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STMicroelectronics

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ANNUAL REPORT 
& ACCOUNTS 2016

STMGROUPPLC.COM

STM Group Plc is a multi-jurisdictional financial services group listed on 
the Alternative Investment Market of the London Stock Exchange. The 
Group specialises in the delivery of a wide range of financial service 
products to professional intermediaries and in the administration of assets 
for international clients in relation to retirement, estate and succession 
planning and wealth structuring.

Today STM has trading operations in the United Kingdom, Gibraltar, Jersey, 
Malta and Spain. It has also opened sales offices in South East Asia, the 
Middle East, South Africa and Australia. The Group continues to expand 
through the development of additional products and services to meet the 
demands of its expatriate client base.

02
02
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 201603   Highlights04   A Year in Review11   Chairman’s Statement13   Chief Executive Officer’s Statement16   Directors’ Report17   Board of Directors18   Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities 18   Directors’ Remuneration Report19   Corporate Governance20   Independent Auditors’ Report21   Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income22   Consolidated Statement of Financial Position23   Company Statement of Financial Position24   Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows25   Statement of Consolidated Changes in Equity 25   Statement of Company Changes in Equity26   Notes to the Financial Statements49   Notice of Annual General Meeting50   Company InformationREVENUE OF £17.4 MILLION
(2015: £16.2 million)

Earnings before interest, taxation,
depreciation and amortisation (“EBITDA”)
£3.1 million
(2015: £3.1 million)

Strong balance sheet with cash 
of £11.9 million at year end 
(2015: £8.0 million)

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS:
•  Revenue for the period up 8% at £17.4 million (2015: £16.2 million)
•  EBITDA for the period of £3.1 million (2015: £3.1 million)
•  Profit before tax for the period of £2.8 million (2015: £2.7 million)
•  Earnings per share of 3.99 pence (2015: 3.99 pence)
•  Strong balance sheet with cash and cash equivalents balance up 49% at £11.9 million (31 

December 2015: £8.0 million)

•  Total dividend for the year of 1.5 pence (2015: 0.9 pence)

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS:
•  Acquisition of a UK SIPP business and life assurance company, London & Colonial Holdings 

Ltd (LCH), for up to £5.385 million, which completed on 21 October 2016

•  Smooth integration of LCH businesses generating cost savings – on track to save £500,000 in 2017

•  Significant organic growth rate in STM Life of 32% compared to 2015

•  Review of QROPS pricing structure resulting in enlarged long term client base and almost 

11,000 QROPS pension members as at 31 December 2016 (2015: 9,688)

•  Strengthening of main Board and senior management to support future growth – two new 

non-executives and new Head of Enterprise Risk Management 

03

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016A YEAR IN REVIEW

REVENUE BY OPERATING SEGMENT 2016

£4.4m

£2.8m

£9.2m

£0.4m

£0.6m

Pensions

UK, Gibraltar, 
Malta

Corporate 
Trustee Services

Gibraltar, Malta, 
Jersey

Life 
Assurance

Gibraltar

Insurance 
Management

Other 
Services

Gibraltar

Gibraltar, Spain

GEOGRAPHICAL OPERATING SEGMENTS

TRADING OFFICES:

Gibraltar

Jersey

Malta

Spain

UK

SALES OFFICES:

04

Australia

Hong Kong

South Africa

UAE

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016Corporate Trustee ServicesPensionsInsurance ManagementLifeAssuranceOther ServicesA YEAR IN REVIEW

REVENUE (£’000s)

18,000

13,500

9,000

4,500

0

£15,878

£16,179

£17,433

£13,357

Steady Growth:
Revenues increased by circa 8% from prior 
year due to organic growth and acquisition.

Strong Visibility:
Recurring revenue increased from 66% 
in 2015 to 75% of total revenue in 2016.

2013

2014

2015

2016

7.75%*

REVENUE BY OPERATING SEGMENT

Pensions

Life Assurance

Corporate Trustee Services

Insurance Management

Other Services

2013

2014

2015

2016

0

4,500

9,000

13,500

18,000

*as compared to 2015

05

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016A YEAR IN REVIEW

EBITDA (£’000s)

4,000

3,000

2,000

1,000

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

EARNINGS PER SHARE (EPS) 

5

3.75

2.5

1.25

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

PROFIT BEFORE TAX (£’000s)

0.45%*

EPS CONSISTENT WITH 
PREVIOUS YEAR 

DIVIDEND YIELD 2016: 3.7%

3,000

2,250

1,500

750

0

06

2013

2014

2015

2016

1.85%*

*as compared to 2015

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016A YEAR IN REVIEW

Strong balance sheet: 
Cash and cash equivalents acquired with 
LCH acquisition amounted to over £5 million.

Cash generated from operating activities 
amounted to circa £1.2 million.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS (£’000s)1

12,000

9,000

6,000

3,000

0

2013

2014

2015

2016

47.70%*

AVERAGE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES (GROUP) 

Average number of employees (including Executive Directors)

 = 10 Employees

2013   - 146

2016   - 175

* as compared to 2015
1   includes regulatory cash

07

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016A YEAR IN REVIEW

GROWING STM GROUP

BY ACQUISITION

Acquisition of London & Colonial Holdings Ltd on 21 October 2016 provided STM Group with:

Approximately 2,000 SIPP Policies

Approximately 1,200 Life Assurance Policies

Approximately 300 QROPS 

08
08
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016A YEAR IN REVIEW

ORGANICALLY

Number of new QROPS - 1,500

Total QROPS under management at year end - 10,635

(10,933 with acquisition)

QROPS natural attrition - 3%

Number of new life assurance policies - 481

09
09
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016“

WE ARE CONFIDENT 
THAT STM WILL 
CONTINUE TO IMPROVE 
ITS PRODUCT OFFERING 
AND BROADEN ITS 
REVENUE STREAMS

”

10
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016

MICHAEL RIDDELL
Chairman

I AM PLEASED TO PRESENT THE GROUP’S FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR 
THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2016 WHICH CONTINUE TO SHOW 
A SOLID PERFORMANCE AND WHICH PROVIDE THE FOUNDATION 
TO  UNDERPIN  THE  BOARD’S  CONFIDENCE  IN  THE  FUTURE. 

In 2016, the positive effect of the Board’s 
decision  to  change  our  QROPS  pricing 
structure,  with  the  temporary  suspension 
of the establishment fee on new business, 
increased  our  recurring  revenue  streams, 
thus delivering a stronger cash generation. 
This  allows  the  business  to  continue  its 
dividend policy, meet the repayment terms 
of  the  London  &  Colonial  Holdings  Ltd 
(“LCH”)  acquisition,  and  still  leave  strong 
cash balances.

This year has seen a number of changes 
to the composition of the Board and the 
further strengthening of the Group’s senior 
management structure through the creation 
of the Head of Distribution, Head of Pensions 
and Head of Enterprise Risk Management 
roles which will support future growth and 

stability. Through this strengthening of the 
Board  and  management,  the  acquisition 
of  LCH  and  the  pursuit  of  our  business 
development plans, we are confident that 
STM will continue to improve its product 
offering and broaden its revenue streams.

I  would  like  to  take  this  opportunity  to 
personally thank all of the Group’s Directors, 
executives  and  staff  for  their  efforts  in 
delivering the growth in our business while 
expanding our product offerings.

The Board believes that the Group has taken 
significant steps in 2016 to advance its growth 
and profitability strategy. Notwithstanding 
the impact of the UK’s Spring Budget, we look 
forward with optimism to further delivering 
on STM’s potential in the forthcoming years. 

M i c

h

a

e l   Ri d

d

e ll

Michael Riddell

Chairman
14 March 2017

11
11
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016“

STM IS AN AMBITIOUS 
BUSINESS WITH A 
GROWTH STRATEGY 
AND FIRST MOVER 
ADVANTAGE IN 
SOME RELATIVELY 
UNTAPPED MARKETS

”

12
12
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2015

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016ALAN KENTISH
Chief Executive Officer

CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER’S STATEMENT

IT GIVES ME GREAT PLEASURE TO PRESENT THE ANNUAL 
RESULTS FOR STM GROUP PLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 
DECEMBER 2016.

There is no doubt that my first year as CEO 
has been an exciting and a busy one, albeit 
with some challenges, which pleasingly were 
overcome to bring financial performance back 
in line with management’s revised expectation. 
One of these challenges was the effect of 
external  influences  producing  lower  than 
expected numbers of new QROPS applications 
during the first four months of the year. Whilst 
this was not envisaged or expected by the 
business at the start of the year, management 
was able to swiftly address this by significantly 
changing  the  pricing  structure  for  new 
QROPS business by temporarily waiving the 
establishment fee for new policies. Whilst this 
resulted in forgoing some revenue for this year, 
the vision was to generate increased long term 
recurring revenue, thus a short term pain for 
the sake of longer term benefits. 
I am pleased to say this initiative paid off and 
has resulted in 1,500 new pension clients in 
the year, thus bringing the annual run rate 
for new business back in line with the second 
half of the previous year and bringing the total 
number of QROPS policies under management 
to almost 11,000 as at 31 December 2016. 
In October 2016, STM saw the realisation of 
an important strategic objective by way of the 
acquisition of London & Colonial Holdings Limited 
(“LCH”). The Board viewed the acquisition of a 
small UK SIPP business as very complementary 
to our existing pensions operations.
The new pensions administration office in 
the United Kingdom continues to help STM 
position itself as a truly international pensions 
administrator, and builds on our administrative 
offices in Malta and Gibraltar. In addition, 
the Group has also expanded its worldwide 
presence by opening a further sales office in 
Australia to access a significant UK expatriate 
community for its Australian Taxation Office 

approved Gibraltar based QROPS. This sales 
office  follows  the  same  concept  as  STM’s 
business development offices in Dubai, Hong 
Kong, South Africa and Europe.
STM  continues  to  invest  both  human  and 
financial resources in its product development 
team for both enhancing existing product 
offerings for short term profitability as well 
as in new pension and life assurance products 
for the medium term. 
ACQUISITION OF LONDON & 
COLONIAL HOLDINGS LIMITED 
(LCH) DURING THE YEAR 
STM Group had been reviewing ways to enter 
the UK SIPP market for some time as we believed 
this to be a highly complementary addition to 
our existing international pensions business, 
in that it would allow us to offer a solution for 
those expatriates returning to the UK.
The acquisition of LCH in late 2016, which 
included a SIPP operation, ticked this box; but 
in reality brought much more to the Group than 
a SIPP business alone. Aside from the UK SIPP 
business, LCH has two further companies in 
Gibraltar, between them offering QROPS and 
life assurance products. This acquisition has 
therefore contributed towards the increased 
revenues in the year both in the pensions and 
life assurance segments. 
Since  its  acquisition  the  integration  has 
proceeded  smoothly  with  the  Gibraltar 
businesses having relocated to STM’s existing 
offices, thus realising cost savings, as expected, 
with effect from 1 January 2017. 
In  addition  to  the  cost  savings,  which  are 
expected to be in the region of £0.5 million for 
2017, I am pleased to note that the management 
team has been retained by STM, thus providing 
continuity to our clients and staff.  Furthermore, 

