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Fulcrum Group

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FY2016 Annual Report · Fulcrum Group
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Fulcrum Utility Services Limited
Annual Report and Accounts 2016

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fulcrum is the UK’s market leading 
independent multi-utility infrastructure 
and services provider and is committed 
to achieving its aim of being the UK’s 
most trusted utility services partner.

In this report

Strategic report 

01  Highlights

02  2016 in review

04  Fulcrum at a glance

06  Chairman’s statement

08  Strategic report

11  Our strategy

14  Financial report

Corporate governance 

16  Board of Directors

16  Executive committee

18  Corporate governance report

20  Remuneration report

21  Group Directors’ report

22  Principal risks and uncertainties

Financial statements 

24  Independent auditors’ report 

25  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

26  Consolidated statement of changes in equity

27  Consolidated balance sheet

28  Consolidated cash flow statement

29  Notes to the consolidated financial statements

IBC Advisers

Stay up to date online:
www.fulcrum.co.uk

Profit before tax

£4.3m

(2015: £0.6m)

Operating cash flow

£3.8m

(2015: £0.8m)

3
.
4

6
.
0

15

16

14

)
5
.
4
(

8
.
3

8
.
0

14

15

16

)
8
.
0
(

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

HIGHLIGHTS

Another year of successful delivery

•  Delivered record profitability

•  Generated a positive cash flow

•  Cost base further reduced

•  Direct delivery model successfully established and embedded 

•  Secured a 26 month framework contract extension with British Gas 

•  Won and delivered a £4.0m distillery project

•  New electricity and multi-utility contracts won

•  Increased pipeline ownership and operation

•  Progressive dividend policy introduced

•  Launched a Shareshave scheme and new incentive schemes for Fulcrum people

Won Company of the Year 2016 – Gas Industry Awards

STRATEGIC REPORT

2016 IN REVIEW

A year of landmark achievements 

In 2016 Fulcrum successfully delivered against its 
objectives of driving customer service excellence, 
improving operational efficiency and growing 
the pipeline estate.

Right: 

 New dedicated housing 
division launched
New team with specialist gas, electricity 
and water engineers

Left to right: Some of Fulcrum’s dedicated 
housing team, Lorraine Duffy (Estimating & 
Projects Manager), Michael Conway (Electrical 
Design Engineer), Kevin Walpole (Associate 
Director of Sales), Sarah Matthews (Design 
Engineer) and Ben Hanson (Design Engineer)

Below:   

Left to right: Mick Carter (Major Projects 
Manager) and Deborah Heary (Business 
Development Manager) on site at a biogas 
connection at Welbeck Colliery

2016 Gas Industry 
Award winners:
•  Company of the Year
•  Manager of the Year

and finalists for:
•  Leadership 
•  Engineer of the Year
•  Young Person’s 
Achievement

£4.0m Speyside contract won 
and delivered ahead of schedule
Read more on page 7

26 month contract extension with 
British Gas secured
Read more on page 12

New £1.0m electricity infrastructure 
project secured
Read more on page 12

New biogas and STOR sector 
contracts won
Read more on page 13

Secured new multi-utility 
and housing contracts
Read more on page 17

First employee Sharesave 
scheme launched

02

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Profit before tax

Online-initiated sales

British Gas “Right
First Time” performance

£4.3m

(2015: £0.6m)
Record level

£5.9m

(+38%)
 Fulcrum and FirstGas web 
reporting (April 2015–March 2016)

97%

(+0.5%)
British Gas performance reporting 
(April 2015–March 2016)

RIDDOR incident rate

0.14

(2015: 0.0)
 Fulcrum KPI reporting 
(April 2015–March 2016)

Below:

First brand expanded with 
FirstElectricity launch
New service for small and one-off electricity connections 
follows on from a successful first year for the FirstGas division

Left to right: Michael Wood (FirstElectricity Account Executive), 
Jo Kidd (First Brand Team Leader), Craig Baugh (Head 
of Marketing and Communications) and Kevin Walpole 
(Associate Director of Sales)

Above:

Ian Foster, Manager of the Year 2016, Gas Industry Awards

03

STRATEGIC REPORT

FULCRUM AT A GLANCE

Fulcrum will be the UK’s most trusted 
utility services partner
Our mission

We will achieve our vision by being trusted by our 
customers to deliver the best service in the industry, 
to provide value for money and to offer the full range 
of utility services our customers want. 

What do 
we do?

We are the UK’s market leading independent energy and 
multi-utility infrastructure provider. We continue to be the 
only independent utility infrastructure provider covering 
the whole of Britain.

Our breadth of services, coupled with national capability, is unmatched and ranges from the 
design, installation or alteration of utility services for single-site properties to large and 
complex multi-site projects.

Read about how we are developing each of our business areas in our strategy on page 11

Our track record of excellence and commitment 
to being the most trusted utility services provider:

We have a track record of excellence in customer service, coupled with sector leading credentials, 
including multiple awards for health and safety and delivery.

In 2016 we were incredibly proud to win Company of the Year and Manager of the Year 
at the prestigious Gas Industry Awards.

We continue to develop our people, who have the expertise, passion and commitment required 
to support our customers and provide leading levels of service, whilst at the same time ensuring 
the very highest of engineering and health and safety standards.

We also continue to build our business around our customers and their needs. We listened to their 
requirements to develop customer centric, sector leading services delivered in line with our values.

What sets 
us apart?

04

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

We will achieve this through:

Our values:

•  always delivering a safe, right first time service;

•  We put our customers first

•  being a great team that consistently lives according 

•  We keep our promises

to the Fulcrum values; and

•  continuously striving to improve.

•  We have a can do attitude

•  We work as a team

Gas connections
Fulcrum services a complete range of customers and projects, from 
single-site connections to infrastructure projects of national significance. 
The business is able to deliver a holistic gas service to its customers 
by combining connection, disconnection, metering and outlet 
pipework services.

Dual fuel and multi-utility connections
Fulcrum offers dual fuel and multi-utility solutions for all types 
of development, allowing its customers to benefit from the 
efficiencies of a co-ordinated delivery.

Regulated pipeline operations
Through its subsidiary, Fulcrum Pipelines Limited, Fulcrum is licensed as an Independent Gas Transporter, owning and operating a growing portfolio 
of gas infrastructure that connects properties to the main UK gas networks. These assets generate income from the transportation of gas between 
the main regional gas networks and individual properties. Fulcrum Pipelines Limited is regulated by Ofgem as an Independent Gas Transporter.

Full national  
coverage

Trusted delivery,  
on time

Projects  
of any scale

Asset ownership  
ability

Leading service  
delivery

End-to-end delivery 
through a single brand

Multi-utility offering

Best value  
for money

05

STRATEGIC REPORT

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Our performance in 2016 reflects the 
benefits of our successful strategy

I am pleased to present the annual report and financial statements for Fulcrum 
for the year ended 31 March 2016. The Group is reporting a significant profit 
improvement and increased cash generation. This has been achieved through 
the successful transition to a direct delivery model and major contract wins.

I am delighted and very proud to report that Fulcrum won Company 
of the Year at the 2016 Gas Industry Awards, a commendable accolade 
that recognises the achievements delivered by our strong leadership team, 
supported by an experienced and committed workforce.

Financial Results
For the year ended 31 March 2016 the 
Group reported profit before tax of £4.3 million 
(2015: £0.6 million), and underlying EBITDA 
of £5.3 million (2015: £2.2 million). Revenue for 
the year was £34.5 million (2015: £33.7 million) 
which included £4.0 million for the Speyside 
distillery project. The Group achieved an 8.8% 
improvement in gross profit margin at 37.6% 
(2015: 28.8%) reflecting the move to direct 
delivery, operational efficiencies and an 
ongoing focus on tendering criteria and 
subsequent profitability.

Earnings per share for the period were 
3.1p per share (2015: 1.8p). The adjusted earnings 
per share, before crediting deferred tax, was 
2.7p (2015: 0.7p). The diluted earnings per ordinary 
share for the period was 2.7p (2015: 1.6p). 
The diluted adjusted earnings per share, before 
crediting deferred tax, was 2.4p (2015: 0.6p).

Net cash inflows before financing activities were 
£3.8 million (2015: 0.8 million), after the addition 
of pipeline assets of £1.9 million. At 31 March 2016 
the overall net cash position was £8.3 million. 

Dividend
Following on from last year’s maiden dividend 
(0.4p) and this year’s interim dividend (0.3p), 
the Board is recommending a final dividend 
for FY2016 of 0.6p per share, making the total 
dividend 0.9p for FY2016 (2015: 0.4p). The profit 
and cash generated by infrastructure services, 
and the transportation income from the growing 
pipeline asset base, provide confidence in the 
sustainability and growth of future dividends.

Board and Corporate Governance
There have been no changes to the Board 
during FY2016.

The Board remains focused on strong corporate 
governance, including nurturing a culture in which 
our people behave in accordance with our values 
and the highest standards of ethics and integrity, 
which is fundamental to building a business that 
can deliver sustainable, profitable growth. I believe 
that our commitment to business integrity, safety, 
sustainability and strong governance is a key 
strength of our business.

Outlook
Fulcrum has continued to make excellent 
progress this year, delivering on our objectives 
and strategy. The management of direct labour, 
brought in-house on 1 April 2015, has delivered 
an improved customer experience with an 
efficient, integrated, end-to-end operating model. 
With our robust and scalable operating platform, 
combined with a sustained focus on customer 
service excellence, we can look forward to 
building on recent contract wins and further 
expanding our multi-utility services.

The Group’s order book and operating cash flow 
both remain strong and support our strategy for 
growth. We believe the outlook remains positive 
and that the Group continues to be well positioned 
to make further progress in 2017.

Philip Holder
Non-executive Chairman
7 June 2016

Fulcrum has continued to 
make excellent progress 
this year, delivering 
on our objectives 
and strategy.”

EBITDA

£5.3m

(2015: £2.2m)

Net funds

£8.3m

(2015: £5.6m)

06

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

£4.0m distillery gas pipeline 
completed ahead of schedule

In July 2015 Fulcrum was awarded a £4.0m contract to install a 13km 
pipeline to link four distilleries, Tamdhu, Dalmunach, Cardhu and 
Knockando, located in Speyside, to Scotland’s main gas network.

Awarded by a partnership of three whisky companies who shared the cost of the pipeline, 
Chivas Brothers, Diageo and Ian Macleod Distillers, the project was successfully completed 
a month ahead of schedule despite its significant complexity and regularly adverse 
weather conditions.

The connection to the gas network is now helping reduce the distilleries’ carbon footprints 
by cutting their reliance on fuel oil and ending the need for its delivery by road tankers during 
the summer months.

Scotch whisky distilling is a crucial sector for the Speyside economy 
and this is a significant investment in the infrastructure which underpins 
our business and an investment in the sustainability of our industry.”

Keith Miller, Distilling and Maturation Director, Diageo

Thank you to all of the many parties involved for their friendly co-operation 
which brought this project to a successful conclusion.”

Mike Younger, Finance Director, Ian Macleod Distillers

This is the second gas pipeline project delivered by Fulcrum, which 
Chivas Brothers has been part of and we look forward to the benefits 
it will bring our operations.”

Gordon Buist, Production Director, Chivas Brothers

£4.0m

13km pipeline

Completed
one month
ahead of schedule

Gas adoption
by Fulcrum
Pipelines

07

STRATEGIC REPORT

STRATEGIC REPORT

Delivering on our objectives

Principal Activities 

The Group’s principal activities are the provision of unregulated utility 
connections and independent gas transportation services in the UK. 

The Group designs and project manages utility connections for customers 
seeking either new connections or the alteration or refurbishment of existing 
connections. These connections range from simple, single-site alterations 
to large, complex multi-utility, multi-site new connections. For all projects, 
the Group’s team of skilled design and engineering staff are required to design 
the connections to detailed specifications and to ensure the connections 
are appropriate and comply with extensive health and safety requirements.

The Group comprises two trading subsidiaries:

• Fulcrum Infrastructure Services Limited (providing utility infrastructure 

and connection services); and 

• Fulcrum Pipelines Limited (the licensed owner of the Group’s gas 

transportation assets).

Chief Executive’s Review
In 2016, we successfully delivered on our 
objectives to drive customer service excellence, 
improve operational efficiency to reduce costs 
and grow our pipeline estate. This hard work 
has delivered a record underlying EBITDA at 
£5.3 million (2015: £2.2 million) and positive 
cash generation of £3.8 million before 
financing activities.

