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014

CPPGroup Plc is an assistance business 
operating internationally within the financial 
services, telecommunications and travel sectors. 

Our products
Our products are offered to our customers internationally. 

Our strategy
To build a branded International Assistance business 
recognised for its excellence in customer service and 
value for money.

Our vision
To be the International Assistance Business of Choice.

Access our corporate website at
cppgroupplc.com 

Our report

Group overview
01  At a glance

Strategic report
02  Our business model and strategy
04  Executive Chairman’s statement
06  Operating review
07  Key performance indicators
08  Financial review
11  Risk management and principal risks

www.cppgroupplc.com

Corporate governance
13  Board of Directors
14  Corporate Governance report
19  Report of the Audit Committee
22  Remuneration report
30  Directors’ report
33  Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Financial statements
34 
Independent Auditor’s report
37  Consolidated income statement
 Consolidated statement of 
38 
comprehensive income
39  Consolidated balance sheet
40  Consolidated statement of changes in equity
41  Consolidated cash flow statement
42  Notes to the consolidated financial statements
75  Company balance sheet
76  Notes to the Company financial statements
83  Company offices
84  Shareholder information

At a glance

01

Group overview

 ǔ About CPP
 ǔ At a glance

About CPP
CPP made significant progress in the last year to strengthen and add value to the Group as it continued to move forward 
and create sustainable long term value for stakeholders. 

Our products help to provide security for our customers internationally and are designed to make everyday life easier to 
manage. Our core products provide assistance, protecting items that are important to our customers. Our travel service 
product enhances the experience of leisure and business travel. 

5.1

million 
live policies 
internationally

71.4%

annual 
renewal rate

UK and 
Ireland

Europe

Latin 
America

Asia 
Pacific

900+

employees 
internationally

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Financial overview 2014

Revenue 

Underlying operating profit/(loss)1 

£108.8m 

(2013: £178.0m)

£0.5m 

(2013: £(1.8)m)

Reported loss for the year
continuing and discontinued operations

£(6.7)m 

(2013: £(32.9)m)

1.  Underlying operating profit/(loss) excludes exceptional items 

of £6.3 million (2013: £37.5 million).

Financial review 
pages 08 to 10

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
 
02

CPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014

Our business model and strategy 

Who we are and what we do

Our products and channels

We operate internationally as three regions, 
working with our Business Partners. Through 
our business-to-business-to-consumer 
(B2B2C) operating model we service 5.1 
million live policies and manage claims of 
our core assistance products. Our business 
model targets revenue growth and cash 
generation through sustainable renewal 
rates and new income. This is focused on 
improved performance with the objective 
of generating and delivering longer term 
value for shareholders and other 
stakeholders. We measure our progress 
against our Key Performance Indicators 
(KPIs) (details on page 07).

Our core products help provide security 
against the unexpected by protecting items 
that are important to how our customers live 
their everyday lives, as well as enhancing the 
experience of leisure and business travel. 
These include Card Protection, Travel Services, 
Mobile Phone Protection, Identity Protection 
and Legal Protection.

Our product, distribution and service channel 
ambitions are focused on innovation in a 
fast-paced, technological environment, as 
consumers increasingly move towards digital 
products and platforms. Our digital plans are 
evolving, which will help us to realise the 
market opportunities that exist and allow 
us to engage with consumers through 
multiple channels across our markets.

These pages set out our 
core business model 
and strategy. It is clear 
that modern technology 
is rapidly changing the 
way businesses and 
consumers connect, 
providing much wider 
choice and alternative 
purchasing options. 
We have a clear focus 
to further enhance our 
business technologies 
in 2015 to maintain 
our position as the 
International Assistance 
Business of Choice.

Operating review 
page 06

Key performance indicators 
page 07 

Financial review 
pages 08 to 10

www.cppgroupplc.com

03

Strategic report

 ǔ Our business model and strategy
Executive Chairman's statement
Operating review
Key performance indicators
Financial review
Risk management and principal risks

Work is well advanced with the Group’s 
transformation plan, which supports the 
four strategic priorities and encompasses 
IT, digital delivery, process enhancements, 
new products and evolving as an international 
assistance brand. 

We intend to draw on the core competencies 
across the Group internationally, to develop 
new revenue streams to support future growth. 

Our plan 

During 2014, the Group focused on the 
successful delivery of its short term plan 
to stabilise the business and in addition, 
secure new investment and improve its 
financial position. 

At the end of 2014, the Group formalised plans 
to secure new equity funding of £20.0 million, 
which combined with a restructuring of the 
Group's liabilities and refinancing of the Group’s 
debts, has secured our financial position. 
The significant progress made has created 
a stronger platform from which CPP now 
moves forward with greater certainty. In 
2015, the Group will implement its strategic 
business plan focused on trading from a 
platform for growth. 

In the medium term, in order to deliver 
sustainable, attractive returns, the following 
four strategic priorities support the Group’s 
existing revenue, new income generation 
and growth ambitions. 

These are to:

 ц  implement an enhanced market-led 

business model; 

 ц  innovate and leverage existing capacity 

and resource; 

 ц optimise financial performance; and 

 ц  trade from an improved and effective 

operating environment, embracing new 
digital technology to allow customers 
multi-channel access to services.

2014 Progress

2015 and 2016 Priorities

 ц Evaluated management and operational capability

 ц Enhanced existing products and services 

 ц  Progressed new product proposition plans

Implement an 
enhanced market-led 
business model

 ц Enhancing digital product and channel offering

 ц Maximised value from existing customer base 

 ц  Secured contracts with new Business Partners 
and new campaigns launched with established 
Business Partners internationally

Innovate and leverage 
existing capacity and 
resource

Optimise financial 
performance

 ц Scope global market opportunities 

 ц  Define future product and service propositions and markets

 ц Finalise medium term strategic business plan

 ц  Implement an enhanced business model and 

brand definition

 ц  Leverage current capability to drive local growth 

and efficiency 

 ц  Define individual country ambitions and requirements, 

focusing on customer needs and experience

 ц Further enhance digital product and channel offering

 ц  Maximise value from existing customer base and 

associated cash flows

 ц  Deliver internal forecasts to support investment 

proposition

 ц Embed effective operational KPIs 

 ц  Establish the Group’s organisational design that 

supports profitable growth

 ц  Ensure Group-wide decisions and investment deliver 

and optimise profitability

Trade from an 
improved and effective 
operating environment

 ц  Operate compliantly across all markets and drive 

operational effectiveness

 ц  Implement a new IT system to support internationally 

compliant and efficient operations

 ц  Simplify business processes to enable organisational 
agility for current and future product propositions

 ц  Apply to remove the restrictions on the regulatory 
selling and other permissions under the UK VVOP

 ц  Pro-active relationships with regulators and stakeholders

 ц  Formalised essential plans to restructure the 

balance sheet and strengthen the capital position

 ц  Substantially reduced the cost base; administrative 
costs reduced by circa £20 million year-on-year 

 ц Closure of the UK Scheme claims period

 ц  Underlying operating performance improved 

to a profit of £0.5 million (2013: £1.8 million loss) 

 ц  Stronger Group annual renewal rate of 71.4% 

(2013: 69.4%)

 ц  Strengthened control standards and functions

 ц Improved Group-wide processes

 ц  Implemented Group-wide governance model 
and decision making Committee structure

 ц  Embedded Minimum Risk Standards and Business 
Incident Management processes across the Group

 ц  Restructured in the UK and overseas

 ц  Reviewed IT infrastructure requirements for a modern, 

cost-effective single international IT platform 

 ц  Strengthened regulatory relationships and 

agreement with the FCA to enable an initial 
change to the UK VVOP

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201404

Executive Chairman’s statement

I am encouraged by the considerable progress that has been made 
to add value to the Group and, in particular, a return to underlying 
operating profit. We are in a stronger position, with a stable 
foundation and renewed confidence that provide us with the 
opportunity to take the Group forward for the future. 

Introduction

I worked with the previous Chairman and 
the Board in late 2014 to formalise plans to 
improve the financial position of the Group 
and joined the Board in December 2014. 
I was appointed Executive Chairman in 
February 2015 and I am pleased to have 
joined CPP as it embarks on the next stage 
of its development as an international 
assistance business. Significant progress 
has been made and positive steps achieved 
during 2014 to restructure, stabilise and 
strengthen the Group.

Our progress

The Group has continued its journey to stabilise 
the business and develop its transformation 
programme. I am encouraged by the 
considerable progress that has been made to 
add value to the Group and ultimately support 
the successful equity raise and substantial 
improvement in the financial position of the 
business in February 2015. As a result, we are 
in a stronger position, with a stable foundation 
and renewed confidence that provide us with 
the opportunity to take the Group forward for 
the future. 

During 2014, the actions taken and significant 
milestones achieved successfully repositioned 
the Group for the future and comprised: 

 ц  formalising essential plans to restructure 
the balance sheet and strengthen the 
capital position of the Group at the end 
of the year;

 ц  substantially reducing the cost base, 

with administrative costs circa £20 million 
lower in the year;

 ц  restructuring and consolidation resulting 
in the closure of two out of three offices 
in the UK and further closures in France, 
Singapore, Hong Kong and Brazil;

 ц  the sale of our shareholding in Home3 

(a joint venture with Mapfre);

 ц improving processes and governance; 

 ц  strengthening regulatory relationships 

and agreement with the FCA to enable an 
initial change to the UK Voluntary Variation 
of Permissions (VVOP), reverting to an 
industry standard ‘cooling off’ period 
for renewing policies;

 ц  progressing product development 

plans and, as announced in March 2015, 
selecting a new IT system from SSP 
Limited to provide a new international 
single platform; and

 ц  closure of the UK Scheme of 

Arrangement (UK Scheme) claims period. 

In addition, our focus on evolving and 
increasing our digital capabilities across 
the Group during the year included:

 ц  launching new online members’ areas 
and acquisition sites in a number of 
countries, with the remaining countries 
to follow in 2015; 

 ц  launching Airport Angel membership sales 

online and upgrading the mobile app;

 ц launching sales through ATMs in Turkey; and

 ц  developing opportunities in India relating 
to Mobile Phone Protection products.

A critical step to secure our future was 
achieved at the beginning of 2015, as I noted 
in my opening remarks. I am pleased that 
the Group successfully secured new equity 
funding of £20.0 million (£17.9 million net 
of expenses), significantly restructured the 
Group's liabilities, refinanced the Group’s 
debts and commenced trading on the 
Alternative Investment Market of the London 
Stock Exchange (AIM). As a result, and 
following the closure of the UK Scheme, the 
future of the Group is now more certain. CPP 
today is providing an improved service to our 
5.1 million policyholders internationally and 
I look forward to building on this success for 
our people, customers, Business Partners 
and shareholders. In particular, during 2015 
and as previously announced, the Group 
will further invest in its digital interfaces 
and new core IT platform, across its 
international operations.

Our performance 

The Group’s headline financial results for 
2014 remained constrained, reflecting 
the overall challenges of our operating 
environment during the year, particularly in 
the UK. Revenue reduced to £108.8 million 
(2013: £178.0 million) whilst underlying 
operating performance, which excludes 
exceptional items, improved to a profit 
of £0.5 million (2013: £1.8 million loss). 
Group exceptional items in the period were 
£6.3 million (2013: £37.5 million), mainly 

Eric Anstee Executive Chairman

Progress made in 2014

•   Stabilised and secured the financial 

position of the Group 

•  Substantially reduced the cost base 

and restructured the business

•  Progressed product development 

and new IT system plans

•  Evolving digital capabilities

•  Closure of the UK Scheme 

of Arrangement 

Our priorities in 2015

•  Continue the Group’s 
transformation plan

•  Implement an enhanced market-led 

business model 

•  Innovate and leverage existing 

capacity and resource

•  Optimise financial performance 

•  Trade from an improved and 

effective operating environment

•  Further develop and increase 

digital capabilities

Our business model and strategy 
pages 02 and 03

Operating review 
page 06 

Corporate governance 
pages 13 to 33 

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201405

Strategic report
Our business model and strategy
 ǔ Executive Chairman’s statement

Operating review
Key performance indicators
Financial review
Risk management and principal risks

consistency of controls and governance 
throughout the Group; simplifying and 
improving business processes that support 
product innovation and testing pilot products 
through to launch; and further developing 
our range of international Business Partners. 

This is a significant change programme that 
will support the Group’s efforts to embed 
and trade from a platform for growth and 
importantly, as the Group works towards 
applying to remove the restrictions on 
regulatory selling and other permissions 
under the UK VVOP. 

Looking ahead

The Group is stronger than a year ago 
and with a medium term business plan 
supported by new investment, a much 
reduced cost base and the confidence 
of stakeholders, we can now drive the 
business forward. 

Our core priority is focused on our strategy 
for growth, which will enable us to maximise 
the value from the existing business and 
realise the new commercial opportunities that 
exist. Much work will continue to take place 
as we embed our plans and complete the 
actions required to transform the Group, 
which in time will create a sustainable 
business proposition for the long term.

I look forward to progressing the Group’s 
strategic plans and a successful 2015. 
I would like to thank everyone at CPP for 
their hard work and also express my thanks 
to new and existing shareholders for their 
support and in particular our Business 
Partners and lenders for their support and 
on-going commitment.

Eric Anstee 
Executive Chairman
30 March 2015

comprising residual customer redress and 
associated costs and restructuring costs. 
As a result, the Group reduced its reported 
operating loss to £5.8 million (2013: £39.3 
million). Renewal rates for the year were 
stronger at 71.4% (2013: 69.4%) and live 
policies totalled 5.1 million (2013: 7.1 million).

The Group worked hard to ensure it had 
sufficient financial resources to complete 
the Scheme in the UK and the closure of the 
Scheme represented a significant milestone 
for the business. Its impact, nonetheless, 
was considerable and consequently, the 
Group’s financial resources and liquidity 
were significantly reduced. The Group made 
positive progress regarding its financial 
stability towards the end of 2014 and in 
February 2015, successfully secured new 
equity funding of £20.0 million, restructured 
the Group's liabilities and refinanced the 
Group’s debts. This has significantly improved 
our balance sheet position.

The Directors have decided not to 
recommend the payment of a dividend. 
The Board continues to believe it is not 
appropriate to pay a dividend until cash 
generated by operating activities is more 
than adequate to cover the Group's future 
investment plans.

Partnerships remain a key priority and 
the Group placed emphasis on engaging 
and improving current Business Partner 
relationships and developing new commercial 
opportunities during 2014. It is encouraging 
that during the year, new contracts were 
secured with new Business Partners and 
new campaigns launched with established 
Business Partners across the Group, 
internationally.

Our Board

In August 2014, Duncan McIntyre announced 
his intention to step down as Non-Executive 
Chairman and in January 2015, I was appointed 
as Non-Executive Chairman. I would like 
to thank Duncan for his leadership, guidance 
and support to the Group, which has 
successfully enabled CPP to reposition for 
the future. In February 2015, Brent Escott, 
Chief Executive Officer stepped down from 
his role. The process to identify a new 
Chief Executive Officer is on-going and 
in the interim, I have assumed the role 
of Executive Chairman.

Following the successful conclusion of the 
General Meeting in January 2015, Les Owen 
stepped down as an Independent Non-
Executive Director and a process to identify 
a suitable successor is well advanced.

In January 2015, Shaun Astley-Stone 
was appointed as Chairman of the 
Risk & Compliance Committee.

The Board is committed to continue 
maintaining and strengthening a strong 
governance framework throughout the 
business, supported by our Board Committees.

Our people

Our people are a huge testament to how far 
CPP has progressed in recent years, despite 
the challenges and on-going structural and 
cultural changes that have been made. Our 
success depends on our people and we are 
therefore focused on helping them to perform 
at their best and achieve their full potential. 
We continue to support the delivery of our 
plans by strengthening our leadership and 
talent capability. A key focus in 2015 is to 
define and embed our values and beliefs, 
which will drive the changes we are making 
and support our future development.

Our customers 

Customer trust is essential and critical 
as we build positive perceptions of our 
business. To earn and retain that trust 
we endeavour to manage our operations 
responsibly and conduct our business 
in an ethical and transparent way. Our aim 
is to improve the customer’s end-to-end 
experience in order for us to succeed as 
an effective and efficient customer-led 
business. Our customers place value on 
our products and services; they tell us so 
through our customer satisfaction surveys 
and stronger renewal rate. As we improve 
our current product range and develop 
new and compelling, customer-led digital 
products, we will place particular emphasis 
on what our customers want and understand 
their requirements and expectations.

Our plan going forward

Work is well advanced with the Group’s 
transformation plan as well as its product, 
digital and commercial development plans, 
which support the four strategic priorities 
and will allow CPP to regrow and evolve as 
an international assistance business. 

The core areas of focus include: maximising 
value from the established product portfolio; 
launching assistance products and providing 
channel capability, particularly in the digital 
and mobile space which further develop and 
increase the Group’s digital capabilities and 
support customers and Business Partners, 
resulting in lower cost service delivery and 
enhanced customer satisfaction; replacing 
the existing IT systems to deliver a modern, 
cost effective IT infrastructure; enhancing 

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201406

Operating review

We operate 
internationally as three 
regions: the UK and 
Ireland; Europe and Latin 
America; and Asia Pacific.

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Regional trends 2014

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Europe and Latin America
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Italy

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Germany

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Mexico

Asia Pacific

India

China

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Hong Kong C

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D Increase  A Level  C Decrease

1. On a constant currency basis.

Finance review 
pages 08 to 10

Financial statements: 
segmental reporting 
pages 48 to 51

Review
During 2014, this region operated in Spain, 
Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, Turkey, 
Mexico and Brazil; Europe and Latin America 
accounts for 30% of Group full year revenue. 
Performance during the year in Europe has 
been constrained, reflecting reduced renewal 
rates and campaign delays, although in 
Mexico revenue continued to improve. As 
previously announced, the Group completed 
the exit from France at the end of the year 
and, following an evaluation of the market 
opportunities, the Group will exit Brazil 
in 2015. 

Ian Craig Regional Director

Asia Pacific

Financial performance
Revenue is 11% higher on a constant currency 
basis compared to the same period in 2013, 
at £6.7 million (2013: £6.4 million). The 
underlying operating loss has reduced for the 
full year to £0.2 million (2013: £0.8 million). 

Review
During 2014, this region operated in India, 
China, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Singapore; 
Asia Pacific represents 6% of Group full 
year revenue. India and China continued to 
increase revenue during the period. A new 
pilot product in India within the Mobile 
Phone sector was successfully tested 
during the year. In Malaysia, revenue 
continued to decline following delays to 
new campaign launches and the Group 
continues to evaluate this market for future 
growth opportunities. The sale of the Card 
Protection book in Singapore was 
completed as planned during the year. Plans 
are underway to exit from Hong Kong to 
right-size in accordance with the reduced 
scale of the business. 

Charles Crawford Regional Director 

UK and Ireland

Financial performance
Revenue for 2014 decreased 46% on 
a constant currency basis compared to 
the same period in 2013, to £69.7 million 
(2013: £129.0 million). Underlying operating 
loss has reduced for the full year to 
£4.4 million (2013: £8.1 million loss). 

Review
Operating in the UK and Ireland during 2014, 
the region accounts for 64% of Group full year 
revenue. Performance during 2014 continued 
to reflect the on-going restriction on retail 
sales, reduced Card Protection and Identity 
Protection renewal revenues and the impact 
of historical Business Partner losses. Airport 
Angel, our travel services business, continued 
to develop new Business Partner opportunities 
and will continue to make improvements whilst 
establishing profitable growth opportunities 
both in the UK and internationally. During 
the year, the region made good progress in 
establishing the appropriate structure and 
operating capabilities, resources and reducing 
the cost base so that it reflects the current 
scale of the business. In Ireland, renewal 
performance has been in line with expectations. 

Angel de Leon Regional Director 

Europe and Latin America

Financial performance
Revenue has decreased 18% on a 
constant currency basis compared to 
the same period in 2013, to £32.5 million 
(2013: £42.6 million). Underlying operating 
profit has consequently reduced for the full 
year to £5.2 million (2013: £7.1 million), 
25% lower on a constant currency basis. 

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key performance indicators

07

Strategic report
Our business model and strategy
Executive Chairman’s statement

 ǔ Operating review
 ǔ Key performance indicators

Financial review
Risk management and principal risks

Live policies

9.1m

7.1m

5.1m

Annual renewal rate

Group cash balances

73.5%

69.4%

71.4%

£66.9m

Free cash

VVOP restricted cash

Regulated cash

£53.2m

£40.6m

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

Definition:
The total number of active policies that provide 
continuing cover or services to policyholders.

Performance:
The live policy base is 2.0 million lower than 
31 December 2013, due to UK factors including 
declining retail Card Protection and Identity 
Protection policies, which include the impact 
of policies cancelled through the Scheme and 
a reduction in Packaged and Wholesale policies 
in the UK following the loss of a historical 
Business Partner contract. Live policies outside 
of the UK have declined marginally.

Definition:
The net amount of annual retail policies remaining 
on book after the scheduled renewal date, as a 
proportion of those available to renew.

Performance:
The annual renewal rate for 2014 has increased by 
2.0 percentage points since 31 December 2013, 
mainly due to a high level of cancellations in the 
prior year resulting from adverse media attention 
prior to commencement of the UK Scheme; and 
the positive impact of an initial change to the UK 
VVOP in the latter part of 2014, reverting to an 
industry standard ‘cooling off’ period for UK 
renewing policies. The annual renewal rate does 
not include cancellations that have occurred 
during the UK Scheme, as they are not considered 
available to renew in the normal course of 
business. If UK Scheme cancellations were 
included the annual renewal rate would be 5.6 
percentage points lower at approximately 65.8%.

Definition:
Group cash balances allocated between 
regulatory funds, VVOP restricted funds and free 
cash available to utilise throughout the Group.

Performance:
 Regulatory and VVOP restricted funds have 
decreased year-on-year mainly reflecting the 
funding of the UK Scheme in Card Protection 
Plan Limited (CPPL). 

 The free cash has declined marginally, 
which reflects cash used by the wider Group 
compared to the cash generated principally by its 
overseas operations and approved distributions 
from one of our regulated entities. The decline is 
mainly due to Group overhead requirement and 
continued investment in developing markets. 
This position has improved in February 2015 
following completion of the equity raise.

Cost/income ratio

Underlying operating profit/(loss) margin

Revenue by major product

70.7%

70.4%

9.9%

£269.9m

61.0%

Non-policy revenue

Packaged and Wholesale

Retail insurance

Retail assistance

£178.0m

£108.8m

(1.0)%

0.5%

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

2012

2013

2014

Definition:
Cost of sales (excluding commission) 
and other administrative expenses as 
a percentage of revenue.

Performance:
Our cost/income ratio has remained broadly 
stable year-on-year, largely due to the impact 
of declining Card Protection and Identity 
Protection renewal revenue in the UK, being 
offset by a significant reduction of circa 
£20 million year-on-year in other administrative 
costs following the steps taken by the Group 
in 2013 and 2014 to reduce its cost base.

Definition:
Operating profit/(loss) before exceptional 
items as a percentage of revenue.

Performance:
Our underlying operating margin has increased 
1.5 percentage points, due mainly to the 
actions taken by the Group in 2013 and 2014 to 
reduce its cost base which has resulted in other 
administrative costs being circa £20 million 
lower year-on-year. This is partly offset by a 
reduction in Card Protection and Identity 
Protection renewal revenue in the UK. 

Definition: 
Revenue from the Group’s major product offerings 
(defined in note 5 of the consolidated financial 
statements).

Performance:
Revenue from retail assistance policies has 
declined compared to 2013 reflecting the decline 
in Card Protection and Identity Protection 
renewals in the UK. The continued new retail 
sales restrictions associated with the UK VVOP 
restrict the Group’s ability to grow retail revenue. 
Retail insurance and Packaged and Wholesale 
revenue has declined in the year due to the impact 
of lost Business Partner contracts in the UK. 

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
08

Financial review

Revenue (£ millions)

Gross profit (£ millions)

Other administrative expenses (£ millions)

Underlying operating profit/(loss) (£ millions)

Exceptional items (£ millions)

Reported operating loss (£ millions)

Net finance costs (£ millions)

Reported loss before tax (£ millions)

Underlying loss per share (pence)

Basic and diluted

Net funds (£ millions)

2014

108.8

48.0

(47.5)

0.5

(6.3)

(5.8)

(1.9)

(7.7)

(0.17)

7.9

2013

178.0

65.9

(67.7)

(1.8)

(37.5)

(39.3)

(3.9)

(43.2)

(4.69)

44.3

Change

(69.2)

(17.8)

20.2

2.3

31.2

33.5

2.0

35.6

4.52

(36.4)

Craig Parsons Chief Financial Officer

Summary

Overview

•  The February 2015 transaction, 

in isolation, will have a beneficial 
impact on the Group's net liabilities 
of approximately £37.1 million. This 
results from the £20.0 million equity 
raise and debt restructure, which 
included:

•  part prepayment of bank loan and 
related costs of £8.5 million; and

•  settlement of the Commission 

Deferral Agreement of 
£20.9 million for a compromise 
payment of £1.3 million and 
further deferral of commission 
of up to £1.3 million.

•  Closure of the UK Scheme, resulting 

in payments to compensate 
customers totalling £32.0 million

•  Completed the disposal of our joint 

venture, Home3

•  Continued restructuring activities 
to reduce the Group’s cost base, 
including office closures in the UK 
and exit from some overseas markets

Operating review 
page 06

Report of the Audit Committee 
pages 19 to 21

The equity raise and debt restructure, 
which completed in February 2015, is a 
significant milestone as the Group rebuilds. 
The transaction involved an equity raise of 
£20.0 million (£17.9 million net of expenses), 
part of which was used to reduce the bank 
debt from £13.0 million to £5.0 million and 
part to settle in full the existing commission 
deferral balance of £20.9 million for a 
compromise payment of £1.3 million 
and further deferral of commission of up 
to £1.3 million. The improved financial 
stability this transaction provides underpins 
the next stage of the Group’s development.

