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FY2011 Annual Report · STMicroelectronics
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1

Annual Report  
& Accounts   

2011 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
STM Group Plc strives to  
be the provider of choice  
for cross-border investors,  
entrepreneurs and expatriates 
by offering clear, innovative 
and impartial financial and 
commercial solutions which 
help clients protect and grow 
their investments.  

01 Highlights

03 Our Offices

04 Chairman’s Statement

06 Chief Executive Officer’s Review

10 Directors’ Report

11 Board of Directors

12 Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

13 Directors’ Remuneration Report

14 Corporate Governance

15 Independent Auditors’ Report

16 Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

17 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
18 Company Statement of Financial Position

19 Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

20 Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity

21 Statement of Company Changes in Equity

22 Notes to the Financial Statements

39 Notice of Annual General Meeting

40 Company Information

STM Group Plc   Revenue of £9.7 million

2010: £10.5 million

Earnings before interest, 
taxation, depreciation and  
amortisation (“EBITDA”)  
£0.6 million 

2010: £1.7 million 

Strong balance sheet with 
cash of £3.3 million at year end

2010: £3.7 million

Market leading products 
The life and pensions business have developed a number of products which will 
provide a significant contribution to revenue and profits in 2012.

Distribution
The group has made distribution a priority, resulting in a number of agreements 
reached with established intermediary networks and IFAs resulting in enhanced 
distribution within the EU and rest of the world.

New subsidiary companies performing well
Our new Jersey business unit acquired in 2010 performed strongly and our 
recently opened Malta office has grown considerably to become a cornerstone 
for structuring of a number of our pensions products.  

1

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Offering solutions to complex 
post-crisis needs 

The financial crisis contributed to a global 
decline in developed economies, a downturn 
in international trade, a tightening of credit, 
and ultimately a decline in consumer wealth. 
National governments responded with 
measures to restore growth, but concerns 
remain amongst clients regarding the effect 

of the economy on their own financial goals, 
potential rises in tax, consequent reductions 
of income and net portfolio returns, and 
possibly inefficient and costly transfers of 
assets across jurisdictions. Addressing these 
concerns, and structuring wealth sensitively 
is STM Group Plc’s priority. 

Major Concerns of High Net Worth Clients

CRITICAL

HIGH

Impact of Economy on Goals

Possible Tax Increases

Next Generation Not Adequately 
Managing Inheritance

Ensuring Assets Last Their Lifetime

Income Lagging Inflation

Real Estate Market

MEDIUM

LOW

Retirement Lifestyle Affordability

Rising Healthcare Costs

Rising Education Costs

1 Somewhat Agree 

2 Agree 

3 Strongly Agree

Data taken from the Capgemini-Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report 2011, pages 27 and 28
Note: Percentages may not add up to totals due to rounding.

2

STM Group Plc    
 
Gibraltar

Jersey

Malta

Spain

Corporate and trustee 
service providers, 
insurance management, 
retirement benefits, life 
bonds

Corporate and trustee 
service providers

Wealth protection using 
tax treaties, corporate 
and trustee services, 
pension trustee,  
insurance management

Legal and tax services for 
expatriates

STM Group is international with a spread of offices strategically located around Europe

According to the Capgemini-Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report 2011, nearly all HNWIs (97%) say capital preservation  
is important to them and a large number (42%) say it is extremely important. Similarly, effective portfolio management  
is deemed important by 94% of HNWIs and extremely important by 30%. The crisis has not only made these needs  
more acute, it has raised or created the priority for newer issues, including specialised advice (important to 93%) and 
transparency on statements and fees (93%).

Top Six Priorities of HNW Clients

Capital Preservation

8%

46%

Effective Portfolio Management

Specialised Advice

Transparency on Statements and Fees

Global Asset Allocation of Portfolios

Independent Investment Advice

15%

19%

16%

26%

24%

49%

48%

42%

43%

42%

42%

30%

25%

34%

19%

21%

97%

94%

93%

93%

88%

88%

Somewhat important  

Important  

Extremely Important

Data taken from the Capgemini-Merrill Lynch World Wealth Report 2011, pages 27 and 28
Note: Percentages may not add up to totals due to rounding.

3  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Chairman’s Statement

“Whilst the outlook for 2012  
remains challenging, the  
business is well positioned  
to improve upon the 2011  
results.”

Preserving wealth in changing times 

We continue to develop new financial products and services to keep 
pace with ever-changing financial and fiscal environments. Our  
independence allows us to remain impartial, offer the best advice 
and recommend or work closely with the most suitable advisers 
and service providers to implement tailor-made solutions which will 
help preserve and protect our clients’ wealth.

STM Group Plc   The Group’s life and pensions businesses have developed a 
number of market leading products which are now  
beginning to gain the traction required to meet revenue  
and in turn profit expectations.

Julian Telling
Chairman

It is disappointing that in my first year as 
Chairman, the Group has experienced such 
a reduction in profitability compared with 
2010.  Issues in the Eurozone have been a 
major contributor to the fall in productivity, 
particularly in the later part of 2011. 

I am pleased to report that our Jersey  
business, acquired in 2010, remains robust 
and fully aligned with the Board’s  
expectations.

However, our Gibraltar Corporate and 
Trustee Services business (CTS) has seen a 
significant increase in provisions against 
collectibles. These charges have arisen as 
a result of a combination of factors all of 
which have been addressed and therefore 
should not be repeated in coming years.

In addition, the significant non-cash  
amortisation cost of the Group’s  
investments in its subsidiaries under IAS 

38 has further masked the underlying 
profitability of the Group.

Historically STM Group Plc has focused 
on bespoke solutions primarily in the CTS 
business but the Board recognises that 
market dynamics have changed dramatically 
over recent times. To that end the Board 
has implemented a number of significant 
changes to its business model.  The 
Group’s life and pensions businesses have 
developed a number of market leading 
products which are now beginning to gain 
the traction required to meet revenue and 
in turn profit expectations.

The Group has placed its strategic  
emphasis on distribution which is  
beginning to bear fruit, although the rate 
at which we see significant increases in 
revenue and therefore profits remains 
hard to predict albeit that initial  
indications are good.

On behalf of the Board I would like to thank 
my predecessor Bernard Gallagher and  
former non executive director Matthew 
Wood for all their efforts over the years. 
STM Group Plc is a people business and its 
strength comes from the quality, dedication 
and professionalism of its management 
team and staff to whom I offer my sincere 
thanks on behalf of the Board.

Whilst the outlook for 2012 remains 
challenging, with a tidier balance sheet 
together with a significant, already  
implemented reduction in overhead, the 
business is well positioned to improve 
upon the 2011 results.

I look forward to updating the market  
during 2012 on the progress made in 
building our distribution channels,  
increasing revenues and the associated 
increase in profitability.

Julian Telling
Chairman
10 April 2012

5  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
Chief Executive Officer’s Review

“We are seeing encouraging 
trends which support our view 
that the diversification of the 
STM business will ultimately be 
very rewarding.”

Preserving wealth in changing times 

We understand how important personal service is to our clients 
from those  administering what is often a significant proportion of 
their assets or business. A dedicated team of professionals will work 
with each of our clients to understand their needs and objectives 
and provide a high level of service.

STM Group Plc   STM Life has started the year reasonably well with uplift in  
business compared to the latter part of 2011. Pensions,  
particularly, with the QROPS products and its slowly increasing 
distribution network, has seen more applications in the last two 
months than in the whole of 2011. 

Colin Porter
Chief Executive Officer

2011 has been a difficult year for STM.  
Expectations for 2011 were that we would 
continue to build on the success of 2010 
in pursuit of our strategy of creating a 
product and distribution driven business 
to complement our traditional professional 
fees based operation. That was the case for 
the first half of 2011, however the second 
half has seen a deterioration of profitability 
in certain areas and our pensions and life 
businesses are yet to reach critical mass. In 
addition, we have taken steps to strengthen 
our provisions against potentially  
unrecoverable debtors and work-in-
progress as a result of concerns over the 
economic climate. A further £0.1 million 
provision was made between our preliminary 
results announcement and the audited 
financial statements against accrued 
income in relation to a specific project in 
our Spanish office. As a result of the above 
STM has turned in a disappointing result 
for the year.

The year has seen revenues of £9.7 million, 
which is slightly down on the 2010 figure 
of £10.5 million, however EBITDA before 
adjustments to carrying value of investments 
has fallen from £1.7 million in 2010 to £0.6 
million in 2011.

It is pleasing to note that the 2010 acquisition 
of Zenith Trust Company Limited (“Zenith”) 
has performed in line with expectations 
and has been a solid and predictable 
contributor to profitability. Additionally, 
we are seeing encouraging trends in the 
global product sales and distribution 
market which support our view that the 
diversification of the STM business will  
ultimately be very rewarding.

STM’s business model – a changing 
environment
Currently, the Group’s income continues  
to be mainly derived from fixed and time-
based administration fees in relation to 
the administration services for trusts and 
companies under management.

Management believes that the significant 
future growth area for the Group is in  
its pensions and life assurance (“life  
wrappers”) business, and a key part to  
this development will be increasing its  
distribution networks both within the EU 
and the rest of the world.  These product 
lines are in themselves a differentiating 
factor as most Corporate and Trustee  
Service Providers (“CTS”) businesses do  
not have any similar product offerings.

Both STM’s pension and life wrapper products 
are licensed from within EU jurisdictions 
and this will become a significant benefit 
in gaining the credibility required to grow 
these businesses through established 
intermediary networks. 

Operational Overview

Core CTS division
CTS income currently accounts for 75% of 
the Group’s revenue amounting to £7.5 
million in 2011 (2010: £7.6 million) and is 
split evenly between Jersey and Gibraltar. 

STM Jersey’s revenue amounted to £3.7 
million (2010: £3.3 million) and is typically 
derived from non-domiciled individuals 
investing into the UK market.  This revenue 
stream has held up well during the year 
and performed in line with management’s 
expectations.  The Board is confident that 
the Jersey operation, headed by a strong 
management team, will continue to  
perform as predicted going into 2012.

