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Unitil Corporation

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FY2016 Annual Report · Unitil Corporation
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Current Year Performance 4

Performance since Inception 

Group Performance Summary 

Chairman’s Statement 

7

5

6

Investment Managers’ Report 

11

Geographical & Sector Split of Investments  21

TEN Largest Holdings 

22

Review of the TEN Largest Holdings 23

Strategic Report and Business Review 

28

Investment Managers and Team 

36

Directors 

38

Report of the Directors 

Corporate Governance 

39

51

Capital Structure  54

Directors’ Remuneration Report 

56

Audit Committee Report  60

Directors’ Statement of Responsibilities 

64

Report of the Independent Auditor  65

Group Income Statement  69

Company Income Statement 

70

Group Statement of Changes in Equity 

Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

71

72

Balance Sheets  73

Statements of Cash Flows  74

Notes to the Accounts 

1.  Accounting Policies 

75

75

2. 

3. 

Investment And Other Income  78

Income not receivable 78

4.  Management And Administration Fees  78

5.  Other Expenses 

5A.  Auditor’s Remuneration 

80

6.  Finance Costs 

7. 

 Taxation 

81

9.  Dividends 

82

10.  Investments  82

8.  Earnings Per Ordinary Share  81

11.  Subsidiary Undertakings 

84

12.  Other Receivables 

85

13.  Derivative Financial Instruments 

14.  Loans – Current Liability 

87

15.  Other Payables 

87

16.  Zero Dividend Preference Shares 

17.  Bank Loans – Non-current liability 

18.  Ordinary Share Capital 

19.  Share Premium Account 

20.  Special Reserve 

21.  Non-Distributable Reserve 

90

90

91

22.  Capital Reserves 

23.  Revenue Reserve 

80

81

90

91

92

86

87

89

26.  Ultimate Parent Undertaking  93

27.  Related Party Transactions 

93

28.  Operating Segments  94

29.  Going concern 

94

30.  Financial Risk Management 

95

32.   Post balance sheet events 

102

Notice of Annual General Meeting  103

Company Information 

Historical Performance  

106

107

24.  Net Asset Value Per Ordinary Share 

92

25.  Reconciliation Of Total Return Before Tax To Net Cash Inflow From Operating Activities 

92

31.  Alternative investment Fund Managers Directive (“AIMFD”) 101

2016

REPORT AND ACCOUNTS

2

OVERVIEW AND PERFORMANCE

4 

5 

Current Year Performance 

Performance since Inception 

6   Group Performance Summary

7   Chairman’s Statement

STRATEGIC REPORT AND INVESTMENTS

11  

Investment Managers’ Report

21   Geographical and Sector Split of Investments

22  Ten Largest Investments

28   Strategic Report and Business Review

36  

Investment Managers and Team

GOVERNANCE

38   Directors

39   Report of the Directors

51   Corporate Governance

54  Capital Structure

56   Directors’ Remuneration Report

60   Audit Committee Report

64   Directors’ Statement of Responsibilities

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

65   Report of the Independent Auditor

69   Accounts

75  Notes to the Accounts

OTHER

103  Notice of Annual General Meeting

106  Company Information

107  Historical Performance

1

CONTENTS 
 
 
 
 
UIL LIMITED

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE

UIL  Limited’s  investment  objective 
is to maximise shareholder returns 
by  identifying  and  investing  in 
investments  worldwide  where  the 
underlying  value  is  not  reflected  in 
the market price. 

NATURE OF THE COMPANY
UIL  Limited  (formerly  Utilico  Investments  Limited)  (“UIL”  or  the  “Company”)  is  a  Bermuda  exempted  company 

incorporated with limited liability. The Company is a closed end investment company, whose ordinary shares are listed 

on the premium segment of the Official List of the Financial Conduct Authority and are traded on the Main Market of 

the London Stock Exchange. The business of the Company consists of investing the pooled funds of its shareholders 

in accordance with its investment objective and policy, generating a return for shareholders and spreading the 

investment risk. The Company has borrowings and gearing is also provided via zero dividend preference (“ZDP”) 

shares, issued by UIL Finance Limited (“UIL Finance”), the proceeds from which can also be invested with the aim 

of enhancing returns to shareholders. This gearing increases the potential risk to ordinary shareholders should the 

value of the investments fall. The joint portfolio managers of the Company are ICM Investment Management Limited 

(“ICMIM”) and ICM Limited (“ICM”), together referred to as the “Investment Managers”.