In 2014, the Group experienced another 
difficult year in trading performance. The 
Scheme had a substantial direct impact 
on the UK business, resulting in redress 
payments of approximately £32.0 million 
and a reduction in the Group’s existing policy 
base. It is recognised that right-sizing the UK 
business remains crucial and consequently 
in the year it was decided to close two of 
the three office sites in the UK. Whilst there 
are some exceptions, the overseas markets 
did not deliver growth with the southern 
European economic climate, in particular, 
continuing to have an impact. In the year, the 
decision was made to exit from Hong Kong 
and Brazil, and, as planned, operations in 
France have now closed and the sale of 
the Card Protection book in Singapore has 
completed. We continue to review our 
international presence. 

Summary

Group revenue has declined by 39% 
to £108.8 million as a result of revenue 
reducing by 46% in the UK and Ireland and 
24% (18% on a constant currency basis) in 
Europe and Latin America. Revenue in Asia 
Pacific has grown marginally by 3% (11% 
on a constant currency basis).

The underlying operating profit in the year 
was £0.5 million, which is a £2.3 million 
improvement on 2013. This improvement 
is largely a result of the actions taken by 
the Group during 2013 and 2014 to reduce 
its cost base to align with the Group’s 
operational size, which along with reduced 
depreciation charges following the 2013 
asset impairments, has seen a reduction 
in administrative costs of circa £20 million 
in the year. The measures taken in 2014 
will also continue to reduce the cost base 
in 2015. 

Exceptional items of £6.3 million have 
been recorded in the year, mainly reflecting 
further residual customer redress activity of 
£3.0 million and restructuring costs resulting 
from the Group’s cost saving measures of 
£2.6 million. 

The exceptional items contributed to a 
reported operating loss of £5.8 million 
(2013: £39.3 million).

Net interest and finance costs of £1.9 million 
(2013: £3.9 million) were 52% lower than 2013, 
reflecting the costs incurred in the prior year 
relating to the six month extension of the loan 
facility, which preceded the agreement of 
a three year term. 

As a result, the reported loss before tax 
was £7.7 million (2013: £43.2 million) and 
underlying loss before tax was £1.3 million 
(2013: £5.7 million).

Underlying loss after tax from continuing 
operations, excluding exceptional items, was 
£0.3 million (2013: £8.1 million). Exceptional 
items after tax during the year were 
£5.7 million. This resulted in a reported 
loss after tax from continuing operations 
of £6.0 million (2013: £45.3 million).

Discontinued operations, which represent the 
Home3 joint venture, reported a loss after tax 
of £0.8 million (2013: £12.5 million profit). 
The comparative includes trading and the 
profit on disposal of the North American 

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201409

Strategic report
Our business model and strategy
Executive Chairman’s statement
Operating review
Key performance indicators

 ǔ Financial review

Risk management and principal risks

the prior year benefited from a one-off 
reduction in working capital. Cash, excluding 
movements in borrowings, has also decreased 
by £35.0 million following UK Scheme funding.

As a result, as expected the Group’s net 
funds position has decreased in the year by 
£36.4 million to £7.9 million. The successful 
completion of the equity raise and debt 
restructure in February 2015 has improved 
this position significantly. The net funds figure 
includes cash balances of £34.9 million 
in the UK’s regulated entities, CPPL and 
Homecare Insurance Limited (HIL). These 
cash balances cannot be distributed to 
the wider Group as they are held either 
for regulatory purposes or are restricted 
by the terms of the VVOP. The restricted 
cash is, however, available to use in the 
regulated entity in which it exists.

2014
£’m

0.5

(5.5)

—

4.4

(29.4)

(3.8)

(33.8)

0.9

(32.9)

(0.6)

(1.0)

0.3

(0.1)

(0.2)

—

(0.5)

(35.0)

7.9

2013
£’m

(1.8)

(23.6)

3.8

9.8

8.4

26.4

23.0

(2.8)

20.2

(2.8)

(0.8)

18.1

(0.7)

—

(4.6)

—

29.4

44.3

business of £13.3 million. The disposal of 
the North American business completed 
in May 2013.

Underlying loss per share from continuing 
operations has improved from 4.69 pence in 
2013 to 0.17 pence for 2014. The basic loss 
per share from continuing operations has 
also improved from 26.43 pence in 2013 
to 3.48 pence in 2014.

Total customer redress and associated costs

The UK Scheme closed for claims on 
30 August 2014 and the value of Scheme 
redress claims in respect of direct sales 
made by the Group was £32.0 million.

The Group provided an additional £3.0 million 
in the year reflecting the latest estimate of 
residual customer redress activity. The total 
cost provided for customer redress and 
associated costs from 2011 to 2014 is 
£72.8 million, of which £14.9 million 
remains not utilised, representing £6.4 million 
in remaining customer redress and 
associated costs and £8.5 million in respect 
of the outstanding regulatory fine levied by 
the FCA in November 2012 (the remaining 
instalments are expected to be paid in 2016).

Tax

In 2014, there was a tax credit on continuing 
operations of £1.7 million (2013: £2.1 million 
charge) principally due to deferred tax 
credits in the UK and Spain. This is partially 
offset by current tax charges relating to 
profitable overseas jurisdictions; no further 
relief is available on other Group losses. 
Similar to 2013, the effective tax rate 
is not a representative measure. 

Discontinued operations

On 24 March 2014, the Group completed 
the disposal of its share of the Home3 joint 
venture to Mapfre. This discontinued operation 
reported a loss after tax of £0.8 million, 
which includes £1.1 million loss after tax in 
relation to historical trading results prior to 
disposal, partially offset by £0.3 million 
profit on disposal.

Cash flow1 and net funds

Cash used in operations amounted to 
£33.8 million (2013: £23.0 million cash 
generated by operations) and results primarily 
from funding the UK Scheme. Additionally, 

Cash flow1 and net funds

Underlying operating profit/(loss)2

Exceptional items3

Operating profit from discontinued North American operation

Depreciation, amortisation and other non-cash items

(Decrease)/increase in provisions

Working capital

Cash (used in)/generated by operations

Tax

Operating cash flow

Capital expenditure (including intangibles)

Investment in joint venture

Net proceeds from disposal of discontinued operations

Net finance costs

Commission deferral compromise and associated costs

Costs of refinancing

Share issue costs

Net movement in cash/borrowings4

Net funds5

1.  Cash flow from continuing and discontinued operations.

2.  Continuing Group operating profit/(loss) excluding exceptional items.

3.   Excludes exceptional impairments that are non-cash items £0.1 million (2013: £13.9 million) and commission deferral compromise and associated costs £0.7 million 

(2013: £nil).

4.   Excluding effect of exchange rates, capitalised interest and amortisation of debt issue costs.

5.  Includes unamortised debt issue costs.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201410

Financial review continued

Dividend

The Directors have decided not to 
recommend the payment of a dividend. 
Furthermore, the Board continues to believe 
it is not appropriate to pay a dividend until 
cash generated by operating activities is 
more than adequate to cover the Group's 
future investment plans.

Balance sheet and financing

At 31 December 2014, the Group had net 
liabilities of £30.9 million which is an 
increase of £6.6 million from the 2013 

net liabilities position of £24.3 million. 
This position includes bank borrowings 
of £13.0 million (excluding unamortised 
debt issue costs) and borrowings under 
the Commission Deferral Agreement of 
£20.7 million (including capitalised interest).

The equity raise and debt restructure which 
completed in February 2015, represents a 
material subsequent event and has changed 
the shape of the Group's balance sheet 
significantly in 2015. In isolation, the 
transaction will have a beneficial impact on 
the Group’s existing net liabilities position 
of approximately £37.1 million. As detailed 

in the pro forma below, existing borrowings 
will reduce by approximately £26.6 million 
and the transaction has provided essential 
additional capital for the business of 
approximately £9.7 million. Further detail on 
the transaction is provided in note 32 of the 
consolidated financial statements.

The unaudited pro forma statement 
of consolidated assets below has been 
produced for illustrative purposes only 
and by its nature addresses a hypothetical 
situation and, therefore, does not represent 
the continuing Group’s actual financial 
position or results.

Non-current assets

Current assets

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Other current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

Bank loans

Commission Deferral Agreement

Other non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net (liabilities)/assets

31 December
2014
(audited)
£’m

Equity raise
(net of expenses)
(Notes 1, 2, 3)
£’m

Business
Partner debt
restructure
(Note 4)
£'m

Second
Commission
Deferral
(Note 5)
£’m

Amended
and Restated
Facility
(Note 6)
£'m

6.9

15.7

40.6

0.7

63.9

(51.9)

(12.0)

(20.7)

(10.1)

(94.7)

(30.9)

—

(1.0)

18.4

—

17.4

1.1

—

—

—

1.1

18.5

—

—

(1.3)

—

(1.3)

0.2

—

20.7

—

20.9

19.6

—

—

1.3

—

1.3

—

—

(1.3)

—

(1.3)

—

—

—

(8.7)

—

(8.7)

—

7.2

—

0.5

7.7

(1.0)

Pro forma
continuing
Group
(Notes 7,8)
£'m

6.9

14.7

50.3

0.7

72.6

(50.6)

(4.8)

(1.3)

(9.6)

(66.3)

6.3

1.   The cash movement of £18.4 million reflects the equity raise of £20.0 million net of the remaining transaction fees to be paid of £1.6 million. (Total transaction fees 

are expected to be £2.1 million with £0.5 million already paid at 31 December 2014).

2.   £1.1 million current liabilities movement reflects transaction fees invoiced or accrued at 31 December 2014 but not paid. The payment of these is included in the 

£1.6 million remaining transaction fees to be paid referenced in note 1.

3.   £1.0 million other receivable movement reflects costs incurred at 31 December 2014 that have been transferred to share premium now the transaction has completed. 

4.  £20.7 million deferred commission balance and capitalised interest (totalling £20.9 million) compromised for a cash payment of £1.3 million. 

5. The transaction included further deferral of commission of up to £1.3 million.

6.   The cash movement of £8.7 million comprises bank loan prepayment in part of £8.0 million, prepayment fees of £0.5 million (accrued at 31 December 2014) 
and refinancing fees of £0.2 million. The bank loans movement of £7.2 million reflects the £8.0 million loan prepayment net of a £0.8 million movement in 
unamortised issue costs.

7.   The Amended and Restated Facility borrowings of £5.0 million are stated net of £0.2 million transaction costs which are capitalised and amortised over the term of the facility.

8.   Other than as described above, no adjustment has been made to the unaudited pro forma financial information to reflect trading or cash flows of the Group 

subsequent to 31 December 2014.

Craig Parsons
Chief Financial Officer
30 March 2015

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Risk management and principal risks

11

Strategic report
Our business model and strategy
Executive Chairman's statement
Operating review
Key performance indicators

 ǔ Financial review
 ǔ Risk management and principal risks

Overview

The Group has a risk framework that enables risks to be identified, assessed, controlled and monitored consistently and objectively. 
We continue to progress the implementation of the framework throughout the Group and revise our risk framework as necessary to 
maintain its effectiveness. The key elements of our framework include leadership and culture, risk appetites, risk identification and 
assessment, management and control of risk exposures, Business Incident Management process and a robust policy and minimum 
standard framework. 

CPP operates a ‘three lines of defence’ model across the Group. The business is responsible for the identification and management 
of risks, with oversight and challenge from the Group risk and control functions, with review independently provided by Internal Audit.

The focus of our risk management framework is to ensure we manage our business in a sustainable and controlled way, making risk 
based decisions commensurate with our appetite and resources.

Internal control and oversight

Solvency and capital assessments 

The Board has overall responsibility for the 
Group’s system of internal control and for 
monitoring its effectiveness. The Group Audit 
Committee and the Group Risk & Compliance 
Committee met throughout the year. These 
Committees oversee the Group's system of 
internal control, and the risk management 
framework, ensuring material risks, control 
matters and business reporting are evaluated 
and assessed appropriately.

The overarching system of internal control 
is designed to manage rather than eliminate 
the risk of failure to achieve Group objectives, 
and provides reasonable, not absolute, 
assurance against material misstatement or 
loss. In assessing what constitutes reasonable 
assurance, the Board considers the materiality 
of financial and non-financial risks and the 
relationship between the cost of and benefit 
from the system of controls.

Card Protection Plan Limited (CPPL) is 
authorised and regulated by the FCA, and 
Homecare Insurance Limited (HIL) is 
authorised by the Prudential Regulation 
Authority (PRA) and regulated by the FCA 
and the PRA. Each undertakes a solvency/
capital adequacy assessment on a regular 
basis. Outputs from these assessments 
are subject to review and approved by 
the individual Boards of these companies 
and are reviewed by the FCA and PRA 
from time to time.

HIL is subject to the European Commission’s 
Solvency II Directive which it is anticipated will 
come into operation from 1 January 2016. The 
Directive is aimed at producing a more 
consistent solvency standard for insurers 
across Europe, ensuring that capital 
requirements are more reflective of the risks 
being accepted. Throughout 2014, HIL had in 

place an outsourcing contract with a third 
party provider to secure operational capability 
independent from other Group companies. 
This investment significantly reduces the 
operational risk that HIL may have faced 
through a reliance on other Group operations. 
This outsourcing contract also provides HIL 
independent business continuity protection in 
the event its existing operations are disrupted. 

Principal risks and uncertainties

At the end of 2014, the Group formalised 
plans to restructure its balance sheet and 
raise additional capital to enable the Group 
to move forward. The current risk profile 
reflects the change in focus as the Group 
looks to deliver its transformation plans 
in line with the overall strategy.

Status

 Risk profile increased 

year-on-year



Risk profile no change 
year-on-year

 Risk profile decreased 

year-on-year

Strategic risk – Transformation

Status

Potential risk and impact

Mitigation



The Group has embarked on a significant and wide-ranging 
transformation programme that includes new offerings/
product development and replacement of the core IT policy 
platform. This transformation is vital for our future growth 
and sustainability. There are risks that the complexity and 
nature of these programmes impact the business adversely 
and fail to facilitate the necessary growth and development 
of our business.

The Group has a robust governance and delivery 
framework which is applied throughout transformation. 

We have an internally and externally resourced programme 
to support the evolution of our business strategy.

We regularly assess and review progress and deliverables 
to ensure these are being effectively controlled.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201412

Risk management and principal risks continued

Strategic risk – Stability of the Group

Status

Potential risk and impact

Mitigation



There is a risk that the Group could be destabilised by events 
that would significantly impact the delivery to time/cost of the 
overall strategy. 

The Group has specific exposures, for example as a result of a 
highly concentrated shareholder base. 

The Board actively engages on a regular basis with our 
largest shareholders to mitigate this risk, discussing 
rationale and seeking support for the Board and its 
business plans.

Operational risk – People and resources

Status

Potential risk and impact

Mitigation



In recent years the Group has lost (either through redundancy 
or attrition) a significant number of people from the business. 
This not only represents a risk in terms of knowledge and 
experience lost, but has increased the demands on our 
remaining colleagues. There is a risk that any further significant 
attrition of key individuals could impact adversely on the 
business and its transformation.

The Group has identified key skills and role 
dependencies and takes steps to recruit and retain 
these within the business. The business also uses 
interim contractors and consultants where appropriate. 
The Group has stated its intention to establish an 
incentivisation scheme to target retention.

Operational risk – Business Partner retention/attraction

Status

Potential risk and impact

Mitigation



The Group continues to have a dependency on retention and 
development of key Business Partners. There is a significant 
risk that without on-going engagement, our primary route to 
market would be constrained.

The Group continues to engage with existing and 
previous Business Partners in order to retain or 
build confidence. 

Regulatory risk – Operating markets

Status

Potential risk and impact

Mitigation



The Group operates in regulated markets internationally. Each 
business has different operating models, and as such the 
impact of any specific local regulatory/legislative changes may 
adversely impact our ability to conduct business in a particular 
territory. The risk may be exacerbated as we operate a central 
IT platform, and product propositions that are derived from the 
original model implemented in the UK.

The Board has sought to mitigate this risk through further 
enhancement of its risk, compliance and governance 
processes, including the application of minimum 
standards self-certification, as well as recording and 
tracking of business incidents/risks. Where appropriate, 
we work with local specialist advisers.

Financial risk – Liquidity

Status

Potential risk and impact

Mitigation



Whilst short term liquidity has improved, there is a risk that 
should the business not successfully generate revenue through 
legacy products and the development of compelling new 
products, in the medium term the Group’s liquidity position may 
be adversely impacted.

Management actively manages the overall liquidity 
profile, ensuring that the business plans are effective 
and aligned.

A programme is in place to develop and deploy new 
products and offerings.

The Strategic report section on pages 02 to 12 of this Annual Report has been reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors 
on 30 March 2015.

Eric Anstee 
Executive Chairman

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
Board of Directors

13

Strategic report

 ǔ Risk management and principal risks

Corporate governance

 ǔ Board of Directors

Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee
Remuneration report
Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

1. Eric Anstee
Executive Chairman

Appointment December 2014

Committee memberships:  A   RC  NG  R
Skills and experience  
Eric joined the Board as a Non-Executive Director in December 2014 and was 
appointed as Chairman in January 2015. A qualified accountant, Eric has 
significant and broad experience of financial services businesses, having been 
on the board of Insight for over eight years and of Paypoint PLC (where he is 
also Audit Committee Chairman) for over six years. He sits on the appeals 
board of The Takeover Panel and is a former Chief Executive of the ICAEW.

Other appointments: Athletics Weekly Limited; Cinema 365 Limited; Insight 
Investment Funds Management Limited; Insight Investments Fund (Global) 
Limited; Insight Investment Management Limited; Paypoint PLC; Sunlife 
Assurance Company of Canada (UK) Limited; The Royal School of Haslemere; 
Wizzard Finance Limited.

2. Craig Parsons
Chief Financial Officer 

Appointment September 2013

Committee memberships:  RC

Skills and experience  
Craig is responsible for the Group’s Finance, Tax, Treasury and Risk functions. 
He has held a senior role in CPP’s Group Finance function since 2002, most 
recently as Director of Tax and Treasury. He has primary responsibility for the 
Group’s lender relationships and played the lead role in the recent equity raise 
and balance sheet restructuring. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with 
PwC in 1995 and has almost 20 years’ experience working in the financial 
services industry. 

Other appointments: The Financial Advice Service Limited.

3. Shaun Astley-Stone
Independent Non-Executive Director

4. Ruth Evans
Independent Non-Executive Director

Appointment September 2013

Appointment October 2013

Committee memberships:  A   RC  NG  R
Skills and experience 
Shaun worked for the Group as Interim UK Managing Director from August 
2012 until June 2013, during which time he was instrumental in building 
the customer focus of the UK business and improving regulatory 
relationships. Shaun has over 25 years’ experience of the retail financial 
services and insurance sectors, at chair and board member level.

Committee memberships: NG  R
Skills and experience 
Ruth has an established track record representing consumer interests across 
a range of public and private services, including the retail financial services 
sector. She has extensive experience in professional and economic regulation 
having served as chair and board member of economic and professional 
regulatory authorities.

Other appointments: Chairman of Card Protection Plan Limited; Chief 
Executive Officer of EMC Advisory Services Limited; Director of PPI Claimline 
Limited; board member of the Professional Financial Claims Association.

Other appointments: Chair of the Authority for Television on Demand 
and Independent Commissioner of the Independent Police Complaints 
Commission; Director of the Serious Fraud Office.

Committees

Committee Chairman

NG

Nomination & Governance Committee

RC

 Risk & Compliance Committee

A

Audit Committee

R

Remuneration Committee

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201414

Corporate Governance report

Compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code 2014

The Code defines a smaller company as one that is below the FTSE 350 throughout the 
year immediately prior to the reporting year. In so far as is required of a smaller company 
as so defined, the Directors consider that the Company has been in full compliance 
throughout the year with the provisions set out in the Code, except as described below:

 ц  the Board has not considered the appointment of a Senior Independent Director 

appropriate, given the Company’s size and financial position. This will remain under 
review as the Company strategy and Board structure develops;

 ц  in view of the number of changes and issues faced in recent years, the Board has 
not considered a formal Board effectiveness review to be appropriate. This will be 
reviewed once the Board returns to a position of greater stability and as the structure 
of the Board develops;

 ц  at the date of this report, Eric Anstee is Executive Chairman and effectively the roles 

of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer are combined. This is an interim position only, 
pending the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer; and

 ц  as an interim measure only, Eric Anstee is Chairman of both the Board and the Audit 
Committee. A process is underway to appoint a further Independent Non-Executive 
Director to take over as Chair of the Audit Committee.

Leadership

The role of the Board

The Board is responsible to shareholders for the strategic direction, management and control of 
the Company’s activities and remains committed to high standards of corporate governance.

At the date of this report, the Board comprises:

Eric Anstee
as Executive Chairman

Craig Parsons
as Chief Financial Officer

Shaun Astley-Stone and Ruth Evans
as Independent Non-Executive Directors

With the exception of Eric Anstee, all served on the Board throughout the year under review.

The following changes were made during the year and up to the date of this report:

Duncan McIntyre
 ц appointed as Chairman on 29 January 2014

 ц resigned on 13 January 2015

Les Owen
 ц resigned on 13 January 2015

Eric Anstee
 ц  appointed as Non-Executive Director on 23 December 2014, as Non-Executive Chairman 

on 13 January 2015 and as Executive Chairman on 16 February 2015

Brent Escott
 ц resigned on 16 February 2015

Biographical notes of each of the current Directors are given on page 13.

How the Board operates

The Board has a formal schedule of matters reserved to it, which is available on the Company’s 
website www.cppgroupplc.com. This schedule was last reviewed and updated in March 2014. 
Key matters that the Board is specifically responsible for include:

 ц approval of the Group’s long term ambitions, objectives and commercial strategy;

 ц material changes to the Group’s corporate structure, including any acquisitions or disposals;

 ц ensuring maintenance of a sound system of internal control and risk management;

Risk management and principal risks  
pages 11 and 12

Board of Directors 
page 13 

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014The Board is committed to high standards of corporate governanceIntroductionThe Group's governance framework has been developed to ensure that it remains appropriate to the business and that the risk and compliance functions continue to be strengthened throughout the Group.Following the recent transfer to AIM, the Company is no longer obliged to comply with the UK Corporate Governance Code 2014 (the ‘Code’), although it is the Board's intention that it will continue do so, insofar as it is practical, given the size and nature of the Company. This report sets out the extent to which the Company complied with the provisions of the Code up to the date of this report and highlights where it did not.The Board will keep under review the extent to which it remains practical for the Company to comply with the Code.15

Corporate governance
Board of Directors

 ǔ Corporate Governance report

Report of the Audit Committee
Remuneration report
Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

 ц  approval of annual and half-year results and trading updates;

 ц approval of the dividend policy; and

 ц material capital investments.

Other powers are delegated to the various Board committees and to Senior Management. Details of the roles and responsibilities of the 
Board Committees are set out on pages 17 to 29 and copies of all terms of reference are available on the Company’s website. 

Details of attendance at scheduled Board and Committee meetings during the year are set out in the table on page 16. Additional ad hoc 
meetings were also arranged to deal with matters between scheduled meetings as appropriate.

Papers for Board and Committee meetings are circulated in advance of the relevant meeting and any Director who is unable to attend 
receives a full copy of the papers and has the opportunity to comment on the matters to be discussed.

Board members also receive a monthly performance pack which is prepared at the end of each financial period and includes an update 
on key performance targets, trading performance and detailed financial data.

Each member of the Board has had access to all information relating to the Group and to the advice and services of the Company 
Secretary (who is responsible for ensuring that Board procedures are followed). All Board members also have access to external advice 
at the expense of the Group, should they need it. 

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

The roles of the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer are separate, clearly defined in writing and have been agreed by the Board.

The Chairman is responsible for the leadership of the Board, ensuring its effectiveness in all aspects of its role and setting its agenda. 
In normal circumstances the Chairman would have no involvement in the day-to-day management of the Group.

The Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business and is accountable to the Board for its operational 
and financial performance. 

Pending the appointment of a new Chief Executive Officer, Eric Anstee has taken the role of Executive Chairman, on an interim basis only, 
effectively combining the roles of Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.

Board balance, independence and appointments

The Board considers that its primary role is to provide leadership to the Group, to set the Group’s long term strategic objectives and 
to develop robust corporate governance and risk management practices.

Various changes have occurred during the year and the Board is mindful of the need to ensure that it continues to comprise individuals 
with wide ranging business skills and experience and that the structure, size and composition of the Board and its Committees are appropriate. 

The Board’s aim is to ensure that the balance between Non-Executive Directors and Executive Directors reflects the changing needs 
of the business and allows the Board to exercise objectivity in decision making and proper control of the Company’s business.

The Board has reviewed the independence of each of the Non-Executive Directors that continue to serve on the Board and concluded that 
Ruth Evans and Shaun Astley-Stone are independent. On his appointment as Chairman, Eric Anstee satisfied the independence criteria as 
set out in the Code, although, following his appointment as Chairman, he is assumed, in accordance with the Code, not to be independent. 

The Board meets the Code requirement for smaller companies (as defined by the Code) that at least two members of the Board should 
be Independent Non-Executive Directors.

The Non-Executive Directors are considered to be of sufficient calibre and experience to bring significant influence to bear on the decision 
making process.

Throughout the year the outgoing Chairman, Duncan McIntyre, held regular informal meetings with Non-Executive Directors without the 
Executive Directors being present and Eric Anstee intends to continue this practice.

On joining the Board, Non-Executive Directors receive a formal appointment letter, which identifies the time commitment expected of them. 
A potential Director candidate is required to disclose all significant outside commitments prior to appointment and the Board requires 
disclosure and approval by the Board of all additional appointments for Executive or Non-Executive Directors. The terms and conditions 
of appointment of Non-Executive Directors and service contracts of Executive Directors are available to shareholders for inspection 
at the Group’s registered office during normal business hours.

Information and professional development

The Board receives at its meetings detailed reports from Executive Management on the performance of the Group and other information 
as necessary. Regular updates are provided on relevant legal, corporate governance and financial reporting developments and Directors 
are encouraged to attend external seminars on areas of relevance to their role.

Appropriate training and induction are made available to any newly appointed Director, having regard to any previous experience they may 
have as a director of a public company or otherwise. In addition to any guidance that may be given from time to time by the Company 
Secretary, Directors are encouraged to devote an element of their time to self-development through available training.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201416

Corporate Governance report continued

Leadership continued

Information and professional development continued

All Directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary. The Company Secretary or her nominee is the Secretary 
for all Board Committees. The removal and appointment of the Company Secretary is a matter reserved for Board approval. The Board also 
obtains advice from professional advisers as and when required.