The Group achieved an 8.8% improvement 
in gross profit margin at 37.6% (2015: 28.8%) 
in the period. Further to the move to the direct 
delivery model from 1 April 2015, we have quickly 
made efficiency improvements in the way our 
contracts are set up and run. In addition, continued 
progress has been made in reducing the cost 
base of the business to ensure that our 
competitive rates can be sustained in the long 
term. All costs are subject to rigorous reviews 
and efficiency savings are continually sought. 
Overall, overhead levels (excluding exceptional 
items) have reduced by an incremental £1.0 million 
(2015: £1.6 million) during the course of the last 
12 months. In total, fixed costs of sales plus 
overheads have reduced from approximately 
£17 million to £10 million over the past three years.

Safety is paramount in our organisation. 
Our goal remains for everyone who works with 
us to return home unharmed at the end of each 
day, including customers, contractors, employees 
and the general public. We have improved our 
recording and investigation of near-misses to 
ensure that learnings are shared - our employees 
and contractors are fully empowered to ensure 
that work is delivered safely.

Trading Update
In FY2016, year-on-year revenue increased by 
£0.8 million or 2.3% to £34.5 million. With the 
profitable operating platform now established, 
our focus turns to sales growth. During the period, 
we simplified our sales approach, combining 
the sales and design functions into dedicated 
teams to cover our routes to market: key accounts 
(including British Gas), major projects, housing 
and technical sales.

Key accounts
Fulcrum’s sustained emphasis on customer 
service excellence and listening to what our 
customers require have improved our customers’ 
satisfaction ratings and ensured that we have 
strong levels of repeat revenues. 64% of our 
business was generated from customers who 
have used Fulcrum previously. We have set up 
a dedicated team to support those customers 
that provide us with high volumes of repeat 
business. This team is working with our customers 
to provide tailored services that meet their 
specific needs.

In November 2015, we announced a 26 month 
extension to our framework contract with 
British Gas, a long standing and valuable client 
of the Group. The framework contract, to provide 
gas and now electricity connections and metering 
services to customers in England, Scotland and 
Wales, runs until January 2018. This underlines 
Fulcrum’s reputation as a trusted utility 
services provider.

•  Successfully integrated 

end-to-end, fully branded 
operating model

•  Operating efficiency 

improvements underpinned 
enhanced profitability

•  Dedicated sales 

teams established

•  Developed multi-utility 

capability

08

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Left: Louise McCaughey (Diageo), Stevie 
McGill (Operations Business Development 
Manager), Martin Donnachie and David 
MacInnes (Chivas Brothers) at Dalmunach 
Distillery, which is jointly benefitting from the 
new £4.0m gas pipeline delivered by Fulcrum

Technical sales
The multi-skilled technical sales team have 
the expertise to take sales leads from a myriad 
of sources and convert the opportunities into 
customer led projects, with their knowledgeable 
and joined up design and sales approach.

Within this route to market, our web 
initiated sales continue to gather momentum, 
increasing by 38% year-on-year to £5.9 million, 
now 17% of our total Group revenue. In early 
2015, we launched FirstGas, a second online 
brand, aimed at new and less technically 
experienced customers. Sales have proven 
to be positive and incremental to the existing 
offering. Therefore, in line with the Group’s 
previously stated aim of growing its electricity 
and dual fuel offering, the Group launched its 
third online brand, FirstElectricity, in March 2016. 
Early enquiries and sales are encouraging.

With our established customer base, clearly 
focused work-winning teams, trusted delivery 
and market opportunity, we have a robust 
platform from which to leverage sales growth.

Operations
The Group has benefited from the positive 
impact of an in-house operational delivery model 
following the transfer in of 99 employees under 
TUPE on 1 April 2015. We now have direct 
control of the full operational process from design 
through to installation across England and Wales. 
We have successfully transitioned to this branded 
direct delivery model which has underpinned 
notable operational efficiencies, benefitting both 
the customers’ experience and our profitability. 
The introduction of tablet devices to all teams 
has enabled field engineers and operatives 
to maintain real-time project records and offer 
a more responsive delivery. Low cost mobile 
applications have been developed by Fulcrum’s 
IT team to share work instructions and site 
surveys, as well as upload health and safety audits 
directly into the core system. After engaging with 
our teams and listening to their suggestions, 
several more tailored applications are planned 
in the months ahead.

We have also delivered on our strategy to build 
our multi-utility capability and we now have several 
in-house teams trained to deliver the recently won 
electric contracts. This end-to-end, fully branded 
operating model creates an agile and responsive 
platform to deliver continued growth through 
a multi-skilled workforce and customer-focused 
operation. This model is a key differentiator 
and further enhances our customer service 
led, national, broad offering.

09

Trading Update continued
Major projects
Our ability to deliver significant projects 
was endorsed with the award of a second 
prestigious contract with Scotland’s whisky 
industry. The £4.0 million project to install 
a 13 kilometre pipeline to link four Speyside 
distilleries to Scotland’s main gas network 
has delivered a sustainable, efficient and 
environmentally friendly energy supply for 
our clients. Despite the complexity of the 
project, our dedicated teams completed 
the work one month ahead of schedule.

Fulcrum has continued to win an array of major 
new gas, electricity and multi-utility contracts, 
which include:

•  a £1.0 million electricity contract to install 

4 kilometres of high voltage electricity cabling 
to a new hospital. The award of this contract 
follows on from the successful delivery of a 
£0.2 million contract to install the temporary 
electricity infrastructure into the hospital, 
on behalf of British Gas Business;

•  the Group’s first contract to deliver infrastructure 
to a Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) site. 
The £0.2 million project was quickly followed 
by another £0.3 million STOR site contract; 

•  the Group’s first biogas connection, 

the installation of a 1.3 kilometre pipeline 
to connect a £12.0 million biogas plant 
to the UK distribution network;

•  a £0.4 million gas infrastructure project for 
the new development at Royal Albert Dock 
for London’s third business district; and

•  a £0.2 million dual fuel contract to deliver 
gas and electricity infrastructure to a new 
energy centre in Glasgow.

We are confident that major projects present 
a significant opportunity to grow our sales. 
Therefore, over the past year, we have doubled 
the number of business development managers 
and created two new analyst support roles 
concentrating on the targeting of large 
opportunities, all designed to increase 
our work-winning capability.

Housing
Our activity in the housing market has been 
somewhat limited historically. To penetrate 
this attractive market, we have created a more 
cost-effective delivery model for housing and 
set up a new dedicated team, headed up by 
an experienced housing sector professional 
with multi-utility knowledge. We have already 
secured several significant, multi-utility 
housing schemes, including:

•  a £0.3 million contract on behalf of Lend Lease 
to deliver the gas infrastructure to a new 
residential development in Deptford; and 

•  a £0.2 million gas, electricity and water 
project for a leading housing developer 
in the North West.

Outlook
Fulcrum continues to deliver on its strategy 
and has made excellent progress over the 
period. The talent of our people, together with 
the scalable and profitable operating platform 
that has been created, have enabled significant 
and diverse contract wins. We are now striving 
for sales growth across all of our routes to both 
the gas and electricity markets and driving 
a continuous improvement ethos to deliver 
incremental operating efficiencies. This approach 
will combine to enhance long-term future 
profitability and cash generation.

We continue to move forward at pace with 
confidence for the future as we remain on course 
to deliver value to all our stakeholders by being 
the UK’s most trusted utility services partner.

Martin Donnachie
Chief Executive Officer
7 June 2016

STRATEGIC REPORT

STRATEGIC REPORT continued

Operations continued
The challenge to continuously improve the way 
we do things has reduced our cost base by an 
incremental £1.0 million year-on-year which, 
together with turnaround/transition activities 
completed in previous financial years, represents 
a combined cost reduction of £7.0 million over the 
past three years. In order to maintain competitive 
advantage, we will continually challenge existing 
working practices and resources to ensure that 
the business model is efficient and lean. Our cost 
of delivery across all functions (direct, indirect 
and support) will be rigorously and continually 
tested to drive improved levels of sales orders 
won and sustainable profitability.

Pipelines
We continue to build our estate of pipeline assets, 
increasing our owned portfolio of domestic, 
industrial and commercial assets by £1.9 million 
in FY2016 to a total net book value of £9.4 million 
at 31 March 2016. The annualised gas transportation 
income has grown to £1.2 million and, with the 
low costs to serve, this annuity income stream 
represents a secure and profitable element 
of the Group’s future financial stability.

To accelerate the growth of our asset base 
and hence increase shareholder value, we have 
created an Asset Growth Manager role. In addition 
to Fulcrum owning and operating the assets built 
by our infrastructure services division, the Asset 
Growth Manager is approaching other utility 
infrastructure providers without independent gas 
transportation licences to acquire the pipelines 
that they build for a cash consideration. Also, the 
expansion of housing activity will grow the pipeline 
estate by using cash to unlock significant 
domestic asset values on larger sites. We will 
pursue both of these incremental routes as part 
of our strategy to further enhance this valuable, 
long-term future income stream.

People
The talent and dedication of our employees 
and co-operation with our customers are our key 
success factors. It is our people who win new 
contracts and are responsible for delivering on 
stakeholders’ expectations. They are also the 
ones whose behaviour and actions demonstrate 
our values in practice.

Our enduring commitment to workforce 
development has been recognised at the 
prestigious Gas Industry Awards with our 
Operations Director, Ian Foster, winning 
Manager of the Year for the role he has played 
in Fulcrum’s transformation. Training and 
development continue at pace across the 
Group – our field engineers have joined the 
“Leading The Way” leadership development 
programme; the senior team have received 
leadership training focused on driving superior 
performance; and teams are now trained to 
design electrical installations and install electric 
cable. Sustained investment will continue to be 
made to underpin employee engagement and 
continuous learning. We also actively review 
and manage our succession plans.

The introduction of Fulcrum’s first Save As 
You Earn share scheme had a 60% participation 
rate; our employees are clearly keen to be part 
of the future value creation.

Going Concern
As highlighted in the Financial Review, the Group 
had net funds at 31 March 2016 of £8.3 million 
(2015: 5.6 million). Also, the Group has an 
undrawn revolving credit facility of £4.0 million.

As a matter of course, financial forecasts are 
regularly prepared and these are reviewed and 
adopted by the Board. These forecasts are subject 
to “stress testing” with appropriate sensitivity 
analysis and scenario planning to ensure that 
any adverse impact can be managed and 
mitigated such that the business can continue to 
operate within its existing financing facilities.

The Group’s forecasts and projections, after taking 
account of sensitivity analysis of changes in trading 
performance and corresponding mitigating actions, 
show that the Group has adequate cash resources 
for the foreseeable future.

Therefore, after making enquiries, the 
Directors have a reasonable expectation that 
the Group has adequate resources to continue 
in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going 
concern basis in preparing the annual report 
and financial statements.

10

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

OUR STRATEGY

A targeted growth strategy

Delivered through

Progress in 2015/16

Priorities for 2016/17

•  Nurturing profitable relationships 

with repeat customers 

•  Improved customer 
satisfaction levels

•  Account growth through 

trusted delivery

•  Customer service excellence

•  British Gas contract extended 

•  Sustained emphasis on 

to 2018; now includes electricity

customer service excellence

•  £1.0m electricity contract won

•  Increasing the number of 
multi-utility contracts won

•  National sales force

•  Increased investment in team

•  Ability to deliver significant 

•  New gas, electricity and 

projects anywhere in 
mainland UK

multi-utility contracts won

•  Secured contracts for major 
developments across the UK

•  Expanding the pipeline 
of new opportunities

•  Increasing the number of 
multi-utility contracts won

Key accounts

Major projects

•  Cost effective delivery model

•  New housing division 

•  Increasing housing activity 

Housing

•  Asset ownership ability

•  In-house gas, electricity 

and water experts

•  New housing and multi-utility 

contracts secured

by using cash to unlock large 
asset values

•  Prominent online visibility

•  38% YOY online sales growth

•  Continued investment in 

•  Responsive, customer led 
technical sales service

•  Launch of third brand, 

FirstElectricity

search engine optimisation 
to stimulate more growth 

•  Joined up, added value 

online services 

Technical sales

Robust and scalable operating platform with a sustained focus 
on customer service excellence

Fulcrum continues to deliver on its strategy and has made excellent progress over the period. We are now:

•  striving for sales growth across all of our routes to both the gas and electricity markets; and 

•  driving a continuous improvement ethos to deliver incremental operating efficiencies.

