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IperionX Limited

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FY2018 Annual Report · IperionX Limited
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CELEBRATING 

20 

YEARS 

INVESTING IN THE  
TRANSITION TO A  
MORE SUSTAINABLE  
GLOBAL ECONOMY

Click here to go directly 
to the Strategic Report.

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL REPORT  
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

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to the Governance and 
Financial Report.

1998

2018

1998

2018

CELEBRATING 

Click here to print the 
Strategic Report.

20 

YEARS 

INVESTING IN THE  
TRANSITION TO A  
MORE SUSTAINABLE  
GLOBAL ECONOMY

Click here to print 
the Governance and 
Financial Report.

1998

2018

CELEBRATING 

20 

YEARS 

INVESTING IN THE  
TRANSITION TO A  
MORE SUSTAINABLE  
GLOBAL ECONOMY

IMPAX SPECIALISES IN INVESTING 
IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE 
SUSTAINABLE GLOBAL ECONOMY

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to generate superior, risk-adjusted investment returns from opportunities arising 
from the transition to a more sustainable economy for clients with a medium to long-term horizon. 

We provide a stimulating, collaborative and supportive work-place for our staff, and make a 
contribution to the development of a sustainable society, by supporting or undertaking relevant 
research and engaging or collaborating with others.

20 YEARS AS 
PIONEERS IN  
OUR FIELD 

ONE OF THE 
LARGEST 
INVESTMENT 
MANAGERS 
INVESTING IN THE 
SUSTAINABLE 
GLOBAL 
ECONOMY

PROVIDING 
ACCESS TO 
A BROAD  
RANGE OF 
INVESTMENT 
STRATEGIES

A STRONG 
COMMITMENT TO 
GOING BEYOND 
INVESTMENT 
RETURNS

More on page 07

More on page 10

More on page 12

More on page 13

CONTENTS

Overview

01  Highlights

02  At a Glance

03  Our Investment Approach

Strategic Report

04 Our Key Strengths 

06 Chief Executive’s Report 

14  Q&A with the Chief Executive

16   Our Approach to Creating 

Shareholder Value

17  Key Performance Indicators

18  Financial Review

21  Our People

24  Senior Management Team

26  Our Commitment to  

Corporate Responsibility

Naming of companies in this document

For simplicity we use the following short forms in the place of the legal company 
entity names in this document and the Governance and Financial Report.

Impax Asset Management Group plc is referred to throughout as “Impax”  
or the “Company”.

In January 2018, Pax World Management LLC was acquired by Impax and has been  
re-named Impax Asset Management LLC. This company is based in Portsmouth, New 
Hampshire and we refer to it as “Impax NH”. Impax NH is the manager of Pax World Funds.

Impax Asset Management Ltd and Impax Asset Management (AIFM) Ltd manage or 
advise listed equity funds and accounts, and the Real Assets division. The majority of 
this business is based in London so we refer to it as “Impax LN”.

31    Risk Management and Control

31  Principal Risks and Uncertainties

34  Auditor’s Statement

2018 HIGHLIGHTS

 | 01

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

BUSINESS HIGHLIGHTS

AUM1

£12.5BN
+72% 

(2017: £7.3BN)

2018

2017

£12.5bn

£7.3bn

ADJUSTED 
OPERATING  
PROFIT

£20.0M
+114%

(2017: £9.3M)

PROFIT  
BEFORE TAX

£14.6M
+147%

(2017: £5.9M)

SHAREHOLDERS’ 
EQUITY

CASH  
RESERVES

£52.6M
+48%

£24.6M
+20%

(2017: £35.6M)

(2017: £20.4M)

1  Assets under management and advice as at 30 September 2018

REVENUE

£65.7M 
+101%

(2017: £32.7M)

ADJUSTED 
EARNINGS PER 
SHARE2

12.4P
+110%

(2017: 5.9p)

DIVIDEND  
PER SHARE4

DIVIDEND

SPECIAL

+2.6P 

4.1P 
+41%

(2017: 2.9p)

CELEBRATING  
20 YEARS of 
success as pioneers 
of investing in 
the transition to a 
more sustainable 
economy

Integration 
of Impax NH 
and STRONG 
ORGANIC 
GROWTH in  
North America

Continuing  
LONG-TERM OUT-
PERFORMANCE  
of our major 
investment 
strategies3

Continuing  
NET INFLOWS 
and encouraging 
mandate pipeline

FINAL CLOSE  
of our third 
private equity 
infrastructure fund

WINNER 
“Best Company 
To Work For 
In Investment 
2018 Awards” by 
Investment Week

2   Adjusted operating profit is shown after removing the effects of non-recurring acquisition costs, ongoing amortisation of 
intangibles acquired, one-off tax credits and mark-to-market effects of National Insurance on equity award schemes. A 
reconciliation of the International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and adjusted KPIs are provided in note 5 of the 
financial statements

3  Versus environmental indices

4  Proposed

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018 
 
SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 02

AT A GLANCE

WHO WE ARE

OUR INVESTMENT PHILOSOPHY

WHAT WE DO

Impax is a specialist asset 
manager investing in the 
opportunities arising from the 
transition to a more sustainable 
global economy.

Impax Asset Management was 
founded in 1998 and has been a 
pioneer in the development of 
investing in the transition to a 
more sustainable global economy. 
The Company now manages or 
advises on £12.5 billion (US$16.3 
billion)1 of assets in both listed and 
real asset strategies which makes 
us one of the largest investment 
managers dedicated to investing 
in these markets globally. 

FIGURE 1: Our distribution network

At Impax, we believe that 
capital markets will be shaped 
profoundly by global sustainability 
challenges, including climate 
change, pollution and essential 
investments in human 
capital, infrastructure and 
resource efficiency.

These trends will drive growth  
for well-positioned companies  
and create risks for those unable 
or unwilling to adapt.

Fundamental analysis which 
incorporates long-term risks, 
including environmental, social 
and governance (ESG) factors, 
enhances investment decisions.

We invest in companies and 
assets that are well positioned to 
benefit from the shift to a more 
sustainable global economy.

We offer a well-rounded suite of 
investment solutions spanning 
multiple asset classes seeking 
superior risk-adjusted returns over 
the medium to long-term.

Across our investment portfolios, 
we seek higher quality companies 
with strong business models that 
demonstrate sound management 
of risk.

Portland

London

Portsmouth

New York

Impax LN
Impax NH

Hong Kong

1  

 Assets under management and  
advice as at 30 September 2018

ACCESSING OUR INVESTMENT 
STRATEGIES

We have an established global 
network of products and 
distributors, for example:

NORTH AMERICA 
Pax World Funds 

Impax funds platform (Delaware)

NEI Investments

Desjardins Global Asset 
Management

Mackenzie Investments

UK/IRELAND 

Impax UCITS platform (Ireland)

IEM plc

White label accounts (Private 
wealth managers)

EUROPE 
ASN Bank 

BNP Paribas

Absalon Capital 

ASIA PACIFIC 

BNP Paribas in Hong Kong  
and Australia

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMYOUR INVESTMENT APPROACH

OVERVIEW

Specialist manager,  
20 years’ experience

52 investment team 
members (UK, US, HK)

Global distribution and  
client relations

High quality investment 
solutions for institutional 
and individual investors

Partnership approach  
with clients

Thematic Equities £9bn

Unconstrained  
Equities £1.2bn

£12.5BN 
AUM1

Smart Beta £995m

Fixed Income £835m

Real Assets £450m

 London Managed    

 US Managed2

THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

FROM… 

A DEPLETIVE  
ECONOMIC MODEL

FINANCIAL RETURNS BY 
EXTERNALISING SOCIAL 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
COSTS

FRAGILE BUSINESS 
MODELS

TECHNOLOGY

REGULATION

CUSTOMER 
PREFERENCES

SOCIAL FACTORS

 | 03

PARTNERSHIP APPROACH

IMPAX OFFERS SOLUTIONS IN:

We seek to work in partnership 
with our clients to go beyond  
the delivery of long-term 
superior financial returns.  
To do this we offer:

Dedicated client service and 
financial reporting

Thought leadership research to 
continue building our industry

Collaborative engagement and 
stewardship

Impact reporting

TO...

A SUSTAINABLE  
ECONOMIC MODEL

GROWTH WITH 
IMPROVED SOCIETAL 
AND ENVIRONMENTAL 
OUTCOMES

EQUITIES

Thematic equities: investing 
in environmental solutions

Unconstrained equities:  
durable companies identified  
by the Impax Lens

Smart beta

FIXED INCOME

Core Bonds

High Yield Bonds

DURABLE BUSINESS 
MODELS WHICH CAPTURE 
OPPORTUNITIES OR AVOID 
EMERGING RISKS

REAL ASSETS

Renewable energy  
infrastructure

1  

 As at 30 September 2018. Assets under advice represent approximately 3%. Total of asset classes may differ due to rounding

2  US managed AUM refers to Pax World Funds. Impax acquired Pax World Management LLC on 18 January 2018. Company and AUM history includes 

private equity/sustainable property funds, and non-discretionary accounts which are not included as part of Impax’s GIPS compliant business 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 04

OUR KEY STRENGTHS 

20 YEARS OF SUCCESS

Our business growth and milestones1

One of the largest 
global asset managers 
specialising in investing 
in the transition to a more 
sustainable economy.

Clear investment 
philosophy and rigorous 
process.

The successful acquisition 
of Impax NH in 2018 
significantly enhances our 
footprint in the US.

£12.5BN

ASSETS UNDER 
MANAGEMENT

More on  
page 07

Establishing 
 the business

Scale up to  
critical mass

Consolidation  
 and investment

Next stage  
of  AUM growth

With Impax NH 
acquisition

1998 15

1999 20

2000 39

2001 38

2002 55

2003 66

2004 69

2005

214

2006

429

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

982

1,099

1,265

1,823

1,896

1,828

2,197

2,755

2,823

4,502

7,261

3,0152

12,515

1  AUM shown as at end of financial years to 2018

2  AUM of Impax NH at acquisition on 18 January 2018 (no double count of Pax World Global Environmental Markets fund)

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMYAN ACKNOWLEDGED 
GLOBAL BRAND 
LEADER

Large, experienced, 
stable specialist 
investment team.

Managing assets for 
some of the world’s 
largest investors.

Offices in UK, US and 
Hong Kong for effective 
global coverage.

PARTNERSHIPS WITH 
OUR CLIENTS TO 
DELIVER MORE THAN 
SUPERIOR INVESTMENT 
RETURNS

Commitment to client 
service and clear and 
transparent reporting.

Continuing development 
of our thought leadership 
work including focused 
collaborative engagement 
activities, impact reporting 
and stewardship services.

A SCALABLE BUSINESS 
WITH A WIDE RANGE 
OF INVESTMENT 
STRATEGIES

Our strategies are scalable 
and have significant 
capacity for expansion.

In 2018 the Global 
Opportunities strategy 
achieved a strong three 
year track record and 
is attracting significant 
investor attention.

New strategies through the 
acquisition of Impax NH.

In the UK and US we 
have our own sales 
teams which sell our 
funds to institutional 
and intermediary clients.

Throughout Europe, 
Asia and also in the US 
and Canada, we have 
effective long-term 
relationships with several 
distribution partners.

 | 05

A SUCCESSFUL 
GLOBAL DISTRIBUTION 
NETWORK

BUILDING VALUE 
FOR ALL OUR 
STAKEHOLDERS

We continue to deliver 
compelling financial 
results against our KPIs, 
which has enabled us to 
increase our dividend per 
share significantly over 
the last 10 years.

High levels of staff 
engagement and 
a commitment to 
retaining talent.

Increasing our financial 
support and growing 
participation with our 
philanthropy partners.

12.4PENCE

EARNINGS PER SHARE1

52

MEMBERS IN 
OUR SPECIALIST 
INVESTMENT TEAM

More at  
www.impaxam.com/
about-us/team/impax-
asset-management-
group-plc/listed-equity 

109

CORPORATE 
ENGAGEMENTS 
IN 2018

More on  
page 28

1  Diluted adjusted 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018

15

INVESTMENT 
STRATEGIES

30+

COUNTRIES

More at  
www.impaxam.com/
strategies-funds

More on  
page 09

More at  
www.impaxam.com/
investor-relations

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 06

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT

I’m pleased to report another period of strong 
growth, underpinned by significant net inflows. 
Asset owners around the world are increasingly 
seeking investment exposure to the sustainable 
economy, and Impax continues to build an 
encouraging mandate pipeline.”
Ian R Simm  
Chief Executive Officer

AUM

£12.5BN 

(2017: £7.3BN)

STRONG GROWTH IN 2018
2018 has been a particularly exciting 
year for Impax, and the Company 
has grown considerably. Notably, 
we completed the acquisition of Pax 
World Management LLC (“Impax 
NH”) which significantly enhanced 
our presence in the US, and which 
we believe makes Impax one of 
the largest investment managers 
globally, focused on the transition to 
a more sustainable economy. 

During the twelve months ending 
30 September 2018 (the “Period”), 
Impax’s assets under discretionary 
and advisory management 
(“AUM”) increased by 72 per cent 
to reach £12.5 billion. For the third 
consecutive year we have achieved 
a significant increase against all our 
key performance indicators (“KPIs”) 
which are detailed on page 17 of the 
Strategic Report. 

At 30 November 2018, AUM were 
£12.2 billion, reflecting the fall in 
equity markets in October. However, 
our funds have performed well 
over the last two months and we 
have continued to see new inflows 
from investors.

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS  
AND MAJOR MILESTONES 
Since our inception in 1998 we 
have established a global brand 
and pioneered investing in the 
transition to a more sustainable 
global economy, with the objective 
to deliver superior, long-term 
investment returns. We see many 
compelling investment opportunities 
arising from disruptions through 
technology innovation and falling 
costs, regulation to incorporate the 
costs of social and environmental 
factors in business models and, not 
least, shifts in consumer preferences 
for more transparent, authentic and 

healthier products. Our expertise 
has given us insights across large 
swathes of private sector activity and 
our long performance record and 
large, specialist investment team have 
proved attractive for asset owners 
seeking exposure to these rapidly 
growing markets. Over the Period we 
took on a significant number of new 
client accounts.

Our investment thesis has evolved from 
a focus in the late 1990s on micro/
small cap “Environmental Technology” 
stocks to, by 2007, a broader review 
of all sizes of company across 
“Environmental Markets”, and then 
progressing to “Resource Efficiency”, 
spanning the energy, water, waste and 
sustainable food industries from 2012. 
We place high importance on investing 
to develop our research and thought 
leadership collaborations to help 
leverage our “early mover” position 
in these markets. 

As the global economy shifts to 
become more sustainable, the set 
of related investment opportunities 
is expanding rapidly; in 2015 we 
launched our Global Opportunities 
strategy to provide our clients with 
access to this broader investment 
universe. This strategy has now 
achieved an impressive three year 
track record and has already attracted 
significant interest from clients.

Since our inception in 
1998 we have established 
a global brand and 
pioneered investing 
in the transition to a 
more sustainable global 
economy.”

  | 07

2018

2016

2015

2014

2013

2012

2010

2008

2007

2005

2002

2001

1999

1998

Impax acquired Pax World Management LLC (Impax NH) 

AUM surpassed £10bn milestone

Final close of third private equity infrastructure fund, Impax New Energy Investors Fund III

Winner: Investment Week’s “Best Place To Work In Investment 2018” Award

Impax surpassed £5bn AUM, Smart Carbon research published

Impact methodology launched

Portland, Oregon office established 
Impax received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise: Sustainable Development

Impax named Sustainable Investor of the Year at FT/IFC Sustainable Finance Awards

New York office established

Launch of second private equity infrastructure fund, Impax New Energy Investors Fund II

SEC registration and launch of first fund for US investors

BNP Paribas Asset Management Holding became a shareholder; Hong Kong team established

Launch of first private equity infrastructure fund, Impax New Energy Investors Fund I 

First own-label listed equity fund launched: Impax Environmental Markets plc

Floated on the London Stock Exchange’s Alternative Investment Market (AIM) subsequently 
renamed Impax Asset Management Group plc

First listed equity strategy launched with advisory contract for Alm. Brand Invest in Denmark

Impax Asset Management founded with mandate from 
the International Finance Corporation (IFC)*

As we celebrate our  
20th anniversary we review 
the notable milestones we 
have achieved, and how  
we can build on these  
for future success.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

  | 08

The 20 year transformation 
of Environmental Markets

>50% revenue exposure to Environmental Markets

20% – 50% revenue exposure to Environmental Markets

>20% revenue exposure to Sustainable Food

FIGURE 1: The development of Environmental Markets1 (number of stocks)

2018

2012

1,100

400

500

2,000

900

400

200

1,500

2007

450

250

700

1999

250

9

DRIVERS AND OPPORTUNITIES 
The long-term drivers of the transition 
to a more sustainable global economy, 
namely the expanding global 
population, rising living standards, 
natural resource constraints and 
climate change continue to underpin 
our investment approach.

Climate change is likely to be one of 
the most serious risks to the long-
term value of investment portfolios. 
The five warmest years on record 
have all occurred in this decade2 and 
the oceans also appear to be warming 
at an alarming rate. In 2018 we 
witnessed many more severe weather 
events around the world, with 
devastating forest fires in California 
and Australia, while the 2017–18 
hurricane season was one of most 
catastrophic on record.

It is estimated that three billion 
people currently live in regions 
where water is scarce, a figure that 
is projected to rise to five billion by 
20503. There is an urgent need to 
conserve, treat and recycle limited 
and increasingly polluted water 
supplies. Meanwhile, we face a global 
public health crisis posed by obesity 
and diabetes.

Air pollution also continues to 
dominate headlines, both in Asia and 
much closer to home, where many of 
the UK’s cities now regularly report 
levels of pollution that are damaging 
to human health. Furthermore, in the 
last quarter of 2017, the acclaimed 
BBC documentary Blue Planet 
2, brought the shocking levels of 
plastic pollution in the oceans to the 
public’s attention. 

1   As defined by FTSE

2  National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

3   United Nations

The demand for products and 
services that are providing solutions 
to the challenges of climate change, 
pollution and public health issues 
is growing rapidly. Impax aims to 
provide investors with access to the 
best companies that are positioned to 
benefit from these global shifts.

We have always aimed to sustain 
an excellent working environment 
based on effective engagement, so 
we were proud to be one of only 
three asset managers to be awarded 
the prestigious accolade of “Best 
Company To Work For In Investment 
2018” by Investment Week. 

OUR DEDICATED TEAM
Our success is attributable to the 
expertise and dedication of our staff. 
We have one of the most experienced, 
specialist, global teams in the sector. 
We believe in the importance of long-
term incentives for our employees and 
will continue to encourage significant 
share ownership through the use of 
employee share schemes. In January, 
we were delighted to welcome 
our former distribution partners in 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, as our 
new colleagues at Impax NH. 

More on page 23

Our growth and US expansion will 
further enhance our ability to offer 
exciting career opportunities for our 
staff.

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY 
FUND FLOWS AND DISTRIBUTION
As set out in Figure 2 below, we continued to see strong net inflows from investors around the world into our 
investment strategies. During the Period we received £1.5 billion in net new client allocations. In January 2018 
the Global Opportunities strategy reached an important milestone of a strong three-year performance record, and 
consequent interest from several institutional investment consultants. 

FIGURE 2: AUM and fund flows

Impax Asset Management Ltd 
Impax Asset Management AIFM Ltd 
(Impax LN)

Impax Asset 
Management LLC 
(Impax NH)

AUM movement 12 months  
to 30 September 2018

Total AUM at 30 September 2017

Impax LLC acquisition 

Net flows

Market movement, FX and performance

Total AUM at 30 September 2018

1  Real Assets comprise Private Equity and Property funds 

Thematic  
equity funds 
£m

Real  
asset funds1 
£m

6,788

–

1,721

515

9,024

473

–

(27)

4

450

Fixed income,  
smart beta, US 
equity funds  

£m

–

3,474

(118)

288

3,644

Reconcilliation2 
£m

Total firm 
£m

–

(459)

(117)

(27)

7,261

3,015

1,459

781

(603)

12,515

2  Avoidance of double count of Pax World Global Environmental Markets Fund and Pax World Global Opportunities Fund

 | 09

We continued to see 
strong net inflows  
from investors around  
the world.”

In June, we launched a new US 
mutual fund on the Pax World 
Funds platform based on this 
strategy; and the following month, St 
James’s Place, a leading UK wealth 
manager, announced that it would 
switch its existing ethical fund to 
the Global Opportunities strategy. 
We have also recently launched a 
segregated mandate based on Global 
Opportunities for an Australian 
pension fund. 

In the UK we have seen renewed 
interest from investors in our Irish 
UCITS fund platform, with material 
growth in both our Asia and Leaders 
strategies. The growth of this Leaders 
Fund has enabled us to redeem the 
seed capital we allocated at launch 
less than three years ago. Towards 
the end of the Period, the share price 
of our UK investment trust, Impax 
Environmental Markets plc, returned 
to a premium to net asset value 
reflecting increasing demand from 
private wealth managers and retail 
investors. We continue to see strong 
flows into the funds we manage in 

Continental Europe for BNP Paribas 
Asset Management, particularly the 
Water strategy which had net inflows 
of over £740 million during the year 
and at Period end reported an AUM 
of some £3.3 billion. We have also 
taken on the sub-management of the 
Parvest Green Tigers fund, a BNP 
Paribas Asset Management sponsored 
SICAV targeting Asian environmental 
markets. In September, Impax was 
awarded a new mandate based on the 
Leaders strategy to advise on Better 
World, a new fund established by 
Absalon Capital in Denmark.

In North America we received 
significant inflows from the 
institutional channel and our white 
label relationships in Canada. 
However, the Pax World Funds range 
saw slightly negative net flows in 
spite of strong inflows into the Pax 
Global Environmental Markets Fund 
and the Pax Ellevate Global Women’s 
Leadership Fund.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018FIGURE 3: Growth in US assets 

2018

2017

2016

£898m

£583m

2015

£174m

2014

£248m

£4,193m

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

THE BIG LEAP  
FORWARD IN 
THE US

We have marketed our products 
in the US for over a decade, 
and since 2011 have focused on 
steadily building our team and 
resources. This year we have 
made a big leap forward there 
with both strong organic growth 
and the acquisition of Impax 
NH. This acquisition, which 
completed this January, added 
£3.0 billion to our AUM, and 
has expanded our investment 
capabilities, particularly in fixed 
income and smart beta.

The acquisition was predicated 
not on cost savings but on 
expanding our offering to current 
and potential new clients. The 
integration plan was designed 
to enhance the effectiveness of 
the combined team. Initially we 
have focussed on establishing 
strong communication between 
the Client Service and Support 
teams. Over time, we also 
anticipate closer collaboration 

and knowledge sharing between 
the investment teams.

Impax now has a significantly 
enhanced footprint in North 
America and Europe in terms 
both of our staff (47% of whom 
are now based in the US in our 
offices in Connecticut, Portland, 
Oregon and Portsmouth, 
New Hampshire), and in the 
geographical breakdown of our 
AUM. This critical mass gives 
us a broad view of regional 
investment opportunities and 
more extensive resources to 
support client service.

We continue to see significant 
and growing interest from 
investors in the US in investing 
in the transition to a more 
sustainable economy. 

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

INVESTMENT PERFORMANCE 

Listed Equity

We continue to build on the strong, 
long-term investment performance 
in the Impax Listed Equity division. 
Over three and five years our major 
strategies have out-performed their 
global benchmark, the MSCI All 
Country World Index (“ACWI”). During 
the Period our listed equity strategies 
delivered strong performance versus 
their environmental benchmarks but 
lagged the ACWI. Our stock selections 
generally proved successful and 
relative underperformance (versus 
ACWI) was mainly attributable to 
the sectors that are not part of our 
investment universe; for example, IT 
and consumer discretionary stocks 
were particularly strong, as were 
traditional energy companies as the  
oil price rose. 

Our Global Opportunities strategy, 
with its exposure to a number of 
strongly performing sectors including 
IT, healthcare and some financials, 
returned 20.4%1 over the Period, 
outperforming the ACWI which 
was up by 12.9%2. Since launching 
in December 2014, this strategy 
has generated returns of 75.6%1 
(ACWI: 62.1%2).

During the Period, performance of 
the Pax World Funds, the mutual 
fund strategies managed by Impax 
NH, was mixed. For example, the Pax 

Large Cap Fund and Pax Ellevate 
Global Women’s Leadership Fund 
outperformed their respective 
benchmarks, while the Small Cap  
and Mid Cap funds underperformed. 

Real Assets

Our private equity infrastructure 
business focused on renewable 
energy continues to produce 
attractive returns for investors. 

The planned wind down of our 
second fund, Impax New Energy 
Investors II (“NEF II”) has progressed 
well. During the Period we sold this 
fund’s operating assets in Ireland 
and Italy, as well as a development 
business in France, generating €109 
million. We plan to sell the remaining 
portfolio assets over the next year 
and wind up the fund. 

With a successful track record for 
NEF II and an attractive investment 
case over the coming decade, we 
concluded the fund raising for Impax 
New Energy Investors III (“NEF 
III”), which held its final close on 31 
May 2018 with total assets of €357 
million (£313 million). This fund is 
implementing the same value-added 
strategy as NEF II. We have already 
committed over €140 million to new 
wind projects in France and Germany 
and hydro power in Norway and 
are reviewing a strong pipeline of 
interesting opportunities.

1 

2 

 As at 30 September 2018, cumulative gross returns in sterling

 As at 30 September 2018, cumulative total net return in sterling (net dividend reinvested)

DELIVERING A PARTNERSHIP 
BEYOND INVESTMENT RETURNS
Impax’s investment philosophy 
leads us to focus on opportunities 
emerging over the medium to long-
term, particularly those whose 
asset prices do not yet reflect 
their potential. 

We believe that long  
term investing is 
enhanced by proactive 
stewardship of assets  
and in a partnership 
approach between the 
asset manager and  
asset owner.”

Increasingly, our clients are 
acknowledging the value of our work 
in engagement, impact reporting 
and thought leadership. This year 
we also have increased our funding 
for a small number of closely aligned 
environmental charities (see pages 
26–27) as we have seen how valuable 
this involvement can be, for both 
staff development opportunities and 
engagement, as detailed on page 21 
and for our brand. 

 | 11

DEVELOPMENTS AFFECTING 
THE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT 
SECTOR 
We are preparing for the Senior 
Managers & Certification Regime 
(“SM&CR”), which will apply to Impax 
from 9 December 2019. We believe 
that our governance arrangements 
are well positioned and will only 
require modest enhancement.

In order to prepare for the Brexit 
scenarios that appear plausible at the 
time of writing, we are in advanced 
discussions with the Central Bank 
of Ireland to establish a locally-
regulated, Irish subsidiary, through 
which some of our EU business may 
be routed. Post Brexit we estimate 
that less than 10% of our AUM 
would be re-contracted through 
this subsidiary; we believe that the 
operational impact of Brexit on the 
business would be manageable and 
that the financial impact, including 
foreign exchange exposure, would 
be immaterial.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 12

MARKETING OUR GLOBAL 
OPPORTUNITIES STRATEGY

As the shift to a more sustainable 
economy has gained momentum 
in recent years, we have continued 
to expand our search for compelling 
investment prospects. For example, 
the growth in consumer preference 
for more natural food ingredients, 
rapidly rising financial inclusivity 
in developing countries, and the 
transition towards diagnostic tools 
and more personalised medical care 
is giving rise to numerous interesting 
investment opportunities.

In 2014 we launched our Global 
Opportunities strategy offering 
clients access to a broader 
investment universe across markets 
and sectors in companies possessing 
sustainable competitive advantages.

Now that the strategy can 
demonstrate a three-year track 
record of out-performance versus 
its benchmark, the MSCI All Country 
World Index (“ACWI”), we are 
expanding our communications with 
potential investors and we expect to 
receive initial significant allocations 
to the strategy by the end of 2018.

CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT CONTINUED

OUTLOOK
Impax is well-positioned to continue 
to deliver long-term value to clients 
and shareholders. In the shorter-
term we expect a somewhat softer 
global economy and steadily rising 
interest rates in many regions, a 
situation that may impact global 
equity markets. Over 20 years we 
have managed capital through 
two major downturns; we believe 

that many of our clients are taking 
a long-term view when investing 
with us, and we therefore expect 
our business to be resilient as 
asset allocators respond to 
new information about shorter-
term trends.

Since Impax’s inception in 1998, 
the transition to a more sustainable 

global economy has accelerated as 
demand for products and services 
that address the consequences of a 
more crowded planet has expanded 
dramatically. With over 20 years of 
experience, there is now compelling 
evidence that our investment 
philosophy can enhance the 
discovery of attractive investments. 
Against this backdrop, we are 

confident that Impax can continue 
to deliver excellent results for all our 
stakeholders over decades to come.

Ian R Simm
5 December 2018

 | 13

BEYOND INVESTMENT RETURNS

COLLABORATIVE ENGAGEMENT: 
we seek to improve the companies 
and markets in which we invest 
through our engagement and policy 
work. This year we published our first 
Engagement Report, highlighting 
our main engagement themes and 
milestones. We also work with 
companies to help them develop 
processes and improve disclosure to 
address sustainability challenges. Our 
engagement work is often undertaken 
in collaboration with others, including 
our clients. 

IMPACT REPORTING: over the 
last four years we have advanced 
our methodology and published 
quantitative metrics to demonstrate 
the environmental outcomes of several 
of our investment portfolios. In 2017 
we extended the scope of this work 
to show clients how their investments 
are aligned with the United Nations 
Sustainable Development Goals. 
In 2018, as well as continuing to 
report metrics for our small/mid cap 
(“Specialists”) and all cap (“Leaders”) 
strategies, we reported the impact 
metrics of our Asia-Pacific strategy  
for the first time. 