Gibraltar’s CTS revenue stream has seen a 
decline in income for 2011 down to £3.8 
million, from £4.3 million in 2010. This  
company’s customer base is significantly 

7  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Chief Executive Officer’s Review

“The cross border and pensions transfer 
market is in its infancy, with STM being 
seen as a market leader and innovator.”

more focussed on the UK expatriate that has 
moved or invested into the European  
marketplace, and management has seen a  
significant downturn in transactional business as 
a result of the Eurozone crisis. The financial crisis 
has also resulted in a number of customers 
challenging the need for their structures 
given the reduced profitability of their  
portfolios and business operations.  This has 
had a double impact on the Gibraltar CTS 
business with both a reduction of chargeable 
time and a number of clients closing their 
structures in the second half of 2011. 

As a result of the changes in some of our  
clients’ circumstances, management has taken 
a more conservative approach to the Group’s 
recognition of work-in-progress and decided to 
significantly increase the provision against bad 
debts, resulting in a further reduction of £0.2 
million in profitability. Management does not 
expect these charges to be repeated in future 
years. Additionally, management has taken, 
and is continuing to take, measures to reduce 
costs in this area, so as to restore a healthier 
profit margin in the business.

It remains management’s intention over time 
to reduce reliance on the UK market for  
generating new clients for its CTS business.

Since its incorporation in 2009, despite various 
initiatives by management, STM Swiss has 
struggled to attract new business and has 
therefore suffered from lack of critical mass.  
The decision was taken in the latter part of 
2011 to retrench STM Swiss to an  

8  

out-sourced office in Zurich. This will save 
the Group some £0.4 million in 2012.

STM Pensions 
The Board has previously noted the difficulty 
in forecasting the revenue streams for this  
business. Frustratingly, the anticipated 
increase in revenue is yet to be seen however 
the business has the hallmarks of being a 
substantial revenue and profit contributor to 
the Group going forward. 

The cross border and pensions transfer 
market is in its infancy, with STM being seen 
as a market leader and innovator in this area. 
This, coupled with the fact that Malta, in 
which STM has a presence and a number of 
HMRC-approved pension schemes, is  
increasingly becoming the jurisdiction of 
choice for the exporting of a UK, or indeed 
EU, pension scheme, has resulted in STM 
starting to build business relationships with 
some very significant worldwide  
distribution networks. 

STM’s pension division has yet to benefit, in 
revenue terms, from this business development, 
with the division contributing only £0.6 
million of revenue for 2011 across Malta 
and Gibraltar. However, given the scalability 
of the traditional Qualifying Recognised 
Overseas Pension Scheme (QROPS) product, 
and the recent launch of some new pensions 
products in Malta and Gibraltar, it is anticipated 
that 2012 will be the year that STM’s pension 
division changes the revenue mix of the STM 
Group.

STM Life
Generation of linked long term policies (Life 
Bonds) from the UK market remains slow, and 
further initiatives to strengthen IFA  
distribution have been undertaken in the  
latter part of 2011 and into 2012. In addition, 
STM Life recently started offering the UK 
market an alternative pension product aimed 
at the High Net Worth Individual, which, it is 
believed, will derive an alternative revenue 
stream for STM Life from the UK market.

On the positive side, STM Life is now  
receiving regular business from Sweden and 
Norway, and is dealing with a number of  
enquiries from other EU member states. Whilst 
it is very early days, it does demonstrate the 
pan-European nature of STM Life’s products.

Other trading divisions and new initiatives
Trading in the other divisions, being  
insurance management, advisory and the 
Spanish office remain broadly in line with 
management’s expectations, and contributed 
circa £1.5 million during 2011 (2010: £1.5 
million). A further £0.1 million provision 
was made between our preliminary results 
announcement and the audited financial 
statements against accrued income in 
relation to a specific project in our Spanish 
office. Management is confident that these 
divisions will make a comparable contribution 
to next year’s performance.

Financial position
The second half performance in 2011,  
coupled with the increase in the provisions 

STM Group Plc   has had an unprecedented detrimental 
impact on the 2011 underlying profit. 

For the year to 31 December 2011, the Group 
recorded turnover of £9.7 million (2010: 
£10.5 million) and an EBITDA before  
adjustments to carrying value of investments 
of £0.6 million (2010: £1.7 million).  

As noted above, the Gibraltar CTS business 
saw a reduction of some £0.5 million of  
revenue, and administrative expense costs 
have increased by £0.2 million due to  
management’s decision to increase one-off  
provisions against debtors and work-in-progress. 
These are the primary differentiators in the 
overall Group’s EBITDA result between the 
two years.

The depreciation and amortisation charge, a 
non cash expense to the income statement, 
has increased from £0.2 million in 2010 to 
£0.8 million for 2011. The increase relates to 
the adoption of IAS 38 which requires the 
identification and valuation of intangible 
assets as part of an acquisition to be written 
off over their deemed useful economic life, 
rather than performing an impairment  
review. Such amortisation costs have  
resulted in an additional charge of £0.5  
million. This non-cash charge will continue to 
occur on acquisitions post 1 January 2010 for 
the remainder of their deemed economic life.

Interest and financing costs have increased 
to £0.4 million (2010: £0.2 million) as a result 
of the full year costs of the convertible loan 
note.

STM’s taxation charge for the year was on 
budget at £0.1 million (2010: £0.2 million).  

In line with all CTS businesses, the Group 
had accrued income, in the form of work 
performed for clients but not yet billed at the 
balance sheet date of £2.9 million (2010: £3.1 
million).  This also provides some  
immediate visibility of billable fees in the 
early part of 2012.

2011 has seen a number of initiatives in  
relation to reducing the Group’s debtor days 
and overall trade debt; these initiatives will  
continue during 2012. Trade receivables as  
at 31 December 2011 amounted to £3.4  
million, down from £4.0 million as at 31 
December 2010. Deferred income, representing 
fees billed in advance, yet to be credited to 
the statement of total comprehensive  
income were more or less comparable year 
on year at £0.7 million (2010: £0.9 million)  
reflecting the loss of a small number of clients 
during the course of the year.  STM Jersey’s 
fixed fees are billed annually in advance in 
January which will result in a significant cash 

influx during early 2012. The Group ended 
the year with cash of £3.3 million (2010: £3.7 
million), having paid out further consider-
ation on acquisitions amounting to £0.7 
million and bank loan repayments of £0.6 
million.  In addition, dividends relating to the 
final 2010 declaration of £0.18 million were 
paid during 2011.

Group financing
At 31 December 2011, the Group had bank 
borrowings of £1.97 million (2010: £2.6  
million), being loans from RBS International 
Limited (“RBSI”) to provide part of the  
solvency capital required for STM Life, as well 
as funding the first payment of the Zenith  
acquisition.  The term of the original loan for 
STM Life is for five years from March 2008.  
Two further loans were taken out in 2010, 
one for £0.4 million and one for £1.5 million; 
both are repayable over a three year term 
but being amortised over five years.  

In addition to bank financing, there remains 
Convertible Loan Notes (“CLN”) to the value 
of £3.5 million. There was an option for 50% 
of the CLN to be converted into new ordinary 
shares in STM at the holders’ discretion at a 
price of 33 pence per share in March 2012. 
No loan notes were converted to equity, nor 
redeemed at that date and therefore the CLN 
will run to term and be repayable in March 
2014.

Board changes during the year
During the year, Julian Telling was appointed 
Chairman of the Board of STM, replacing Ber-
nard Gallagher who retired after four years.  
Julian’s connections in the Financial Services 
industry are starting to bring benefits to the 
Group, and our expectations are that this will 
continue to build our distribution both in the 
UK and elsewhere around the world.  In  
addition, during 2011, Matthew Wood  
resigned as a non-executive director to  
follow other business opportunities.

Dividends
In recognition of the difficult 2011 year for 
the Group, the Board recommends that no 
final dividend be paid for the year ended 31 
December 2011 (2010: 0.4 pence per share).  
It is the Board’s intention to review the policy 
of dividend payments during 2012 and, 
dependent on the Group’s performance, will 
seek to return to a progressive and formulated 
dividend policy as soon as it is prudent to 
do so.

Executive long term incentive plan
The Board has agreed a long term incentive 
plan for 2012 and 2013 with the executive 
directors based on certain targets being 
achieved in the next two financial years.  
Target hurdles relate to a fully diluted  

earnings per share target of 4 pence per 
share for 2012, and 8 pence for 2013, and an 
average three month share price target of 
between 40 pence to 80 pence. The  
maximum share allocation to the two 
executive directors is 1.3 million shares per 
director.

Current trading and outlook
Measures have been taken during the latter 
part of 2011 to reduce headcount, particularly 
in Gibraltar which has seen a reduced level 
of chargeable time in its CTS business, which 
will in turn increase profitability in this 
business unit. Whilst the Eurozone crisis and 
potential double-dip recession remain such 
a concern for our client base, we can expect 
the level of transactional activities to be 
suppressed, and this has been factored into 
2012 management expectations for the CTS 
business. In this regard, 2012 CTS activity 
has started in a similar manner to the close 
of 2011 but with fewer costs associated with 
servicing this business. The Group believes 
that the 2011 increase in provisions across 
debtors and work-in-progress was a one-off 
and will not be repeated in 2012.

On the positive side, both our pensions  
division and STM Life have started the year 
reasonably well with uplift in business  
compared to the latter part of 2011.  
Pensions, particularly, with the Qualifying 
Recognised Overseas Pensions Scheme  
products and its slowly increasing distribution 
network, has seen more applications in the 
last two months than in the whole of 2011. In 
addition, the scaling down of STM Swiss will 
be complete by March 2012, further saving 
Group resources and management time. The 
successful cash generation in the period and 
the subsequent reduction in debt is a credit 
to the management team and a trend which 
we expect to continue. This achievement 
is particularly notable given the broader 
economic environment. 