We continue to move forward at pace with confidence for the future.

11

STRATEGIC REPORT

26 month, dual fuel framework 
contract extension with British Gas

In November 2015 Fulcrum secured a 26 month extension to its contract 
with British Gas to 2018. In addition to gas infrastructure, the contract 
now also includes the provision of electricity infrastructure to British Gas 
Business customers in England, Scotland and Wales.

This extension validates the investments Fulcrum has made to support its customers 
and demonstrates the excellent relationships that have been cultivated between both 
businesses. Fulcrum project engineers, designers and site operatives work incredibly closely 
with British Gas, which ensures leading levels of project delivery and customer service.

Fulcrum is a reliable partner to our business and our customers. 
We’re pleased to extend our contract win then by 26 months 
and include electricity infrastructure services, which means 
we can offer our customers more options to suit their needs.”

James Bennett, Director of Connections & Metering, British Gas Business

26 month
framework contract 
extension from 
December 2015

Electricity 
infrastructure 
added to existing 
contract

£1.0m electricity infrastructure 
contract for new hospital

In partnership with British Gas, Fulcrum secured a significant £1.0m 
contract involving the new £588 million Midland Metropolitan Hospital in 
Birmingham, awarded by infrastructure and support services group Carillion.

The £1.0m contract for Fulcrum, starting in summer 2016, comprises the installation of four 
kilometres of high voltage electricity cabling as part of the development of the 670-bed hospital. 
The award of this significant contract follows on from the successful delivery of a £0.2m contract 
to install the temporary electricity infrastructure into the hospital, on behalf of British Gas.

This significant project demonstrates the excellent partnership that we 
have forged with Fulcrum with our collaboration proving to be responsive 
and flexible in providing high quality service delivery within demanding 
timescales and budgets.”

Richard Butler, Business Relationship Manager, British Gas Connections and Metering

12

£1.0m

electricity 
infrastructure 
contract

4km

of high voltage 
electricity cabling

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Fulcrum diversifies services 
to support power generation

Utilising expertise in the delivery of utility infrastructure across Britain, 
Fulcrum has entered the renewables sector to provide pipelines which 
connect biogas plants to the UK gas distribution network. This new 
service sees Fulcrum’s installation process reversed to enable energy 
produced by biogas generators to be fed into the UK network.

Fulcrum secured and delivered its first biogas contract shortly after entering the market, 
with the installation of a 1.3km gas pipeline to connect a £12.0m biogas plant to the UK 
distribution network at Welbeck Colliery.

Another significant milestone in Fulcrum’s diversification strategy 
has been entry into the Short Term Operating Reserve (STOR) market, 
again quickly securing contracts which are worth a combined total 
of more than £0.6m. 

The first three projects, which have been commissioned by Kingsnorth Power, 
Wednesbury Power and Pen Y Fan Power, will provide improved infrastructure to gas-fired 
electricity generators.

These sites convert gas into electricity in order to supply the national electricity network 
with reserve power during times of peak demand.

Above:

Left to right: Deborah Heary (Business Development Manager) 
and Mick Carter (Major Projects Manager) on site at Welbeck Colliery

1.3km

biogas pipeline 
installation

£0.6m

of STOR 
contracts secured

3

projects 
commissioned

13
13

STRATEGIC REPORT

FINANCIAL REPORT

Significant improvement in 
profitability and cash generation

The financial results for the year to 31 March 2016 reflect another 
excellent year for our business. We successfully integrated an end-to-end, 
fully branded operating model and delivered associated operational efficiencies; 
secured the new British Gas contract to 2018; continued to challenge and 
reduce the overhead levels and simultaneously generated a positive cash inflow. 
These actions combined to improve the profit before tax by £3.7 million 
to £4.3 million (2015: £0.6 million). The underlying financial performance, 
together with a comparison with the previous year, are summarised 
in the table below:

Revenue

Gross profit

Gross margin

Underlying EBITDA*

Profit before tax

Net funds

Year ended
31 March 2016
£m

Year ended
31 March 2015
£m

Year on year
change
£m

34.5

13.0

33.7

9.7

0.8

3.3

37.6%

28.8%

8.8%

5.3

4.3

8.3

2.2

0.6

5.6

3.1

3.7

2.7

*  Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation, share based payments and exceptional items.

Revenue
Revenue improved by £0.8 million or 
2.3% to £34.5 million (2015: £33.7 million) 
including £4.0 million for the Speyside distillery 
project. Revenues from infrastructure services 
amounted to £33.4 million (2015: £32.9 million), 
and £1.1 million (2015: £0.8 million) from 
pipeline operations. 

Profit and performance
Gross profit is up by £3.3 million to £13.0 million 
(2015: £9.7 million), with the gross profit margin 
increasing by 8.8% to 37.6% (2015: 28.8%) 
benefiting from the efficiencies gained by 
changing the project delivery operating 
model and ongoing selective bidding. 

A sustained focus on continuous improvement 
and changes to the operating model have 
delivered incremental overhead savings over 
the period, whilst simultaneously investing 
in our work-winning approach.

Share based payment charges of £0.3 million 
(2015: £0.1 million) associated with the Group’s 
equity based option schemes were booked in 
the year. During FY2016, the previous schemes 
in operation achieved the performance criteria 
and the full scheme charges were accelerated 
to reflect this fact. New schemes were introduced 
in March 2016 and had minimal impact on the 
FY2016 charge. 

There was a minimal exceptional charge 
in the year compared to £0.5 million in the 
prior year. Exceptional items relate to the costs 
associated with changing the operating model 
and reassessment of dilapidations costs.

Underlying EBITDA for the period has more than 
doubled to £5.3 million (2015: £2.2 million) and 
profit before tax has increased by £3.7 million 
to £4.3 million (2015: £0.6 million), a record 
for the Group. 

Earnings per share 
Basic earnings per share from continuing 
operations, before charging exceptional items, 
was 3.1p (2015: 1.8p), significantly up on the 
prior year. On a statutory basis, the diluted basic 
profit per ordinary share from continuing 
operations was 2.7p (2015: 1.6p).

•  Underlying EBITDA 

significantly increased by 
141% or £3.1m to £5.3m 

•  PBT up £3.7m to £4.3m

•  Net cash generated from 

operations of £3.8m

•  Net funds up £2.7m to £8.3m

•  Total dividends up 125% to 
0.9p per share (2015: 0.4p) 

•  Additions to pipeline assets 

of £1.9m (2015: £1.7m)

14

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

3
.
4

Profit before tax

£4.3m

(2015: £0.6m)

6
.
0

14

15

16

Operating cash flow

£3.8m

(2015: £0.8m)

8
.
3

8
.
0

14

15

16

)
8
.
0
(

)
5
.
4
(

Dividends 
During the year, the Company paid a maiden 
dividend for the full financial year 2015 of 
0.4p per share and a FY2016 interim dividend 
of 0.3p per share. Total cash outflow in respect 
of dividends was £1.1 million (2015: £nil).

The Board remains confident in the ongoing cash 
generation for the business and has proposed 
a final dividend, subject to shareholder approval 
at the Annual General Meeting, of 0.6p per share 
(2015: 0.4p per share) producing a total dividend 
for the year of 0.9p per share (2015: 0.4p per share). 

This final dividend is expected to be paid 
on 28 October 2016 to shareholders on 
the register on 30 September 2016 with 
an ex-dividend date of 29 September 2016.

Cash generated by infrastructure services, 
combined with the financial security of a growing 
pipeline asset base, provides confidence in the 
sustainability and growth of future dividends.

Taxation 
Deferred tax assets totalling £3.2 million 
have been recognised at 31 March 2016 
(2015: £2.7 million). £0.7 million was utilised against 
the Group’s taxable profits of £3.6 million and 
an additional £0.5 million of deferred tax asset 
was recognised, after consideration of future 
levels of profitability. The total accumulated 
losses brought forward from prior periods 
amounted to approximately £21.4 million. 

Deferred tax liabilities totalling £0.7 million 
have been recognised at 31 March 2016 
(2015: £0.6 million) in respect of the revaluation 
of the industrial and commercial pipeline assets. 
There is currently no intention to sell these assets 
and the Group expects to recover their value 
through use therefore no tax is currently expected 
to be payable in respect of the revaluation.

Tangible assets
Capital expenditure for the period amounted 
to £2.0 million (2015: £1.7 million), principally 
in respect of the addition to pipeline assets, 
£1.9 million (2015: £1.6 million).

Cash generation 
With the move to the direct delivery model 
during the year, a new supply chain function 
was swiftly established and successfully 
integrated. Working capital has been tightly 
managed throughout the period and produced 
a positive operating cash flow from trading 
activities of £3.8 million (2015: £0.8 million). 

At 31 March 2016, the Group had net funds 
of £8.3 million (2015: £5.6 million), a £2.7 million 
increase against the prior period, after the 
addtions to our pipeline estate and supply 
chain integration.

Bank facilities
In November 2015, the Group agreed a 
new (undrawn) three year revolving credit 
facility for £4.0 million with the Group’s bankers, 
Lloyds Banking Group, to replace the previous 
(undrawn) invoice discounting facility. The cash 
at bank and added financial security with the 
revolving credit facility both position the Group 
with sufficient funds to facilitate our growth 
plans and adequate access to cash to cover 
its contractual obligations.

The revolving credit facility remains undrawn 
and the Group has complied with all of the 
associated financial covenants.

Balance sheet
Total net assets at 31 March 2016 were 
£5.8 million (2015: £1.1 million) and included 
intangible assets of £2.6 million (2015: £2.8 million).

Financial risks
The main financial risks faced by the Group are 
credit risk and liquidity risk. The Directors regularly 
review and agree policies for managing these risks. 

Credit risk arises from cash and cash 
equivalents and credit exposure to the Group’s 
customers. Over half of the Group’s customers 
pay in advance of works commencing, with the 
remaining profile consisting of established large 
businesses. It is considered that the failure of any 
single counterparty would not materially impact 
the financial wellbeing of the Group, other than 
one customer, for which the risk of failure is 
considered to be minimal based on current 
market conditions and performance. 

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will 
not be able to meet its financial obligations 
as they fall due. The Board is responsible for 
ensuring that the Group has sufficient liquidity 
to meet its financial liabilities as they fall due 
without incurring unacceptable losses or 
risking damage to the Group and does so by 
monitoring cash flow forecasts and budgets. 
The Group holds a combination of short and 
medium-term deposits and a £4.0 million revolving 
credit facility committed to November 2018. 
These cash deposits and committed facilities 
are deemed to be sufficient to meet projected 
liquidity requirements.

Martin Harrison 
Chief Financial Officer
7 June 2016

15

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

A strong leadership team

Philip Holder (aged 67)
Chairman
Philip has over 30 years’ experience 
in the utilities sector. From 1997 to 
March 2007, Philip was Managing 
Director of East Surrey Holdings, 
the mid-cap water and gas utilities 
business. Until March 2010, Philip 
was full time Operational Adviser 
to The Infrastructure Partnership.

Other appointments

He is also an Operational Adviser 
to Harwood Private Equity, which 
manages the Trident Private Equity 
funds. Philip is also currently a 
Non-executive Director of Dee 
Valley Group.

Martin Donnachie (aged 46)
Chief Executive Officer
Martin has extensive experience 
gained from a range of interim 
leadership roles and, prior to that, 
12 years of experience in the house 
building and construction services 
sectors. He was Divisional Managing 
Director of the successful affordable 
housing division of Rok plc from 
2007 until 2010. Previously, he held 
Managing Director roles at George 
Wimpey plc, Morris Homes Limited 
and AEA Technology plc. Martin 
is a Chartered Accountant and 
in his early career he held a series 
of finance roles.

Martin Harrison (aged 46)
Chief Financial Officer
Martin has experience gained from 
a range of senior finance leadership 
roles from within the infrastructure 
services and construction products 
sectors. Prior to joining Fulcrum, he 
was Divisional Finance Director of 
Lafarge Tarmac Contracting from 2010 
to 2014 with financial responsibility 
for the UK and Middle East markets. 
Previously, Martin spent three years 
with KPMG working on merger 
and acquisitions transactions and 
corporate restructuring projects and 
11 years with Saint Gobain/BPB plc. 
Martin is a member of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants in 
England and Wales.