THOUGHT LEADERSHIP WORK ON 
CLIMATE RISK: we continue to refine 
our Smart CarbonTM methodology, 
a scenarios-based approach to 
identifying and measuring climate 
risk in investment portfolios 
which we launched in 2015. This 
methodology is well aligned with 
the recommendations of the Task 
Force on Climate-related Financial 
Disclosure (“TCFD”), which reported 
in 2017. We encourage companies 
to develop consistent climate-
related financial risk disclosures 
to their stakeholders.

SUPPORTING OTHERS IN OUR 
COMMUNITY: we believe that 
targeted, philanthropic giving can 
be highly beneficial for our staff and 
brand as well as for the recipients. 
Our two major commitments are 
to Ashden, a charity that works 
in the fields of sustainable energy 
and development and ClientEarth, 
a not for profit law firm which uses 
the power of the law to protect 
people and the planet. We detail our 
charitable involvement with these 
organisations on pages 26–27.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY
Q&A WITH THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE

  | 14

Q How has your investment 

philosophy and approach 

changed over the last 20 years? 

Q Why do you believe there has 

been such a significant growth 
in investor interest in the transition 
to a more sustainable economy? Do 
you think this will continue?

AAlthough we continually refine 

and evolve our investment 
process, our investment philosophy 
has essentially remained the same 
over two decades. As the global 
economy shifts to become more 
sustainable, the set of related 
investment opportunities is 
broadening and deepening. This 
larger universe provides greater 
opportunities for active investment 
management. 

A Over the last 20 years we have 

seen rapidly growing interest 

and appreciation of both the risks of 
investing in the traditional, depletive 
economy, as well as new investment 
opportunities across many market 
sectors. The drivers of a rapidly 
expanding population, rising living 
standards and climate change are 
indisputable. Investors also recognise 
many catalysts for investment, 
including new environmental policies, 
the higher incidence of catastrophic 
weather events and regular media 
coverage of severe air pollution in our 
cities and plastics in our oceans. 

Yes, I believe momentum in this 
area will continue to build. Investors 
understand that many companies 
offering solutions to environmental, 
public health and related issues in 
both developed and developing 
countries should deliver superior, 
long- term growth compared to 
broader equity markets. 

Q What was the strategic rationale 

for acquiring Pax World 

Management LLC (Impax NH)?

A The acquisition brought together 

two pioneering firms with 
highly complementary investment 
capabilities and built on a successful 
ten year relationship and similar 
business cultures. The combined 
business is now one of the largest 
investment managers focused on 
the transition to a more sustainable 
economy. We believe that the 
acquisition, which has been earnings-
enhancing in the first year, will 
underpin value over the long-term 
for all our stakeholders. 

Q Your financial accounts are 

complex this year following the 

acquisition of Impax NH, can you 
explain the “reconciliation”?

A The acquisition has enhanced our 

earnings significantly. However, 

we incurred a number of “one off” 
costs related to the transaction which 
have had an impact on our operating 
profit, profit before tax and earnings 
per share. We are reporting these 
financial results on both a non-
adjusted and an adjusted basis. The 
latter excludes the non-recurring 
items so it gives our shareholders a 
consistent measure of performance 
over time. More details are given in 
note 5 on page 31 of the Financial  
and Governance Report.1

Q How much has the acquisition 

added to the bottom line 

this year?

A Impax NH has contributed 

adjusted operating profit of  
£2.3 million and has added 1.7p to 
adjusted earnings per share.2

further acquisitions?

Q Do you have plans to make any 
A We believe that our current range 

of investment strategies has 
significant growth potential and there 
are no plans for additional acquisitions. 
In future, we may consider adding teams 
or small units from other firms if they 
could enhance our offering to clients.

1 

In addition, when reporting AUM we avoid double counting of Pax World Global Environmental Markets Fund and Pax World Global Opportunities Fund

2  Net of finance costs

Q Investors will undoubtedly be 

pleased by your increasing 

dividend, what are your plans for 
future dividend growth?

A Since we paid our first dividend 

in 2008, the success of the 
business has enabled us to increase 
our dividend per share every year. 
We are committed to continuing 
this trend. 

Q How does your 2018 AUM 

growth split between 

investment performance and new 
client money?

A Investment performance across 

our investment strategies added 

£781 million to our AUM (2017: £655 
million). 2017 was a record year for 
inflows which totalled £2.1 billion, 
while this year new allocations totalled 
£1.5 billion. The acquisition of Impax 
NH added £3.0 billion to our AUM on 
completion in January.

 
Q  Which have been your strongest 

performing investment 
strategies and why?

A We are long-term investors. 

Over three and five years all 
our major thematic equity strategies 
have out-performed their global 
benchmarks. For the Period, our best 
performing equity strategy was Global 
Opportunities which delivered returns 
of 20.4%1 compared to its benchmark 
the MSCI All Country World Index 
(“ACWI”) which returned 12.9%2. This 
“unconstrained” strategy invests in 
a broader investment universe than 
our thematic equity products and 
the strong performance was largely 
attributable to successful stock 
selection in high growth companies 
that are clearly benefiting from the 
transition to a more sustainable 
economy. For example some of our 
best performing holdings were in 
companies supplying components 
for electric and hybrid vehicles, 
digital payments systems and cyber 
security companies. 

scalable?

Q Are your investment strategies 
A Yes, we have focused on a 

small number of scalable 
strategies. This allows us to expand 
our business without a proportional 
increase in costs and reflects clients’ 
preference that the investment team 
is paying close attention to running 
their money.

Q Which investment strategies 

are attracting the most 
investor interest and from which 
geographical regions?

A In Europe we continue to receive 

major new allocations to our 
Leaders (global, all cap) strategy and 
Water strategy. Investors around the 
world are also showing significant 
interest in our Global Opportunities 
strategy. Within less than a year of 
marketing this strategy proactively 
we have seen commitments from 
a number of major investors, and 
current AUM3 of the strategy was £317 
million. We have also expanded our 
institutional client base in the US. 

Q Do you have plans to launch 

any of the Impax NH strategies 

outside the US?

A In the medium to longer-term,  

we expect to see investor 
demand outside the US for products 
based on the expertise and 
experience of the Impax NH team. 

the real assets business?

Q What are your plans for 
A Our third private equity 

infrastructure fund closed to 
further investor allocations in May 
2018. We raised €357 million in this 
fund and our current focus is to deploy 
this money in attractive assets in the 
target European countries. This fund 
will, like its predecessors, have a life of 
ten years. In time we’d expect to return 
to the market for a fourth fund.

1 

2 

 As at 30 September 2018, gross cumulative returns in sterling

 As at 30 September 2018, total net returns in sterling (net divided reinvested)

3   As at 4 December 2018

Q What have been the key 

regulatory announcements and 

market trends that have affected 
your investments this year?

A We continue to see an increasing 

number of tighter environmental 

regulations announced by governments 
around the world.  

This year there were a number of 
initiatives to curb single use plastics 
from governments in developed and 
developing countries. For example, the 
European Commission set out initiatives 
to increase recycling of plastic 
packaging in a “plastics strategy”, 
while in the UK, the Prime Minister also 
declared a “war on plastic waste” as 
part of a 25-year environmental plan. 

In a major move to reducing CO2 
emissions, we saw the State of 
California approve a bill which aims 
to make the state carbon neutral by 
2045. Meanwhile, the EU has agreed 
that 32% of its energy will come from 
renewable sources by 2030. In July, 
China’s State Council issued a three 
year “Blue Skies” air pollution action 
plan. This aims to make significant 
improvements in air quality by 
curbing harmful pollutant gases and 
particulates by 2020. 

These changes will be favourable for 
companies active in areas of the market 
in which we invest such as energy 
efficiency, pollution control, recycling 
and alternative materials.

 | 15

Q How well positioned is Impax 

to weather a significant global 

recession?

A Given that our equity and fixed 

income products are broadly 
correlated with the market, we would 
probably see a reduction in our AUM 
and earnings in a recession.  

However, the companies in which 
we invest are well-managed and 
the majority have low levels of debt, 
and therefore should be able to 
outperform their peers in a recession 
or a climate of rising interest rates. 
In addition most of our clients take 
a medium to long-term view of 
their investments and accordingly, 
we would expect outflows to be 
relatively modest.

Q Are you confident that you 

have the appropriate business 
culture and corporate values across 
the business to continue to grow the 
Company in the coming years? 

A Very much so. We are committed 

to sustaining and further 
developing our strong culture. 
Our key asset is our staff, and staff 
engagement is a high priority. 
Recent staff surveys and ongoing 
feedback are very positive, and 
we were proud to be one of only 
three asset managers awarded the 
accolade of “Best Company To 
Work For In Investment” in 2018 by 
Investment Week. 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018 
 
 
 
SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

 | 16

OUR APPROACH TO CREATING SHAREHOLDER VALUE

OUR APPROACH

PROGRESS THIS YEAR

OUR PLANS FOR THE FUTURE

Invest by seeking price 
inefficiencies in high growth 
markets. 

Development of deep expertise in investing in 
companies set to benefit from the transition to  
a more sustainable global economy. 

Focus on a small number of 
highly scalable investment 
strategies.

Fundamental analysis which incorporates long-
term risks, including environmental, social and 
governance (ESG) factors.

With the integration of Impax NH, we now offer 
strategies across five areas – Thematic Equities 
(Active), Equities (Smart Beta), Unconstrained 
Equities, Fixed Income and Real Assets. We 
would consider launching a small number of 
complementary strategies.

We continue to deliver strong long-term 
investment performance. For example, Impax 
New Energy Investors II has now realised 
over 95 per cent of its portfolio and reported 
strong returns.

Focus on sharing investment 
expertise and best ideas across 
all strategies.

Continued significant interest from investors 
around the world, £1.7 billion of net inflows. 

Global Opportunities strategy now established; 
St James’s Place announced an initial allocation 
of £286 million.

Impax NH launched a US mutual fund based on 
the strategy.

Roll out existing strategies. 
Further develop Smart Beta 
offering. Extend Fixed Income 
strategies.

Build and extend a flexible 
distribution architecture.

Continuous development of our marketing and 
client service capabilities in the UK and US to 
ensure effective communication with our clients and 
maximise opportunities for new business.

The activities of the sales and marketing teams 
of Impax LN and Impax NH are coordinated.  
A new corporate brand identity developed for 
the combined firm.

Continued investment into 
marketing and client service 
capabilities. Establish new 
partnerships to complement our 
successful existing relationships.

Attract and retain highly 
qualified individuals.

We prioritise investment in our staff and aim to 
empower team members to reach their full potential.

Ongoing improvements around staff 
development and talent management. 
Significant increase to expenditure on staff 
training. Winner of “Best Company to Work 
For In Investment 2018” award.

Continue to measure, review and 
improve our global employee 
engagement, seeking to maintain 
and further motivate our staff.

Balance tight cost control 
with the needs of an 
expanding business.

Manage and optimise a scalable platform for growth, 
including a core team, business systems  
and processes, and infrastructure.

Common IT platforms implemented across 
investment management, finance and HR. 
Strong cost controls contributing to a rising 
operating margin.

Invest to support business 
expansion.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS

We use a number of key performance indicators (“KPIs”) to measure our performance. 

 | 17

AUM

£12.5BN

REVENUE

£65.7M

2018

2017

2016

£12.5bn

£7.3bn

£4.5bn

2015

£2.8bn

2014

£2.8bn

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

£32.7m

£21.1m

£19.7m

£20.4m

ADJUSTED OPERATING PROFIT1

ADJUSTED DILUTED EARNINGS 
PER SHARE1

DIVIDEND

£20.0M

£65.7m

2018

2017

£20.0m

£9.3m

2016

£4.2m

£12.4P

2018

2017

2016

5.9p

3.6p

2015

£3.1m

2015

3.1p

2

4.1P 

INTERIM

3

+2.6P 

FINAL

SPECIAL

12.4p

2018

1.1

3.0p

2.6p

6.7p

2017

2016

2015

2.9p

2.1p

0.5p3

2.1p

2014

£5.3m

2014

2.8p

2014

1.4p

Revenue represents the fees 
we have earned for services 
provided in the year. 

Adjusted operating earnings 
reflects the performance of 
our core business. It takes into 
account our operating efficiency, 
investments made to grow our 
business and how we reward and 
retain our staff.

Adjusted diluted earnings per 
share (“EPS”) reflects the overall 
financial performance of the 
Company for the year and takes 
into account the dilutive effect of 
our share option and restricted 
share awards.

The Company is committed to a 
progressive dividend policy as a 
demonstration of commitment to 
increasing shareholder value.

AUM represents our total assets 
under management and advice. 
The movement between opening 
and closing AUM provides an 
indication of the overall success 
of the business during the year in 
terms of both net subscriptions and 
investment performance. It also 
provides a good lead indicator of 
revenue and profitability.

HOW WE PERFORMED IN 2018

The KPIs all benefit from the inclusion of Impax NH for eight and a half months. 

AUM grew by 72% during the 
year to £12.5 billion, our highest 
ever AUM. The growth was 
mainly due to the inclusion of 
Impax NH (£3.0bn) and net 
inflows (£1.5bn).

Revenue more than doubled  
to £65.7 million. Impax NH 
contributed £16.0 million. Impax 
LN was boosted by £9.8 million 
from inflows and £7.2 million 
from performance.

Adjusted operating earnings 
grew to £20.0 million as a result 
of the increased revenue.

Adjusted diluted EPS grew by 
110% to 12.4 pence, with Impax 
NH contributing 1.7 pence, and 
after issuance of 2.67 million 
shares (2.1%).

1  A reconciliation from the IFRS numbers is provided in Note 5 of the Governance and Financial Report

2  Proposed

3  Special dividend

The Board is recommending a final 
dividend of 3.0 pence per share 
bringing the total dividend for the 
year to 4.1 pence per share. This 
represents growth of 41% and is 
the tenth consecutive year that 
we have grown the dividend. In 
addition, we have paid a special 
dividend to reflect the receipt of 
carried interest.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 18

FINANCIAL REVIEW

Impax’s rising AUM and the acquisition of 
Impax NH has enabled us to report growth 
in revenues and profitability.”

EARNINGS PER 
SHARE1

12.4P 

(2017: 5.9p)

Charles D Ridge 
Chief Financial Officer

FIGURE 4: Financial highlights for financial year 2018 versus financial year 2017

2018

2017

IFRS

Adjusted

IFRS

Adjusted

AUM

Revenue

Operating profit

Profit before tax

£12.5 billion

£65.7m

£15.5m

£20.0m

£14.6m

£19.2m

Diluted earnings per share

8.9p

12.4p

Shareholders’ equity

Cash reserves

Seed investments

Dividend per share

£52.6m

£24.6m

£3.8m

1.1p interim 
+ 3.0p proposed 
+ 2.6p special

£7.3 billion

£32.7m

£6.2m

£5.9m

6.2p

£9.3m

£8.7m

5.9p

£35.6m

£20.4m

£8.1m

2.9p

In previous years, in order to facilitate 
comparison of performance with 
previous time periods and to provide 
for an appropriate comparison with 
our peers, the Board has encouraged 
shareholders to focus on operating 
earnings, profit before tax and 
earnings per share after adjusting for 
the accounting treatment of Employer 
National Insurance contribution 
(“NIC”) arising from historic share 
awards. For this Period, for similar 
reasons, the Board recommends 
further adjustments, principally the 
elimination of the one-off acquisition 
costs of Impax NH, and the 
amortisation of the intangible asset 
arising from the acquisition. 

In our financial statements we 
consolidate the financial results of 
Impax NH for eight and a half months 
from the date of acquisition (18 
January 2018). A reconciliation of 
the International Financial Reporting 
Standards (“IFRS”) and adjusted 
numbers is provided in note 5 of the 
Governance and Financial report. 

1  Diluted Adjusted

REVENUE 

Revenue for the period 
increased to £65.7 million, 
including £16 million from 
Impax NH. Impax LN 
revenue increased by  
£17 million.”

The key drivers of this growth were 
the strong inflows and investment 
performance recorded over the 
Period and prior year in the Listed 
Equity division, the receipt of carried 
interest payments following the 
strong performance of the second 
renewable energy infrastructure 
fund NEF II, and the additional 
capital in NEF III. There is potential 
for additional NEF II carried interest 
payments to be received in future 
years but these are likely to be of a 
significantly smaller magnitude.
Our run rate1 revenue at the end of 
the Period was £69.6 million, giving 
a weighted average run rate revenue 
margin of 56.4 basis points on the 
£12.5 billion of AUM.

OPERATING COSTS

Adjusted operating costs increased 
to £45.7 million of which £13.8 million 
related to Impax NH. Impax LN costs 

1  Run rate is calculated as the month of September 2018’s 
result extrapolated for 12 months. Adjustments are also 
made to remove the effects of one off transactions. 

increased to £31.9 million mainly due 
to higher profit-related remuneration 
and staff headcount.

The IFRS operating costs showed 
additional increases due to the 
requirement to “mark to market” NIC 
and other charges related to share 
awards which increase in line with 
Impax’s share price, the amortisation 
of intangible assets arising on the 
Impax NH acquisition and share-
based payment charges relating to 
the acquisition. The NIC and other 
charges related to the share awards 
are more than offset by tax credits 
reported in equity. 

As a result of the strong growth of 
the business and our expectations 
that this will continue, we intend to 
recruit additional staff in 2019 to 
improve our operating efficiency, 
increase our marketing efforts 
and respond to further regulatory 
change. In the near term, this 
expenditure may have an impact on 
the growth in operating margin.

The adjusted operating margin 
increased to 30.4%. This was despite 
Impax NH having a lower operating 
margin as its business model allows 
it to charge higher management fees 
in return for bearing various fund-
related costs. Run-rate operating 
earnings were £18.4 million at the end 
of the Period, equivalent to a run rate 
operating margin of 26.0%.

TAX
£2.7 million of tax credits related to 
share incentive schemes are recorded 
partly within profit before tax and 
£2.4 million within reserves.

DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
The IFRS diluted earnings per share 
have increased 44% to 8.9p.

Adjusted diluted earnings 
per share have increased 
by 110%.”

PROFITS 
The IFRS operating profits of £15.5 
million have more than doubled from 
£6.2 million.

This is driven by the significant 
increase in operating earnings 
for Impax LN and the Impax 
NH acquisition. 

Impax NH’s operating earnings at this 
stage are lower than we expected at 
the time of the acquisition as a result 
of a moderate level of aggregate net 
outflows from the funds it manages. 

The adjusted operating 
profits more than doubled 
to £20.0 million with 
Impax NH contributing 
£2.3 million.”

 | 19

IMPAX NH ACQUISITION
The acquisition of Impax NH 
completed on 18 January 2018. The 
initial consideration comprised £26.2 
million of cash, which was part funded 
by debt, and 2.67 million of Impax 
shares. Impax NH management has 
initially retained 16.7% of the shares 
but these are subject to a put and 
call arrangement, and we expect 
that they will be converted to Impax 
shares and/or cash as Impax elects in 
January 2021. 

Additionally, if triggered, Contingent 
Consideration will be determined 
based on Impax NH’s average AUM as 
at 30 June 2020, 30 September 2020 
and 31 December 2020. The sum 
payable will rise linearly from zero, 
if Impax NH’s AUM is US$5.5 billion 
or less, to US$37.5 million if AUM is 
$8 billion or more. Up to $8.3 million 
of this Contingent Consideration will 
become payable on 15 July 2019 if 
these AUM targets are met based on 
the average at 31 December 2018,  
31 March 2019 and 30 June 2019. 

As a result of the acquisition we have 
recognised £9.9 million of goodwill 
and £25.6 million of intangible 
assets. The intangible assets relate to 
investment management contracts. As 
is normal for acquisitions of this size, 
the acquisition has put us into a capital 
deficit position. We have agreed a 
waiver with the Financial Conduct 
Authority which allows us a period of 
four years to make good the deficit.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018FINANCIAL REVIEW CONTINUED

FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
Impax is a strongly cash generative 
business. The Company had £24.6 
million of cash resources at the year 
end and £10.0 million of debt.

In order to part-fund the acquisition 
of Impax NH, the Company entered 
into a US$26 million debt facility with 
the Royal Bank of Scotland plc. This 
facility comprised a US$13 million 
term loan facility, repayable annually 
over a three year term, and a US$13 
million five year term revolving 
facility (the “RCF”). The Company 
initially drew down the term loan in 
full and US$12 million of the RCF. The 
Company’s strong cash generation 
has already allowed full repayment of 
the RCF. The RCF however remains 
available to the Company and may 
be used in January 2021 to part-pay 
the Contingent Consideration arising 
from the Impax NH acquisition, or for 
the general corporate purposes of 
the Group.

During the Period, the Company 
exited its successful seed investment 
in its UCITS fund based on the 
Leaders strategy, realising £4.7 
million. We made a further seed 
investment of US$2 million into a 
US mutual fund on the Pax World 
Funds platform based on our Global 
Opportunities strategy, and expect 
to continue to make new seed 
investments in the future.

SHARE MANAGEMENT
As part of the initial consideration 
for the acquisition of Impax NH, the 
Company issued 2.67 million of new 
Ordinary shares in January 2018 with 
a value of $6.1 million.

The Board intends to continue to buy 
back the Company’s shares from time 
to time after due consideration of 
attractive alternatives for the use of 
the Company’s cash resources. Shares 
purchased may be used to satisfy 
obligations linked to share based-
payment awards for employees. 

During the Period, the Company’s 
Employee Benefit Trusts (“EBTs”) 
spent £2.5 million buying 1.5 million of 
the Company’s shares at an average 
price of 174 pence. The EBTs delivered 
10.7 million shares and restricted 
shares to staff in respect of option 
exercises. The company allocated 
675,000 shares against awards of 
Restricted Shares made in December 
2017. At 30 September 2018 the 
EBTs held a total of 9.7 million shares 
of which 8.4 million were held for 
Restricted Shares.

Further equity issuance may arise in 
respect of staff option exercises that 
have not been previously matched by 
share buybacks, and also to satisfy 
Impax NH management’s conversion 
into Impax shares of their remaining 
16.7% interest in Impax NH in 2021.

DIVIDENDS 

Impax has followed a 
progressive dividend 
policy since 2008, and  
the Board intends this  
to continue.”

The Company paid an interim 
dividend of 1.1 pence per share in 
July 2018. The Company also paid 
a special dividend of 2.6 pence per 
share at the same time in light of 
the receipt of the carried interest for 
NEF II. The Board now recommends 
payment of a final dividend of 3.0 
pence per share. If this is approved by 
shareholders the aggregate dividend 
for the year would be 4.1 pence per 
share (6.7 pence including the special 
dividend), which represents a 41% 
increase over the dividend for the 
previous year. 

This dividend proposal will be 
submitted for formal approval by 
shareholders at the Annual General 
Meeting on 7 March 2019. If approved, 
the dividend will be paid on or around 
15 March 2019. The record date for the 
payment of the proposed dividend 
will be 8 February 2019 and the ex-
dividend date will be 7 February 2019.

  | 20

The Board expects to give further 
guidance on the Company’s dividend 
policy in 2019.

The Company operates a dividend 
reinvestment plan (“DRIP”). The final 
date for receipt of elections under the 
DRIP will be 22 February 2018. For 
further information and to register 
and elect for this facility, please visit 
www.signalshares.com and search for 
information related to the Company.

GOING CONCERN
The Financial Reporting Council 
requires all companies to perform a 
rigorous assessment of all the factors 
affecting the business when deciding 
to adopt a “going concern” basis 
for the preparation of the accounts. 
The Board has reviewed the Group’s 
financial plans, budget and stress 
testing. Impax has a strong balance 
sheet and a predicable operating cost 
profile. After taking these factors 
into consideration the Directors 
consider that the adoption of a “going 
concern” basis, covering a period of 
at least 12 months from the date of 
this report, is appropriate.

Charles D Ridge
5 December 2018

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMYOUR PEOPLE

 | 21

FIGURE 5: Staff numbers year ended 30 September 2018

2018

85

48

10

143

2017

38

29

9

76

2016

35

26

9

70

Support staff

Investment staff

Senior management

OUR COMMITMENT TO OUR STAFF
We recognise that our colleagues’ 
skills, experience and commitment 
are both our greatest assets and the 
cornerstone of our business. 

We seek to attract and retain the best 
people for each specific role and to 
foster a supportive and empowering 
working culture. 

We believe that the diversity of our 
team and the promotion of equal 
opportunities are key to enhancing 
our success.

DIVERSITY 
Impax is committed to promoting 
inclusion and diversity. Diversity  
in the workplace is an important 
aspect of good management and 
strong governance. 

We value everyone in the Impax 
community as an individual. We 
do not tolerate discrimination 
on the grounds of any Protected 
Characteristics.

We believe that diversity has a 
positive impact on the Company’s 
performance. It enhances creativity, 
problem-solving, the quality of risk 
management and decision making. 
It also improves recruitment and 
retention of the most talented people, 
strengthens our client understanding 
and orientation and increases 
staff engagement. 

We measure key aspects of our 
diversity and continually seek to 
develop and improve our approach 
to inclusion and diversity, our 
practices and measurement.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 22

OUR PEOPLE CONTINUED

FIGURE 6: Gender diversity year ended 30 September 2018

2018

55%

2017

66%

2016

69%

45%

34%

31%

Male

Female

GENDER PAY GAP REPORTING
Impax has always believed in 
providing equality of opportunity 
and in compensating employees 
for the role they do on an equal 
basis, regardless of gender or any 
other differences. 

As a smaller company, with fewer 
than 250 employees, Impax is 
not required to report its gender 

pay gap information under the 
UK’s Gender Equality Act 2010, 
which came into force last year. 
However, we are committed to 
analysing this issue for all our staff. 
This is a complex process and 
we are currently researching and 
preparing our 2018 data which will 
be published on our website during 
H1 2019. 

PEOPLE DEVELOPMENT  
WORKING GROUP 
The three work streams of our 
Personal Development Working 
Group, which were set up in 2015, 
continue to advance and refine their 
work across personal development, 
staff appraisals and recruitment 
and on-boarding. For example, all 
staff now have both short-term and 

longer-term personal development 
plans identifying their goals and 
training requirements. We have also 
progressed our staff well-being 
programme with a number of new 
initiatives to promote optimum health 
in the workplace.

 | 23

WINNER BEST COMPANY TO  
WORK FOR IN INVESTMENT 2018

We were delighted to be named as one of only three 
winners in Investment Week’s first “Best Company To 
Work For In Investment 2018” Awards.

We recognise that employees who are engaged, 
motivated and enjoy their work will perform well. This 
award acknowledged the quality of our policies, benefits, 
communication and engagement with all our UK staff. 

The judges utilised a rigorous survey detailing company 
policies, practices, benefits and demographics to shortlist 
contenders for the award. At the second stage all our staff 
were asked to complete an in-depth survey on how they 
felt as Impax employees. This included seven demographic 
and two open-ended questions.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018SENIOR MANAGEMENT TEAM

  | 24

IAN SIMM

HUBERT AARTS

BRUCE JENKYN-JONES

JOE KEEFE

ROZ REID

Co-head of the Listed 
Equity business 
Bruce has 24 years’ 
experience of working in 
environmental markets. Prior 
to joining Impax in 1999 he 
was a utilities analyst with 
BT Alex Brown and before 
that a senior consultant at 
Environmental Resources 
Management Ltd. Bruce 
is a graduate of Oxford 
University and has a Master’s 
in Environmental Technology 
from Imperial College and an 
MBA from IESE (Barcelona).

Co-head of the Listed 
Equity business
Hubert started his career 
in the investment industry 
in 1990 and joined Impax 
in January 2007. He has 
extensive experience 
investing in Pan-European 
equities as a portfolio 
manager at MeesPierson 
and Merrill Lynch Investment 
Managers, where he 
chaired the European 
Sector Strategy Group. 
Hubert joined Impax from 
Cambrian Capital Partners 
LLP where he was a partner 
and portfolio manager of 
the Curalium fund, and 
Incremental Leveraged 
hedge funds. Hubert 
has a Master’s degree in 
Economics and Business 
Administration from 
Maastricht University.

Chief Executive
Ian is the Founder and Chief 
Executive of Impax Asset 
Management Group plc. 
Ian has been responsible 
for building the company 
since its launch in 1998, and 
continues to head the Listed 
Equities and Real Assets 
investment committees. 

Prior to Impax, Ian was 
an engagement manager 
at McKinsey & Company 
advising clients on 
environmental strategy. 
Between 2013 and 2018 
Ian was also a member of 
the Natural Environment 
Research Council (NERC), 
the UK’s leading funding 
agency for environmental 
science; he is currently a 
member of the Steering 
Committee of the UK’s 
Green Finance Institute. Ian 
has a first-class honours 
degree in physics from 
Cambridge University 
and a Master’s in Public 
Administration from Harvard 
University.

President of Impax 
Asset Management LLC
Joe is President of Impax NH 
and heads the Portsmouth 
office. He is responsible for 
Pax World Funds and its 
underlying strategies.

Prior to joining Pax in May 
2005, Joe was President 
of the strategic consulting 
and communications firm 
NewCircle Communications. 
He served as Senior Advisor 
for Strategic Social Policy at 
Calvert Group from 2003-
2005 and as Executive 
Vice President and General 
Counsel of Citizens Advisers 
from 1997–2000. 

Joe holds a Bachelor of 
Arts in Philosophy from the 
College of the Holy Cross, 
and a Juris Doctor degree 
from the University of 
Virginia School of Law.

Head of Human 
Resources
Roz joined Impax in October 
2014 and is responsible for 
all staff matters and HR 
strategic initiatives in the 
UK and overseas. She has 
over 20 years’ experience 
in Financial Services having 
worked for Westpac, BNP 
Paribas and Chase JP 
Morgan. Roz has a BSc in 
Clinical Psychology from 
Oxford University and an 
MSc in Human Resource 
Management.

Information and 
biographies on our 
Board can be found in 
the Governance section.

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY 
 | 25

DAVID RICHARDSON

CHARLIE RIDGE

PETER ROSSBACH

DANIEL VON PREYSS

ZACK WILSON

Global Head of 
Marketing and  
Client Service 
David joined Impax in 2012 
from Global Energy investors 
where he was a managing 
partner. 