Performance evaluation

As noted earlier, in view of the number of changes and issues faced by the Board during recent years, the Board has not considered formal 
evaluation to be appropriate. This will be reviewed once the Board returns to a position of greater stability and once the Board is satisfied that 
its composition is appropriate for the developing strategy of the Company. 

Re-election

The Company’s Articles of Association require that newly appointed Directors offer themselves for election at the first Annual General 
Meeting (AGM) following their appointment and that all Directors stand for re-election at least once every three years. 

Accordingly, at the 2015 AGM, Eric Anstee will seek election for the first time and Craig Parsons, Shaun Astley-Stone and Ruth Evans, having 
been elected at the 2014 AGM, are not required to stand for re-election at the forthcoming AGM. 

Biographies for all Directors can be found on page 13.

Directors’ attendance at scheduled Board and Committee meetings in 2014

Duncan McIntyre Non-Executive Chairman

Brent Escott

Chief Executive Officer

Craig Parsons

Chief Financial Officer

Les Owen

Non-Executive Director

Shaun Astley-Stone Non-Executive Director

Ruth Evans

Non-Executive Director

Audit
Committee

Risk &
Compliance
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

Nomination &
Governance
Committee

6 (6)

—

—

6 (6)

—

—

2 (2)

—

2 (2)

2 (2)

2 (2)

—

2 (2)

—

—

2 (2)

—

2 (2)

1 (2)

2 (2)

—

2 (2)

—

2 (2)

Board

10 (10)

10 (10)

10 (10)

10 (10)

10 (10)

 9 (10)

The figures in brackets represent the maximum number of meetings for which the individual was a Board or Committee member.

Eric Anstee is not included in the above table, as he was appointed a Director on 23 December 2014 and no scheduled meetings were held 
after that date.

Relations with shareholders

The Board is committed to maintaining good relationships with shareholders. There is regular dialogue with the Company’s largest 
shareholders, although care is exercised to ensure that any price-sensitive information is released at the same time to all shareholders, 
in accordance with the requirements of the UK Listing Authority. Executive Directors are available for meetings with major and institutional 
shareholders on request. 

Key shareholders are given the opportunity to meet with the Chairman and/or Non-Executive Directors if they have concerns that have not, or 
cannot, be addressed through the Executive Directors. Irrespective of the size of their shareholding, shareholders have the opportunity to convey 
their views and make enquiries via email or telephone.

The Chairman is responsible for ensuring that appropriate channels of communication are established between the Executive Directors and 
shareholders, ensuring that the views of shareholders are made known to the Board. The Board is provided with an investor relations report 
on a monthly basis. The Company recognises the importance of ensuring effective communication with all of its shareholders and seeks 
to present the Company’s position and prospects clearly. 

The Annual Report & Accounts is distributed to all shareholders and this report, together with a wide range of other information, including 
the half-yearly financial report, regulatory announcements and current details of the Company’s share price, is made available on the 
Company’s website at www.cppgroupplc.com.

The AGM provides the Board with an opportunity to meet informally and communicate directly with private investors. Voting at the AGM 
is conducted by way of a show of hands to encourage questions from and interaction with private investors. Proxy votes lodged on each 
AGM resolution are announced at the meeting and published on the Company’s website.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201417

Corporate governance
Board of Directors

 ǔ Corporate Governance report

Report of the Audit Committee
Remuneration report
Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Insurance

The Company has arranged appropriate insurance cover in respect of any potential litigation against Directors.

Internal control and compliance

The Audit Committee and the Risk & Compliance Committee receive regular reports on compliance with Group policies and procedures. 
On behalf of the Board, the Audit Committee and the Risk & Compliance Committee confirm that, through discharging their responsibilities 
under their terms of reference as described on pages 17 and 19, they have reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s system of internal controls and 
are able to confirm that necessary actions have been or are being taken to remedy any failings or weaknesses identified.

Full details of the Group’s system of internal control and its relationship to the corporate governance structure are contained in the 
Risk management and principal risks section of this report on pages 11 and 12.

Conflicts of interest

A register of conflicts of interest is maintained by the Company Secretary. Directors are required to declare any specific conflicts that arise 
from each Board agenda and a Director would refrain from voting on any matter that represented an actual or potential conflict of interest.

Board Committees

The Audit Committee, the Risk & Compliance Committee, the Nomination & Governance Committee and the Remuneration Committee 
are standing Committees of the Board. The Company Secretary acts as Secretary to all of the Board Committees. Written terms of reference 
of the Committees, including their objectives and the authority delegated to them by the Board, are available upon request from the Company 
Secretary or via the Group’s website at www.cppgroupplc.com. Terms of reference are reviewed at least annually by the relevant Committee 
and the Board. All Committees have access to independent expert advice. The Chairman of each Committee reports to the Board.

Report of the Risk & Compliance Committee

Membership and key objectives

The Committee’s key objective is to assist the Board in fulfilling its oversight responsibilities with regard to the risk appetite of the Group 
and the risk management and compliance framework and the governance structure that supports it. 

The Committee comprises Shaun Astley-Stone (Chairman), Eric Anstee and Craig Parsons.

Key responsibilities

 ц  review reports and recommendations regarding the Group’s overall risk strategy, appetite, policies, capacity and tolerances and make 

recommendations to the Board; 

 ц  review the appropriateness and effectiveness of the Group’s management systems and controls and approve any related disclosures;

 ц  review appropriateness of the governance functions’ policies and procedures;

 ц  review reports from each governance function, including those on adherence to the Group’s policies and standards and the maintenance 

of a risk and compliance culture;

 ц  recommend to the Board the appointment or removal of the Head of Risk Management; and

 ц  keep under review the adequacy and effectiveness of the Group’s governance functions and the timeliness and effectiveness of 

management actions.

Membership and meetings

Only members of the Committee have the right to attend Committee meetings, although other individuals such as Executive Directors, 
Group General Counsel and the Head of Compliance may be invited to attend all or part of any meeting as appropriate. The Head of Risk 
Management is in attendance at all meetings.

Main activities of the Committee during the year

Specific matters dealt with during the year include:

 ц Group minimum standards;

 ц Group risk appetite;

 ц disaster recovery; and

 ц information security incident management process.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201418

Corporate Governance report continued

Report of the Nomination & Governance Committee

Membership and key objectives

To assist the Board in ensuring that the Board and its Committees comprise individuals with the requisite skills, knowledge and experience 
to ensure they are effective in discharging their responsibilities.

Current membership is Eric Anstee (Chairman), Shaun Astley-Stone and Ruth Evans.

Key responsibilities

 ц  carry out a formal selection process for Executive and Non-Executive Directors and propose to the Board any new appointments;

 ц  oversee succession planning for Directors and Senior Managers below Board level; 

 ц  regularly review the structure, size and composition of the Board (including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity required);

 ц  make recommendations to the Board in respect of the membership of the Audit, Risk & Compliance and Remuneration Committees 

in consultation with the Chairmen of those Committees; and 

 ц  make recommendations to the Board on the re-appointment of any Non-Executive Director at the conclusion of their specified term of office.

Membership and meetings

In addition to Committee members, other individuals and external advisers attend meetings at the request of the Committee Chairman. 
During the year, the Chief Financial Officer, the Group General Counsel and the Group HR Director have attended meetings to report to the 
Committee and provide clarification and explanations where appropriate.

Main activities of the Committee during the year

The following principal items were dealt with during the year:

 ц appointment of Eric Anstee as Non-Executive Chairman; and

 ц commencement of the process to recruit an Audit Committee Chairman.

An external search consultancy, Odgers Berndsten, was appointed to assist with the recruitment of Eric Anstee. The Chair recruitment 
process was led by Ruth Evans and the outgoing Chairman, Duncan McIntyre, was not involved in the recruitment of his replacement.

Diversity

The Board considers itself diverse in terms of the background and experience each individual member brings to the Board, although 
recognises the benefits that greater diversity at the most senior levels of the Company may bring. With this in mind, the terms of reference of 
the Committee require that in each appointment to the Board, the Committee must “consider candidates on merit and against objective 
criteria, and with due regard for the benefits of diversity on the Board, including gender” in identifying and recommending candidates.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Report of the Audit Committee

19

Corporate governance
Board of Directors

 ǔ Corporate Governance report
 ǔ Report of the Audit Committee

Remuneration report
Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Membership and key objectives

The Committee's main remit is to assist the Board in discharging its duties and responsibilities for financial reporting and internal financial 
control to include: monitoring the integrity of the financial reporting systems; examining management’s processes for ensuring the 
appropriateness and effectiveness of internal financial controls; overseeing the work of the Internal Audit function; and providing 
an interface between Management and the external auditor.

During the course of the year under review, Committee members were Les Owen (Chairman) and Duncan McIntyre. As at the date of this 
report, the Committee comprises Eric Anstee (Chairman) and Shaun Astley-Stone. The Board considers that Eric Anstee has recent and 
relevant financial experience.

Key responsibilities

 ц  review financial statements and any financial information contained in certain other documents;

 ц  keep under review the effectiveness of the Group’s internal financial controls and approval of any relevant disclosures;

 ц  advise the Board on its obligation to ensure that the Annual Report & Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable 

and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy;

 ц  review the Group’s procedures for preventing and detecting fraud and bribery and the arrangements for employees to raise concerns, 

in confidence, about possible wrongdoing in these or other financial reporting matters;

 ц  review findings and reports from Internal Audit, approving Management action plans and monitoring progress against those plans;

 ц  monitor and review the effectiveness of the Company’s Internal Audit function in the context of the Company’s overall assurance system;

 ц  approve the external auditor’s remuneration and terms of engagement, keep under review the scope and results of the audit work, 

its cost effectiveness and the independence and objectivity of the auditor, together with the volume and nature of non-audit services 
provided by the auditor; 

 ц  consider and approve accounting policies; and

 ц  oversee the relationship with the external auditor, including recommendations to the Board in relation to its appointment, reappointment 

and removal.

Committee meetings

Only Committee members have the right to attend meetings, although others may attend by invitation of the Committee Chairman. During 
the year the external auditor, Senior Management, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer and Head of Internal Audit usually attended 
meetings or parts of meetings to report to the Committee and provide clarification and explanations where appropriate. The Audit Committee 
Chairman also meets on a regular basis with the Head of Internal Audit and the external auditor without Executive Management present.

Main activities during the year

The Committee fully recognises its role of protecting the interest of shareholders as regards the integrity of published financial information 
and the effectiveness of the audit. The main activities of the Committee during the year were as follows:

Financial statements
The Committee reviewed and discussed financial disclosures made in the annual results announcement, the Annual Report & Accounts 
and the half-yearly financial report, together with any related management letters, letters of representation and reports from the external 
auditor. Key financial reporting and accounting issues are shown in the table on page 21.

External auditor
The Committee has responsibility for overseeing the relationship with the external auditor and approves the external auditor’s engagement 
letter, audit fee and audit and client services plan (including the planned levels of materiality). The external auditor attends Audit Committee 
meetings as appropriate and meets at least annually with the Committee without Executive Management present. The Chairman of the 
Committee also meets privately with the external auditor.

During the year, the Committee received regular detailed reports from the external auditor including a formal written report dealing with the audit 
objectives, the auditor’s qualifications, expertise and resources, effectiveness of the audit process, procedures and policies for maintaining 
independence and compliance with the ethical standards issued by the Auditing Practices Board. The external auditor’s management letter 
is reviewed, as is Management’s response to issues raised. Non-audit services provided by the external auditor are monitored by the Committee. 

The Committee also reviewed detailed reports covering the planning and results of external audit work, which included challenge 
to Management’s assumptions. In addition, the Committee considered a review of the external auditor’s client service provision. 
The Committee is satisfied with the performance of the external auditor during the year and the policies and procedures in place to 
maintain their objectivity and independence. Having considered the quality, objectivity and independence of the audit teams and their 
work completed across the Group, the external auditor’s reporting and the levels of communication and service, the Audit Committee 
has recommended that Deloitte be reappointed at the forthcoming AGM.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201420

Report of the Audit Committee continued

Main activities during the year continued

Auditor’s independence, objectivity and effectiveness
Fees paid to the external auditor are shown in note 7 to the consolidated financial statements. The external auditor provides some non-audit 
services, primarily in relation to corporate transactions that may arise from time to time. The Committee keeps under review the level of 
non-audit fees as a proportion of the total fees paid to Deloitte and is satisfied that any non-audit work that has been carried out during the 
year is that which would normally fall to the Company’s auditor.

In order to ensure that auditor objectivity and independence are safeguarded, the following controls have been implemented:

 ц  a policy on the use of the auditor for non-audit work has been agreed by the Committee. This ensures that work would usually only be 

awarded when, by virtue of the auditor’s knowledge, skills or experience, the auditor is clearly to be preferred over alternative suppliers. 
This policy is appended to the Committee terms of reference which is available on the Group’s website;

 ц  the Committee receives and reviews each year an analysis of all non-audit work awarded to the auditor over the financial period; and

 ц  the Committee receives each year a report from the external auditor as to any matters that the auditor considers bear on its 

independence and which need to be disclosed to the Audit Committee. 

The Committee has implemented a formal process to assess the effectiveness of the external auditor, to be carried out annually following 
the completion of the audit. It takes the form of a detailed questionnaire to be completed by members of the Committee and senior members 
of the finance team who regularly interact with the external auditor. The results of the questionnaire are reported to and discussed by 
the Committee.

Internal audit
The Committee approves the annual internal audit plan and methodology, monitors progress against the plan and receives reports after 
each audit. Progress against actions identified in these reports and the external auditor’s management letter, as well as other control 
related actions raised by third parties, are monitored by the Committee at regular intervals.

The Internal Audit team comprises the Head of Internal Audit, who is a Chartered Accountant with almost five years’ service with the 
Company and a further two auditors. The Committee has assessed the resources the department has to complete its remit and has 
approved the use of external consultants to supplement it if necessary, particularly in areas requiring specialist skills. The appointment and 
removal of the Head of Internal Audit is the responsibility of the Committee. The Internal Audit Department continues to have unrestricted 
access to all Group documentation, premises, functions and employees, as required. The Head of Internal Audit has direct access to the 
Board and the Audit Committee Chairman and is accountable to the Audit Committee, meeting with the Committee from time to time, 
without Executive Management present. 

Going concern
Throughout the year, the Committee received reports from Management and paid close attention to the continuing going concern position 
of the Company in view of various financial risks, including the Group cash position, developing information on likely redress rates and other 
risks that the Group continues to face. As at the date of this report, the Committee considers it appropriate that the financial statements are 
prepared on a going concern basis. 

Committee effectiveness
In 2013, the Committee carried out a self-assessment exercise to help it assess its own effectiveness. This comprised a questionnaire 
completed anonymously by various participants and analysed by the Head of Internal Audit prior to consideration by the Committee. 
Certain changes were implemented as a result and it is proposed to repeat the exercise from time to time.

Advice to the Board
The Board sought the advice of the Committee as to whether the Annual Report & Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and 
understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and 
strategy. The Committee adopted a formal process to enable it to satisfy itself that this was the case, before advising the Board.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201421

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
 ǔ Report of the Audit Committee

Remuneration report
Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Other activities

Other activities of the Committee during the year included:

 ц assessment of effectiveness of external audit process; and

 ц approval of Internal Audit strategy and plan.

Regular updates are provided to the Committee on developments in financial reporting and related legal and corporate governance matters.

The Committee has access to the services of the Internal Audit and Company Secretarial departments and is authorised to obtain 
independent professional advice if it considers it necessary.

Key financial reporting and accounting issues

The primary areas of judgement considered by the Committee in relation to the 2014 financial statements and how these were addressed 
by Management are shown below:

Area of judgement

Management action

Going concern

Regulatory provisions

Revenue recognition

Throughout the year, the Committee has received regular reports from Management on the going concern 
status of the Company taking account of the financial challenges that the Company has faced, in particular 
the trading, customer redress and liquidity risks. Each report was supported by a detailed forecasting 
exercise and included explanations of key judgements within those forecasts and the evidence on which 
those judgements were based. The Committee reviewed and challenged each report and the underlying 
forecast assumptions, including expected growth rates and key factors such as renewal rates by reference 
to historical information and the estimated impact of the UK Scheme as it progressed. Whilst mindful of the 
risks still facing the Group which include trading, residual customer redress and medium term strategy, the 
Committee believes that the Company remains a going concern and that it is appropriate that these financial 
statements are prepared on a going concern basis.

The Group’s regulatory provisions included the UK Scheme, which concluded on 30 August 2014 and other 
residual customer redress activity. The Committee considered and challenged the key judgements used in 
determining the overall level of the redress provisions including response rates, the size of the population 
of relevant customer policies, the average level of redress payable per customer and the eventual outturn 
of adviser costs. The Committee received detailed explanations from Executive Management in relation 
to the key assumptions and the supporting evidence behind them. Where appropriate, reports were obtained, 
for example in relation to the response rates and the completeness of the populations, in order to provide 
additional assurance.

The Committee reviews the Company’s policy on revenue recognition on an annual basis and concluded 
that revenue recognition continues to be dealt with appropriately. This view is materially supported by the 
auditor’s report.

Eric Anstee
Chairman of the Audit Committee
30 March 2015

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201422

Remuneration report

Review of 2014

During 2014, we made good progress in stabilising and right-sizing the UK and International 
businesses, completing the UK Scheme and preparing for the successful restructure and 
recapitalisation of the Group.

The Committee chose not to make a further LTIP award in 2014, but did recognise the 
need to develop and implement a bonus plan for the new Management team, directly 
aligned to the delivery of its short term strategic priorities. Payment levels were ‘capped’ 
by the Committee, reflecting the Company’s financial circumstances.

Our strategic priorities for 2015

Our general approach continues to be driven by our primary objective, which is to operate 
a remuneration framework which successfully promotes the long term success of the 
Company. In part, this is driven by our ability to attract, motivate and retain the right calibre 
of people as this is critical to our long term performance, for shareholders and customers 
alike. Our remuneration strategy seeks to incentivise a strong Leadership Team, capable 
of leading multiple operations across a number of geographies, to deliver strategic, 
operational and financial objectives and to encourage excellence in assuring our internal 
control, risk and compliance processes.

The Committee is in the process of designing a replacement remuneration policy that is 
better suited to the Company in its current circumstances. The details of the nature and 
design of the new incentive arrangements are still under discussion, but it is our intention 
to reward performance through a combination of ordinary shares and cash bonus, in order 
to support the successful delivery of the business plan and reflect the creation of value 
for shareholders.

Activities of the Remuneration Committee

The Committee is responsible for recommending to the Board the remuneration of the 
Chairman, Executive Directors, Company Secretary and Executive Management. 
The remuneration of Non-Executive Directors is a matter for the Chairman and the 
Executive Members of the Board. The Committee also recommends and monitors the level 
and structure of remuneration for Senior Management.

The main activities of the Committee during the year under review were:

 ц incentivisation of Executive Directors and Senior Management team;

 ц Management retention and reward;

 ц strategy for year end salary reviews; and

 ц agree terms for senior appointments and exits.

Interaction with shareholders

The Remuneration Committee actively seeks the views of shareholders and understands 
that such consultation forms a key part of the process of remuneration policy development. 

Remuneration disclosure

This report is subject to an advisory shareholder vote at the forthcoming AGM.

Ruth Evans
Chair of the Remuneration Committee
30 March 2015

Board of Directors 
page 13

Annual report on remuneration 
pages 23 to 29

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Annual Statement from the Remuneration Committee ChairmanIntroductionOn behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the Directors’ Remuneration report for the year ended 31 December 2014.Our report this year looks slightly different to that of the previous year in that the Directors' remuneration policy approved at the 2014 AGM was subsequently disapplied by a further shareholder resolution at the General Meeting held on 13 January 2015 and that element is therefore excluded from this year's report. The remainder of the report is prepared in accordance with the requirements for a premium-listed company, reflecting the fact that the Company retained its premium listing throughout the whole of the period under review.Following the move to AIM in February 2015, our reporting in future years will reflect the disclosure requirements of an AIM-listed company.23

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee

 ǔ Remuneration report

Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Directors’ remuneration policy

The Directors' remuneration policy agreed at the AGM on 16 June 2014 was disapplied by a shareholder vote at a subsequent General 
Meeting on 13 January 2015 and is therefore not disclosed in this report. A new policy is being developed by the Committee with the 
intention that it will be better suited to the current circumstances of the Company.

Annual report on remuneration

This part of the report has been prepared in accordance with The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
(Amendment) Regulations 2013 and the UKLA Listing Rules. The report will be put to an advisory shareholder vote at the AGM on 1 June 2015.

Implementation of remuneration policy for 2015

Base salary
Neither of the Executive Directors received an increase in base salary in 2014. The Committee recognised that Craig Parsons' salary was 
below market rate; in order to remedy this position and in recognition of his material contribution to the on-going stability of the business, 
an increase was agreed with effect from 1 January 2015. Executive salaries will next be reviewed on 1 January 2016. 

Brent Escott

Craig Parsons

 Base salary £’000

1 January 2014

1 January 2015

325

180

325

210

Percentage
increase

—

16.66

Pension and benefits
Executive Directors receive an employer defined contribution of up to 15% of salary.

A fixed sum of up to £20,000 is allowed to spend on a range of benefits available within the Company's flexible benefits scheme. 
The benefits provision for 2015 is expected to be unchanged.

Annual bonus
A revised plan will be implemented for 2015 and beyond, taking account of the Group's current circumstances.

Long Term Incentive Plan
A new LTIP is being considered as part of the overall review of policy.

Non-Executive Directors’ annual fees
Non-Executive Director fees have been unchanged since 2010 and have been reviewed in the first quarter of 2015.

Rate

Chair

Board fees

Chair of Board Committee or regulated subsidiary company

Base fees £’000

1 January 2014

1 January 2015

Percentage
increase

125

40

10

130

40

10

4%

—

—

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201424

Remuneration report continued

Annual report on remuneration continued

Single total figure of remuneration (audited information)

The following table shows a total single figure of remuneration in respect of qualifying services for the 2014 financial year for each 
Director, together with comparative figures for 2013.

Base salary/fees
£’000

Taxable benefits
£’000

Bonus
£’000

LTIP
£’000

Pension
£’000

Total
£’000

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

Executive Directors

Brent Escott1

Craig Parsons2

Non-Executive Directors

Eric Anstee3

Duncan McIntyre4

Les Owen

Shaun Astley-Stone5

Ruth Evans6

Charles Gregson7

325

180

—

184

50

50

55

21

108

60

—

50

50

16

11

125

80

13

—

—

—

—

—

—

24

4

—

—

—

—

—

—

98

54

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

49

18

—

—

—

—

—

—

16

6

—

—

—

—

—

—

552

265

—

184

50

50

55

21

148

70

—

50

50

16

11

125

1.   Brent Escott was appointed as CEO on 1 September 2013. Included in the above figures is a travel allowance equal to £2,500 per month after deduction of tax and 

national insurance. 

2.  Craig Parsons was appointed as CFO on 1 September 2013.

3.  Eric Anstee joined the Board on 23 December 2014; no fees were paid to him in 2014.

4.   With effect from 29 January 2014, Duncan McIntyre received an additional £15,000 per annum, in recognition of the additional time commitment anticipated in the 

first few months of his appointment. This element of his fee was reviewed in April 2014 and judged to remain appropriate, in light of his continuing time commitment. 
In accordance with the terms of his contract, a further payment of £50,000 was also made to Duncan McIntyre as remuneration for his significant additional time 
commitment during the Group's equity raise and restructure.

5.   Shaun Astley-Stone was appointed on 2 September 2013. 

6.  Ruth Evans was appointed on 4 October 2013. Ruth Evans is also a Director of CPPL, for which, in 2014, she received a fee of £5,000 per annum.

7.  Charles Gregson resigned on 29 January 2014.

Additional information in respect of the single total figure table (audited information)

Bonus
The annual bonus plan for 2014 provided for a bonus of up to 100% of salary to be earned for achievement of Group financial performance 
and specified personal objectives. Payment of bonuses were dependent on achievement of key strategic milestones for 2014 as defined 
by the Group Executive Committee:

 ц completion of the UK Scheme; 

 ц renewal packs aligned to industry standards; and

 ц issue of the Circular announcing the successful re-financing of the business, the capital restructure and move to AIM.

Although all of these key milestones were achieved, the Committee considered that a bonus of 30% of the maximum entitlement was appropriate, 
taking into account the Company’s overall financial performance in the year. 

LTIPs
None of the Directors had any awards capable of vesting for performance in 2013 or 2014.

Pension
The pension contributions reflect the Company’s contribution of 15% or 10% of base salary as a defined contribution.

Payments for loss of office
In February 2015, Brent Escott, received six months' pay in lieu of notice, in accordance with the terms of his contract. In accordance with 
the scheme rules, the share options awarded to him on 31 December 2013 will lapse 90 days after the termination of his employment, 
i.e. on 17 May 2015.

As disclosed in last year's Annual Report, Paul Stobart received a payment of £148,000 in 2013 as pay in lieu of notice. A further payment 
of £219,000, being the balance of his contractual pay in lieu of notice, was paid in January 2014.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201425

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee

 ǔ Remuneration report

Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Share scheme interests awarded during the financial year (audited information)

No awards were made during 2014.

Directors’ share interests (audited information)

Long term incentive plans
Details of awards held, granted and exercised in respect of the LTIPs are detailed below.

Director

Brent Escott

Craig Parsons

2010 Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP)

Balance held at 
1 January 
2014

Number of share
options granted
in year

Number of share
options exercised
in year

Number of share
options lapsed
in year

Balance held at
31 December 
2014

1,150,000

731,915

—

—

—

—

—

1,150,000

25,000

706,915

For LTIP awards made from 2012 onwards, the following two interdependent performance conditions apply:

 ц  the award is subject to a performance condition under the terms of which the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (TSR) performance 
is ranked against the TSR of a comparator group comprising the companies constituting the FTSE SmallCap (excluding investment 
trusts) on the date of grant of the award; and

 ц  the TSR-based performance condition is normally measured over a three-year period starting on the date of grant and would be satisfied 

if the Company’s TSR was at least at the median of a ranking of the TSR of each of the members of the comparator group over the 
same period.

If the TSR condition is not satisfied, then no part of the award will be capable of vesting and the award will lapse. If the TSR condition 
is satisfied, then the number of shares capable of vesting under the award shall be determined by reference to a performance condition 
based on the achievement of absolute average share price targets measured at the end of a three-year performance period commencing 
on the date of grant of the award. 