The Company’s shares are traded on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange.

The Company’s ordinary shares and ZDP shares can be held in an individual savings account (“ISA”).

The Company’s shares qualify to be considered as a mainstream investment product suitable for ordinary 

retail investors. 

2

 
GEOGRAPHICAL INVESTMENT EXPOSURE

FINANCIAL CALENDAR
FINANCIAL CALENDAR

Year end

30 June

Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)

16 November 2016

Half year

31 December

Quarterly dividends, payable in

September, December, March and June

Q4 interim dividend – Ex-dividend

– Paid

8 September 2016
28 September 2016

FORWARD–LOOKING STATEMENTS
This annual report may contain “forward-looking statements” with respect to the financial condition, results of operations and business of the Company 
and the Group. Such statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to future events and circumstances that could cause actual results to 
differ materially from those expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are based on the Directors’ current 
views and on information known to them at the date of this report. Nothing in this publication should be construed as a profit forecast.

Potential investors are reminded that the value of investments and the income from them may go down as well as up and investors may not receive 
back the full amount invested.

3

GEOGRAPHICAL INVESTMENT EXPOSURE 
UIL Limited
Report & Accounts for  
the year to 30 June 2016

CURRENT YEAR PERFORMANCE

   Net asset value (“NAV") total return of 47.1%
   Dividend per ordinary share maintained at 7.50p
   50.0m 2022 ZDP shares issued

TOTAL RETURN COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE*
June 2015 to June 2016

150

140

130

120

110

100

90

80

Jun 15

Jul 15

Aug 15

Sep 15

Oct 15

Nov 15

Dec 15

Jan 16

Feb 16

Mar 16

Apr 16

May 16

Jun 16

NAV per ordinary share total return

FTSE All-Share Index total return

*Rebased to 100 at 30 June 2015

Source: ICM 

Other attributes

•  Invested £47.2m and realised £65.4m

•  Gearing reduced from 124.1% to 101.6%

•  Bought back 8.0% of the ordinary shares at a 30% discount to the NAV

•  Gold mining has increased from 7.3% to 23.7% of the total portfolio 

•  Technology investments are 21.0% of the total portfolio

•  Unlisted investments are 14.5% of the total portfolio

•  Ongoing charges 3.3%

4

PERFORMANCE SINCE INCEPTION

UIL Limited

   Annual compound NAV total return since inception of 9.9%
   Dividends per ordinary share have increased from 1.60p to 7.50p

HISTORIC TOTAL RETURN PERFORMANCE*
from August 2003 to June 2016

350

300

250

200

150

100

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

UIL NAV per ordinary share total return 

FTSE All-Share Index total return

*Rebased to 100 at 14 August 2003

Source: ICM

ALLOCATION OF GROSS ASSETS (£m)
from August 2003 to June 2016

DIVIDENDS PER ORDINARY SHARE (pence)
from June 2004 to June 2016

500

400

300

200

100

0

Aug
03

Jun
04

Jun
05

Jun
06

Jun
07

Jun
08

Jun
09

Jun
10

Jun
11

Jun
12

Jun
13

Jun
14

Jun
15

Jun
16

 Ordinary shares 

 ZDP shares 

 Bank loans

 CULS 

Source: ICM

CUMULATIVE TOTAL RETURN COMPARATIVE PERFORMANCE (pence) 
from August 2003 to June 2016 (Rebased to 100 at 14 August 2003*)

350

300

250

200

150

100

50

0

12.0

10.0

8.0

6.0

4.0

2.0

0.0

2004

2005

2006

2007

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

Dividend per share – ordinary

Dividend per share – special

No dividends were paid between 2007 and 2010

Source: ICM

NAV total 
return of 
205.3%

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

UIL NAV per ordinary share total return

FTSE All-Share Index total return

*Inception of Utilico Investment Trust PLC

Source: ICM

55

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016GROUP PERFORMANCE SUMMARY

NAV total return(1) (for the year) (%)

Annual compound NAV total return (since inception) (%)