He was previously 
managing director of 
Business Development at 
Dwight Asset Management 
Company (acquired by 
Goldman Sachs Asset 
Management). Prior to 
this he headed project 
development at Mark 
Technologies Corporation 
and successfully developed 
a number of large scale wind 
energy projects. 

David holds a BS in 
Mechanical Engineering 
from the University of 
California and is a chartered 
financial analyst.

Chief Financial Officer
Charlie has 30 years’ 
experience working in 
financial services. He joined 
Impax from Deutsche 
Bank, where he was a 
managing director within 
the finance division serving 
as the UK asset and wealth 
management chief financial 
officer, and previously in 
a variety of financial and 
market risk related roles for 
the global markets division. 

Charlie has a degree in 
Engineering Science from 
Durham University and 
qualified as a chartered 
accountant at Ernst & Young.

Managing Director, 
Private Equity 
Infrastructure
Peter joined Impax in 2000.

From 1997 to 2000, he 
was senior investment 
officer at AMI Asset 
Management. Before AMI, 
he held positions as senior 
investment adviser to EBRD, 
vice president of project 
finance at Mitsui Bank in 
New York, and within the 
energy project finance 
teams at Catalyst Energy, 
Lowrey Lazard and Standard 
and Poor’s utility debt 
ratings services. 

Peter holds a Bachelor’s 
degree and a Master’s in 
Public Policy from Harvard 
University.

Head of Private Equity 
Infrastructure (Europe)
Daniel is both involved in 
investments and is Head of 
Asset Management for the 
Private Equity business. 

Prior to joining Impax 
he was responsible for 
Babcock & Brown’s Northern 
European infrastructure 
activities where he focused 
on regulated utilities, gas 
storage and broader power 
generation.

Daniel was previously 
Director of Corporate 
Finance for the European 
Energy and Utilities team at 
Deutsche Bank with a strong 
focus on M&A activity in 
Europe and has also worked 
in Citigroup’s Utilities team.

Group General Counsel
Zack serves as Group 
General Counsel for Impax 
Asset Management Group 
plc and is also Company 
Secretary. 

Prior to joining Impax in 
2011, Zack was Director 
& General Counsel 
for the investment 
management and corporate 
finance advisory group 
Development Capital 
Management. Previously 
he was Corporate Counsel 
for Telewest Global Inc 
(renamed Virgin Media 
Inc), where he played a 
leading role in managing 
the successful execution 
of high profile transactions 
including the Group’s $10bn 
financial restructuring. 

Zack qualified as a solicitor 
at the global law firm 
Norton Rose, specialising in 
Corporate Finance. 

He holds a Master of Arts in 
Jurisprudence from Oxford 
University.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018OUR COMMITMENT TO  
CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY

 | 26

We review our corporate responsibility  
under the categories of People, Community, 
Environment and Marketplace.

Impax is committed to the highest standards 
of responsible business practice and this is 
embedded in our Values.

COMMUNITY

Impax aims to support organisations 
that are aligned with our values. 

In the UK, Impax promotes tax 
efficient payroll giving for staff 
through the Charities Aid Foundation 
Give as You Earn scheme. In 2018  
we achieved Platinum status for the 
first time, with more than 20% of  

staff participating in the scheme,  
donating to a range of charities on  
a regular basis. Impax matches all 
staff donations.

This year we continued our charitable 
support of Ashden and ClientEarth. 
We believe that we have strong 
synergies with both these charities 
and our financial support, which 
we have increased year on year, 

not only helps the work of these 
two outstanding organisations, 
but helps to build on both our 
thought leadership work and staff 
development and engagement.

We give all staff at least one working 
day a year to participate in an 
environment-related volunteering 
activity organised by the Company.

 We encourage staff to 
play an active role in the 
community for the benefit 
of both our business  
and society.”

Upside Energy

Upside Energy instructs 
internet-connected 
devices to be turned  
on or off

23 MW of capacity  
signed up to Upside 
Energy as of May 2018

Saving over 13,800 
tonnes CO2 per year

Ashden champions practical, 
local energy solutions that cut 
greenhouse gas emissions, protect 
the environment, reduce poverty  
and improve people’s lives. 

We have just commenced our seventh 
year of partnership with Ashden and 
are proud supporters of the Impax 
Ashden Award for Energy Innovation. 
Every year several of our staff are 
involved in the evaluation and judging 
of the award submissions, as well 
as on-going mentoring and support 
work with previous award winners. Ian 
Simm also sits on the Ashden judging 
panel for the Liveable Cities awards.

The 2018 winner of our award was 
Upside Energy. This young company 
has developed innovative software 
which aims to reduce stress on the 
National Grid through its cloud-
based Virtual Energy Store™. This 
aggregates flexible demand from 
systems such as domestic energy 
storage, heat pumps, electric 
vehicles and un-interruptable power 
supplies, which it sells to National 
Grid, network operators and energy 
suppliers to help balance supply and 
demand. System owners and Upside 
Energy share in the revenue created.

Upside Energy’s innovative 
approach to flexibility has the 
potential to revolutionise the 
sector, making it practical to 
involve millions of devices 
in homes and businesses in 
keeping the grid stable.” 

Ashden judging panel

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY 
 | 27

COMMITTING TO ENSURING  
A HEALTHY PLANET

Since 2016, Impax has supported 
ClientEarth, a not for profit 
environmental law organisation which 
uses the power of the law to protect 
people and the planet. ClientEarth is 
well known for its stand against the 
UK government on urban air pollution 
and, more recently, for their work 
with the European Commission to 
reduce single use plastics through the 
implementation of plastic taxes. 

This year ClientEarth has been 
involved in a number of our popular 
educational events on carbon risk 
which we run for our pension fund 
clients in the UK and the US. Their 
insight into how asset owners should 
interpret the law on their fiduciary 
duty on climate and carbon risk 
has made a valuable contribution 
to our thought leadership work on 
identifying and measuring carbon risk 
in investment portfolios.

 The environment cannot be 
protected by environmental  
laws alone. At ClientEarth  
we are developing innovative 
legal strategies using 
company and financial laws to 
drive companies, investors and 
directors towards sustainable 
and environmentally sound 
modes of governance and 
decision-making.” 

Alice Garton 
Senior Lawyer,  
Head of Climate, ClientEarth.

ENVIRONMENT 

We acknowledge and measure 
our impacts, recognise our 
responsibilities and take action to 
improve wherever possible.

As an office-based business, 
our direct environmental impact 
is relatively limited. The main 
impact of our operations is energy 
consumption, water use, travel and 
materials use. We are committed to 

reducing these across our working 
practices through a culture of energy 
and resource efficiency. 

Our Environment Committee has 
responsibility for coordinating and 
reporting all our environmental 
initiatives including maintenance 
of our Environmental Management 
System (EMS) for our UK operations. 
The EMS was launched in 2014 and 
is based on the ISO 14001 standard. 
Impax has reported its CO2 emissions 

to the Carbon Disclosure Project 
since 2009. Vince O’Brien is the 
Non-Executive Director responsible 
for the Company’s environmental 
performance and targets. He 
attends the quarterly Environment 
Committee meetings.

There has been an increase in energy 
use in the new building and increased 
air travel especially to the USA. Scope 
2 emissions increased by 15%, while 
the Scope 3 emissions increased in 
absolute terms, but were flat year on 
year, at the per employee level.

Our move to new premises and the 
acquisition of Impax NH have had 
significant impact on both our Scope 
2 (electricity use per employee) and 
3 carbon emissions from air travel. 

We are currently reviewing plans 
to reduce our Scope 2 and Scope 3 
carbon emissions. We also intend to 
set long-term reduction targets which 
we will publish next year.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018

 
OUR COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CONTINUED

  | 28

MARKETPLACE

Impax aspires to best practice across 
all aspects of the management of its 
listed and real asset investments. 

ENGAGEMENT AND VOTING
We focus our investment in 
companies with robust governance. 
Environmental Social and Governance 
(“ESG”) considerations are embedded 
within our rigorous investment 
processes for all our investments. 

For listed equity investments we 
have a ten step investment process 
and failure of a company to reach 
the required level of ESG quality will 
prevent our investment.

Impax engages with 
investee companies and is 
committed to long-term 
engagement to improve 
practices and disclosure 
across their governance 
and sustainability 
activities.”

We measure our success by 
outcomes rather than the number of 
engagements. However, the work in 
this area is increasing, as shown in 
Figure 7. 

We often work in collaboration with 
other organisations and investors as 
this can result in a more significant 
impact. 

This year our main engagement 
themes were:

Smaller companies’ ESG processes 
and disclosures

Governance issues including 
entrenched or classified boards and 
separation of the roles of Chair and 
CEO 

Directors’ remuneration

Cybersecurity

Climate and GHG emissions related 
(extent to which companies satisfied 
the recommendations of the TCFD).

We are committed to ensuring 
the consistent exercise of voting 
rights associated with shares held 
in investment mandates where 
proxy voting has been delegated to 
us. During the Period we voted at 
186 company meetings (96% of all 
applicable), on over 2,245 resolutions. 
We voted against management on 170 
(8%) of these. We disclose a summary 
of our proxy voting activity on our 
website on a quarterly basis. 

FIGURE 7: Our annual engagement initiatives

109

70

2018

2017

2016

2015

2014

36

31

23

A+

WE SCORE A+ 
FOR OUR OVER-
ARCHING APPROACH 
TO RESPONSIBLE 
INVESTMENT IN THE 
2018 UN PRI SURVEY.

PROXY VOTING

WE VIEW PROXY VOTING 
AS A KEY ACTIVITY IN THE 
ONGOING DIALOGUE WITH 
COMPANIES IN WHICH WE 
INVEST AND IT IS OFTEN 
THE CATALYST FOR MANY 
OF OUR GOVERNANCE 
ENGAGEMENTS. 

#1

IMPAX IS RANKED AS 
A TIER 1 SIGNATORY 
TO THE FINANCIAL 
REPORTING COUNCIL’S 
THREE TIER UK 
STEWARDSHIP CODE. 

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY | 29

MEASURING THE POSITIVE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF OUR INVESTMENT STRATEGIES

Many investors are not only interested 
in making superior, long-term, risk-
adjusted returns, but in also ensuring 
that their investments have a positive 
impact on the environment. 

We started reporting quantified 
impact metrics for our global small 
cap strategy four years ago. Judging 
from the positive feedback we have 
received, clients are finding it helpful 

to understand the link between our 
investments in companies delivering 
environmental products and services 
and the environmental outcome of 
their business activities. 

This year we reported our impact 
metrics for our Asia Pacific strategy 
for the first time, as well as results 
for the Impax Specialists and 
Leaders strategies.

FIGURE 8: Environmental impact for a £10 million investment

In our Specialists strategy

In our Leaders strategy

In our Asia-Pacific strategy

Net CO2 emissions 
avoided 
7,850 tCO2
(2017: 7,740 tCO2)

1

Total renewable 
electricity generated 
2,090 MWh

(2017: 2,920 MWh)

Total water treated, 
saved or provided 
2,390 MEGALITRES

(2017: 3,030 megalitres)

Total materials 
recovered/ 
waste treated 
1,300 TONNES

(2017: 780 tonnes)

Equivalent to  
taking 
4,130

cars off the road  
for a year in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
550

households’ electricity 
consumption in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
18,200

households’ water 
consumption in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
1,340

households’ waste arising 
in 2018

Net CO2 emissions 
avoided 
170 tCO2
(2017: 170 tCO2)

Total renewable 
electricity generated 
2,640 MWh

(2017: 2,210 MWh)

Total water treated, 
saved or provided 
640 MEGALITRES

(2017: 2,670 megalitres)

Total materials 
recovered/ 
waste treated 
2,690 TONNES

(2017: 2,470 tonnes)

Equivalent  
to taking 
90

cars off the road  
for a year in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
700

households’ electricity 
consumption in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
4,890

households’ water 
consumption in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
2,720

households’ waste arising 
in 2018

Net CO2 emissions 
avoided 
7,560 tCO2

Coal displaced in 
Asian cities 
5,430 MWh

Total water treated, 
saved or provided 
9,010 MEGALITRES

Total materials 
recovered/ 
waste treated 
3,950 TONNES

Equivalent  
to taking 
3,390

cars off the road  
for a year in 2018

Air quality 
improvement 
equivalent to taking 
4,270

diesel trucks off the  
road for a year

Equivalent  
to 
57,100

households’ water 
consumption in 2018

Equivalent  
to 
23,200

households’ waste arising 
in 2018

1  Relates to the Asia-Pacific strategy

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018

           
SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY

  | 30

OUR COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CONTINUED
OUR COMMITMENT TO CORPORATE RESPONSIBILITY CONTINUED

We were an early signatory to the Montreal Pledge 
which requires investors to commit to measure  
and publicly disclose the carbon footprint of  
their investment portfolios on an annual basis.  
We believe our positive impact reporting takes  
this measurement to the next level.

HELPING CLIENTS CONSIDER 
THE ALIGNMENT OF THEIR 
INVESTMENTS WITH SDGS
As part of its sustainable 
development agenda, in 2015 
the UN developed 17 Sustainable 
Development Goals (“SDGs”), a series 
of targets the UN has challenged 
the world’s economies to achieve by 
2030. These cover topics ranging 
from healthcare, education and 
environmental protection, to equality. 
We have identified the SDGs that 
are most relevant to the products, 
services, and long-term strategies  
of our investee companies. 

Asset owners are increasingly 
adopting the UN SDGs as a useful 
framework for allocating capital 
towards positive impact investments. 
Our mapping exercise helps to 
explain how our broader thematic 
listed equity strategies align with 
these goals. Further details on 
our methodology and results of 
this mapping can be found in our 
Impact Report.

PARTICIPATION AND MEMBERSHIPS
We are active members of several 
trade and industry organisations 
that are dedicated to promoting 
the transition to a more sustainable 
economy and the efficient use of 
natural resources. 

Impax is member of, or signatory  
to the following organisations: 

Council of Institutional Investors 
(“CII”)

Task Force for Climate-Related 
Financial Disclosures (“TCFD”)

UN Principles for Responsible 
Investment (“UNPRI”)

Institutional Investors Group on 
Climate Change (“IIGCC”)

Investor Network on Climate Risk 
(“INCR”)

Carbon Disclosure Project (“CDP”)

UK Sustainable Investment and 
Finance Association (“UKSIF”)

US Sustainable Investment and 
Finance Association (“USSIF”)

Low Carbon Finance Group

UK Stewardship Code

Intentional Endowments Network 

Global Impact Investing Network 
(“GIIN”).

 | 31

HOW RISK IS MANAGED

BOARD

CHIEF EXECUTIVE

AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE

SENIOR MANAGEMENT

RISK MANAGEMENT FUNCTION

RISK MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL

Impax has adopted a risk 
management framework which 
takes into account the key 
principles of risk identification, 
risk measurement, risk mitigation, 
risk monitoring and reporting. The 
Board strives to achieve a balance 
between appropriate levels of 
risk and return and to ensure that 
the risks taken by the firm are 
appropriately managed.

Although the Board sets the overall 
business risk strategy and appetite, all 
staff are responsible for identifying, 
monitoring and reviewing risks across 
their team and the Group. 

The Chief Risk Officer is responsible 
for maintaining a risk register and for 
an on-going programme to monitor 
internal controls and processes 
designed to mitigate the risks 
identified. This includes reporting 
to the Group’s Audit and Risk 
Committee on a quarterly basis.

The principal risks that the Group 
face are described in this section. 
Further information on financial 
risk is given in note 32 to the 
financial statements.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

RISK

DESCRIPTION

HOW WE MITIGATE THE RISK

REPUTATIONAL  
RISK

Reputational risk can arise from any of the key risks described below  
and relates to the Impax brand and relationships with our stakeholders.

Integrity and appropriate conduct are an integral part of the Impax 
culture and values, and all our business dealings. In addition, the 
controls below help to mitigate the risk of incidents that may have  
a reputational impact.

MARKET  
RISK

The Group’s Listed Equity business charges management fees based on  
AUM and accordingly its revenue is exposed to market risk.

The Group operates a number of different strategies which 
themselves are diversified by geography and industry.

The Group seeds investments in its own Listed Equity funds in order to  
build a track record to market those funds more effectively. It is therefore 
directly exposed to the market performance of the funds.

The Group also invests in its own Private Equity funds and is therefore  
exposed to the performance of these funds.

The Group’s investments teams have to follow defined investment 
processes. All investments are overseen by The Group’s Investment 
Committees. The Group attempts to mitigate this risk through the use 
of hedging instruments where appropriate and intends to divest from 
these investments when commercial and market conditions allow. 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES CONTINUED

  | 32

RISK

DESCRIPTION

HOW WE MITIGATE THE RISK

CURRENCY  
RISK

For the London-centred Impax LN business a significant percentage of 
its income is based on assets denominated in foreign currencies whilst the 
majority of costs are in sterling.

For the New Hampshire, USA-based Impax NH business the majority of income 
is based on assets denominated in US dollars and all costs are in US dollars.

Goodwill and intangible assets arising on the Impax LLC acquisition are held 
in US dollars and the Group’s debt is held in US dollars.

For the year ended 30 September 2018, and on an on-going basis, 
the Group’s strategy for the Impax LN business has been to put in 
place hedges, in the form of forward rate contracts, where there is 
sufficient predictability over the income to allow for an effective and 
cost-efficient hedge. Otherwise foreign currency income is converted 
to sterling as soon as practically possible after receipt.

BUSINESS 
EXPANSION

The acquisition in Q1 2018 of Impax Asset Management LLC (Impax NH), has 
resulted in the firm taking on the inherent risks of this US business, and the 
introduction of new integration risks.

The existing management and internal control frameworks 
have remained in place following the acquisition and have been 
incorporated into Group-wide governance structures.

LIQUIDITY  
RISK

Liquidity risk in relation to client portfolios is the risk that funds cannot be 
generated to meet redemptions or other obligations as they arise. Liquidity 
issues can arise as a result of market conditions or through holdings of 
illiquid investments. 

Liquidity risk also applies to the Group’s own financial obligations, in the event 
that cash resources are insufficient to meet liabilities as they fall due. 

We actively monitor the liquidity of individual stocks and will adjust 
fund holdings where necessary to ensure that we are able to meet 
fund redemptions.

The Group’s approach to managing its own liquidity risk is to ensure 
that it has sufficient cash on hand to meet liabilities when due under 
both normal and stressed conditions, and to satisfy regulatory 
requirements. The Group produces cash flow forecasts covering a 
12 month period. The Group’s management and Board review these 
forecasts. As shown in note 23 to the financial statements the Group 
has adequate cash reserves.

CREDIT  
RISK

The Group is exposed to the risk of counterparty default. Our counterparties 
include banks and other institutions holding the Group’s cash reserves.

The Group seeks to manage this risk by only depositing cash with 
institutions with high credit ratings and by allocating its cash holdings 
to at least four institutions at any time.

REGULATORY 
RISK

The Group’s operations are subject to financial services legislation and 
regulations, including minimum capital requirements and compliance 
procedures, in each of the jurisdictions in which it operates.

The Group seeks to manage these risks by ensuring close monitoring 
of compliance with the regulations, and by tracking proposed 
changes and reacting immediately when changes are required. The 
Group has a permanent and independent compliance function. In 
particular, the Group is actively monitoring Brexit negotiations and 
a new legal entity has been created in Ireland to mitigate potential 
disruption to our business model and clients.

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMYRISK

DESCRIPTION

HOW WE MITIGATE THE RISK

 | 33

PEOPLE  
RISK

The success of the Group depends on the support and experience of its 
key employees, and in particular the most senior managers. The loss of key 
employees could have a material adverse effect on its result or operations.

OPERATIONAL 
RISK

Operational risk arises in our investment management activities, distribution 
activities and in the operation of our corporate infrastructure.

CYBER  
RISK

Cyber attacks against financial services firms are growing in number and 
sophistication and would result in business disruption and/or data loss.

The Group seeks to manage this risk by offering competitive 
remuneration packages, including share schemes and carried interest 
in Private Equity funds, and by creating a supportive and enjoyable 
working environment. We also seek to put in place sustainable 
succession and development plans. The UK senior investment team 
has been stable since the Company’s inception.

The Group has established control frameworks so that the risk of 
financial loss to the Group through operational failure is minimised. 
As part of this the Group has obtained full “ISAE 3402” for the 12 
months ended 30 September 2018, for its UK Listed Equity business.

Impax also maintains plans to manage operational business risks in 
the case of an emergency. These involve specific responses to enable 
business contingency and recovery procedures.

The Group has insurance cover which is reviewed each year prior to 
policy renewal.

The Group has put in place measures to minimise and manage 
possible technology risks and to ensure the safety of data and 
General Data Protection Regulation compliance. Information and 
cyber security is enforced throughout the business. This ensures 
hardware such as laptops and mobile devices are fully protected. 

All staff globally receive regular cyber awareness training. In addition, 
external and internal penetration tests are carried out globally on an 
annual basis. We also carry out company-wide phishing tests, and 
have global security certifications.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018AUDITOR’S STATEMENT

CONTACT DETAILS

  | 34

The auditor’s report on the 
financial statements and the 
auditors’ statement under 
section 496 of the Companies 
Act on whether the information 
given in the Strategic Report and 
Directors’ report (for the financial 
year ended 30 September 2018) 
is consistent with the Group 
financial statements were both 
unqualified and can be found on 
pages 17–22 of the Governance 
and Financial Report.

SECRETARY
Zack Wilson

REGISTERED OFFICE
7th Floor
30 Panton Street
London 
SW1Y 4AJ

T: +44 (0)20 3912 3000 
F: +44 (02) 3912 3001

REGISTRARS
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The Registry
34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent
BR3 4TU

NOMINATED ADVISER AND BROKER
Peel Hunt LLP
Moor House
120 London Wall
London
EC2Y 5ET

SPECIALISTS IN THE TRANSITION TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE ECONOMY | 35

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC  STRATEGIC REPORT 2018

WWW.IMPAXAM.COM

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC
7th Floor
30 Panton Street
London
SW1Y 4AJ
United Kingdom

T: +44 (0)20 3912 3000
E: info@impaxam.com

 @ImpaxAM 
 Impax Asset Management

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL REPORT  
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

1998

2018

CELEBRATING 

20 

YEARS 

INVESTING IN THE  
TRANSITION TO A  
MORE SUSTAINABLE  
GLOBAL ECONOMY

IMPAX SPECIALISES IN 
INVESTING IN THE TRANSITION 
TO A MORE SUSTAINABLE 
GLOBAL ECONOMY

OUR MISSION

Our mission is to generate superior, risk-adjusted investment returns from 
opportunities arising from the transition to a more sustainable economy for 
clients with a medium to long-term horizon. 

We seek to provide a stimulating, collaborative and supportive work-place 
for our staff, and make a contribution to the development of a sustainable 
society, by supporting or undertaking relevant research and engaging or 
collaborating with others.

This report contains details of members of the Board of Directors and the Senior Management team, reports 
on the Group’s Corporate Governance and Remuneration and presents the full financial statements including 
the independent auditor’s report.

Our separate Strategic Report contains information about Impax, how we make money and how we run 
the business. It includes an overview of our main markets, our strategy, business model, key performance 
indicators and main areas of risk, as well as our progress during 2018. A copy of the Strategic Report can be 
downloaded from www.impaxam.com. This report also describes our approach to organisation and culture, 
governance and sustainability, and includes a summary of our financial strategy. 

Naming of companies in this document

For simplicity we use the following short forms in the place of the legal company entity names in this 
document and Strategic Report.

Impax Asset Management Group plc is referred to throughout as “Impax” or the “Company”.

In January 2018, Pax World Management LLC was acquired by Impax and has been re-named Impax Asset 
Management LLC. This company is based in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and we refer to it as “Impax NH”. 
Impax NH is the manager of Pax World Funds.

Impax Asset Management Ltd and Impax Asset Management (AIFM) Ltd manage or advise listed equity funds  
and accounts, and the Real Assets division. The majority of this business is based in London so we refer  
to it as “Impax LN”.

CONTENTS

Governance

Financial Statements

01   Chairman’s Introduction

23  Financial Statements

04  Board of Directors

27  Notes to the Financial Statements

06  Corporate Governance

64  Company Financial Statements

09  Directors Report

67   Notes to the Company Financial 

12   Audit and Risk Committee Report

14   Remuneration Committee Report

17   Independent Auditor’s Report

Statements

74  Notice of Annual General Meeting

78  Officers and Advisers

CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION

2018 was a year of significant 
growth and progress for Impax. 
The acquisition of the US based 
Impax Asset Management LLC has 
enhanced our earnings and I am 
pleased to report another year 
of progress against all our Key 
Performance Indicators (“KPIs”).”

Keith Falconer  
Chairman

During the 12 months to 30 September 2018 
(the “Period”), Impax continued to see strong 
flows into its Listed Equity strategies from clients 
around the world. Our pipeline for new mandates 
is also very encouraging and we expect to receive 
allocations from both existing and new clients in 
the coming months. 

The acquisition of Impax Asset Management 
LLC, which completed in January 2018, cements 
Impax’s position as a leading asset manager 
focused on the transition to a more sustainable 
global economy. We now have an almost equal 
footprint in the US and Europe both in terms of 
staff numbers and assets under management 
(“AUM”)1. Combining the two companies 
extends our view of investment opportunities 
and enhances our ability to offer exciting career 
opportunities to our staff.

Impax has a strong business 
culture: our well-established values 
reflect our philosophy, behaviour 
and commitments to our clients, 
staff, and responsible citizenship.”

Following the acquisition of Impax NH we have 
enhanced our internal communications with our 
teams around the world and are pleased with 
the high levels of staff engagement across all 
regions. 

FIGURE 1: Impax Asset Management group plc organisation chart 

Impax Asset  
Management group plc

Impax Asset  
Management Ltd

Impax Asset  
Management (AIFM) Ltd

IAM US Holdco, Inc.

Impax LN

Impax Asset  
Management LLC

Impax NH

1  AUM – assets under management and advice

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

01

CHAIRMAN’S INTRODUCTION CONTINUED

BOARD STRUCTURE AND COMPOSITION 
As Chairman, I am responsible for leading the 
Board and ensuring that the Company has in 
place the strategy, people, governance structure 
and culture to deliver value to shareholders and 
other stakeholders of the Group over the medium 
to long-term. 

The Group comprises several subsidiary 
companies as shown in figure 1.

The Board is assisted by two committees, 
Remuneration and Audit & Risk, which have 
clearly defined terms of reference. Further 
details on the membership and role of these 
committees are provided on pages 12–14. Other 
tasks, such as nominations, succession planning, 
environmental performance and the review of 
wider governance issues, are addressed during 
regular Board meetings. 

During the Period, the Board comprised myself as 
Non-Executive Chairman, the Chief Executive and 
four other Non-Executive directors supported by 
the Group Company Secretary. Our Non-Executive 
Director group has a diverse mix of skills and 
experience gained through their many years in senior 
positions across the global financial services sector. 

Guy de Froment stepped down as a non-
executive director of the Company in June this 
year. I would like to thank him for his dedication 
and valuable contribution to the development 
of Impax’s business over the last 10 years. 
At the same time we welcomed Arnaud de 
Servigny to the Board. Arnaud brings a wealth 
of experience in investment management. He is 
currently a non-executive director of BNP Paribas 
Asset Management, France, and has worked at 
Deutsche Bank, Barclays Wealth and Standard 
& Poor’s. He sits on the Company’s Audit & Risk 
and Remuneration Committees.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

The Quoted Company Alliance  
(“QCA”) Code

The Directors recognise the 
importance of strong corporate 
governance and the need for 
continual development of our 
processes and practices in this 
rapidly evolving area.”

Over the last year, companies quoted on the 
Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”) have been 
required to provide details of the recognised 
corporate governance code that they have 
decided to apply, how they comply with that 
code, and, where they depart from their chosen 
corporate governance code, an explanation 
of the reasons for doing so. The Board has 
chosen to follow The Quoted Company 
Alliance (“QCA”) Code, which was developed 
by the QCA in consultation with a number of 
significant institutional investors focused on 
smaller companies. The underlying principle 
of the QCA Code is that “the purpose of good 
corporate governance is to ensure that the 
company is managed in an efficient, effective and 
entrepreneurial manner for the benefit of all 
shareholders over the longer-term”. 

To see how Impax addresses the key governance 
principles defined in the QCA Code, please refer 
to the detailed table on our website. In the few 
instances where our practices depart from the 
expectations of the QCA Code, we have clearly 
highlighted these and given an explanation.

02

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

OUTLOOK 
On behalf of the Board I would like to thank all 
our staff for their extraordinary commitment to 
the Company and their contributions to Impax’s 
results during another successful year. 

We are confident of continuing strong growth 
and delivering shareholder value through 
exploiting new opportunities in the transition to 
a more sustainable global economy and building 
further on the solid foundations laid down over 
many years.

J Keith R Falconer
5 December 2018

Our commitment to the highest  
governance standards
Impax has pioneered methods to include 
Environmental Social and Governance principles, 
as well as Stewardship best practice, across the 
business. We aim to demonstrate the same levels 
of commitment and disclosure here as we look 
for in the companies in which we invest.

We seek to act with the highest standards 
across all our operations, recognising our 
responsibilities to all stakeholders. Our Non-
Executive Directors are engaged in the 
oversight of the integration of responsible 
business practices throughout our operations. 
For example, Vince O’Brien is the Director 
responsible for our environmental impact and 
policies and attends the management team’s 
quarterly environmental committee meetings 
as an observer, while both Sally Bridgeland and 
Lindsey Brace Martinez have led meetings of 
our recently formed “Women at Impax” Group. 
Further details on our inclusivity and diversity, 
human capital and environmental activities are 
outlined in our Corporate Responsibility section 
on pages 26–30 of the Strategic Report.