Stephen Gutteridge (aged 61)
Non-executive Director
Stephen has over 35 years’ 
experience in energy and utilities, 
beginning with Shell in marketing 
and oil trading. In 1988 he joined 
Amerada Hess, managing its oil 
trading and its UK gas businesses. 
From 1992 to 1997 he was Managing 
Director of Supply at Seeboard plc. 
Stephen held Executive and 
Non-executive positions in Ferguson 
International, the International 
Petroleum Exchange and CORGI. 
He was Chairman of Star Energy, 
a UK oil and gas storage operator 
from IPO through to its acquisition 
by Petronas; Chairman of President 
Petroleum; a Non-executive Director 
and Chairman of TQ Group, which 
was successfully sold to Pearson 
in 2011 and Chairman of 
Nighthawk Energy.

Other appointments

He is currently a Non-executive 
Director of BCA Marketplace.

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

From left to right:

Paul Dickinson, People Director; Kevin Walpole, Associate Director of Sales;
Carly Gilchrist, Head of Commercial & Operations Support; Martin Donnachie, 
Chief Executive Officer; Martin Harrison, Chief Financial Officer; and
Ian Foster, Operations Director

16

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Multi-utility installation 
contract for leading 
house builder

Fulcrum lands 
three major London 
infrastructure schemes

Fulcrum is supporting housing development in 
Liverpool by delivering a full multi-utility scheme 
to over 100 new build properties as part of the 
regeneration of the area and on behalf of 
a leading house builder.

The project will see the installation of approximately 1.5km 
of utility infrastructure, including gas, water and electricity 
connections to each of the new homes. Once constructed, 
Fulcrum Pipelines will adopt and own the gas infrastructure 
feeding the properties.

106

plot housing 
development

Gas adoption
by Fulcrum
Pipelines

Amongst a number of significant contracts secured 
in the year, Fulcrum was appointed to deliver gas 
infrastructure projects at three of the UK’s most 
prestigious redevelopments – Royal Albert Dock, 
Chelsea Barracks and Battersea Power Station.

•  At Royal Albert Dock, a £0.4m project will see the installation 

of new gas infrastructure.

•  For the Chelsea Barracks project, Fulcrum will design 

and construct a £0.4m gas infrastructure for a mixed use 
development, including a new Energy Centre.

•  The £0.2m Battersea Power Station contract involves the 

installation of new gas mains infrastructure to feed an initial 
phase of the £8.0bn redevelopment.

All three significant gas infrastructures will be adopted, owned 
and operated by Fulcrum Pipelines after their construction, 
adding to Fulcrum’s growing asset base.

Full

gas, electricity and 
water infrastructure

Gas adoption
by Fulcrum
Pipelines

Factoids to be approved

17

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT

Committed to high standards 
of corporate governance

Governance structure

The Board
Philip Holder (Chairman)

Martin Donnachie

Martin Harrison

Stephen Gutteridge

Audit Committee
Philip Holder (Chairman)

Stephen Gutteridge

Remuneration Committee
Stephen Gutteridge (Chairman)

Philip Holder

Statement by the Directors on compliance 
with the Code of Best Practice
As an AIM listed company, Fulcrum Utility 
Services Limited is not required to comply with 
the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance 
Code (“the Combined Code”) that applies 
to companies with a premium London Stock 
Exchange listing. However, the Board recognises 
the importance and value of good corporate 
governance procedures and accordingly have 
selected those elements of the Combined Code 
that they consider relevant and appropriate to the 
Group, given its size and structure. An overview 
of the Group’s corporate governance procedures 
is given opposite.

The Board
The Group is controlled through a Board 
of Directors, which at 31 March 2016 comprised 
a Non-executive Chairman, two Executive Directors 
and one other Non-executive Director, for the 
proper management of the Company and the 
Group. The Chairman is Philip Holder and the 
Chief Executive Officer is Martin Donnachie.

Of the Non-executive Board members, 
Philip Holder and Stephen Gutteridge are 
considered to be independent. The Board 
operates both formally, through Board and 
committee meetings, and informally, through 
regular contact amongst Directors and senior 
executives. There is a schedule of matters that 
are specifically referred to the Board for its 
decision, including approval of interim and 
annual financial results, setting and monitoring 
of strategy and examining acquisition possibilities. 
The Board is supplied with information in a timely 
manner, in a form and quality appropriate to 
enable it to discharge its duties.

The Directors can obtain independent 
professional advice at the Group’s expense in 
the performance of their duties as Directors.

18

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Board Committees
The Board Committees comprise the Audit 
Committee and the Remuneration Committee.

Audit Committee
The Chairman of the Audit Committee is 
Philip Holder; Stephen Gutteridge is the other 
Non-executive member. No one other than the 
Audit Committee’s Chairman and Non-executive 
member is entitled to be present at a meeting 
of the Audit Committee but the Group’s external 
auditors together with the Chief Executive 
Officer and the Chief Financial Officer are 
also invited to attend the meetings.

The Audit Committee operates under terms 
of reference agreed with the Board and meets 
at least twice a year. The Audit Committee 
considers the adequacy and effectiveness 
of the risk management and control systems 
of the Group. It reviews the scope and results 
of the external audit, its cost effectiveness and 
the objectivity of the auditors. It also reviews, 
prior to publication, the interim results, the 
preliminary announcement and the annual 
report and financial statements.

Remuneration Committee
The Chairman of the Remuneration Committee 
is Stephen Gutteridge with Philip Holder as the 
other Non-executive member. The committee 

meets periodically as required and is responsible 
for overseeing the policy regarding executive 
remuneration and for approving the remuneration 
packages for the Group’s Executive Directors 
and management including all personnel 
receiving a salary exceeding £100,000 per annum 
(2015: salary exceeding £75,000). It is also 
responsible for reviewing incentive schemes 
for the Group as a whole.

Nominations Committee
As the Board is small, there is and will be 
no separate Nominations Committee and the 
appointment of new Directors is considered 
by the Board as a whole.

Board and committee meeting attendance
The table below sets out the attendance at Board and committee meetings by presence or by telephone of individual Directors:

Martin Donnachie

Stephen Gutteridge

Philip Holder

Martin Harrison

Full
Board

Audit
Committee

Remuneration
Committee

11 of 11

11 of 11

11 of 11

11 of 11

2 of 2

2 of 2

2 of 2

2 of 2

8 of 8

8 of 8

6 of 8

6 of 8

Shareholder communication
The Board is committed to maintaining 
good communication with shareholders. 
The Executive Directors maintain a regular 
dialogue with the analysts and institutional 
investors to discuss the Group’s performance 
and future prospects.

The Group responds formally to all queries 
and requests for information from existing 
and prospective shareholders. In addition, the 
Group seeks to regularly update shareholders 
through stock exchange announcements and 
wider press releases on its activities.

The Annual General Meeting will provide 
an opportunity for shareholders to address 
questions to the Chairman and the Board directly. 
Published information, including regulatory 
news, is available on the Group’s website, 
www.fulcrumutilityserviceslimited.co.uk.

Risk management and internal controls 
The Directors are responsible for the Group’s 
system of internal control and for reviewing its 
effectiveness, whilst the role of management is 
to implement Board policies on risk management 
and control. It should be recognised that the 
Group’s system of internal control is designed to 
manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure 
to achieve the Group’s business objectives and 
can only provide reasonable, and not absolute, 
assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Group operates a series of controls to meet 
its needs. These controls include, but are not 
limited to, a clearly defined organisational structure, 
written policies, a comprehensive annual strategic 
planning and budgeting process and detailed 
monthly reporting.

The annual budget is approved by the Board 
as part of its normal responsibilities. In addition, 
the budget figures are regularly reforecast to 
facilitate the Board’s understanding of the Group’s 
overall position throughout the year and this 
reforecast is reported to the Board in addition 
to the reporting of actual results during the year.

The Audit Committee receives reports from 
management and the external auditors concerning 
the system of internal control and any material 
control weaknesses. Any significant risk issues 
are referred to the Board for consideration.

The Board has considered the need for an 
internal audit function, but has concluded that, 
at this stage in the Group’s development, the 
internal control systems in place are appropriate 
for the size and complexity of the Group.

19

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

REMUNERATION REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee reviews the 
performance of each Executive Director and 
sets the scale and structure of their remuneration 
and the basis of their service agreement with 
due regard to the interests of shareholders. 
To ensure that the Group’s remuneration practices 
are market competitive, the committee takes 
advice from various independent sources.

The Board determines the remuneration of 
each of the Non-executive Directors with the 
support of external professional advice if required. 
No Director participates in any discussion 
regarding his own remuneration.

The Remuneration Committee believes 
that shareholders’ interests are best served 
by providing Executives with remuneration 
packages which have a significant emphasis 
on performance related pay, through long-term 
incentive schemes. The Board considers that 
packages of this nature are consistent with 
prevailing practice and are necessary to retain 
and reward Executives of the calibre the 
Group requires.

The main components of Executive Directors’ 
remuneration, which can be mirrored with certain 
senior executives, are basic salary, annual 
performance related bonus and share options.

Basic annual salary
Each Executive Director’s basic salary is reviewed 
regularly by the committee. In deciding upon an 
appropriate level of remuneration, the committee 
believes that the Group should offer levels of base 
pay that reflects individual responsibilities compared 
to similar jobs in comparable companies.

Policy on Executive Directors’ remuneration
The policy of the Board is to provide an 
executive remuneration package designed 
to attract, motivate, reward and retain the 
Executive Directors. The aim of the Group’s 
remuneration policy is to ensure that the 
key Executives are appropriately rewarded 
for their individual contribution to the Group’s 
performance, commensurate with their duties 
and responsibilities.

Directors’ interests in share options

Martin Donnachie

Martin Harrison

Annual bonus payments
The committee establishes the objectives that 
must be met for an annual cash bonus to be paid. 
Currently these objectives relate to year-on-year 
growth in EBITDA and sales order margin.

Share option incentives
The Group operates Enterprise Management 
Incentive (EMI) plans, an Employee Shareholder 
Status (ESS) plan, a Growth Share Scheme 
(GSS) plan and a SAYE scheme (see note 20). 
The committee has responsibility for supervising 
the schemes and the grant of share options 
under the schemes.

Additional benefits
Each Executive Director receives private 
medical insurance and life assurance cover, 
pension contributions and a company car or car 
allowance. Each Non-executive Director receives 
life assurance cover from 1 January 2016.

EMI

EMI
(Unapproved)

ESS

GSS

3,571,414

3,000,000

428,586

–

3,567,988

2,172,719

1,473,000

957,000

Directors’ emoluments
The remuneration of each of the Directors for the year ended 31 March 2016 is set out as follows:

Executive

Martin Donnachie

Martin Harrison

Non-executive

Philip Holder

Stephen Gutteridge

Total

Salary, fees
and bonus
£’000

Other
benefits
£’000

Pension
£’000

271

172

64

32

539

2

2

–

–

4

12

8

–

–

20

2016
total
£’000

285

182

64

32

563

2015
total
£’000

259

85*

60

30

434

*  Martin Harrison was appointed on 29 September 2014; as such 2015 remuneration represents six months.

20

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

GROUP DIRECTORS’ REPORT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016

The Directors present their annual report and 
the audited consolidated financial statements 
of the Group for the year ended 31 March 2016.

Registered office
The registered office of Fulcrum Utility 
Services Limited is PO Box 309, Ugland House, 
Grand Cayman, KY1-1 104, Cayman Islands.

Dividends
The Board has proposed a dividend 
in respect of FY2016 of 0.6p per share, 
subject to shareholder approval at the AGM.

Directors
The Directors of the Group during the year 
and up to the date of signing the financial 
statements were:

Martin T Donnachie

Martin J Harrison 

Philip B Holder

Stephen Gutteridge

Employees
The Group’s executive management regularly 
delivers company-wide briefings on the Group’s 
strategy and performance. These briefings contain 
details of the Group’s financial performance 
where appropriate. In addition, monthly “Reach” 
briefings contain detailed information on the 
Group’s operational performance for the previous 
month, as well as updates on customer activity.