For the 2013 awards, assuming the TSR condition is satisfied, as soon as reasonably practicable after the end of the performance period, 
the Committee shall determine the highest average share price and the number of shares (if any) in respect of which the award may vest 
in accordance with the following table:

Highest average share price

Below 20 pence

20 pence (the ‘Threshold Target’)

45 pence or higher (the ‘Maximum Target’)

Between 20 pence and 45 pence

Percentage of award vesting

0%

25%

100%

Between 25% and 100% on a straight line basis

Clawback provisions will continue to allow all or part of an LTIP award to be recovered if, for example, there is a restatement of the financial 
accounts or the individual is dismissed for ‘cause’. 

The 2013 LTIP awards were granted as nil-cost options on 31 December 2013 and will vest on 31 December 2016, subject to performance 
conditions. When awards were granted, the market value of shares was 8.50 pence. Awards vest subject to continued employment and 
the satisfaction of performance conditions as set out above. 

The market price of ordinary shares of the Company as at 31 December 2014 was 5.63 pence and the range during the year was 4.82 pence 
to 18.75 pence.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201426

Remuneration report continued

Annual report on remuneration continued

Other share plans

2010 Restricted Stock Plan (RSP)
The RSP is a non-performance based share plan aimed at incentivising the second tier of management across the Group and Executive 
Directors are not eligible to participate. Employment is the only performance condition attached to this plan.

UK Save As You Earn scheme (SAYE)
The Company launched a Save As You Earn scheme (ShareSAVE plan) in September 2010 and made an additional offer in September 
2011. All employees in the UK, including Executive Directors, are eligible to participate in the SAYE scheme. Options were granted under 
this scheme in September 2010 at an option price of 198 pence and in September 2011 at an option price of 125 pence, in each case 
representing a discount of 20% to the market value applicable at the time of grant. Consistent with HMRC rules, the scheme is not subject 
to any performance criteria other than employment. No offer has been made under this scheme since 2011.

Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSBP)
The Committee supports the principle that the payment of a proportion of any annual bonuses paid in future periods should be deferred 
and paid in Company shares as it further aligns Executives with shareholders.

Accordingly, at the Committee's discretion, annual bonuses awarded under the Executive bonus scheme may also be subject to the DSBP 
arrangements whereby any bonuses awarded up to 50% of maximum potential (i.e. up to target bonus) will be paid as cash and, where the 
bonus exceeds 50% of maximum potential (i.e. is above target), half of the additional bonus above target will be paid as cash and half will 
be deferred into awards over shares under the DSBP. Deferred shares will vest on the third anniversary of grant subject to continued 
employment at the Company.

The concept of clawback applies to DSBP awards. None of the current Directors hold shares under the DSBP.

Legacy plans 

The Company has two legacy share plans (the 2005 Plan and the 2008 Plan) wherein options were exercisable as follows: 50% on 
24 March 2010, 25% on 24 March 2011 and 25% on 24 March 2012. There are no performance conditions attached to these shares 
other than those relating to employment.

The following options are held by Craig Parsons under the 2005 Plan and the 2008 Plan: 

Director

Legacy plan

Option price

Balance as at
1 January 
2014

Number of share
options granted
in year

Number of share
options exercised
in year

Number of share
 options lapsed
in year

Balance as at
31 December 
2014

Craig Parsons

2005

2008

£2.28

£1.79

41,864

40,000

—

—

—

—

—

—

41,864

40,000

Expiry date

21/12/19

19/06/18

The market price of ordinary shares of the Company as at 31 December 2014 was 5.63 pence and the range during the year was 4.82 pence 
to 18.75 pence.

Shareholder dilution 

In line with the ABI guidelines, the rules of the above incentive schemes provide that: 

 ц  commitments to issue new shares or re-issue treasury shares, when aggregated with awards under all of the Company’s other 

schemes, must not exceed 10% of the issued ordinary share capital in any rolling ten-year period commencing on Admission of the 
Group’s shares to the London Stock Exchange (Admission); and 

 ц  commitments to issue new shares or re-issue treasury shares under Executive (discretionary) schemes should not exceed 5% 

of the issued ordinary share capital of the Company in any rolling ten-year period commencing on Admission. 

As well as the LTIP and the RSP the Company operates a SAYE share option plan approved by HM Revenue & Customs for all UK 
employees. Newly issued shares are currently used to satisfy the exercise of all employee and Executive options.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201427

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee

 ǔ Remuneration report

Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Performance graph and table

The following graph illustrates the TSR performance on a cumulative basis with dividends reinvested as at the end of the financial year 
compared with the FTSE 250 Index and FTSE SmallCap Index.

)
£
(
e
u
a
V

l

200
180
160
140
120
100
80
60
40
20
0

18 March
2010

31 December 
2010

31 December 
2011

31 December 
2012

31 December 
2013

31 December 
2014

CPPGroup Plc

FTSE 250 Index

FTSE SmallCap Index

Source: Thomson Reuters

Directors’ shareholdings (audited information)

The Directors who served during the year under review held the following beneficial interests in the Company’s ordinary shares:

Eric Anstee

Craig Parsons

Duncan McIntyre

Brent Escott

Les Owen

Ordinary shares
 held at 
31 December 
2014

Ordinary shares
 held at
31 December 
2013

Interests
in unvested
shares under
incentive plans

—

—

—

—

13,340

13,340

—

788,779

—

—

—

1,150,000

22,984

22,984

—

There have been no purchases of shares by Directors since 31 December 2014 to the date of this report.

Share ownership guidelines

The Group operates share ownership guidelines for both Executive and Non-Executive Directors which are currently under review, as part 
of the overall review of policy.

Table of historical data

The following table shows the total remuneration, as defined by the regulations, and the amount vesting under short term and long term 
incentives as a percentage of the maximum that could have been achieved, in respect of the Chief Executive Officer. Figures are given 
from 2010 only, being the date that the Company was admitted to the London Stock Exchange.

Director

Single figure of total 
remuneration (£’000) 

Annual bonus against 
maximum opportunity

Long term incentive vesting 
rates against maximum 
opportunity

2014 
Brent Escott1

2013
Brent Escott

2013 
Paul Stobart2

2012
Paul Stobart

2011
Paul Stobart

2011
Eric Woolley3

2010
Eric Woolley

552

30%

n/a

148

—

n/a

6304

—

n/a

576

—

n/a

144

—

n/a

494

—

n/a

2,8745

72%

n/a

1.  Brent Escott was appointed on 1 September 2013 and resigned on 16 February 2015.

2.  Paul Stobart was appointed on 1 October 2011 and resigned on 31 August 2013.

3.  Eric Woolley resigned as a Director on 1 October 2011.

4.  This figure includes an amount of £148,000 pay in lieu of notice. 

5.   Mr Woolley held 1,296,400 options under the legacy schemes which vested on 24 March 2010. These were not subject to performance conditions and so are not 

treated as long term incentives for the purposes of this table. The figure includes Mr Woolley’s aggregate gain on vesting which was £1,747,096 plus £367,573, being 
a cash enhancement due to the restructuring of the business.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
28

Remuneration report continued

Annual report on remuneration continued

Percentage change in remuneration levels

The table below shows the movement in the remuneration of the Chief Executive Officer compared to that of UK-based employees. 
This comparator group has been chosen as the Group Chief Executive Officer is based in the UK and this is a sizeable representation of our 
employee base.

Salary

Benefits

Bonus

Chief Executive Officer

Average per employee

0%1

0%

2%2

0%

See note 3 below

See note 3 below

1.   Brent Escott was appointed on 1 September 2013. His salary on appointment was £325,000 which did not change during the course of the year.

2.   Only those UK-based employees earning up to £60,000 per annum were awarded a 2% pay increase in 2014 in line with the Consumer Prices Index (CPI).

3.   Brent Escott was awarded a bonus payment of £97,500 for 2014 performance. There was no UK-based employee bonus scheme in 2014, so it is not possible 

to provide a comparison. 

Total expenditure on pay1

Dividends paid2

2014
£’000

28,628

—

2013
£’000

34,734

—

Percentage
change

(17.6)%

—

1.   Total expenditure on pay is based on continuing operations only and includes wages and salaries; social security costs; share-based payments and pension costs 

as detailed in note 9 to the consolidated financial statements on page 54.

2.   The Directors have not considered it appropriate to recommend payment of dividends in either 2013 or 2014 due to the Company’s financial circumstances.

Service contracts and letters of appointment

Craig Parsons has a service contract with a notice period of six months by either party.

Non-Executive Directors do not have service contracts but receive letters of appointment. Eric Anstee’s appointment is subject to 
three months’ notice during the first year of appointment and one month thereafter. Other Non-Executive appointments are subject 
to one month’s notice.

Copies of Directors’ service contracts and letters of appointment are available for inspection by shareholders at the Company’s registered 
office. The dates of their service contracts and letters of appointment are shown below:

Name

Eric Anstee

Craig Parsons

Shaun Astley-Stone

Ruth Evans

Date of service contract/
letter of appointment

23 December 2014

30 August 2013

1 August 2013

5 September 2013

Effective date of appointment

23 December 2014*

1 September 2013

2 September 2013

4 October 2013

* Effective date of Eric Anstee's appointment as a Non-Executive Director.

Outside appointments
Craig Parsons does not hold any outside listed company appointments. Eric Anstee is a Non-Executive Director of Paypoint PLC, a company 
listed on the London Stock Exchange.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201429

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee

 ǔ Remuneration report

Directors’ report
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Committee membership

During the year under review the Committee consisted of Ruth Evans (Chair), Duncan McIntyre and Les Owen. At the date of this report, 
the Committee comprises Ruth Evans (Chair), Eric Anstee and Shaun Astley-Stone.

Advisers to the Remuneration Committee

The Committee appointed and received advice over the year from independent remuneration consultants New Bridge Street (NBS), 
a trading name of Aon Hewitt Limited (an Aon plc company). NBS is a signatory to the Remuneration Consultants Group Code of Conduct 
and any advice provided by it is governed by that Code. Other than acting as independent consultant to the Committee, NBS provided no 
further services to the Company during the year. 

Work undertaken by NBS included:

 ц annual review of Remuneration Committee terms of reference;

 ц annual review of trends in Executive compensation;

 ц review of Chairman and Non-Executive Director fees; and

 ц review of Executive Director compensation.

The Committee reviews the objectivity and independence of the advice it receives from NBS. The Committee is satisfied that NBS 
is providing robust, professional and independent advice. For the year under review, NBS’s total fees charged were £24,965. 

During the year, Eversheds LLP, the Group’s legal advisers, provided advice to the Committee in connection with the shareholder resolution 
to disapply the Remuneration Policy voted on at the General Meeting on 13 January 2015. The total fees charged for this work were £44,000.

In the course of its deliberations, the Committee considers the views of the Chief Executive Officer on the remuneration and performance 
of the Executive Committee. The Committee also asks for and receives information from the Group HR Director. 

No other advisers have provided significant services to the Committee in the year.

Statement of voting at Annual General Meeting

Votes cast by proxy and at the 2013 and 2014 meetings in respect of the Directors’ remuneration report were as follows:

2012 Remuneration report

29,095,227

98.07

For

Number

%

Against

Number

521,979

2013 Remuneration report 
(excluding Remuneration policy)

2013 Remuneration policy

5,773,562

5,764,472

4.64

4.63

2,835

2,835

Abstain

Number

51,044

%

0.17

118,662,289

118,671,379

95.36

95.37

%

1.76

0.00

0.00

Reasons
for votes 
against,
if known

Action 
taken by
Committee

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201430

Directors’ report

Strategic report 
Pages 02 to 12

Directors’ biographies  
Page 13

Directors

The Directors who served throughout the year, except as noted, are shown in the table below.

Directors

Eric Anstee1

Craig Parsons

Executive Chairman

(appointed 23 December 2014)

Chief Financial Officer

Shaun Astley-Stone

Non-Executive Director

Ruth Evans

Non-Executive Director

Duncan McIntyre2

Non-Executive Chairman

(appointed 29 January 2014)
(resigned 13 January 2015)

Brent Escott

Les Owen

Chief Executive Officer

(resigned 16 February 2015)

Non-Executive Director

(resigned 13 January 2015)

1.   Eric Anstee was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 23 December 2014, as Non-Executive Chairman 

on 13 January 2015 and as Executive Chairman on 16 February 2014.

2.   Duncan McIntyre was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 January 2011, and as Non-Executive 

Chairman on 29 January 2014

The Company’s Articles of Association require that newly appointed Directors offer 
themselves for election at the first AGM following their appointment and that all Directors 
stand for re-election at least once every three years.

Accordingly, Eric Anstee will seek election to the Board for the first time at the 2015 AGM. 

Details of powers of Directors, procedures for appointment and re-election of Directors, 
Directors’ indemnity insurance and procedures for managing Directors’ conflicts of interest 
are included in the Corporate Governance report on pages 14 to 21.

Biographical details for each Director are set out on page 13. Details of Committee 
memberships are set out on pages 17 to 29 of the Corporate governance section.

Details of Directors’ beneficial interests in and options over the Company’s shares are set 
out in the Remuneration report on pages 25 to 27.

Pages 13 to 29 are by reference part of the Directors’ report.

Dividends

The Directors recommend that no final dividend be paid in respect of 2014. No dividends 
have been paid in either the current or prior year. 

Annual General Meeting

The AGM of the Company is to be held on 1 June 2015. The notice of the AGM and an 
explanation of the non-routine business are set out in the explanatory circular that accompanies 
this Annual Report. The notice of the AGM specifies deadlines for exercising voting rights 
and appointing a proxy or proxies to vote in relation to resolutions to be passed at the meeting.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014The Directors present their Annual Report and audited financial statements of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2014.Principal activitiesThe principal activity of the Group is the provision of assistance products. Further information on the Group’s business can be found in the following sections of the Annual Report, which are incorporated by reference into this report: • Strategic report on pages 02 to 12;•  Corporate Governance report on pages 14 to 18; • Report of the Audit Committee on pages 19 to 21; and•  Remuneration report on pages 22 to 29.31

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee
Remuneration report

 ǔ Directors’ report

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

Capital structure

Details of the issued share capital, together with movements in the Company’s issued share capital for the period, can be found in note 28 
to the consolidated financial statements. The Company's capital comprises ordinary shares of 1 penny each, which carry no right to fixed 
income. Each fully paid share carries the right to one vote at a General Meeting of the Company. 

Following the recent capital restructure, the Company also has deferred shares which carry no voting rights, no rights to dividend and only 
very limited rights on a return of capital.

Details of the Group’s employee share schemes are set out in note 29. 

A special resolution was passed at the Company’s AGM on 16 June 2014, which allows the Directors to allot shares up to an aggregate 
amount equal to one third of the Company’s existing issued ordinary share capital. 

Pursuant to Article 5 of the Company’s Articles of Association and subject to the provisions of the applicable regulations, statutes and 
subordinate legislation, the Company is entitled to purchase its own shares. The Company did not purchase any of its own shares during 
the year.

Change of control provisions

Some agreements to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party may be at risk of termination by counterparties in certain restricted 
circumstances in the event of a change of control of the Company. The Directors are not aware of any agreements between the Company 
and its Directors or employees that provide for compensation for loss of office or employment that occurs because of a takeover bid. 

Substantial shareholdings

On 31 December 2014, the Company had been notified, in accordance with the Disclosure and Transparency Rules of the Financial 
Conduct Authority, of the notifiable interests in the ordinary share capital of the Company set out in the table below. As far as the Directors 
are aware, as at 31 December 2014 no person had a beneficial interest in 3% or more of the voting share capital except for the following:

Name

Mr Hamish Ogston

Schroder Investment Management Ltd

Mr Tariq Rashid

Ordinary shares
(thousands)

96,332

22,311

5,500

%

56.12%

13.00%

3.20%

As a result of the capital restructure, the substantial shareholdings subsequent to the year end and up to the date of this report are as follows:

Name

Funds managed by Phoenix Asset Management Partners Limited

Milton Magna Limited (a company controlled by Mr Hamish Ogston)

Mr Hamish Ogston

Schroder Investment Management Limited

Ordinary shares
(thousands)

335,327

264,144

96,332

83,748

%

40.00%

31.51%

11.49%

9.99%

Mr Hamish Ogston holds a beneficial interest in 43% of the issued shares of the Company. Under the terms of a Relationship Agreement 
between Mr Ogston and the Company dated 22 December 2014 and effective from the Company's admission to AIM, for so long as 
Mr Ogston and any person or corporate body connected to him (a ‘Controlling Shareholder’) holds, in aggregate, 30% or more of the ordinary 
shares or the voting rights attaching to the shares, Mr Ogston shall not and shall procure that each Controlling Shareholder shall not:

 ц  vote in favour of, or propose any resolution to amend the Articles which would be contrary to the principle of the independence of the 

Company from the Shareholder or any of the Controlling Shareholders;

 ц  take any action which precludes any member of the Group from carrying on its business independently of Mr Ogston or any Controlling 

Shareholder; or

 ц  take any action (or omit to take any action) to prejudice the Company's status as a Company admitted to AIM or its suitability for admission 

to AIM or the Company's compliance with the AIM Rules, other than in the circumstances of a takeover or merger of the Company.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201432

Directors’ report continued

Going concern

In reaching their view on the preparation of the Group’s financial statements on a going concern basis, the Directors are required to consider 
whether the Group can continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

During the year, significant progress has been made; the UK Scheme is now complete and the Group has successfully raised equity capital 
since the year end of £20.0 million (£17.9 million net of expenses) with the transaction completing on 11 February 2015. As part of this 
transaction, it was agreed that the Business Partner deferred commission debt of £20.9 million at the date of the transaction would be 
compromised for a payment of £1.3 million and further deferral of commission of up to £1.3 million and the lender borrowing facility would 
be prepaid in part reducing from £13.0 million to £5.0 million. The remaining funds from the equity capital raise will provide additional 
liquidity for the Group’s on-going activities. Whilst there continues to be uncertainty from trading and residual redress risk, along with 
medium term strategic risk, the Group’s forecasts, taking account of the new capital structure, show that the Group should have the 
necessary resources to trade and operate within the level of its agreed facilities. After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.

Auditor

Each of the persons who is a Director at the date of approval of this report confirms that:

 ц so far as the Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditor is unaware; and

 ц  the Director has taken all the steps that he/she ought to have taken as a Director in order to make him/herself aware of any relevant audit 

information and to establish that the Company's auditor is aware of that information.

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

Deloitte LLP has expressed its willingness to continue in office as auditor. Accordingly, a resolution to reappoint Deloitte will be proposed 
at the Annual General Meeting.

By order of the Board

Lorraine Beavis
Company Secretary
30 March 2015

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

33

Corporate governance
Board of Directors
Corporate Governance report
Report of the Audit Committee
Remuneration report

 ǔ Directors’ report
 ǔ Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report & Accounts 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 are required to 
prepare the consolidated financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European 
Union (IFRS) and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation and have elected to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with United 
Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice (United Kingdom Accounting Standards and applicable law). Under company law the 
Directors must not approve the accounts until they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Company 
and the Group and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, International Accounting Standard 1 requires that Directors:

 ц  properly select and apply accounting policies;

 ц  present information, including accounting policies, in a manner that provides relevant, reliable, comparable and understandable information;

 ц  provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRS are insufficient to enable users to understand 

the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the Group’s financial position and financial performance; and

 ц  make an assessment of the Company’s ability to continue as a going concern.

In preparing the Company financial statements, the Directors are required to:

 ц  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

 ц  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

 ц  state whether applicable UK Accounting Standards have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained 

in the financial statements; and

 ц  prepare the Company financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue 

in business. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions 
and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial 
statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence 
for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included 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.

We confirm that to the best of our knowledge:

 ц  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the relevant financial reporting framework, give a true and fair view of the assets, 

liabilities, financial position and profit/loss of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole;

 ц  the Strategic report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company and the 

undertakings included in the consolidation as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face; and

 ц  the Annual Report & Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for 

shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

By order of the Board

Eric Anstee
Executive Chairman
30 March 2015

Craig Parsons
Chief Financial Officer
30 March 2015

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201434

Independent Auditor’s report
to the members of CPPGroup Plc

Opinion on financial statements of CPPGroup Plc

In our opinion:

 ц  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 2014 and of the Group’s and the parent company’s 
loss for the year then ended;

 ц  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared 

in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union;

 ц  the parent company financial statements have been properly 

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

 ц  the financial statements have been prepared in accordance 

with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

The financial statements comprise the Consolidated income 
statement, the Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, 
the Consolidated and Company balance sheets, the Consolidated 
statement of changes in equity, the Consolidated cash flow 
statement, and the related notes 1 to 47. 

The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the 
preparation of the Group financial statements is applicable law and 
IFRSs as adopted by the European Union. The financial reporting 
framework that has been applied in the preparation of the parent 
company financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom 
Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted 
Accounting Practice).

Going concern

We have reviewed the Directors’ statement contained within the 
Directors’ report on page 32 that the Group is a going concern. 
We confirm that:

 ц  we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern 
basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements 
is appropriate; and

 ц  we have not identified any material uncertainties that may cast 

significant doubt on the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern.

However, because not all future events or conditions can be 
predicted, this statement is not a guarantee as to the Group’s ability 
to continue as a going concern.

Our assessment of risks of material misstatement

The assessed risks of material misstatement described below are those that had the greatest effect on our audit strategy, the allocation of 
resources in the audit and directing the efforts of the engagement team:

Risk

Going concern

As a result of the financial impact of the historical customer 
redress scheme, continuing restrictions on new regulated 
business sales in the United Kingdom, and the requirement to 
trade in line with expectations and maintain compliance with 
lending covenants, the going concern status of the Group has 
been identified as a significant risk.

As disclosed by Management in the Directors’ report on page 32, 
and note 4 to the consolidated financial statements, subsequent 
to the year end the Group has refinanced and restructured, and 
the main elements of the customer redress scheme were concluded 
in the year. Whilst there continues to be uncertainty in relation to 
trading and residual redress risk, along with medium term strategic 
risk, the refinancing has resulted in an improvement in the Group’s 
financial position such that there is no longer a material uncertainty 
in relation to the Group’s ability to meet its liabilities as they fall due 
during the 12 months from the date of this report. The sustainability 
of the business beyond this period will depend on the mitigation 
of medium term strategic risk through the formulation of a 
viable strategy. 

Completeness of provisions for customer redress 
and associated costs

The Group holds £6.4 million of customer redress and associated 
costs provisions at the year end (2013: £37.4 million). The 
determination of the value of the provision requires significant 
judgement in the selection of key assumptions such as, future 
customer redress response rates, the size of the population of 
underlying customer policies affected by historical mis-selling, 
the level of redress payable per customer and the eventual 
outturn of adviser costs.

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

We evaluated the going concern assessment prepared by Management. 
This involved assessing the design and implementation of key controls 
in relation to the monitoring and evaluation of going concern, such 
as the production and review of forecasts used by Management. 

We challenged the underlying forecast and budget assumptions 
including expected growth rates and key factors such as renewal 
rates by reference to historical information. We also evaluated 
historical forecasting accuracy, the sensitivity of the going concern 
status to key assumptions such as anticipated cost savings and new 
business contributions, current and forecast compliance with the 
terms of the Group’s borrowing facilities (including those entered 
into post year end), and the impact of other uncertainties including 
remaining residual redress risk.

We considered the design and implementation of Management’s 
controls in relation to the identification and response to regulatory 
risks. We reviewed the key regulatory risks identified by Management, 
met with the Group legal department and relevant Management across 
the Group to evaluate any identified exposures and reviewed relevant 
Board minutes to assess the completeness of provisions in place. 

We also reviewed regulatory correspondence to assess the Group’s 
compliance with laws and regulations across the jurisdictions in 
which it operates, tested the completeness and accuracy of the 
redressable populations through agreement of policies to source 
systems, independently recalculated the redress due on a sample 
of policies within the provision and audited on a sample basis the 
costs attributed against the redress provision during the year.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201435

Financial statements

 ǔ Independent Auditor’s report

Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet
Notes to the Company financial statements

Our assessment of risks of material misstatement continued

Risk

Completeness of provisions for customer redress 
and associated costs continued

Customer redress and associated costs provisions are detailed in 
note 25 to the consolidated financial statements. Management’s 
associated critical accounting judgements are included in note 4.

Revenue recognition

There are significant judgements involved in applying the Group’s 
revenue recognition policies across multiple products, in particular 
determining the appropriate deferral of revenue where the Group 
has future servicing obligations to customers and also in determining 
revenue refund provisions for customers who cancel during the 
‘cooling off’ periods on buying or renewing the Group’s products, 
calculated on the basis of historical experience.

Management’s associated accounting policies are detailed 
in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. 

How the scope of our audit responded to the risk

We evaluated the appropriateness of Management’s assumptions in 
deriving the provisions for customer redress and associated costs, 
utilising internal regulatory specialists to benchmark the key assumptions 
such as, expected response rates and compared these against the 
Group’s experience to date and other comparable situations in the 
wider market.

We tested the design and implementation of controls over revenue 
recognition, including the reconciliation of underlying policy collections 
to recorded revenue and the calculation of refund provisions. We 
also performed tests of key controls in relation to the Group’s core 
policy administration systems supporting the revenue cycle.

We evaluated the appropriateness of the revenue recognition 
policies applied by reference to the terms and conditions of the 
underlying products, Group policies and the relevant accounting 
standards. We also carried out detailed substantive testing to 
source documentation of adjustments made by Management at 
the year end in relation to revenue policy refunds by reference 
to historical and post balance sheet experience.

Last year our report included one other risk which is not included in our report this year: Impairment of tangible and intangible fixed assets. 
Due to the materiality of the remaining fixed assets and the underlying performance of the Group this was not deemed a significant risk in 
the current year.

The description of risks above should be read in conjunction with the significant issues considered by the Audit Committee discussed 
on page 21.

Our audit procedures relating to these matters were designed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and not 
to express an opinion on individual accounts or disclosures. Our opinion on the financial statements is not modified with respect to any 
of the risks described above and we do not express an opinion on these individual matters.

Our application of materiality

An overview of the scope of our audit

We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the 
financial statements that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed 
or influenced. We use materiality both in planning the scope of our 
audit work and in evaluating the results of our work.