Enhanced profitability in 2012 will only come 
about as a result of STM continuing to grow 
its distribution network across the various 
intermediary introducers. This is a key area of 
focus for management, with the additional 
financial resources intended to accelerate 
distribution sign-up.

The Board is aware that 2012 will be a very 
important year in delivering  a new look STM, 
in which both STM Life and the STM Pensions 
divisions start to fulfill the revenue potential 
of which management know their product 
range is capable. We look forward to updating 
the market on the Group’s progress.

Colin Porter
Chief Executive Officer
10 April 2012

9  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Director’s Report

The Directors of STM Group plc present their 
Report for the year to 31 December 2011 
together with the accounts of the Group and 
the independent auditors’ report for the  
period. These will be laid before the  
shareholders at the Annual General Meeting 
to be held on 17 May 2012. 

Principal activities and business review
The principal activity of the Group during the 
year was the structuring and administration of 
clients’ assets.

Result and dividends
The loss for the year of £429,000 (31  
December 2010: Profit after dividends 
£1,047,000) has been transferred to reserves.

The Board recommends that no dividends be 
paid for the year ended 31 December 2011 
(31 December 2010: 0.6p).

Directors 
Details of the Directors of the Company who 
served during the period and to date, and 
their interests in the shares of the Company 
were: Bernard Gallagher (Resigned 9 May 
2011), Alan Roy Kentish, Colin Douglas Porter
Michael Ross Riddell, Julian Philip Telling  
(Appointed 9 May 2011), Matthew Graham 
Wood (Resigned 26 September 2011).

Alan Kentish has an interest in 2,877,500 
ordinary shares – 2,850,000 of these shares 
are held in the name of Clifton Participations 

10  

Inc and form part of the assets of the Perros 
Trust of which Alan Kentish is a potential 
beneficiary.

Colin Porter has an interest in 537,613  
ordinary shares.

Julian Telling has an interest in 85,000  
ordinary shares.

more of the issued ordinary share capital 
of the Company as at 29 March 2012 or any 
persons who, directly or indirectly, jointly or 
separately, exercise or could exercise control 
over the Company.

Issued ordinary share capital of the Company

At 29 March 2012      

%

Julian Philip Telling has been appointed as a 
Director since the last Annual General Meeting 
and a resolution to confirm his appointment 
will be tabled at the Annual General Meeting.

All remaining directors offer themselves for 
re-election.

Political and charitable donations
The Group’s charitable donations for the 
period amounted to £5,101 (31 December 
2010:Nil). There were no political  
contributions in either period.

International Financial Reporting  
Standards (“IFRS”)
These financial statements were prepared 
under IFRS and interpretations adopted by 
the International Accounting Standards  
Board (“IASB”).

17.65 

Hearth Investments Limited    
Southern Rock Insurance Company  
Limited, Rock Holdings Limited, Arron  
Banks and Paul Chase-Gardener 
SBS Nominees Limited 
Nightingale Equities Inc 
Clifton Participation Inc 
KAS Bank NV 
Bernard Nominees Limited 
Quest Traders Limited 

13.31
7.96
6.77
6.68
6.03
4.45
3.19

Independent auditors
KPMG Audit LLC were appointed as auditors 
to the company during the year and being 
eligible, have expressed their willingness to 
continue in office. A resolution to re-appoint 
KPMG Audit LLC as independent auditors of 
the Company will be proposed at the Annual 
General Meeting. 

Substantial interests
Save as disclosed in the table below, the 
Directors are not aware of any person who 
directly or indirectly is interested in 3% or 

Annual General Meeting
The Notice of the Annual General Meeting 
to be held on 17 May 2012 is set out on 
page 39. 

By order of the Board

Elizabeth A Plummer
Company Secretary
18 Athol Street
Douglas 
Isle of Man IM1 1JA
10 April 2012

STM Group Plc    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Board of Directors

Clockwise from top left:
Colin Douglas Porter
Alan Roy Kentish
Michael Ross Riddell
Julian Philip Telling

Executive Directors

Colin Douglas Porter
Chief Executive Officer

Alan Roy Kentish ACA ACII AIRM
Chief Financial Officer

Colin is a Barrister and Solicitor of the High Court of New 
Zealand and was admitted to the bar in 2000 and also holds 
a double major business degree in Finance and International 
Business. Colin joined STM as CEO of the Gibraltar and Jersey 
offices in June 2008, and brings with him a wealth of  
experience in the company and trust management field,  
having previously held senior positions with other  
international trust companies.

Alan qualified as a Chartered Accountant in 1989 with Ernst 
& Whinney, specialising in the financial services industry. In 
1993 he moved to Ernst & Young, Gibraltar and shortly  
afterwards qualified as an Associate of the Chartered  
Insurance Institute. In 1997, Alan joined Fidecs and set up its 
insurance management division, FIM. Alan acts as Managing 
and Technical Director of FIM, which is recognised as one of 
the largest insurance managers in Gibraltar.

Non-Executive Directors

Julian Philip Telling
Non-Executive Chairman

Following a brief spell in the Fleet Air Arm of the Royal Navy, 
Julian trained for a career in retail financial services. In 1983 
he established Falcon Group, which grew into one of the 
largest independent financial services groups in the UK. After 
being admitted to AIM in 2005 under the name Sumus plc, 
the business merged with Lighthouse plc in 2008 and Julian 
chose to leave to pursue other ventures. He now holds various 
directorships in both public and private companies, as well 
as a variety of pro bono positions. He is this year’s president 
of the Grateful Society, one of Bristol’s oldest charities.

Julian also has a professional pilot’s licence and flies part-
time for a small airline as well as acting as a CAA examiner. 

Michael Ross Riddell CA
Non-Executive Director

Michael is an experienced company director having qualified 
as a Chartered Accountant in Canada in 1986. Michael has 
worked in trust and corporate services and financial services 
since 1988 and is managing director of GreystoneTrust 
Company Limited, the trust and corporate services arm of 
Greystone LLC based in the Isle of Man. Michael is currently a 
director of Hearth Investments Limited which holds a  
significant shareholding in STM.

11  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
in Respect of the Directors’ Report and
the Financial Statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing 
the Directors’ Report and the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.  In addition, the Directors 
have elected to prepare the financial  
statements in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards.

The financial statements are required to 
give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Group and Parent Company 
and of the profit or loss of the Company for 
that period.  

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

•  select suitable accounting policies and  
   then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and estimates that are 
   reasonable and prudent; 

•  state whether they have been prepared 
   in accordance with International Financial 
   Reporting Standards; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the 
   going concern basis unless it is inappropriate 
   to presume that the Group and Parent 
   Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping 
proper accounting records that are  
sufficient to show and explain the Parent 
Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time its financial 
position.  They 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 governing 
the preparation and dissemination of 
financial statements may differ from one 
jurisdiction to another.

12  

STM Group Plc    
 
 
Director’s Remuneration Report

Directors’ Remuneration Report 

Director                                                  

   Remuneration 

               Notes

Executive Directors 
Alan Kentish 
Colin Porter 

Non-Executive Directors 
Bernard Gallagher 
Julian Telling 
Matthew Wood 
Michael Riddell 

          £130,000 
          £130,000 

            £10,000 
            £25,853 
            £40,000 
            £12,000 

  a,b
  a,b

     c

  b,d
  b,e

Notes 

a. 
b. 
c. 
d. 
e. 

The Executive Directors are also each entitled to a bonus of £nil as at 31 December 2011.
No Directors received any benefits in the form of either pension contributions or share based incentives.
Bernard Gallagher opted to take the majority of his remuneration in the form of new shares in STM.
ABT Associates Consulting Limited invoices the Company for the Director services provided by Matthew Wood.
Greystone Trust Company Limited invoices the Company for the Director services provided by Michael Riddell.

13  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
    
 
                                                       
            
                                                       
      
 
                                      
      
                                                       
      
     
                                                       
      
                                                       
      
Corporate Governance

The Board is responsible for establishing 
the strategic direction of the Company,  
monitoring the Group’s trading performance 
and appraising and executing development 
and acquisition opportunities. During 
the year the Company held regular Board 
meetings in the Isle of Man at which financial 
and other reports, including reports on 
acquisition opportunities, were considered 
and, where appropriate, voted on.

Details of the Directors’ beneficial interests 
in Ordinary Shares is set out in the Directors 
Report. The Directors intend to comply 
with Rule 21 of the AIM Rules relating to 
directors’ dealings and will take all  
reasonable steps to ensure compliance  
by any employees of the Company to 
whom Rule 21 applies. The Company has, 
in addition, adopted the Share Dealing 
Code for dealings in its Ordinary Shares by 
directors and senior employees.

The Directors recognise the importance of 
sound corporate governance. The Company 

intends to comply with the QCA Guidelines 
so far as is practicable and appropriate for 
a public company of its size and nature.

The Board has established an audit  
committee and a remuneration committee 
both with formally delegated duties and 
responsibilities. The audit committee  
comprises Michael Riddell, as the Chairman, 
and Julian Telling, and the remuneration 
committee comprises Julian Telling, as the 
Chairman, and Michael Riddell.

The terms of reference for the audit  
committee provide that it will receive 
and review reports from the Company’s 
management and the Company’s auditors 
relating to the annual and interim accounts 
and the accounting and internal control 
systems in use throughout the Group.

The terms of reference for the remuneration 
committee provide that it will review the 
scale and structure of the Executive  
Directors’ remuneration and the terms of 

their service contracts. The remuneration 
and terms and conditions of appointment 
of the non-executive directors will be set 
by the Board. No director may participate 
in any meeting at which discussion or 
decision regarding his own remuneration 
takes place. The remuneration committee 
will also administer the long term incentive 
plan (‘LTIP’) awards and set any performance 
criteria thereunder.