2018 BOARD STRATEGY AND PROGRAMME
The Board held nine formal meetings during 
the Period, with significant time devoted 
to strategic discussion. The Non-Executive 
Directors also attended an annual strategy day 
with the executive team; this year the agenda 
was principally to review the progress of the 
integration and consider the advancement 
of business opportunities arising from the 
acquisition of Impax Asset Management LLC.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

03

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

KEITH FALCONER 
Chairman

IAN SIMM 
Chief Executive

LINDSEY BRACE 
MARTINEZ 
Non-Executive Director

SALLY  
BRIDGELAND 
Non-Executive Director

Joined the board 
2004

Joined the board 
2001

Joined the board 
2015

Joined the board 
2015

Previous 
roles and 
experience

Keith joined Martin 
Currie, the independent 
Edinburgh-based 
investment firm in 
1979. The first part of 
his career was spent 
managing portfolios on 
behalf of institutional 
clients. Subsequently, 
he became the 
managing director of 
sales and marketing. 
Keith retired from 
Martin Currie in 2003.

Ian has been 
responsible for building 
the Company since its 
launch in 1998, and 
he continues to head 
the listed equities and 
real assets investment 
committees. 

Prior to joining Impax 
Ian was an engagement 
manager at McKinsey 
& Company advising 
clients on resource 
efficiency issues.  

Current 
external 
appointments

Director of Baillie Gifford 
Japan Trust and the 
Adelphi Distillery.

In 2013-2018 Ian was a 
board member of the 
Natural Environment 
Research Council 
(NERC), the UK’s 
leading funding agency 
for environmental 
science. He is currently a 
member of the Steering 
Committee of the UK’s 
Green Finance Initiative.

Qualifications  
and 
experience

Qualified as a chartered 
accountant in 1979. 

Portfolio management 
and institutional sales 
and marketing.

First class honours 
degree in physics from 
Cambridge University 
and a Master’s in Public 
Administration from 
Harvard University.

04 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

Sally qualified as a 
Fellow of the Institute of 
Actuaries with consultants 
Bacon & Woodrow (now 
Aon Hewitt) and was CEO 
of the BP Pension Fund 
from 2007 to 2014. She 
has served as Chair of the 
Management Board of the 
Faculty and Institute of 
Actuaries. 

Non-executive director 
of Royal London and 
the Local Pensions 
Partnership. Trustee of 
Lloyds Bank’s Pension 
Schemes, NEST 
Corporation and the 
Nuclear Liabilities Fund. 
Honorary Group Captain 
with 601 Squadron of the 
Royal Auxiliary Air Force 
and a trustee of RAF 
Central Fund. Strategic 
adviser to Darwin 
Property. Investment 
Consultant with Avida 
International.

Fellow of the Institute of 
Actuaries.

30 years’ experience 
in the UK pensions and 
actuarial sector.

Lindsey served as 
a member of the 
Executive Team and 
was a Managing 
Director at Cambridge 
Associates. She held 
multiple roles during 
her 15-year tenure 
including, Global Head 
of Consulting Services 
and External Relations. 

Prior to this, Lindsey 
was a portfolio analyst 
and manager for 
the Hancock Natural 
Resource Group and 
a senior consultant at 
Booz Allen.

Founder and CEO, 
StarPoint Advisors, LLC. 
Member of the Advisory 
Board for the Yale Center 
for Business and the 
Environment. Member 
of the Investment 
Committee for the 
National Geographic 
Society. Chair of the 
Board, Novatus Energy, 
LLC. Trustee of Pax 
World Funds Series 
Trust 1, Board member 
of Seven Islands Land 
Company.

MBA and Master of 
Environmental Studies 
from Yale University. Over 
25 years’ experience in 
investment advisory, 
natural resources 
portfolio management, 
institutional marketing 
and sales, and 
management consulting.

Committee membership

Remuneration

Audit & Risk

GUY DE FROMENT 1 
Non-Executive Director

ARNAUD DE 
SERVIGNY 2 
Non-Executive Director

VINCENT 
O’BRIEN 
Non-Executive Director

ZACK WILSON 
Group General Counsel 
and Company Secretary

Joined the board 
2008 (Retired 2018)

Joined the board 
2018

Joined the board 
2009

Assumed roles 
2011

Arnaud was previously 
a Managing Director at 
Deutsche Bank Asset 
Management and has 
also worked at Barclays 
Wealth, Standard & 
Poors and BIM private 
equity fund.

Vince served as a 
director of Montagu 
Private Equity for over 
23 years. He was part 
of the core team which 
lead the buyout of 
Montagu from HSBC in 
2003. 

Prior to that he worked 
in audit and corporate 
finance for Coopers & 
Lybrand, now PWC.

Guy joined Paribas in 
1997 as head of Asset 
Management; he then 
co-headed BNP Paribas 
Asset Management 
after the merger with 
BNP until 2005. He was 
Vice-Chairman of BNP 
Paribas Investment 
Partners until his 
retirement in 2010.

Prior to this, he spent 
over 20 years with 
Indosuez in various 
market related activities 
including as head of 
Asset Management.

Prior to joining Impax in 
2011, Zack was Director 
& General Counsel 
for the investment 
management group 
Development Capital 
Management. 
Previously he was 
Corporate Counsel 
for Telewest Global 
Inc (renamed Virgin 
Media Inc), where 
he played a leading 
role in managing the 
successful execution 
of a number of high 
profile transactions.

Zack is a non-executive 
director of Impax 
Funds (Ireland) plc. 

Trustee of the Paribas 
London. Pension 
Fund and director of 
Parvest and Parworld 
Luxembourg SICAVs.

Elected member of the 
Committee of the Wine 
Society.

Non-executive 
directorships of 
BNP Paribas Asset 
Management France, 
Bramham Gardens 
Investments Limited, 
Bramham Gardens SARL 
and Fondation Pour 
l’Ecole.

Chair of the Investment 
Committee at Nesta 
Impact Investments, 
Chair of Quest Fund 
Placement LLP.

Member of the Advisory 
Board of Prime 
Advocates Limited.

Guy is a graduate of  
the Ecole des Hautes 
Etudes Commerciales 
(HEC Paris).

Some 40 years in global 
investment management.

Arnaud has been 
a visiting Adjunct/ 
Professor of Finance 
at Imperial College 
Business School since 
2005 and is the author 
of several books on 
finance, economics and 
investment management.

Chartered accountant, 
former chairman of the 
British Venture Capital 
Association.

Over 30 years’ 
experience in the  
private equity industry.

Qualified as a solicitor in 
2000 at the global law 
firm Norton Rose. 

Master of Arts in 
Jurisprudence from 
Oxford University.

1 Retired 12 June 2018    2 Appointed 12 June 2018

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

05

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 

COMPLIANCE WITH QUOTED COMPANIES ALLIANCE CODE
The Directors recognise the importance of good corporate governance and have chosen to apply 
the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (the “QCA Code”). 

The correct application of the QCA code requires the Company to apply its ten principles and also to 
publish certain related disclosures either on our website or in this Annual Report or a combination of 
both. We have chosen to use a combination of both. Our website includes disclosure considering each 
principle in turn and references where the appropriate disclosure is given. 

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS   
The Board deals with all aspects of the Company’s affairs including setting and monitoring strategy, 
reviewing performance, ensuring adequate financial resources are in place and reporting to 
shareholders. The Board reserves these and other specific matters for its own decision. Operational 
decisions are delegated to the Chief Executive and senior management.

Board composition
The Board consists of a Non-Executive Chairman, four Non-Executive Directors and the Chief 
Executive. Details of the current Board members are given on pages 4 and 5 of this report. Throughout 
the year the position of Chairman and Chief Executive were held by separate individuals. There is a 
clear division of responsibilities between the Chairman and Chief Executive. Guy de Froment resigned 
on 12 June 2018 and was replaced by Arnaud de Servigny on the same day.

The Board has appointed one of the Non-Executive Directors (Vince O’Brien) to act as the Senior 
Independent Director. The Board considers that three of the Non-Executive Directors (Vince O’Brien, 
Sally Bridgeland, Lindsey Brace Martinez) are independent as envisaged by the QCA Code. Arnaud 
de Servigny is not considered to be independent as he represents a significant shareholder. The 
Chairman is also not considered to be independent by nature of his significant shareholding and 
past service to the Group. The Non-Executive Directors and Chairman all have or have had senior 
executive experience and offer insightful judgement on Board matters. The Non-Executive Directors 
do not participate in any bonus schemes or share ownership schemes and their appointments are 
non-pensionable. 

The Company anticipates a time commitment from the Non-Executive Directors of twenty days 
per annum. This includes attendance at regular Board meetings, service on the Audit and Risk and 
Remuneration Committees and a number of regular meetings to review and discuss progress with 
the executive team. The Chief Executive works full time in the business and has no other significant 
outside business commitments.

Board Committees
The Board has two standing Committees; the Audit and Risk Committee and the Remuneration 
Committee. The Board may appoint other committees from time to time to consider specific matters.

The Audit and Risk Committee is responsible for overseeing financial reporting, risk management 
and internal controls and external audit. Sally Bridgeland chairs this committee. The Committee 
report is provided on pages 12 and 13.

The purpose of the Remuneration Committee is to ensure that the Chief Executive and other senior 
employees are fairly rewarded for their individual contribution to the overall performance of the 
Group and that remuneration packages provided do not promote undue risk taking. Vince O’Brien 
chairs this committee. The Committee’s report is provided on pages 14–16.

The Board considers the skills and knowledge of individual members of each committee upon 
appointment and periodically, to ensure that each committee includes members with appropriate 
expertise and who are able to offer an independent outlook. 

These committees report to the Board on a regular basis. They have clearly defined terms of 
reference which are published on the Company’s website.

06 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

Meetings
The Board has a formal agenda of items for consideration at each meeting but also convenes at 
additional times when required. 

All Directors receive detailed Board papers and reports sufficiently in advance of meetings to enable 
a proper review and have unlimited access to the advice and services of senior management should 
further information be required. There is provision for Board members to solicit professional advice 
on Board matters at the Company’s expense.

Details of the number of meetings of the Board (and any committees) during the year, together with 
the attendance record of each Director, are shown in the table below:

Meeting attendance 

Total number of meetings 

Keith Falconer 

Ian Simm

Vince O’Brien

Sally Bridgeland 

Lindsey Brace Martinez1

Guy de Froment2

Arnaud de Servigny3 

Board

Audit & Risk 
Committee 

Remuneration 
Committee 

9

6

9

9

8

8

6

1

5

4

5

3

2

4

4

3

3

1

1  Appointed to Audit & Risk Committee 7 December 2017

2  Resigned 12 June 2018

3  Appointed 12 June 2018. Arnaud attended all Board meetings he was eligible to attend

Appointment of new Directors
There is a rigorous procedure to appoint new Directors to the Board which is led by the Chairman. 
At appropriate times the Board considers the balance of skills, experience, independence and 
knowledge of the Group on the Board and its diversity, how the Board works as a unit and other 
factors relevant to its effectiveness.

Where new Board appointments are considered, the search for candidates will be conducted, and 
appointments made, on merit, against objective criteria and with due regard for the benefits of 
diversity on the Board, including gender. The Board also considers succession planning.

All Directors are subject to reappointment by shareholders at the first opportunity after their 
appointment and thereafter at intervals of no more than three years.

Performance evaluation
The Board carries out an evaluation of its performance annually.

Formal evaluations are carried out to assess the performance of the Board and the individual 
Directors which is led by the Chairman. The Board also completes an evaluation of the Chairman’s 
performance which is led by the Senior Independent Director. The process this year followed the 
same format as the prior year. Directors completed questionnaires which were followed up with 
one to one meetings and a summary report of overall findings from the Chairman. The evaluations 
confirmed a high rating for performance. 

Areas of focus arising from this year’s evaluation include addressing added complexities arising 
from completion of the acquisition of Pax World Management LLC, overseeing diversification of 
the Group’s client base and reviewing Board composition to reflect the Group’s recent and planned 
business growth. In September 2018, the Board also visited the Group’s office in New Hampshire to 
meet with senior management. 

The Board will continue to monitor its approach to the evaluation of effectiveness including the use 
from time to time of external facilitation.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

07

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE CONTINUED

Board members maintain their skillsets through practice in day-to-day roles, enhanced with 
attending specific training where required. This is a combination of in-house company arranged 
briefings and external training. 

The Company Secretary and UK Head of Compliance supports the Chairman in addressing the 
training and development needs of Directors.

Resources

The Board uses external advisors where necessary to enhance knowledge or to gain access to 
particular skills or capabilities. Accountants and lawyers are used for diligence work on acquisitions, 
for example in relation to the acquisition of Pax World Management LLC. An external specialist 
employment consultant was commissioned to conduct a staff engagement survey across the 
Company in 2017. Specialist advisors have also been used by the Board in areas such as internal 
audit and regulatory compliance.

Indemnity
As permitted by the Company’s Articles of Association, the Company has maintained qualifying 
third-party indemnity provisions (as defined under relevant legislation) for the benefit of the 
Company’s Directors throughout the period.

INTERNAL CONTROL
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group’s system of internal controls including financial, 
operational, compliance and risk management controls. 

The Group’s fund management activities are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (the 
“FCA”), the US Securities and Exchange Commission and in respect of its Hong Kong activities, the 
Securities and Futures Commission. The Board has adopted procedures and controls designed to 
ensure its obligations are met.

Details of the key risks facing the Group and internal controls acting to control or mitigate the risks 
are set out on pages 31–33 of the Strategic Report.

Grant Thornton provide internal audit services to the Group.

DIALOGUE WITH SHAREHOLDERS
The Company reports formally to shareholders at the half-year and year end. At the Annual General 
Meeting of the Company, a presentation is given and Directors are available to take questions, 
both formally during the meeting, and informally after the meeting. The Chief Executive and Senior 
Independent Director are available for dialogue with major shareholders on the Company’s plans and 
objectives and meet with them at appropriate times.

Culture
Integrity and appropriate conduct are an integral part of the Impax culture and values, and all our 
business dealings. The Company undertakes regular review and monitoring of its policies in specific 
areas such as anti-bribery and corruption, anti-money laundering, Code of Ethics compliance, 
conflicts of interest, whistleblowing and information security. 

We enjoy a strong collegial culture which we continue to evolve. We value meritocracy, openness, 
fairness and transparency. The Company’s Culture and Values Committee, which has a rotating 
membership open to all staff, meets regularly to assess progress and advance new initiatives 
(the Board receives reports on key initiatives). Culture and values are also considered as part of 
staff appraisals. 

In 2017 the Board supported the executive team’s commissioning of a comprehensive staff 
engagement survey. Relative to comparable companies the results were very positive and we are 
working on those areas that can be improved. We plan to repeat this survey in future to ensure 
that high levels of staff engagement and motivation are sustained, and to maintain a positive and 
aspirational working environment which will enable the Company to continue to thrive and expand. 

Impax is committed to promoting inclusion and diversity. During 2017 we formed a working group, 
“Diversity Matters”, comprising individuals from across the Company. This group’s initial objective 
was to refine our diversity statement to ensure that diversity was a top priority across the business 
and that we aspire to best practice.

08 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

DIRECTORS’ REPORT
For the year ended 30 September 2018

DIVIDENDS 

The Directors propose a final dividend of 3.0 pence per share (2017: 2.2 pence) which together 
with the interim dividend of 1.1 pence per share (2017: 0.7 pence) and the special dividend of 
2.6 pence already declared and paid, makes a total for the year ended 30 September 2018 of 
6.7 pence per share (2017: 2.9 pence). The dividend will be submitted for formal approval at the 
Annual General Meeting. These financial statements do not reflect the final dividend payable, 
which will be accounted for in shareholders’ equity as an appropriation of retained earnings in  
the year ending 30 September 2019.

The final dividend for the year ended 30 September 2017 was paid on 17 March 2018, being 
2.2 pence per share. The trustees of the Impax Employee Benefit Trusts (“EBT”) waived their  
rights to part of these dividends, leading to a total dividend payment of £2,752,107. The interim 
dividend of 1.1 pence and the special dividend of 2.6 pence for the year ended 30 September 2018 
was paid on 17 July 2018 and totalled £4,634,000. These payments are reflected in the statements 
of changes in equity.

SHARES
The Company issued a total of 2,665,989 shares during the period as part of the acquisition of Impax 
NH bringing total shares in issue to 130,415,087. The Impax Asset Management Group plc Employee 
Benefit Trust 2012 and the Impax Group plc Employee Benefit Trust 2004 (together the “EBTs”) 
made market purchases of 1,454,065 of the Company’s shares during the year and satisfied option 
exercises in respect of 10,489,000 shares. 

DIRECTORS AND THEIR INTERESTS IN SHARES  

The Directors of the Company during the year and at the date of this report are set out below.  
The Directors’ interests and those of their connected persons in the Ordinary Shares of the 
Company, all of which are beneficial, at 30 September 2018 and 30 September 2017 were:

Keith Falconer1

Ian Simm1

Vince O’Brien

Guy de Froment

Sally Bridgeland

Lindsey Brace Martinez

Arnaud de Servigny

30 September 
2018

30 September 
2017

6,637,775

9,545,919

110,000

10,489,290

9,486,002

110,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1   Includes vested shares within sub-funds of the Impax Group Employee Benefit Trust 2004 (“EBT 2004”) from which 

the individual and their families may benefit.

There have been no changes to the above holdings since 30 September 2018.

Ian Simm has a 5.88 per cent interest in the capital of Impax Carried Interest Partner LP, a 5 per cent 
interest in the capital of Impax Carried Interest Partner II LP, and a 4 per cent interest in the capital 
of INEI III CIP LP, entities in which the Company holds an investment.

Ian Simm has been granted options over the Company’s Ordinary Shares which have not yet been 
exercised as shown in the table below.

Year granted

2013 (options)

2014 (options)

Options  
held 

100,000

100,000

Exercise  

price

47.9p

56.9p

Earliest to 
exercise date

Latest to exercise 
date

01/01/16

01/01/17

31/12/19

31/12/20

In addition, Ian Simm was granted 60,000 Restricted Share Awards in December 2017 which vest in 
three equal tranches between December 2020 and 2022.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

09

 
 
DIRECTORS’ REPORT CONTINUED
For the year ended 30 September 2018

SUBSTANTIAL SHARE INTERESTS 

The following interests in 3 per cent or more of the issued Ordinary Share capital have been notified 
to the Company as at 5 December 2018:

BNP Paribas Asset Management Holding

Ian R Simm1

Impax Asset Management Group plc Employee Benefit Trust 2012

Hargreave Hale Limited

Blackrock Investment Management

J Keith R Falconer1

Asset Management One

Hargreaves Lansdown Asset Management

Rathbone Investment Managers

Bruce Jenkyn-Jones2

Number

Percentage

31,920,000

24.5

9,545,919

9,107,873

7,302,500

7,031,271

6,637,775

5,474,955

5,199,113

5,129,149

4,951,699

7.3

7.0

5.6

5.4

5.1

4.2

4.0

3.9

3.8

1  Includes vested shares within sub-funds of the EBT 2004 from which the individual and their families may benefit. 

2   Includes vested shares within sub-funds of the EBT 2004 from which the individual and their families may benefit 

and vested but unexercised options. 

In addition the EBT 2004 has a legal interest in a further 13,950,080 shares which have transferred 
to sub-funds from which individuals and their families may benefit and holds 815,273 shares directly.

RISK
A description of the key risks facing the Group and policies and procedures in place to monitor or 
mitigate the risk is provided on pages 31–33 of the Group’s Strategic Report.

PEOPLE
Through our robust people management policies we aim to attract and develop the best people.  
Our performance management processes comprise a twice yearly performance appraisal against 
agreed objectives and our core values. Output from this performance process is used to inform 
decisions on remuneration, career development and progression.

As part of creating a high-performance organisation, we encourage all of our employees to fulfil 
their potential. We provide our employees with access to a range of training and development 
opportunities that are relevant to our business. 

CREDITOR PAYMENT POLICY

The Group seeks to maintain good terms with its trading partners. It is the Group’s policy to agree 
appropriate terms and conditions for its transactions with suppliers and, provided the supplier has 
complied with its obligations, to abide by the terms of payment agreed. Trade creditor days of the 
Group for the year ended 30 September 2018 were 29 (2017: 31).

CHARITABLE DONATIONS
During the year the Group has made donations to charities totalling £63,993. 

10

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

 
STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES 
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the Group and Parent Company 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and Parent Company financial statements for 
each financial year. As required by the AIM Rules of the London Stock Exchange they are required 
to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU and 
applicable law and have elected to prepare the Parent Company financial statements on the same 
basis.

Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied 
that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Parent Company and of 
their profit or loss for that period. In preparing each of the Group and Parent Company financial 
statements, the Directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable, relevant and reliable;

•  state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU;

•  assess the Group and Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as 

applicable, matters related to going concern; and

•  use the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate the Group or the 

Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show 
and explain the Parent Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time 
the financial position of the Parent Company and enable them to ensure that its financial statements 
comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are responsible for such internal control as they 
determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material 
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error and 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 Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial 
information included on the Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing the preparation 
and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also responsible for preparing a Strategic 
Report and a Directors’ Report that complies with that law and those regulations. 

AUDITOR
Each person who is a Director at the date of approval of this report confirms that so far as the 
Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware 
and the Director has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as Director in order to 
make himself aware of any relevant information and to establish the Company’s auditor is aware of 
that information. This confirmation is given pursuant to the section 418 of the Companies Act 2006 
and should be interpreted in accordance therewith.

By order of the Board

Zack Wilson
Company Secretary

5 December 2018

Registered office 
7th Floor, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

11

AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE REPORT
For the year ended 30 September 2018

COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Audit and Risk Committee is comprised of 
the following Non-Executive Directors: Sally 
Bridgeland (Chairman), Vince O’Brien, Lindsey 
Brace-Martinez and Arnaud de Servigny. Guy de 
Froment was a member but resigned on 12 June 
2018 and was replaced by Arnaud de Servigny. 

MEETINGS
The Committee generally meets four times per 
year. During the year the Committee met five 
times, the fifth meeting being in relation to the 
Pax acquisition. Details of attendance at the 
meetings are shown on page 7.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Committee’s responsibilities include:

Financial reporting
•  monitoring the integrity of the financial 
statements and formal announcements 
relating to the Company’s and Group’s 
financial performance;

•  the implementation of new accounting 

standards and policies;

Risk management and internal control
•  reviewing the Group’s risk management 

processes and risk reports;

•  monitoring of the internal financial control 

procedures;

•  reviewing and recommending to the Board 
for approval the Company’s Internal Capital 
Adequacy Process (“ICAAP”);

•  engagement and oversight of internal audit;

External auditors
•  considering appointment, re-appointment 
and removal of the external auditors and 
approving the remuneration of the external 
auditors;

•  reviewing and monitoring the external 

auditors’ independence and objectivity and 
the effectiveness of the audit process; 

•  ensuring the objectivity and independence 
of the external auditor by acting as primary 
contact with the external auditors, meeting 
the external auditors without the presence 
of management where considered necessary 
and receiving all reports directly from the 
external auditors.

CHAIRMAN

SALLY BRIDGELAND

AUDIT AND RISK COMMITTEE MEMBERS

VINCENT O’BRIEN  |  LINDSEY BRACE MARTINEZ 
|  ARNAUD DE SERVIGNY 

MEETINGS HELD

5

FOCUS FOR THE YEAR

•  Reviewed and approved the acquisition 

accounting for Impax NH

•  Considered and approved the 
governance arrangements and 
financial reporting processes and 
controls for the combined group

•  Reviewed the controls in place for 
strong cyber security of all our 
systems, and the plans in place to 
react to cyber attacks

•  Evaluated the implementation of the 

GDPR

12

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

EXTERNAL AUDITOR
KPMG LLP has acted as the auditor of the Group 
since 2010 following a competitive tender. Jatin 
Patel is the current audit partner and this is the 
first year that he has signed the audit report. 
Ethical standards would require him to rotate 
off following the audit of the year ended 30 
September 2022. The Committee considered 
and agreed to the reappointment of the auditor 
during the period.

Details of fees paid to the Company’s auditor 
are shown in note 8 to the financial statements. 
The Committee considered and agreed the 
audit fee during the Period. Total fees paid for 
non-audit services were £86,000. Other non-
audit work included tax advice and non-audit 
fees as a percentage of total fees paid were 23 
per cent. In the opinion of the Board, none of 
the non-audit services provided any concern 
as to the auditor’s independence or objectivity. 
The Committee also considered if there were 
any other factors impacting the auditor’s 
independence and objectivity and concluded 
that there were none. As part of this assessment 
the committee received and considered a report 
from KPMG which confirmed that in their view 
they were independent. 

INTERNAL AUDIT
The Group uses Grant Thornton to provide 
Internal Audit services and complete internal 
audits of areas suggested by management and 
approved by the Committee. Two audits were 
completed during the year. The Committee 
are considering expanding the number of 
audits completed. 

Sally Bridgeland
Chairman of the Audit and Risk Committee

5 December 2018

FINANCIAL REPORTING
The Committee has reviewed the Group’s Interim 
Report and the Annual Report and Accounts and 
recommended them to the Board for approval. 
The Committee has considered whether suitable 
accounting policies have been adopted and 
whether management have made appropriate 
estimate and judgements when preparing the 
financial statements. 

The Committee received reports from the 
external auditor, KPMG on the audit scope and 
strategy and their independent assessment of 
the management conclusion on key areas of 
judgements and estimates. KPMG attended the 
Committee meetings following the half and full 
year ends and met privately with the Committee.

The key accounting estimates and judgements 
considered by the Committee during the period 
were as follows:

•  Accounting for the acquisition of Impax NH

 The acquisition required estimates to be made 
in respect of the fair value of management 
contracts acquired with the acquisition and 
of the contingent consideration payable for 
the acquisition. The Committee considered 
reports from the Finance function which 
described the key assumptions used and was 
satisfied with the values determined.

RISK MANAGEMENT AND INTERNAL CONTROL
The Company’s risk management process and 
the risks which are considered to be the key 
risks facing the Group are described on pages 
31–34 of the Strategic Report. The committee 
has received and considered a report from 
the Chief Risk Officer at each of its meetings 
and reviewed the Group risk assessment. The 
Committee also received specific presentations 
from management on cyber security and on the 
implementation of the GDPR regulations.

Prior to the completion of the acquisition of 
Pax the Committee reviewed the proposed 
governance arrangements and the financial 
reporting processes and controls for the 
combined group. 

The Committee has also reviewed and approved 
the Group’s ICAAP and the Group’s capital 
arrangements following the acquisition of Pax. 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

13

 
REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPORT 
For the year ended 30 September 2018

COMMITTEE MEMBERS
The Remuneration Committee is comprised of 
the following Non-Executive Directors: Vince 
O’Brien (Chairman), Sally Bridgeland, Lindsey 
Brace Martinez and Arnaud de Servigny. Guy de 
Froment was a member but resigned on 12 June 
2018 and was replaced by Arnaud de Servigny. 

REMUNERATION ACTIVITIES DURING THE YEAR
During the past year, the Committee met four 
times to undertake the following:

•  review and recommend the remuneration 
and terms and conditions of service of the 
Directors and senior employees;

•  approve the overall remuneration policy to 

ensure that this is designed to be in line with 
the business strategy, objectives and long-
term interests of the wider group;

•  approve all share-based awards including the 
new Impax Asset Management Group plc UK 
Share Incentive Plan; and

•  ensure that the Company’s policies and 
practices are compliant with the FCA 
Remuneration Code and associated 
remuneration related Regulations.

POLICY ON CHIEF EXECUTIVE AND SENIOR 
EMPLOYEES REMUNERATION
The remuneration and terms and conditions of 
service of the Directors and senior employees 
are determined by the Board, based on 
recommendations made by the Remuneration 
Committee. The Committee recognise the 
importance of providing a remuneration package 
that will, without promoting undue risk, attract, 
retain and incentivise as well as encourage 
increased shareholder value in the short and 
longer-term.

For the year ended 30 September 2018 there 
are potentially three main elements of the 
remuneration packages for the Chief Executive 
and senior employees. 

(i) Basic salary and benefits 
Basic salaries are recommended to the Board by 
the Remuneration Committee taking into account 
the performance of the individual and the rate for 
similar positions in comparable companies. Benefits 
include income protection, critical illness insurance, 
life assurance and private medical insurance.

CHAIRMAN

VINCENT O’BRIEN

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE MEMBERS

LINDSEY BRACE MARTINEZ  |  ARNAUD  
DE SERVIGNY  |  SALLY BRIDGELAND

MEETINGS HELD

4

FOCUS FOR THE YEAR

•  Considered and recommended 

the implementation of a new long  
term incentive scheme which 
encourages retention of shares  
over a 10 year period

•  Reviewed and approved the 
remuneration arrangements  
for Impax NH employees

14

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

(ii) Variable remuneration
Variable remuneration consists of a cash bonus and share-based awards. For Impax LN aggregate 
variable remuneration will typically be capped at 45 per cent of operating earnings before variable 
remuneration, interest and taxes. Impax NH senior employees receive a bonus and may also be eligible to 
share in a cash bonus capped at 10% of Impax NH’s EBITDA (reduced by a charge to reflect the cost 
of Restricted Stock Units awarded to Impax NH employees).

(A)  Cash bonus

For Impax LN the cash bonus is determined based on the profitability of the relevant area where 
the employee works and on the individual’s personal performance. For Impax NH the cash bonus is 
based solely on the individual’s performance. 

(B)  Share-based awards

The Group has approved the award of 478,250 restricted shares to Impax LN employees under 
the Group Restricted Share Scheme (“RSS”) and 500,000 options under the Group’s Long-term 
Employee Share Ownership Plan (“LTOP”) in respect of services during the Period. The award of 
these shares and options will be communicated to the relevant employees following announcement 
of the Group’s results for the year ended 30 September 2018.

Under the RSS, shares awarded to employees are initially held by a nominee and the employee only 
gains unfettered access to the shares after three, four and five year periods (one third at each stage) 
subject to continued employment. During the period that the shares are held by the nominee, the 
employee will receive dividends and be able to vote on the shares but will not be able to sell them. 