We determined materiality for the Group to be £1.2 million 
(2013: £1.8 million) which is below 1.2% (2013: 1.1%) of revenue. 
We used revenue to determine materiality because profit before 
tax has been unusually volatile and is not considered to be the key 
benchmark at the current time.

We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to the 
Committee all audit differences in excess of £30,000 (2013: £38,000), 
as well as differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted 
reporting on qualitative grounds. We also report to the Audit Committee 
on disclosure matters that we identified when assessing the overall 
presentation of the financial statements.

Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the 
Group and its environment, including Group-wide controls and assessing 
the risks of material misstatement at the Group level. Based on that 
assessment, we focused our Group audit scope primarily on the audit 
work at five locations (the United Kingdom and Ireland, Spain, Italy, 
Turkey and India). Our scope extended to cover India in the current 
year as a result of the increase in the relative size of that location.

Three of these (the United Kingdom and Ireland, Spain, and Italy) 
were subject to a full audit, whilst the remaining two (Turkey and 
India) were subject to an audit of specified account balances where 
the extent of our testing was based on our assessment of the risks 
of material misstatement and of the materiality of the Group’s 
operations at those locations. These locations represent the 
principal business units and account for 92% (2013: 92%) of the 
Group’s total assets, 91% (2013: 92%) of the Group’s revenue, 
89% (2013: 94%) of the Group’s losses before tax of loss making 
components and 80% (2013: 93%) of the profits before tax of profit 
making components. They were also selected to provide an 
appropriate basis for undertaking audit work to address the risks of 
material misstatement identified above. Our audit work at the five 
locations was executed at levels of materiality applicable to each 
individual entity which were lower than Group materiality and 
ranged from £0.2 million to £0.7 million (2013: £0.2 million to 
£0.7 million).

At the parent entity level we also tested the consolidation process 
and carried out analytical procedures to confirm our conclusion that 
there were no significant risks of material misstatement of the 
aggregated financial information of the remaining components 
not subject to audit or audit of specified account balances.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201436

Independent Auditor’s report continued
to the members of CPPGroup Plc

An overview of the scope of our audit continued

The Group audit team continued to follow a programme of planned 
visits that has been designed so that a senior member of the 
Group audit team visits each of the locations where the Group audit 
scope was focused at least once every three years and the most 
significant of them at least once every two years. In years when we 
do not visit a significant component we will include the component 
audit partner and team in our team briefing, discuss their risk 
assessment and review documentation of the findings from 
their work.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion:

 ц  the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ 

report for the financial year for which the financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

 ц  the part of the Directors’ Remuneration report to be audited 

has been properly prepared in accordance with the provisions 
of the Companies Act 2006.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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

 ц  we have not received all the information and explanations we 

require for our audit; or

 ц  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

In particular, we are required to consider whether we have 
identified any inconsistencies between our knowledge acquired 
during the audit and the Directors’ statement that they consider 
the Annual Report is fair, balanced and understandable and whether 
the Annual Report appropriately discloses those matters that we 
communicated to the Audit Committee which we consider should 
have been disclosed. We confirm that we have not identified any 
such inconsistencies or misleading statements.

Respective responsibilities of Directors and auditor

As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement, 
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. We also comply with International Standard on Quality 
Control 1 (UK and Ireland). Our audit methodology and tools aim to 
ensure that our quality control procedures are effective, understood 
and applied. Our quality controls and systems include our dedicated 
professional standards review team and independent partner reviews.

This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, 
in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. 
Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the 
Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them 
in an auditor’s report and/or those further matters we have expressly 
agreed to report to them on in our engagement letter 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.

 ц  the parent company financial statements are not in agreement 

Scope of the audit of the financial statements

with the accounting records and returns.

We have nothing to report in respect of these matters.

Directors’ remuneration
Under the Companies Act 2006 we are also required to report if in 
our opinion certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration have not 
been made. We have nothing to report arising from this matter.

Corporate governance statement
Although not required to do so, the Directors have voluntarily chosen 
to make a corporate governance statement detailing the extent 
of their compliance with the UK Corporate Governance Code.

Under our engagement letter we reviewed the part of the corporate 
governance statement relating to the Company’s compliance with 
ten provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code. We have 
nothing to report arising from our review.

Our duty to read other information in the Annual Report
Under International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland), we are 
required to report to you if, in our opinion, information in the Annual 
Report is:

 ц  materially inconsistent with the information in the audited 

financial statements; or

 ц  apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially 

inconsistent with, our knowledge of the Group acquired 
in the course of performing our audit; or

 ц otherwise misleading.

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 the parent company’s circumstances and have been 
consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness 
of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the 
overall presentation of the financial statements. In addition, we read 
all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual 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 in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware 
of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we 
consider the implications for our report.

Christopher Powell FCA (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of Deloitte LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditor
Leeds, United Kingdom
30 March 2015

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Consolidated income statement
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Continuing operations

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Exceptional items

Other administrative expenses

Total administrative expenses

Operating profit/(loss)

Operating profit/(loss) before exceptional items

Operating loss after exceptional items

Investment revenues

Finance costs: non-derivative instruments

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss for the year from continuing operations

Discontinued operations

(Loss)/profit for the year from discontinued operations

Loss for the year attributable to equity holders of the Company

Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share 

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Total

37

Financial statements

 ǔ Independent Auditor’s report
 ǔ Consolidated income statement

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet
Notes to the Company financial statements

Note 

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

5

6

5

10

11

12

15

7

14

14

108,806

(60,774)

48,032

(6,323)

(47,507)

(53,830)

525

(5,798)

432

(2,296)

(7,662)

1,698

(5,964)

(785)

(6,749)

Pence

(3.48)

(0.46)

(3.94)

178,031

(112,174)

65,857

(37,506)

(67,663)

(105,169)

(1,806)

(39,312)

394

(4,305)

(43,223)

(2,112)

(45,335)

12,468

(32,867)

Pence

(26.43)

7.27

(19.16)

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
38

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Loss for the year

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss:

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Currency translation differences reclassified on disposal

Other comprehensive income/(expense) for the year net of taxation

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

(6,749)

(32,867)

111

—

111

387

(1,618)

(1,231)

Total comprehensive expense for the year attributable to equity holders of the Company

(6,638)

(34,098)

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Consolidated balance sheet
As at 31 December 2014

39

Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement

 ǔ Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
 ǔ Consolidated balance sheet

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet
Notes to the Company financial statements

Non-current assets

Other intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investment in joint venture
Deferred tax asset

Current assets

Insurance assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities

Insurance liabilities
Income tax liabilities
Trade and other payables
Provisions

Net current assets/(liabilities)

Non-current liabilities

Borrowings

Deferred tax liabilities

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Total liabilities

Net liabilities

Equity
Share capital
Share premium account
Merger reserve
Translation reserve
Equalisation reserve
ESOP reserve
(Accumulated losses)/retained earnings

Note

16
17
15
26

18
19
20
21

22

23
25

24

26

23

25

28

22

Total equity attributable to equity holders of the Company

Approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 30 March 2015 and signed on its behalf by:

Eric Anstee 
Executive Chairman 

Craig Parsons
Chief Financial Officer

Company registration number: 07151159

2014
£’000

808
3,820
—
2,248
6,876

593
93
15,709
40,599

56,994

63,870

(2,019)
(2,231)
(40,631)
(7,041)

(51,922)

5,072

(32,733)

(126)

(8,991)

(973)

(42,823)

(94,745)

(30,875)

17,126
33,291
(100,399)
720
7,487
11,891
(991)

(30,875)

2013
£’000

3,299
5,061
—
142
8,502

3,387
149
20,511
66,900

90,947

99,449

(3,989)
(742)
(49,004)
(37,398)

(91,133)

(186)

(22,597)

(527)

(9,494)

—

(32,618)

(123,751)

(24,302)

17,120
33,292
(100,399)
609
8,129
11,688
5,259

(24,302)

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
 
 
40

Consolidated statement of changes in equity
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
account
£’000

Note

Merger
reserve
£’000

Translation
reserve
£’000

Equalisation
reserve
£’000

ESOP
reserve
£’000

(Accumulated
losses)/
retained
earnings
£’000

At 1 January 2013 

17,111

33,297 

(100,399)

1,840

7,984

11,638

38,250

Total
£’000

9,721

Total comprehensive expense

Movement on equalisation reserve

Current tax credit on equalisation 
reserve movement

Equity settled share based 
payment charge

Deferred tax on share based 
payment charge

Exercise of share options

At 31 December 2013

Total comprehensive expense

Movement on equalisation reserve

Current tax charge on equalisation 
reserve movement

Equity settled share based 
payment charge

Deferred tax on share based 
payment charge

Exercise of share options

At 31 December 2014

22

12

29

12

28

22

12

29

12

28

—

—

—

—

—

9

—

—

—

—

—

(5)

—

—

—

—

—

—

17,120

33,292 (100,399)

—

—

—

—

—

6

—

—

—

—

—

(1)

—

—

—

—

—

—

(1,231)

—

—

—

—

—

609

111

—

—

—

—

—

—

145

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

50

—

—

(32,867)

(34,098)

(145)

31

—

(1)

(9)

—

31

50

(1)

(5)

8,129

11,688

5,259

(24,302)

—

(642)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

203

—

—

(6,749)

(6,638)

642

—

(138)

(138)

—

1

(6)

203

1

(1)

17,126

33,291 (100,399)

720

7,487

11,891

(991)

(30,875)

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Consolidated cash flow statement
For the year ended 31 December 2014

Net cash (used in)/generated by operating activities

Investing activities

Interest received

Purchases of property, plant and equipment

Purchases of intangible assets

Cash consideration in respect of sale of discontinued operation

Credit/(costs) associated with disposal of discontinued operation

Cash disposed of with discontinued operation

Investment in joint venture

Net cash (used in)/from investing activities

Financing activities

Repayment of bank loans

Proceeds from new borrowings

Interest paid

Costs of refinancing

Cost of compromising the Commission Deferral Agreement

Issue of ordinary share capital and associated costs

Net cash from/(used in) financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 January

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 December

41

Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet

 ǔ Consolidated statement of changes in equity
 ǔ Consolidated cash flow statement

Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet
Notes to the Company financial statements

Note 

30

2014
£’000

(32,906)

432

(190)

(406)

275

28

—

(1,000)

(861)

—

8,831

(514)

—

(193)

(499)

7,625

(26,142)

(159)

66,900

40,599

15

15

15

15

21

2013
£’000

20,158

404

(332)

(2,460)

26,086

(4,215)

(3,731)

(780)

14,972

(30,500)

11,249

(1,089)

(4,633)

—

(5)

(24,978)

10,152

(287)

57,035

66,900

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201442

Notes to the consolidated financial statements 

1. General information
CPPGroup Plc is a company incorporated in England and Wales under the Companies Act 2006 and domiciled in the United Kingdom. 
Its registered office is Holgate Park, York YO26 4GA. The Group comprises CPPGroup Plc and its subsidiaries. The Group’s principal 
activity during the year was the provision of assistance products.

The consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, the functional currency of the Company. Foreign operations 
are included in accordance with the policies set out in note 3.

2. Adoption of new Standards
New Standards adopted
The following Standards and Interpretations have become effective and have been adopted in these financial statements. Their adoption 
has not had any material impact on the Group. No Standards or Interpretations have been adopted early in these financial statements.

Standard/Interpretation

Subject

Amendments to IAS 32 (December 2011)

Offsetting financial assets and financial liabilities

Amendments to IAS 36

Recoverable amount disclosure for non-financial assets

Standards not yet applied
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following relevant Standards and Interpretations which have not been 
applied in these financial statements were in issue but not yet effective (and in some cases have not yet been adopted by the EU):

Standard/Interpretation

Annual improvements to IFRSs

Annual improvements to IFRSs

IAS 16 and IAS 38 (amendments)

Subject

2010-2012 cycle

2011-2013 cycle

Clarification of acceptable methods of depreciation and 
amortisation

Annual improvements to IFRSs

2012-2014 cycle

IFRS 15

IFRS 9

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Financial Instruments

Period first applies (year ended)

31 December 2015

31 December 2015

31 December 2016

31 December 2016

31 December 2017

31 December 2018

The Directors do not anticipate that the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have a material impact  
on the Group, with the exception of IFRS 15 where the Group is assessing the expected impact.

3. Significant accounting policies
Basis of preparation
These consolidated financial statements on pages 37 to 74 present the performance of the Group for the year ended 31 December 2014. 
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU, IFRIC 
interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS and therefore comply with Article 
4 of the EU IAS Regulation. The consolidated financial statements have also been prepared under the historical cost basis.

Going concern
The Board of Directors have, at the time of approving the consolidated financial statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company 
and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the 
going concern basis of accounting in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Further details of the Directors’ assessment are set 
out in the Directors’ report on page 32. 

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements include the results, cash flows, assets and liabilities of the Company and the entities under its 
control. Control is achieved when the Company has power over the investee; is exposed, or has rights to variable return from its 
involvement with the investee; and has the ability to use its power to affect its returns.

The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the effective 
date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal. Adjustments are made, where necessary, to the financial statements of 
subsidiaries to bring their accounting policies into line with Group policies. All intra-Group transactions, balances, income and expenses 
are eliminated on consolidation.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
43

Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement

 ǔ Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Company balance sheet
Notes to the Company financial statements

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Joint ventures
Investments in joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method of accounting. The Group share of the net assets of joint ventures, 
including associated goodwill, is included in the consolidated balance sheet.

The Group’s share of its joint ventures’ post acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the consolidated income statement. When the 
Group’s share of losses in a joint venture equals or exceeds its interest in the joint venture, the Group does not recognise further losses, 
unless it has incurred obligations or made payments on behalf of the joint venture.

Exceptional items
Items which are exceptional, being material in terms of size and/or nature, are presented separately from underlying business performance 
in the consolidated income statement. The separate reporting of exceptional items helps provide an indication of the Group’s underlying 
business performance.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that the 
Group will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount recognised 
as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date, taking into 
account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle 
the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is 
recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.

Share based payments
Prior to the Company’s shares being listed on the London Stock Exchange on 24 March 2010, the Group issued share options to certain 
of its employees through the Executive Share Option Plan (ESOP). 

Subsequent to its listing, the Group has issued share options to certain of its employees under the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), 
the Restricted Stock Plan (RSP), the Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSBP) and the ShareSAVE Plan. Costs in relation to these plans are 
presented within other administrative expenses in the consolidated income statement.

Share options are treated as equity settled if the Group has the ability to determine whether to settle exercises in cash or by the issue 
of shares. Share options are measured at fair value at the date of grant, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest, 
and adjusted for the effect of non-market based vesting conditions each year. Non-market vesting conditions include a change in control 
of the Group and are considered by the Directors at each year end. The fair value of equity settled share based payments is expensed 
in the consolidated income statement on a straight line basis over the vesting period, with a corresponding increase in equity, subject 
to adjustment for forfeited options.

Share options are treated as cash settled if the terms of the scheme require or the Directors intend to settle share options with a cash 
payment. Cash settled options are measured at fair value at date of grant and then subsequently revalued at each year end. For cash 
settled share based payments, a liability is recognised for a proportion, based on the vesting period, of the fair value as calculated 
at the balance sheet date. Movements in the provision are charged to the consolidated income statement.

The fair value of share options is measured by use of the Black Scholes option pricing model and Monte Carlo simulation model.

Assistance products 
Recognition of revenue 
Revenue attributable to the Group’s assistance products is generally comprised of the prices paid by customers for the assistance 
products net of underwriting fees and exclusive of any sales taxes. 

Revenue is generally split into two categories: introduction fees and claims management fees. Introduction fees are recognised on 
inception of the arrangement. Claims management fees are recognised over the period of the underlying contract and, where revenue 
is deferred to match the Group’s future servicing obligations under assistance product contracts, the amount deferred corresponds to the 
relevant fair values of the unprovided services. The amount deferred is sufficient to cover future claims handling costs and an appropriate 
profit margin, and is calculated by reference to historical experience of claims handling costs and incidence. Provisions for cancellations 
are made at the time revenue is recorded and are deducted from revenue.

For certain other of the Group’s assistance products, there are no introduction fees. In these arrangements, revenue is comprised of the 
subscriptions received from members, net of underwriting fees and exclusive of any sales taxes. These subscriptions are recognised over 
the life of the service provided.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Assistance products continued
Recognition of revenue continued
Wholesale, Packaged Accounts and other revenue is generally comprised of fees billed directly to Business Partners, exclusive of any 
sales taxes, and is recognised as those fees are earned.

Non-policy revenue is comprised of fees billed directly to customers or Business Partners for services provided under separate non-policy 
based arrangements. Such revenue is recognised, exclusive of any sales taxes, as those fees are earned.

Cost of sales 
Cost of sales attributable to the Group’s assistance products represents the costs of acquiring customers and includes marketing costs 
and commissions paid to Business Partners. Commissions are recognised in line with the revenue to which they relate. Marketing costs 
include all telemarketing, direct mail and fulfilment costs. These costs are expensed as incurred.

Cost of sales attributable to the assistance elements of the Group’s Packaged Account and wholesale products represents the costs 
of providing those services including third party costs. This includes all mailing and fulfilment costs which are expensed as incurred. 
Third party costs relate to relationships with suppliers who provide elements of the service and are expensed as incurred.

Insurance contracts
Insurance contracts are those contracts that transfer significant insurance risk at the inception of the contract. Insurance risk is transferred 
when the Group agrees to compensate a policyholder if a specified uncertain future event (other than a change in a financial variable) 
adversely affects the policyholder. 

Recognition of revenue
Revenue attributable to the Group’s insurance contracts comprises premiums paid by customers and is exclusive of any sales taxes 
and similar duties. Premiums from insurance policies are recognised as revenue on a straight line basis over the life of the policy.

Provisions for unearned premiums are made, representing the part of gross premiums written that is estimated to be earned in the 
following or subsequent financial periods, on a straight line basis for each policy. The provision for unearned premiums is recorded under 
insurance liabilities on the consolidated balance sheet.

Cost of sales
Cost of sales attributable to the Group’s insurance contracts consists of the costs, both direct and indirect, of acquiring insurance policies, 
commissions, reinsurance premiums payable to third parties and insurance claims incurred (net of reinsurance recoveries).

Acquisition costs are amortised over the life of the average policy. Acquisition costs which are expensed in the following or subsequent 
accounting periods are recorded in the balance sheet as deferred acquisition costs and include a proportionate allowance for commissions 
and post-sale set up costs incurred in respect of unearned premium not amortised at the balance sheet date.

Reinsurance premiums are accounted for in the same accounting period as the premiums for the related business. 

Insurance contracts continued
Insurance claims provisions
Claims incurred comprise the Group’s claims payments and internal settlement expenses during the period together with the movement 
in the Group’s provision for outstanding claims over the period, including an estimate for claims incurred but not reported. Differences 
between the estimated cost and subsequent settlement of claims are recognised in the consolidated income statement in the year 
in which they are settled.

Reinsurance recoveries are accounted for in the same accounting period as the related claims.

Equalisation reserve
An equalisation reserve has been established in accordance with the requirements of the Equalisation Reserve Rules contained within 
the Prudential Sourcebook for Insurers and the General Prudential Sourcebook. Movements on the reserve are shown as a movement 
between retained earnings and the equalisation reserve.

Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale and discontinued operations
Assets and liabilities are classified as held for sale when their carrying amount is to be recovered principally through a sale transaction 
and the sale is highly probable. Assets and liabilities classified as held for sale are stated at the lower of carrying amount and fair value 
less costs to sell. They are not depreciated or amortised from the point they are recognised as held for sale. Operations are classified 
as discontinued when they are either disposed or are part of a single co-ordinated plan to dispose, and represent a major line of business 
or geographical area of operation.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201445

Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement

 ǔ Notes to the consolidated financial statements

Company balance sheet
Notes to the Company financial statements

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Intangible assets
Externally acquired software
Externally acquired software is measured at purchase cost and is amortised on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life of 
four years.

Internally generated software
Internally generated intangible assets arising from the Group’s software development programmes are recognised from the point at which 
the following conditions are met:

 ц an asset is created that can be identified;

 ц it is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits; and 

 ц the development cost of the asset can be measured reliably.

Internally generated software is amortised on a straight line basis over its estimated useful life of four years.

Contractual arrangements with third parties
Some of the Group’s contractual arrangements give rise to intangible assets. Where a contractual payment gives access to and control 
of future economic benefits, in the form of future renewal income streams, this amount is recognised as an asset and then amortised 
in line with the forecast benefits over the shorter of the contractual arrangement and the period when benefits are expected to arise.

Intangible assets arising on business combinations
Intangible assets arising from business combinations are initially stated at their fair values and amortised over their useful economic 
lives as follows:

Business Partner relationships: in line with projected related revenues.

Business Partner relationships represent the present value of net revenues and costs expected to arise from contractual arrangements 
and non-contractual relationships with existing and pipeline Business Partners at the date of acquisition.

Amortisation of contractual arrangements with third parties is charged to cost of sales. Amortisation of all other intangible assets 
is charged to other administrative expenses.

Impairment
Annually the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its intangible assets to determine whether there is indication that those assets have 
suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent 
of the impairment loss, if any. The recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in 
use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted at their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market 
assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the assets for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been 
adjusted. 

If the recoverable amount of an asset or cash generating unit is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of 
the asset or cash generating unit is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset or cash generating unit may be increased to the 
revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would 
have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset or cash generating unit in prior years. 

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are shown at purchase cost, net of accumulated depreciation.

Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the costs, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful 
life as follows:

Freehold property:   
Computer systems:  
Furniture and equipment: 
Leasehold improvements:   Over the shorter of the life of the lease and the useful economic life of the asset

40 years straight line
4 years straight line
4 years straight line

Freehold land is not depreciated.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and bank deposits with a term from inception of three months or less, less bank 
overdrafts where there is a right to offset. Bank overdrafts are presented as current liabilities to the extent that there is no right to offset 
with cash balances in the same currency.

Leases
Operating lease rentals are charged to the consolidated income statement on a straight line basis over the term of the lease.

Taxation
The current tax payable is based on the taxable profit or loss for the year. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates 
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the 
financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profits or losses, and is accounted for using the 
balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets 
are regarded as recoverable and therefore recognised only to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against 
which deductible temporary differences can be utilised.

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

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

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

Pension costs
Pension costs represent contributions made by the Group to defined contribution pension schemes. These are expensed as incurred.

Foreign currencies
In preparing the financial information of the individual entities that comprise the Group, transactions in currencies other than the 
entity’s functional currency are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the date of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, 
monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing on the balance sheet 
date. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s overseas operations are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the balance 
sheet date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period. Exchange differences are classified 
as equity and transferred to the Group’s translation reserve. 

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of foreign entities are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity 
and are translated at the closing rate.

On disposal of foreign operations, the cumulative amount of exchange differences previously recognised directly in equity for that foreign 
operation are to be transferred to the consolidated income statement as part of the profit or loss on disposal.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201447

3. Significant accounting policies continued
Financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the consolidated balance sheet when the Group becomes a party to the 
contractual provisions of the instrument.

Financial assets
Trade receivables, loans, other receivables, cash and cash equivalents that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted 
in an active market are classified as loans and receivables. Loans and receivables are initially recorded at fair value and subsequently 
at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less allowance for any estimated irrecoverable amounts. 

Equity instruments
An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities. 
Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Financial liabilities
Financial liabilities, including borrowings, are initially measured at the proceeds received, net of transaction costs. They are subsequently 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, with interest expense recognised on an effective yield basis.

Derivative financial instruments
The Group’s activities expose it to the financial risks of changes in interest rates. For material risks the Group evaluates and considers 
the use of derivative financial instruments, principally interest rate swaps, to reduce its exposure to interest rate movements. 

When derivatives are used they are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently 
re-measured to their fair value at each balance sheet date. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in the consolidated income statement 
immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument.

4. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty 
The preparation of consolidated financial statements in accordance with IFRS requires the use of assumptions, estimates and judgements 
about future conditions. The use of available information and application of judgement are inherent in the formation of estimates. Actual 
results in the future may differ from those reported. The key estimates and assumptions used in these consolidated financial statements 
are set out below.

Critical judgements in applying accounting policies
Going concern
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis, as the Board of Directors has a reasonable expectation that 
the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The going concern 
assessment considered the risks and uncertainties facing the Group, which include trading, residual customer redress and the medium 
term strategy. Further details of the assessment are provided in the Directors’ report on page 32. 

Key sources of estimation uncertainty
Customer redress and associated costs
The customer redress and associated costs provision relates to costs associated with residual redress exercises. At 31 December 2014 
the remaining balance of the provision is £6.4 million. The provision includes anticipated compensation payable to customers through the 
residual customer redress exercises together with professional fees associated with these exercises.

The residual customer redress exercises in some instances are dependent on customer response rates; changes to the assumptions 
on response rates would lead to a change in the customer redress provision which would be reflected through the consolidated 
income statement.

Provision for onerous leases
The onerous lease provision relates to the expected non-utilisation of our vacated offices in the UK. At 31 December 2014, the onerous 
lease provision is £1.7 million, which includes future lease payments and other associated costs.

Any changes to the estimate of the non-utilisation period of the properties or other associated costs will be reflected in the consolidated 
income statement.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

5. Segmental analysis
IFRS 8 requires operating segments to be identified on the basis of internal reports about components of the Group that are regularly 
reviewed by the Board of Directors to allocate resources to the segments and to assess their performance.

The Group is managed on the basis of three broad geographical regions:

 ц UK and Ireland;

 ц Europe and Latin America (Spain, Italy, Germany, Turkey, Mexico, Portugal, France and Brazil); and

 ц Asia Pacific (India, Hong Kong, China, Malaysia and Singapore).