The Group remains committed to fair treatment 
of people with disabilities in relation to job 
applications, training, promotion and career 
development. Every effort is made to find 
alternative jobs for those who are unable to 
continue in their existing job due to disability.

The Group takes a positive approach to equality 
and diversity. The Group promotes equality in 
the application of reward policies, employment 
and development opportunities, and aims to 
support employees in balancing work and 
personal lifestyles.

Directors’ interests
The Directors and their connected parties held interests in the following number of ordinary 
shares at 1 April 2015, 31 March 2016 and 31 May 2016. Further information about the Directors’ 
interests is provided in the Remuneration Report.

Martin Donnachie

Philip Holder

Stephen Gutteridge

Martin Harrison

Number of ordinary shares

31 May 2016

31 March 2016

1 April 2015

479,433

479,433

479,433

1,016,666

1,016,666

1,016,666

369,166

208,538

369,166

208,538

529,166

76,538

Directors’ indemnities and insurance
Fulcrum Utility Services Limited indemnifies its 
officers and officers of its subsidiary companies 
against liabilities arising from the conduct of the 
Group’s business, to the extent permitted by law, 
by the placing of directors’ and officers’ insurance.

The insurance policy indemnifies individual 
Directors’ and officers’ personal legal liability 
and cost for claims arising out of actions taken 
in connection with Group business.

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities
The Directors of Fulcrum Utility Services Limited 
(“the Directors”) have accepted responsibility 
for the preparation of these non-statutory 
consolidated accounts for the year ended 
31 March 2016 which are intended by them 
to give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Group and of the profit or loss 
for that period. They have decided to prepare 
the non-statutory consolidated accounts 
in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted 
by the EU.

In preparing these non-statutory consolidated 
accounts, the Directors have:

•  selected suitable accounting policies 

and applied them consistently;

•  made judgements and estimates that are 

The Directors have general responsibility for taking 
such steps as are reasonably open to them to 
safeguard the assets of the Group and to 
prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

The Company is incorporated in the Cayman 
Islands and domiciled in the UK. The Company 
is not required to prepare audited financial 
statements under Cayman Island company law; 
however, the Company is required under AIM 
Rule 19 to provide shareholders with annual 
audited consolidated financial statements for the 
year ended 31 March 2016. The Directors have 
requested KPMG LLP (KPMG) to undertake a 
non-statutory audit of the Company’s consolidated 
financial statements in order to discharge their 
obligations under AIM Rule 19. The audit report 
issued by KPMG has therefore been addressed 
to the Company and not the members, as would 
be the case with a statutory audit.

Statement of disclosure of information 
to auditors
As at the date this report was signed, so far 
as each of the Directors is aware, there is no 
relevant information of which the auditors are 
unaware and each Director has taken all steps 
that he ought to have taken as a Director in 
order to make himself aware of any relevant 
audit information and to establish that the 
auditors are aware of that information.

reasonable and prudent;

On behalf of the Board

Annual General Meeting
The Annual General Meeting of the Group 
is to be held on 28 September 2016.

•  stated whether they have been prepared 
in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU; and

The notice of meeting appears in the document 
accompanying this report and financial statements.

•  prepared the non-statutory consolidated 

accounts on the going concern basis as they 
believe that the Group will continue in business.

Martin Donnachie
Chief Executive Officer
7 June 2016 

21

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Board considers risk assessment, identification of mitigating actions and internal control to be fundamental to achieving the Group’s strategic objectives. 
The Corporate Governance Report on pages 18 and 19 describes the systems and processes through which the Directors manage and mitigate risks. 
The Board recognises that the nature and scope of the risks can change and so regularly reviews the risks faced by the Group as well as the systems 
and processes in place to mitigate them. The principal risks to achieving the Group’s objectives are set out below:

Description

Mitigating actions

Risk change

Growth and strategy execution

It is possible that the growth of the business could take longer than expected, 
or that the anticipated improvements in financial performance may not be 
realised in full.

Dependence on key executives and personnel

In common with many smaller companies, the Group’s future success 
is substantially dependent upon recruiting, retaining and motivating key 
executives with relevant industry experience.

To mitigate this risk, the Group operates comprehensive 
annual strategic planning and budgeting processes together 
with regular financial reforecasts. Detailed monthly reporting 
and analysis of actual performance against the business 
plan ensures that corrective actions can be taken on a timely 
basis if necessary.

No change

The Group has put in place suitable executive and senior 
management incentive schemes linked to the successful 
delivery of our strategy. Appropriate staff development 
programmes are in place to assess, manage and develop 
the leadership skills of all staff throughout the organisation. 
In addition, a regular talent management/succession planning 
exercise is completed for the key members of our teams.

No change

Risks relating to operating in a competitive market

These risks are managed through the corporate planning 
and review processes as outlined in the growth and strategy 
execution section above.

No change

The business strategy relies fundamentally on the ability to increase revenues 
and ensuring that the cost base is kept under control. However, the markets 
in which the Group operates are competitive. The Group faces significant 
competition, including from organisations that may be larger and/or have 
greater capital resources.

The Group cannot predict the pricing or promotional activities of its 
competitors or their effect on its ability to market and sell its services. 
In order to ensure that its services remain competitive, the Group may 
be required to reduce its prices as a result of price reductions by its 
competitors. This could adversely affect the Group’s results.

There are no assurances that the strength of the Group’s competitors will 
not improve or that the Group will win any additional market share from 
its competitors, or maintain its existing market share. Existing and/or 
increased competition could adversely affect the Group’s market share 
and materially affect its business, financial condition and operating results.

Risks relating to the gas connections market

Operating in the gas industry carries with it inherent risks, such as 
reliance on ageing infrastructure, potential injury to, or loss of, human life 
or equipment, as well as the risk of downtime or low productivity caused 
by weather interruptions or equipment failures. Losses could result from 
litigation or interruption of the Group’s business should these risks materialise.

The Group seeks to reduce the risk of losses arising 
from these circumstances through careful planning, 
robust operational guidelines and the sharing of risk 
with client and supplier organisations and by putting 
in place suitable insurance arrangements.

No change

There are also associated regulatory risks relating to the Group’s reliance 
on a number of different licences which it requires in order to carry out 
the design and project management of connections to gas pipelines. 
In addition, Fulcrum Pipelines Limited is specifically licensed by Ofgem 
as an Independent Gas Transporter (IGT). This brings with it the risk that 
the regulatory environment could change, which may have a direct 
and significant impact on the Group’s regulated activities.

22

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Description

Mitigating actions

Risk change

Reliance on key customers

A relatively small number of long-term commercial contracts exist 
between the Group and its customers.

Reliance on significant suppliers

The physical works required to install gas connections managed by 
the Group have historically been carried out by an alliance subcontract 
partner on behalf of the Group. The move to the in-house management 
of operational delivery from 1 April 2015 has eliminated this reliance on 
the alliance partner. The Group does continue to rely upon one nominated 
subcontractor for the operational delivery in the South of England and as 
such the Group is exposed to the risk that the financial performance of this 
supplier may fluctuate or deteriorate in the future and that this could have 
an adverse impact on the operational or financial performance of the Group.

Continuity of financing facilities

No change

The relationship between the Group and many of its 
customers is not regulated by a contract. Instead, the 
majority of the Group’s business with customers is based 
on purchase orders and an acceptance by customers of the 
Group’s standard terms and conditions.

The drive for customer service excellence will 
help to promote repeat customer revenues, further 
complemented by our established national position 
with a broad service offering and in-house design 
and build expertise.

In order to manage this risk, the Group will regularly 
and jointly review the performance of the subcontractor 
against the contract and will implement a suite of defined 
key performance indicators (KPIs).

No change

In November 2015, the business entered into a revolving credit facility which 
replaced the asset backed financing agreement with Lloyds Bank plc. 
At the year end, this facility was not utilised.

Sustained improvement in financial performance, 
the provision of regular management information 
and maintaining good working relationships with the 
Group’s bankers will remain important in the future.

No change

Changing mix of sales

A changing mix of new contract sales, moving away from payments in 
advance toward credit terms, may place a strain on working capital as 
the volume of credit sales increases.

In granting commercial credit terms, careful attention is paid 
to the timing of cash receipts and payments over the period 
of contract delivery. Where necessary, a deposit is requested 
from customers prior to commencing work and invoicing 
milestones with customers are matched where possible 
to the invoicing patterns with contractors. 

No change

Management of financial resources including liquidity risk and capital risk management

Disclosure of all the treasury risks can be found in note 25 
to the financial statements.

No change

23

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

INDEPENDENT AUDITORS’ REPORT 
TO FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITED

We have audited the non-statutory consolidated accounts of Fulcrum Utility Services Limited for the year ended 31 March 2016 set out on pages 25 to 44. 
These non-statutory consolidated accounts have been prepared for the reasons set out in note 1 to the non-statutory consolidated accounts and on the 
basis of the financial reporting framework of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the EU.

Our report has been prepared for the Group solely in connection with the preparation by the Directors of non-statutory consolidated financial statements 
prepared to support compliance with the AIM Rules for Companies (“AIM Rules”). It has been released to the Group on the basis that our report shall 
not be copied, referred to or disclosed, in whole (save for the Group’s own internal purposes) or in part, without our prior written consent. 

Our report was designed to meet the agreed requirements of the Group determined by the Group’s needs at the time. Our report should not therefore 
be regarded as suitable to be used or relied on by any party wishing to acquire rights against us other than the Group for any purpose or in any context. 
Any party other than the Group who obtains access to our report or a copy and chooses to rely on our report (or any part of it) will do so at its own risk. 
To the fullest extent permitted by law, KPMG LLP will accept no responsibility or liability in respect of our report to any other party. 

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditor 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 21, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the 
non-statutory consolidated accounts, which are intended by them to give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit, and express an opinion on, 
the non-statutory accounts in accordance with the terms of our engagement letter dated 30 November 2015 and International Standards on Auditing 
(UK and Ireland). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

Scope of the audit of the non-statutory accounts 
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the non-statutory accounts sufficient to give reasonable assurance 
that the non-statutory accounts 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 and Group’s circumstances and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; 
the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and the overall presentation of the non-statutory accounts.

In addition we read all the financial and non-financial information in the annual report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited non-statutory 
accounts and to identify any information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired by us 
in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for 
our report.

Opinion on non-statutory accounts 
In our opinion the non-statutory accounts: 

•  give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 31 March 2016 and of its profit for the year then ended; and 

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU.

David Morritt
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP
Chartered Accountants
1 Sovereign Square, Sovereign Street, Leeds, LS1 4DA
7 June 2016

24

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDCONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2016

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Operating profit

Analysed as:

EBITDA before share based payments and exceptional items

Equity-settled share based payment charges

Exceptional items

Depreciation and amortisation

Finance income

Finance expense

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit for the period attributable to equity holders of the parent

Other comprehensive income

Items that will never be reclassified to profit:

Revaluation of property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax on items that will never be reclassified to profit or loss

Total comprehensive income for the year

Profit per share attributable to the owners of the business

Basic

Diluted

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March 
2015
£’000

Notes

3

34,505

33,739

(21,520)

(24,009)

12,985

(8,748)

9,730

(9,081)

5

4,237

649

20

4

10,11

7

23

7

9

9

5,301

(314)

(4)

(746)

4,237

31

(10)

4,258

476

4,734

2,235

(74)

(500)

(1,012)

649

6

(49)

606

2,196

2,802

694

(64)

–

–

5,364

2,802

3.1p

2.7p

1.8p

1.6p

25

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

Balance at 1 April 2014

Profit for the year

Transactions with equity shareholders

Equity-settled share based payment 

Balance at 31 March 2015

Profit of the year

Revaluation surplus

Revaluation reserve transfer

Deferred tax liability

Transactions with equity shareholders

Equity-settled share based payment 

Dividends

Issue of new shares

Balance at 31 March 2016

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
£’000

Revaluation
reserve
£’000

Retained
earnings
£’000

Notes

154

16,182

2,449

(20,569)

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,802

74

154

16,182

2,449

(17,693)

–

–

–

–

–

–

2

–

–

–

–

–

(1,087)

138

–

708

(14)

(64)

–

–

–

4,734

–

14

–

314

–

–

20

24

23

23

7,23

20

8,22

21,22

Total
equity
£’000

(1,784)

2,802

74

1,092

4,734

708

–

(64)

314

(1,087)