Options awarded under the LTOP have a 100p exercise price and vest after five years subject to 
continuous employment and are then subject to a holding period of a further five years. 

The Chief Executive and other Impax LN employees continue to benefit from share-based payment 
awards made under the previous share-based incentive plans (the EIA Extension, ESOP 2011-15 
and RSS 2014-2015, 2017) as more fully described in note 10 of the financial statements. Impax NH 
senior employees benefit from the award of Restricted Share Units that were made at the time of the 
acquisition. Certain senior managers hold shares in Impax NH. These shares were originally acquired 
using loans from Impax NH which in part remain outstanding and the shares remain subject to 
employment restrictions (see note 4 of the financial statements for further information).

The Chief Executive and other employees continue to benefit from share-based payment awards 
made under the previous share-based incentive plans (the EIA Extension, ESOP 2011-15 and RSS 
2014-2015, 2017) as more fully described in note 10 to the financial statements.

In addition, the Chief Executive and certain senior employees have been awarded interests in the 
partnerships, Impax Carried Interest Partner LP, Impax Carried Interest Partner II LP and INEI III CIP 
LP. These partnerships will receive payments from the Group’s private equity funds depending on 
the fund’s performance.  

(iii) Pensions
The Group pays a defined contribution to the pension schemes of certain employees. The individual 
pension schemes are private and their assets are held separately from those of the Group.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

15

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE REPORT CONTINUED
For the year ended 30 September 2018

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION DURING THE YEAR
Details of each Director’s remuneration are shown below. 

Fees/salary
£

Benefits in kind
£

Keith Falconer

Ian Simm

Guy de Froment

Arnaud de Sevigny

Vince O’Brien

Sally Bridgeland

Lindsey Brace Martinez

70,000

246,164

20,808

10,000

40,000

40,000

37,276

Bonus
£

–

–

7,440

700,000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2018 Total  

2017 Total  

£

70,000

953,604

20,808

10,000

40,000

40,000

37,276

£

67,500

852,546

30,000

–

37,500

37,500

39,237

464,248

7,440

700,000

1,171,688

1,064,283

The Company paid £76,750 to Lindsey Brace Martinez during the year for consultancy services 
provided (2017: £nil). Lindsey Brace Martinez is also a Director of Board of the Pax World Funds 
Series Trust 1 acting as the Group’s representative on this Board. The Company paid her £36,237 
for this service. 

Ian Simm exercised options over a total of 450,000 shares during the Period generating a profit 
of £415,800.

Ian Simm received a distribution of €1,147,037 from Impax Carried Interest Partner II LP during the 
period being his share of the carried interest paid by the Group’s second private equity fund.

Ian Simm was granted 60,000 Restricted Share Awards in December 2017 which vest in three  
equal tranches between December 2020 and 2022.

SERVICE CONTRACTS
The Chief Executive is employed under a contract requiring one year’s notice from either party. 
The Chairman and Non-Executive Directors each receive payments under appointment letters 
which are terminable by up to six months’ notice from either party.

POLICY ON NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION

The Chairman and Non-Executive Directors each receive a fee for their services. The fee is approved 
by the Board, mindful of the individual’s time commitment and responsibilities and of current market 
rates for comparable organisations and appointments. The Non-Executive Directors and  
the Chairman are reimbursed for their travelling and other minor expenses incurred.

Vince O’Brien
Chairman, Remuneration Committee

5 December 2018

16

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

 
INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT

1.  OUR OPINION IS UNMODIFIED
We have audited the financial statements of Impax Asset Management Group plc (“the Company”) 
for the year ended 30 September 2018 which comprise the consolidated income statement, 
consolidated statement of comprehensive income, consolidated and Company statement of financial 
position, consolidated and Company statement of changes in equity, consolidated and Company 
cash flow statements and the related notes, including the accounting policies in note 34. 

In our opinion: 
•  the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent 
Company’s affairs as at 30 September 2018 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended; 

•  the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International 

Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRSs as adopted by the EU); 

•  the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs 
as adopted by the EU and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 
2006; and 

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

Companies Act 2006. 

Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (“ISAs 
(UK)”) and applicable law. Our responsibilities are described below. We have fulfilled our ethical 
responsibilities under, and are independent of the Group in accordance with, UK ethical requirements 
including the FRC Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities. We believe that the audit evidence 
we have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate basis for our opinion. 

Overview

Materiality:

£731k (2017:£308k)

Group financial statements as a whole

5% (2017: 5%) of Group profit before tax

Coverage

Risks of material misstatements:

100 % (2017: 100%) of Group profit before tax

vs 2017

New Group risks

Acquisition of Impax LLC

Recurring Parent Company risks 

Investment in subsidiary undertakings

IFRS 2 charges in respect of the 
acquisition of Impax LLC

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

17

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED

2.  KEY AUDIT MATTERS: OUR ASSESSMENT OF RISKS OF MATERIAL MISSTATEMENT
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance 
in the audit of the financial statements and include the most significant assessed risks of material 
misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by us, including those which had the greatest 
effect on: the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts 
of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial 
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate 
opinion on these matters. In arriving at our audit opinion above, the key audit matters, in decreasing 
order of audit significance, were as follows:

Acquisition of Impax LLC

Subjective valuation

Our procedures included: 

The risk

Our response

£25.7 million fair value of 
intangible assets and £3.0 
million fair value of contingent 
consideration.

Small changes in the assumptions 
used in determining contingent 
consideration and intangible 
assets could have a material 
impact on their valuation.

Refer to pages 12 and 13 (Audit 
Committee Report), page 58 
(accounting policy) and page 
28 (financial disclosures).

Contingent consideration

 — Test of detail: Obtained the Sale and 
Purchase Agreement to understand 
what consideration was payable in 
respect of the acquisition and the terms 
of the contingent consideration.

 — Benchmarking assumptions: We 

challenged the key assumptions in 
calculating the contingent consideration 
payable. These included fund 
performance, net flows and discount 
rate. Our challenge was based on 
historical experience and market 
comparable data obtained publicly or 
through internally derived data.

 — Sensitivity analysis: We performed 

sensitivity analysis on the key 
assumptions above. 

Intangible assets

 — Benchmarking assumptions: We 

challenged the assumptions made by 
management in calculating the fair value 
of intangible assets. These included 
fund performance, net flows, discount 
rate, operating margin and fund life. 
Our challenge was based on historical 
experience and market comparable data 
obtained publicly or through internally 
derived data. 

 — Sensitivity analysis: We performed 

sensitivity analysis on the key 
assumptions above. 

18

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

IFRS 2 charges in respect of 
the acquisition of Impax LLC

(£1.8 million; 2017: nil)

Refer to pages 12 and 13 (Audit 
Committee Report), page 58 
(accounting policy) and page 
28 (financial disclosures).

The risk

Our response

Subjective estimate

Our procedures included: 

The accounting for the 
replacement share awards 
in Impax LLC, including the 
assumptions included in the 
fair value of the awards and the 
allocation between acquisition 
price and on going employment 
expense, is complex.

 — Tests of detail: We obtained and 
inspected the share exchange 
agreement for evidence of the 
conditions of the agreement and 
the value of the share agreement on 
acquisition, we assessed whether the 
excess of the fair value of the put/call 
options used the appropriate inputs 
and re-calculated in accordance with 
accounting standards. 

 — Tests of detail: We assessed the 

adequacy of the Group’s disclosures 
about the replacement share awards. 

Recoverability of parent 
company’s investment in 
subsidiaries:

(£34.4 million; 2017: £21.2 
million)

Refer to pages 12 and 13 (Audit 
Committee Report), page 61 
(accounting policy) and page 
68 (financial disclosures).

Low risk, high value

Our procedures included: 

The carrying amount of the 
Parent Company’s investments 
in subsidiaries represents 49% 
(2017: 63%) of the Company’s 
total assets. The recoverability is 
not considered to contain a high 
risk of significant misstatement 
or be subject to significant 
judgement. However, given the 
size of the balance in the context 
of the Parent Company financial 
statements this is considered to 
be the area that had the greatest 
effect on our overall parent 
company audit.

 — Test of detail: We compared the carrying 
amount of investment balances to net 
assets in the respective subsidiary’s 
trial balance to identify whether their 
net assets, being an approximation of 
their minimum recoverable amount, 
were in excess of their carrying amount 
and inspected that the subsidiaries had 
historically been profit making. 

 — Assessing subsidiary auditors: Assessed 
the work performed by the subsidiary 
audit team on the subsidiary audits and 
considered the results of that work on 
the subsidiary’s profits and net assets.

Through disposals, the Group no longer has material holdings in unlisted investments and therefore, 
it is not separately identified in our report this year.

3.  OUR APPLICATION OF MATERIALITY AND AN OVERVIEW OF THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT 
Materiality for the group financial statements as a whole was set at £731k (2017: £308k), determined 
with reference to a benchmark of Group profit before taxation (of which it represents 5% (2017: 5%). 

Materiality for the Parent Company financial statements as a whole was set at £701k (2017: £307k), 
determined with reference to a benchmark of total assets (of which it represents 1%).

We agreed to report to the Audit Committee any corrected and uncorrected identified 
misstatements exceeding £35k (2017: £15k) in addition to other identified misstatements that 
warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

19

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED

Of the group’s 2 (2017: 1) reporting components, we subjected 2 (2017: 1) to full scope audits for 
group purposes. The components within the scope of our work accounted for the percentages 
illustrated in the charts below. The Group team instructed component auditors as to the significant 
areas to be covered and the information to be reported back. The Group team approved the 
component materialities, which ranged from £375k to £726k (2017: n/a), having regard to the mix 
of size and risk profile of the Group across the components. The work on 1 of the 2 components 
(2017: 0 of the 1 component) was performed by component auditors and the rest, including the 
audit of the parent company, was performed by the Group team. The Group team visited 2 (2017: 1) 
component location to assess the audit risk and strategy. Telephone conference meetings were also 
held with the component auditors. At these meetings, the findings reported to the Group team were 
discussed in more detail, and any further work required by the Group team was then performed by 
the component auditors.

Group Profit before tax
£14.6m (2017: £5.9m)

Group Materiality
£731k (2017: £308k)

£731k

Whole financial statements materiality

(2017: £308k)

£548k

Range of materiality at 2 components 
(£375K – £726K) (2017: n/a)

 Group Profit before tax

 Group materiality

£35k

Misstatements reported 
to the audit committee 

(2017: £15k)

Group revenue

Group profit before tax

Group total assets

100%

100

100

 Full scope for Group audit purposes 2018

 Full scope for Group audit purposes 2017

100%

100

100

100%

100

100

20

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

4.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT ON GOING CONCERN 
We are required to report to you if we have concluded that the use of the going concern basis of 
accounting is inappropriate or there is an undisclosed material uncertainty that may cast significant 
doubt over the use of that basis for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of 
the financial statements. We have nothing to report in these respects.

5.  WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT ON THE OTHER INFORMATION IN THE ANNUAL REPORT 
The Directors are responsible for the other information presented in the Annual Report together 
with the financial statements. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other 
information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except as explicitly stated 
below, any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether, based on our 
financial statements audit work, the information therein is materially misstated or inconsistent with 
the financial statements or our audit knowledge. Based solely on that work we have not identified 
material misstatements in the other information. 

Strategic Report and Directors’ report 
Based solely on our work on the other information:

•  we have not identified material misstatements in the Strategic Report and the Directors’ report; 

• 

in our opinion the information given in those reports for the financial year is consistent with the 
financial statements; and 

• 

in our opinion those reports have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

6.   WE HAVE NOTHING TO REPORT ON THE OTHER MATTERS ON WHICH WE ARE REQUIRED TO 

REPORT BY EXCEPTION 

Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required to report to you if, in our opinion: 

•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for 

our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

•  the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and 

returns; or 

•  certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or 

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

We have nothing to report in these respects. 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

21

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED

7.  RESPECTIVE RESPONSIBILITIES

Directors’ responsibilities 
As explained more fully in their statement set out on page 11, the Directors are responsible for: the 
preparation of the financial statements including being satisfied that they give a true and fair view; 
such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements 
that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; assessing the Group and 
Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to 
going concern; and using the going concern basis of accounting unless they either intend to liquidate 
the Group or the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole 
are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue our opinion in an 
auditor’s report. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but does not guarantee that an 
audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it 
exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in 
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on 
the basis of the financial statements. 

A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided on the FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/
auditorsresponsibilities. 

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

Jatin Patel (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP,  
Statutory Auditor  
Chartered Accountants  
15 Canada Square, 
London

5 December 2018

22

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Revenue

Operating costs

Fair value (losses)/gains on investments and  
other financial (expense)/income

Interest expense

Non-controlling interest

Change in third-party interests in consolidated funds

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit after taxation

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted

Dividends per share

Special dividend paid

Interim dividend paid and final dividend declared for the year

Notes

7

8

11

12

29

13

14

 15 

 15 

 16 

 16 

2018 
£000

65,683

2017 
£000

32,694

(50,200)

(26,461)

(337)

(670)

184

(40)

14,620

(3,219)

11,401

9.0p

8.9p

2.6p

4.1p

(141)

–

–

(239)

5,853

1,814

7,667

6.5p

6.2p

–

2.9p

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Profit for the year

Change in value of cash flow hedges

Tax on changing value of cash flow hedges

Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to  
equity holders of the parent 

2018 
£000

11,401

(74)

14

1,212

1,152

Restated*

2017 
£000

7,667

157

(25)

(44)

88

12,553

7,755

* 

 Total other comprehensive income for the year has been restated to exclude the tax credit on long-term incentive schemes which is now being 
recognised within the transaction with owners section within the consolidated changes of equity as required by IFRSs. 

All amounts in other comprehensive income may be reclassified to income in the future.  
The statement has been prepared on the basis that all operations are continuing operations. 
Adjusted results are provided in Note 5.

The notes on pages 27–63 form part of these financial statements.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

23

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION 
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Company No: 03262305 

Assets

Goodwill

Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

Trade and other receivables

Investments

Current tax asset

Cash invested in money market funds  
and long-term deposit accounts

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and liabilities

Ordinary shares

Share premium

Exchange translation reserve

Hedging reserve

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to owners of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Trade and other payables

Loans

Third-party interest in consolidated funds

Current tax liability

Total current liabilities

Accruals

Loans

Deferred tax liability

Total non-current liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

2018

2017

Notes

£000

£000

£000

£000

17

18

19

14

20

21

23

23

27

29

24

25

26

25

14

12,171

25,565

1,836

4,450

15,858

4,349

890

11,211

15,529

1,304

9,291

1,014

(44)

41,054

24,755

3,326

87

130

228

6,652

3,164

1,681

17

461

1,947

44,022

4,106

11,732

13,013

2,720

7,780

12,932

47,837

91,859

48,177

52,283

52,619

898

53,517

1,277

4,093

(198)

16

30,456

11,282

–

4,846

180

35,644

–

35,644

28,298

16,308

331

–

–

10,044

91,859

331

52,283

Authorised for issue and approved by the Board on 5 December 2018. The notes on pages 27–63 
form part of these financial statements.

Ian R Simm
Chief Executive

24

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Share 
capital
£000

Share 
premium
£000

Exchange 
translation 
reserve
£000

Hedging 
reserve
£000

Retained 
earnings
£000

Total 
Equity
£000

1,277

4,093

(154)

(116)

21,645

26,745

Notes

16

Balance at 1 October 2016

Transactions with owners:

Dividends paid

Acquisition of own shares

Cash received on option exercises

Tax credit on long-term incentive 
schemes (restated*)

Share based payment charge

10

Total transactions with owners (restated*)

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:

Change in value of cashflow hedges

Tax on changes in value of cashflow 
hedges

Exchange differences on translation 
of foreign operations

Total other comprehensive Income 
(restated*)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Balance at 30 September 2017

1,277

4,093

16

4

10

Transactions with owners:

Shares issued

Dividends paid

Acquisition of own shares

Cash received on option exercises

Impax NH Management equity 
scheme – value assigned to  
pre-acquisition service

Tax credit on long-term incentive schemes

Fair value of put option over  
non-controlling interest

Share based payment charges

Total transactions with owners

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income:

Change in value of cashflow hedges

Tax on changes in value of cashflow 
hedges

Exchange differences on translation 
of foreign operations

Total other comprehensive income

27

5,198

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

27

5,198

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Balance at 30 September 2018

1,304

9,291

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(44)

(44)

(198)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,212

1,212

1,014

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

157

(25)

–

132

16

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(2,672)

(2,672)

(950)

(950)

1,096

1,096

2,540

2,540

1,130

1,130

(1,144)

(1,144)

7,667

7,667

–

–

–

–

157

(25)

(44)

88

30,456 35,644

–

5,225

(7,386)

(7,386)

(2,534)

(2,534)

4,477

4,477

1,917

1,917

2,352

2,352

(1,451)

(1,451)

1,822

1,822

(803)

4,422

11,401

11,401

(74)

14

–

(60)

(44)

–

–

–

–

(74)

14

1,212

1,152

41,054 52,619

*  See consolidated statement of comprehensive income on page 23 for details of the restatement.

The notes on pages 27–63 form part of these financial statements. 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

25

CONSOLIDATED CASH FLOW STATEMENT 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Operating activities

Cash generated from operations

Corporation tax refund/(payment)

Net cash generated from operating activities

Investing activities

Notes

31

2018 
£000

23,436

1,583

25,019

Acquisition of subsidiary (Impax NH), net of cash acquired

4

(23,893)

Deconsolidation of investment fund

Net acquisition of property plant & equipment and intangible assets

Net investments redemptions from unconsolidated Impax funds

Net investment disposals from consolidated Impax funds*

Settlement of investment related hedges

(Increase)/decrease in cash held in money market funds and long-term deposit 
accounts

Investment income received

Net cash used by investing activities

Financing activities

Proceeds from bank borrowings

Repayment of bank borrowings

Interest paid on bank borrowings

Dividends paid

Acquisition of own shares

Cash received on exercise of Impax share options

Investments made by third-party investors into consolidated funds*

Net cash generated by financing activities

(255)

(1,690)

3,938

932

(987)

(3,431)

279

(25,107)

17,616

(8,779)

(464)

(7,386)

(2,534)

4,477

17

2,947

2017 
£000

8,384

(3,070)

5,314

–

–

(367)

455

658

(1,460)

5,111

639

5,036

–

–

–

(2,672)

(950)

1,096

2,482

(44)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

2,859

10,306

12,932

(262)

15,529

2,804

(178)

12,932

23

*  The Group consolidates certain funds which it manages, these represent cash flows of these funds. 

Cash and cash equivalents under IFRS does not include deposits in money market funds and cash 
held in deposits with more than an original maturity of three months. The Group however considers 
its total cash reserves to include these amounts. Cash held by consolidated funds and cash in 
research payment accounts are not included in cash reserves. 

Movements on cash reserves are shown in the table below:

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash invested in money market funds  
and long-term deposit accounts

Cash in RPAs

Cash held by consolidated funds

Total Group cash reserves

At the  
beginning  
of the year
£000

12,932

7,780

–

(348)

20,364

Cashflow
£000

2,859

3,431

(2,074)

281

4,497

Foreign  

exchange
£000

At the end  
of the year
£000

(262)

15,529

–

–

–

11,211

(2,074)

(67)

(262)

24,599

26

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

1  REPORTING ENTITY 
Impax Asset Management Group plc (the “Company”) is incorporated and domiciled in the UK 
and is listed on the Alternative Investment Market (“AIM”). These consolidated financial statements 
comprise the Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”). The Company’s 
separate financial statements are shown on pages 64–73.

2  BASIS OF PREPARATION  
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (“IFRSs”) adopted for use by the European Union. At the time of approving the financial 
statements, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has adequate resources to 
continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future and have concluded that it is appropriate 
to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements of the Group. The financial 
statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, with the exception of the 
revaluation of certain investments and derivatives being measured at fair value.

Details of the significant accounting policies adopted by the Group are shown in note 34.

The financial statements are presented in sterling. All amounts have been rounded to the nearest 
thousand unless otherwise indicated.

3  USE OF JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES
In preparing these financial statements management has made judgements and estimates that affect 
the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. Actual results may differ from 
estimates. Revisions to estimates are recognised prospectively. The most significant judgements  
and estimates are described below.

A)  Judgements

– Consolidation of managed funds (only significant for the year ended 30 September 2017)

The Group invests in certain funds that it manages. In such cases we have to determine whether 
these funds should be consolidated and therefore record the funds underlying investments on our 
balance sheet along with their cash and other assets and liabilities. The key judgements made in 
determining whether these funds are consolidated include whether returns received by the Group 
constitute an ownership interest and whether the Group controls the fund. Further information 
provided on the judgements made is given in Note 21.

B)  Estimates

– Determining the value of acquired management contracts and their useful economic life (see note 4)

The Group acquired contracts to manage the Pax World funds as part of the acquisition of Impax 
NH. We have used a discounted cashflow model to value the contracts which requires us to estimate 
future inflows into, and the performance of, the funds along with costs incurred in managing the 
contracts. If these funds perform below expectations and actual and expected flows or performance 
are less than these estimates we may be required to impair the value of these assets. The key 
assumptions used were annual fund performance of five per cent, inflows averaging US$220 
million per year and an operating margin of 20%. Changes in the assumptions would give rise to 
impairments as follows: a consistent ten per cent decrease in inflows – impairment of £0.3 million; 
a 100 basis point annual reduction in performance each year – impairment of £1.6 million; a one per 
cent annual reduction in operating margin – impairment of £1.1 million.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

27

3  USE OF JUDGEMENTS AND ESTIMATES CONTINUED

– Determining the amount of contingent consideration payable for the acquisition of Impax NH (see 
note 4)

As described in Note 4 contingent consideration is payable on the acquisition based on the AUM 
at certain dates in the future. We are required to estimate the amount payable which involves 
estimating the inflows into Impax NH funds and their performance. The estimates used were annual 
inflows of US$360 million and annual performance of five per cent. If actual inflows and performance 
are higher than these estimates this would result in a charge to the income statement or, if lower, a 
credit to the income statement. A consistent ten per cent increase in annual inflows gives rise to a 
charge to the income statement of £0.7 million. A 100 basis point increase in annual performance 
would give rise to a charge of £1.0 million. 

– Determining the value of unlisted investments (see note 21)

The Ensyn investment and the Private Equity investments held by the Group are recorded at fair 
value. The investments are not listed and accordingly estimates are required to determine their fair 
value. The actual sales price of these investments may be higher or lower than the estimate made 
with the difference being recorded in fair value gains or losses in the future. The methodology used 
to determine the fair values are described in note 21.

– Determining the share-based payment charge (see note 10)

The Group makes share based payments (share options, restricted share awards and other share 
awards) to staff. The value of these is estimated using the Black-Scholes-Merton or binomial model. 
Key estimates include the volatility of Impax shares (which is determined based on historical 
volatility), Impax’s dividend yield and the risk free rate.

4  ACQUISITION OF PAX WORLD MANAGEMENT LLC
On 18 January 2018, the Group completed the acquisition of Pax World Management LLC (“Pax”). 
Pax is a recognised leader in the field of sustainable investing in the United States. Based in 
Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Pax manages 11 mutual funds and at the date of acquisition had 
assets under management of £3.5 billion. This business combination creates scale for the Group’s 
operations in North America and broadens the range of investment strategies the Group offers 
clients, including fixed income and passive equity.

Following completion of the acquisition Pax was renamed Impax Asset Management LLC (“Impax NH”).

From the date of acquisition, Impax NH has contributed £17,421,000 of revenue and £2,271,000 of 
the adjusted operating profit of the Group. If the acquisition had taken place at the beginning of the 
year, revenue for the Group would have been £73,031,000 and the adjusted operating profit would 
have been £21,465,000.

The Group has initially acquired an ca. 83.3 per cent interest of Pax’s share capital from the selling 
shareholders (the “Selling Shareholders”) in exchange for initial cash payable of of $36.2 million, 
2,665,989 Impax shares and up to $31.3m of contingent payments (“Contingent Consideration”). 
Pax’s management and staff shareholders (the “Management Shareholders”), representing 
the remaining ca.16.7 per cent of Pax’s issued share capital will retain their shareholding until 
2021 when if either Impax or the Pax Management Shareholders exercise a put and call option 
arrangement, the Group would acquire their entire holding for US$8.3 million and up to $6.3 
million of Contingent Consideration. This would be paid in 2021 in Impax equity and/or cash, as the 
Group elects. 

The cash payable on acquisition was determined as US$38.1 million less US$1.9 million of balance 
sheet adjustments for working capital.

The number of Group shares issued to the Selling Shareholders was determined using an agreed 
value of US$6.1 million, the 20 day average of the Group’s share price to 12 January 2018 being 170.19 
pence and a US$/GBP exchange rate of 0.7403. The fair value of these shares used to determine 
the total consideration in the table below was determined to be 196 pence, using the Group’s mid-
market closing share price on 17 January 2018.

28

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018The contingent consideration will be determined based on Impax NH’s average AUM as at 30 June 
2020, 30 September 2020 and 31 December 2020 and will rise linearly from zero, if Impax NH’s 
average AUM is not more than US$5.5 billion, to US$37.5 million for the entire share capital of Impax 
NH, if Impax NH’s average AUM is $8 billion or above. To the extent that Impax NH has achieved 
these performance targets, based on Impax NH’s average AUM as at 31 December 2018, 31 March 
2019 and 30 June 2019, up to $8.3 million of Contingent Consideration will become payable to the 
Selling Shareholders within 45 days of 30 June 2019. The fair value of the Contingent Consideration 
payable to the Selling Shareholders has been estimated as $4.2 million at the acquisition date. As 
with the initial consideration, settlement of any Contingent Consideration payable to Impax NH’s 
Management Shareholders is expected to be made in 2021 in the Group’s ordinary shares at the 
share price prevailing at the time and or in cash if Impax so elects.

Prior to the acquisition, Management Shareholders acquired their stake in Impax NH using loans 
provided by Impax NH with part of the distributions made by Impax NH being used to repay the 
loan and interest. The shares were subject to certain restriction linked to the employment of the 
individual. On acquisition the Group agreed to extend the period of these loans until 2021 in line 
with the put and call arrangements over the shares and have retained certain of the employment 
restrictions on the shares. The original arrangement is considered to be a share based payment for 
the individuals which has been replaced by a new share based payment in the Group’s shares. The 
fair value of this equity scheme assigned to pre-acquisition service of £1.8 million is included as part 
of the consideration on acquisition and a charge for new share based payment award is included in 
the income statement over the period from acquisition to 31 December 2021, when the employment 
restriction over the shares ends. Accordingly, the value of this at 30 September is £1.9 million due to 
changes in foreign exchange.

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method. These consolidated financial 
statements include the results of Impax NH for the 8.5 month period from the acquisition date. 

An analysis of the consideration paid, the recognised amounts of asset acquired and liabilities 
assumed and the resulting goodwill is provided below.

Consideration

Cash and cash equivalents

Group shares – 2,665,989 shares

Contingent Consideration

Value assigned to management equity scheme

Recognised amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed

Assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets – management contracts

Cash

Trade receivables

Total assets

Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Total liabilities

Total identifiable net assets at fair value

Non-controlling interest

Goodwill arising on acquisition 

Total

£000

26,209

5,225

3,039

1,806

36,279

£000

67

25,669

2,316

3,041

31,093

(3,763)

(3,763)

27,330

(982)

9,931

36,279

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

29

4  ACQUISITION OF PAX WORLD MANAGEMENT LLC CONTINUED

Goodwill and intangible assets
The goodwill recognised is primarily attributed to the expected synergies and other benefits  
from combining the assets and activities of Impax NH with those of the Group.

The intangible assets acquired on acquisition represent investment management contracts.  
These are amortised over an 11 year life.

The acquired intangible assets and goodwill are deductible for US tax purposes.

Minority interest
Impax NH owns 51% of Pax Ellevate Management LLC with the remaining shares being held by 
Ellevate Asset Management LLC (“EAM”). EAM has a put right to sell its Pax Ellevate units to Impax 
NH at any time. A liability is recorded for the value of this put within Trade and other payables with 
a corresponding charge to equity. The 49% non controlling interest is determined based on the fair 
value of the Pax Ellevate Management net assets (including intangible assets). 

Transaction Costs
Transaction costs have been expensed in the income statement and are part of operating cash flows.

Pre-existing relationships
Impax LN sub managed Impax NH’s Pax Global Environmental Markets Fund prior to the acquisition 
and continues to carry out this activity. The contract was and continues to be at fair value and 
accordingly no adjustment has been made to the acquisition accounting.

Analysis of cash flows on acquisition:

Cash acquired with subsidiary

Cash paid

Net cash flow on acquisition

£000

2,316

(26,209)

(23,893)

30

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 20185  ADJUSTED PROFITS AND EARNINGS
The reported operating earnings, profit before tax and earnings per share are substantially affected 
by non-recurring acquisition costs, business combination affects and other items. The Directors have 
therefore decided to report an Adjusted operating profit, Adjusted profit before tax and Adjusted 
earnings per share which exclude these items in order to enable comparison with peers and provide 
consistent measures of performance over time. A reconciliation of the adjusted amounts to the IFRS 
reported amounts is shown below.

Year ended 30 September 2018

Adjustments

Non-
recurring 
acquisition 
costs
£000

Business 
combination 
effects
£000

Reported – 
IFRS
£000

 65,683 

(50,200)

Other
£000

Adjusted 
£000

65,683

(45,696)

 866 

 1,676 

 (170) 

 236 

Income statement

Revenue

Operating costs

Acquisition costs

Amortisation of intangibles arising  
on acquisition (see Note 4)

Credit from contingent consideration 
adjustment

Acquisition equity incentive scheme  
charges (see Note 4)

Mark to market charge on equity awards

 1,896* 

1,896

Operating Profit

 15,483 

 866 

 1,742 

Fair value (losses)/gains on investments  
and other financial (expense)/income

Interest payable

Non-controlling interest

Change in third-party consolidated funds

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Tax credit on adjustments

Profit after taxation

Diluted earnings per share

(337)

(670)

184

(40)

 14,620 

(3,219)

 11,401 

8.9p

254

(170)

866

 1,996 

1,726

(120)

746

0.6p

1,996

1.7p

(328)

1,398

1.2p

*  This charge is offset by £2,352,000 of tax credits shown in the statement of changes in equity.