Segment revenues and performance have been as follows:

Year ended 31 December 2014

Continuing operations

Revenue – external sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Depreciation and amortisation

Other administrative expenses

Regional operating (loss)/profit before exceptional items 

Exceptional items (note 6)

Operating loss after exceptional items

Investment revenues

Finance costs: non-derivative instruments

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss for the year from continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Loss for the year from discontinued operations (note 15)

Loss for the year

UK and
Ireland
2014
£’000

Europe and
Latin America
2014
£’000

69,690

(40,798)

28,892

(1,325)

(31,971)

(4,404)

32,463

(16,357)

16,106

(784)

(10,160)

5,162

Asia 
Pacific
2014
£’000

6,653

(3,619)

3,034

(34)

(3,233)

(233)

Total
2014
£’000

108,806

(60,774)

48,032

(2,143)

(45,364)

525

(6,323)

(5,798)

432

(2,296)

(7,662)

1,698

(5,964)

(785)

(6,749)

For the purposes of resource allocation and assessing performance, operating costs and revenues are allocated to the regions in which 
they are earned or incurred. The above does not reflect additional net charges of central costs of £1,845,000 presented within UK and 
Ireland in the table above which has been charged to other regions for statutory purposes.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014UK and
Ireland
2013
£’000

Europe and
Latin America
2013
£’000

128,990

(87,825)

41,165

(5,869)

(43,402)

(8,106)

42,603

(21,317)

21,286

(548)

(13,605)

7,133

Asia 
Pacific
2013
£’000

6,438

(3,032)

3,406

(40)

(4,199)

(833)

5. Segmental analysis continued

Year ended 31 December 2013

Continuing operations

Revenue – external sales

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Depreciation and amortisation

Other administrative expenses

Regional operating (loss)/profit before exceptional items 

Exceptional items (note 6)

Operating loss after exceptional items

Investment revenues

Finance costs: non-derivative instruments

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss for the year from continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Profit for the year from discontinued operations (note 15)

Loss for the year

49

Total
2013
£’000

178,031

(112,174)

65,857

(6,457)

(61,206)

(1,806)

(37,506)

(39,312)

394

(4,305)

(43,223)

(2,112)

(45,335)

12,468

(32,867)

For the purposes of resource allocation and assessing performance, operating costs and revenues are allocated to the regions in which 
they are earned or incurred. The above does not reflect additional net charges of central costs of £1,983,000 presented within UK 
and Ireland in the table above which has been charged to other regions for statutory purposes.

Segment assets 

UK and Ireland

Europe and Latin America

Asia Pacific

Total segment assets

Unallocated assets

Consolidated total assets

Deferred tax is not allocated to segments. 

2014
£’000

51,673

7,012

2,937

61,622

2,248

63,870

2013
£’000

85,913

11,002

2,392

99,307

142

99,449

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

5. Segmental analysis continued
Capital expenditure

Continuing operations

UK and Ireland

Europe and Latin America

Asia Pacific

Additions from continuing operations

Revenues from major products

Continuing operations

Retail assistance policies

Retail insurance policies

Packaged and Wholesale policies

Non-policy revenue

Revenue from continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Consolidated total revenue

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

2014
£’000

393

13

—

406

2013
£’000

1,450

128

26

1,604

2014
£’000

118

61

11

190

2014
£’000

82,652

10,229

15,080

845

108,806

—

108,806

2013 
£’000

194

42

5

241

2013 
£’000

117,066

28,153

32,272

540

178,031

15,634

193,665

Major product streams are disclosed on the basis monitored by the Board of Directors. For the purpose of this product analysis, ‘retail assistance 
policies’ are those which may be insurance backed but contain a bundle of assistance and other benefits; ‘retail insurance policies’ are those 
which protect against a single insurance risk; ‘packaged and wholesale policies’ are those which are provided by Business Partners to their 
customers in relation to an on-going product or service which is provided for a specified period of time; ‘non-policy revenue’ is that which is 
not in connection with providing an on-going service to policyholders for a specified period of time.

Disclosures in notes 8, 18 and 22 regarding accounting for insurance contracts provide information relating to all contracts within the 
scope of IFRS 4 and therefore include both retail insurance policies and the insurance components of retail assistance and Packaged 
and Wholesale policies.

Geographical information
The Group operates across a wide number of territories, of which the UK and Spain are considered individually material. Revenue from 
external customers and non-current assets (excluding deferred tax) by geographical location is detailed below:

Continuing operations

UK

Spain

Other

Total continuing operations

Discontinued operations

External revenues

Non-current assets

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

68,412

15,215

25,179

108,806

—

108,806

125,432

19,767

32,832

178,031

15,634

193,665

2014
£’000

4,100

176

352

4,628

—

4,628

2013 
£’000

7,008

432

920

8,360

—

8,360

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5. Segmental analysis continued
Information about major customers
There are no customers in either the current or prior year from which the Group earns more than 10% of its revenue.

6. Exceptional items 

Customer redress and associated costs

Restructuring costs

Commission deferral compromise and associated costs

Impairment of IT assets

Impairment of goodwill, intangible assets and freehold property

Other

Exceptional items included in operating loss

Tax on exceptional items

Total exceptional items after tax

Note

25

7

7

7

7

7

2014
£’000

3,000

2,579

744

—

—

—

6,323

(646)

5,677

2013 
£’000

18,168

5,503

—

8,058

5,822

(45)

37,506

(222)

37,284

The customer redress and associated costs of £3,000,000 (2013: £18,168,000) relate to the latest estimate with respect to residual 
customer redress activity.

The restructuring costs of £2,579,000 (2013: £5,503,000) principally relate to redundancy programmes and associated costs across the 
Group, along with onerous lease provisioning following closure of the Tamworth and Manchester sites in the UK. The majority of this cost 
is located in the UK.

The commission deferral compromise and associated costs of £744,000 (2013: £nil) relates to professional fees associated with the 
agreement to compromise the Commission Deferral Agreement which has completed in 2015. 

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Financial statementsIndependent Auditor’s reportConsolidated income statementConsolidated statement of comprehensive incomeConsolidated balance sheetConsolidated statement of changes in equityConsolidated cash flow statement ǔNotes to the consolidated financial statementsCompany balance sheetNotes to the Company financial statements52

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

7. Loss for the year

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Note

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

2014
£’000

2013
£’000

Loss for the year has been arrived at 
after charging/(crediting):

Operating lease charges

Net foreign exchange (gains)/losses

Depreciation of property, plant and 
equipment

Amortisation of intangible assets 

Loss on disposal of property, plant 
and equipment

Customer redress and 
associated costs

Commission deferral compromise 
and associated costs

Impairment of IT assets

Restructuring costs

Impairment of goodwill, intangible 
assets and property, plant and 
equipment

Other exceptional items

Share based payments

Restructuring costs

Other staff costs

Total staff costs

Write-down of inventories 
recognised as an expense

Movement on allowance for 
doubtful trade receivables

17

16

6

6

6

6

6

6, 15

29

6

9

20

2,173

(22)

1,271

2,884

43

2,346

61

2,684

6,868

200

3,000

18,168

744

—

994

86

—

203

1,499

28,425

30,127

—

(59)

—

8,058

2,580

5,822

(45)

50

2,923

34,684

37,657

163

456

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

68

— 

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

3,259

—

—

2,600

2,600

— 

— 

Fees payable to Deloitte LLP and its associates for audit and non-audit services are as follows:

Payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the Company and consolidated financial statements

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

– Audit of the Company’s subsidiaries, pursuant to legislation

Total audit services

Audit related assurance services

Taxation compliance services

Other taxation advisory services

Corporate finance services

Other services

Total non-audit services

Total

2014
£’000

2,173

(22)

1,271

2,884

43

2013 
£’000

2,414

61

2,684

6,868

200

3,000

18,168

744

—

994

86

—

203

1,499

28,425

30,127

—

(59)

2014
£’000

57

300

357

27

29

4

—

—

60

417

—

8,058

2,580

5,822

3,214

50

2,923

37,284

40,257

163

456

2013 
£’000

67

371

438

30

27

2

314

42

415

853

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201453

8. Insurance revenues and costs
Revenues and costs arising from all of the Group’s insurance contracts as defined by IFRS 4 are set out below. An analysis of the Group’s 
revenue from retail insurance only policies is set out in note 5.

Revenue earned from insurance activities

Gross premiums written

Change in provision for unearned premiums

Earned premiums

Costs incurred from insurance activities

Reinsurance premiums (credited)/incurred

Claims paid

– Gross amount

– Reinsurer’s share

– Decrease in provision for gross claims

– Increase in provision for reinsurance claims

Acquisition costs

– Costs incurred

– Movement in deferred acquisition costs

Other expenses

2014
£’000

13,765

884

14,649

2014
£’000

(27)

4,502

(1,147)

(946)

723

3,132

1,991

1,173

3,164

8,536

14,805

2013 
£’000

45,303

1,298

46,601

2013 
£’000

5,085

22,415

(4,435)

(2,240)

577

16,317

3,675

8,889

12,564

16,659

50,625

The following assumptions have a significant impact on insurance revenues and costs:

 ц Unearned premiums on prepaid insurance policies are recognised as revenue on a straight line basis over the life of the policy.

 ц  Deferral of acquisition costs: Post-sale setup costs are recognised on a straight line basis over the expected life of the policy. 
Commission costs are recognised on a straight line basis from the end of the initial acceptance period over the expected life 
of the relevant policies, taking account of the expected levels of cancellations.

Changes to the expected life of classes of policies will therefore impact the period in which these items are recognised. 

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Financial statementsIndependent Auditor’s reportConsolidated income statementConsolidated statement of comprehensive incomeConsolidated balance sheetConsolidated statement of changes in equityConsolidated cash flow statement ǔNotes to the consolidated financial statementsCompany balance sheetNotes to the Company financial statements54

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

9. Staff costs
Staff costs during the year (including Executive Directors)

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Restructuring costs

Share based payments (see note 29)

Pension costs

Average number of employees

Continuing operations

UK and Ireland

Europe and Latin America

Asia Pacific

Total continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Total

2014
£’000

23,980

3,537

1,499

203

908

2013
£’000

29,354

4,379

2,923

50

951

30,127

37,657

2014
£’000

—

—

—

—

—

—

2013
£’000

2,338

187

—

—

75

2014
£’000

23,980

3,537

1,499

203

908

2,600

30,127

2014

497

376

38

911

—

911

2013 
£’000

31,692

4,566

2,923

50

1,026

40,257

2013

713

408

46

1,167

41

1,208

Details of remuneration of Directors are included in the Remuneration report on pages 22 to 29.

10. Investment revenues

Interest on bank deposits

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Total

2014
£’000

432

2013
£’000

394

2014
£’000

—

2013
£’000

10

2014
£’000

432

2013 
£’000

404

11. Finance costs: non-derivative instruments

Interest on borrowings

Amortisation of capitalised loan issue costs

Other

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Total

2014
£’000

1,656

640

—

2,296

2013
£’000

1,190

3,072

43

4,305

2014
£’000

—

—

—

—

2013
£’000

—

—

—

—

2014
£’000

1,656

640

—

2,296

2013 
£’000

1,190

3,072

43

4,305

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
 
12. Taxation

Continuing operations

Current tax charge/(credit):

UK corporation tax

Foreign tax

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Total current tax

Deferred tax (credit)/charge:

Origination and reversal of timing differences

Impact of change in UK tax rates

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Total deferred tax

Total continuing operations

Discontinued operations

55

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

(433)

1,253

(12)

808

(2,621)

115

—

(2,506)

(1,698)

—

(1,698)

34

1,761

(2,241)

(446)

(468)

696

2,330

2,558

2,112

921

3,033

UK corporation tax is calculated at 21.50% (2013: 23.25%) of the estimated assessable profit for the year. Taxation for other jurisdictions 
is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions. The UK Finance Act 2013 was enacted on 2 July 2013. It provides for 
a reduction in the main rate of UK corporation tax from 21% to 20% effective from 1 April 2015. As this rate was substantively enacted 
prior to 31 December 2014, it has been reflected in the UK deferred tax balance at 31 December 2014.

The (credit)/charge for the year can be reconciled to the loss per the consolidated income statement as follows:

Loss before tax from continuing operations

Effects of: 

Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 21.50% (2013: 23.25%)

Movement in unprovided deferred tax

(Recognition)/derecognition of deferred tax asset previously (unprovided)/provided

Net (income)/expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Overseas tax losses not recognised

Higher tax rates on overseas earnings

Adjustments in respect of prior years

Impact of change in future tax rates on deferred tax

Surplus/(shortfall) of share option charge compared to tax allowable amount

Total tax (credited)/charged to income statement

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

(7,662)

(43,223)

(1,647)

1,382

(2,318)

(384)

481

648

(12)

135

17

(1,698)

(10,049)

5,731

2,960

1,249

569

873

88

696

(5)

2,112

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

12. Taxation continued
Income tax charged/(credited) to reserves during the year was as follows:

Current tax charge/(credit)

Movement on equalisation reserve

Total current tax charge/(credit)

Deferred tax (credit)/charge

Timing differences on equity settled share based charge

Total deferred tax (credit)/charge

Total tax charged/(credited) to reserves

2014
£’000

138

138

(1)

(1)

137

2013 
£’000

(31)

(31)

1

1

(30)

13. Dividends
The Directors have not proposed a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2014.

14. (Loss)/earnings per share
Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share have been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 ‘Earnings per Share’. Underlying (loss)/earnings 
per share have also been presented in order to give a better understanding of the performance of the business. In accordance with IAS 33, 
potential ordinary shares are only considered dilutive when their conversion would increase the loss per share from continuing operations 
attributable to equity holders. The diluted loss per share is therefore equal to the basic loss per share for the current and prior year.

(Loss)/earnings

(Loss)/earnings for the purposes of basic 
and diluted (loss)/earnings per share

Exceptional items (net of tax)

(Loss)/earnings for the purposes 
of underlying basic and diluted 
(loss)/earnings per share

Number of shares

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

2014
£’000

(5,964)

5,677

2013
£’000

(45,335)

37,284

2014
£’000

(785)

(311)

2013
£’000

12,468

(10,389)

Total

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

(6,749)

5,366

(32,867)

26,895

(287)

(8,051)

(1,096)

2,079

(1,383)

(5,972)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share

Number 
(thousands)

171,622

Number 
(thousands)

171,546

Basic and diluted (loss)/earnings per share

Basic and diluted underlying (loss)/earnings 
per share

Continuing operations

Discontinued operations

Total

2014
Pence

(3.48)

2013
Pence

(26.43)

2014
Pence

(0.46)

2013
Pence

7.27

2014
Pence

(3.94)

2013 
Pence

(19.16)

(0.17)

(4.69)

(0.64)

1.21

(0.81)

(3.48)

On 13 January 2015, the Company's existing 10 pence ordinary share capital was subdivided and redesignated into one new ordinary 
share of 1 penny each and one new deferred share of 9 pence each. The new deferred shares have no rights to receive dividends and will 
only have very limited rights on a return of capital. Additionally, they will not be admitted to trading on AIM or any other Stock Exchange. 
Accordingly, the additional deferred shares have not been considered in the calculation of (loss)/earnings per share.

On 11 February 2015, the Company issued 666,666,667 new ordinary shares as part of a £20.0 million equity raise; further detail 
is available in note 32. This share issue occurred after the period end and as such the shares are not included in the current year 
loss per share calculation.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201457

15. Discontinued operations
On 24 March 2014, the Group completed the sale of its 49% shareholding in Home3 Assistance Limited (Home3). The gross consideration 
on disposal was £275,000.

In accordance with IFRS 5 "Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations" this operation has been presented as 
discontinued operations, which is consistent with the prior year. The comparative figure includes the disposal of our North American 
operation which completed in May 2013.

The consolidated income statement, summary of cash flows and assets and liabilities of this business are set out below:

(i) Consolidated income statement

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Share of loss of joint venture

Operating (loss)/profit

Investment revenues

(Loss)/profit before taxation

Taxation

(Loss)/profit after tax

Profit/(loss) on disposal

(Loss)/profit for the year

2014

Home3
£’000

North America
£’000

—

—

—

—

(1,096)

(1,096)

—

(1,096)

—

(1,096)

265

(831)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

46

46

Total
£’000

—

—

—

—

(1,096)

(1,096)

—

(1,096)

—

(1,096)

311

(785)

2013

Home3
£’000

North America
£’000

—

—

—

—

(780)

(780)

—

(780)

—

(780)

(14)

(794)

15,634

(7,962)

7,672

(3,902)

—

3,770

10

3,780

(921)

2,859

10,403

13,262

On 24 March 2014, the Group completed the sale of its joint venture, Home3, to Mapfre Abraxas Software Limited.

2014

Home3
£’000

North America
£’000

275

— 

(10)

—

265

—

—

46

—

46

Total
£’000

275

—

36

—

311

Proceeds

Net assets sold

(Costs)/credit associated with disposal

Currency retranslation differences 
reclassified on disposal

Profit/(loss) on disposal

(ii) Summary of cash flows

Net cash flows from operating activities

Net cash flows from investing activities

Net cash flows from financing activities

Cash consideration in respect of sale of discontinued operation

Credit/(costs) associated with the disposal of discontinued operation

Cash disposed of with discontinued operation

Investment in joint venture

Net cash (outflow)/inflow

2013

Home3
£’000

North America
£’000

—

—

(14)

—

(14)

26,086

(14,042)

(3,259)

1,618

10,403

2014
£’000

—

—

—

275

28

—

(1,000)

(697)

Total
£’000

15,634

(7,962)

7,672

(3,902)

(780)

2,990

10

3,000

(921)

2,079

10,389

12,468

Total
£’000

26,086

(14,042)

(3,273)

1,618

10,389

2013
£’000

2,216

(27)

(1,266)

26,086

(4,215)

(3,731)

(780)

18,283

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

15. Discontinued operations continued
(iii) Assets and liabilities
Movements in the Group’s share in its joint venture prior to disposal are as follows:

Carrying amount at 1 January

Increase in investment

Losses recognised for the year

Carrying amount at 31 December

2014
£’000

—

1,096

(1,096)

—

2013 
£’000

—

780

(780)

—

The Group had a 50% economic interest in Home3, with 49% of the issued ordinary share capital being allotted to the Group. As part of 
the disposal transaction the Group invested a further £1,000,000 to absorb its share of unrecognised losses as well as capitalising further 
residual balances due from Home3 prior to disposal. These balances have been accounted for as investments in Home3 with the trading 
losses recognised limited to the level of investment.

16. Other intangible assets

Cost

At 1 January 2013

Additions

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

At 1 January 2014

Additions

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2014

Accumulated amortisation

At 1 January 2013

Provided during the year

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

Impairment

At 1 January 2014

Provided during the year

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2014

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2013

At 31 December 2014

Contractual
arrangements
with third parties

 £’000

Business
relationships

£’000

Internally
generated
software

 £’000

Externally
acquired
software

£’000

 17,420 

 1,211 

 18,230 

 19,239

—

—

—

—

—

—

1,248

—

—

356

(144)

(49)

Total

 £’000

 56,100 

1,604

(144)

(49)

17,420

1,211

19,478

19,402

57,511

—

—

—

—

—

—

194

—

—

212

(151)

(66)

406

(151)

(66)

17,420

1,211

19,672

19,397

57,700

10,813 

3,041

—

—

1,299

15,153

2,012

—

—

 1,211

 14,457 

 14,161 

 40,642 

—

—

—

—

1,211

—

—

—

1,804

2,023

6,868

—

—

2,920

19,181

297

—

—

(12)

(9)

2,504

18,667

575

(147)

(57)

(12)

(9)

6,723

54,212

2,884

(147)

(57)

17,165

1,211

19,478

19,038

56,892

2,267

255

—

—

297

194

735

359

3,299

808

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201459

Total 
£’000

49,911

241

(1,471)

(61)

48,620

190

(367)

(242)

Freehold land and
property 
£’000

Leasehold 
improvements 
£’000

Computer 
systems 
£’000

Furniture and 
equipment 
£’000

7,278

5,884

29,580

—

—

—

15

(249)

(14)

157

(649)

(15)

7,278

5,636

29,073

—

—

—

—

(30)

(61)

187

(261)

(144)

7,169

69

(573)

(32)

6,633

3

(76)

(37)

7,278

5,545

28,855

6,523

48,201

1,952

163

—

—

2,063

4,178

87

—

—

—

4,137

265

(205)

5

982

5,184

130

(22)

(52)

47

24,138

2,028

(635)

7

2,634

28,172

743

(238)

(125)

16

6,368

228

(563)

(8)

—

6,025

311

(68)

(30)

23

36,595

2,684

(1,403)

4

5,679

43,559

1,271

(328)

(207)

86

4,265

5,287

28,568

6,261

44,381

3,100

3,013

452

258

901

287

608

262

5,061

3,820

17. Property, plant and equipment

Cost

At 1 January 2013

Additions

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

At 1 January 2014

Additions

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

At 31 December 2014

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2013

Provided during the year

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

Impairment

At 1 January 2014

Provided during the year

Disposals

Exchange adjustments

Impairment

At 31 December 2014

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2013

At 31 December 2014

Included in freehold land and property is freehold land at its cost value of £759,000 (2013: £759,000), which is not depreciated.

During the year, the Group has recognised impairment losses in respect of leasehold improvements, computer systems and furniture and 
equipment totalling £86,000. This reflects the value in use to the business following the decision to close two offices in the UK. The impairment 
loss has been recognised as an exceptional item through the consolidated income statement and relates to the UK and Ireland segment.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

18. Insurance assets

Amounts due from policyholders and intermediaries

Deferred acquisition costs

Amounts recoverable from reinsurers in respect of outstanding claims

Reconciliation of movement in deferred acquisition costs

At 1 January

Incurred during the year

Amortised during the year

At 31 December

2014
£’000

356

229

8

593

2014
£’000

1,402

424

(1,597)

229

2013 
£’000

1,362

1,402

623

3,387

2013 
£’000

10,291

548

(9,437)

1,402

Of the above balance, nothing related to a period greater than twelve months from 31 December 2014.

Amounts due from policyholders and intermediaries and amounts recoverable from reinsurers represent the total exposure to credit risk 
in respect of insurance activities.

Credit is not generally offered to retail customers on insurance premiums. Where credit is offered to wholesale insurance customers, 
the average credit period on insurance premiums is 45 days. No interest is charged on insurance receivables at any time.

Individually or collectively material insurance receivables are reviewed for recoverability when an adverse change in credit quality is 
identified or when they become overdue. Credit risk is reduced as insurance receivables are dispersed amongst a broad customer base 
and where concentration exists the Group’s main counterparties are typically large companies with established credit records. Credit risk 
is mitigated through maintaining and managing the customer base.

Included in the Group’s insurance receivable balance are debtors with a carrying amount of £56,000 (2013: £216,000) which are past due 
at the balance sheet date, for which the Group has not provided as there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the Group 
believes that the amounts are still considered recoverable. 

The average age of overdue but unprovided debts is 318 days (2013: 179 days).

 Ageing of past due but not impaired insurance receivables

Days outstanding since date of sales invoice:

45–90 days

91–120 days

Over 120 days

19. Inventories

Consumables and supplies

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

—

—

56

56

2014
£’000

93

19

9

188

216

2013 
£’000

149

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201420. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

Other debtors

61

2014
£’000

6,458

6,486

2,765

15,709

2013 
£’000

8,441

10,928

1,142

20,511

Trade and other receivables are predominantly non-interest bearing.

The Group’s trade receivables continue to relate to retail customer payments awaiting collection and wholesale counterparties. 

Since the timing of retail customer collection is controlled by the Group and is received within a specified period of processing the 
transaction, credit risk is considered low for these items. 

Where wholesale counterparty balances are individually or collectively material, they are reviewed for recoverability when an adverse 
change in credit quality is identified or when they become overdue. The Group has low historical levels of customer and counterparty 
credit defaults, due in part to the quality of the relationship it has with its counterparties and their credit ratings. 

Where credit is offered to customers, the average credit period offered is 40 days (2013: 44 days). No interest is charged on trade 
receivables at any time. Disclosures regarding credit risk below relate only to counterparties or customers offered credit. 

Overall exposure continues to be mainly spread over a large number of customers but where concentration exists this is with highly 
rated counterparties.

Included in the Group’s trade receivable balance are debtors with a carrying amount of £1,179,000 (2013: £897,000) which are past due 
at the reporting date, for which the Group has not provided as there has not been a significant change in credit quality and the Group 
believes that the amounts are still recoverable. 

The average age of overdue but unprovided debts is 192 days (2013: 76 days).

Ageing of past due but not impaired receivables

Days outstanding since date of invoice:

Up to 90 days

91 – 120 days

Over 120 days

Movement in the allowance for doubtful receivables

At 1 January 

Amounts written off during the year as uncollectible

(Decrease)/increase in allowance recognised in the income statement

Foreign exchange translation gain

At 31 December

2014
£’000

320

38

821

1,179

2014
£’000

456

(20)

(59)

(5)

372

2013 
£’000

589

176

132

897

2013 
£’000

— 

—

456

—

456

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

21. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents of £40,599,000 (2013: £66,900,000) comprises cash held on demand by the Group and short term deposits.

Cash and cash equivalents includes the following:

i)  £21,542,000 (2013: £27,815,000) cash maintained by the Group’s insurance businesses for solvency purposes; and

ii) 

 £13,380,000 (2013: £32,706,000) cash held in the UK's regulated entities CPPL and HIL which is restricted by the terms of the VVOP 
and cannot be distributed to the wider Group without FCA approval. This restricted cash whilst being unavailable to distribute to the 
wider Group, is available to the regulated entity in which it exists including for operational and residual customer redress purposes.

Concentration of credit risk is reduced, as far as practicable, by placing cash on deposit across a number of institutions with the best 
available credit ratings. The credit quality of counterparties is as follows:

AA

A

BBB

BB

Rating information not available

2014
£’000

1,537

37,069

1,000

978

15

2013 
£’000

1,607

62,444

2,559

167

123

40,599

66,900

Ratings are measured using Fitch’s long term ratings, which are defined such that ratings “AAA” to “BBB” denote investment grade 
counterparties, offering low to moderate credit risk. “AAA” represents the highest credit quality, indicating that the counterparty’s ability 
to meet financial commitments is highly unlikely to be adversely affected by foreseeable events. 

22. Insurance liabilities

Claims reported

Claims incurred but not reported

Total claims

Unearned premium

Amounts payable to reinsurers

Total insurance liabilities

2014
£’000

233

195

428

1,591

—

2,019

2013 
£’000

1,144

230

1,374

2,475

140

3,989

Provisions for claims reported and processed are based on estimated costs from third party suppliers. Provisions for claims incurred 
but not reported are an estimate of costs for the small number of claims not yet processed at the year end. Claims outstanding at the 
year end are expected to be settled within the following twelve months.

Provision for unearned premiums

At 1 January

Written in the year

Earned in the year

At 31 December

Unearned premiums are released as revenue on a straight line basis over the life of the relevant policy.