The Directors have set up a Risk Management 
Committee comprising the CEO, CFO and 
the STM Group Risk Management Officer 
(‘RMO’). The Committee has delegated the 
review of the risks applicable to the business 
and the actions required to reduce those 
risks to the RMO and his team. Regular  
reports of the status of this review have 
been provided to the Board.

The Directors do not consider that, given 
the size of the Board, it is appropriate at 
this stage to have a nomination committee.

14  

STM Group Plc   Report of the Independent Auditors, KPMG Audit LLC, 
to the members of STM Group PLC

We have audited the financial statements 
of STM Group PLC for the year ended 31 
December 2011 which comprise the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the 
Group and Company Statements of  
Financial Position, the Group Statement 
of Cash Flows and the Group Statement of 
Changes in Equity and the related notes.  
The financial reporting framework that 
has been applied in their preparation is 
applicable law and International Financial 
Reporting Standards (IFRSs).

This report is made solely to the Company’s 
members, as a body.  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.

Respective responsibilities of Directors and 
Auditor
As explained more fully in the Directors’ 
Responsibilities Statement set out on page 
12, the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation of financial statements that 
give a true and fair view.  Our responsibility 
is to audit, and express an opinion on, the 
financial statements in accordance with ap-
plicable law and International Standards on 
Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the Auditing 
Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards 
for Auditors.

circumstances and have been consistently 
applied and adequately disclosed; the  
reasonableness of significant accounting  
estimates made by the Directors; and the 
overall presentation of the financial  
statements.

Opinion on the financial statements
In our opinion the financial statements:
•  give a true and fair view of the state of the 
   Group’s and Parent Company’s affairs as at 
   31 December 2011 and of the Group’s loss 
   for the year then ended; and
•  have been properly prepared in accordance 
   with IFRSs.

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about 
the amounts and disclosures in the financial 
statements sufficient to give reasonable  
assurance that the financial statements are 
free from material misstatement, whether 
caused by fraud or error. This includes an  
assessment of: whether the accounting  
policies are appropriate to the Group’s  

KPMG Audit LLC
Chartered Accountants
Heritage Court
41 Athol Street
Douglas
Isle of Man IM99 1HN 

10 April 2012

15  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

Revenue
Administrative expenses
Profit before other items
Other items
Finance Costs
Depreciation and amortisation
Adjustments to carrying value of investments
(Loss)/profit before taxation
Taxation
(Loss)/profit after taxation
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations
Total comprehensive (loss)/profit for the year
Earnings per share basic (pence)
Earnings per share diluted (pence)

Year ended
31 December 2011
£000

Year ended
31 December 2010
£000

9,729
(9,101)
628

(361)
(765)
88
(410)
10
(400)

(29)
(429)
(0.93)
(0.93)

10,454
(8,778)
1,676

(211)
(157)
131
1,439
(192)
1,247

57
1,304
2.90
2.59

Notes

8
10

12

18
18

There have been no discontinued activities in the year.  Accordingly, the above results relate solely to continuing activities.

16  

STM Group Plc    
 
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2011

Notes

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Other investments
Total non-current assets
Current assets
Accrued income
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets
EQUITY
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Reserves
Total equity attributable to equity shareholders
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Liabilities for current tax 
Trade and other payables
Total current liabilities
Non current liabilities
Other payables 
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities and equity

CD Porter 
Chief Executive Officer 

AR Kentish
Chief Financial Officer

10 April 2012

13
14

15
16

17
17

19

20

1,480
21,109
64
22,653

2,918
4,924
3,307
11,149
33,802

43
19,051
4,842
23,936

338
5,273
5,611

4,255
4,255
33,802

1,460
21,812
54
23,326

3,052
5,688
3,696
12,436
35,762

43
19,043
5,471
24,557

494
5,559
6,053

5,152
5,152
35,762

17  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
Company Statement of Financial Position
As at 31 December 2011

Notes

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

13
7
14

15
16

17
17

19

20

1,093
16,052
4,382
21,527

25
6,571
2
6,598
28,125

43
19,051
(910)
18,184

5,581
5,581

4,360
4,360
28,125

1,003
20,956
—
21,959

25
8,371
101
8,497
30,456

43
19,043
249
19,335

6,328
6,328

4,793
4,793
30,456

ASSETS
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments in subsidiaries
Intangible assets
Total non-current assets
Current assets
Accrued income
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total current assets
Total assets
EQUITY
Called up share capital
Share premium account
Reserves
Total equity attributable to equity shareholders
LIABILITIES
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Total current liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Other payables
Total non-current liabilities
Total liabilities and equity

CD Porter 
Chief Executive Officer 

AR Kentish
Chief Financial Officer

10 April 2012

18  

STM Group Plc    
 
 
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

Year ended 
31 December 2011
£000

Year ended 
31 December 2010
£000

Reconciliation of profit to net cash flow from operating activities 
(Loss)/profit for the year before tax 
Adjustments for: 
Loss on sale of assets
Depreciation and amortisation 
Shares issued for services performed 
Adjustments to investments
Taxation paid 
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 
Decrease/(increase) in accrued income 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 
Net cash from operating activities 
Investing activities 
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 
Acquisition of investments – cash consideration 
Cash acquired as part of acquisitions 
Net cash used in investing activities 
Cash flows from financing activities 
Bank loan (repayments) / advance
Cash consideration from convertible bond issued 
Dividend paid
Net cash from financing activities
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents during the year 
Decrease in cash and cash equivalents
Translation of foreign operations
Balance at start of year
Balance at end of year

(410)

—
765
8
(88)
(148)
764
134 
358
1,383

(240)
(656)
—
(896)

(647)
—
(172)
(819)
(332)

(332)
(57)
3,696
3,307

1,439

3
157
40
(439)
(19)
(103)
(375)
(590)
113

(282)
(3,759)
587
(3,454)

1,326
2,200
(257)
3,269
(72)

(72)
–
3,768
3,696

19  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

Balance at 1 January 2010
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation differences
Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Shares issued in the year
Dividend paid
Exchange loss on equity
At 31 December 2010
Balance at 1 January 2011
TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE PERIOD
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation differences
Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Shares issued in the year
Dividend paid
Exchange loss on equity
At 31 December 2011

Share
Capital
£000

43

—

—

—
—
—
43
43

—

—

—
—
—
43

Share
premium
£000

19,011

Retained
earnings
£000

4,620

Treasury
Shares
£000

(144)

—

—

32
—
—
19,043
19,043

—

—

8
—
—
19,051

1,247

57

—
(257)
—
5,667
5,667

(400)

(29)

—
(172)
—
5,066

—

—

—
—
—
(144)
(144)

—

—

—
—
—
(144)

Translation 
reserve
£000

(7)

—

—

—
—
(45)
(52)
(52)

—

—

—
—
(28)
(80)

Total
£000

23,523

1,247

57

32
(257)
(45)
24,557
24,557

(400)

(29)

8
(172)
(28)
23,936

20  

STM Group Plc    
Statement of Company Changes in Equity
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

Balance at 1 January 2010
Profit  for the year
Shares issued in year
Dividend paid
31 December 2010
Balance at 1 January 2011
Loss  for the year
Shares issued in year
Dividend paid
31 December 2011

Share
Capital
£000

43
—
—
—
43
43
—
—
—
43

Share
premium
£000

19,011
—
32
—
19,043
19,043
—
8
—
19,051

Retained
earnings
£000

471
35
—
(257)
249
249
(987)
—
(172)
(910)

Total
£000

19,525
35
32
(257)
19,335
19,335
(987)
8
(172)
18,184

During the year the Company paid a dividend of 0.4 pence per share proposed at last year’s annual general meeting.

21  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

1.

REPORTING ENTITY
STM Group Plc (the “Company”) is a company incorporated and domiciled in the Isle of Man and was admitted to trading on the London 
Stock Exchange AIM on 28 March 2007.  The address of the Company’s registered office is 18 Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM1 1JA.  
The consolidated financial statements of the Group as at, and for the year ended, 31 December 2011 comprise the Company and its 
subsidiaries (see note 25) (together referred to as the “Group” and individually as ”Group entities”) and the Group’s interest in associates 
and jointly controlled entities. The Group is primarily involved in financial services.

2.

BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial information has been prepared on the basis of the accounting policies set out in note 3.

(a)

Statement of compliance
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) and 
interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and in accordance with Isle of Man law.

(b)

Functional and presentation currency
These consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling (£) which is the Company’s functional currency.

(c)

Use of estimates and judgments
The preparation of financial statements requires management to make judgments, estimates and assumptions that affect the  
application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses.  Actual results may differ from 
these estimates.

Estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.  Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the  
period in which the estimate is revised and in any future periods affected.

The estimates and assumptions which have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the carrying value of assets and  
liabilities are included in the following notes: 

- 
- 
- 
- 

Note 13 – Depreciation of property, plant and equipment
Note 14 – Measurement of goodwill
Note 21 – Provisions for impairment
Note 22 – Lease classification

(d)

Basis of measurement
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis, except where investments and other financial 
instruments are held at fair value.

(e)

3.

(a)

(b)

Employee benefit trusts
The Company contributes to two employee benefit trusts.  It is deemed that these trusts are controlled by the Company and are  
therefore included within the consolidated financial statements of the Group.

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES
The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated financial  
statements.

Basis of consolidation
Subsidiaries
(i)  
Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. Control exists when the Group has the power to govern the financial and  
operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.  In assessing control, potential voting rights that  
presently are exercisable are taken into account.  The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated  
financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.

(ii)  

Transactions eliminated on consolidation
Intra-group balances and transactions, and any unrealised income and expenses arising from intra-group transactions are  
eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

Foreign currency 
(i)  

Foreign currency transactions
Transactions in foreign currencies are translated to the functional currency of the Group at the exchange rate at the date of the 
transaction.  Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies at the reporting date are retranslated at the  
exchange rate at that date.  The resulting gain or loss is recognised in the income statement of comprehensive income.