140

156

15,233

3,079

(12,631)

5,837

26

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEET

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Deferred tax assets

Current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets

Current liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Provisions

Non-current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity 

Share capital

Share premium

Revaluation reserve

Retained earnings

Total equity

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 7 June 2016 and were signed on its behalf by:

Martin Harrison
Chief Financial Officer

Notes

10

11

7

12

13

14,17

15

16

18

7

21

22

23

 24

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

9,480

2,597

3,210

7,508

2,837

2,734

15,287

13,079

1,403

6,663

8,323

1,289

3,840

5,746

16,389

10,875

31,676

23,954

(25,065)

(21,847)

–

(98)

(168)

(235)

(25,163)

(22,250)

(676)

(676)

(612)

(612)

(25,839)

(22,862)

5,837

1,092

156

15,233

3,079

154

16,182

2,449

(12,631)

(17,693)

5,837

1,092

27

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT

Cash flows from operating activities

Profit before tax for the year

Adjustments for:

Depreciation 

Amortisation of intangible assets

(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Capitalisation of pipeline assets

Finance income

Finance expense

Equity-settled share based payment charges

Exceptional items

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Decrease in provisions for exceptional items

Cash inflow from operating activities

Interest received

Interest paid

Net cash inflow from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities

Additions to tangibles

Additions to intangibles

Net cash outflow from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities

Dividends paid

Proceeds from issue of share capital

Repayment of finance lease liabilities

Net cash outflow from financing activities

Increase in net cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at 1 April 2015

Cash and cash equivalents at 31 March 2016

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Restated
Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

Notes

4,258

447

299

(1)

606

490

522

9

(1,886)

(1,622)

(31)

10

314

4

(2,823)

(114)

3,448

(137)

3,788

31

(7)

3,812

(56)

(59)

(115)

(1,087)

138

(171)

(1,120)

2,577

5,746

8,323

(6)

49

74

500

1,506

685

(398)

(1,643)

772

6

(46)

732

(32)

–

(32)

–

–

(280)

(280)

420

5,326

5,746

10

11

5

10

20

4

13

12

15

18

10

11

8

22

14,17

The prior year figures have been restated to reclassify pipeline additions as a non-cash movement, as the addition represents the valuation attributed 
to the asset as adopted by Fulcrum Pipelines.

28

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below.

Reporting entity
Fulcrum Utility Services Limited (“the Company”) is incorporated in the Cayman Islands and domiciled in the UK. The ordinary shares are traded on 
AIM on the London Stock Exchange. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 March 2016 comprise the Company 
and its subsidiaries (together referred to as “the Group”).

Statement of compliance
Under Cayman Island company law, the Company is not required to prepare audited financial statements; however, the Company is required under 
AIM Rule 19 to provide shareholders with audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2016. There is no requirement to 
provide parent company information so this has not been presented.

The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as endorsed by the EU 
and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (IFRIC) interpretations. 

Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for the revaluation of certain non-current assets. Historical cost 
is generally based on the fair value of the consideration given in exchange for assets.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together with the factors likely to affect future development, performance and position, are set out in the Strategic 
Report on pages 8 to 11. The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities are described in the Financial Report 
on pages 14 and 15. In addition, note 25 to the financial statements includes the Group’s processes for managing its capital and its exposure to credit 
and liquidity risks.

As at 31 March 2016 the Group had net assets of £5.8 million (2015: £1.1 million), including cash of £8.3 million (2015: £5.7 million) as set out in the 
consolidated balance sheet on page 27 and an unused revolving credit facility of £4.0 million (2015: £4.0 million), and so would be in a position to pay 
its obligations as they arise. In the year ended 31 March 2016, the Group generated a profit of £4.7 million and had net cash inflows of £2.6 million.

The Group’s forecasts and projections, after taking account of sensitivity analysis of changes in trading performance and corresponding mitigating actions, 
show that the Group has adequate cash resources for the foreseeable future. As a consequence, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the 
Group has adequate resources to fund its operations for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing 
the Group financial statements.

Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Company. The Group controls an entity when exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement 
with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. In assessing control the Group takes into consideration potential 
voting rights that are currently exercisable. The acquisition date is the date on which control is transferred to the acquirer. The financial statements of 
subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. All Intra-group 
transactions, balances and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the 
application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results could differ from these estimates. 
Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the 
estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

Information about significant areas of estimation uncertainty in applying accounting policies that have the most significant effect on the amounts 
recognised in the consolidated financial statements is included in the following areas:

Goodwill 

The Group tests annually whether tangible and intangible fixed assets have suffered any impairment, based on discounted future cash flows of the 
assets and the total business of the Group. These calculations require the use of estimates, as detailed in note 11.

Pipeline assets

Recognition and valuation of the pipeline assets including whether any of the assets have suffered impairment.

Revenue recognition

For longer projects the stage of completion of the works is assessed when considering recognition of revenue. Use of this percentage completion 
method requires the Group to estimate the services performed to date as a proportion of the total services to be performed.

Share based payments

Valuation of share based payment.

29

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

1. Accounting policies continued
Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment excluding pipelines are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.

Pipeline assets are initially recognised at fair value in accordance with IFRIC18. Assets are revalued annually with changes in the fair value accounted 
through the revaluation reserve.

Leases in which the Group assumes substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the leased asset are classified as finance leases. Where land 
and buildings are held under leases the accounting treatment of the land is considered separately from that of the buildings. Leased assets acquired by 
way of finance lease are stated at an amount equal to the lower of their fair value and the present value of the minimum lease payments at inception 
of the lease, less accumulated depreciation and less accumulated impairment losses. Payments made under operating leases are recognised in profit 
or loss on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease. Minimum lease payments made under finance leases are apportioned between the finance 
expense and the reduction of the outstanding liability. The finance expense is allocated to each period so as to produce a constant periodic rate of interest 
on the remaining balance of the liability.

Depreciation is recognised on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item of property, plant and equipment. Leased 
assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their useful lives unless it is reasonably certain that the Group will obtain ownership 
by the end of the lease term. The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Pipelines 

20–40 years

Fixtures and fittings 

2 and 5 years

Computer equipment 

3 and 5 years

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reviewed at each balance sheet date.

Business combinations
All business combinations are accounted for by applying the acquisition method. Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition 
method as at the acquisition date, which is the date on which control is transferred to the Group.

Acquisitions on or after 1 January 2010

For acquisitions on or after 1 January 2010, the Group measures goodwill at the acquisition date as:

•  the fair value of the consideration transferred; plus 

•  the recognised amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree; plus

•  the fair value of the existing equity interest in the acquiree; less

•  the net recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed. 

When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognised immediately in profit or loss. Costs related to the acquisition, other than those 
associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, are expensed as incurred.

Goodwill
Goodwill is stated at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units and is not amortised but is tested 
annually for impairment. In respect of equity-accounted investees, the carrying amount of goodwill is included in the carrying amount of the investment 
in the investee.

Other intangible assets 
Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and accumulated impairment losses. 

Amortisation of software is recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful life of five years. 

30

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

1. Accounting policies continued
Impairment
Financial assets (including receivables)

A financial asset not carried at fair value through profit or loss is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there is objective evidence 
that it is impaired. A financial asset is impaired if objective evidence indicates that a loss event has occurred after the initial recognition of the asset, 
and that the loss event had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset that can be estimated reliably.

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying amount and the 
present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the asset’s original effective interest rate. Interest on the impaired asset continues 
to be recognised through the unwinding of the discount. When a subsequent event causes the amount of impairment loss to decrease, the decrease 
in impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss.

Non-financial assets

The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-financial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each reporting date to determine 
whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. For goodwill, and intangible 
assets that have indefinite useful lives or that are not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated each year at the same time.

The recoverable amount of an asset or cash-generating unit is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. In assessing value 
in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to 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 asset. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets that cannot be tested individually are 
grouped together into the smallest group of assets that generates cash inflows from continuing use that are largely independent of the cash inflows 
of other assets or groups of assets (“the cash-generating unit”). The goodwill acquired in a business combination, for the purpose of impairment testing, 
is allocated to cash-generating units, or CGU. Subject to an operating segment ceiling test, for the purposes of goodwill impairment testing, CGUs to 
which goodwill has been allocated are aggregated so that the level at which impairment is tested reflects the lowest level at which goodwill is monitored 
for internal reporting purposes. Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated to groups of CGUs that are expected to benefit from the 
synergies of the combination.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its estimated recoverable amount. Impairment losses 
are recognised in profit or loss. Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGUs are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated 
to the units, and then to reduce the carrying amounts of the other assets in the unit (or group of units) on a pro-rata basis.

An impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognised in prior periods are assessed 
at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed if there has been a change 
in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s carrying amount does 
not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

Inventories
Work in progress is valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course 
of business less applicable costs to complete and variable selling expenses.

Employee benefits
Pension plans

The Group operates a defined contribution pension plan for the benefit of its employees under which the company pays a fixed contribution into 
a separate entity and will have no legal or constructive obligation to pay further amounts. Contributions are recognised in the income statement 
as they become payable in accordance with the rules of the scheme.

Short-term benefits

Short-term employee benefit obligations are measured on an undiscounted basis and are expensed as the related service is provided. A liability is 
recognised for the amount expected to be paid under short-term cash bonus or profit-sharing plans if the Group has a present legal or constructive 
obligation to pay this amount as a result of past service provided by the employee and the obligation can be estimated reliably.

31

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

1. Accounting policies continued
Employee benefits continued
Share based payment transactions

Share based payment arrangements in which the Group receives goods or services as consideration for its own equity instruments are accounted 
for as equity-settled share based payment transactions, regardless of how the equity instruments are obtained by the Group.

The grant date fair value of share based payment awards granted to employees is recognised as an employee expense, with a corresponding increase 
in equity, over the period that the employees become unconditionally entitled to the awards. The fair value of the options granted is measured using 
an option valuation model, taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. The amount recognised as an expense 
is adjusted to reflect the actual number of awards for which the related service and non-market vesting conditions are expected to be met, such that 
the amount ultimately recognised as an expense is based on the number of awards that do meet the related service and non-market performance 
conditions at the vesting date. For share based payment awards with non-vesting conditions, the grant date fair value of the share based payment 
is measured to reflect such conditions and there is no true-up for differences between expected and actual outcomes.

No cash-settled share based payment awards have been granted to employees.

Provisions
A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event that can be 
reliably measured and it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation. 

Revenue
Utility infrastructure and gas connection activities are recognised as “services revenue”. The majority of projects are completed in a short timeframe 
and, as such, revenue is recognised on project completion. For longer projects, where the outcome of a contract can be estimated reliably, revenue 
and costs are recognised by reference to the stage of completion of the contract activity at the reporting date. This is normally measured by the proportion 
that contracts costs incurred for work performed to date bear to the estimated total contract costs, except where this would not be representative 
of the stage of completion. Variations in contract work, claims and incentive payments are recognised only to the extent that the amount can be measured 
reliably and its receipt is considered probable. Where the outcome of a contract cannot be estimated reliably, contract revenue is recognised to the 
extent of contract costs incurred where it is probable they will be recoverable. When it is probable that total contract costs will exceed total contract 
revenue, the total expected loss is recognised as an expense immediately. Services revenue is recognised excluding VAT and other indirect taxes. 
An accrual is made for services revenue in respect of work completed where invoices are yet to be generated. When payment is received in advance 
of the provision of services, these receipts are recorded as deferred income.

Conveyance of gas is recognised as “transportation revenue” from the date the meter is connected and made available for use and is based on 
gas volumes.

Exceptional items
Exceptional items are those that in management’s judgement need to be disclosed separately by virtue of their size or incidence in order to provide 
greater visibility of the underlying results of the business and which management believes provide additional meaningful information in relation to 
ongoing operational performance.

Taxation
Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates 
to items recognised directly in equity, in which case it is recognised in equity.

Current tax is the expected tax payable or receivable on the taxable income or loss for the year, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the 
balance sheet date, and any adjustment to tax payable in respect of previous years.

Deferred tax is provided on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and the amounts 
used for taxation purposes. The following temporary differences are not provided for: the initial recognition of goodwill; the initial recognition of assets 
or liabilities that affect neither accounting nor taxable profit other than in a business combination; and differences relating to investments in subsidiaries 
to the extent that they will probably not reverse in the foreseeable future. The amount of deferred tax provided is based on the expected manner of realisation 
or settlement of the carrying amount of assets and liabilities, using tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. A deferred tax 
asset is recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary difference can be utilised.