2014
£’000

2,475

13,765

2013 
£’000

3,773

45,303

(14,649)

(46,601)

1,591

2,475

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201463

22. Insurance liabilities continued
Reinsurance cover
The Group reinsures certain of its insurance contracts. Claims provisions are stated gross of reinsurance in the consolidated balance sheet. 
The impact of reinsurance on the year end claims provision is as follows:

Notified claims

Incurred but not reported claims

As at 31 December 2013

Notified claims

Incurred but not reported claims

As at 31 December 2014

Gross 
£’000

1,144

230

1,374

233

195

428

Reinsurance 
£’000

(639)

(92)

(731)

—

(8)

(8)

Net 
£’000

505

138

643

233

187

420

Movements in the claims provision, gross and net of reinsurance, are as follows. There have been no significant differences between year 
end claims provisions and the amounts settled in the subsequent year.

As at 1 January 2013

Cash (paid)/received for claims settled in the year

Increase/(reduction) in liabilities arising from current year claims

As at 1 January 2014

Cash (paid)/received for claims settled in the year

Increase/(reduction) in liabilities arising from current year claims

As at 31 December 2014

Equalisation reserve

At 1 January

Transfer from retained earnings

At 31 December

Gross 
£’000

Reinsurance 
£’000

 3,614 

(22,415)

20,175

1,374

(4,502)

3,556

428

 (1,308)

4,435

(3,858)

(731)

1,147

(424)

(8)

2014
£’000

8,129

(642)

7,487

Net 
£’000

 2,306 

(17,980)

16,317

643

(3,355)

3,132

420

2013 
£’000

7,984

145

8,129

Equalisation reserves are established in accordance with Chapter 7.5 of the Integrated Prudential Sourcebook (PRU) and are in addition 
to the provisions required to meet the anticipated ultimate cost of settlement at the balance sheet date. As no actual liability exists at the 
balance sheet date, no provision is made in relation to movements in the claims equalisation reserve. However, as a claims equalisation 
reserve is still a requirement of PRU, an amount equal to the claims equalisation reserve is transferred from retained earnings to other 
reserves in the shareholders’ funds. Deferred tax is not included in this transfer.

23. Trade and other payables

Current liabilities

Trade creditors and accruals

Other tax and social security

Other payables

Deferred income

Non-current liabilities

Other payables

Total trade and other payables

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

28,172

2,322

2,147

7,990

32,103

3,207

5,317

8,377

40,631

49,004

8,991

49,622

9,494

58,498

Trade creditors and accruals comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and on-going costs. The average credit period for trade 
purchases is 38 days (2013: 28 days). Interest is not suffered on trade payables. The Group has financial management policies in place 
to ensure that all payables are settled within the pre-agreed credit terms.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

24. Borrowings
The carrying value of the Group’s financial liabilities, for short term borrowings and long term borrowings, is as follows:

Bank loans due outside of one year

Less: unamortised issue costs

Commission Deferral Agreement

Borrowings due outside of one year

Analysis of repayments:

Within one year

In the second year

In the third to fifth years

Total repayments

Less: unamortised issue costs

Total carrying value

2014
£’000

13,000

(969)

20,702

32,733

2014
£’000

—

13,000

20,702

33,702

(969)

32,733

2013 
£’000

13,000

(1,653)

11,250

22,597

2013 
£’000

—

—

24,250

24,250

(1,653)

22,597

The Group’s bank debt is in the form of a revolving credit facility (RCF). The Group is entitled to roll over repayment of amounts drawn 
down, subject to all amounts outstanding falling due for repayment on expiry of the facility on 31 July 2016. 

The RCF bears interest at a variable rate of LIBOR plus a margin of 4%. It is secured by fixed and floating charges on certain assets of 
the Group. The RCF includes a prepayment fee which increases over the term of the loan to a maximum level of 8% of the outstanding 
principal balance. The financial covenants of the RCF are based on the interest cover, leverage and minimum total cash balance of the 
Group. The Group has been in compliance with these covenants since inception of the RCF. 

All amounts outstanding in the Commission Deferral Agreement fall due for repayment on expiry of the agreement on 31 July 2017. The 
Commission Deferral Agreement bears interest at a fixed rate of 3.5% and is secured by charges over the assets of CPPL in substantially 
similar form and terms to the security granted under the RCF.

On 11 February 2015, the Amended and Restated RCF became effective following prepayment in part of the existing RCF, extending 
the term to 28 February 2018. The Amended and Restated RCF is on substantially the same terms as the facility it replaced, with the 
exception of the available balance reducing to £5.0 million, the removal of the leverage covenant and the removal of the prepayment 
fee. At the same time the Group agreed to settle all the liabilities of the Commission Deferral Agreement with certain Business Partners 
for a compromise payment of £1.3 million and further deferral of commission of up to £1.3 million. The Second Commission Deferral 
Agreement has a repayment date of 31 January 2017 and is on the same terms as the Commission Deferral Agreement. Further detail 
is provided in note 32.

The weighted average interest rates paid during the year were as follows:

Bank loans

Commission Deferral Agreement

Weighted average

At 31 December 2014, the Group did not have any undrawn committed borrowing facilities (2013: £nil).

2014
%

4.5

3.5

3.9

2013 
%

3.8

3.5

3.8

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201465

25. Provisions

At 1 January

Charged to the income statement

Customer redress and associated costs 
paid in the year

Transfer to trade and other payables

At 31 December

Customer 
redress and 
associated 
costs 
2014 
£’000

37,398

3,000

Total 
2014 
£’000

37,398

4,658

Restructuring
costs
2013 
£’000

—

1,750

Customer 
redress and
associated 
costs 
2013 
£’000

28,967

18,168

(34,042)

(34,042)

—

(9,737)

—

6,356

—

8,014

(1,750)

—

—

37,398

Onerous
leases
2014
£’000

—

1,658

—

—

1,658

Total
2013 
£’000

28,967

19,918

(9,737)

(1,750)

37,398

The customer redress and associated cost provision comprises anticipated compensation payable to customers through residual customer 
redress exercises and associated professional fees. The outstanding regulatory fine of £8.5 million is included in non-current payables in note 23.

The onerous lease provision reflects the future lease payments and associated costs in the expected non-utilisation period at our vacated 
offices in the UK.

Customer redress and associated costs are expected to be settled within one year of the balance sheet date and onerous lease provisions 
are expected to be settled within three years of the balance sheet date.

Provisions are expected to be settled in the following periods:

Within one year

Outside of one year

At 31 December

Customer 
redress and 
associated 
costs 
2014 
£’000

6,356

—

6,356

Onerous
leases
2014
£’000

685

973

1,658

Restructuring
costs
2013 
£’000

Customer 
redress and
associated 
costs 
2013 
£’000

Total
2013 
£’000

—

—

—

37,398

37,398

—

—

37,398

37,398

Total 
2014 
£’000

7,041

973

8,014

26. Deferred tax
The following are the major deferred tax assets/(liabilities) recognised by the Group and the movements thereon during the current and prior years:

At 1 January 2013

(Charged)/credited to income statement

Charged to equity

Transfer to assets classified as held for sale

At 1 January 2014

Credited/(charged) to income statement

Credited to equity

At 31 December 2014

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances 
£’000

 2,403

(2,424)

—

—

(21)

30

—

9

Tax losses
£’000

Share based
payments 
£’000

Other short
term timing 
differences 
£’000

—

—

—

—

—

1,646

—

1,646

 —

6

(1)

—

5

(3)

1

3

 (217)

(140)

—

(12)

(369)

833

—

464

Total 
£’000

 2,186 

(2,558)

(1)

(12)

(385)

2,506

1

2,122

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are stated at tax rates expected to apply on the forecast date of reversal, based on tax laws substantively 
enacted at the balance sheet date. 

Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset where the Group is entitled to and intends to settle tax liabilities on a net basis. 
The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes:

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax liabilities

2014
£’000

2,248

(126)

2,122

2013 
£’000

142

(527)

(385)

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

26. Deferred tax continued
At the balance sheet date the Group has unused tax losses of £57,000,000 (2013: £40,142,000) available for offset against future profits. 
A deferred tax asset of £1,646,000 has been recognised in respect of £8,129,000 losses which will be offset against taxable profits in 
2015. No deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of the remainder of the unused tax losses due to the unpredictability of future 
profit streams in the underlying companies and restrictions on offset of taxable profits and losses between Group companies. Included in 
unrecognised deferred tax assets are losses of £380,000 (2013: £380,000) that will expire in 2015, £551,000 (2013: £551,000) that will 
expire in 2016, £1,102,000 (2013: £1,102,000) that will expire in 2017, £557,000 (2013: £557,000) that will expire in 2018, £1,894,000 
(2013: £701,000) that will expire in 2019, £nil (2013: £39,000) that will expire in 2020, £674,000 (2013: £674,000) that will expire in 2021 
and £535,000 (2013: £555,000) that will expire in 2023. Other losses will be carried forward indefinitely.

There is no deferred tax liability on unremitted foreign earnings.

27. Financial instruments
Capital risk management
The Group manages its capital to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern.

The Group does not have a target level of gearing but seeks to maintain an appropriate balance of debt and equity while aiming to provide 
returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders. The Group’s principal debt facility during the year was a £13.0 million RCF; 
on 11 February 2015 this was reduced to a £5.0 million facility with a term date of 28 February 2018.

The Group makes adjustments to its capital structure in light of economic conditions. To maintain or adjust the capital structure the Group 
may adjust the dividend payment to shareholders, return capital to shareholders or issue new shares. The Directors have considered the 
capital requirements of the Group, including the availability of cash reserves and residual customer redress obligations, and have not 
proposed a final dividend in respect of the current year.

Externally imposed capital requirement
Two of the Group’s principal subsidiaries, Card Protection Plan Limited and Homecare Insurance Limited, have capital requirements imposed by 
the FCA in the UK. Both subsidiaries have complied with their respective imposed capital requirements throughout the current and previous year.

Card Protection Plan Limited
Card Protection Plan Limited is regulated by the FCA as an insurance intermediary and is required to hold a minimum level of capital resources 
relative to regulated business revenue. 

The ratio of current and future capital resources to regulated business revenue is reported monthly to management to ensure compliance. 
There have been no instances of non-compliance in either the current or prior years.

The Group has agreed with the FCA, as part of the VVOP, to additional restrictions on the disposition of assets by Card Protection Plan Limited.

Homecare Insurance Limited
Homecare Insurance Limited is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA as an insurance underwriter and therefore maintains its capital 
resources in accordance with the FCA’s risk-based solvency regime, Individual Capital Assessment Standards.

The current and future capital levels are reviewed each month and reported to the FCA to ensure on-going compliance and to support 
the quarterly FCA returns. There have been no instances of non-compliance in either the current or previous years. 

The Group has agreed with the FCA, as part of the VVOP, to additional restrictions on the disposition of assets by Homecare Insurance Limited.

Fair value of financial instruments
The fair value of non-derivative financial instruments is determined using pricing models based on discounted cash flow analysis using 
prices from observable current market transactions, hence all are classified as Level 2 in the fair value hierarchy. Financial assets and 
liabilities are carried at the following amounts:

Financial assets

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables comprise cash and cash equivalents, trade and other receivables and taxes receivable.

There is no significant difference between the fair value and carrying amount of any financial asset.

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities at amortised cost

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

49,195

76,471

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

(86,007)

(112,366)

Financial liabilities at amortised cost comprise borrowings, trade creditors, accruals, taxes payable and provisions.

There is no significant difference between the fair value and carrying amount of any financial liability, since liabilities are either short term 
in nature or bear interest at variable rates.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201467

27. Financial instruments continued
Financial risk management objectives
The Group’s activities expose it to the risks of changes in foreign exchange rates and interest rates. The Board of Directors determines the 
Treasury Policy of the Group and delegates the authority for execution of the policy to the Group Treasurer. Any changes to the Treasury 
Policy are authorised by the Board of Directors. The limited use of financial derivatives is governed by the Treasury Policy and derivatives 
are not entered into for speculative purposes.

Interest rate risk
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk to the extent that short and medium term interest rates fluctuate. The Group manages this risk 
through the use of interest rate swaps when appropriate, in accordance with its Treasury Policy. The interest cover (being defined as the 
ratio of underlying EBITDA to interest paid) at 31 December 2014 was 5x (2013: 7x). 

Interest rate sensitivity analysis
The Group is mainly exposed to movements in LIBOR. The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 2% increase in LIBOR rates 
throughout the year. 2% represents the Directors’ assessment of a reasonably possible change in LIBOR rates. The sensitivity analysis 
includes the impact of changes in LIBOR on yearly average cash and bank loans.

Decrease in loss before tax

Increase in shareholders’ equity

2014
£’000

753

753

2013 
£’000

617

617

Foreign currency risk
The Group has exposure to foreign currency risk where it has investments in overseas operations which have functional currencies other 
than Sterling and are affected by foreign exchange movements. The carrying amounts of the Group’s principal foreign currency 
denominated assets and liabilities are as follows:

Euro

Liabilities

Assets

2014
£’000

5,551

2013
£’000

9,983

2014
£’000

4,841

2013 
£’000

7,392

The Group disposed of its US Dollar operation on 3 May 2013 therefore the Group’s exposure to US Dollar foreign currency movements 
has reduced significantly and is no longer considered a risk.

Foreign currency sensitivity analysis
The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 20% decrease in Euro against Sterling exchange rate. This represents the Directors’ 
assessment of the reasonably possible change in foreign exchange rates. The sensitivity analysis includes only foreign currency denominated 
financial instruments and adjusts their translation at the year end for a change in foreign currency rates.

Loss before tax

Shareholders’ equity

Euro currency impact

2014
£’000

(112)

118

2013
£’000

(86)

432

Eurozone sensitivity analysis
The Group operates in countries with Euro denominated currencies, and the potential for fluctuations in the Euro to impact the Group's 
results represents a risk to the Group. The Group's Eurozone operations are in Germany, Ireland, Italy, France, Portugal and Spain. A 20% 
deterioration in the Sterling:Euro exchange rate throughout the year would have increased Group losses relating to these Eurozone entities 
by £331,000 (2013: £731,000).

Credit risk
Credit risk refers to the risk that a counterparty defaults on its contractual obligations resulting in financial loss to the Group. The Group 
does not actively hedge its credit risk.

The Group’s retail trade and insurance receivables are mainly with a broad base of individual customers and are therefore not generally 
exposed to any one customer, resulting in low credit risk.

The Group’s Packaged Account and Wholesale activities can result in material balances existing with a small number of counterparties 
and therefore increased credit risk exists. The Group’s remaining Packaged Account contracts ended during the year and as a result credit 
risk has reduced. The Group continues to maintain some wholesale contracts and considers that it mitigates this credit risk through good 
quality relationships with counterparties and only partnering with counterparties with established credit ratings. 

Counterparty credit limits are determined in accordance with the Treasury Policy for cash and cash equivalents and the Counterparty 
and Credit Risk Policy for receivables. Any balance that falls into an overdue status is monitored. Further details of the monitoring 
of and provision for overdue debts are outlined for insurance receivables in note 18 and other receivables in note 20.

The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the consolidated financial statements, which is net of impairment losses, represents 
the Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

27. Financial instruments continued
Liquidity risk
The Group has a policy of repatriation and pooling of funding where possible in order to maximise the return on surplus cash. Group 
Treasury continually monitors the level of short term funding requirements and balances the need for short term funding with the long 
term funding needs of the Group. Announced prior to the year end, subject to shareholder approval, and subsequently completed on 
11 February 2015, the Group has raised £20.0 million (£17.9 million net of expenses) through a placement of ordinary shares, albeit a 
portion of these funds has been used to part-prepay the existing RCF, reducing the available balance from £13.0 million to £5.0 million. The 
Group has also settled the majority of its customer redress obligations in the period. As a result liquidity risk has reduced in the period.

Compliance with financial ratios and other covenant obligations of the Group’s bank loans is monitored on a monthly basis by the Board of Directors.

Liquidity and interest risk tables
Liabilities
The following table details the Group’s remaining contractual maturity for its financial liabilities, based on the undiscounted cash flows of 
financial liabilities and the earliest date at which the Group can be required to pay. The table includes both interest and principal cash flows 
and assumes no changes in future LIBOR rates.

Less than 
1 month 
£’000

1–3 
months 
£’000

3 months 
to 1 year 
£’000

1–5 
years 
£’000

Over
 5 years 
£’000

2013

Non-interest bearing liabilities

12,366

10,844

49,701

Fixed rate instruments

Variable rate instruments

2014

—

49

—

97

—

438

12,415

10,941

50,139

Non-interest bearing liabilities

12,579

12,124

18,842

Fixed rate instruments

Variable rate instruments

—

44

—

88

—

395

12,623

12,212

19,237

14,960

12,857

14,964

42,781

8,498

22,661

14,348

45,507

Total 
£’000

88,117

12,857

15,548

246

—

— 

246

116,522

271

—

—

271

52,314

22,661

14,875

89,850

On 11 February 2015, the conditions were satisfied to part-prepay and extend the existing RCF to 28 February 2018 and all the obligations of the 
Deferred Commission Agreement (fixed rate instrument) will be settled in return for a compromise payment of £1.3 million and further commission 
deferral of up to £1.3 million. The table above reflects the contractual position prevailing at 31 December 2014 and does not therefore reflect the 
substance of this transaction.

Assets
The following table details the Group’s expected maturity for its non-derivative financial assets, based on the undiscounted contractual 
maturities of the financial assets.

Weighted
average 
effective 
interest rate
%

Less than 
1 month 
£’000

1–3 
months 
£’000

3 months 
to 1 year 
£’000

2013

Non-interest bearing assets

n/a

3,980

4,548

Variable interest rate 
instruments

2014

Non-interest bearing assets

Variable interest rate 
instruments

1.0%

n/a

1.0%

43,412

47,392

23,169

27,717

5,097

2,421

31,304

36,401

9,294

11,715

641

319

960

84

—

84

1–5 
years 
£’000

384

— 

384

815

1

816

Over
 5 years 
£’000

18

— 

18

179

—

179

Total 
£’000

9,571

66,900

76,471

8,596

40,599

49,195

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201469

27. Financial instruments continued
Insurance risk
The Group applies a prudent approach to its management of potential exposure to risks arising from its insurance contracts.

The lines of policies underwritten are limited to General Insurance Classes underwritten by an entity within the Group which is authorised by the 
PRA and regulated by the FCA. The lines of risk underwritten are restricted by the Group to those lines where the Group either has substantial 
experience or lines where the Group wishes to move into where it can enter such a line of business in a risk-controlled manner after appropriate 
Board consideration.

The Group’s lines of insurance business, and thus its insurance risk portfolio, are primarily focused on high volume, low transaction value, 
short term individual lines.

The Group’s policy is to establish a specific claims reserve at any point in time on each line of business, based on claims reported up 
to and including the last day of each accounting period including an element to represent claims incurred but not yet reported. Details 
of claims reserves carried are provided in note 22.

The Directors consider the following to be the principal insurance risks and actions taken reducing risk to an acceptable level:

Changes in rates of claims
Trends in claim rates and other market data are reviewed on a regular basis and premiums for contracts adjusted accordingly. Each class 
of contract has a large population of homogeneous policyholders and no insurance contracts are subject to concentration risk.

A 10% deterioration in the loss ratio during the year would have resulted in a £192,000 increase in loss before tax and reduction in 
shareholders’ equity (2013: £1,443,000), 10% representing the Directors’ assessment of the reasonably possible change in the loss ratio.

Changes in settlement cost per claim
The quantum or nature of settlement amounts is specified in policy documentation and the Group is not exposed to significant open ended 
commitments. Although settlement costs are not capped they generally vary within a small range, limiting the Group's exposure. 

Reliance on key suppliers
The Group makes use of third party suppliers to fulfil the majority of claims. The performance and financial position of key suppliers 
is regularly monitored and alternative lines of supply sourced as necessary.

The Group therefore considers its exposure to risk arising from its insurance contracts to be appropriately managed.

28. Share capital

Called-up and allotted: ordinary shares of 10 pence each

At 1 January 

Issue of shares in connection with:

Exercise of share options

At 31 December

2014 
Number
(thousands)

2014
£’000

2013 
Number
(thousands)

2013 
£’000

171,588

17,120

171,487

17,111

62

6

101

9

171,650

17,126

171,588

17,120

During the year, the Company issued 61,529 shares to option holders for total consideration of £6,000. Further details relating to share 
options are provided in note 29.

Of the 171,649,941 ordinary shares issued at 31 December 2014, 171,149,942 are fully paid and 499,999 are partly paid.

The ordinary shares are entitled to the profits of the Company which it may from time to time determine to distribute in respect of any 
financial year or period.

All holders of ordinary shares shall have the right to attend and vote at all General Meetings of the Company. On a return of assets on 
liquidation the assets (if any) remaining, after the debts and liabilities of the Company and the costs of winding up have been paid or 
allowed for, shall belong to, and be distributed amongst, the holders of all the ordinary shares in proportion to the number of such ordinary 
shares held by them respectively.

As announced on 13 January 2015, subsequent to the year end and prior to admission to AIM, each of the Company's existing 10 pence 
ordinary shares was subdivided and redesignated into one new ordinary share of 1 penny each and one new deferred share of 9 pence 
each. Each new ordinary share of 1 penny will carry the same rights as each existing ordinary share. Each deferred share will have no 
voting rights, no rights to receive dividends and will only have very limited rights on a return of capital. The deferred shares will not be 
admitted to trading on AIM or listed on any other Stock Exchange and will not be freely transferable. Further detail is included in note 32.

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

29. Share based payment
Legacy schemes
The Group’s 2005 and 2008 ESOP Schemes were implemented in previous years to incentivise certain employees. Options in these 
schemes are exercisable at a price determined by the Board of Directors on the date of grant. There is no legacy scheme share based 
payment charge included in the income statement in the current year (2013: £nil).

The IPO during 2010 represented a trigger event for the 2005 and 2008 ESOP Schemes. All outstanding legacy scheme options have 
now vested. Options lapse if not exercised within ten years of original grant and may lapse if the employee leaves the Group.

Details of share options outstanding during the year under the legacy schemes are as follows:

2005 ESOP Scheme

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2008 ESOP Scheme

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2014

2013

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

2,063

(527)

1,536

1,536

873

(564)

309

309

2.06

2.24

2.00

2.00

1.79

1.79

1.79

1.79

 2,358 

(295)

2,063

2,063

1,365

(492)

873

873

1.97

1.32

2.06

2.06

1.79

1.79

1.79

1.79

There have been no exercises in either the current or prior year.

The options outstanding for the 2005 Scheme and 2008 Scheme at 31 December 2014 had no remaining contractual life in either the 
current year or the prior year.

No 2005 Scheme or 2008 Scheme options have been granted in either the current or prior year.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201471

29. Share based payment continued
Post-IPO plans
Other administrative expenses include a charge of £203,000 (2013: £50,000) arising from the Long Term Incentive Plan (LTIP), the 
Restricted Stock Plan (RSP), the Deferred Share Bonus Plan (DSBP) and the ShareSAVE Plan. There have been no options granted in the 
current year in any of the Group's post-IPO plans. The prior year included options granted under the LTIP to incentivise certain employees.

Details of share options outstanding during the period under these plans are as follows:

2014

2013

LTIP

Outstanding at 1 January

Granted during the year

Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

RSP

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited during the year

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

DSBP

Outstanding at 1 January

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

ShareSAVE Plan

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited/cancelled during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

7,794

—

(2,558)

5,236

405

(108)

(51)

246

50

16

(10)

6

6

112

(69)

43

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1.35

1.36

1.33

5,911

3,000

(1,117)

7,794

643

(149)

(89)

405

44

29

(13)

16

16

334

(222)

112

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1.34

1.31

1.35

Nil-cost options and conditional shares granted under the LTIP normally vest after three years, lapse if not exercised within ten years 
of grant and may lapse if option holders cease to be employed by the Group. Vesting of LTIP options and shares are also subject to 
achievement of performance criteria including total shareholder return and an absolute share price measure over a three year period. 
There have been no LTIP options exercised in either the current or prior year.

Nil-cost options and conditional shares granted under the RSP normally vest after three years, lapse if not exercised within ten years of 
grant, and may lapse if option holders cease to be employed by the Group. There have been no RSP options granted in either the current 
or prior year.

Nil-cost options and conditional shares granted during 2011 under the DSBP normally vest after three years, lapse if not exercised within 
ten years of grant and may lapse if option holders cease to be employed by the Group. The DSBP is a scheme to retain and further 
incentivise senior management by awarding a portion of their annual bonus in the form of share options. There have been no DSBP options 
granted in either the current or prior year.

Options granted during 2011 under the ShareSAVE Plan entitle option holders to contribute up to £250 per month to the plan. At the vesting date of 
either three or five years, option holders choose between return of their contributions in cash or purchase of shares at a discount to the market price 
on the date of grant. Options normally lapse and cash deposited is returned to option holders who cease to be employed by the Group during the 
vesting period. There have been no ShareSAVE plan options granted or exercised in either the current or prior year.

The options outstanding at 31 December 2014 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of one year (2013: two years) in the LTIP, 
nil years (2013: one year) in the RSP, nil years in the DSBP (2013: nil years) and nil years (2013: one year) in the ShareSAVE Plan.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Financial statementsIndependent Auditor’s reportConsolidated income statementConsolidated statement of comprehensive incomeConsolidated balance sheetConsolidated statement of changes in equityConsolidated cash flow statement ǔNotes to the consolidated financial statementsCompany balance sheetNotes to the Company financial statements72

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

29. Share based payment continued
Post-IPO plans continued
The principal assumptions underlying the valuation of the options granted during the year at the date of grant are as follows:

ShareSAVE

LTIP

RSP

DSBP

2014

2013

2014

Weighted average share price

Weighted average exercise price

Expected volatility

Expected life

Risk-free rate

Dividend yield

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

2013

£0.08

—

—

—

— 154.00%

—

—

—

3 years

0.92%

—

2014

2013

2014

2013

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

There have been no share options granted in the current year. The aggregate estimated fair value of the options and shares granted in the 
prior year under the LTIP was £20,000.