NAV per ordinary share (pence)

Ordinary share price (pence)

Discount (%)

FTSE All-Share Total Return Index

Returns and dividends (pence)

Revenue return per ordinary share

Capital return per ordinary share

Total return per ordinary share 

Dividend per ordinary share

ZDP shares(2) (pence)

2016 ZDP shares

Capital entitlement per ZDP share

ZDP share price

2018 ZDP shares

Capital entitlement per ZDP share

ZDP share price

2020 ZDP shares

Capital entitlement per ZDP share

ZDP share price

2022 ZDP shares

Capital entitlement per ZDP share

ZDP share price

Equity holders' funds (£m)

Gross assets(3)

Bank debt 

ZDP shares

Equity holders' funds

Revenue account (£m)

Income

Costs (management and other expenses)

Finance costs

Financial ratios of the Group (%)

Revenue yield on average gross assets

Ongoing charges figure excluding performance fees(4)

Ongoing charges figure including performance fees(4)

Bank loans, overdraft and ZDP shares gearing on net assets

30 JUNE  
2016

30 JUNE 
2015

CHANGE %  
2016/15

47.1

9.9

241.12

130.75

45.8

5,737

6.23

68.45

74.68

7.50

188.31

191.00

136.32

147.25

114.35

130.00

100.12

104.50

440.7

24.7

197.4

218.6

10.5

1.9

1.7

2.9

3.3

3.3

101.6

6.4

7.8

169.00

117.00

30.8

5,614

7.84

2.47

10.31

7.50

175.55

184.63

127.09

141.75

106.61

122.38

n/a

n/a

373.4

34.4

172.4

166.6

11.2

1.8

1.1

2.9

2.0

2.4

124.1

n/a

n/a

42.7

11.8

n/a

2.2

(20.5)

2,671.3

624.3

0.0

7.3

3.5

7.3

3.9

7.3

6.2

n/a

n/a

18.0

(28.2)

14.5

31.2

(6.2)

5.6

54.5

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

(1)  Total return is calculated as change in NAV per ordinary share, plus dividends reinvested
(2)  Issued by UIL Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of UIL
(3)  Gross assets less current liabilities excluding loans and ZDP shares
(4)  Expressed as a percentage of average net assets. Ongoing charges comprise all operational, recurring costs that are payable by the Group or suffered within 

underlying investee funds, in the absence of any purchases or sales of investments

66

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

I am very pleased to report in my first year as Chairman that UIL achieved a NAV total return 

per ordinary share of 47.1% over the year to 30 June 2016, outperforming the FTSE All Share 

Total Return Index by an impressive 44.9%.

Over the 13 years since Utilico Investment Trust PLC was launched in August 2003, which 

rolled into UIL in June 2007, we have distributed £47.5m in dividends, invested £22.0m in share 

buybacks and added net gains to our NAV of some £144.0m for a total return of 205.3%. This 

represents an average annual compound total return since inception of 9.9%, ahead of the 

FTSE All Share Total Return Index average annual compound total return of 7.9%.

In  the  first  six  months  to  31  December  2015,  we  noted  rising  market  divergence  and 

increasing volatility and we expected this to continue. In the six months to 30 June 2016 we 

have seen extraordinary volatility. Oil went as low as US$27.88 per barrel and gold rose to 

US$1,325.55/oz. The UK voted for Brexit and Sterling moved by over 10% in a single day. 

These movements have caused significant stresses in the financial system, with a significant 

proportion of the world’s government debt now yielding negative returns. The end outcome 

remains a deep concern.

A key feature of the year was Brexit and Sterling’s resultant weakness. Over the year Sterling 

fell against the US Dollar, Euro, Australian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar by 15.0%, 14.8%, 

12.3% and 19.3% respectively. This clearly benefited UIL’s predominantly long non-Sterling 

investment portfolio.