(ii)  

22  

Foreign operations
The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition, are  
translated to sterling at exchange rates at the reporting date. 

STM Group Plc    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.
(c)

(d)

(e)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued
Revenue
Revenue is derived from the provision of services and is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income in proportion to the 
stage of completion of the services at the reporting date on an accruals basis.

Accrued income
Accrued income represents billable time spent on the provision of services to clients which has not been invoiced at the reporting date.  
Accrued income is recorded at the staff charge-out rates in force at the reporting date, less any specific provisions against the value of 
accrued income where recovery will not be made in full.

Property, plant and equipment
(i)  

Recognition and measurement
Items of property and office equipment are measured at cost less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.  Cost  
includes expenditures that are directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset and bringing it into use.

Gains and losses on disposal of an item of property and office equipment are determined by comparing the proceeds from 
disposal with the carrying amount of property and office equipment, and are recognised net within other income in profit or loss. 

(ii)  

Depreciation
Depreciation is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income on a reducing balance basis over the estimated useful  
lives of each part of an item of property, plant and equipment.  Leased assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term  
or the estimated useful life.  Depreciation commences once assets are in use.

The rates in use on a reducing balance basis are as follows: 

Office equipment 
Motor vehicles 
Leasehold improvements  Over the life of the leases 

10% / 25%
25%

Depreciation methods, useful lives and residual values are reassessed at the reporting date.

(f )

Financial instruments
Financial assets and liabilities are recognised on the Group’s Balance Sheet when the Group becomes party to the contractual provisions 
of the instrument.

(i)  

(ii) 

(iii)  

(iv)  

(v)  

Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Loans 
and receivables comprise trade and other receivables and are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently at amortised 
cost.  Generally, this results in their recognition at nominal value less any allowance for any doubtful debts.

Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
All loans and borrowings are initially recognised at the fair value of the consideration received. After initial recognition, interest 
bearing loans and borrowings are subsequently measured at amortised cost.

The Group’s convertible loan has been recorded as a liability as the option to redeem or convert to equity was not taken up and 
therefore those will run to term.

Investments 
Investments are carried at fair value, subject to provisions for impairment where the current value of the investment is 
considered to be less than cost.  Impairment losses are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income. Investments are  
reviewed for impairment at each year end.

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and in hand with an original maturity of three months or less.

Share capital
Ordinary shares are classified as equity.  Costs directly attributable to the issue of the shares are recognised as a deduction from 
share premium.

Treasury shares are those shares purchased by the STM Group Employee Benefit Trust (“EBT”) for distribution to executives  
under the Long Term Incentive Plan arrangements, which have yet to be allotted to specific employees.

(g)

Operating leases
Payments under operating leases are charged directly to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight line basis over the term 
of the lease.

23  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

3.
(h)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued
Finance Leases
Assets held under finance leases are capitalised at their initial cost. Rentals are set against accounts payable on a straight line basis.

(i)

Employee benefits
The Group operates a defined contribution pension plan.  Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are  
recognised as an expense in the income statement when they are due.

Certain executives, on achieving their performance and services criteria, will be awarded with shares in STM Group Plc which are held 
within an employee benefit trust.  The expense is released to the income statement over a period of three years on a straight line basis.

(j)

Finance income
Finance income comprises interest income on funds invested and dividend income.  Interest income is recognised as it accrues using the 
effective interest method.

Finance expense comprises interest on borrowings.  Interest expense is charged to the income statement using the effective interest method.

(k)

Income tax expense
Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax.  Income tax expense is recognised in the income statement.

Current tax is the expected tax payable on the taxable income for the year using enacted tax rates, updated for previous period  
adjustments.

Deferred tax is recognised using the balance sheet method, providing for temporary differences between carrying amounts of assets 
and liabilities for financial reporting purposes and for tax purposes.  Deferred tax is not provided in respect of goodwill.  Deferred tax is 
measured at the tax rates expected to be enacted when they reverse.

(l)

Intangible assets
(i) 

Goodwill 
Goodwill that arises on the acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets.  Goodwill represents the excess of the    
cost of the acquisition over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of the acquiree.   
Goodwill is measured at cost less accumulated impairment losses.  An annual impairment review is undertaken.

(ii) 

Client Portfolio
Client Portfolio acquired in a business combination is carried at cost less accumulated amortisation and any accumulated  
impairment losses. This is amortised on a straight-line basis over an estimated useful life which is assessed to be nine years.

(m)

Impairment
A financial asset not carried at fair value through profit or loss is assessed at each reporting date to determine whether there is objective 
evidence that it is impaired. A financial asset is considered to be impaired if objective evidence indicates that one or more events have 
had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset.

An impairment loss in respect of a financial asset measured at amortised cost is calculated as the difference between its carrying 
amount, and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate.  Losses are recognised 
in the income statement. 

Individually significant financial assets are tested for impairment on an individual basis.  The remaining financial assets are assessed  
collectively in groups that share similar credit risk characteristics.

Any impairment losses would be recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

An impairment loss is reversed if the reversal can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment loss was recognised. 

The decrease in impairment loss is reversed through the statement of comprehensive income. 

The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-financial assets are reviewed at each reporting date to determine whether there is any  
indication of impairment.  If any such indication exists then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated.  For goodwill and intangible 
assets that have indefinite lives, the recoverable amount is estimated at each reporting date.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount.  A  
cash-generating unit is the smallest identifiable asset group that generates cash flows that largely are independent from other assets 
and groups.  Impairment losses are recognised in the income statement. Impairment losses recognised in respect of cash-generating 
units are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any goodwill allocated to the units and then to reduce the carrying amount of 
the other assets in the unit (group of units) on a pro-rata basis. 

24  

STM Group Plc    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.
(n)

(o)

SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES continued
Interest Rate Swap
The Group has an interest rate swap in order to manage the interest rate associated with one of the Group’s bank loans. Whilst this is a 
derivative liability the cost of this is not significant and consequently it is included within other financial liabilities. In accordance with its 
treasury policy the Group does not enter into derivatives for speculative purposes.

Earnings per share
The Group presents basic and diluted earnings per share (“EPS”) data for its ordinary shares.  Basic EPS is calculated by dividing the profit 
or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders of the Company by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during 
the period.  Diluted EPS is determined by adjusting the profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares outstanding for the effects of all dilutive potential ordinary shares, which comprise shares relating to deferred 
consideration, and the effect of outstanding options. The effects of potential ordinary shares are reflected in diluted EPS only when their 
inclusion in the calculation would decrease EPS or increase the loss per share.

(p)

Deferred income
Deferred income relates to the element of fixed fee income that has been billed in advance which has not been earned as at the balance 
sheet date and is released over the period to which it relates.

(q)

Borrowing costs
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value net of transaction costs incurred.  Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost; 
any difference between proceeds net of transactions costs and the redemption value is recognised in the income statement over the 
period of the borrowing using effective interest method.

(r)

(s)

Provisions
Provisions are recognised when there is a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event, for which it is probable that an out-
flow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and where a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

New standards and interpretations 
The following new standards and interpretations are mandatory for the first time this year; however, following consideration and review 
they are believed to either not be relevant to the Group or do not have a significant impact on the Group’s financial statements apart 
from additional disclosures: 

•	
•	
•	
•	
•	

IFRS	1		
IFRS	7		
IAS	1	
IAS	24		
IAS	34		

“First-time	adoption	of	International	Financial	Reporting	Standards”
“Financial	Instruments:	Disclosures”
“Presentation	of	Financial	Statements”
“Related	party	Disclosures”
“Interim	Financial	Reporting”

In addition a number of new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are not yet effective for the year ended 31  
December 2011, and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements. None of these are expected to have  
an effect on the consolidated financial statements of the Group.

4.

DETERMINATION OF FAIR VALUES
A number of the Group’s accounting policies and disclosures require the determination of fair value, for both financial and non-financial assets 
and liabilities.  Fair values have been determined for measurement and/or disclosure purposes based on the following methods.  When appli-
cable, further information about the assumptions made in determining fair values is disclosed in the notes specific to that asset or liability.

(a)

Intangible assets
The fair value of Goodwill acquired in a business combination is based on the excess of the fair value of the consideration over the fair 
value of the underlying assets and liabilities acquired less any impairment considered necessary.

The fair value of the client portfolio acquired is based on the carrying value less any impairment considered necessary.

(b)

Investments
The fair value of investments is based on the carrying value of those investments less any impairment considered necessary.

(c)

Property, plant and equipment
The fair value of property, plant and equipment recognised as a result of a business combination is based on carrying values.  The  
carrying value of items of plant and equipment has been assessed as equal to its fair value.

25  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

5.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT
The Group has exposure to the following risks from its use of financial instruments:

•	
•	
•	
•	
•	

Credit	risk
Liquidity	risk
Market	risk
Interest	rate	risk
Currency	risk

This note presents information about the Group’s exposure to each of the above risks, the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for 
measuring and managing risk, and the Group’s management of capital.  Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout these 
consolidated financial statements.

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk management framework.  The 
Board has established the Risk Management Committee, which is responsible for developing and monitoring the Group’s risk  
management policies. 

The Group’s risk management policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk limits 
and controls, and to monitor risks and adherence to limits.  Risk management policies and systems are reviewed regularly to reflect 
changes in market condition and the Group’s activities.  The Group, through its training and management standards and procedures, 
aims to develop a disciplined and constructive control environment in which all employees understand their roles and obligations.

(a)

Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk of financial loss to the Group if a customer or counterparty to a financial instrument fails to meet its contractual 
obligations, and arises principally from the Group’s receivables from clients.

(i)  

Trade and other receivables
The Group’s exposure to credit risk is influenced mainly by the individual characteristics of each client.  The demographics of 
the Group’s client base, including the default risk of the country in which the clients operate, has less of an influence on credit 
risk.  There is no one client to which a significant percentage of the Group’s revenue can be attributed.