32

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

1. Accounting policies continued
Classification of financial instruments issued by the Group
Following the adoption of IAS 32, financial instruments issued by the Group are treated as equity only to the extent that they meet the following 
two conditions: 

•  they include no contractual obligations upon the Group to deliver cash or other financial assets or to exchange financial assets or financial liabilities 

with another party under conditions that are potentially unfavourable to the Group; and 

•  where the instrument will or may be settled in the Company’s own equity instruments, it is either a non-derivative that includes no obligation 
to deliver a variable number of the Company’s own equity instruments or is a derivative that will be settled by the Company’s exchanging a fixed 
amount of cash or other financial assets for a fixed number of its own equity instruments.

To the extent that this definition is not met, the proceeds of issue are classified as a financial liability. Where the instrument so classified takes the 
legal form of the Company’s own shares, the amounts presented in these financial statements for called-up share capital and share premium account 
exclude amounts in relation to those shares. 

Non-derivative financial instruments
Non-derivative financial instruments comprise investments in equity and debt securities, trade and other receivables, cash and cash equivalents, 
loans and borrowings, and trade and other payables.

Trade and other receivables
Trade and other receivables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method, less any impairment losses.

Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are recognised initially at fair value. Subsequent to initial recognition they are measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. Bank overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the 
Group’s cash management are included as a component of cash and cash equivalents for the purpose only of the cash flow statement.

Interest-bearing borrowings
Interest-bearing borrowings are recognised initially at fair value less attributable transaction costs. Subsequent to initial recognition, interest-bearing 
borrowings are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment losses.

Changes in accounting policy and disclosures
New standards, amendments and interpretations that are in issue but not yet effective

The following adopted IFRSs have been issued but have not been applied by the Group in these financial statements. Their adoption is not expected 
to have a material effect on the financial statements unless otherwise indicated.

•  IFRS 9: Financial Instruments (effective date 1 January 2018)

•  IFRS 14: Regulatory Deferral Accounts (effective date 1 January 2016)

•  IFRS 15: Revenue from Contract with Customers (effective date 1 January 2017)

•  IFRS 16: Leases (effective date 1 January 2019)

•  Annual Improvements to IFRSs – 2012–2014 Cycle (effective date 1 January 2016)

The adoption of IFRS 15 and IFRS 16 may have an impact on the financial statements when introduced, however, a detailed analysis of the effect 
is not yet possible. The adoption of other standards is not expected to have a material effect on the financial statements.

33

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

2. Operating segments
The Board has been identified as the Chief Operating Decision Maker (CODM) as defined under IFRS 8: Operating Segments. The Directors consider 
there to be two operating segments, infrastructure services and pipelines. Fulcrum’s Infrastructure Services provides utility infrastructure and connections 
services and the pipeline business comprises both the ownership of gas infrastructure assets and the safe and efficient conveyance of gas through its 
gas transportation networks. Gas transportation services are provided under the IGT licence granted from Ofgem during June 2007.

The information provided to the Board includes management accounts comprising operating profit before exceptional items for each segment and other 
financial and non-financial information used to manage the business on a consolidated basis.

Reportable segment revenue

Underlying EBITDA

Share based payment charge

Depreciation and amortisation

Reportable segment operating profit before exceptional items 

Exceptional items

Reporting segment operating profit

Finance income

Finance expense

Profit before tax

Year ended 31 March 2016

Year ended 31 March 2015

Infrastructure
Services
£’000

Pipelines
£’000

Total Group
£’000

Infrastructure
Services
£’000

Pipelines
£’000

Total Group
£’000

33,445

4,829

(314)

(522)

3,993

(4)

3,989

25

(10)

1,060

472

–

(224)

248

–

248

6

–

34,505

5,301

(314)

(746)

4,241

(4)

4,237

31

(10)

4,004

254

4,258

32,901

1,930

(74)

(777)

1,079

(500)

579

4

(49)

534

838

305

–

33,739

2,235

(74)

(235)

(1,012)

70

–

70

2

–

72

1,149

(500)

649

6

(49)

606

The Group derives all of its revenue from the UK and all of the Group’s customers are based in the UK. Revenues from the largest customer of the 
Group’s Infrastructure Services segment represent £6.4 million or 18.7% (2015: £6.0 million or 17.7%) of the Group’s total revenues for the period. 
In addition, the Speyside distillery project contributed £4.0 million of revenue this year.

3. Revenue

Services revenue 

Transportation revenue

Total revenue

4. Exceptional items

Relocation and property costs

Restructuring costs and provisions

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

33,445

1,060

32,901

838

34,505

33,739

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

(122)

126

4

(402)

902

500

Relocation and property costs arose as a result of a reassessment of dilapidation costs associated with moving the Group’s head office from Rotherham 
to Sheffield in 2011.

Restructuring costs relate to employee and other costs associated with changing the operating model.

34

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

299

263

172

689

208

(1)

46

14

10

8

–

522

304

186

250

173

9

21

34

13

–

16

Year ended
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended
31 March
2015
£’000

8,766

4,627

840

269

314

531

304

74

10,189

5,536

5. Operating profit
Included in operating profit are the following charges:

Amortisation of intangible assets

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment: owned

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment: leased

Operating leases – plant and machinery

Operating leases – land and buildings

(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Amounts receivable by the auditors, KPMG LLP, and their associates in respect of:

Auditors’ remuneration:

Audit of the Group financial statements

Amounts receivable by auditors and their associates in respect of:

– Audit of financial statements of subsidiaries of the Company

– Taxation compliance services

– Other tax advisory services

– Other services pursuant to legislation

6. Staff numbers and costs

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Other pension costs

Share based payments

Payroll costs set out above exclude staff severance costs resulting from the Group’s strategy to realign its cost base. These costs have been treated 
as exceptional and are disclosed in note 4.

The average monthly number of persons employed by the Group (including Directors) during the period, analysed by category, was as follows:

Number of employees

Operational 

Support

2016

99

97

196

2015

12

117

129

Details of the remuneration, share options and pension entitlement of the Directors are included in the Remuneration Report on pages 20 and 21.

35

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

7. Taxation

Current tax

Deferred tax

Total tax credit

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March 
2015
£’000

–

476

476

–

2,196

2,196

Deferred tax has been recognised in respect of tax losses carried forward that are expected to be utilised against future taxable profits. Reductions in the 
UK corporation tax rate from 23% to 21% (effective from 1 April 2014) and 20% (effective from 1 April 2015) were substantively enacted on 2 July 2013. 
Further reductions to 19% (effective from 1 April 2017) and to 18% (effective 1 April 2020) were substantively enacted on 26 October 2015. The deferred 
tax assets at balance sheet date has been calculated based on these rates.

An additional reduction to 17% (effective from 1 April 2020) was announced in the Budget on 16 March 2016. The impact of the change in rate in 2020 
does not have a significant impact on the deferred tax balance due to the planned utilisation of the tax losses.

The Group has a further £21.0 million (2015: £21.4 million) of tax losses of which a deferred tax asset of £3.2 million has been recognised. During the 
period £0.7million of the deferred tax asset was utilised against taxable profits, with an additional £0.5 million deferred tax asset being recognised.

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

Profit before taxation

Tax using the UK corporation tax rate of 20% (2015: 21%)

Non-deductible expenses

Capital allowances in excess of depreciation

Utilisation of tax losses

Effect of change in rate of corporation tax

Recognition of tax effect of previously unrecognised tax losses

Total tax credit

The Group incurred corporation tax profits in the period of approximately £3.6 million (2015: £0.2 million).

Movement in deferred tax balances

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

4,258

(853)

(74)

–

–

130

1,273

476

606

(127)

(19)

108

38

–

2,196

2,196

31 March 2016

31 March 2015

Deferred 
tax assets
£’000

Deferred 
tax liabilities
£’000

Deferred 
tax assets
£’000

Deferred 
tax liabilities
£’000

2,734

(612)

538

(612)

606

(130)

–

–

3,210

–

–

61

(125)

(676)

2,196

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,734

(612)

At 1 April 2015

Recognised in profit or loss

Tax losses carried forward

Effect of change in rate of corporation tax

Recognised in other comprehensive income

Effect of change in rate of corporation tax

Revaluation of property, plant and equipment

At 31 March 2016

36

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

619

468

1,087

–

–

–

8. Dividends

2015 dividend of 0.4p per share

2016 interim dividend of 0.3p per share

After the balance sheet date, a final dividend of 0.6p per qualifying ordinary share was proposed by the Directors. The dividends have not been 
provided for.

9. Earnings per share (EPS)
Basic earnings per share have been calculated by dividing the profit attributable to shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue 
during the period, which were 155,062,292 (2015: 154,306,667). Diluted earnings per share is calculated by dividing the profit attributable to ordinary 
shareholders by the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue adjusted to assume conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares from 
the start of the year, providing a figure of 177,810,228 (2015: 182,252,209). The earnings per share from continued operations were as follows:

Profit per share

Basic

Adjusted basic

Diluted basic

Diluted adjusted basic

The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based upon the following data:

Profit for the period

Profit for the period attributable to shareholders

Add exceptional items

Less deferred tax asset recognised

Adjusted profit for the period attributable to shareholders

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

3.1p

2.7p

2.7p

2.4p

1.8p

0.7p

1.6p

0.6p

Year ended 
31 March
2016
£’000

Year ended 
31 March
2015
£’000

4,734

4

2,802

500

(476)

(2,196)

4,262

1,106

37

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

10. Property, plant and equipment

Cost

At 1 April 2014

Additions

Reinstatement

Disposals

At 31 March 2015

Additions

Disposals

At 31 March 2016

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 April 2014

Depreciation charge for the period

Reinstatement

Disposals

At 31 March 2015

Depreciation charge for the period

Revaluation 

Disposals

At 31 March 2016

Net book value

At 31 March 2016

At 31 March 2015

At 1 April 2014

Pipelines
£’000

Fixtures and 
fittings
£’000

Computer
 equipment
£’000

Total
£’000

7,151

1,654

475

(311)

8,969

1,942

(2)

1,029

32

–

(311)

750

6

(2)

754

10,909

(638)

(214)

–

302

(550)

(180)

–

1

(798)

(490)

(475)

302

(1,461)

(447)

478

1

193

–

125

–

318

50

–

368

(124)

(40)

(125)

–

(289)

(43)

–

–

(332)

(729)

(1,429)

36

29

69

25

200

391

9,480

7,508

6,353

5,929

1,622

350

–

7,901

1,886

–

9,787

(36)

(236)

(350)

–

(622)

(224)

478

–

(368)

9,419

7,279

5,893

The last external valuation of the pipeline assets was performed during the financial year ended 31 March 2014. The valuation performed for the year ended 
31 March 2016 was completed internally and based on the same principals as the external valuation. When performing the valuation, Management have 
used judgement in assessing the key assumptions used in the valuation model including asset life and occupancy rates. The valuation technique used is 
classified as a Level 3 fair value (based on unobservable inputs) under IFRS 13 and the pipeline assets are the only financial assets that are held at fair 
value in the financial statements. Within the £1,886,000 additions in the year is £230,000 which has been included within the revaluation reserve. 

At 31 March 2016 the net book value of leased plant and equipment was £nil (2015: £172,000).

38

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

Goodwill
£’000

Software
£’000

Total
£’000

2,225

–

2,225

–

2,225

2,388

(94)

2,294

59

2,353

4,613

(94)

4,519

59

4,578

–

–

–

–

–

–

(1,254)

(1,254)

(522)

94

(522)

94

(1,682)

(1,682)

(299)

(299)

(1,981)

(1,981)

2,225

2,225

2,225

372

612

1,134

2,597

2,837

3,359

11. Intangible assets

Cost

At 1 April 2014

Disposals

At 31 March 2015

Additions

At 31 March 2016

Accumulated amortisation and impairment

At 1 April 2014

Amortisation for the period

Disposals

At 31 March 2015

Amortisation for the period

At 31 March 2016

Net book value

At 31 March 2016

At 31 March 2015

At 1 April 2014

Goodwill brought forward at the start of the year relates to the acquisition of Fulcrum Group Holdings Limited on 8 July 2010. The carrying amount 
of the intangible asset is allocated across cash-generating units (CGUs). All of the goodwill held by the Group is considered to fall in the CGU 
of Infrastructure Services. The recoverable amount of goodwill has been calculated with reference to its value in use. 