19,987

(253)

(670)

184

(40)

19,208

(3,667)

15,541

12.4p

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

31

5  ADJUSTED PROFITS AND EARNINGS CONTINUED

 Year ended 30 September 2017 

 Adjustments 

 Non-
recurring 
acquisition 
costs 
£000

Reported – 
IFRS
£000

 32,694 

(26,461)

 999 

 Other 
£000

 Adjusted 
£000

 32,694 

(23,365)

 6,233 

 999 

 2,097 

 2,097 

 9,329 

(141)

(214)

(355)

(239)

 5,853 

 1,814 

 7,667 

6.2p

 999 

 1,883 

(239)

 8,735 

(1,074)

(2,888)

 999 

0.9p

(1,005) 

 7,661 

(1.2)p

5.9p

Income statement

Revenue

Operating costs

Acquisition costs

Amortisation of intangibles arising  
on acquisition (see Note 4)

Acquisition equity incentive scheme  
charges (see Note 4)

Mark to market charge on equity awards

Operating Profit

Fair value (losses)/gains on investments  
and other financial (expense)/income

Interest payable

Non-controlling interest

Change in third-party consolidated funds

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Tax credit on adjustments

Profit after taxation

Diluted earnings per share

The adjusted diluted earnings per share is calculated using the adjusted profit after taxation shown 
above with a further adjustment for profit attributable to owners of restricted shares of £738,000 
(see Note 15). The diluted number of shares is the same as used for the IFRS calculation of earnings 
per share (see Note 15).

32

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018Mark to market charge on equity incentive awards
The group has awarded employees in prior years and in the current period options over the Group’s 
shares, some of which are either unvested or unexercised at the balance sheet date. The Group has 
also made awards of restricted shares (“RSS awards”) the majority of which have not vested at the 
balance sheet date. Employers’ National Insurance Contributions (“NIC”) are payable on the option 
awards when they are exercised and on the RSS awards when they vest, based on the valuation of 
the underlying shares at that point. The Group does however receive a corporation tax credit equal 
to the value of the awards at the date they are exercised (options) or vest (RSS awards). A charge is 
accrued for the NIC within IFRS operating profit based on the share price at the balance sheet date. 
Similarly a credit for the corporation tax is accrued within Equity.

An additional retention payment is made to holders of legacy LTIP awards (“LTIP”) when they are 
exercised, all of which are fully vested at the balance sheet date. The payment will be equal to the 
corporation tax benefit the Group receives on the exercise of the options minus the amount of NIC 
payable on exercise. This charge is accrued based on the share price at the balance sheet date. 

These two charges vary based on the Group’s share price (together referred to as mark to market 
charge on equity incentive schemes) and are not linked to the operating performance of the Group. 
They are therefore eliminated when reporting adjusted profit. 

6  SEGMENTAL REPORTING

(a) Operating segments
Following the acquisition of IAM NH the group reports two reporting segments being Impax Ldn 
and Impax NH. Impax LN represents the group’s business prior to the acquisition of Impax NH. It 
manages and advises listed equity and private equity funds and accounts. Impax NH operates and 
manages the Pax World mutual funds in the US. Impax LN itself has three operating segments: 
“Listed Equity”, “Private Equity” and “Property”. The results of these segments have been 
aggregated into a single reportable segment for the purposes of these financial statements because 
they have characteristics so similar that they can be expected to have essentially the same future 
prospects. These segments have common investors, operate under the same regulatory regimes 
and their distribution channels are substantially the same. Additionally management allocates the 
resources of Impax LN as though there is one operating unit.

Segment information is presented on the same basis as that provided for internal reporting purposes 
to the Group’s chief operating decision maker, the Chief Executive. 

Year ended 30 September 2018

Revenue 

External customers 

Inter-segment 

Total revenue 

Segment profit – adjusted operating profit 

 Impax LN 
£000

 Impax NH 
£000

Adjustments
£000

Total
£000

 48,262 

 1,459 

 49,721 

17,716

17,421

–

 17,421 

2,271

–

65,683

(1,459)

(1,459) 

–

–

 65,683 

19,987

For the year ended 30 September 2017 there was only one segment being Impax LN.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

33

6  SEGMENTAL REPORTING CONTINUED

(b) Geographical analysis
An analysis of revenue by the location of client is presented below:

UK 

North America 

France 

Luxembourg 

Netherlands 

Ireland 

Other 

Revenue

2018
£000

18,781

22,638

7,436

11,104

2,752

2,045

927

2017
£000

11,190

4,611

6,720

5,554

2,094

1,694

831

65,683

32,694

The Group’s non-current assets (property plant and equipment, goodwill, intangible assets) are 
located in the following countries:

UK 

United States 

Hong Kong 

Non-current assets

2018
£000

3,397

36,153

22

39,572

(c) Non-cash items  
Operating expenses include the following non-cash items:

Year ended 30 September 2018

Share based payments 

Depreciation and amortisation 

 Impax LN 
£000

 Impax NH 
£000

1,546

270

 1,816

276

1,727

 2,003 

2017
£000

2,142

3

15

2,159

 Total 
£000

 1,822 

1,997

 3,819

34

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018 
7  REVENUE 
See accounting policy at note 34 (D) 

The Group’s main source of revenue is investment management and advisory fees. The Group may 
also earn carried interest from its Private Equity funds. Management and advisory fees are generally 
based on an agreed percentage of the valuation of AUM for Listed Equity funds. For Private Equity 
and Property funds they are generally based on an agreed percentage of commitments made 
to the fund by investors during the fund’s investment period and thereafter on the cost price of 
investments made and not exited. Carried interest may be earned from Private Equity funds if the 
cash returned to investors exceeds an agreed return. 

Investment management and advisory 

Transaction fees 

2018
 £000

65,555

128

65,683

2017 
£000

32,474

220

32,694

None of the Group’s funds individually represented more than 10% of Group revenue (2017: three 
funds with revenue of £5,243,000, £4,275,000 and £3,428,000).

Revenue includes £65,513,000 (2017: £32,654,000) from related parties.

8  OPERATING COSTS
The Group’s largest operating cost is staff costs. Other significant costs include fund costs, premises 
costs (rent payable on office building leases, rates and service charge), IT, placement agent fees and 
telecommunications costs.

See accounting policy at note 34 (E) for leases and note 34 (F) for placement fees. 

Staff costs (note 9) 

Direct fund expenses

Premises costs 

Research costs

Professional fees

IT and communications 

Depreciation and amortisation 

Acquisition costs

Mark to market charges on share awards 

Other costs 

2018 
£000

30,587

4,024

2,002

1,079

2,242

1,693

1,997

526

2,137

3,913

50,200

2017 
£000

18,017

– 

1,171

– 

1,276

1,311

167

999

2,097

1,423

26,461

Operating costs includes £312,000 in respect of placement agent fees paid to related parties.

As described in note 21 the Group consolidates certain funds in which it invests and therefore include 
their operating costs in the table above. An analysis of the total cost between operating entities and 
consolidated funds is shown in the table below. 

Operating costs of operating entities of the Group 

Operating costs of consolidated funds 

2018 
£000

50,117

83

50,200

2017
 £000

26,260

201

26,461

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

35

8  OPERATING COSTS CONTINUED
Other costs includes £284,000 (2017: £400,000) paid to the Group’s auditors which is 
analysed below:

Audit of the Group’s Parent Company and  
consolidated financial statements 

Audit of subsidiary undertakings 

Tax compliance 

Other non-audit services 

2018 
£000

91

107

22

64

284

2017 
£000

46

53

21

280

400

The comparative operating expenses amount now includes certain share based payment and 
acquisition related expenses which were shown separately in the Consolidated Income Statement in 
the prior year.

9  STAFF COSTS AND EMPLOYEES

Salaries and variable bonuses

Social security costs

Pensions

Share-based payment charge (see note 10)

Other staff costs

2018 
£000

23,672

2,443

633

1,822

2,017

30,587

2017
 £000

13,397

1,743

413

1,130

1,334

18,017

Staff costs include salaries, a variable bonus, social security cost (principally UK Employers’ National 
Insurance on salary, bonus and share awards), the cost of contributions made to employees’ pension 
schemes and share-based payment charges. Further details of the Group’s remuneration policies, 
including how the total variable bonus pool is determined, are provided in the Remuneration Report. 
Share-based payment charges are offset against the total cash bonus pool paid to employees. 
National Insurance charges on share-based payments are accrued based on the share price at the 
balance sheet date.

See accounting policy for pensions in note 34 (G)

The Group contributes to private pension schemes. The assets of the schemes are held separately 
from those of the Group in independently administered funds. The pension cost represents 
contributions payable by the Group to the funds. Contributions totalling £12,137 (2017: £34,000) 
were payable to the funds at the year end and are included in trade and other payables. 

Other staff costs include the cost of providing health and other insurances for staff, Non-Executive 
Directors’ fees, contractor fees, recruitment fees and redundancy costs.

Directors and key management personnel
Details related to emoluments paid to Directors and Directors’ rights to share awards are included in 
the Remuneration Report.

Key management personnel are related parties and are defined as members of the Board and/or 
the Executive Committee. The remuneration of key management personnel during the year was 
£6,886,184 plus £580,387 of share-based payments (2017: £4,632,161 plus £481,356 of share-based 
payments).

36

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018Employees
The average number of persons (excluding Non-Executive Directors and including temporary staff), 
employed during the year was 137 (2017: 73). 

Listed Equity

Private Equity

Client Service and Business Development

Group

10  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT CHARGES
See accounting policy at note 34 (H) 

2018 
No.

51

12

36

38

137

2017
 No.

24

12

16

21

73

The total expense recognised for the year arising from share-based payment transactions was 
£1,822,000 (2017: £1,130,000). The charges arose in respect of the Group’s Restricted Share Scheme 
(“RSS”), the Group’s Employee Share Option Plan (“ESOP”) and the Group’s Restricted Share Units 
scheme (“RSU”) which are described below. Share based payment charges also arose in respect of 
the Put and Call arrangement made with Impax NH Management to acquire their shares in Impax 
NH. These are described in note 4. Options are also outstanding in respect of the Group’s Long-Term 
Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) which fully vested on 30 September 2012. Details of all outstanding options 
are provided at the end of this note.

Restricted Share Scheme
Restricted shares have been granted to employees in prior years under the 2014, 2015 and 2017 
plans. Post year end the Board approved the grant of a further 478,250 restricted shares under 
the 2018 plan. Details of the awards granted along with their valuation and the inputs used in the 
valuation are described in the table below. The valuation was determined using the Black-Scholes-
Merton model with an adjustment to reflect that dividends are received during the vesting period. 
Following grant, the shares are held by a nominee for employees - who are then immediately entitled 
to receive dividends. After a period of three years continuous employment the employees will 
receive unfettered access to one third of the shares, after four years a further third and after five 
years the final third. The employees are not required to make any payment for the shares on grant or 
when the restrictions lapse.

The expected volatility was determined by reviewing the historical volatility of the Company and that 
of comparator companies. The expected dividend rate is determined using the Company share price 
and most recent full year dividend to grant date. 

Awards originally granted

In respect of services  
provided for period from

Option award value

Weighted average share price 
on grant

Expected volatility

Weighted average option life on 
grant

Expected dividend rate

Risk free interest rate

2014 RSS

1,250,000

1 Oct 2013

49.9p

52.5p

32%

5.3yrs

3%

1.2%

2015 RSS

2017 RSS

3,140,000/ 
1,000,000

2,550,000/ 
500,000/ 675,000

1 Oct 2014/  
9 Feb 2016

14 Dec 2016/11 May 
2017/1 Oct 2016

42.1p/41.5p

52.2p/87.7p/161.6p

41.4p

77.4p

32%/31%

29%/29%/29%

4.9yrs

4.3yrs

3%

4%/2%/2%

1.2%/0.8%

0.6%/0.6%/0.7%

2018 RSS

478,250

1 Oct 2017

239.6p

241.0p

30%

5.3yrs

1%

1.2%

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

37

10  SHARE-BASED PAYMENT CHARGES CONTINUED

Restricted shares outstanding

Outstanding at 1 October 2017

Granted during the year

Vested during the year

Outstanding at 30 September 2018

2018

7,940,000

675,000

(250,251)

8,364,749

Employee share option plan  
Under this Plan options over the Company’s shares were granted to employees between 2012 and 
2015 and in 2017. Details of the options granted along with their valuation and the inputs used in  
the valuation are described below. 

The strike price of these options was set at a 10 per cent premium to the average market price 
of the Company’s shares for the 30 business days (2015 and 2017 ESOP: five days) following the 
announcement of the results for each of the respective preceding financial years. The 2012–2015 
ESOP options have vested. The 2017 options do not have performance conditions but do have a  
time vesting condition such that they vest subject to continued employment on 31 December 2020.

The valuation was determined using the Black-Scholes-Merton model.

In December 2018 the Board also approved the grant of a further 500,000 options under a new 2018 
plan. The strike price of these options will be £1. The options do not have performance conditions 
but do have a time vesting condition such that the options vest subject to continued employment on 
31 December 2023. Vested shares are restricted from being sold until after 31 December 2028 (other 
than to settle any resulting tax liability).

The valuation was determined using the binomial model. 

Options outstanding
An analysis of the options over the Company’s shares is provided below:

Options outstanding at 1 October 2017

Options granted

Options forfeited

Options exercised

Options expired

Options outstanding at 30 September 2018

Options exercisable at 30 September 2018

Number

13,464,500

1,300,000

– 

(10,489,000)

– 

4,275,500

2,975,500

Weighted average 
exercise price p

37.5

180.2

– 

41.9

– 

69.6

21.3

Exercise prices for the options outstanding at the end of the period were 1p for the LTIPs, 37.6p for 
the ESOP 2012, 47.9p/54.0p for the ESOP 2013, 56.9p for the ESOP 2014, 45.4p for the ESOP 2015 
and 180.2p for the ESOP 2017. The weighted average remaining contractual life was 3.06 years.

Restricted stock units 
The Group awarded Restricted Stock Units (“RSUs”) to Impax NH staff and management on 18 
January 2018. The RSUs entitle holders to receive Impax shares with a total value equal to 10% of the 
Contingent Consideration paid for the Impax NH acquisition (see note 4). The number of shares that 
each individual will receive under the RSUs is determined on 15 January 2021 after the amount of 
Contingent Consideration payable is finalised using the Impax share price on 20 consecutive trading 
days ending 15 January 2021. There is a further two-year restriction on the holders’ ability to sell the 
shares. The shares are forfeited if the individual leaves at any time before the restricted period ends.

38

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018The charge to the income statement for these awards is determined each year by estimating the 
total value of shares that will be awarded (using the estimate of Contingent Consideration – see Note 
4) and spreading this over the five year period until the restrictions cease. The estimates are updated 
each year and the charge adjusted accordingly. 

Based on the current valuation 119,000 shares will be issued. 

Impax NH put and call arrangement

As detailed in note 4 the schemes put in place whereby Impax NH management acquired their 
holding in Impax NH and the put and call options which will require Impax to purchase those stakes 
using Impax shares represent a share based payment. The charge is spread over a three year period 
from the date of acquisition.

11  FAIR VALUE (LOSSES)/GAINS ON INVESTMENTS AND OTHER FINANCIAL (EXPENSE)/INCOME
Fair value losses represent those arising on the revaluation of listed and unlisted investments held 
by the Group including those held by the Group’s consolidated funds (see note 21) and any gains or 
losses arising on related hedge instruments held by the Group. 

Fair value losses 

Interest

Other investment income

Unwinding of discount on contingent consideration (see note 4)

Foreign exchange gains losses 

2018
 £000

(233)

109

170

(254)

(129)

(337)

2017
 £000

(52)

64

400

– 

(553)

(141)

Fair value losses represent those arising on the revaluation of listed and unlisted investments held 
by the Group including those held by the Group’s consolidated funds (see note 21) and any gains or 
losses arising on related hedge instruments held by the Group. 

The fair value loss comprises of unrealised gains of £576,000 and realised losses of £809,000 
(2017:£760,000 of unrealised gains and £812,000 of realised losses).

12  INTEREST EXPENSE
Interest is payable on the loans from RBS which were used to fund the acquisition of Impax NH (see 
note 4).

See accounting policy at note 34 (J) 

13  THIRD-PARTY INVESTOR’S SHARE OF CONSOLIDATED FUNDS
See accounting policy regarding consolidation at note 34 (A)

This charge removes the fair value gains or losses, other operating costs and investment income 
recorded in the Group’s consolidated funds which are attributable to third-party investors in the funds.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

39

14  TAXATION 
See accounting policy at note 34 (K)   

The Group is subject to taxation in the countries in which it operates (the UK, the US and Hong 
Kong) at the rates applicable in those countries. The total tax charge includes taxes payable for the 
reporting period (current tax) and also charges relating to taxes that will be payable in future years 
due to income or expenses being recognised in different periods for tax and accounting periods 
(deferred tax).

(a) Analysis of charge for the year  

Current tax expense: 

UK corporation tax 

Foreign taxes 

Adjustment in respect of prior years 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax expense/(credit): 

Charge for the year 

Adjustment in respect of prior years 

Total deferred tax 

Total income tax expense 

2018 
£000

–

325

(116)

209

2,792

218

3,010

3,219

2017
 £000

–

432

(2,038)

(1,606)

167

(375)

(208)

(1,814)

A tax credit of £2,353,000 is also recorded in equity in relation to tax deductions on share awards 
arising due to the share price increase.

(b) Factors affecting the tax charge for the year 
The UK tax rate for the year is 19%. The tax assessment for the period is higher than this rate (2017: 
lower). The differences are explained below:

Profit before tax 

Tax charge at 19% (2017: 19.5%) 

Effects of: 

Increase in tax deductions re share awards from share price increases 

Non-taxable income 

Non-deductible expenses and charges 

Adjustment in respect of historical tax charges 

Effect of higher tax rates in foreign jurisdictions 

Tax deductibility of goodwill

Utilisation of tax losses brought forward and not recognised

Change in UK tax rates 

Total income tax expense 

2018 
£000

14,620

2,778

– 

(24)

248

98

240

(66)

(55)

– 

2017 
£000

5,853

1,141

(462)

(472)

200

(2,413)

180

– 

– 

12

3,219

(1,814)

The adjustment in respect of historical tax charges in 2017 primarily reflects tax credits due following 
a clarification of the tax treatment of income from private equity funds recorded in prior years.

40 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018(c) Deferred tax  
The deferred tax asset/(liability) included in the consolidated statement of financial position is  
as follows: 

As at 1 October 2016 

Credit/(charge) to equity 

Exchange differences on consolidation 

Credit/(charge) to the income statement 

Income not 
yet taxable
£000

Other 
liabilities

Total 
liabilities

(1,040)

(526)

(1,566)

–

(19)

(601)

–

–

–

(19)

(95)

(696)

As at 30 September 2017 

(1,660)

(621)

(2,281)

Credit to equity 

Exchange differences on consolidation 

Credit/(charge) to the income statement 

As at 30 September 2018 

–

(11)

(1,180)

(2,851)

–

–

–

(11)

308

(872)

(2,326)

(313)

(3,164)

3,613

Share-
based 
payment 
scheme
£000

Other 
assets
£000

661

2,540

–

386

3,587

2,352

 – 

Total 
assets
£000

809

2,514

–

905

4,228

2,360

–

(2,138)

4,450

148

(26)

–

519

641

8

–

188

837

A reduction in the UK corporation tax rate to 17% (effective 1 April 2020) was substantively enacted 
on 6 September 2016. The deferred tax liability at 30 September 2018 has been calculated taking 
this into account.

15   EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share (“EPS”) is calculated by dividing the profit for the year attributable to 
ordinary equity holders of the Parent Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares 
outstanding during the year, less the weighted average number of own shares held. Own shares are 
held in Employee Benefit Trusts (“EBTs”).

Earnings are reduced by £738,000 for the year ended 30 September 2018 (2017: £461,000) to 
reflect the profit attributable to holders of restricted shares, which are considered to be contingently 
returnable shares.

Diluted EPS includes an adjustment to reflect the dilutive impact of option awards and restricted 
share plan awards.

Impax NH’s AUM is below the threshold for shares to be issued under the RSU so they are not 
considered to be dilutive. The put and call arrangement to acquire Impax NH management shares 
(see note 4) is currently anti-dilutive.

2018

Basic 

Diluted

2017

Basic 

Diluted 

 Earnings  
for the year  

£000

 Shares  
000

 Earnings  
per share 

10,663

10,663

7,206

7,206

118,758

119,581

111,251

115,396

9.0p

8.9p

6.5p

6.2p

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

41

15   EARNINGS PER SHARE CONTINUED
The weighted average number of shares is calculated as shown in the table below:

Weighted average issued share capital 

2018
 £000

129,612

2017
 £000

127,749

Less own shares held not allocated to vested LTIP options 

(10,854)

(16,498)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares  
used in the calculation of basic EPS

Additional dilutive shares re share schemes

Adjustment to reflect option exercise  
proceeds and future service from employees receiving awards

Weighted average number of ordinary  
shares used in the calculation of diluted EPS

118,758

2,550

111,251

10,495

(1,727)

(6,349)

119,581

115,397

The basic and diluted EPS includes vested LTIP option shares on the basis that these have an 
inconsequential exercise price (1p or 0p).

16   DIVIDENDS
Dividends are recognised as a reduction in equity in the period in which they are paid or in the  
case of final dividends when they are approved by shareholders. The reduction in equity in the  
year therefore comprises the prior year final dividend and the current year interim dividend.

Dividends declared/proposed in respect of the year

Interim dividend declared per share

Special dividend, 2.6p, 0p

Final dividend proposed per share

Total

2018 
pence

1.1

2.6

3.0

6.7

2017 
pence

0.7

–

2.2

2.9

The proposed final dividend of 3.0p will be submitted for formal approval at the Annual General 
Meeting to be held on 7 March 2019. No special dividend is proposed for payment in respect of the 
current year. Based on the number of shares in issue at the date of this report and excluding own 
shares held the total amount payable for the final dividend would be £3,872,000. 

Dividends paid in the year 

Prior year final dividend – 2.2p, 1.6p 

Special dividend – 2.6p, 0p 

Interim dividend – 1.1p, 0.7p 

2018 
£000

 2,752 

 3,256 

 1,378 

 7,386 

2017
 £000

 1,856 

–

 816 

 2,672 

42

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 201817   GOODWILL 
See accounting policy at note 34 (L)

Cost 

At 1 October 2016 and 30 September 2017 

Acquisition of Impax NH (see note 4) 

Impairment 

Foreign exchange 

At 30 September 2018 

 Goodwill 
£000

 1,681 

 9,931 

(52)

 611 

12,171

The goodwill balance within the Group at 30 September 2017 arose from the acquisition of Impax 
Capital Limited on 18 June 2001 (Listed Equity and Private Equity operating segment) and the 
acquisition of a Property fund management business in 2014 (Property operating segment), with 
a further addition recorded in 2015. Goodwill also arose on the acquisition of Impax NH during 
the Period.

The Group tests goodwill for impairment annually or more frequently if there are indications that 
goodwill may be impaired.

The Group has determined the recoverable amount of its cash-generating units (“CGUs”) by 
calculating their value in use using a discounted cash flow model. The cash flow forecasts were 
derived from the Group budget for the year ended 30 September 2019, which was approved by the 
Directors in September 2018 and thereafter from the Group’s business plan which was approved by 
the Board in May 2018. The key assumptions used to calculate the cash flows in the budget were 
expected fund flows for each CGU (based on an aggregation of flows by product) and a discount 
rate of 12.5 per cent. The discount rate was derived from the Group’s weighted average cost of 
capital which we consider is reflective of a market participant’s discount rate.

The goodwill for the property division has been fully written off in the period. There has been no 
impairment of goodwill related to the Listed Equity and Private Equity segment to date and there is 
significant headroom before an impairment would be required. As an indication, if the discount rate 
was increased by 3 per cent there would be no impairment charge.

Impax NH consists of only one CGU. Goodwill is allocated between CGU’s at 30 September 2018 as 
follows – £10,542,000 to Impax NH and £1,629,000 to the Listed Equity and Private Equity CGU’s.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

43

18   INTANGIBLE ASSETS
See accounting policy at note 34 (M) 

Intangible assets mainly represents the management contracts acquired as part of the acquisition of 
Impax NH (see note 4). 

Cost 

As at 1 October 2016 

Additions 

Disposals 

As at 30 September 2017 

Addition through Impax NH acquisition (see note 4) 

Additions 

Foreign exchange 

As at 30 September 2018 

Accumulated depreciation 

As at 1 October 2016 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

As at 30 September 2017 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

Foreign exchange 

As at 30 September 2018 

Net book value 

As at 30 September 2018 

As at 30 September 2017 

As at 30 September 2016 

 Management 
contracts 
£000

 Software 
£000

112

–

–

112

25,669

–

1,600

27,381

112

–

–

112

1,722

–

56

1,890

25,491

– 

– 

354

29

(41)

342

–

76

–

418

310

37

(22)

325

19

–

–

344

74

17

44

 Total 
£000

466

29

(41)

454

25,669

76

1,600

27,799

422

37

(22)

437

1,741

–

56

2,234

25,565

17

44

44 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 201819    PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT  
See accounting policy at note 34 (N) 

Property, plant and equipment mainly represents the costs of fitting out the Group’s leased London 
office (leasehold improvements) and office furniture and computers (fixtures, fitting and equipment). 

Cost 

As at 1 October 2016 

Additions 

Disposals 

As at 30 September 2017 

Addition through Impax NH acquisition (see note 4)

Additions 

Disposals 

Foreign exchange 

As at 30 September 2018 

Accumulated depreciation 

As at 1 October 2016 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

As at 30 September 2017 

Charge for the year 

Disposals 

Foreign exchange 

As at 30 September 2018 

 Net book value 

As at 30 September 2018 

 As at 30 September 2017 

 As at 30 September 2016 

 Leasehold 
improvements
£000

 Fixtures, fittings 
and equipment 
£000

713

191

–

904

5

1,150

–

–

664

252

(12)

904

62

462

(46)

5

2,059

1,387

704

8

–

712

115

–

–

827

1,232

192

9

565

82

(12)

635

168

(19)

(1)

783

604

269

99

 Total
£000 

1,377

443

(12)

1,808

67

1,612

(46)

5

3,446

1,269

90

(12)

1,347

283

(19)

(1)

1,610

1,836

461

108

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

45

20  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 
See accounting policy at note 34 (N) 

Trade receivables

Other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

2018
 £000

3,432

1,799

10,627

15,858

2017 
£000

1,550

1,682

8,500

11,732

Accrued income relates to accrued management fees and arises where bills are raised in arrears.

An analysis of the aging of Group trade receivables is provided below:

0–30 days

Past due but not impaired:

31–60 days

61–90 days

2018 
£000

2,576

363

493

3,432

2017
 £000

768

95

687

1,550

At the date of this report, all of the trade receivables above have been received. There were no 
amounts that were impaired at the reporting date.

£12,200,789 of trade and other receivables and accrued income were due from related parties (2017: 
£8,994,000). £407,000 included in other receivables was due from non-consolidated sub funds of 
the EBT 2004 (2017: £523,000).

21  CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS 
See accounting policy at note 34 (O)

The Group makes seed investments into its own Listed Equity funds and also invests in its Private 
Equity funds. Where the funds are consolidated the underlying listed investments are shown in the 
table below as part of Listed Investments. Investments made in unconsolidated funds are shown  
as part of Unlisted investments. Further details of when funds are consolidated are described in  
note 34 (A).

At 1 October 2016

Additions

Fair value movements

Repayments/disposals

At 30 September 2017

Additions

Fair value movements

IEL Deconsolidation

Repayments/disposals

At 30 September 2018

46

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

Unlisted 
investments 
£000

Listed 
investments 
£000

1,568

14

(57)

(458)

1,067

1,525

367

4,670

(5,463)

2,166

11,246

4,977

1,358

(5,635)

11,946

811

439

(9,270)

(1,743)

2,183

Total 
£000

12,814

4,991

1,301

(6,093)

13,013

2,336

806

(4,600)

(7,206)

4,349

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018Listed investments

Impax Global Equity Opportunities Fund (consolidated)

On 23 December 2014 the Group launched the Impax Global Equity Opportunities Fund (“IGEO”) 
and invested from its own resources £2,000,000 in the fund. IGEO invests in listed equities using the 
Group’s Global Equity Strategy. During the Period the Group redeemed £930,000 of its investment. 
The Group’s investment represented more than 50 per cent of IGEO’s Net Asset Value (“NAV”) from 
the date of launch to 30 September 2018 and the fund has been consolidated throughout this period 
with its underlying investments included in listed investments in the table above.

Unlisted investments

Pax Global Opportunities Fund (not consolidated)

On 27 June 2018 the Group launched the Pax Global Opportunities Fund (“Pax GO”) and invested 
US$2,000,000 from its own resources into the fund. Pax GO invests in listed equities using the 
Group’s Global Equity Strategy. The level of the Group’s investment has meant that consolidation is 
not required and accordingly the investment is recorded as an unlisted investment.

Impax Environmental Leaders Fund (Not consolidated)

On 11 January 2016 the Group launched the Impax Environmental Leaders (Ireland) Fund (“IEL”) 
and invested from its own resources £3,000,000 in the fund. IEL invests in listed equities using the 
Group’s Leaders Strategy. The Group consolidated this fund for the period from the date of its initial 
investment to 30 September 2017 with its underlying investments included in listed investment in the 
table above. During the current period investments made by third parties meant that consolidation 
was no longer required and the fund was deconsolidated with the investment shown in Unlisted 
investments. The Group fully redeemed its investment in the Fund on 28 September 2018 for 
£4,870,000.