13

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER’S STATEMENT

whilst it is still early days, management of both STM and LCH are 
working on various initiatives which could result in a redeployment 
of regulated capital. 
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
PENSIONS 
Our pensions business continued to show solid growth from 
new business, with turnover in the year amounting to £9.2 
million (2015: £8.6 million). This 7.5% increase in revenues is 
as a result, in equal measure, of both organic growth and the 
acquisition of the SIPP and QROPS businesses which form part of 
the LCH acquisition. Our pensions business this year accounted 
for 52% of the Group’s turnover (2015: 53%), with this slight 
decrease being as a result of the significant growth seen in the 
life assurance segment. 
As a result of the pricing initiative taken in April 2016, whereby we 
waived our establishment fee on new QROPS business, we saw this 
one-off fee revenue fall from £1.4 million in 2015 to £0.3 million 
in 2016. However, as anticipated, this saw an acceleration in new 
business introductions that will have a longer term contribution 
to profitability through increased annual recurring fees from an 
enlarged client base.
As a percentage, the organic growth in the pensions business for 
2016 has been noted equally in Gibraltar and Malta. However, 
in terms of client numbers and revenues generated, the increase 
is considerably higher in Malta. As noted in prior years, this was 
primarily due to our Malta based US Plan continuing to gain traction. 
Consequently, Malta remains the larger of our two jurisdictions 
with pension turnover of £6.5 million (2015: £6.3 million), with 
Gibraltar having generated £2.4 million (2015: £2.3 million) of 
turnover in the year. Annual recurring revenue for 2016 amounted 
to £8.5 million (2015: £7.1 million) which represents 93% (2015: 
82%), giving a highly visible and predictable future revenue stream. 
The pensions business acquired as part of the LCH Group has 
generated circa £0.3 million of revenues during the 3 months 
that LCH was successfully integrated into the Group. 
LIFE ASSURANCE
The  acquisition  of  LCH  and  with  it  the  Gibraltar  based  life 
assurance company (LCA) will give STM Life critical mass and 
result in considerable cost savings. That said, I am pleased to 
note that the organic growth for STM Life during the year has 
delivered a significant 32% uplift, to generate turnover for 2016 of 
£1.9 million (2015: £1.4 million). Furthermore, within the revenue 
figure reported, annual fees and investment income amounted 
to £1.4 million compared to £0.8 million in 2015. This provides a 
steady and highly visible annuity income stream going forward.
Since the acquisition, LCA has generated regular revenues of 
£0.5 million as per management’s expectations. However, in 
addition, as a result of the cost saving initiatives put in place for 
2017, the cost per policy of running this business has decreased. 
As such we have been able to release part of the insurance 
technical expense reserve. This release of £0.5 million has resulted 
in increased surplus on the long term business fund and thus 
increased revenues for the Group. 
CORPORATE AND TRUSTEE SERVICES
Turnover from the Corporate and Trustee Services (CTS) division 
for the year was £4.4 million (2015: £5.1 million) thus accounting 
for 25% of the Group’s total turnover (2015: 31%). This business is 

generated in Jersey and Gibraltar, with Jersey revenue accounting 
for circa 56% (2015: 54%) of the CTS business at £2.5 million 
(2015: £2.7 million) and Gibraltar generating turnover of £1.9 
million (2015: £2.3 million).
As noted in last year’s report, the decrease in Gibraltar based 
revenues was expected as this was driven by a loss of client 
structures having closed down during 2015. As such, management 
reacted accordingly and adjusted its cost base to ensure profitability 
going forward was maintained. Similarly, initiatives have taken 
place in Jersey to maintain profitability levels. 
OTHER TRADING DIVISIONS AND NEW 
INITIATIVES
Trading in other divisions, which are mainly insurance management 
and the Spanish office, was broadly in line with management 
expectations. These are expected to continue at similar levels 
going forward having generated revenue of £1.1 million in the 
year (2015: £1.1 million).
FINANCIAL REVIEW
PERFORMANCE IN THE YEAR
Whilst profitability remained fairly consistent with 2015, revenues 
for the Group increased in the year by 8% to £17.4 million 
(2015: £16.2 million). This is predominantly as a result of the LCH 
acquisition which was acquired for the prospect of the synergies 
but which at the time of acquisition was very much a break-even 
business. Thus, whilst this has resulted in increased revenues, it 
will be 2017 before we see steady contributions to monthly profit. 
As expected, given the nature of the pension business, the amount 
of recurring annuity revenue business continues to increase and 
now accounts for 75% of 2016 total revenues (2015: 66%). 
EBITDA has remained consistent with 2015 at £3.1 million (2015: 
£3.1 million). 
Finance costs for the year were slightly lower at £0.1 million 
which was to be expected given the only borrowing in place 
for the Group was taken out towards the end of the year for 
the purposes of the acquisition of LCH. The depreciation and 
amortisation charge has in turn increased as a result of amortising 
the client portfolio acquired with LCH. This is £0.3 million in 2016 
(2015: £0.2 million). 
Profit before tax was £2.8 million for the year (2015: £2.7 million) 
with earnings per share remaining consistent at 3.99p. Diluted 
earnings per share takes into consideration the long term incentive 
plan approved by the Company as approved by the shareholders 
at the Annual General Meeting on 18 May 2016 which stipulates 
a maximum dilution factor of 5%.
The effective tax rate in the year remained fairly consistent at 
14% with the prior year (2015: 15%). The charge for the year 
was £0.4 million (2015: £0.4 million).

CASHFLOWS 
Overall cash balances at the year end have increased by £3.7 million 
(2015: £2.4 million) resulting in cash and cash equivalents balance 
of £11.9 million at 31 December 2016 (2015: £8.0 million). Cash 
generated from operating activities during the year after the LCH 
acquisition amounted to £1.2 million (2015: £3.2 million). Whilst 
the Company has made two cash payments for the acquisition 
during the year totalling £4.2 million it sought bank borrowings of 
£3.3 million and acquired £5.0 million of cash and cash equivalents. 

14

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016CHIEF EXECUTIVE 
OFFICER’S STATEMENT

The bank borrowings of £3.3 million taken out in October 2016 
for the purposes of the acquisition is capital repayment free for 
the first year, at a rate of 4% above LIBOR. Repayments are then 
quarterly over years 2 and 3.
In line with most services businesses, the Group had accrued 
income in the form of work performed for clients but not yet 
billed at the year end of £1.2 million (2015: £1.8 million). The 
Group’s accounting policy for accrued income in relation to its 
pensions business is based on the number of applications received 
but for which an invoice has not yet been raised. Invoices are 
raised once the pension funds are received and the fees can be 
taken. The decrease in accrued income primarily relates to the 
abolishment of the establishment fee on new business and the 
reduced CTS client portfolios.
Deferred income (a liability in the statement of financial position), 
representing fees billed in advance yet to be credited to the 
statement of total comprehensive income, has increased to £3.8 
million, as compared to the balance as at 31 December 2015 of 
£2.6 million. The main reason for this increase of £1.2 million is 
the acquisition of LCH which has deferred income at the year 
end of £1.1 million.
Both the accrued and deferred income will be invoiced and earned 
in 2017 thus providing visibility on fees for the forthcoming year.
Trade and other receivables as at 31 December 2016 has increased 
to £5.2 million (2015: £4.2 million). Trade receivables at the year 
end stood at £3.4 million (2015: £3.1 million) and the increase in 
this is in part due to the acquisition (£0.1 million) with the balance 
being as a result of increased pensions business. Other receivables 
amount to £1.8 million (2015: £1.1 million). This increase of £0.7 
million in other receivables is due to the acquisition (£0.3 million) 
and increased prepayments. 
DIVIDEND POLICY
Following the reinstatement of the Group’s dividend policy in 
March 2016 I am pleased to advise that the Board is recommending 
the payment of a final dividend of 1.0p per share (2015: 0.9p 
per share). This, together with the interim dividend paid of 0.5p 
in November 2016 (2015: nil), makes a proposed total dividend 
for the year of 1.5p per share (2015: 0.9p). 
The Board remains committed to enhancing shareholder value by 
growing the dividend subject to the working capital requirements 
and planned investment in the business. If approved, the final 
dividend will be paid on 28 June 2017 to shareholders on the 
register at the close of business on 2 June 2017. The ordinary 
shares will become ex-dividend on 1 June 2017.
OUTLOOK
2016 was a year that presented some early challenges however 
which ended strongly and met revised expectations. The pricing 
policy decision and the acquisition of London & Colonial Holdings 
Ltd resulted in a solid and steady increase in new pensions 
applications for the latter half of 2016, and this was expected 
to continue into 2017.