The  gain  in  UIL’s  portfolio  is  due  to  the  Investment  Managers’  stock  selection,  strong 

conviction in the investments and in remaining fully invested. UIL’s investments are driven 

by three core views held by the Investment Managers. First, the world’s financial markets 

are over indebted; second, technological change offers strong investment upside; third, 

emerging markets offer higher gross domestic product (“GDP”) growth opportunities. The 

Investment Managers are focused on finding investments at valuations that do not reflect 

their true long-term value. But the shape of the portfolio has been driven by these three 

core views. Resolute Mining Limited (“Resolute”) has offered real defence against the global 

quantitative easing (“QE”) financial response to global indebtedness. Touchcorp Limited 

(“Touchcorp”)  and  other  technology  investments  have  provided  excellent  exposure  to 

disruptive technologies and have delivered strong performances. Utilico Emerging Markets 

Limited (“UEM”) has demonstrated it can invest in the emerging markets growth through 

essential infrastructure and utility service companies. 

Our move to establish UIL as a broader based investor in 2007, with a consequent change 

in the mandate, has enabled the establishment of several investment platforms which have 

generally benefited from a sharper focus and more in-depth knowledge of segments of 

the market. It has also enabled UIL to benefit from ICM’s broader stock selection abilities.

UIL continues to invest in and develop its platforms: UEM (emerging markets); Infratil Limited 

(“Infratil”) (utility infrastructure in Australasia); Somers Limited (“Somers”) (financial services); 

Zeta Resources Limited (“Zeta”) (commodities); and Bermuda First Investment Company 

Limited (“BFIC”) (Bermuda centric assets). In addition, UIL has established a strong track 

record of investing in the FinTech and PayTech sectors and is looking to establish a “platform” 

I am very pleased to 
report in my first year 
as Chairman that UIL 
achieved a total return of 
47.1% over the year to 30 
June 2016, outperforming 
the FTSE All Share Total 
Return Index by an 
impressive 44.9%.

The gain in UIL’s portfolio 
is due to the Investment 
Managers’ stock selection, 
strong conviction in 
the investments and in 
remaining fully invested.

77

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016to capitalise on this position. Pleasingly the majority of our existing platforms have made significant progress over the 

last 12 months.

A negative of the platforms continues to be the discount on a discount. UEM’s share price on 30 June 2016 was 192.00p, 

a discount of 9.9% to the diluted NAV for UEM of 213.10p. A look-through valuation of UEM, Somers, Zeta and BFIC would 

increase UIL’s NAV by 13.4% to 273.50p per share. If the brokers’ look-through valuation for Infratil of some NZ$4.00 

per share was reflected in UIL’s NAV, this would increase the look-through valuation by a further 2.5% to 279.50p.

The discount encouraged the Investment Managers, supported by the Board, to buy back 8.0% of its ordinary shares, 

7.9m shares, during the year at 116.00p, at a then discount of over 30.0% to the NAV. These buybacks were significantly 

accretive to UIL’s NAV per share and earnings per share (“EPS”). Further buybacks need to be balanced against the 

need to maintain adequate cover for the ZDP shareholders and liquidity for the redemption of the ZDP shares when 

due for repayment.

During April 2016, UIL announced its proposals for financing the £90m redemption of the 2016 ZDP shares, due on 31 

October 2016. As part of this, UIL is seeking to reduce the absolute level of leverage and refinance the balance of the 

required funding with longer-dated ZDP issues.

UIL is on track to realise £27m from its portfolio and use the proceeds to redeem £27m of the 2016 ZDP shares on 

maturity, thus reducing the absolute level of leverage.

To refinance the balance of some £63m 2016 ZDP shares, UIL’s wholly owned subsidiary, UIL Finance, created a new 

class of 50m 2022 ZDP shares which were offered to the existing 2016 ZDP holders by way of rollover and to the market 

by way of a placing, both at 100.00p. Of the 50m shares, 28.1m 2022 ZDP shares were issued on the rollover of 2016 

ZDP shares, 12.9m shares were placed in the market for cash and UIL subscribed for the balance of 9.0m.  

In summary £28.1m of the 2016 ZDP share liability has been rolled; a further £27.0m will be repaid from realisations; 

and £34.9m will be repaid from the issue of longer dated ZDP shares. The 2022 ZDP yield to redemption is 6.25%, 

1.00% below the 2016 ZDP shares being retired. Going forward the blended finance cost is approximately 6.5%.

Since the year end UIL Finance has placed out some 10.8m 2020 ZDP shares at 128.00p per share, raising £13.8m and 

UIL took 3.2m 2020 ZDP shares onto its balance sheet. 