Private equity funds (not consolidated)

The Group has invested in its private equity funds, Impax New Energy Investors LP, Impax New 
Energy Investors II LP and Impax New Energy Investors III LP (“INEI”, “INEI II” and “INEI III”). The 
investments represent 3.76 per cent, 1.14 per cent and 1.12 per cent respectively of these funds. 
Further details of the Group’s commitments to these partnerships are disclosed in note 31.

The INEI investment is recorded at a fair value of £nil. The fund held investments in Spanish solar 
assets which were adversely affected by the Spanish government’s changes to tariffs earnt by these 
investments. A claim for compensation from the Spanish government is currently being considered 
by the European Court of Arbitration. In the event that the claims for compensation are successful 
the Group would receive its share of the compensation.

The carrying value of the investments in INEI II is recorded at a fair value of £115,000. The majority of 
the investments held by this fund are subject to sales processes. The fair value is set at a discount to 
the bids received as part of these processes.

The Group has a 1.12 per cent partnership share in Impax New Energy Investors III LP, a private equity 
partnership managed by the Group. The Group has made an investment of £19,000 at the reporting 
date. The Group has a commitment to invest up to €4,000,000 into this partnership.

Ensyn Corporation (not consolidated) 

The Group has an investment in the Ensyn Corporation which is recorded at a fair market value of 
£452,000. The valuation is determined based on the price of the latest fair market transaction in this 
entity.

The unlisted investments include £97,582 in related parties of the Group (2017: £628,000).

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

47

21  CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS CONTINUED

Hierarchical classification of investments
The hierarchical classification of the investments as considered by IFRS 13 Financial Instruments: 
Disclosures are shown below:

At 1 October 2017

Additions

Fair value movements

Deconsolidation

Repayments/disposals

At 30 September 2018

Level 1 
£000

11,946

811

439

(9,270)

(1,743)

2,183

Level 2 
£000

 – 

 1,506 

 313

4,670

 (4,870) 

1,619

Level 3 
£000

1,067

19

54

– 

(593)

547

Total
 £000

13,013

2,336

806

(4,600)

(7,206)

4,349

Market risk and investment hedges
See accounting policy for derivatives at note 34 (Q) 

The investment in the IGEO and Pax GO funds at 30 September 2018 are subject to market risk.  
The Group has attempted to hedge against the risk of market falls by the use of derivative 
contracts. The derivative contracts consist of short positions against a global equity index and  
are arranged through BNP Paribas, a related party. Any outstanding amounts on the short 
positions are settled daily.

22  INTERESTS IN UNCONSOLIDATED STRUCTURED ENTITIES

See accounting policy at note 34 (A) and note 34 (X)
The Group’s interest in structured entities is reflected in the Group’s AUM. The Group is exposed 
to movements in AUM of structured entities through potential loss of fee income as a result of 
client withdrawals or market falls. Outflows from funds are dependent on market sentiment, asset 
performance and investor considerations. Further information on these risks can be found in the 
strategic review. Considering the potential for changes in AUM of structured entities, management 
has determined that the Group’s unconsolidated structured entities include segregated mandates 
and pooled funds vehicles. Disclosure of the Group’s exposure to unconsolidated structured entities 
has been made on this basis.

At 30 September 2018 AUM managed within unconsolidated structured entities was £12.51 billion 
(2017: £6.9 billion) and within consolidated structured entities was £2.21 million (2017: £12.2 million).

£65,286,420 in revenue was earned from unconsolidated structured entities.

The total exposure to unconsolidated structured entities in the statement of financial position is 
shown in the table below:

Management fees receivable (including accrued income)

Investments

2018 
£000

8,680

2,166

10,846

2017 
£000

7,072

628

7,700

The main risk the Group faces from its interest in unconsolidated structured entities are decreases in 
the value of seed capital investments. Details on this are provided in note 21.

48

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 201823  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, CASH INVESTED IN MONEY MARKET FUNDS  
AND LONG-TERM DEPOSITS

See accounting policy for cash at note 34 (R) 

Cash and cash equivalents under IFRS does not include deposits in money market funds or cash 
held in deposits with an original maturity of more than three months. However the Group considers 
its total cash reserves to include these amounts. Cash held by consolidated funds is not considered 
to be available to the Group so it is not included in cash reserves. Cash held in Research Payment 
Accounts (“RPAs”) is collected from funds managed by the Group and can only be used towards 
the cost of researching stocks. A liability of an equal amount is included in trade and other payables. 
This cash is also excluded from cash reserves. A reconciliation is shown below:

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash invested in money market funds and long-term deposit accounts

Less: cash and cash equivalents held by consolidated funds

: cash held in RPAs

Cash reserves

2018 
£000

15,529

11,211

(67)

(2,074)

24,599

2017 
£000

12,932

7,780

(348)

–

20,364

The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on the above balances as interest income fluctuates 
according to the prevailing interest rates. The average interest rate on the cash balances during 
the year was 0.5 per cent (2017: 0.4 per cent). A 0.5 per cent increase in interest rates would have 
increased Group profit after tax by £133,000 (2017: £89,000). An equal change in the opposite 
direction would have decreased profit after tax by £119,000 (2017: £89,000).

The credit risk regarding cash balances of the operating entities of the Group is spread by holding 
parts of the balance with RBS, Lloyds, Citizens and the Bank of New Hampshire Bank (with Standard 
& Poor’s credit rating A-2, A-2, A-1 and A-2 respectively) and the remainder in money market 
funds managed by BlackRock and Goldman Sachs (both with a Standard & Poor’s credit rating of 
AAA).  

24  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES
See accounting policy at note 34 (R)

Trade payables

Taxation and other social security

Other payables

Accruals and deferred income

2018 
£000

914

2,404

7,063

14,374

24,755

2017 
£000

260

2,246

281

8,495

11,282

The most significant accrual at the year end relates to staff bonuses. Other payables includes 
estimated amounts payable for contingent consideration (see Note 4). This is measured at fair value 
and is classified as Level 3 for the hierarchical classification purposes of IFRS 13. 

25  LOANS
See accounting policy at note 34 (T)

To part fund the acquisition of Impax NH the Group signed a debt facility with RBS. The facility 
consists of a US$13 million term loan repayable annually over a three year term and a US$13 million 
revolving credit facility (“RCF”) with a five year tenor. The term loan incurs interest at US LIBOR 
plus 2.9 per cent and the revolving credit facility at US LIBOR plus 3.3%. On completion of the 
acquisition the Group drew down the term loan in full and US$12 million of the revolving credit 
facility. At 30 September 2018 the RCF had been repaid in full. 

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

49

25  LOANS CONTINUED

Amounts due within one year

Amounts due after more than one year

2018 
£000

3,326

6,652

9,978

A reconciliation of the movements on the loan is provided in the table below

Proceeds from bank borrowings

Repayments of bank borrowings

Foreign exchange

At 30 September

The above amounts do not include transaction costs.

26  THIRD-PARTY INTEREST IN CONSOLIDATED FUNDS

At fair value

2018 
£000

18,080

(8,779)

677

9,978

2018 
 £000

87

2017 
£000

–

–

–

2017 
£000

–

–

–

–

2017  

£000

4,846

Third-party interest in consolidated funds represents the net assets of the consolidated fund IGEO 
which are not attributable to the Group. As described in note 21, IGEO is a subsidiary of the Group 
and its net assets and operating results are consolidated into the Group’s results at year end. At 30 
September 2018 the Group’s interest in IGEO is 96.6 per cent (2017: 98.9%). This balance is classified 
as Level 1 for the hierarchical classification purposes of IFRS 13. The reduction in the balance during 
the year is due to the de-consolidation of the Impax Environmental Leaders fund of £4,816,000 (see 
note 21), offset by the share of profits of this fund and new subscriptions.

27  ORDINARY SHARES
See accounting policy at note 34 (S)

Issued and fully paid

At 1 October

Shares issued/1p

At 30 September

2018
No of 
shares/000s

2017
No of 
shares/000s

127,749

2,666

130,415

127,749

–

127,749

2018
£000

1,277

27

1,304

2017
£000

1,277

–

1,277

The shares were issued as part of the acquisition of Impax NH (see note 4) at a price of 196 pence 
giving rise to an increase in the share premium account of £5,198,000.

50

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 201828  OWN SHARES
See accounting policy at note 34 (T)

At 1 October 2016

Satisfaction of option exercises

EBT 2012 purchases

At 30 September 2017

Satisfaction of option exercises and RSS vesting

EBT 2012 purchases

At 30 September 2018

No of 
shares/000s

21,387,839

(3,845,000)

1,466,493

19,009,332

(10,739,251)

1,454,065

9,724,146

Included within own shares are 8,365,000 shares held in a nominee account in respect of the 
Restricted Share Scheme as described in note 10.

29  NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS
See accounting policy at note 34 

At 30 September 2017

Acquisition of Impax NH

Minority interest loss

Foreign exchange

At 30 September 2018

49% of the Group’s subsidiary Pax Elevate Management LLC is owned by a third party and 
accordingly a non-controlling interest arises.

The following table provides financial information for Pax Elevate Management LLC.

NCI percentage

Non-current assets

Current assets

Non-current liabilities

Current liabilities

Net assets

Net assets attributable to NCI

Revenue

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive income

Loss allocated to NCI

Cash flows from operating activities

Cash flows from investment activities

Cash flows from financing activities (dividends to NCI: nil)

Cashflow

£000

7,131

(1,448)

950

6,633

(3,747)

2,534

5,420

£000

–

982

(184)

100

898

2018 
£000

49%

2,087

138

–

(392)

1,833

898

729

(376)

(376)

(184)

(45)

– 

– 

(45)

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

51

 
29  NON-CONTROLLING INTERESTS CONTINUED
The non-controlling interest has a put arrangement under which it can require the Group to acquire 
its share. A liability is recorded within other payables for the cost of acquiring the stake. Changes in 
this liability are recorded through equity.

30  FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
At 30 September 2018 the Group has outstanding commitments to invest up to the following 
amounts into private equity funds that it manages.

– 

–  

–  

 €203,000 (2017: €203,000) into INEI; this amount could be called on in the period to  
17 August 2019;

 €672,000 (2017: €672,000) into INEI II; this amount could be called on in the period to  
22 March 2020; and

 €3,981,000, into INEI III (2017: €4,000,000); this amount could be called on in the period  
to 31 December 2026.

At 30 September the Group had commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows: 

Within one year

Between one and five years

Later than five years

Offices

2018
£000

1,110

6,496

8,295

15,901

2017
£000

142

3,914

5,030

9,086

Other

2018
£000

16

16

–

32

2017
£000

11

42

–

53

The material operating leases for 2018 are for office space at 7th Floor, 30 Panton Street London 
SW1Y 4AJ and for office space in Portsmouth, New Hampshire, USA. The London lease is for ten 
years expiring 30 June 2027. The New Hampshire lease is for 12.5 years expiring 31 March 2031. 

52

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 201831  RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES
This note should be read in conjunction with the Consolidated cashflow statement. It provides a 
reconciliation to show how profit before tax, which is based on accounting rules, translates to cashflows.

Profit before taxation

Adjustments for income statement non-cash charges:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment  
and amortisation of intangible assets

Fair value gains and losses

Share-based payment charges

Minority interest

Adjustments for which the cash effects are investing  
or financing activities

Investment income

Interest payable

Changes in third party interests in consolidated funds

Adjustment for statement of financial position movements

Increase in trade and other receivables

Increase in trade and other payables

Net cash flow from operating activities

2018 
£000

14,620

2,051

616

1,822

(184)

(279)

670

40

(2,011)

6,091

23,436

2017 
£000

5,853

167

52

1,130

–

(464)

–

239

(4,196)

5,603

8,384

32  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
Risk management is integral to the business of the Group. There are systems of controls in place 
to create an acceptable balance between the potential cost should such a risk occur and the cost 
of managing those risks. Management continually monitors the Group’s risk management process 
to ensure that an appropriate balance between risk and control is achieved. This section provides 
details of the Group’s exposure to financial risks and describes the methods used by management  
to control such risk.

Credit risk
Credit risk is the potential financial loss resulting from the failure of a counterparty to settle their 
financial and contractual obligations to the Group, as and when they fall due. The Group’s maximum 
exposure to credit risk is represented by the carrying value of its financial assets.

The Group’s primary exposure to credit risk relates to its cash and cash equivalents and cash in 
money market funds and long-term deposits that are placed with regulated financial institutions 
(see note 23). The Group is also exposed to credit risk on trade receivables, representing investment 
management fees due. An analysis of the ageing of these is provided in note 20.

Foreign exchange risk
Foreign exchange risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of financial instruments 
will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates. For Impax LN a significant amount of 
the Group’s income is denominated in euros and US dollars whilst the majority of expenses are in 
Sterling. For Impax NH all income and all expenditure is in US dollars. Impax NH’s assets along with 
the goodwill and intangible assets arising on its acquisition are denominated in US dollars. Debt held 
to finance the acquisition of NH is denominated in US dollars.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

53

32  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
The strategy for Impax LN for the year ended 30 September 2018 has been to convert earned 
income back to sterling and to use hedges where there is sufficient predictability over inflows to 
allow for an effective and efficient hedge. At the year end the Group had outstanding forward rate 
foreign currency contracts to sell euro and buy sterling. These have been designated as cash flow 
hedges against euro income and will be recognised in profit in October 2018, and January, April 
and July 2018. The fair value of these instruments at 30 September 2018 was (£54,000) which is 
recognised in equity. £13,000 was reclassified from equity to the income statement during the year 
on maturity of the hedges. 

The Group also held USD at 30 September 2017 to cover the consideration for the acquisition of 
Impax NH that was funded from cash reserves.

The Group’s exposure to foreign exchange rate risk, including that arising from consolidated funds, 
at 30 September 2018 was:

Assets

Current asset investments

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Loans

Third-party interest in consolidated funds

Net exposure

EUR/GBP  

£000

USD/GBP  

Other/GBP  

£000

£000

115

1,247

11

1,373

3,096

–

17

3,113

(1,740)

2,067

16,975

3,482

22,524

23,729

9,978

45

33,752

(11,228)

– 

52

2,744

2,796

594

–

15

609

2,187

The Group’s exposure to foreign exchange rate risk at 30 September 2017 was:

Assets

Current asset investments

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Third-party interest in consolidated funds

Net exposure

EUR/GBP 
£000

USD/GBP 
£000

Other/GBP 
£000

3,116

4,804

309

8,229

3,137

1,020

4,157

4,072

6,804

1,627

8,398

16,829

1,131

2,492

3,623

13,206

2,154

23

295

2,472

33

864

897

1,575

54

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018The following table demonstrates the estimated impact on Group post-tax profit and net assets 
caused by a 5 per cent variance in the exchange rate used to revalue significant foreign assets 
and liabilities, assuming all other variables are held constant. Post-tax profit will either increase or 
(decrease) as shown.

Translation of significant foreign assets and liabilities 

GBP strengthens against the USD, up 5%

GBP weakens against the USD, down 5%

GBP strengthens against the EUR, up 5%

GBP weakens against the EUR, down 5%

Post-tax profit

2018  
£000

452

(452)

70

(70)

2017  

£000

(531)

531

(164)

164

Liquidity risk and regulatory capital requirements
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group does not have sufficient financial resources to meet its 
obligations when they fall due or will have to do so at a cost. The Group monitors its liquidity risk 
using cash flow forecasts taking into account the commitments made to its private equity funds 
(see note 32) and the cash required to meet the Group’s investment plans and its regulatory  
capital requirements. 

The Group considers its share capital, share premium and retained earnings to constitute its total 
capital. These are shown in the statement of changes in equity. Certain companies of the Group 
are regulated and must maintain capital or liquid capital resources to comply with the capital 
requirements of the Financial Conduct Authority (the “FCA”). As a result of the acquisition of Impax 
NH the Group moved into a capital deficit position and agreed a waiver for a four year period.

At 30 September 2018, the Group had cash and cash equivalents and cash in money market funds 
and long-term deposit accounts of £26,740,000. This is £1,985,000 in excess of trade and other 
payables. The Group in addition had other current assets of £21,097,000.

Interest rate risk
Interest rate risk is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of financial instruments will 
fluctuate because of changes in market interest rates. The Group is exposed to interest rate risk on 
its loans and interest-bearing assets, specifically cash balances that earn interest at a floating rate.

Market risk
The significant holdings that are exposed to equity market price risk is the Group’s investments in its 
managed funds. See note 21 for further information.

Fair values of financial assets and liabilities
The Directors consider there to be no difference between the carrying value of the Group’s financial 
assets and liabilities and their fair value.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

55

32  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED

Financial assets and liabilities by category

*FVTPL – 
designated 
on initial 
recognition
£000

Available 
for sale
£000

*FVTPL – 
Held for 
trading
£000

Loans and 
receivables
£000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at 
amortised 
cost
£000

–

–

–

3

3

–

–

-

–

–

–

–

2,116

2,116

3,313

-

87

3,400

–

–

–

2,183

2,183

–

–

-

–

15,529

11,211

5,231

-

31,971

–

–

–

-

–

–

–

-

–

4,664

9,978

-

14,642

*FVTPL – 
designated 
on initial 
recognition
£000

Available 
for sale
£000

*FVTPL – 
Held for 
trading
£000

Loans and 
receivables
£000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at 
amortised 
cost
£000

–

–

–

3

3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,067

1,067

11,943

11,943

–

4,846

4,846

–

–

–

12,932

7,780

2,702

–

23,414

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

529

–

529

30 September 2018

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held in money market funds 
and long-term deposits

Trade and other receivables

Investments

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Loans

Third-party interest in consolidated funds

Total financial liabilities

30 September 2017

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held in money market funds  
and long-term deposits

Trade and other receivables

Investments

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Third-party interest in consolidated funds

Total financial liabilities

*  FVTPL = Fair value through profit and loss

33  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
Private Equity Funds managed by the Group, entities controlled by these funds and the Impax Global 
Resource Optimization Fund LP are related parties of the Group by virtue of subsidiaries being the 
General Partners to these funds. The Group earns management fees from these entities.

BNP Paribas Asset Management Holding is a related party of the Group by virtue of owning a 24.5 
per cent equity holding. The Group sub-manages certain funds for BNP for which it earns fees.

Other funds managed by subsidiaries of the Group are also related parties by virtue of its 
management contracts.

56

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018Fees earned from the above related parties have been disclosed in note 7 and amounts receivable are 
disclosed in note 20. Any amounts paid to them are dislcosed in Note 8. The Group also invests in certain 
funds that it manages which is disclosed in note 21.

The transactions with the EBT 2004 described in note 20 are also considered to be related 
party transactions. 

Impax NH granted it’s President a US$$1.6 million loan to enable them to purchase their original 
shares in Impax NH.

During the year loan facilities were provided to two executives for the sole purpose of investment 
in a fund managed by the Group. The loans are provided at an interest rate of LIBOR plus 2.9% 
per annum on amounts drawn, calculated on a daily basis. The balance on the loans to the two 
executives is £2,000 each at the reporting date.

34  ACCOUNTING POLICIES

(A)  Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and its 
subsidiaries. All intra-Group transactions and balances are eliminated in full on consolidation.

Subsidiaries are those entities, including investment funds, over which the Group has control. The 
Group is deemed to have control if it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable returns from involvement 
with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. 

The entities included in the consolidation may vary year on year due to restructuring of the  
Group (including acquisition and disposals) and the level of investments made in investment  
funds (see below). 

Subsidiaries are accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting whereby the Group’s results 
include the results of the acquired business from the date of acquisition until the date of disposal.

The Company includes certain assets and liabilities of the EBT 2004 and EBT 2012 (together the 
“EBTs”) within its statement of financial position. In the event of the winding up of the Company, 
neither the shareholders nor the creditors would be entitled to the assets of the EBTs.

Investment funds and structured entities
The Group acts as a fund manager to investment funds that are considered to be structured entities 
under IFRS. Structured entities are entities that have been designed so that voting or similar rights 
are not the dominant factor in deciding which party has control: for example, when any voting 
rights relate to administrative tasks only and the relevant activities of the entity are directed by 
means of contractual arrangements. The Group has interests in structured entities as a result of the 
management of these investment funds. 

Where the Group holds a direct interest in an investment fund it manages, the interest is accounted 
for either as a consolidated structured entity or as a financial asset, depending on whether the Group 
has control over the fund or not. Control is determined in accordance with IFRS 10, based on an 
assessment of the level of power and aggregate economic interest that the Group has over the fund, 
relative to third-party investors. Power is normally conveyed to the Group through the existence of an 
investment management agreement and/or other contractual arrangements. Aggregate economic 
interest is a measure of the Group’s exposure to variable returns in the fund through a combination of 
direct interest, carried interest and expected management fees (including performance fees).

The Group concludes that it acts as a principal when the power it has over the fund is deemed to be 
exercised for self-benefit, considering the level of aggregate economic exposure in the fund and the 
assessed strength of third-party investors’ kick-out rights. The Group concludes that it acts as an 
agent when the power it has over the fund is deemed to be exercised for the benefit of third-party 
investors. The Group concludes that it has control and, therefore, will consolidate a fund as if it were 
a subsidiary where the Group acts as a principal. If the Group concludes that it does not have control 
over the fund, the Group accounts for its interest in the fund as a financial asset.

In cases where investment funds are consolidated, the third-party interest is recorded as a financial 
liability. The consolidation has no net effect on the income statement. The treatment continues until 
the Group loses control as defined by IFRS.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

57

34  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
Details of funds that are recorded as a financial asset are provided in note 21.

(B)  Business combinations
The Group accounts for business combinations using the acquisition method when control is 
transferred to the Group. The consideration transferred in the acquisition is measured at fair value, 
as are the identifiable net assets acquired. Any goodwill that arises is tested annually for impairment 
(see note 17). Any gain on a bargain purchase is recognised in profit or loss immediately. Transaction 
costs are expensed as incurred, except if related to the issue of debt or equity securities. 

The consideration transferred does not include amounts related to the settlement of pre-existing 
relationships. Such amounts are generally recognised in profit or loss. 

Any contingent consideration is measured at fair value at the date of acquisition. If an obligation 
to pay contingent consideration that meets the definition of a financial instrument is classified as 
equity, then it is not remeasured and settlement is accounted for within equity. Otherwise, other 
contingent consideration is remeasured at fair value at each reporting date and subsequent changes 
in the fair value of the contingent consideration are recognised in profit or loss. 

If share-based payment awards (replacement awards) are required to be exchanged for awards 
held by the acquiree’s employees (acquiree’s awards), then all or a portion of the amount of the 
acquirer’s replacement awards is included in measuring the consideration transferred in the business 
combination. This determination is based on the market-based measure of the replacement awards 
compared with the market-based measure of the acquiree’s awards and the extent to which the 
replacement awards relate to pre-combination service. 

Non-controlling interests are measured initially at their proportionate share of the acquiree’s 
identifiable net assets at the date of acquisition.

In instances where the non-controlling interests holds an option enabling it to require the Group to 
purchase its interests the Group uses the present access method to account for this. A liability is 
recognised for the estimated cost of acquiring the non-controlling interest and charged to equity. 
Subsequent changes in the value of the liability are recognised through equity.

(C)  Foreign currency

(i) Functional and presentational currency

The financial information of each of the Group’s entities are initially recorded in the currency of 
the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the “functional currency”). This 
is mainly sterling but for some entities it is the euro and the US dollar. The consolidated financial 
statements are presented in sterling which is both the Company’s functional and presentational 
currency as well as the currency in which the majority of the Group’s revenue streams, assets and 
liabilities are recorded.

(ii) Transactions and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency at the rates ruling when  
they occurred. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates ruling at  
the statement of financial position date. Foreign currency gains or losses resulting from the settlement 
of such transactions and their translation at year end rates are recorded in the income statement.

(iii) Consolidation

On consolidation, the results and financial position of all Group entities that have a functional 
currency different from sterling (the “presentational currency”) are translated into sterling as follows:

– 

– 

– 

 assets and liabilities are translated at the closing rate at the date of the statement of financial 
position;

 income and expenses are translated at the date of the transaction or at average exchange rate 
for the year; and

 any resulting exchange differences are recognised as a separate component of the statement  
of comprehensive income.

58

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018(D)   Revenue
Management fee revenues are calculated as a percentage of net fund assets managed or of 
commitments made to a fund in accordance with individual management agreements. Management 
fees are accrued over the period for which the management service is provided and only when we 
consider it probable that the fee will be received. Where management fees are received in advance, 
they are recognised over the period of the provision of the asset management service.

Performance fees are recognised when the quantum of the fee can be estimated reliably and it is 
probable that the fee will crystallise. This is usually at the end of the performance period. For private 
equity funds carried interest income is recognised when the cash is received. 

(E)  Leases
Rental payments on operating leases are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis 
over the lease term. The Group has no finance leases. 

(F)  Placement fees 
Placement fees incurred that are directly attributable to securing an investment management 
contract are deferred and amortised over the investment period of the related fund. Such charges 
are included in other costs in note 8 – Operating costs.

(G)  Pensions
Pension contributions made to defined contribution schemes by the Group are charged to the 
consolidated income statement as they become payable.

(H)  Share-based payments
The fair value of employee services received in exchange for the grant of restricted shares or share 
options is recognised as an expense. The fair value of the shares and share options awarded is 
determined at the date the employee is deemed to be fully aware of their potential entitlement and 
all conditions of vesting (termed the “grant date”). The expense is charged over the period starting 
when the employee commenced the relevant services (termed the “service commencement date”) 
to the vesting date. In instances where the grant date occurs after the date of signing these financial 
statements the fair value is initially estimated by assuming that the grant date is the reporting date.

Investment income

(I) 
Interest income is accrued on a time basis by reference to the principal outstanding and the 
interest rate applicable. Other investment income is recognised when the right to receive  
payment is established.

Interest expense

(J) 
Interest expense is recognised using the effective interest method.

(K)  Taxation
Current tax is based on taxable profits for the year after all potential reliefs available have been 
utilised. Taxable profits differ from “profit before tax” as reported in the income statement because 
it excludes items that are taxable or deductible in other years and items that are not taxable or 
deductible in the current year. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates 
that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial position date. In the 
United Kingdom tax deductions are available in respect of the award of the Company’s shares. In 
instances where the tax deduction is greater than the associated share-based payment charge due 
to differences in the Company’s share price that amount, tax effected, is recognised in equity.

Deferred tax is provided in full in respect of taxation deferred by temporary differences between 
the treatment of certain items for taxation and accounting purposes. Deferred tax assets are not 
recognised to the extent that their recoverability is uncertain.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

59

34  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED
The carrying amounts of deferred tax assets are reviewed at each statement of financial position 
date and regarded as recoverable and therefore recognised only when, on the basis of all available 
evidence, it can be regarded as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits from  
which the future reversal of the underlying temporary differences can be deducted.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period when the liability 
or the asset is realised.

(L)  Goodwill 
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value 
of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary, associate or jointly 
controlled entity at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is recognised as an asset and is tested for 
impairment annually, or on such occasions that events or changes in circumstances indicate that its 
value might be impaired.

Changes in contingent consideration are recorded through the income statement unless they are 
measurement period adjustments, in which case they adjust goodwill.

On disposal of a subsidiary, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of 
the profit or loss on disposal.

(M)  Intangible assets
Intangible assets are stated at cost (fair value for assets acquired via a business combination) less 
accumulated depreciation and any accumulated impairment losses.

Amortisation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives shown below:

Management contracts 

Other items 

11 years

4 years

(N)  Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and any accumulated 
impairment losses.

Depreciation is provided on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives shown below:

Leasehold improvements 

life of the lease

Fixtures, fittings and equipment 

3 years

(O)  Trade and other receivables 
Trade and other receivables that have fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in 
an active market are classified as loans and receivables. Trade and other receivables are initially 
recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest 
method less provision for impairment.

(P)  Current asset investments
Current asset investments are categorised as financial assets at fair value through profit or loss either 
because they are designated at fair value through profit and loss on initial recognition or because 
they are held for trading. All gains or losses together with transaction costs are recognised in the 
income statement. The investments comprise both listed investments and unlisted investments. The 
fair value of the listed investments which are traded in active markets are based on quoted market 
prices at the statement of financial position date. The appropriate quoted price for investments held 
is the current bid price.

The fair value of the unlisted investments which are not traded in an active market is determined 
by using valuation techniques. The Group uses a variety of methods and makes assumptions that 
are based on market conditions existing at each reporting date. Valuation techniques used include 
the use of comparable recent arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are 
substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis and other valuation techniques commonly used  
by market participants making the maximum use of market inputs and relying as little as possible on 
entity-specific inputs.

60 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018 
 
 
 
 
(Q)  Derivatives 
The Group uses foreign exchange contracts as a hedge against foreign exchange risk on future 
income denominated in foreign currencies. At the statement of financial position date these 
derivative contracts are recorded at their fair value (disclosed as derivative asset or liability) on the 
statement of financial position. In instances where the hedge accounting criteria is met, changes 
in the fair value are recorded in other comprehensive income. The amounts recognised in other 
comprehensive income are reclassified to income when the hedged item (such as the relevant 
foreign exchange income) is recorded. 

The Group also uses forward derivative contracts to hedge the market risk on seed investments 
made. These are also recorded at their fair value in the statement of financial position with any 
changes recorded in the income statement as part of fair value gains and losses.

(R)  Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and short-term deposits with an original maturity 
period of three months or less.

(S)  Trade and other payables
Trade and other payables are initially recognised at cost and subsequently remeasured at amortised 
cost using the effective interest rate method. Accruals are based on the latest information and 
therefore require a degree of estimation.

(T)  Loans
Loans are initially recognised at fair value (net of transaction costs) and subsequently carried at 
amortised cost.