30. Reconciliation of operating cash flows

Loss for the year

Adjustment for:

Depreciation and amortisation

Equity settled share based payment expense

Impairment loss on goodwill, intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

Impairment of IT assets

Loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Profit on disposal of discontinued operations

Commission deferral compromise and associated costs

Share of loss of joint venture

Investment revenues

Finance costs: non-derivative instruments

Income tax (credit)/expense

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital

Decrease in inventories

Decrease in receivables

Decrease in insurance assets

Decrease in payables

Decrease in insurance liabilities

(Decrease)/increase in provisions

Cash (used in)/generated by operations

Income taxes repaid/(paid)

Net cash (used in)/generated by operating activities

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

(6,749)

(32,867)

4,155

203

86

—

43

(311)

744

1,096

(432)

2,296

(1,698)

(567)

56

5,202

2,794

(9,892)

(1,970)

(29,384)

(33,761)

855

(32,906)

9,552

50

5,822

8,058

200

(10,389)

—

780

(404)

4,305

3,033

(11,860)

150

8,464

23,854

(2,526)

(3,535)

8,431

22,978

(2,820)

20,158

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201473

31. Commitments
Operating lease commitments
The Group has entered into commercial leases on certain properties and motor vehicles. The leases have normal terms, escalation clauses 
and renewal rights.

The future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases expiring are as follows:

Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

After five years

2014
£’000

1,941

2,623

370

4,934

2013 
£’000

2,297

4,423

898

7,618

32. Events after the balance sheet date
On 23 December 2014, the Group announced a number of proposals, which were subject to shareholder approval in a general meeting. 
These proposals were formally approved by the shareholders at a general meeting on 13 January 2015 and were subsequently completed 
on 11 February 2015. The transaction comprised the following elements:

i) 

ii) 

 an equity placing to raise in aggregate £20.0 million (approximately £17.9 million net of expenses) by way of a non-preemptive placing 
of 666,666,667 placing shares at a price of 3 pence per placing share (the Placing);

 the reorganisation of CPPGroup Plc share capital to subdivide and re-designate each of the existing ordinary shares of 10 pence each 
into one new ordinary share of 1 penny each and one deferred share of 9 pence each. Each new ordinary share of 1 penny carries the 
same rights as the old 10 pence ordinary share. Each deferred share of 9 pence has no voting rights, no rights to receive dividends and 
only has very limited rights on a return of capital. The deferred shares have not been admitted to trading on AIM or any other stock 
exchange and are not freely transferable. The Placing shares represented new ordinary shares of 1 penny each;

iii)   the inter-conditional cancellation of the Group's shares from the Main Market and admission to trading on AIM;

iv)   prepayment in part of the Group's current bank facility and related costs of £8.5 million, together with the refinancing of the remaining 

£5.0 million through an Amended and Restated Facility; and

v) 

 settlement of all the liabilities of the Commission Deferral Agreement with certain of its Business Partners for a compromise payment 
of £1.3 million and further deferral of commission of up to £1.3 million. This element of the transaction will result in the recognition 
of an exceptional gain of approximately £19 million in the 2015 consolidated income statement.

Included in the Placing shares of 666,666,667 were acquisitions by Phoenix Asset Management Partners Limited (335,326,643), 
Mr Hamish Ogston (264,144,352), through his family investment vehicle Milton Magna Limited, and Schroder Investment Management 
Limited (61,437,285). Mr Hamish Ogston and Schroder Investment Management Limited were both substantial shareholders in the Group 
prior to the Placing; therefore their participation in the Placing constituted related party transactions.

Following the Placing, the ordinary share capital of the Group is 838,316,608, with Phoenix Asset Management holding 40.00% of this 
capital. Mr Hamish Ogston holds 43.00% (reduced from 56.12% prior to the Placing) and Schroder Investment Management holds 9.99% 
(reduced from 13.00% prior to the Placing).

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued

33. Related party transactions and control
Ultimate controlling party
During the year the Group was controlled by the Company’s majority shareholder, Mr Hamish Ogston. On 11 February 2015, Mr Hamish 
Ogston's holding in the Company reduced to 43.00%, resulting in the Group no longer having a controlling party; see note 32.

Transactions with joint ventures
During the year the Group disposed of its shareholding in its joint venture entity, Home3. Transactions between the Group and its joint 
venture prior to disposal represent related party transactions.

The Group undertook the following transactions with its joint venture entity, Home3, prior to the disposal:

Costs rechargeable to Home3 incurred by the Group

Balance receivable from Home3 at 31 December

2014
£’000

—

—

2013 
£’000

138

2,299

The disposal of Home3 completed on 24 March 2014. As part of the disposal agreement the balance receivable from Home3 prior to 
disposal of £2,350,000 was capitalised as an investment in the joint venture. £2,254,000 of this balance has already been provided 
through the consolidated income statement between 2011 and 2013. The remaining balance of £96,000 has been recognised in the 
consolidated income statement in the year ended 31 December 2014.

Transactions with related parties
There have been no transactions with related parties in the year, other than the remuneration of key management personnel. Subsequent 
to the year end, Mr Hamish Ogston and Schroder Investment Management Limited participated in the Placing; further detail is provided 
in note 32.

Remuneration of key management personnel
The remuneration of the Directors and Senior Management team, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below:

Short term employee benefits

Post-employment benefits

Termination benefits

Share based payments 

2014
£’000

2,133

100

—

8

2,241

2013 
£’000

3,769

184

547

(144)

4,356

Required disclosures regarding remuneration of the Directors are included in the Remuneration report on pages 22 to 29.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Company balance sheet
As at 31 December 2014

Fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets

Investment in subsidiaries

Current assets

Debtors

Cash and cash equivalents

Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Provisions

Net assets

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital

Share premium account

Share based payment reserve

Profit and loss reserve – deficit

Equity shareholders’ funds

75

Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement

 ǔ Notes to the consolidated financial statements
 ǔ Company balance sheet

Notes to the Company financial statements

Note 

37

38

2014
£’000

—

15,169

15,169

39

56,040

40

41

42

43

43

43

—

56,040

(19,441)

36,599

51,768

—

51,768

17,126

33,291

5,265

(3,914)

51,768

2013
£’000

1

15,122

15,123 

52,805

1,069

53,874

(14,540)

39,334

54,457

(402)

54,055

17,120

33,292

5,062

(1,419)

54,055

Approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 30 March 2015 and signed on its behalf by:

Eric Anstee 
Executive Chairman  

Craig Parsons
Chief Financial Officer

Company registration number: 07151159

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76

Notes to the Company financial statements

34. Parent company profit and loss account
The Company has taken advantage of the exemption in the Companies Act 2006, Section 408, not to present its own profit and loss 
account. The Company reported a loss after tax for the year of £2,489,000 (2013: £10,069,000). There have been no dividends received 
from subsidiary undertakings in either the current or prior year.

35. Significant accounting policies
Basis of preparation
The Directors have chosen to present these Company financial statements under the historical cost basis in accordance with applicable 
law and accounting standards generally accepted in the United Kingdom (UK GAAP). With effect from 1 January 2015, UK GAAP is being 
replaced by the choice of two new standards FRS 101 (Reduced Disclosure Framework) and FRS 102 (The Financial Reporting Standard 
Applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland). The Company has performed an assessment of the impact and accordingly is proposing to 
adopt FRS 101 to align the Company reporting with the Group's IFRS reporting.

Cash flow statement
Under FRS 1 (revised) ‘Cash Flow Statements’ the Company is not required to include a cash flow statement within these Company 
financial statements, since a consolidated cash flow statement for the Group is publicly available.

Dividend income
Dividend income from investments is recognised when the Company’s right to receive payment has been established.

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, it is probable that 
the Company will be required to settle that obligation and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation. The amount 
recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the balance sheet date, 
taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. Where a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated 
to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows.

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is 
recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.

Share based payments
Prior to the Company’s shares being listed on the London Stock Exchange on 24 March 2010, the Company issued share options to certain 
of the Group’s employees through the ESOP. Subsequent to its listing, the Company has issued share options to certain of the Group’s 
employees under the LTIP, the RSP, the DSBP and the ShareSAVE Plan.

Share options are treated as equity settled if the Company has the ability to determine whether to settle exercises in cash or by the issue 
of shares. Share options are measured at fair value at the date of grant, based on the Company’s estimate of shares that will eventually 
vest, and adjusted for the effect of non-market based vesting conditions each period. The fair value of equity settled share based 
payments is charged to the profit and loss account on a straight line basis over the vesting period, with a corresponding increase 
in reserves, subject to adjustment for forfeited options.

Share options are treated as cash settled if the terms of the scheme require or the Directors intend to settle share options with a cash 
payment. Cash settled options are measured at fair value at date of grant and subsequently revalued at each period end. For cash settled 
share based payments, a liability is recognised for a proportion, based on the vesting period, of the fair value as calculated at the balance 
sheet date. Movements in the provision are charged to the profit and loss account.

The fair value of the options are measured by use of the Black Scholes option pricing model and Monte Carlo simulation model.

Pension costs
Pension costs represent contributions made by the Company to defined contribution pension schemes. These are expensed as incurred.

Taxation
Current tax, including UK corporation tax and foreign tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid or recovered using the tax rates and 
laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred taxation is provided in full on timing differences which result in an obligation at the balance sheet date to pay more tax, or a right 
to pay less tax at a future date, at rates expected to apply when they crystallise based on tax rates and law. Timing differences arise from 
the inclusion of items of income and expenditure in taxation computations in periods different from those in which they are included in 
the financial statements. Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is regarded as more likely than not that they will be 
recovered. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

Tangible fixed assets
Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated 
to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows:

Computer systems: 4 years straight line

Investment in subsidiaries
Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost less provision for impairment. As permitted by Section 615 of the Companies Act 2006, shares 
issued as consideration for acquisition of a subsidiary already under common control are deemed to have been issued at their par value.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201477

Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet

 ǔ Notes to the Company financial statements

35. Significant accounting policies continued
Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash in hand and bank deposits with a term from inception of three months or less, less bank 
overdrafts where there is a right to offset. Bank overdrafts are presented as current liabilities to the extent that there is no right to offset 
with cash balances in the same currency.

Financial assets
Financial assets of the Company are classified according to their nature and purpose which is determined at the time of initial recognition. 
All of the financial assets held by the Company are classified as ‘loans and receivables’.

Financial liabilities and equity
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. All 
financial liabilities of the Company are classified as ‘other financial liabilities’.

Equity instruments
An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Company after deducting all of its liabilities. 
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

36. Dividends
The Directors have not proposed a final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2014.

37. Tangible fixed assets

Cost

At 1 January 2014

Disposals

At 31 December 2014

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2014

Provided during the year

Disposals

At 31 December 2014

Carrying amount

At 31 December 2013

At 31 December 2014

38. Investment in subsidiaries

Cost and carrying value

At 1 January

Acquisitions

Disposals

At 31 December

Computer 
systems 
£’000

6

(6)

—

5

1

(6)

—

1

—

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

15,122

15,717 

47

—

39

(634)

15,169

15,122

The acquisition of £47,000 during the year (2013: £39,000) relates to the share based payment charges in relation to share options held 
by overseas employees which are treated as capital contributions to the employing subsidiaries and are therefore recognised as 
investments in subsidiary companies.

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Notes to the Company financial statements continued

38. Investment in subsidiaries continued
Investments in Group entities at 31 December 2014 were as follows:

Investments in subsidiary undertakings held directly

CPP Group Plc

CPP Worldwide Holdings Limited

Investments in subsidiary undertakings held through  
an intermediate subsidiary 

Airport Angel Limited

Card Protection Plan Limited

CPP Assistance Limited

CPP Assistance Services Limited

CPP European Holdings Limited

CPP Group Finance Limited

CPP Holdings Limited

CPP Insurance Administration Limited

CPP International Holdings Limited

CPP Services Limited

Detailregion Limited

Green Suite Limited

Homecare Assistance Limited

Homecare (Holdings) Limited

Homecare Insurance Limited

CPP Travel Services Limited

CPPGroup Services Limited

CPP Brasil Servicos de Assistencia Pessoal LTDA

CPP Commercial Consulting Services (Shanghai) Co Limited

CPP France SA

CPP Creating Profitable Partnerships GmbH

one call GmbH

CPP Asia Limited

CPP Assistance Services Private Limited

CPP Italia Srl

CPP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd

Servicios de Asistencia a Tarjetahabientes CPP Mexico, S.de 
R.L.de C.V

Profesionales en Proteccion Individual, S.de R.L de C.V

CPP Mediacion Y Proteccion SL

CPP Proteccion Y Servicios de Asistencia SAU

Key Line Auxiliar SL

CPP Real Life Services Support SL

CPP Sigorta Aracilik Hizmetleri Anonim Sirketi

CPP Yardim ve Destek Hizmetleri Anonim Sirketi

Country of 
incorporation/
registration

Class of 
shares held

Percentage 
of share 
capital held

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

England & Wales

Ordinary shares

Brazil

China

France

Germany

Germany

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Hong Kong

Ordinary shares

India

Italy

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Malaysia

Ordinary shares

Mexico

Mexico

Spain

Spain

Spain

Spain

Turkey

Turkey

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

Ordinary shares

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

99.99%

99.99%

The principal activity of all of the subsidiaries is to provide services in connection with the Group’s major product streams.

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Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet

 ǔ Notes to the Company financial statements

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

54,881

52,491

70

1,089

56,040

281

33

52,805

39. Debtors

Amounts due from Group entities

Prepayments

Other debtors

Amounts receivable from Group entities are unsecured, have no fixed date of repayment and bear interest at LIBOR plus a fixed margin.

40. Creditors: amounts falling due within one year

Bank overdrafts

Trade creditors

Amounts payable to Group entities

Accruals

2014
£’000

1,538

137

16,207

1,559

19,441

2013 
£’000

—

147

13,228

1,165

14,540

Amounts payable to Group entities are unsecured, have no fixed date of repayment and incur interest at a rate of LIBOR plus a fixed margin.

41. Provisions

At 1 January

(Credited)/charged to the profit and loss account

Customer redress and associated costs paid in the year

At 31 December

42. Share capital

Issued

At 1 January

Issue of shares:

Exercise of share options

At 31 December

Customer
redress and
associated costs
2014 
£’000

Customer 
redress and
associated costs 
2013 
£’000

402

(401)

(1)

—

2014 
Number
(thousands)

2014
£’000

2013 
Number
(thousands)

408

261

(267)

402

2013 
£’000

171,588

17,120

171,487

17,111

62

6

101

9

171,650

17,126

171,588

17,120

During the year 61,529 10 pence ordinary shares have been issued to option holders for total consideration of £6,000. Further details 
relating to share options are provided in note 45.

Of the 171,649,941 ordinary shares issued at 31 December 2014, 171,149,942 are fully paid and 499,999 are partly paid.

As announced on 13 January 2015, subsequent to the year end and prior to admission to AIM, each of the Company's existing 10 pence 
ordinary shares was subdivided and redesignated into one new ordinary share of 1 penny each and one new deferred share of 9 pence 
each. Each new ordinary share of 1 penny will carry the same rights as each existing ordinary share. Each deferred share will have no 
voting rights, no rights to receive dividends and will only have very limited rights on a return of capital. The deferred shares will not be 
admitted to trading on AIM or listed on any other stock exchange and will not be freely transferable. Further detail is in note 32.

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Notes to the Company financial statements continued

43. Reserves

At 1 January 2014

Loss for the year

Equity settled share based payment charge

Exercise of share options

At 31 December 2014

44. Reconciliation of movement in equity shareholders’ funds

Loss for the year

Equity settled share based payment charge

Exercise of share options

Movement in equity shareholders’ funds

Equity shareholders’ funds at 1 January

Equity shareholders’ funds at 31 December

Share premium 
account 
£’000

Share based 
payment reserve 
£’000

Profit and loss 
reserve – deficit
£’000

33,292

5,062

—

—

(1)

—

203

—

(1,419)

(2,489)

—

(6)

Total 
£’000

36,935

(2,489)

203

(7)

33,291

5,265

(3,914)

34,642

2014
£’000

2013 
£’000

(2,489)

(10,069)

203

(1)

50

(6)

(2,287)

(10,025)

54,055

51,768

64,080

54,055

45. Share based payment
Legacy schemes
Legacy schemes comprise the 2005 and the 2008 ESOP Schemes which were implemented in previous years, to incentivise certain 
employees. Details of options outstanding held by the Company’s employees under these schemes are as follows:

2005 ESOP Scheme

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited in the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2008 ESOP Scheme

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited in the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

2014

2013

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

1,805

(464)

1,341

1,341

2.10

2.23

2.06

2.06

 1,987 

(182)

1,805

1,805

2014

2013

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

653

(424)

229

229

1.79

1.79

1.79

1.79

 1,045

(392)

653

653

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

1.98

0.82

2.10

2.10

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
(£)

1.79

1.79

1.79

1.79

The IPO during 2010 represented a trigger event for the 2005 and 2008 ESOP Schemes. On the date of the IPO 50% of the options outstanding 
vested, with 25% vesting in 2011 and 25% in 2012. Options lapse if not exercised within ten years of original grant and may lapse if the employee 
leaves the Group.

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Financial statements
Independent Auditor’s report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated balance sheet
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Company balance sheet

 ǔ Notes to the Company financial statements

45. Share based payment continued
Legacy schemes continued
The options outstanding for the 2005 Scheme and 2008 Scheme at 31 December 2014 had no remaining contractual life in either 
the current year or the prior year.

There have been no 2005 Scheme or 2008 Scheme exercises in the current year or prior year.

Post-IPO plans
There have been no options granted in the current year. Options were granted by the Company to Group employees during the prior year 
under the LTIP to incentivise certain employees.

Details of share options outstanding during the year held by the Company’s employees under the plans are as follows:

LTIP

Outstanding at 1 January

Granted during the year

Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

RSP

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited during the year

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

DSBP

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited during the year

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

Exercisable at 31 December

ShareSAVE Plan

Outstanding at 1 January

Forfeited/cancelled during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

2014

2013

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
£

Number of 
share options
(thousands)

Weighted 
average 
exercise 
price 
£

7,094

—

(2,034)

5,060

204

(13)

(19)

172

36

16

—

(10)

6

6

31

(31)

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

1.36

1.36

—

 4,583

3,000

(489)

7,094

 262

(38)

(20)

204

40

24

(8)

—

16

—

 62 

(31)

31

 — 

—

—

—

 — 

 —

—

 —

—

—

—

—

 — 

—

 1.30 

1.25

1.36

Nil-cost options and conditional shares granted under the LTIP normally vest after three years, lapse if not exercised within ten years 
of grant and may lapse if option holders cease to be employed by the Group. Vesting of LTIP options and shares are also subject to 
achievement of performance criteria including total shareholder return and an absolute share price measure over a three year period. 
There have been no LTIP options exercised in either the current or prior year.

Nil-cost options and conditional shares granted under the RSP normally vest after three years, lapse if not exercised within ten years of 
grant and may lapse if option holders cease to be employed by the Group. There have been no RSP options granted in either the current 
or prior year.

Nil-cost options and conditional shares granted during 2011 under the DSBP normally vest after three years, lapse if not exercised 
within ten years of grant and may lapse if option holders cease to be employed by the Group. The DSBP is a scheme to retain and further 
incentivise senior management by awarding a portion of their annual bonus in the form of share options. There have been no DSBP options 
granted in either the current or prior year.

Options granted in 2011 under the ShareSAVE Plan entitle option holders to contribute up to £250 per month. At the vesting date of either 
three or five years, option holders choose between return of their contributions in cash or purchase of shares at a discount to the market 
price on the date of grant. Options normally lapse and cash deposited is returned to option holders who cease to be employed by the 
Group during the vesting period. There have been no ShareSAVE Plan options granted or exercised in either the current or prior year.

The options outstanding at 31 December 2014 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of one year (2013: three years) in the LTIP, nil years 
(2013: one year) in the RSP and nil years in the DSBP (2013: nil years). There are no options outstanding in the ShareSAVE Plan.

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 201482

Notes to the Company financial statements continued

45. Share based payment continued
Post-IPO plans continued
The principal assumptions underlying the valuation of the options granted during the year at the date of grant are as follows:

Weighted average share price

Weighted average exercise price

Expected volatility

Expected life

Risk-free rate

Dividend yield

ShareSAVE

LTIP

RSP

DSBP

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

2014

2013

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

£0.08

—

— 154.00%

—

—

—

3 years

0.92%

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—

The aggregate estimated fair value of the options and shares granted in 2014 is £nil (2013: £20,000 LTIP).

46. Post balance sheet events
Since 31 December 2014 the Company has subdivided and reorganised its ordinary share capital, issued 666,666,667 new ordinary shares 
for £20.0 million, cancelled its trading on the Main Market and been admitted to trading on AIM. Full details of the Placing and related 
events are included in note 32.

On 11 February 2015, the Amended and Restated bank facility became effective for the Group. The Amended and Restated facility has 
a three year term to 28 February 2018. The Company is an obligor to the bank facility and as such its assets are secured against the bank 
loan; refer to note 47. The extended facility has been reduced from £13.0 million at 31 December 2014 to £5.0 million. 

47. Related parties and control
Certain bank loans taken out by Group entities are secured against the assets of the Company. The total amount outstanding on these 
loans at 31 December 2014 amounted to £13,000,000 (2013: £13,000,000). The Company is party to a cross-guarantee in respect of a 
bank account netting arrangement in which it is a participant alongside certain other Group companies. ‘Creditors: amounts falling due 
within one year’ includes an overdraft of £1,800,000 (2013: £1,500,000 in cash and cash equivalents) which is held in a bank account 
subject to this arrangement.

The Company has taken the exemption available under FRS 8 ‘Related Party Transactions’ not to disclose transactions with subsidiaries all 
of whose shares are held within the Group.

The Company’s ultimate controlling party is set out in note 33 to the consolidated financial statements. Emoluments of the Company’s 
Directors are set out in the Remuneration report on pages 22 to 29.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Company offices 

83

Financial statements

 ǔ Notes to the Company financial statements

Shareholder information

 ǔ Company offices

Shareholder information

Group Head Office

Europe & Latin America

Asia Pacific 

CPPGroup Plc
Holgate Park
York
YO26 4GA
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0)1904 544500
Fax: +44 (0)1904 544558
www.cppgroupplc.com 
www.cppdirect.co.uk

UK & Ireland

York Contact Centre
Holgate Park
York
YO26 4GA
United Kingdom 
Tel: +44 (0)1904 544500
Fax: +44 (0)1904 544558

CPP Spain
Parque Empresarial Alvento
Via de los Poblados 1
Edif. B, 2ª Planta
28033 Madrid
Spain
Tel: +34 91 121 16 00
Fax: +34 91 121 16 16

CPP Italy
Centro Direzionale Colleoni
Via Paracelso, 22 – 5º Piano
20041 Agrate Brianza
Monza e Brianza
Italy
Tel: +39 039 657801
Fax: +39 039 6894 293

CPP Portugal
Avenida da Liberdade, 40–7º
1269-041 Lisbon
Portugal
Tel: +351 213 241 730
Fax: +351 213 479 688

CPP Germany
Große Elbstraße 39
22767 Hamburg
Germany
Tel: +49 40 76 99 67 0
Fax: +49 40 76 99 67 111

CPP Turkey
Degirmen Sokak. Nida Kule Plaza. Kat:13 
Ofis: 22
34742 Kozyatagı Istanbul
Turkey
Tel: +90 216 665 25 25
Fax: +90 216 665 25 24

CPP Mexico
Cto. Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena
No. 1000 Piso 1, Desp. 102-B
Col. Centro Ciudad Santa Fe
Mexico, D.F.C.P.01210
Tel: +55 8000-3147
Fax: +55 8000-3148

CPP India
114-117 Bestech Chambers
Radisson Blu Suites
B Block, Sushant Lok – I
Gurgaon – 122002
Haryana
India
Tel: +91 124 409 3900
Fax: +91 124 404 1004

CPP Malaysia
(Registered Office address)
3-2 3rd Mile Square
No. 151 Jalan Kelang Lama
Batu 3 ½
58100 Kuala Lumpur
Malaysia
Tel: +60 3-7987 5300
Fax: +60 3-7987 5200

(Business address)
Level 16
1 Sentral, Jalan Stesen
Sentral 5
KL Sentral
50470 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Tel: +60 3 2168 5600
Fax: +60 3 2168 5799

CPP China
Room 6015, 6/F, The 21st Century Building 
210 Century Avenue
Lujiazui, Pudong, Shanghai 200120 
Tel: +86 21 5172 7312
Fax: +86 21 5172 7325

CPP Hong Kong
14/F Chung Nam Building 
1 Lockhart Road
Wanchai
Hong Kong
Tel: +852 3653 0000
Fax: +852 3653 0050

www.cppgroupplc.comGroup overviewStrategic reportCorporate governanceFinancial statementsShareholder informationCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014 
84

Shareholder information

Registered office:
CPPGroup Plc
Holgate Park
York
YO26 4GA
Tel: +44 (0)1904 544500

The Company’s shares are listed on the London Stock Exchange 
under share code ‘CPP.L’. Company information and share 
price details are available on the corporate website at  
www.cppgroupplc.com.

Company registration number:
07151159

Nominated adviser and broker:
Numis Securities Limited
The London Stock Exchange Building
10 Paternoster Square
London 
EC4M 7LT

Auditor:
Deloitte LLP
1 City Square
Leeds
LS1 2AL

Legal advisers:
Eversheds LLP
1 Wood Street
London
EC2V 7WS

Media consultants:
Tulchan Communications LLP
85 Fleet Street
London
EC4Y 1AE

Shareholders who have a query regarding their shareholding 
should contact the Company’s share registrars at:

Capita Asset Services
The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent
BR3 4TU

By telephone +44(0)20 8639 3399 

When contacting the registrar please have the investor code 
and information relating to the name and address in which 
the shares are held.

Investor relations
Requests for further copies of the Annual Report & Accounts, 
or other investor relations enquiries, should be addressed to the 
Company Secretary at the registered office.

www.cppgroupplc.comCPPGroup Plc Annual Report & Accounts 2014Printed by Park Communications on FSC® certified paper.

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100% of the inks used are vegetable oil based, 95% of press chemicals 
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The unavoidable carbon emissions generated during the manufacture and 
delivery of this document, have been reduced to net zero through a verified 
carbon offsetting project.

Head office:
CPPGroup Plc
Holgate Park
York YO26 4GA
United Kingdom

+44 (0)1904 544500

www.cppgroupplc.com

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