However, in the UK Government’s Spring budget speech on the 8 
March 2017, the Chancellor indicated that there will be significant 
charges and tax implications for some individuals considering 
taking out a QROPS transfer from a UK pension scheme. 
This  change  is  likely  to  have  an  impact  on  STM’s  ability  to 
significantly grow the number of QROPS policies it administers; 

however it is not anticipated that this tax change will impact the 
Group’s existing QROPS business, which generated recurring 
revenue from annual management charges of approximately 
£8.5 million in 2016. 

Whilst it is very early days to fully understand the exact impact, 
it would appear that some 20% of anticipated new QROPS 
business will be unaffected. The other 80% of anticipated new 
business, which is generated outside of the EEA, may be at risk. 
However, we believe that some of this potential loss of QROPS 
business will manifest itself into new UK SIPP applications, as a 
result of the proposed legislation. 

It is still too early to quantify the exact potential impact on our 
new QROPS business, which the Directors anticipate will be 
somewhat mitigated by an increase in UK SIPP applications. 
We have however taken a prudent approach to revising our 
expectations for the growth in Group revenue from 2016 to 2017 
and assumed that on a worst case scenario basis the potential 
reduction in new QROPS applications will result in our Group 
revenue expectation for 2017 being reduced by some £1.1 million 
compared to our previous expectations. This worst case scenario 
still represents double digit revenue growth from 2016 to 2017 
and does not yet reflect changes in the Group’s cost base which 
management will focus on, where appropriate, to ensure that 
margins can be maintained. 

In turn, it is anticipated that this proposed legislation will stagnate 
some of the QROPS market in Gibraltar and Malta, and that this will 
lead to some consolidation in the marketplace. STM, with strong 
cash balances, would be well placed to capitalise on this opportunity.

In relation to the LCH acquisition, management expectations are 
that the full integration will be achieved during the course of 
2017, achieving the synergy benefits and, in turn, resulting in a 
solid and steady profit contributor to the Group.

The Board remains focussed on bringing new products to market, 
and the shortly-to-be launched Australian product will bring 
about a further revenue stream, unaffected by the UK Spring 
Budget proposals.

The main Board and senior management appointments made 
in 2016 strengthen the Group’s focus on risk management and 
service level functionality. As the business continues to grow, 
the Board is conscious of the necessity to ensure sufficient 
management bandwidth to maintain corporate governance 
standards, as well as striving for excellence in our service levels 
for all stakeholders. 

STM is an ambitious business with a growth strategy and first 
mover advantage in some relatively untapped markets. The STM 
management team is conscious that the market expectations 
for 2017 will come down from the previous significant uplift in 
profitability anticipated, but management are confident that there 
will continue to be growth in profitability in 2017. 

I look forward to updating the market on our achievements 
during the course of the year.

Alan Kentish

Alan Kentish

Chief Executive Officer
14 March 2017

15

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016The Directors of STM Group Plc present 
their Report for the year to 31 December 
2016 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 24 May 2017. 

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  profit  for  the  year  of  £2,655,000 
(2015: £2,255,000) has been transferred 
to reserves.

In respect of the year ended 31 December 
2016 an interim dividend of 0.5p per share 
was  paid  in  November  2016  and  the 
Directors recommend that a final dividend 
of 1.0p per share be paid in June 2017. 
For the year ended 31 December 2015 a 
final dividend of 0.9p per share was paid 
in June 2016. 

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:

Alan Roy Kentish 
Michael Ross Riddell 
Therese Gemma Neish 
Colin Douglas Porter (Resigned 31 March 
2016)
Jonathan Shearman (Resigned 30 June 
2016)

Malcolm Berryman (Appointed 1 May 
2016)

Robin Ellison (Appointed 22 December 
2016)

Alan Kentish has an interest in 7,218,817 
ordinary shares – these shares are held 
in the name of Clifton Participations Inc 
and form part of the assets of the Perros 
Trust of which Alan Kentish is a potential 
beneficiary.

Therese Neish has an interest in 492,756 
ordinary shares.

Michael Riddell has an interest in 146,783 
ordinary shares.

As Malcolm Berryman and Robin Ellison 
have been appointed as Directors since the 
last Annual General Meeting, resolutions 
to  confirm  their  appointment  will  be 
tabled at the Annual General Meeting.

In  accordance  with  the  Articles  of 
Association, Alan Roy Kentish and Therese 
Gemma Neish retire as Directors of the 
Company at the Annual General Meeting 
and, being eligible, offer themselves for 
re-election.

POLITICAL AND 
CHARITABLE DONATIONS
The  Group’s  charitable  donations  for 
the period amounted to £7,400 (2015: 
£10,303).  There  were  no  political 
contributions in either period. 

INTERNATIONAL 
FINANCIAL REPORTING 
STANDARDS (IFRS)
These financial statements were prepared 
under IFRS as adopted by the European 
Union and interpretations adopted by 
the International Accounting Standards 
Board (“IASB”).

SUBSTANTIAL INTERESTS
Save as disclosed in the following table, 
the Directors are not aware of any person 
who directly or indirectly is interested in 
3% or more of the issued ordinary share 
capital of the Company as at 28 February 
2017  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 28 February 2017

CF Miton UK Smaller 
Companies

Septer Limited

Clifton Participations Inc and 
Alan Kentish
International Financial 
Options Limited
River and Mercantile Asset 
Management LLP

Miton UK Microcap Trust plc

KAS Bank NV

%

14.06 

12.79

12.15

6.31

5.64

3.56

3.55

It  should  be  noted  that  due  to  the 
regulation of various subsidiaries by their 
respective financial services regulatory 
body, shareholders holding more than 
10%  may  be  required  to  obtain  prior 
approval  from  the  relevant  regulator 
before being accepted as a shareholder.

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. 

ANNUAL GENERAL 
MEETING
The Notice of the Annual General Meeting 
to be held on 24 May 2017 is set out on 
page 49.

By order of the Board

Elizabeth A Plummer

Company Secretary
18 Athol Street
Douglas 
Isle of Man IM1 1JA

14 March 2017

16

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016MICHAEL ROSS RIDDELL CA
NON-EXECUTIVE CHAIRMAN
Michael is the Managing Director and 50% shareholder of Greystone Trust Company, which he joined 
in 2005. Michael is a Chartered Accountant and has a degree in Economics from the University of 
Victoria. Michael started his career in audit in 1982, and worked in Canada, Saudi Arabia and the 
Cayman Islands, and then worked in banking, funds, insurance and personal trusts in Canada and 
the Cayman Islands from 1991 - 2001.

ALAN ROY KENTISH ACA ACII AIRM
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
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 BDO Fidecs and set up its insurance management division, 
before moving on to the role of Chief Financial Officer where (in 2007) he oversaw the flotation of the business. 
Prior to becoming CEO in 2016 Alan held the role of Director of Product and Business Development, with a 
focus on driving STM’s suite of proprietary products and Group revenue. 

THERESE GEMMA NEISH BA (HONS) FCCA
CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
Therese  trained  with  KPMG  where  she  qualified  as  a  Chartered  Certified  Accountant  in  2003, 
having previously studied Accountancy & Financial Studies at Exeter University. Therese joined STM 
in 2003 in the Insurance Management division where she managed and sat on the Board of various 
insurance companies. In 2009 Therese became Group Financial Controller and was appointed Chief 
Financial Officer in January 2014.

MALCOLM BERRYMAN
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Malcolm is currently a Non-Executive Director at H&T Group PLC and Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust. 
He has previously been a Non-Executive Director of two life assurance companies and runs his own consultancy 
business primarily involved in life and general insurance. Between 1990 and 2005, he was Chief Executive of 
two insurers, Liverpool Victoria and Crown Financial Management. He qualified as an Actuary in 1983.

ROBIN ELLISON
NON-EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Robin is a practising solicitor and academic. He is a consultant with Pinsent Masons, an international 
law firm where he specialises in the development of pensions and related financial services products. He 
also acts for a number of foreign governments and government agencies, is a Director on the boards 
of several companies and is trustee of several pension funds. He was a founder of the Association 
of Pensions Lawyers and a Chairman of the National Association of Pension Funds. Robin is also the 
author of numerous books on pensions.

17
17
ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016BOARD OF DIRECTORS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 as adopted by the European Union. 

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 as adopted by the European Union; and 
prepare the financial statements on a 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. 

Director

Executive Directors

Alan Kentish
Therese Neish
Colin Porter

Non-Executive Directors

Michael Riddell 

Jonathan Shearman 

Malcolm Berryman 

Remuneration

Notes

£200,000
£150,000
£62,500

£50,000

£18,000

£24,000

a,b

a,b

a,b

b,c

b,d

b

Notes
a.  The Executive Directors are also entitled to a bonus of £nil as at 31 December 2016.
b.  No Directors received any benefits in the form of either pension contributions or share based incentives.
c.  Greystone Trust Company Limited invoices the Company for the Director services provided by Michael Riddell.
d.  AmorethanD Limited invoiced the Company for the Director services provided by Jonathan Shearman.

18

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016The Board is committed to achieving high standards of corporate governance, 
integrity and business ethics. Under the AIM Rules the Group is not required 
to comply with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code issued 
by the Financial Reporting Council in September 2014 (the ‘Code’). The Board 
has taken into consideration the Guidance for Smaller Quoted Companies in 
the Code produced by the Quoted Companies Alliance and has taken steps 
to apply the principles of the Code in so far as they can be applied practically, 
given the size of the Group and the nature of its operations. 