(U)  Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares issued by the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

(V)  Own shares
Company shares held by the Group’s Employee Benefit Trusts are deducted from shareholder’s 
funds and classified as Own shares until such time as they vest unconditionally to participating 
employees and their families.

(W) Impairment of assets 
At the statement of financial position date, the Group reviews the carrying amount of assets to 
determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss or if 
events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may not be recoverable. If any 
such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the 
extent of the impairment loss (if any). Where it is not possible to estimate the recoverable amount 
of an individual asset, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash-generating unit to 
which the asset belongs.

If the recoverable amount of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the 
impairment loss is recognised as an expense.

When an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the 
revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed 
the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for 
the asset. A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised as income immediately, unless the relevant 
asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss treated as a 
revaluation increase. Impairment losses relating to goodwill are not reversed.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

61

34  ACCOUNTING POLICIES CONTINUED

(X)  Interests in unconsolidated structured entities
The Group classifies the following investment funds as unconsolidated structured entities:– 
Segregated mandates and pooled funds managed where the Group does not hold any direct 
interest. In this case, the Group considers that its aggregate economic exposure is insignificant, 
and, in relation to segregated mandates and certain pooled funds, the third-party investor has 
the practical ability to remove the Group from acting as fund manager, without cause. As a result 
the Group concludes that it acts as an agent for third-party investors. Pooled funds managed by 
the Group where the Group holds a direct interest, for example seed capital investments, and the 
Group’s aggregate economic exposure in the fund relative to third-party investors is less than 
20 per cent (i.e. the threshold established by the Group for determining agent versus principal 
classification). Here, the Group concludes that it is an agent for third-party investors and therefore 
accounts for its beneficial interest in the fund as a financial asset. The disclosure of the AUM in 
respect of consolidated and unconsolidated structured entities is provided in note 22.

35  NEW ACCOUNTING STANDARDS

New standards, interpretations and amendments adopted during the year

No new accounting standards, interpretation or amendments were adopted during the year.

 New standards not yet adopted

The following new standards issued have not been early adopted. The Group is currently assessing 
their impact on its consolidated financial statements.

Standard

IFRS 9

IFRS 15

IFRS 16

Topic

Financial instruments

Revenue from Contracts with Customers

Leases

Effective for annual periods  
beginning on/after

1 January 2018

1 January 2018

1 January 2019

IFRS 9 Financial instruments was issued in July 2014. IFRS 9 replaces the classification and 
measurement models for financial instruments in IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition with 
three classification categories: amortised cost, fair value through profit or loss and fair value through 
other comprehensive income. Under IFRS 9, the Group’s business model and the contractual 
cash flows arising from its investments in financial instruments will determine the appropriate 
classification. All equity investments within the scope of IFRS 9 are measured at fair value, with 
gains or losses reported either in the statement of comprehensive income or, by election, through 
other comprehensive income. However, where fair value gains and losses are recorded through 
other comprehensive income there will no longer be a requirement to transfer gains or losses to 
the statement of comprehensive income on impairment or disposal. In addition, IFRS 9 introduces 
an expected loss model for the assessment of impairment. The current incurred loss model under 
IAS 39 requires the Group to recognise impairment losses when there is objective evidence that 
an asset is impaired. Under the expected loss model, impairment losses are recorded if there is an 
expectation of credit losses, even in the absence of a default event. The Group does not anticipate 
that this will have a material impact on its results.

62

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUEDFOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018– IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers deals with revenue recognition and establishes 
a single, principle-based model to be applied to all contracts with customers, to recognise revenue 
in a manner that reflects the pattern of transfer of services to the customer. IFRS 15 replaces IAS 
18 Revenue and IAS 11 Construction Contracts and related interpretations. The Standard provides 
guidance on topics such as the point at which revenue is recognised, accounting for variable 
consideration, costs of fulfilling and obtaining a contract and various related matters. New 
disclosures about revenue are also introduced. The Group does not anticipate that this will have a 
material impact on its results.

– IFRS 16 Leases was issued on 13 January 2016 and replaces IAS17 Leases. IFRS 16 requires all 
operating leases in excess of one year, where the Group is the lessee, to be included on the Group’s 
statement of financial position and recognised as a right-of-use asset and a related lease liability 
representing the obligation to make lease payments. The right-of-use asset will be amortised on 
a straight-line basis with the lease liability being amortised using the effective interest method. 
Certain optional exemptions are available under IFRS 16 for short-term leases (lease term of less 
than 12 months) and for small-value leases. The Group is currently assessing the impact of this new 
accounting standard.

No other standards or interpretations issued and not yet effective are expected to have an impact on 
the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

63

COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
AS AT 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Company No: 03262305

Assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments 

Deferred tax assets

Total non-current assets

Trade and other receivables

Investments

Cash invested in money market funds  
and long-term deposit accounts

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Equity and Liabilities

Ordinary shares

Share premium

Retained earnings

Total equity

Trade and other payables

Loans

Total current liabilities

Loans

Total non-current liabilities

Total equity and liabilities

2018

2017

Notes

£000

£000

£000

£000

37

38

42

39

40

27

41

1,695

34,375

183

25,974

1,714

233

6,917

1,304

9,291

31,967

18,551

3,326

6,652

445

21,181

177

36,253

21,803

34,838

71,091

2,453

629

232

8,429

1,277

4,093

14,160

11,743

33,546

42,562

19,530

14,016

–

–

14,016

–

33,546

21,877

6,652

71,091

Authorised for issue and approved by the Board on 5 December 2018. The notes on pages 67–73 
form part of these financial statements.

Ian R Simm
Chief Executive

64 GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Note

16

16

28

As at 1 October 2016

Profit for the year

Transactions with owners

Dividends paid

Acquisition of own shares

Cash received on option exercises

Tax credit on long-term incentive 
schemes (Restated*)

Long-term incentive scheme charge

Total transactions with owners 
(Restated*)

As at 30 September 2017

Profit for the year

Transactions with owners

Shares issued

Dividends paid

Acquisition of own shares

Management equity scheme – value 
assigned to pre-acquisition service

Cash received on option exercises

Tax credit on long-term incentive 
schemes

Long-term incentive scheme charge

Total transactions with owners

As at 30 September 2018

Share  
capital 
£000

1,277

Share 
premium 
£000

4,093

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,277

–

27

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,093

–

5,198

–

–

–

–

–

27

1,304

5,198

9,291

Retained 
earnings 
£000

14,317

753

(2,672)

(950)

1,096

486

1,130

(910)

14,160

18,967

–

(7,386)

(2,534)

1,917

4,477

544

1,822

(1,160)

31,967

Total
£000

19,687

753

(2,672)

(950)

1,096

486

1,130

(910)

19,530

18,967

5,225

(7,386)

(2,534)

1,917

4,477

544

1,822

4,065

42,562

The notes on pages 67–73 form part of these financial statements.

*  Restated to show tax credit on long term incentive schemes within Transactions with owners

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

65

COMPANY STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

Notes

Operating activities:

Profit before taxation

Adjustments for:

Investment income

Depreciation of property, plant & equipment

37

Fair value movements and other financial income/expense

Interest payable

Share-based payment

Operating cash flows before movement in working capital

Decrease/increase in receivables

 Decrease/increase in payables

Decrease/increase in margin account

Cash used by operations

Corporation tax 

Net cash generated from operating activities

Investing activities:

Interest received

Dividend received

Investments in new subsidiaries

Loans to new subsidiaries

Repayments from/proceeds on sale of investments

Investments made into Impax managed funds

Settlement of investment related hedges

Decrease in cash held in money market funds

Purchase of property, plant & equipment

Net cash used by investing activities

Financing activities:

Proceeds from bank borrowings

Repayment of bank borrowings

Interest paid on bank borrowings

Dividends paid

Acquisition of own shares

Cash received on exercise of Impax share options

Net generated from financing activities

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Effect of foreign exchange rate changes

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

66

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

2018
 £000

20,094

(13,000)

242

(3)

670

229

8,232

(4,147)

4,200

(144)

8,141

–

8,141

–

13,000

(8,095)

(19,232)

6,011

(1,526)

(987)

–

(1,492)

(12,321)

17,616

(8,779)

(464)

(7,386)

(2,534)

4,477

2,930

(1,250)

8,429

(262)

6,917

2017 
£000

885

(11)

81

393

– 

144

1,492

1,676

3,343

77

6,588

–

6,588

11

–

–

–

3,508

(14)

(1,580)

1,697

(350)

3,272

–

–

–

(2,672)

(950)

1,096

(2,526)

7,334

1,273

(178)

8,429

NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

36  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The separate financial statements of the Company are presented as required by the Companies 
Act 2006. The principal accounting policies adopted are the same as those set out in the Group’s 
financial statements disclosures. In addition note 38 sets out the accounting policy in respect of 
investments in subsidiary undertakings.

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption allowed under Section 408 of the Companies 
Act 2006 and has not presented its own statement of comprehensive income in these financial 
statements. The Company’s net profit for the year amounted to £18,967,000 (2017: £753,000). 

37  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Cost 

As at 1 October 2016

Additions

As at 30 September 2017

Additions

Disposals

As at 30 September 2018

Depreciation

As at 1 October 2016

Charge for the year

As at 30 September 2017

Charge for the year

Disposals

As at 30 September 2018

Net book value

As at 30 September 2018

As at 30 September 2017

As at 30 September 2016

Leasehold 
improvements 
£000

Fixtures, fittings 
and equipment 
£000

709

189

898

1,131

– 

2,029

698

8

706

113

–

819

1,210

192

11

619

237

856

387

(46)

1,197

530

73

603

129

(20)

712

485

253

89

 Total 
£000

1,328

426

1,754

1,518

(46)

3,226

1,228

81

1,309

242

(20)

1,531

1,695

445

100

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

67

NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

38 NON-CURRENT INVESTMENTS
Investments held by the Company in subsidiary undertakings are held at cost less any provision 
for impairment.

At 1 October 2016

Additions

Capital contribution

Disposals/repayment of invested capital

At 30 September 2017

Additions

Capital contribution

Transfer to current asset investments

Disposals/repayment of invested capital

At 30 September 2018

The subsidiary undertakings are:

Other 
investments 
£000

Subsidiary 
undertakings 
£000

14

–

–

(11)

3

– 

–

–

(3)

–

22,228

–

986

(2,036)

21,178

15,237

1,593

(3,000)

(633)

34,375

Total 
£000

22,242

–

986

(2,047)

21,181

15,237

1,593

(3,000)

(636)

34,375

 Country of  
incorporation 

 Proportion  
of ordinary 
capital held 

100%

100%

83.3%

51%

Impax Asset Management Limited* 

Impax Asset Management (AIFM) Limited* 

Impax Asset Management LLC 

Pax Elevate Management LLC 

INEI I GP (UK) LLP 

INEI II GP (UK) LLP 

INEI III GP (UK) LLP 

Climate Property (GP) Limited 

INEI III Team Co-Investment LP

Impax Carried Interest Partner (GP) Limited 

Impax Carried Interest Partner II (GP) Limited 

Impax Global Resource Optimization (GP) Ltd 

Impax US Holdings Limited 

Impax New Energy Investors (GP) Limited 

Impax New Energy Investors II (GP) Limited 

Impax Capital Limited 

Impax New Energy Investors  
Management SARL 

Kern USA Inc 

 UK 

 UK 

 USA 

 USA 

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

UK

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

 UK 

 USA 

Impax Asset Management (Hong Kong) Ltd**  Hong Kong 

Impax Asset Management (US) LLC 

Impax Global Equity Opportunities Fund 

IAM US Holdco, Inc. 

*  FCA regulated 

**  Hong Kong SFC regulated 

 USA 

 Ireland 

 USA 

68

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

 Nature of business 

 Fund management 

 Fund management 

 Fund management 

 Fund management 

100% General partner to private equity fund 

100%  General partner to private equity fund 

100% General partner to private equity fund 

100%

80%

 General partner to property fund 

Investment Partnership

100%  General partner to private equity fund 

100% General partner to private equity fund 

100%

General partner to listed equity fund 

100%

100%

100%

100%

 Holding company 

 Holding company 

 Holding company 

 Dormant 

100%

100%

100%

96.6%

100%

 Holding company for US assets 

 Fund management 

 Fund management 

 Investment Fund 

 Holding company 

Luxembourg 

100%  General partner to private equity fund 

 
 
 
 
 
Charges relating to options over the Company’s shares granted to employees of subsidiary 
undertakings are accounted for in the subsidiary undertaking. In the Company financial statements 
the capital contribution in respect of this charge has been recognised as an increase in the 
investment in subsidiaries.

Investments in subsidiary undertakings are divided between interest in shares and capital 
contributions as follows:

 Interest in shares 

 Capital contribution 

2018 
£000

20,985

13,390

34,375

2017
 £000

9,381

11,797

21,178

The principal other investment for the Company is in the fund Impax New Energy Investors SCA 
which is incorporated in Luxembourg.

39  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES 

Due within one year:

Amounts owed by Group undertakings

Taxation and other social security receivable

Other receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

40 CURRENT ASSET INVESTMENTS  

At 1 October 2016

Additions 

Fair value movements

Repayments/disposals

At 30 September 2017

Additions 

Transfer from non-current investments

Fair value movements

Repayments/disposals

At 30 September 2018

41  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES 

Trade payables

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

Taxation and other social security

Other payables

Accruals and deferred income

2018
 £000

23,924

855

521

674

25,974

2017 
£000

182

519

1,065

687

2,453

Investments 
£000

1,116

14

(43)

(458)

629

1,526

3,000

1,933

(5,374)

1,714

2017 
£000

175

10,602

341

78

2,820

14,016

2018
 £000

– 

14,416

239

214

3,682

18,551

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

69

NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

42  DEFERRED TAX 
The deferred tax asset included in the Company statement of financial position is as follows: 

Accelerated 
capital  

allowances
£000

Other  
temporary 
differences
£000

Excess 
management 
charges
£000

 As at 30 September 2017 

Credit/(charge) to the income statement 

As at 30 September 2018 

9

(50)

(41)

(536)

354

(182)

144

(144)

–

Share-
based 
payment  
scheme
£000

560

(154)

406

Total
£000

177

6

183

A reduction in the UK corporation tax rate to 17 per cent (effective 1 April 2020) was substantively 
enacted on 6 September 2016. This will reduce the Company’s future tax charge accordingly. The 
deferred tax charge at 30 September 2018 has been calculated taking this into account.

43  FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
At 30 September 2018 the Company has outstanding commitments to invest up to the following 
amounts into private equity funds that it manages: 

– 

– 

 €203,000 (2017: €203,000) into INEI; this amount could be called on in the period to  
17 August 2018;

 €672,000 (2017: €672,000) into INEI II; this amount could be called on in the period to  
22 March 2020; and

– 

 €3,981,000 into INEI III; this amount could be called on in the period to 31 December 2026.

At 30 September the Company had commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

Within one year

Between one and five years

Later than five years

Offices

2018
£000

606

4,235

3,971

8,812

2017
£000

77

3,706

5,030

8,813

Other

2018
£000

16

31

–

47

2017
£000

16

31

–

47

The material operating lease for 2018 and 2017 is for office space at 7th Floor, 30 Panton Street 
London SW1Y 4AJ. The lease is for ten years expiring 30 June 2027.

44  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The risk management processes of the Company are aligned to those of the Group as a whole. 
The Company’s specific risk exposures are explained below.

Credit risk
The Company’s primary exposure to credit risk relates to cash and deposits that are placed with 
regulated financial institutions and amounts due from subsidiaries.

At the statement of financial position date, the credit risk regarding cash and cash equivalent 
balances of the asset management business was spread by holding part of the balance with RBS  
and part with Barclays (Standard & Poor’s credit rating A-2) and the remainder in a money market 
funds managed by BlackRock and Goldman Sachs which both have a Standard & Poor’s credit rating 
of AAA. The risk of default is considered minimal. 

70

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

Foreign exchange risk
The amount of the Company’s expenses denominated in foreign currencies is minimal.

The Company activities are principally conducted in sterling, euro, and US dollars. Foreign exchange 
risk arises from income received in these currencies together with a limited amount of exposure to 
costs payable.

The Company’s exposure to foreign exchange rate risk at 30 September 2018 was:

Assets

Current asset investments

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Loans

Net exposure

EUR/GBP  

£000

USD/GBP  

Other/GBP  

£000

£000

98

–

–

98

286

–

286

(188)

–

19,715

270

19,985

779

9,978

10,757

9,228

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

The Company’s exposure to foreign currency exchange rate risk at 30 September 2017 was:

Assets

Non-current asset investments

Current asset investments

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Net exposure

EUR/GBP  

£000

USD/GBP  

Other/GBP  

£000

£000

3

628

–

–

631

947

947

(316)

–

1

–

8,118

8,119

778

778

7,341

–

–

–

–

–

11

11

(11)

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

71

NOTES TO THE COMPANY FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 30 SEPTEMBER 2018

44  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT CONTINUED
The following table demonstrates the estimated impact on Group post-tax profit and net assets and 
Company post-tax profit and net assets caused by a 5 per cent movement in the exchange rate used 
to revalue significant foreign assets and liabilities, assuming all other variables are held constant.  
Post-tax profit either increases or (decreases).

Translation of significant foreign assets and liabilities 

GBP strengthens against the USD, up 5%

GBP weakens against the USD, down 5%

GBP strengthens against the EUR, up 5%

GBP weakens against the EUR, down 5%

Post-tax profit

2018
 £000

(369)

369

8

(8)

2017
 £000

(295)

295

13

(13)

Liquidity risk  
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Company does not have sufficient financial resources to meets it 
obligations when they fall due or will have to do so at cost. The Company can request to borrow cash 
through intra-Group loans to maintain sufficient liquidity.

Interest rate risk
At the reporting date the Company’s cash and cash equivalents, including bank overdrafts and  
cash held in money market deposits balance of £7,150,000 (2017: £8,661,000) were its only financial 
instruments subject to variable interest rate risk. The impact of 0.5 per cent increase or decrease in 
interest rate on the post-tax profit is not material to the Company. 

Market pricing risk
The Company has made investments in its own managed funds and the value of these investments 
are subject to equity market risk. 

Fair values of financial assets and liabilities
The Directors consider there to be no difference between the carrying value of the Group’s financial 
assets and liabilities and their fair value. 

The hierarchical classification of financial assets and liabilities measured at fair value are as follows:

At 1 October 2017

Transfer from non-current investments

Additions

Fair value

Disposals

At 30 September 2018

Level 2

2018
£000

–

3,000

1,506

1,981

(4,872)

1,615

Level 3

2017 
£000

629

–

20

(48)

(503)

98

The Company did not have any investments classified as Level 1 in 2018 (2017: £nil).

There were no movements between any of the levels in the year (2017: £nil).

The Company had no financial liabilities measured at fair value for 2018 (2017: £nil).

72

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

Financial assets and liabilities by category:

30 September 2018

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held in money market funds

Trade and other receivables

Investments

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities 

Trade and other payables

Loans

Total financial liabilities

30 September 2017

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash held in money market funds

Trade and other receivables

Investments

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities 

Trade and other payables

Total financial liabilities

*  FVPTL = Fair value through profit and loss

Available 
 for sale
£000

*FVTPL – 
designated  
on initial 
recognition
£000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at 
amortised cost
£000

Loans and 
receivables
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,615

1,615

–

–

–

6,917

233

24,445

–

31,595

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

14,630

9,978

24,608

Available 
 for sale
£000

*FVTPL – 
designated 
on initial 
recognition
£000

Financial 
liabilities 
measured at 
amortised cost
£000

Loans and 
receivables
£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

629

629

–

–

8,429

232

718

–

9,379

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

10,855

10,855

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

73

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Impax Asset Management Group plc (the 
“Company”) will be held at the offices of the Company, 7th floor, 30 Panton Street, London SW1Y 4AJ 
at 2pm on 7 March 2019 for the following purposes:

AS ORDINARY BUSINESS
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions which will be proposed as ordinary 
resolutions:

1. 

 To receive and adopt the Company’s annual accounts for the financial year ended 30 September 
2018 together with the Directors’ report and the auditor’s report on those accounts.

2.  To elect Arnaud de Servigny as a Director.

3.  To re-elect Lindsey Brace Martinez as a Director.

4.  To re-elect Vince O’Brien as a Director.

5.  To reappoint KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company.

6.  To authorise the Directors to fix the remuneration of the auditor.

7. 

 To declare a final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 30 September 2018 of  
3.0 pence per Ordinary Share payable to the holders of Ordinary Shares on the register of 
members at the close of business on 8 February 2019.

AS SPECIAL BUSINESS
To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following resolutions, resolution 8 of which will be proposed 
as an ordinary resolution and resolutions 9, 10 and 11 of which will be proposed as special resolutions: 

8. 

 THAT, in substitution for any subsisting authorities to the extent unused, the Directors of the 
Company be generally and unconditionally authorised in accordance with section 551 of the 
Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot shares 
in the Company and to grant rights to subscribe for, or to convert any security into, shares 
in the Company:

(a)   up to an aggregate nominal amount of £434,716.95 (such amount to be reduced by the 

nominal amount of any equity securities allotted pursuant to the authority in paragraph (b) 
below in excess of £434,716.95) and

(b)   comprising equity securities (as defined by section 560 of the Act) up to an aggregate 
nominal amount of £869,433.91 (such amount to be reduced by the nominal amount of 
any shares allotted or rights granted pursuant to the authority in paragraph (a) above) in 
connection with an offer by way of a rights issue:

(i) 

(ii) 

 to holders of Ordinary Shares in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) to their 
respective holdings; and

 to holders of other equity securities as required by the rights of those securities or  
as the Directors otherwise consider necessary,

 but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary 
or expedient in relation to Treasury Shares, fractional entitlements, record dates, legal 
or practical problems in or under the laws of any territory or the requirements of any 
regulatory body or stock exchange,

 provided that this authority shall, unless renewed, varied or revoked by the Company, expire at 
the conclusion of the Company’s next Annual General Meeting (or, if earlier, close of business 
on 7 June 2020) except that the Company may at any time before such expiry make any offer 
or agreement which would or might require shares to be allotted or rights to subscribe for or 
convert securities into shares to be granted after such expiry and the Directors may allot shares 
or grant rights to subscribe for or convert securities into shares in pursuance of such offer or 
agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.

74

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
9. 

 THAT, subject to the passing of resolution 8 above dealing with the authority to allot pursuant 
to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), the Directors of the Company be and 
are hereby empowered pursuant to section 570 of the Act to allot equity securities (within the 
meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash, pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 
8 above or by way of a sale of Treasury Shares, as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any 
such allotment or sale, provided that the power conferred by this resolution shall be limited to:

(a)   the allotment or sale of equity securities, either in connection with an issue or offer of 

equity securities (including, without limitation, under a rights issue, open offer or similar 
arrangement) to holders of equity securities in proportion (as nearly as may be practicable) 
to their respective holdings of equity securities, subject only to such exclusions or other 
arrangements as the Directors of the Company may consider necessary or expedient to 
deal with any Treasury Shares, fractional entitlements or legal or practical problems under 
the laws of any territory, or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange in 
any territory; and

(b)   the allotment or sale (otherwise than pursuant to resolution 9(a)) of equity securities or sale 

of Treasury Shares up to an aggregate nominal value of £65,207.54,

 the power conferred by this resolution shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s next 
Annual General Meeting (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 June 2020), except that 
the Company may at any time before such expiry make any offer or agreement which would 
or might require equity securities to be allotted (and Treasury Shares to be sold) after such 
expiry and the Directors of the Company may allot equity securities (and sell Treasury Shares) in 
pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.

10. 

 THAT, subject to the passing of resolution 8 above, the Directors of the Company be and are 
hereby empowered in addition to any authority granted under resolution 9(b) to allot equity 
securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash under the authority given by 
that resolution and/or to sell ordinary shares held by the Company as Treasury Shares for cash 
as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, such authority to be:

(a)   limited to the allotment of equity securities or sale of Treasury Shares up to a nominal 

amount of £65,207.54; and

(b)   used only for the purposes of financing (or refinancing, if the authority is to be used within 
six months after the original transaction) a transaction which the Directors determine to 
be an acquisition or other capital investment of a kind contemplated by the Statement of 
Principles on Disapplying Pre-Emption Rights most recently published by the Pre-Emption 
Group prior to the date of this notice,

 the power conferred by this resolution shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s next 
Annual General Meeting (or, if earlier, at the close of business on 7 June 2020), except that 
the Company may at any time before such expiry make any offer or agreement which would 
or might require equity securities to be allotted (and Treasury Shares to be sold) after such 
expiry and the Directors of the Company may allot equity securities (and sell Treasury Shares) in 
pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CONTINUED

11. 

 THAT the Company be and is generally authorised for the purposes of section 701 of the Act 
to make one or more market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of its 
Ordinary Shares of 1 pence each provided that:

(a)  the maximum aggregate number of Ordinary Shares that may be purchased is 13,041,508; 

(b)  the minimum price which may be paid for each Ordinary Share is 1 pence;

(c)   the maximum price which may be paid for each Ordinary Share is not more than 105 per 
cent of the average of the middle market quotations for an Ordinary Share taken from 
the London Stock Exchange for the five business days immediately preceding the day of 
purchase; and

(d)   unless previously renewed, varied or revoked, the authority conferred by this resolution 
shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s next Annual General Meeting save that 
the Company may make a contract or contracts to purchase Ordinary Shares under the 
authority conferred by this resolution prior to the expiry of such authority which will or may 
be executed wholly or partly after the expiry of such authority and may make a purchase of 
Ordinary Shares in pursuance of any such contract or contracts.

By order of the Board

Zack Wilson 
Company Secretary

17 December 2018

76

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

 
 
 
 
Notes:

1 

2 

3 

4 

5.  

6.  

  Any member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting is entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to attend, speak and 
vote in his or her stead. A member may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise 
rights attached to different shares. A member may not appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to 
any one share. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. A form of proxy is enclosed for use of members. 
Completion and return of a form of proxy or CREST Proxy Instruction (as described in note 4) will not preclude a 
member from attending and voting in person at the meeting should he or she so decide. You can only appoint a proxy 
using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the form of proxy. If you appoint a proxy and attend the 
meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.

  To be valid, the form of proxy and the power of attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed (or a 
notarially certified copy of such power of authority) must be deposited at the offices of Link Asset Services, PXS1, 34 
Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4ZF by 2.00 pm on 5 March 2019. To change your proxy instructions simply 
submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above and in the notes to the form of proxy. Note that the 
cut-off time for receipt of proxy appointments also applies in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy 
appointment received after the relevant cut-off time will be disregarded.

  To be entitled to attend and vote at the meeting (and for the purpose of the determination by the Company of the 
number of votes they may cast), members must be entered in the Register of Members at close of business on 5 
March 2019 (or, in the event of any adjournment, close of business on the date which is two days before the time of the 
adjourned meeting).

  CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service 
may do so for the meeting and any adjournment(s) thereof by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual. 
CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed a 
voting service provider(s) should refer to their CREST sponsors or voting service provider(s), who will be able to take 
the appropriate action on their behalf. In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made by means of CREST to be 
valid, the appropriate CREST message (a “CREST Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance 
with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s specifications and must contain the information required for such instructions, as 
described in the CREST Manual. The message must be transmitted so as to be received by the Company’s agent, Link 
Asset Services (CREST Participant ID: RA10), no later than 48 hours before the time appointed for the meeting. For 
this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the time stamp applied to the message 
by the CREST Application Host) from which the Company’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST 
in the manner prescribed by CREST. CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service 
provider(s) should note that Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for 
any particular messages. Normal system timings and limitations will therefore apply in relation to the input of CREST 
Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST 
personal member or sponsored member or has appointed a voting service provider(s), to procure that his CREST 
sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted 
by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, 
their CREST sponsors or voting service provider(s) are referred in particular to those sections of the CREST Manual 
concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings. The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy 
Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5) of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

 As at 5 December 2018 (being the last practicable date prior to the publication of this notice) the total number of 
Ordinary Shares in the Company in issue was 130,415,087 and the Company held no Shares in treasury. The total number 
of voting rights on that date was therefore 130,415,087.

 Members have a right under section 319A of the Companies Act 2006 to require the Company to answer any question 
raised by a member at the annual general meeting, which relates to the business being dealt with at the meeting, 
although no answer need be given: (a) if to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation of the meeting or involve 
disclosure of confidential information; (b) if the answer has already been given on the Company’s website; or (c) if it is 
undesirable in the best interests of the Company or the good order of the meeting.

7.  

 A copy of this notice of annual general meeting and other information required by section 311A of the Companies Act 
2006, can be found at www.impaxam.com.

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

77

REGISTRARS
Link Asset Services3 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham 
Kent 
BR3 4TU

NOMINATED ADVISER AND BROKER
Peel Hunt 
Moor House 
120 London Wall 
London 
EC2Y 5ET

SOLICITOR
Stephenson Harwood LLP 
1 Finsbury Circus 
London 
EC2M 7SH

OFFICERS AND ADVISERS

DIRECTORS
J Keith R Falconer (Chairman)

Ian R Simm (Chief Executive)

Guy de Froment (Non-Executive)1

Arnaud de Servigny (Non-Executive)2

Vincent O’Brien (Non-Executive)

Sally Bridgeland (Non-Executive)

Lindsey Brace Martinez (Non-Executive)

SECRETARY
Zack Wilson

REGISTERED OFFICE
7th Floor 
30 Panton Street 
London  
SW1Y 4AJ

AUDITOR
KPMG LLP 
15 Canada Square 
London 
E14 5GL

BANKERS
The Royal Bank of Scotland International 
London Branch 
1 Princes Street 
London 
EC2R 8BP

1  Resigned 12 June 2018    

2  Appointed 12 June 2018 

3  Previously known as Capita Asset Services

78

GOVERNANCE AND FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 2018

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC 

79

IMPAX ASSET MANAGEMENT GROUP PLC
7th Floor 
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