It is pleasing to see the ability of UIL Finance to place ZDP shares and for the ZDP shares to trade above the capital 

entitlement today.

At the time of announcing the ZDP proposals, UIL also announced its intention to buy 2.5m Somers’ ordinary shares, 

taking its holding to some 70.1% of Somers. This is to be funded by UIL issuing its ordinary shares in exchange for the 

Somers ordinary shares, both to be valued at their latest published NAV. This was subject to shareholder approval, 

which was received in June, and several regulatory approvals, one of which is still outstanding but is expected shortly. 

The ZDP share liability and bank debt rose during the first six months to £230.8m from £206.8m as at 30 June 2015, 

mainly as a result of share buybacks funded by bank debt. In the second half of the year to 30 June 2016 it has reduced 

to £222.1m and will reduce further on redemption of the 2016 ZDP shares. Our target in terms of the refinancing is 

debt to equity of one to one or better and we are on track to deliver this. Bank debt has reduced since 31 December 

2015 from £52.1m to £24.7m, reflecting portfolio realisations and ZDP share placing proceeds.

Scotiabank agreed to extend the £50m loan facility for two years to 22 March 2018. In addition, Scotiabank worked 

with UIL to structure a £25m bridging facility which may be drawn down for six months from the end of October 2016 

in the event that UIL is unable, due to market conditions, to place out the ZDP shares it holds or make the further 

88

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENTnecessary realisations to redeem the 2016 ZDP shares on their maturity on 31 October 2016. The Board is appreciative 

of Scotiabank’s strong and committed support for UIL. 

Revenue return was £5.7m, down on the prior year of £7.8m, a reduction of 27.0%. The decline arose mainly from 

a combination of total income lower by £0.7m and finance costs being higher by £0.7m due to the funding of the 

share buybacks. In addition, the increased finance costs reflect the borrowings in Sterling being switched to both the 

Australian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar, which carry higher interest charges but offer natural hedges against portfolio 

assets in those currencies. The revenue return EPS of 6.23p was down from the prior year’s 7.84p, a decrease of 20.5%. 

The better outcome at an EPS level is due to the significant buybacks in the year as there are a smaller number of 

shares in issue.

The Board maintained total dividends at 7.50p per share which represents a yield on the closing share price of 130.75p 

of 5.7%. Looking forward the Board expects to maintain the current dividend profile. Undistributed revenue reserves 

carried forward rose, due to the buybacks, to some 11.56p per share.

Management fees remained unchanged throughout the year to 30 June 2016, at the discounted rate of 0.25%. However, 

at the beginning of July 2016 the UIL NAV rose above the adjusted high watermark and, as a result, the voluntary 

management fee discount no longer applies and the fee has reverted to the historic 0.5% per annum, with effect from 

1 July 2016.

The current low interest rate and inflationary environment and UIL’s continuing move towards platform investments means 

the existing performance fee structure looks inappropriate. Under the existing performance fee arrangement, the hurdle 

would be 1.98% as a result of the lower interest rate and inflation outlook and the exclusion of platform investments 

managed by ICM would exclude over 50.0% of the portfolio. ICM considers the hurdle to be too low, the mechanism for 

excluding the platforms too cumbersome and the uncapped nature of the performance fee inappropriate. ICM voluntarily 

made a proposal to address these aspects of the performance fee to the Board, which the Board has reviewed and agreed. 

The key features of the changes are the introduction of a minimum hurdle of 5.0% on the performance fee benchmark, 

a cap on performance fees in any financial year of 2.5% of adjusted equity funds (net assets plus dividends paid in the 

period) and for the fee to be calculated on shareholders’ funds of UIL, reduced by a proportion of any performance fees 

due to ICM on other platform mandates held by UIL. The proportionate reduction will be calculated based on UIL’s year-

end shareholding in the relevant platform. ICM has agreed that these changes will not result in a higher performance fee 

payable by UIL cumulatively than under the existing arrangements.

The capital return was £62.3m, a significant increase over the prior year return of £2.4m. This reflects portfolio gains 

of £103.5m offset by losses on derivative financial instruments, mainly FX transactions to hedge the UK Sterling ZDP 

liability, of £22.0m. UIL ran a currency neutral debt liability position going into Brexit and Sterling’s fall of some 10.0% 

gave rise to much of this realised FX loss, even though it generated a significant resultant gain on the non Sterling 

portfolio exposure represented by shareholders’ funds.