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent three year financial budgets approved by management and extrapolated 
for three years using a conservative estimated growth rate of 1.5%. The key assumptions of this calculation are shown below:

Period on which management approved forecasts are based

Growth rate applied beyond approved forecast period 

Discount rate

No reasonable possible change in the assumptions noted above would lead to an impairment charge being required. 

Year ended
31 March
2016

Year ended
31 March
2015

3 years

3 years

1.5%

7.1%

1.5%

11.0%

39

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

12. Inventories

Work in progress

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

1,403

1,289

Work in progress balances reflect direct works costs including direct labour and other attributable variable costs relating to jobs classed as incomplete. 
Inventories recognised as cost of sales in the period amounted to £17.0 million (2015: £22.8 million). There have been no write-downs in the year (2015: nil).

13. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables 

Other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

3,654

212

2,797

6,663

2,079

526

1,235

3,840

Trade and other receivables are non-interest bearing. Due to the activities and diversified customer structure of the Group, there is no significant 
concentration of credit risk other than with one customer which represents approximately 28% (2015: 26%) of trade receivables. The credit risk 
associated with this receivable is managed through the Group’s standard credit processes. The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade 
receivables approximates to their fair value.

Ageing trade receivables

Not past due

Past due less than one month

Past due one to two months

More than two months past due

31 March 2016

31 March 2015

Gross
£’000

Impairment
£’000

Gross
£’000

Impairment
£’000

2,836

315

167

442

3,760

–

–

–

(106)

(106)

984

467

519

272

2,242

–

–

(5)

(158)

(163)

The carrying value of trade and other receivables are stated after the following allowance for doubtful debts:

At 1 April 2015

Impairment loss recognised

Impairment loss charged

Impairment loss reversed

At 31 March 2016

14. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and on hand

40

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

163

–

(26)

(31)

106

8

172

(17)

–

163

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

8,323

5,746

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

31 March
2016
£’000

2,068

20,568

2,429

31 March
2015
£’000

813

19,883

1,151

25,065

21,847

15. Trade and other payables

Trade payables

Accruals and deferred income

Other payables

Of the £20.6 million accruals and deferred income, £13.7 million (2015: £12.6 million) relates to deferred income. Deferred income represents 
contracted sales for which services to customers will be provided in future periods. 

16. Borrowings
The Group repaid its obligations under finance lease in August 2015 (2015: £168,000) and had no borrowings at 31 March 2016 (2015: £nil). 
In November 2015, the Group secured a £4.0 million revolving credit facility (£1.0 million plus an accordion option of £3.0 million) which remains 
undrawn. This replaces the previous £4.0 million (unused) invoice discounting facility.

17. Reconciliation to net funds

Cash and cash equivalents

Finance lease liabilities

Net funds

18. Provisions

Restructuring provisions

At 1 April 2015

Utilised during the period

Provision created/(released) during the period

At 31 March 2016

31 March
2016
£’000

8,323

–

31 March
2015
£’000

5,746

(168)

8,323

5,578

31 March
2016
£’000

235

(141)

4

98

31 March
2015
£’000

1,378

(1,643)

500

235

The restructuring provision relates to the costs of vacated Group properties and dilapidations. It is classified as current as it is expected to be fully 
utilised within 12 months of the balance sheet date.

19. Pension benefits
The Group operates a defined contribution pension plan; the total expense relating to this plan in the current year was £268,502 (2015: £304,257).

41

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

20. Share based payments
Details of the existing and schemes granted in the year and the inputs that were entered into the Monte Carlo valuation model are provided below:

Existing option plans

Grant date

Number of options

Exercise price

Vesting criteria

Volatility

Dividend yield

Option life

Annual risk free rate

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Exercised during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

*  Includes 428,586 unapproved options held by Martin Donnachie.

** 4,700,000 options lapsed in the prior year.

EMI 2014 option plan

EMI 2015 option plan

EMI 2015 option plan

ESS 2015 option plan

12 February 2014

19 January 2015

 27 March 2015

 27 March 2015

11,550,000*

7.00p

5,006,335

7.75p

946,430

10.88p

9,513,845

14.00p

Average share price
of 12.0p over
20 consecutive
working days

Average share price
of 12.75p over
20 consecutive
working days

Average share price
of 15.88p over
20 consecutive
working days

Average share price
of 24.0p over
20 consecutive
working days

40.80%

nil

3 years

1.12%

6,850,000**

(1,074,000)

5,776,000

5,776,000

30.00%

nil

3 years

0.74%

5,006,335

(601,335)

4,405,000

4,405,000

29.30%

nil

3 years

0.41%

946,430

–

946,430

946,430

29.30%

nil

3 years

0.41%

9,513,845

(260,000)

9,253,845

9,253,845 

The fair value of the options granted, was 1.7p per option. The Management Participation scheme lapsed in the year.

Option plans granted in the year 

Grant date

Number of options

Exercise price

Vesting criteria

Volatility

Dividend yield

Expected life

Annual risk free rate

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Granted during the year

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year

GSS 2016 option plan

EMI 2016 option plan

SAYE 2016 option plan

 7 March 2016

 7 March 2016

 3 February 2016

3,913,000

28.125p

3,243,149

28.125p

Average share price
of 40.0p over
20 consecutive
working days

Average share price
of 40.0p over
20 consecutive
working days

2,678,416

22.1p

Maturity date of
1 March 2019

56.60%

2.49%

1 year*

0.45%

–

3,913,000

3,913,000

–

56.60%

2.49%

1 year*

0.45%

–

3,243,149

3,243,149

–

56.60%

2.49%

3 years

0.45%

–

2,678,416

2,678,416

–

*  The life of the GSS and EMI schemes issued in the year is 3 years. Management have assessed the expected life of these options to be 1 year.

The fair value of the options granted, was 2.8p per option.

No cash-settled share based payment awards have been granted to employees.

The volatility was determined by calculating the historic volatility of the Group’s share price since the Group’s listing on AIM in December 2009. 

The expected useful life used in the model has been adjusted, based on best estimates, to reflect exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

In the year, the Group recognised total expense before tax of £314,000 (2015: £74,000) in relation to equity-settled share based payment transactions 
in the statement of comprehensive income. These options have been credited against retained earnings reserve.

42

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITED 
21. Share capital

Authorised

500,000,000 ordinary shares of £0.001 each

Allotted, issued and fully paid

156,387,862 (2015: 154,306,667) ordinary shares of £0.001 each

22. Share premium

At 1 April 2015

Dividends paid

Shares issued

At 31 March 2016

23. Revaluation reserve

At 1 April 2015

Revaluation in the period

Revaluation reserve transfer

Recognition of deferred tax liability

At 31 March 2016

24. Retained earnings

At 1 April 2015

Retained profit in the period

Revaluation reserve transfer

Equity-settled share based payment transactions

At 31 March 2016

ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS 2016

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

500

500

156

154

31 March
2016
£’000

16,182

(1,087)

138

31 March
2015
£’000

16,182

–

–

15,233

16,182

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

2,449

2,449

708

(14)

(64)

–

–

–

3,079

2,449

31 March
2016
£’000

31 March
2015
£’000

(17,693)

(20,569)

4,734

2,802

14

314

–

74

(12,631)

(17,693)

43

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS continued

25. Financial risk management
The Group’s principal financial instruments are cash, trade receivables and payables. The Group does not have any financial instruments that are measured 
at fair value on a recurring basis. The fair values of all financial instruments are equal to their book values (see notes 13, 14 and 15) and there is no difference 
between the carrying amount and contracted cash flows. All contracted cash flows are due within one year. 

Credit risk 
Credit risk arises from cash and cash equivalents and credit exposure to the Group’s customers. Over half of the Group’s customers pay in advance 
of works commencing, with the remaining profile consisting of established listed businesses. The credit worthiness of new customers is assessed 
by taking into account their financial position, past experience and other factors. It is considered that the failure of any single counterparty would not 
materially impact the financial wellbeing of the Group, other than one customer, for which the risk of failure is considered to be minimal based on 
current market conditions and performance. 

The Group has a policy of ensuring cash on deposit are made with the primary objective of security of the principal. Deposits are held with 
Lloyds Bank plc, which is rated A+ by Fitch and A by Standards and Poor. 

These credit ratings are regularly monitored to ensure that they meet the required minimum criteria set by the Board through the treasury policy. 

Liquidity risk 
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due. The Board is responsible for ensuring that the 
Group has sufficient liquidity to meet its financial liabilities as they fall due without incurring unacceptable losses or risking damage to the Group and 
does so by monitoring cash flow forecast and budgets. The Group’s exposure to liquidity risk reflects its ability to readily access the funds to support 
its operations. The Group’s policy is to maintain an undrawn revolving credit facility in order to provide the flexibility required in the management of the 
Group’s liquidity. The Group’s liquidity requirements are continually reviewed and additional facilities put in place as appropriate.

Liquidity forecasts are produced on a regular basis and include the expected cash flows that will occur on a daily, weekly, monthly and quarterly basis. 
This information is used in conjunction with the weekly reporting of actual cash balances at bank in order to calculate the level of funding that will be 
required in the short and medium-term. The Group holds a combination of short and medium-term deposits and a £4.0 million revolving credit facility 
committed to November 2018. These committed facilities are deemed to be sufficient to meet projected liquidity requirements.

Market risk 
The Group may be affected by general market trends which are unrelated to the performance of the Group itself such as fluctuations in interest rates. 
The Group is currently not exposed to interest rate risk as it has not drawn down on its £4.0 million (2015: £4.0 million) revolving credit facility and has 
no market debt.

Capital risk 
The Group defines capital as total equity. The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern 
in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain a capital structure which optimises the cost of capital. 
In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders 
or issue new shares. Decisions regarding the balance of equity and borrowings, dividend policy and all major borrowing facilities are reserved for the Board.

26. Operating leases
Non-cancellable operating lease rentals are payable as follows:

Less than one year

Between one and five years

Land and buildings

Other operating leases

2016
£’000

229

901

1,130

2015
£’000

246

64

310

2016
£’000

529

688

1,217

2015
£’000

85

141

226

Operating lease rentals relate to property rents and short-term vehicle and plant hire.

27. Related parties
The Group has a related party relationship with its subsidiaries and with its Directors. Details of the remuneration, share options and pension entitlement 
of the Directors are included in the Remuneration Report on pages 20 and 21.

44

FULCRUM UTILITY SERVICES LIMITEDSolicitors to the Company as to Cayman Islands law
Maples and Calder
11th Floor 
200 Aldersgate Street 
London 
EC1A 4HD

Registrars
Capita Registrars (Guernsey) Limited
Longue Hougue House 
St. Sampson 
Guernsey 
GY2 4JN 
Channel Islands

Bankers
Lloyds Banking Group
1st Floor 
14 Church Street 
Sheffield 
S1 1HP

ADVISERS

Nominated adviser and broker
Cenkos Securities PLC
6.7.8 Tokenhouse Yard 
London 
EC2R 7AS

Financial PR adviser
Capital Market Communications (Camarco) Limited
107 Cheapside 
London 
EC2V 6DN

Auditor
KPMG LLP
1 Sovereign Square 
Sovereign Street 
Leeds 
LS1 4DA

Solicitors to the Company as to English law
Weightmans LLP
100 Old Hall Street 
Liverpool 
L3 9QJ

GROUP TRADING COMPANIES

Utility Infrastructure Provider (UIP)
Fulcrum Infrastructure Services Limited

Independent Gas Transporter (IGT)
Fulcrum Pipelines Limited

Group Shared Service Provider
Fulcrum Group Holdings Limited

Design Portfolio is committed to planting 
trees for every corporate communications 
project, in association with Trees for Cities.

 
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Fulcrum
2 Europa View 
Sheffield Business Park 
Sheffield 
South Yorkshire 
S9 1XH

Tel: 03330 146 466 
Email: enquiries@fulcrum.co.uk

Websites: 
www.fulcrum.co.uk 
www.fulcrumutilityserviceslimited.co.uk 
www.firstgasconnections.co.uk 
www.firstelectricityconnections.co.uk

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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