The Board is responsible for establishing the 
strategic direction of the Group, monitoring 
the  Group’s  trading  performance,  and 
appraising and executing development and 
acquisition opportunities. During the year 
the Company held regular Board meetings 
at which financial and other reports were 
considered and, where appropriate, voted on. 
It has also held ad hoc meetings, as required, 
to deal with specific issues. 

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 and the Market 
Abuse Regulations 2014 relating to Directors’ 
dealings and will take all reasonable steps 
to ensure compliance by any employees of 
the Company to whom regulations apply. 
The Company has, in addition, adopted the 
Share Dealing Code for dealings in its Ordinary 
Shares by Directors and senior employees.

Ellison  and  the  remuneration  committee 
comprises  Malcolm  Berryman,  as  the 
Chairman, Michael Riddell and Robin Ellison.

The terms of reference for the audit and risk 
committee include the following requirements:

•  To monitor the integrity of the financial 
statements of the Group and any formal 
announcements relating to the Group’s 
financial performance, reviewing significant 
financial reporting judgements contained 
in them;

•  To  review  the  Group’s  internal  financial 
controls together with the Group’s internal 
control and risk management systems;

•  To monitor and review the external auditor’s 
independence  and  objectivity  and  to 
make recommendations in relation to the 
appointment, re-appointment and removal 
of the external auditor.

The Board comprises two executive and three 
independent  Non-Executive  Directors  and 
the Board committees are comprised only of 
Non-Executive Directors. The Non-Executive 
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer have 
separate and clearly defined roles. The Chairman 
is responsible for running the Board and the 
Chief Executive Officer is responsible for the 
day to day management of the Group and for 
delivering the key objectives of the business. 

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 Board has established an audit and risk 
committee and a remuneration committee 
both  with  formally  delegated  duties  and 
responsibilities. The audit and risk committee 
comprises Michael Riddell, as the Chairman, 
together with Malcolm Berryman and Robin 

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

19

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016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  2016  which  comprise  the 
consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, the consolidated statement of 
financial position, the company statement 
of  financial  position,  the  consolidated 
statement of cash flows, the statement 
of consolidated changes in equity, the 
statement of company 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 as adopted by the European 
Union (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 
18, 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 
applicable 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.

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 
circumstances and have been consistently 

applied  and  adequately  disclosed;  the 
reasonableness of significant accounting 
estimates  made  by  the  Directors;  and 
the overall presentation of the financial 
statements. In addition, we read all the 
financial and non-financial information 
in the consolidated financial statements 
to identify material inconsistencies with 
the audited financial statements and to 
identify any information that is apparently 
materially incorrect based on, or materially 
inconsistent with, the knowledge acquired 
by us in the course of performing the audit. 
If  we  become  aware  of  any  apparent 
material misstatements or inconsistencies 
we consider the implications for our report.

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 2016 and 
of the Group’s profit for the year then 
ended; and

•  have  been  properly  prepared  in 

accordance with IFRSs.

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

14 March 2017

20

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME 

Revenue
Administrative expenses
Profit before other items

OTHER ITEMS

Finance costs
Depreciation and amortisation
Profit before taxation
Taxation
Profit  after taxation

OTHER COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

Foreign currency translation differences for foreign operations
Total other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income  for the year
Earnings per share basic (pence)
Earnings per share diluted (pence)

Year ended 
31 December 2016
£000

Year ended  
31 December 2015
£000

17,433
(14,318)
3,115

16,179
(13,078)
3,101

(87)
(273)
2,755
(382)
2,373

282
282
2,655
3.99
3.87

(147)
(249)
2,705
(409)
2,296

(41)
(41)
2,255
3.99
3.79

Notes

7

9

10

11

19

19

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

The notes on pages 26 to 48 form an integral part of these financial statements.

21

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As at 31 December 2016

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments

Total non-current assets

Current assets

Investments

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

31 December 
2016
£000

31 December 
2015
£000

Notes

12

13

14

14

15

16

17

17

20

21

889

18,544

792

20,225

4,239

1,214

5,193

11,869

22,515

42,740

59

22,372

5,231

27,662

1,070

10,708

11,778

3,300

3,300

42,740

837

16,832

708

18,377

—

1,809

4,193

8,036

14,038

32,415

59

22,372

3,614

26,045

1,271

5,099

6,370

—

—

32,415

The notes on pages 26 to 48 form an integral part of these financial statements.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 14 March 2017 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

AR Kentish
Chief Executive Officer

TG Neish
Chief Financial Officer

14 March 2017

22

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

As at 31 December 2016

31 December
2016
£000

31 December
2015
£000

Notes

ASSETS

Non-current assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Investments

Total non-current assets

Current assets

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

12

13

14

15

16

17

17

20

21

498

205

21,442

22,145

6,934

204

7,138

29,283

59

22,372

(3,144)

19,287

6,696

6,696

3,300

3,300

29,283

625

98

16,052

16,775

8,214

452

8,666

25,441

59

22,372

(3,097)

19,334

6,107

6,107

—

—

25,441

The notes on pages 26 to 48 form an integral part of these financial statements.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 14 March 2017 and were 
signed on its behalf by:

AR Kentish
Chief Executive Officer

TG Neish
Chief Financial Officer

14 March 2017

23

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

OPERATING ACTIVITIES

 Profit for the year before tax 

ADJUSTMENTS FOR: 

Depreciation and amortisation
Loss on sale of fixed asset
Taxation paid 
Unrealised (gain)/loss  in investments
Share based payments
(Increase) /decrease  in trade and other receivables 
Decrease in accrued income 
Decrease in trade and other payables 

Net cash from operating activities 

INVESTING ACTIVITIES 
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment 
Consideration paid on acquisition
Cash acquired on acquisition 
Acquisition of treasury shares
Increase in intangibles
Net cash used in investing activities 
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES 
Bank loan
Loan note repayments
Dividends paid 
Net cash from financing activities
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
RECONCILIATION OF NET CASH FLOW TO MOVEMENT IN NET FUNDS
Analysis of cash and cash equivalents during the year 
Increase in cash and cash equivalents
Translation of foreign operations
Balance at start of year

Balance at end of year

Notes

Year ended
31 December 2016
£000

Year ended
31 December 2015
£000

2,755

2,705

12,13

12

15

20,21

12

6

6

13

21

20

17

16

262
11
(583)
(291)
34
(472)
595
(1,154)

1,157

(204)
(4,235)
5,018
(45)
(113)
421

3,300
(300)
(832)
2,168
3,746

3,746
87
8,036

11,869

246
3
(199)
29
—
582
349
(506)

3,209

(66)
—
—
—
(68)
(134)

—
(700)
—
(700) 
2,375

2,375
(50)
5,711

8,036

24

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016STATEMENT OF CONSOLIDATED CHANGES IN EQUITY

Share
capital
£000

Share
premium
£000

Retained
earnings
£000

Treasury
shares
£000

Translation 
reserve
£000

Share 
based 
payments 
reserve
£000

Total
£000

Balance at 1 January 2015

53 20,828

1,583

(206)

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation differences
Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Shares issued in the year
Exchange gain on equity
Treasury shares purchased

At 31 December 2015

Balance at 1 January 2016

TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE YEAR

Profit for the year
Other Comprehensive income
Foreign currency translation differences
Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity
Dividend paid
Exchange gain on equity 

Share based payments 

Treasury shares purchased

At 31 December 2016

—

—

6
—
—

— 2,296

—

1,544
—
—

—

—
—
—

—

—

—
—
—

59 22,372

59 22,372

3,879

3,879

(206)

(206)

—

—

—
—

—

—

— 2,373

—

—

— (832)
—
—

—

—

—

—

—

—

—
—

—

(45)

59 22,372

5,420

(251)

(9)

—

(41)

—
(9)
—

(59)

(59)

— 22,249

— 2,296

—

(41)

— 1,550
(9)
—
—
—

— 26,045

— 26,045

—

— 2,373

282

—
(195)

—

—

28

—

—
—

34

—

34

282

(832)
(195)

34

(45)

27,662

Balance at 1 January 2015

Loss for the year
Shares issued in year
Dividend paid
31 December 2015

Balance at 1 January 2016

Profit for the year
Shares issued in year
Share based payments
Dividend paid
31 December 2016

STATEMENT OF COMPANY CHANGES IN EQUITY

Share
capital
£000

Share
premium
£000

Retained
earnings
£000

Share based 
payments
£000

53

—
6
—
59

59

—
—
—
—
59

20,828

—
1,544
—
22,372

22,372

—
—
—
—
22,372

(2,950)

(147)
—
—
(3,097)

(3,097)

751
—
—
(832)
(3,178)

—

—
—
—
—

—

—
—
34
—
34

Total
£000

17,931

(147)
1,550
—
19,334

19,334

751
—
34
(832)
19,287

25

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1. REPORTING ENTITY

STM Group Plc (the “Company”) is a company incorporated and domiciled in the Isle of Man and is traded on the London 
Stock Exchange AIM. 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 2016 comprise the Company and its 
subsidiaries as per note 26 (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”) 
as adopted by the European Union and interpretations adopted by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IASB”) and 
in accordance with Isle of Man law.

b. Functional and presentational 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 judgements, 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, assumptions and key judgement areas 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 3c – 

Note 3d – 

Note 3s – 

Note 6 – 

Revenue: a) the recognition upfront of 100% of first year revenues deriving from pension trustee and 
administration fees; b) the recognition upfront (and deferral of the remainder) of 50% of the annual fees 
from pension trustee and administration fees from the second year onwards

Accrued income: the recognition of income prior to the submission of an invoice based on the estimated 
amount recoverable for work performed before each year end

Contingent liabilities

Acquisition of subsidiary: fair value of the consideration transferred (contingent consideration) and fair value 
of assets acquired and liabilities assumed on acquisition – there is significant subjectivity in the determination 
of the fair value of the asset, if any, that should be recognised in relation to any life assurance book purchased 
as well as the fair value of any client portfolio asset recognised and any insurance technical reserves 

Notes 6 & 20 – 

Insurance technical reserve: this is calculated based on actuarial assumptions by the insurance companies’ 
appointed independent actuary and is highly subjective

Note 12 – 

Note 13 – 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment: depreciation rates used and the fact that they are on a 
reducing balance basis

Measurement of goodwill: the underlying assumptions used, and other critical judgemental considerations 
including the allocation of cash generating units, in determining whether goodwill has been impaired at 
each annual impairment review

Note 23 – 

Provisions: judgement applied in determining the conditions surrounding the debtors to determine whether 
there is objective evidence of impairment

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. Employee benefit trusts

The Company contributes to an employee benefit trust. It is deemed that this trust is controlled by the Company and is therefore 
included within the consolidated financial statements of the Group.