The Group establishes a provision for impairment that represents its estimate of incurred losses in respect of trade and other 
receivables.  Further detail in respect of credit risk is provided in note 21 to these financial statements.

Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will not be able to meet its financial obligations as they fall due.  The Group’s approach to  
managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under  
both normal and stressed conditions.  A further detail in respect of liquidity risk is provided in note 21 to these financial statements.

Market risk
Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates, interest rates and equity prices will affect the Group’s 
income or the value of its holdings of financial instruments. The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market 
risk expenses within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return.

(b)

(c)

The market place is robust in that the target market is the “mid-tier millionaires” who are more resilient to adverse changes in the 
economy.  The Board of Directors believe that this mitigates a significant element of the Group’s market risk.

(d)

Interest rate risk
The Company has bank borrowings that incur interest and significant exposure to interest rate movements have been covered by  
interest rate hedging arrangements required by the bank. 

(e)

Currency risk
The Group has a small exposure to currency risk in relation to the investment in STM Nummos. This is mitigated by the fact that assets 
and liabilities held by STM Nummos are in its functional currency of euros (€).

The Company has minimised exposure to foreign exchange rates, with the majority of all transactions being carried out in its functional 
currency of Pounds Sterling (£).

(f )

Capital management
The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base, which is defined as share capital and retained earnings, so as to maintain investor, 
creditor and market confidence and to sustain future development of the business.  This also allows the Group to continue on its stated 
“buy and build” strategy. The Group has complied with all Regulatory capital requirements.

26  

STM Group Plc    
 
 
 
 
6.

SEGMENTAL INFORMATION
STM Group has five reportable segments: Corporate Trustee Services (“CTS”) in Gibraltar, CTS in Jersey, Insurance Management, Start-up 
operations and Other Services. Each segment is defined as a set of business activities generating a revenue stream and offering different 
services to other operating segments.  The Group’s operating segments have been determined based on the management information 
reviewed by the CEO and board of directors.

The Board assess the performance of the operating segments based on turnover generated. The costs of certain segments within the 
Group are predominantly centrally controlled and therefore the allocation of these are based on utilisation of arbitrary proportions. 
Management believe that this information and consequently profitability could potentially be misleading and would not enhance the 
disclosure above.

Segment information includes revenue directly attributable to a segment.  Other items such as treasury management and revenue  
accrued to the Group are not included in the measure of segment turnover as they are not considered part of the core operations of any 
segment.

The following table presents the turnover information regarding the Group’s operating segments:

Operating Segment                          

CTS – Gibraltar
CTS – Jersey 
Insurance Management 
Start-up operations
Other Services
Total segment information
Unallocated income

Analysis of the Group’s turnover information by geographical location is detailed below:

Operating Segment

Gibraltar
International 
Total segment information

7.

INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES
Acquisitions by the Company

Shares in group undertakings 
Balance at start of year 
Reallocations and adjustments to goodwill
Acquisitions
Balance at end of year

Turnover

Turnover

2010
£000

4,576
3,271
799
249
1,542
10,437
17
10,454

2010
£000

6,070
4,367
10,437

2011
£000

3,770
3,705
649
—
1,653
9,777
(48)
9,729

2011
£000

4,910
4,867
9,777

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

20,956
(4,949)
45
16,052

15,231
—
5,725
20,956

During the year the prior years acquisitions were reassessed resulting in the reallocation of intangible assets of £4,927,000 (note 14) and 
adjustments to the cost of investments and goodwill of £22,000.

STM Malta Insurance Management Limited
During the year, this company was incorporated and was successfully awarded its insurance management licence by the Malta Financial 
Services Authority.  It has an ordinary share equity of £45,000.

Subsequent performance of acquisitions 
As a result of the fact that the Group has materially changed the composition of the acquired companies’ cost structure by fully  
integrating them into the existing major trading operations of the Group, the Board of Directors consider it to be impractical to disclose 
the underlying profitability of the acquired companies after the date of acquisition.

27  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

8.

REVENUE

Revenue from administration of assets
Total revenues

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

9,729
9,729

10,454
10,454

9.

STM LIFE ASSURANCE PCC PLC
These consolidated financial statements include the results for STM Life Assurance PCC Plc (“STM Life”), a 100% owned subsidiary. STM 
Life’s principal activity is that of the provision of life assurance services. The Company has a licence under the Insurance Companies Act 
by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission to carry on linked long term insurance business. 

The financial statements for STM Life include the financial performance of both the long term fund and shareholders funds. For the 
purposes of these consolidated financial statements, however, only the shareholders funds and surplus on the long term fund have been 
included as reflecting the movement and balances in the long term fund would distort the Group’s results.

Within total revenue of the Group of £9,829,000 there is an amount of £121,000 relating to revenue attributable to STM Life. The financial 
performance and balance on the long term fund is as follows:

Technical Account – Long term business

Gross premiums written
Policy withdrawals
Net operating expenses
Increase in linked long term reserves
Surplus on long term fund

Assets held to cover linked liabilities

Open Market Value
Cost

Technical provision for linked liabilities

Balance at start of year 
Change in technical provision for linked liabilities
Balance at end of year

10.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES
Included within administrative expenses are personnel costs as follows:

Wages and salaries
Social insurance costs
Pension contributions
Equity settled share based payments
Total personnel expenses

28  

Year ended
31 December 2011
£000

Year ended
31 December 2010
£000

15,653
(964)
(126)
(14,403)
160

5,920
(107)
(53)
(5,730)
30

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

20,142
20,879

5,739
5,933

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

5,739
14,403
20,142

9
5,730
5,739

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

5,148
302
85
8
5,543

4,281
338
87
40
4,746

STM Group Plc    
 
 
10.

ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES continued
Average number of employees 

GROUP

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

Average number of people employed (including executive directors)

129

125

Company
The average number of staff employed by the company during the year including directors was 15 (2010:- 12)

11.

PROFIT BEFORE OTHER ITEMS
Profit before other terms of £628,000 (31 December 2010 £1,676,000), was arrived at after charging the following to the income statement:

Directors’ remuneration 
Auditors’ remuneration
Loss on sale of assets
Shares issued for services rendered
Operating lease rentals

12.

TAXATION

Current tax expense
Release from prior years
Total tax expense

Reconciliation of existing tax rate

(Loss)/profit for the year
Total income tax expense
(Loss)/profit excluding income tax
Income tax using the company’s domestic rate
Effect of tax rates in other jurisdictions
Effect of tax rates in other jurisdictions
Total tax expense

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

348
113
—
8
514

390
103
3
40
514

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

159
(169)
(10)

192
—
192

Tax rate

31 December 2011
£000

Tax rate

31 December 2011
£000

0%
10%
22%

(410)
(10)
(400)
—
138
21
159

0%
10%
22%

During the year the Group has released the provision for taxation on subsidiaries which were previously tax exempt.

1,247
192
1,439
—
106
86
192

29  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

13.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Motor
Vehicles
£000

Office
Equipment
£000

Leasehold
Improvements
£000

12
—
—
—
12
12
—
12

5
2
—
7
7
2
9

3
5

795
280
20
(4)
1,091
1,091
228
1,319

205
109
(1)
313
313
104
417

902
778

853
4
—
—
857
857
12
869

134
46
—
180
180
114
294

575
677

Office
Equipment
£000

Leasehold
Improvements
£000

300
148
448
448
191
639

—
—
—
—
32
32

607
448

551
4
555
555
12
567

—
—
—
—
81
81

486
555

Total
£000

1,660
284
20
(4)
1,960
1,960
240
2,200

344
157
(1)
500
500
220
720

1,480
1,460

Total
£000

851
152
1,003
1,003
203
1,206

—
—
—
—
113
113

1,093
1,003

Group

Costs
As at 1 January 2010
Additions at cost
Acquisition of subsidiary
Disposals
As at 31 December 2010
As at 1 January 2011
Additions at cost
As at 31 December 2011
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2010
Charge for the year
Disposals 
As at 31 December 2010
As at 1 January 2011
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2011
Net Book Value
As at 31 December 2011
As at 31 December 2010

Company

Costs 
As at 1 January 2010
Additions at cost
As at 31 December 2010
As at 1 January 2011
Additions at cost
As at 31 December 2011
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2010
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2010
As at 1 January 2011
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2011
Net book value
As at 31 December 2011
As at 31 December 2010

30  

STM Group Plc   14.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Group

Costs 
Balance as at 1 January 2010
Acquisitions through business combinations
Balance at 31 December 2010
Balance as at 1 January 2011
Reallocations
Adjustment to carrying value of investments
Balance at 31 December 2011

Amortisation and impairment
Balance as at 1 January 2010
Charge for the year
Balance at 31 December 2010

Balance as at 1 January 2011
Charge for the year
Balance at 31 December 2011

Carrying amounts
At 1 January 2010
At 31 December 2010
At 1 January 2011
At 31 December 2011

Goodwill
£000

16,886
4,926
21,812
21,812
(4,927)
(158)
16,727

—
—
—

—
—
—

16,886
21,812
21,812
16,727

Client 
Portfolio
£000

—
—
—
—
4,927
—
4,927

—
—
—

—
545
545

—
—
—
4,382

Total
£000

16,886
4,926
21,812
21,812
—
(158)
21,654

—
—
—

—
545
545

16,886
21,812
21,812
21,109

Impairment testing for cash-generating units containing goodwill
All goodwill relates to the acquisitions made during the period from 28 March 2007 to 31 December 2011, and reflects the difference 
between identifiable net asset value of those acquisitions and total consideration incurred for those acquisitions.

Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s operating entities and consequently to the generating units comprising these acquired businesses. 
However, as subsequent to the acquisitions the acquired businesses have been integrated and are managed on a unified basis it is more 
appropriate to allocate goodwill to three cash-generating units (“CGU”) for the purposes of impairment testing, being the Fidecs Group 
with a carrying value of £15,380,000; the Nummos Group with a carrying value of £470,000 and the Fiduciaire Group with a carrying 
value of £980,000.

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment with the recoverable amount being determined from value in use calculations which 
are based on board approved cash flow projections. A pre-tax discount rate of 6% has been used in discounting the projected cash flows. 
The valuations indicate sufficient headroom such that a reasonable potential change to key assumptions is unlikely to result in an  
impairment of the related goodwill.

Based on the operating performance of the respective CGUs, no impairment loss was deemed necessary in the current financial year. 

31  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

14.

INTANGIBLE ASSETS continued

Company

Costs 
Balance as at 1 January 2011
Reallocations
Adjustment to carrying value of investments
Balance at 31 December 2011

Amortisation and impairment
Balance as at 1 January 2011
Charge for the year
Balance at 31 December 2011

Carrying amounts
At 1 January 2011
At 31 December 2011

Client 
Portfolio
£000

—
4,927
—
4,927

—
545
545

—
4,382

Client portfolio represents the value assigned to the individual client portfolio acquired through the acquisition of Zenith Trust Company 
Limited and is amortised on a straight line basis over an estimated useful life of 9 years. This was previously classified as goodwill.

15.

TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Group

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Total

Company

Trade receivables due from related parties
Other receivables
Total

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

3,320
1,604
4,924

4,049
1,639
5,688

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

6,360
211
6,571

8,042
329
8,371

Within the Group’s other receivables is a balance of £447,000 which has been personally guaranteed by Alan Kentish.

Amounts due from related parties are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand, except for receivables from STM Swiss AG 
amounting to £1,057,000 which is subordinated in favour of other creditors.

The Group’s exposure to credit risks and impairment losses related to trade and other receivables (excluding accrued income) are  
described in note 21.

16.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Group

Bank balances
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flow

Company

Bank balances
Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flow

32  

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

3,307
3,307

3,696
3,696

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

2
2

101
101

STM Group Plc    
 
 
 
 
 
17.

CAPITAL AND RESERVES

Authorised, called up, issued and fully paid
43,061,649 ordinary shares of £0.001 each (1 January 2011: 
43,026,602 ordinary shares of £0.001 each)

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

43

43

Treasury shares
The treasury shares relate to those shares purchased by the STM Group EBT for allocation to executives under the terms of the Long Term 
Incentive Plan.  The trustees held 323,555 shares (1 January 2011: 323,555) at 31 December 2011, amounting to £205,000 (1 January 2011: 
£205,000).

Share premium
During the year 35,047 (2010:- 133,981) shares were issued for a total share premium of £7,465 (2010:- £32,366). During 2011, transaction 
costs of £nil (2010:- £nil) have been deducted from the share premium account. 

Translation
The translation reserve comprises all foreign currency differences arising from the translation of the financial statements of foreign operations.

Dividends
The following dividends were declared and paid by the Group:

0.4 pence per qualifying ordinary share (2010: 0.6 pence)

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

172

257

18.

EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per share for the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011 is based on the loss after taxation of £400,000 (2010:- profit 
£1,247,000) divided by the weighted average number of £0.001 ordinary shares during the year of 43,060,977 basic (2010:- 42,976,168) 
and 48,288,250 dilutive (2010:- 48,203,441) in issue.

A reconciliation of the basic and diluted number of shares used in the year ended 31 December 2011 is:

Weighted average number of shares
Dilutive share incentive plan, options and contingent consideration shares
Diluted

43,060,977
5,227,273
48,288,250

The dilutive shares have not been used to calculate the diluted earnings per share as they were anti-dilutive.

33  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

19.

TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Group

Bank loans (see note 20)
Bank overdraft
Loans from related parties
Deferred income
Trade payables
Deferred and contingent consideration
Other creditors and accruals

Company

Bank loans
Bank overdraft
Owed to related parties
Deferred Consideration 
Other creditors and accruals 

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

912
250
94
667
490
700
2,160
5,273

912
—
105
866
358
1,553
1,765
5,559

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

438
250
3,483
608
802
5,581

438
—
4,053
1,462
375
6,328

Loans from related parties amount to £94,000 and relate to a loan by the founding shareholders of Fidecs, the loan is unsecured and 
interest bearing at 7% per annum.

Deferred income consists of fixed fee revenues billed in advance to clients which have not yet been earned as at the balance sheet date. 
These amounted to £667,000 as at 31 December 2011 (31 December 2010: £866,000). 

As at 31 December 2011 the Company had a bank overdraft with NatWest Bank Plc of £250,000 at interest of 4% per annum and is  
secured by capital guarantees supplied by subsidiary companies.

Deferred and contingent consideration 
Under the terms of the acquisition of STM Nummos SL a further £76,000 may be payable to the vendors depending on certain targets 
being achieved.

Under the terms of the acquisition of Zenith Trust Company Limited a further £624,000 is payable during 2012.

The Group’s exposure to liquidity risk related to trade and other payables is described in note 21. 

20.

OTHER PAYABLES - AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR

Group

Bank loan – repayable between year 2 and year 5
Convertible loan notes

Company

Bank loan – repayable between year 2 and year 5
Convertible loan notes

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

805
3,450
4,255

1,702
3,450
5,152

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

910
3,450
4,360

1,343
3,450
4,793

34  

STM Group Plc   20.

OTHER PAYABLES - AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR continued

As at 31 December 2011 the Group had three bank loans from NatWest Bank Plc amounting to £1.7 million. The bank loans are repayable 
in monthly and quarterly instalments at variable rates of interest currently ranging from 2% to 4.25% and are secured by capital  
guarantees supplied by subsidiary companies.

As requested by Natwest Bank plc the Group is managing the interest rate risk of one of the bank loans with an interest rate swap. This 
swap is fixed at an interest rate of 1.78% per annum and is attached to a bank loan with a balance at 31 December 2011 of £1.2 million. 
The  floating rate is currently in the region of 1% per annum and therefore whilst the swap is a derivative liability the cost is not  
significant and therefore not disclosed separately.

In addition the Company has £3.5 million of convertible loan notes (“loan notes”). The Loan Notes have a fixed term of 4 years and carry an 
annual coupon of 7%, payable half yearly. Up to 50% of each Loan Note can be converted into new ordinary shares of £0.001 each in the 
Company (“Ordinary Shares”) at a price of 33p at the option of the holder in the month following the release of the Company’s preliminary 
results for the year ending 31 December 2011 (“Convertible Notes”). Subsequent to year end, no loan notes were converted to equity, nor 
redeemed at that date, and therefore the loan notes will run to term. The Loan Notes are secured against all the assets of the Group.

21.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Credit Risk
Exposure to credit risk
The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk at the 
reporting date was:

Carrying amount

Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

31 December2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

4,924
3,307
8,231

5,688
3,696
9,384

The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risks relating to one entity or group of related entities amounts to less than 10% of the overall 
trade receivable amount as at 31 December 2011 and 31 December 2010.

The credit risk of monies at bank is the net carrying amount of all the Group’s deposits, the majority of which are held at NatWest Bank Plc.

Impairment losses on trade receivables
The ageing of the Group’s trade receivables at the reporting date was:

Not past due 
past due 0–30 days 
past due 31–120 days 
More than 120 days past due 

Gross receivables
31 December 2011
£000

Impairment
31 December 2011
£000

Gross receivables
31 December 2010
£000

Impairment
31 December 2010
£000

462
317
104
2,956
3,839

—
—
—
(519)
(519)

1,384
294
237
2,673
4,588

—
—
—
(539)
(539)

Standard credit terms vary between presentation of the fee note and 30 days from the date of the fee note.

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade receivables during the period was

31 December 2011 
£000

31 December 2010
£000

Balance at start of period
Impairment loss (released) / recognised 
Balance at end of period

539
(20)
519

212
327
539

35  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011   
 
Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

21.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS continued
Based on historic default rates, the Group believes that no impairment allowance is necessary in respect of trade receivables that are not 
more than one year old. This is because, invariably, the Group are administering clients’ assets and therefore have further recourses for 
the recoverability of any debts outstanding.

Liquidity Risk
The following are the Group’s contractual maturity liabilities, including estimated interest payments where applicable, and excluding the 
impact of netting arrangements.

31 December 2011

Non-derivative financial liabilities 
Bank loans
Bank overdraft
Trade payables
Deferred consideration on acquisitions
Loans from related parties
Other creditors and accruals
Corporation tax payable

31 December 2010

Non-derivative financial liabilities
Bank loans
Trade payables
Deferred consideration on acquisitions
Loans from related parties
Other creditors and accruals
Corporation tax payable

Carrying 
amounts
£000

Conditional 
cash flow
£000

6 months 
or less
£000

6-12 months
£000

1-2 years
£000

1,717
250
490
700
94
2,160
338
5,749

1,717
250
490
700
94
2,160
338
5,749

456
250
490
—
94
2,160
338
3,788

456
—
—
700
—
—
—
1,156

805
—
—
—
—
—
—
805

Carrying 
amounts
£000

Conditional 
cash flow
£000

6 months 
or less
£000

6-12 months
£000

1-2 years
£000

2,614
326
1,553
105
1,765
494
6,857

2,614
326
1,553
105
1,765
494
6,857

456
326
1,362
105
1,765
494
4,508

456
—
—
—
—
—
456

1,702
—
191
—
—
—
1,893

Currency risk
The Group has a small exposure to currency risk in its investment in STM Nummos. However, as all assets and liabilities are in the com-
pany’s functional currency of Euros (€) this risk is minimal.

Interest rate risk and market risk
The company has minimal exposure to market risk. The net impact to the results on interest bearing assets and  
liabilities is also considered to be minimal.

22.