Ongoing charges are 3.3% (both excluding and including performance fees payable by the other companies managed 

by ICM) (2015: 2.0% excluding performance fees and 2.4% including performance fees). These include operational, 

recurring costs payable by the Group and a proportion of costs incurred in other investment companies held within 

the portfolio. The 3.3% charge includes the reversion of the management fee to 0.5% per annum (from the reduced 

fee of 0.25%) and includes this year £0.7m of fees payable by Somers.

July’s stellar performance by UIL is worth highlighting, with gross assets being up by £73.0m and the record over 

13 years from inception in August 2003 to 31 July 2016 increases the NAV total return per ordinary share since inception 

to 255.0%.

99

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016OUTLOOK
The world’s economic outlook continues to be weak. The response from central bankers continues to be accommodative. 

However, the stress imposed on the world’s markets by such accommodative policies is imposing significant strains 

on  parts  of  the  market.  In  particular  exchange  rates  have  been  and  are  likely  to  continue  to  be  volatile.  In  this 

environment the world’s investors are driven to seeking out “yield” and risk is being overlooked. Any divergence from 

this “synchronised” global response is likely to cause deep dislocation and high volatility. Given this background we 

remain concerned about the outlook, especially for social and political divergence, as happened as a result of the Brexit 

vote. Our portfolio should benefit from a continuation of the current global response from central banks, which is driving 

up asset values and gold price; emerging markets and Fintech investments should also benefit. Should a rift emerge 

to the “synchronised” approach gold should benefit disproportionately. Our portfolio is driven by stock selection and 

continues to enable UIL and its platforms to identify niche investment opportunities.

Peter Burrows AO 

Chairman 

19 September 2016

1010

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENTINVESTMENT MANAGERS’ REPORT

UIL’s NAV total return of 47.1% for the twelve months to 30 June 2016 was a pleasing result in challenging markets.

As noted in the Chairman’s Statement, market volatility has continued to rise throughout the previous twelve months 

and markets remain difficult for investors. The effects of this volatility can be seen both in commodities and currencies. 

For the year to 30 June 2016, the price of gold was up by 12.8%, whilst oil and nickel were both down by over 21.0%. 

Sterling has been weak, especially post Brexit and was down against the US Dollar, Euro, Australian Dollar and New 

Zealand Dollar by 15.0%, 14.8% 12.3% and 19.3% respectively for the twelve months to 30 June 2016.

Sterling’s weakness benefited UIL’s investment portfolio, which has limited Sterling exposure, resulting in a strong year 

end rally in UIL’s NAV. Partially offsetting this were UIL’s £148m foreign exchange (“FX”) hedges in Sterling and bank 

borrowings in Euro and Australian Dollar, which resulted in liabilities increasing. The FX hedges were held to offset 

UIL’s ZDP share Sterling liabilities.

The stand out performers, especially in the last six months, have been gold mining companies. Resolute’s share price 

rose by 326.7% and was the top ASX 300 performer in the year to 30 June 2016. The other stand out sector in these 

markets continues to be technology and FinTech companies. UIL has benefited from its exposure to both the gold and 

technology sectors. 

UIL’s NAV also benefited from the 7.9m ordinary share buyback in July last year at a discount of 30.5%. The 30 June 2016 

NAV per share was improved by 10.0p.

UIL has continued its move towards core platform investments, which offer the following benefits:

•  Focused  strategy.  Each  platform  has  a  narrow  mandate  and  as  such  is  driven  by  the  need  to  find  and  make 

investments within its mandate.

•  Dedicated  research  analysts.  The  research  analysts  for  each  platform  are  focused  on  both  understanding  their 

portfolio businesses and identifying compelling investments.

•  The platforms can draw on UIL’s support and financial backing.

•  The  platforms  can  utilise  the  Investment  Managers’  wide  knowledge  across  many  jurisdictions  to  optimise 

investment opportunities and undertake corporate finance led transactions.

In short, the platforms have been set up to provide sharper focus leading to better investment opportunities and 

decisions within their sectors.