26

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

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

a. Basis of consolidation

i.  Subsidiaries

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The Group controls an entity when it is exposed to, or has rights to, variable 
returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the entity. The 
financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date on which control 
commences until the date on which control ceases.

ii.  Business combinations

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method. The consideration transferred in the acquisition is 
measured at fair value, as are the identifiable net assets acquired. Any goodwill that arises is tested annually for impairment. 
Transaction costs are expensed as incurred, except if related to the issue of debt. Any contingent consideration is measured at 
fair value at the date of acquisition and re-measured at each reporting date. 

iii. 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.

b. 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 statement of comprehensive income.

ii. Foreign operations

The assets and liabilities of foreign operations, including goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on acquisition, are translated 
to Pounds Sterling (£) at exchange rates at the reporting date. 

Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from monetary items that in substance form part of the net investment in its foreign 
operations are recognised in other comprehensive income and are presented within equity in the foreign currency translation reserve.

c. Revenue

Revenue is derived from the provision of services as described in note 5 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.

Revenue derived from pension trustee and administration fees is split between the Initial Fee and the Management Fee. In the 
first year of membership the initial and management fees are recognised in full at the time of processing the application so as 
to reflect the time incurred in accepting the new member and processing their application. In subsequent years a proportion 
of the management fee is reflected as income at the time of invoicing to reflect the timing of the work carried out for the 
member. The other proportion is amortised over the period to the next renewal date. 

d. 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. In terms of pension business the accrued income is based 
on the number of applications received but for which an invoice has not been raised yet.

e. 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. 

27

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

e. Property, plant and equipment (continued)

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 are as follows: 

Office equipment  
Motor vehicles  
Leasehold improvements    

10% - 25% on a reducing balance basis 
25% on a reducing balance basis
Over the life of the leases 

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 statement of financial position when the Group becomes party 
to the contractual provisions of the instrument. The Group classifies non-derivative financial assets and liabilities into financial 
assets and liabilities held at fair value through profit and loss and loans and receivables.

i. 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 at amortised cost. Generally, this results in their 
recognition at nominal value less any allowance for any doubtful debts.

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.

ii. Fair value through profit and loss

A financial asset is classified as at fair value through profit or loss if it is classified as held-for-trading or is designated as such 
on initial recognition. Directly attributable transaction costs are recognised in profit or loss as incurred. Financial assets at 
fair value through profit or loss are measured at fair value and changes therein, including any interest or dividend income, 
are recognised in profit or loss.

iii. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of financial position comprise cash at banks and in hand with an original maturity 
of three months or less.

iv. 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 and 
senior management within the Group, which have yet to be allotted to specific employees. The consideration paid, including any 
attributable incremental costs (net of income taxes), is deducted from the reserves attributable to the Group’s equity holders 
until the shares are cancelled or reissued via the Treasury Reserve.

g. Operating leases

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

h. Finance leases 

Assets held under finance leases are capitalised at their initial cost. Rentals are set against accounts payable on the 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.

28

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

j. Finance income and expenses

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. Product development

Product development relates to internal development expenditure incurred in the development of the Group’s new products. 
When these costs meet the recognition criteria of IAS 38 “Intangible Assets” they are capitalised and amortised on a straight-
line basis over a three year period from product launch. 

iii. 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 the estimated useful life. In the case of London & Colonial 
Holdings Ltd this has been assessed at ten 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 statement of comprehensive income.

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 which 
has an indefinite life, 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.

29

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

n. 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 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.

o. 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 year end and is released over the period to which it relates.

p. 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 transaction costs and the redemption value is recognised in the income statement 
over the period of the borrowing using the effective interest method.

q. 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 outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation, and where a reliable estimate can be 
made of the amount of the obligation.

r. New standards and interpretations 

The following new standards and interpretations (as endorsed by the European Union - “EU”) 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 14 
•  IFRS 11 
•  IAS 16  
•  IAS 38 
•  IAS 16  
•  IAS 41 
•  IAS 27 
•  IFRS 10 
•  IFRS 12 
•  IAS 28 
•  IAS 1   
•  Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2012-2014 Cycle - various standards

Regulatory Deferral Accounts
Accounting for Acquisitions on Interest in Joint Operations
Clarification of Acceptable of Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation
Clarification of Acceptable of Methods of Depreciation and Amortisation
Agriculture: Bearer Plants
Agriculture: Bearer Plants
Equity Method in Separate Financial Statements
Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception
Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception
Investment Entities: Applying the Consolidation Exception
Disclosure Initiative

(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 
(amended) 

In addition a number of new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations are not yet effective for the year ended 
31 December 2016, 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.

s. Disputes and potential legal matters

The Group may at times be involved in disputes arising in the ordinary course of business. In accordance with applicable 
accounting requirements, the Group provides for potential losses that may arise out of these disputes when the potential losses 

30

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)

are probable and estimable. Disputes in respect of legal matters are subject to many uncertainties and the outcome of individual 
matters cannot be predicted with certainty. 

t. Dividend

Dividends are recognised in the accounting period in which they are authorised and paid. The interim dividend is recognised 
when it is paid and the final dividend is recognised when it has been approved by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting. 

u. Share based payments

The grant-date fair value of equity settled share payment arrangements granted to employees is recognised as an expense, with 
a corresponding increase in equity, over the vesting period of the awards. Where awards have a market based performance 
condition attached the accounting charge reflects the expected achievement against targets and there is no true-up for 
differences between expected and actual outcomes.

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 applicable, further information about the assumptions made in determining fair values is disclosed 
in the notes specific to that asset or liability.

a. Intangible assets - goodwill

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.

b. 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 
which approximates its fair value at acquisition date. The carrying value of property, plant and equipment is measured at cost 
less accumulated depreciation and impairment losses.

c. Long term business reserve

The long term business provisions included in the Group accounts relate to the insurance companies and are determined by the 
Appointed Actuary. This reserve is calculated using assumptions based on factors considered by the actuary and the management 
believe this is equal to the fair value.

d. Investments

The financial instruments held are not traded in an active market and therefore the fair value is established by the Directors using 
valuation techniques which seek to arrive at the price at which an orderly transaction would take place between market participants. 

31

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

5. SEGMENTAL INFORMATION 

STM Group has five reportable segments: Corporate Trustee Services, Pensions, Insurance Management, Life Assurance, 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 assesses the performance of the operating segments based on turnover generated. The performance of the operating 
segments is not measured using costs incurred as the costs of certain segments within the Group are predominantly centrally 
controlled and therefore the allocation of these is 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.

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

Operating Segment

Pensions 
Corporate Trustee Services
Insurance Management 
Life Assurance 
Other Services

Turnover

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

9,229
4,366
446
2,806
586
17,433

8,587
5,050
523
1,399
620
16,179

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

Turnover

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

7,646
2,462
6,542
783
17,433

6,574
2,704
6,315
586
16,179

Geographical Segment

Gibraltar
Jersey
Malta
Other

32

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6. ACQUISITION OF SUBSIDIARY

On 21 October 2016, the Company acquired 100% of the ordinary shares and voting interests in London & Colonial Holdings 
Limited (LCH). 

LCH is a service-led independent financial services group with its head office in Haywards Heath, UK, offering SIPP products 
in the United Kingdom; Qualifying Recognised Overseas Pension Schemes (“QROPS”) in Gibraltar and a life assurance business 
in Gibraltar. The acquisition is highly complementary to STM’s existing business and strategy and will contribute to the growth 
of STM. It provides critical mass for STM’s life assurance business as well as establishing STM in the UK SIPP market, the 
successful realisation of an important strategic objective of the Company. It will also benefit from cost synergies, economies 
of scale and a good quality management team that has been retained by the Company. All of these factors contribute to 
the goodwill recognised.

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method. Transaction costs incurred on the acquisition total £88,549 
and have been expensed within administrative expenses in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Consideration for the acquisition is broken down as follows:

Initial cash payment 
Second cash payment
Contingent consideration

£000

4,135
100
1,150
5,385

The contingent consideration is payable within the first year following acquisition and is dependent on certain regulatory capital 
requirements being met and standard indemnities provided by the Sellers. Whilst it is not possible to determine the exact amount 
of the contingent consideration, the Group estimates the fair value of this to be the maximum amount payable, being £1,150,000.

The fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of LCH as at the date of the acquisition was:

Investments
Property, plant and equipment
Client portfolio
Product development
Cash at bank
Trade and other receivables
Insurance technical reserves
Accruals and deferred income
Trade and other payables
Total identifiable net assets at fair value

Fair value 
recognised on 
acquisition 
£000

Fair value 
adjustments 
£000

Previous carrying 
value 
£000

4,032
79
1,000
106
5,018
528
(3,305)
(1,907)
(701)
4,850

—
—
1,000
—
—
—
—
—
—
1,000

4,032
79
—
106
5,018
528
(3,305)
(1,907)
(701)
3,850

As at the reporting date the actuarially calculated insurance technical reserve was £2,805,000.