LEASES
Operating Leases
Non-cancellable operating leases are payable as follows:

Less than one year
Between one year and five years
More than five years

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

514
1,893
2,144
4,551

514
1,974
2,577
5,065

The Group leases a number of offices from which they operate, the largest of which is for Montagu Pavilion which runs for a further 12 
years.

36  

STM Group Plc   22. LEASES continued
Finance Leases
Non-cancellable finance leases are payable as follows:

Less than one year
Between one year and five years
More than five years

23.

RELATED PARTIES
Transactions with key management personnel and Directors
Compensation
Key management compensation comprised:

Short-term employee benefits
Post-employment benefits
Share-based payments

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

6
18
—
24

6
24
—
30

31 December 2011
£000

31 December 2010
£000

348
—
—
348

390
—
—
390

Key management personnel and Director Transactions 
Trusts and related parties connected to the Directors held 24.29% of the voting shares of the Company as at 31 December 2011.

Other related party transactions 
As more fully explained in note 19, a loan of £94,000 has been provided to the Group by the founding shareholders of Fidecs  
(the Company’s first acquisition) who are also shareholders.

The Group also leases its main premises from Fiander Properties Limited that is owned by three shareholders and a Director of the 
Company. Rental costs of such premises are £285,000 per annum of which £nil was outstanding at 31 December 2011. The rental cost is 
at normal market rates. 

The Group provided administration services to Gold Management Limited a company partly owned by Louise Kentish, spouse of Alan 
Kentish a Director of the Company. These services amounted to £5,400 for the period to 31 December 2011, of which £nil was  
outstanding at 31 December 2011.

The Group provides services to subsidiaries of Rock Holdings Limited, a shareholder of the Company. These services amounted to 
£150,000 during the period, of which £12,500 was outstanding at 31 December 2011. 

Greystone Trust Company Limited, of which Michael Riddell is a director, charged the Company £21,500 for services rendered during 
2011, of which £13,600 was outstanding at 31 December 2011. 

ABT Associates Consulting Limited, of which Matthew Wood is a shareholder, charged the Company £40,000 for services rendered during 
2011, of which £10.000 was outstanding at 31 December 2011. 

All services relating to the above transactions were carried out by the Group on an arm’s length basis and are payable/receivable under 
the standard credit terms. 

Ready Finance Ltd and Bespoke Finance Ltd, companies related to the Group by virtue of the fact that Alan Kentish is a director of both 
owe the Group a combined balance of £474,356 at 31 December 2011.

37  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Notes to the Financial Statements
For the year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011

24.

SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
The Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) provides incentives for certain executives. The plan is administered by the trustees of the STM 
Group Employee Benefit Trust.  The nominated executive is entitled to receive fully paid shares in STM (“STM shares”) providing they 
achieve certain predetermined performance targets and also satisfy a two year employment condition. 

The executive will receive the shares on the first day of dealing after the end of the two year employment condition. For 2011, relating to 
the 2011 performance, no shares (2010: nil) were appointed to specific individuals.

25.

GROUP ENTITIES
Principal subsidiaries
As at 31 December 2011 the Company owned the following subsidiaries which are regarded as the principal trading operations of the 
Group.

Country of incorporation

31 December 2011

31 December 2010

Activity

Ownership interest

Group

STM Fidecs Limited

STM Fidecs Management Limited

STM Fidecs Insurance Management Limited

STM Fiscalis Limited

STM Fidecs Life, Health and Pensions Limited

STM Fidecs Trust Company Limited

STM Fidecs Central Services Limited

STM Fidecs Pension Trustees Limited

STM Fidecs Management (Gibraltar) Limited

Atlas Trust Company Limited

Parliament Corporate Services Limited

STM Fidecs Consumer Services Limited

STM Fiduciaire Trustees Limited

STM Fiduciaire Limited

STM Nummos SL

STM (Caribbean) Limited

Venture Media (Gibraltar) Limited

STM Life Assurance PCC plc

STM Swiss AG

Zenith Trust Company Limited

STM Nummos Limited

STM Nummos Life SL

STM Malta Limited

STM Malta Trust and Company Management Limited

STM Malta Insurance Management Limited

Isle of Man

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

Jersey

Jersey

Jersey

Spain

BVI

Gibraltar

Gibraltar

100% directly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% directly

Holding company

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Services and Administration

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

 100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% directly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% directly

Intellectual property holding company

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

Media agency

Insurance company

Switzerland

100% directly

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

Jersey

England

Spain

Malta

Malta

Malta

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

Administration of clients’ assets

100% directly

100% directly

Holding company

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

Administration of client assets

100% directly

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

100% directly

Holding company

100% indirectly

Administration of client assets

–

Administration of client assets

26.

SUBSEQUENT EVENTS
On 4 April 2012 the Company issued 8,960,000 new ordinary shares of 0.1 pence each based on a value of 17.5 pence per ordinary share 
giving a total consideration of £1,568,000.

38  

STM Group Plc   Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on 17 May 2012 at 11am at 18 Athol Street, Douglas, 
Isle of Man IM1 1JA for the purpose of considering and, if thought fit, passing the following resolutions:

Ordinary Resolutions

1.  THAT the accounts for the year ended 31 December 2011 and the reports of the Directors and auditors thereon be received.

2.  As Julian Philip Telling has been appointed during the period since the last AGM, to confirm his appointment as a Director of the Company.

3.  THAT Colin Douglas Porter, who has retired from office by rotation in accordance with article 88 of the Company’s Articles of Association, 
     be reappointed as a Director of the Company.

4.  THAT Alan Roy Kentish and Michael Ross Riddell be reappointed as Directors of the Company.   

5.  As KPMG Audit LLC have been appointed as auditors of the Company during the period, to confirm their appointment and to reappoint 
     them as auditors of the Company to hold office from the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting until the conclusion of the Annual 
     General Meeting held in 2013.

6.  THAT the authority granted to the Directors pursuant to article 7.5 of the Company’s Articles of Association, to allot and issue for cash 
     Ordinary Shares with an aggregate nominal value of not more than 25 per cent of the aggregate nominal value of the share capital of 
     the Company in issue as at 7 May 2010, be renewed and continue until the end of the annual general meeting of the Company in 2013.

By order of the Board

…………………………………………

Elizabeth A Plummer
Company Secretary

18 Athol Street
Douglas
Isle of Man IM1 1JA
10 April 2012

Notes:
A member entitled to attend and vote is entitled to appoint a proxy or proxies to attend and, on a poll, vote instead of that member. A proxy need not be a 
member of the Company.  A form of proxy is enclosed. Proxy forms must be returned by post or by hand to the office of the agent of the Company’s registrars, 
Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Rd, Bristol BS99 6ZY not less than 48 hours before the time of holding of the meeting. The  
Company specifies, pursuant to Regulation 22 of the Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2006 (SD No. 743/06), that only those members entered on the 
register of members as at 10:00 am on 15 May 2012 (or in the event that the meeting is adjourned, on the register of members 48 hours before the time of any 
adjourned meeting) shall be entitled to attend or vote at the meeting in respect of the number of ordinary shares registered in their name at the time. Changes 
to the register of members after 10:00am on 15 May 2012 (or, in the event that the meeting is adjourned, on the register of members less than 48 hours before 
the time of any adjourned meeting) shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend or vote at the meeting. 

39  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  Company Information 

CORPORATE   

Directors  

Registered Office  

Advisers  

Julian P. Telling
Non-Executive Chairman 

Colin D. Porter 
Chief Executive Officer 

18 Athol Street 
Douglas 
Isle of Man  IM1 1JA 

T +44 (0)1624 626 242 

Alan Roy Kentish ACA ACII AIRM 
Chief Financial Officer 

Company Number 
005398V 

Michael Ross Riddell CA 
Non-Executive Director  

Company Secretary 
Elizabeth Anne Plummer  
FCA TEP CTA  

Auditors 
KPMG Audit LLC
Heritage Court
41 Athol Street
Douglas 
Isle of Man IM99 1HN 

Registrars and CREST  
Service Provider 
Computershare Investor 
Services (Jersey) Limited 
Queensway House Hil-
grove Street St Helier 
Jersey JE1 1ES  

Registered Agent 
Greystone Trust  
Company Limited 
18 Athol Street Douglas 
Isle of Man IM1 1JA 

Nominated Adviser   
and Broker 
FinnCap 
60 New Broad Street 
London EC2M 1JJ

Solicitors to the Company  
as to English law 
Memery Crystal LLP 
44 Southampton Buildings 
London WC2A 1AP 

Solicitors to the Company  as 
to Isle of Man law 
Appleby’s 
– Advocates & Notaries 33 
Athol Street, Douglas, Isle of 
Man IM1 1LB 

OFFICES  

Gibraltar  

Malta  

Jersey  

Spain  

STM Fidecs 
Montagu Pavilion 
8 – 10 Queensway 
Gibraltar 

T (+350) 200 42686 
F (+350) 200 42701 

www.stmfidecs.gi 
info@stmfidecs.gi 

STM Malta 
62 Regent House 
Bisazza Street Sliema 
SLM 1641 Malta 

T (+356) 213 33210 
F (+356) 213 33220 

www.stmmalta.com 
info@malta.com

STM Fiduciaire 3rd floor 
Windward House 
La Route de la Liberation  
St Helier 
JE2 3BQ 

STM Nummos S.L.
Edif. Sotovila, Plaza Mayor
P.N. de Guadiaro
Sotogrande
Cádiz (Spain) 

T (+44) (0)1534 837600 
F (+44) (0)1534 837601 

T (+34) 956 794 781 
F (+34)  956 795 853 

www.stmfiduciaire.je info@
stmfiduciaire.je  

www.stmnummos.com 
info@stmnummos.es

STM Group Plc    
 
online  

www.stmgroupplc.com/html/ 
investor/annual_report.asp  

Annual Report & Accounts 2011  STM Group Plc 18 Athol 
Street Douglas 
Isle of Man IM1 1JA 
T +44 (0)1624 626 242 
www.stmgroupplc.com