At acquisition the Group performed an exercise to identify the fair value of intangible assets acquired. As a result of that exercise, 
a client portfolio asset of £1,000,000 relating to the UK SIPP business London & Colonial Services Limited was recognised. In 
respect to the life assurance business acquired, London & Colonial Assurance Plc, the Group determined that the fair value of 
the assets and liabilities was equal to the carrying value. In respect of the intangible asset and the insurance technical reserve at 
acquisition date this was actuarially calculated by the Group’s Appointed Actuary. The intangible asset was valued at zero – as 
noted in note 2c, that fair value was arrived based on a number of inputs which are the subject of management estimation.

From the date of acquisition LCH has contributed £1,258,000 to revenue and £670,000 to the Group profit. £500,000 of both 
revenue and profit relates to the movement in the insurance technical reserve between acquisition date and 31 December 
2016. If the acquisition had occurred on 1 January 2016, management estimates that consolidated revenue would have been 
£4,118,000 and consolidated profit would have been £393,000.

33

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

6. ACQUISITION OF SUBSIDIARY (continued)

Goodwill arising from the acquisition has been recognised as follows:

Total acquisition cost
Fair value of identifiable net assets
Goodwill

7. REVENUE

Revenue from administration of assets
Total revenues

£000

5,385
(4,850)
535

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

17,433
17,433

16,179
16,179

8. LIFE ASSURANCE OPERATING SEGMENT
These consolidated financial statements include the results for STM Life Assurance PCC Plc and London & Colonial Assurance 
Plc, two 100% owned subsidiaries whose principal activities are that of the provision of life assurance services. The Companies 
have a licence under the Financial Services (Insurance Companies) Act by the Gibraltar Financial Services Commission to carry 
on linked long term insurance business. 

The financial statements for these Companies 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 £17,433,000 there is an amount of £2,806,000 relating to revenues attributable to the life 
assurance businesses. The financial performance and balance on the long term fund for each respective Company is as follows:

STM LIFE ASSURANCE PCC PLC

Technical Account – Long term business

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

Assets held to cover liabilities

Open market value
Cost

34

Year ended
31 December 2016
£000

Year ended
31 December 2015
£000

173,876
(23,245)
(85,268)
(3)
(63,574)
1,786

129,515
(17,415)
(47,679)
11
(62,749)
1,683

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

239,435
255,644

164,834
175,279

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

8. LIFE ASSURANCE OPERATING SEGMENT (continued)

STM LIFE ASSURANCE PCC PLC (continued)

Technical provision for liabilities

Balance at start of year 
Increase in technical provision for liabilities
Foreign exchange movement on liabilities
Balance at end of year

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

164,834
63,574
11,027
239,435

104,821
62,749
(2,736)
164,834

The provision for technical liabilities is equal to the open market value of the specified assets attached to all outstanding policies 
on the valuation date.

LONDON & COLONIAL ASSURANCE PLC
Following the acquisition of London & Colonial Assurance Plc their financial year end was changed from 30 September to 31 
December. Whilst the performance included in the Group results relates to the period since acquisition the information below 
covers the 15 month period to 31 December 2016. No comparatives have been provided as this was acquired during the year.

Technical account – long term business 

Investment income
Unrealised gain on investments
Other technical income - net
Net operating expenses
Change in long term business provision
Change in long term reserves
Surplus on long term fund

Assets held to cover liabilities

Open market value
Cost

Technical provision for liabilities

Balance at start of year
Increase in technical provision for liabilities
Effects of transfers from investment contracts
Balance at end of year

31 December 2016
£000

7,509
37,535
1,327
(1,133)
500
(45,043)
695

31 December 2016
£000

352,382
234,552

31 December 2016
£000

367,189
45,043
(59,850)
352,382

The provision for technical liabilities is equal to the open market value of the specified assets attached to all outstanding 
policies on the valuation date.

35

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

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

Wages and salaries
Social Insurance costs
Pension contributions
Share based payments
Total personnel expenses

Average number of employees

Group

31 December 2016
£000
7,078
396
110
34
7,618

31 December 2015
£000
6,353
330
61
—
6,744

31 December 2016
Number

31 December 2015
Number

Average number of staff employed (including Executive Directors)

173

163

Company

31 December 2016
Number

31 December 2015
Number

Average number of staff employed (including Executive Directors)

12

14

10. PROFIT BEFORE OTHER ITEMS
Profit  before  other  items  of  £3,115,000  (31  December  2015  £3,101,000),  was  arrived  at  after  charging  the  following  to  the 
income  statement:

Directors’ remuneration
Auditors’ remuneration
Operating lease rentals

11. TAXATION

Current tax expense
Release from prior years
Total tax expense

Reconciliation of existing tax rate

Profit for the year
Total income tax expense
Profit before tax
Income tax using the Company’s domestic rate - 0%
Effect of tax rates in other jurisdictions
Total tax expense

31 December 2016
£000
527
158
651

31 December 2015
£000
697
165
646

31 December 2016
£000
382
—
382

31 December 2015
£000
409
—
409

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

2,755
382
2,755
—
382
382

2,705
409
2,705
—
409
409

As at the statement of financial position date various subsidiaries had tax losses carried forward which are based on tax computations 
prepared and submitted but not yet agreed by the tax authorities. These amounts are not material.

36

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 201612. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

Group

Costs

As at 1 January 2015
Additions at cost
Disposals
As at 31 December 2015
As at 1 January 2016
Acquired through business combination
Additions at cost

Disposals

As at 31 December 2016
Depreciation
As at 1 January 2015
Charge for the year
Disposals
As at 31 December 2015

As at 1 January 2016

Charge for the year

Disposals

As at 31 December 2016
Net Book Value
As at 31 December 2016
As at 31 December 2015

Company

Costs

As at 1 January 2015
Additions at cost
As at 31 December 2015
As at 1 January 2016
Additions at cost
As at 31 December 2016

Depreciation

As at 1 January 2015
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2015
As at 1 January 2016
Charge for the year
As at 31 December 2016

Net Book Value

As at 31 December 2016

As at 31 December 2015

NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Motor 
Vehicles 
£000

Office 
Equipment 
£000

Leasehold 
Improvements
£000

12
—
—
12
12
3
15

(15)

15

10
1
—
11

11

3

(11)

3

12
1

1,543
66
(10)
1,599
1,599
58
189

(32)

1,814

814
118
(7)
925

925

136

(25)

1,036

778
674

876
—
—
876
876
18
—

—

894

633
81
—
714

714

81

—

795

99
162

Office 
Equipment 
£000

Leasehold 
Improvements 
£000

696
27
723
723
—
723

210
50
260
260
46
306

417

463

567
—
567
567
—
567

324
81
405
405
81
486

81

162

Total
£000

2,431
66
(10)
2,487
2,487
79
204

(47)

2,723

1,457
200
(7)
1,650

1,650

220

(36)

1,834

889
837

Total
£000

1,263
27
1,290
1,290
—
1,290

534
131
665
665
127
792

498

625

37

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

13. INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Group

Costs

Balance as at 1 January 2015
Additions
Balance at 31 December 2015
Balance as at 1 January 2016
Acquired through business combination 

Additions

Balance at 31 December 2016
Amortisation and impairment
Balance as at 1 January 2015
Charge for the year
Balance at 31 December 2015
Balance as at 1 January 2016

Charge for the year

Balance at 31 December 2016

Carrying amounts

At 31 December 2016
At 31 December 2015

Goodwill
 £000

16,727
—
16,727
16,727
535

—

17,262

—
—
—
—

—

—

17,262
16,727

Client 
Portfolio
£000

Product 
Development 
£000

—
—
—
—
1,000

—

1,000

—
—
—
—

17

17

983
—

215
68
283
283
106

113

502

132
46
178
178

25

203

299
105

Total
£000

16,942
68
17,010
17,010
1,641

113

18,764

132
46
178
178

42

220

18,544
16,832

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 2016, and reflects the 
difference between the identifiable net asset value of those acquisitions and the total consideration incurred for those acquisitions.

Goodwill arising on acquisition is allocated to the cash generating units comprising the acquired businesses. Given the level of 
integration and synergies these units comprise the jurisdictions in which businesses have been acquired as follows:

at 1 January 2015 and 1 January 2016

Arising on acquisition
At 31 December 2016

Gibraltar
 £000

15,280

535
15,815

Spain
£000

470

—
470

Jersey 
£000

977

—
977

Total
£000

16,727

535
17,262

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment with the recoverable amount being determined from value in use calculations 
which are based on Board approved projections. A pre-tax discount rate of 8% has been used in discounting the projected cash 
flows. The assumptions applied for turnover growth range between 0% and 5% for the various CGUs and have been arrived 
at using past experience and knowledge of the various markets and internal strategies for each CGU. Similarly for expenses a 
growth rate of 3% has been applied. 

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. 

38

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Product 
Development
£000

88
79
167

167
121
288

44
25
69

69
14
83

205
98

13. INTANGIBLE ASSETS (continued)

Company

Costs

As at 1 January 2015
Additions 
As at 31 December 2015

As at 1 January 2016
Additions 
As at 31 December 2016

Amortisation and impairment

As at 1 January 2015
Charges for the year
As at 31 December 2015

As at 1 January 2016
Charges for the year
As at 31 December 2016

Carrying amounts

As at 31 December 2016
As at 31 December 2015

14. Investments 

GROUP – OTHER INVESTMENTS
Investments relate to £792,000 (2015: £708,000) of UK Government Gilts and £4,239,000 in a discretionary portfolio managed 
by SG Hambros. This is low risk conservative investing predominately in sterling high grade corporate bonds with limited 
duration risk. The UK Government Gilts pay coupons of 4.75% and 4.25% per annum and mature on 7 December 2030 and 
7 September 2039.

These investments have been classified as Level 2 as their value has been based on significant other observable inputs available.

COMPANY – INVESTMENTS IN SUBSIDIARIES

Acquisitions of the Company

Shares in Group undertakings 
Balance at start of year
Investment in new subsidiaries 
Acquisitions 
Balance at end of year

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

16,052
5
5,385
21,442

16,052
—
—
16,052

39

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

15. TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

Group

Trade receivables
Other receivables
Total

Company

Receivables due from related parties
Other receivables
Total

31 December 2016
£000
3,397
1,796
5,193

31 December 2015
£000
3,102
1,091
4,193

31 December 2016
£000
6,588
346
6,934

31 December 2015
£000
7,970
244
8,214

Amounts due from related parties are unsecured, interest free and repayable on demand.

The Group’s exposure to credit risks and impairment losses related to trade and other receivables (excluding accrued income) 
are described in note 23.

16. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Group

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

Company

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

17. CAPITAL AND RESERVES

Authorised, called up, issued and fully paid

59,408,087 ordinary shares of £0.001 each 
(2015: 59,408,087 ordinary shares of £0.001 each)

31 December 2016
£000
11,869
11,869

31 December 2015
£000
8,036
8,036

31 December 2016
£000
204
204

31 December 2015
£000
452
452

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

59

59

Treasury shares
The treasury shares relate to those shares purchased by the STM Group EBT for allocation to executives. The trustees held 
641,902 (2015: 530,513) shares at 31 December 2016, amounting to £250,818 (2015: £205,776).

Share premium
There were no new shares issued during the year. During 2015 a total of 5,961,538 shares were issued for a total share premium 
of £1,544,039.

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

40

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

17. CAPITAL AND RESERVES (continued)
Dividends 
The following dividends were declared and paid by the Group during the year: 

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

1.4 pence per qualifying ordinary share (2015: nil)

832

—

After the respective reporting dates the following dividends were proposed by the Directors. The dividends have not been 
provided for and there are no income tax consequences.

1.0 pence per qualifying ordinary share (2015: 0.9 pence)

594

535

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

18. SHARE BASED PAYMENTS
On 18 May 2016, the Company adopted the Value Creation Plan (VCP) which provides long term incentives for the Executive 
Directors and senior management as appropriate. 

The VCP pays out based on 8.35% of the total value created for shareholders over the Performance Period in excess of the 
threshold share price of 60p. This excess is measured as the difference between the 30 day average closing share price of the 
Company following the announcement of the 2018 financial results plus the value of any dividends paid during the Performance 
Period and the threshold price. The Performance Period started on 10 March 2015 and ends one month after the Company 
announces its 2018 financial results.

Under IFRS 2, the fair value of any award needs to be determined at grant date and spread proportionally across the vesting 
period. The vesting date is the period from the date of grant (18 May 2016, when the VCP was approved by the shareholders at 
the Annual General Meeting) and the end of the Performance Period. Given the VCP has a market based performance condition 
attached, namely the share price threshold, the accounting charge reflects the expected achievement against targets. A Monte 
Carlo valuation was carried out to calculate this fair value using a share price volatility of 19%, risk free rate of interest of 1% 
and the share price at the grant date of 46p.

The charge for the year which has been recognised within the share based payment reserve is £34,000.

19. EARNINGS PER SHARE
Earnings per share for the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016 is based on the profit after taxation of £2,373,000 
(2015: £2,296,000) divided by the weighted average number of £0.001 ordinary shares during the year of 59,408,087 basic 
(2015:- 57,562,460) and 61,250,387 dilutive (2015:- 60,598,814) in issue.

A reconciliation of the basic and diluted number of shares used in the year ended 31 December 2016 is:

Weighted average number of shares
Share incentive plan (Note 18) / convertible loan note (Note 20)
Diluted

31 December 2016
£000
59,408,087
1,842,300
61,250,387

31 December 2015
£000
57,562,460
3,036,354
60,598,814

41

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

20. TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

Group

Loans from related parties
Deferred income
Trade payables
Convertible Loan Notes
Contingent Consideration
Insurance technical reserve
Other creditors and accruals

Company

Owed to related parties
Convertible Loan Notes
Contingent Consideration 
Other creditors and accruals 

31 December 2016
£000
—
3,730
436
—
1,150
2,805
2,587
10,708

31 December 2015
£000
26
2,618
263
300
—
—
1,892
5,099

31 December 2016
£000
5,323
—
1,150
223
6,696

31 December 2015
£000
5,570
300
—
237
6,107

Deferred income consists of fixed fee revenues billed in advance to clients which have not yet been earned as at the year end. 
These amounted to £3,730,000 as at 31 December 2016 (31 December 2015: £2,618,000). 

The Group’s exposure to liquidity risk related to trade and other payables is described in note 23. 

As at 31 December 2015 the Company had £0.3 million convertible loan notes (“Loan Notes”). The Loan Notes had a fixed 
term of 2 years from March 2014 and consequently were repaid in March 2016. The Loan Notes carried an annual coupon of 
7% per annum.

21. OTHER PAYABLES - AMOUNTS FALLING DUE IN MORE THAN ONE YEAR

Group

Bank Loan

Company

Bank Loan

31 December 2016
£000
3,300
3,300

31 December 2015
£000
—
—

31 December 2016
£000
3,300
3,300

31 December 2015
£000
—
—

During the year the Company took out a 3 year bank loan for £3.30 million pounds which pays interest of 4% above LIBOR. 
The bank loan is interest only for the first year with quarterly repayments thereafter and is secured by a capital guarantee 
provided by STM Fidecs Limited. 

42

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

22. 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
•  Regulatory 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 an audit and risk 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.

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.

b. 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. 

c. 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 object of market risk management is to manage and 
control market risk expenses within acceptable parameters, while optimising the return. The Group does not have a significant 
exposure to market risk.

d. Interest rate risk

The Company only has one bank borrowing at the year end, however the exposure to interest rate movements is minimal.

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 the assets and liabilities held by STM Nummos are in its functional currency of Euros (€). It has a further currency risk in 
relation to the expenses incurred in Malta as these are in Euros (€). This is mitigated by the fact that clients are invoiced in its 
and the Group’s functional currency of Pounds Sterling (£).

43

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

22. FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

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

f. Regulatory risk

The Group is subject to laws, regulations and specific solvency requirements in the various jurisdictions in which it operates. 
The Group has established policies and procedures aimed at compliance with local laws and regulations.

g. 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. 

Furthermore, some of the Company’s subsidiaries are licensed by the respective jurisdictions regulators and as such all comply 
with the regulatory capital requirements set by each respective regulatory body.

The Group manages its capital to ensure that the entities in the Group will be able to continue as a going concern, while 
maximising the return to stakeholders through optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The capital structure of the Group 
consists of debt, which includes a bank loan as per Note 21, and equity attributable to shareholders, comprising reserves and 
retained earnings as disclosed. The Board reviews the capital structure and, as part of this review, considers the cost of capital 
and the risks associated with each class of capital. In addition the Board of Directors considers the liquidity and solvency of the 
Group on an ongoing basis.

The Group monitors capital using a ratio of “adjusted net debt” to “adjusted equity”. For this purpose, adjusted net debt is 
defined as total liabilities, comprising interest-bearing loans and borrowings less cash and cash equivalents. Adjusted equity 
comprises all components of equity.

The Group’s adjusted net debt to equity ratio at 31 December 2016 was 0.12. Net debt compared to equity at 31 December 
2016 was as follows:

Total Liabilities 
Less: cash and cash equivalents
Adjusted new debt
Total equity and adjusted equity
Adjusted net debt to adjusted equity ratio

23. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Credit Risk

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

15,078
11,869
3,209
27,662
0.12

6,370
8,036
(1,666)
26,045
(0.06)

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:

Investments
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents 

Carrying amount

31 December 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

5,031
5,193
11,869
22,093

708
4,193
8,036
12,937

The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk on trade and other receivables relating to one entity or group of related entities 
amounts to less than 10% of the overall trade receivable amount as at 31 December 2016 and 31 December 2015.

44

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

23. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

Impairment losses on trade receivables
Impairment on trade receivables is determined by assessing the conditions of the debtors to determine whether there is objective 
evidence of impairment. Objective evidence that trade receivables are impaired include:

- Default or delinquency by a debtor;
- Indications that a debtor will enter bankruptcy;
- Adverse changes in the payment status of the debtor;
- Observable data indicating that there is a measurable decrease in the expected cash flows from a debtor.

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

Gross 
receivables 
31 December 2016
£000

Individual 
Impairment
31 December 2016
£000

Total
£000

Gross 
receivables 
31 December 2015
£000

Individual 
Impairment
31 December 2015
£000

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

970
434
489
2,243
4,136

—
—
—
(739)
(739)

970
434
489
1,504
3,397

543
759
357
2,142
3,801

—
—
—
(699)
(699)

Standard credit terms are 30 days from the date of issuing the fee note.

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

Total
£000

543
759
357
1,443
3,102

Balance at start of year
Impairment loss increased / (released)
Balance at end of year

31 December 2016 
£000

31 December 2015
£000

699
40
739

1,208
(509)
699

Based on historic default rates, the Group believes that no impairment allowance is necessary in respect of some of the trade 
receivables older than a year and those 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 Group holds sufficient liquid assets, including cash at bank, to enable it to meet its liabilities as they fall due. The following 
are the Group’s contractual maturity liabilities. The amounts are gross and undiscounted, and include contractual interest 
payments and exclude the impact of netting arrangements.

31 December 2016

Non-derivative financial liabilities
Trade payables
Loans from related parties
Bank Loan
Other creditors and accruals
Contingent Consideration 
Corporation tax payable

Carrying 
amounts 
£000

Contractual 
cash flow 
£000

6 months 
or less
£000

6-12 
months
£000

436
—
3,300
2,587
1,150
1,070
8,543

436
—
3,300
2,587
1,150
1,070
8,543

436
—
—
2,587
—
1,070
4,093

—
—
—
—
1,150
—
1,150

1-3 
years
£000

—
—
3,300
—
—
—
3,300

45

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

23. FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS (continued)

Liquidity Risk (continued)

31 December 2015

Non-derivative financial liabilities
Trade payables
Loans from related parties
Convertible Loan Notes
Other creditors and accruals
Corporation tax payable

Carrying 
amounts 
£000

Contractual 
cash flow 
£000

6 months 
or less
£000

6-12 
months
£000

1-3 
years
£000

263
26
300
1,892
1,271
3,752

263
26
300
1,892
1,271
3,752

263
26
300
1,892
1,271
3,752

—
—
—
—
—
—

—
—
—
—
—
—

Currency, interest rate risk and market risk
The Group has minimal exposure to currency risk and market risk. The net impact to the results on interest bearing assets and 
liabilities is also considered to be minimal.

24. 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 2016
£000

31 December 2015
£000

704
2,573
980
4,257

518
1,553
1,059
3,130

The Group leases a number of offices from which they operate, the largest of which is for Montagu Pavilion which runs for a 
further 7 years.

Finance Leases
Non-cancellable finance leases are payable as follows:

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

31 December 2016
£000
10
22
—
32

31 December 2015
£000
—
—
—
—

46

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

25. 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 2016
£000
505
—
22
527

31 December 2015
£000
697
—
—
697

Key management personnel and Director Transactions 
Trusts and related parties connected to the Directors held 13% of the voting shares of the Company as at 31 December 
2016 (2015: 16%).

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 £7,365 for the period to 31 December 2016 (2015: 
£3,160), of which £nil was outstanding at 31 December 2016 (2015: £nil).

Greystone Trust Company Limited, of which Michael Riddell is a Director, charged the Company £62,526 for services rendered 
during 2016 (2015: £72,114), of which £nil was outstanding at 31 December 2016 (2015: £210). 

AmorethanD Limited, of which Jonathan Shearman is a Director charged the Company £18,000 for services rendered during the 
period in which Jonathan Shearman was a Director (2015: £18,000), of which £nil was outstanding at the year end (2015: £3,644)

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. 

As at 31 December 2016 the Group owed Fiander Properties Limited, a company related to the Group by virtue of common 
ownership £100,602 (2015: £100,602).

During the year the Company charged STM Fidecs Life, Health and Pensions Limited a head office charge of £nil (2015: £117,591). 
The company also received dividends of £2,054,009 (2015: £1,985,222) from STM Malta Limited and £875,000 (2015: £nil) 
from STM Fidecs Limited.

47

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

26. GROUP ENTITIES
Principal subsidiaries 
As at 31 December 2016 the Company owned the following subsidiaries which are regarded as the principal trading operations 
of the Group.

Group

Country of 
incorporation

31 December 
2016

31 December 
2015

Activity

STM Fidecs Limited

Isle of Man

100% directly

100% directly

Holding company

Ownership interest

STM Fidecs Management Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fidecs Insurance Management Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fiscalis Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fidecs Life, Health and Pensions Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fidecs Trust Company Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fidecs Central Services Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

Services and Administration

STM Fidecs Pension Trustees Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fiduciaire Trustees Limited

Jersey 

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Fiduciaire Limited

STM Nummos SL

Jersey

Spain

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM (Caribbean) Limited

BVI

100% directly

100% directly

Intellectual property holding company

STM Life Assurance PCC Plc

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

100% indirectly

Insurance company

Zenith Trust Company Limited

Jersey

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

STM Nummos Limited

England

100% directly

100% directly

Holding company

STM Nummos Life SL

STM Malta Limited

STM Malta Trust and Company Management Limited

Spain

Malta

Malta

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

100% directly

100% directly

Holding company

100% indirectly

100% indirectly Administration of clients’ assets

London & Colonial Holdings Limited

England

100% directly

London & Colonial Assurance Plc

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

London & Colonial Services Limited

England

100% indirectly

London & Colonial Central Services Limited

England 

100% indirectly

London & Colonial (Trustee Services) Limited

Gibraltar

100% indirectly

—

—

—

—

—

Holding company

Administration of clients’ assets

Administration of clients’ assets

Administration of clients’ assets

Administration of clients’ assets

48

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016For the year from 1 January 2016 to 31 December 2016NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

IMPORTANT NOTE

THIS NOTICE AND THE ACCOMPANYING FORM OF PROXY ARE IMPORTANT AND REQUIRE YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. 
If you are in any doubt as to what action you should take, you are recommended to seek your own financial advice immediately 
from your stockbroker, bank manager, solicitor, accountant or other professional adviser authorised under the Financial Services and 
Markets Act 2000 if you are in the United Kingdom or, if you are resident outside the United Kingdom, from another appropriately 
qualified financial adviser.
If you have sold or transferred all of your shares, please forward this Notice together with the accompanying Form of Proxy, as soon 
as possible to the purchaser or transferee or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through whom the sale or transfer was effected 
for delivery to the purchaser or transferee.

STM Group Plc (the “Company”)
Notice of Annual General Meeting
Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held on 24 May 2017 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 2016 and the reports of the Directors and auditors 

thereon be received.

2.  THAT the final dividend of 1p per share recommended by the Directors be declared to be payable on 
28 June 2017 to shareholders registered at the close of business on 2 June 2017, the ex-dividend date 
of the shares is 1 June 2017.

3.  THAT the appointment as Director of the Company of Malcolm Berryman, who has been appointed 
as Director during the period since the last AGM, be confirmed in accordance with article 83 of the 
Company’s Articles of Association (the “Articles”).

4.  THAT the appointment as Director of the Company of Robin Ellison, who has been appointed as Director 
during the period since the last AGM, be confirmed in accordance with article 83 of the Articles.

5.  THAT Alan Roy Kentish who has retired from office by rotation in accordance with article 88 of the 

Articles, be reappointed as a Director of the Company.

6.  THAT Therese Gemma Neish who has retired from office by rotation in accordance with article 88 of 

the Articles, be reappointed as a Director of the Company.

7.  THAT KPMG Audit LLC be reappointed 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 2018

8.  THAT the Directors be authorised to allot Ordinary Shares for cash as if the restrictions at Article 7.1 
(Pre-emption) of the Articles do not apply to such allotment, provided such allotment or allotments 
are limited to the allotment of Ordinary Shares up to an aggregate nominal amount equal to 10 per 
cent of the aggregate nominal amount of all the Ordinary Shares in issue as of the date of passing this 
resolution, which would amount to a maximum of 5,940,808 Ordinary Shares, such authority to expire 
at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company after passing of this resolution 
(the “First Period”) save that the Company may before the expiry of the First Period make an offer or 
agreement which would or might require Ordinary Shares to be allotted after such expiry of the First 
Period (as the case may be) and the Directors of the Company may allot Ordinary Shares in pursuance 
of such offer or agreement as if their authority conferred hereby had not expired

Special Resolution

By order of the Board

Elizabeth A. P lummer
Elizabeth A Plummer
Company Secretary
18 Athol Street, Douglas
Isle of Man, IM1 1JA
14 March 2017

Notes:
Resolutions 1 to 7 are to be proposed as Ordinary Resolutions. Resolution 8 is to be proposed as a Special Resolution requiring the approval of (i) on a show of hands a majority of not less than 
75 per cent of such members as are present and voting at the relevant meeting and are entitled under the Articles to vote on a show of hands; or (ii) on a poll members of the Company holding 
not less than 75 per cent of the voting rights attributable to the shares held by the members present and voting at the relevant meeting and entitled under these Articles to vote on a poll.

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 11:00 am on 22 
May 2017 (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 11:00am on 22 May 
2017 (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. 

49

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2016Company Details

Advisers

Auditors 

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

Registered Office 
18 Athol Street 
Douglas 
Isle of Man IM1 1JA 

T +44 (0)1624 626 242 

Company Number 
005398V

Company Secretary 
Elizabeth Anne Plummer 
FCA TEP CTA 

Registrars and CREST
Service Provider 
Computershare Investor 
Services (Jersey) Limited 
Queensway House 
Hilgrove 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 
Dougherty Quinn
The Chambers 
5 Mount Pleasant
Douglas
Isle of Man
IM1 2PU

COMPANY INFORMATION

CORPORATE

Directors

Michael Ross Riddell CA 
Non-Executive Chairman 

Alan Roy Kentish ACA ACII AIRM 
Chief Executive Officer

Therese Gemma Neish BA (Hons) FCCA 
Chief Financial Officer

Malcolm Berryman
Non-Executive Director

Robin Ellison
Non-Executive Director

50

ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS 2015

•
STM GROUP PLC
18 aThol STreeT 
douGlaS
iSle oF man
im1 1ja

T +44 (0)1624 626 242

www.stmgroupplc.com
info@stmgroupplc.com

• 
STM FIDECS
Po Box 575
monTaGu Pavilion
8-10 queenSway
GiBralTar

T +350 200 42686
F +350 200 42701

info@stmfidecs.gi

•
STM MALTA
San Gwakkin BuildinG, 
level 1, Triq iS-SaliB Tal-imriehel 
Bkr3000, mriehel
malTa

T +356 213 33 210
F +356 213 33 220

info@stmmalta.com

• 
STM FIDUCIAIRE
3rd Floor, windward houSe
la rouTe de la liBeraTion
ST helier
jerSey JE2 3BQ
Channel iSlandS

T +44 (0)1534 837 600
F +44 (0)1534 837 601

info@stmfiduciaire.je

• 
LONDON & COLONIAL
roCkwood houSe, 9-17 
PerrymounT road, haywardS heaTh, 
weST SuSSex rh16 3Tw, 
uniTed kinGdom

T: +44 (0)203  479 5505

www.londoncolonial.com
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