UIL INVESTMENTS (£m)
from 30 June 2011 to 30 June 2016

500

400

300

200

100

0

Jun 11

Dec 11

Jun 12

Dec 12

Jun 13

Dec 13

Jun 14

Dec 14

Jun 15

Dec 15

Jun 16

Listed investments

Investments in unlisted companies

Loans to listed companies

Source: ICM

1111

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016We first articulated the platform approach in early 2012 and today these represent 54.9% of the portfolio, amounting 

to £247.9m.

During the year to 30 June 2016, UIL made net withdrawals of £22.4m from its platform investments. Key realisations 

included £31.3m from Infratil, £6.1m from UEM and £1.1m from BFIC. Key investments were £6.6m into Somers, £6.1m into 

Zeta and £3.3m into Vix Investments Limited (“Vix Investments”). These investments are each reviewed in detail below.

It must be noted that UIL suffers a discount drag on the platform investments. The initial investments made were based 

on NAV. Following this, the shares in the platform companies have traded at a discount. As UIL marks these investments 

to market there is an immediate negative effect from investments made and this has muted UIL’s NAV performance.

As at 30 June 2016 there were discounts to published NAVs of 9.9% for UEM (some £8.8m); 19.3% for Somers (some 

£15.8m); and 41.6% for Zeta (some £30.3m). In addition, Infratil’s shares were trading at NZ$3.19 as at 30 June 2016, 

significantly below the brokers’ valuation of NZ$4.00, a discount of 20.3% (some £6.0m). Together this amounts to a 

discount on these investments of some £60.9m. Adding this back would see UIL’s shareholders’ funds increase by 

27.9% to £279.5m. 

A key driver in shaping the portfolio is the Investment Managers’ three core views. First, the world’s financial markets are 

over indebted; second, technological change offers strong investment upside; third, emerging markets offer higher GDP 

growth opportunities. The Investment Managers are about stock selection, remaining fully invested and are focused on 

finding investments at valuations that do not reflect their true long-term value, while being a supportive shareholder 

of investee companies. The shape of the portfolio has been driven by these three core views. Resolute has offered 

real defence against the global QE financial response to global indebtedness; Touchcorp and other technology owned 

investments have provided excellent exposure to disruptive technologies and have delivered strong performances 

and UEM has demonstrated it can invest in the growth of emerging markets through essential infrastructure and 

utility service companies. 

PORTFOLIO
The portfolio continues to move away from infrastructure and utilities with 27.4% invested in these sectors. The prior 

year was 39.4%. The big increases are in gold and technology, which both rose as a result of valuation uplifts.

As at 30 June 2016 the top ten investments accounted for 88.4% of the portfolio versus prior year 87.5%. It should 

be noted that for both sector and geographic analysis, we continue to present the portfolio on a look-through basis.

PLATFORM INVESTMENTS
UIL currently has six platform investments – UEM, Somers, Zeta, Infratil, BFIC and Vix Investments. Together these 

investments represent six out of the top 10 investments and account for 54.9% of the portfolio as at 30 June 2016.

UEM is UIL’s second largest investment accounting for 17.7% of the portfolio at the year end. In the year to 30 June 

2016, UEM delivered another solid result, achieving a total return of 7.9% significantly, ahead of the MSCI Emerging 

Markets Total Return Index (Sterling adjusted) which grew by 3.9%. The Investment Managers’ stock selection has once 

again been recognised with UEM’s performance being highly commended and it has gained industry recognition, with 

the fund winning the Money Observer Trust Awards 2016 for being the Best Emerging Markets Trust, for consistent 

superior three-year performance. UEM was also awarded the Money Observer Rated Fund Award 2016 for the second 

year running. 

UEM’s performance over three and five years to 31 March 2016 has again been significantly ahead of the Index, with it 

achieving positive total returns of 7.6% and 32.5% respectively versus the MSCI Emerging Markets Total Return Index 

1212

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS’ REPORT(continued)(Sterling adjusted) which had negative returns of 7.0% and 8.1% respectively over these time periods. The market 

environment continues to be challenging with most key emerging market indices negative over the twelve months to 30 

June 2016, with China a notable underperformer with Hong Kong’s Hang Seng Index down by 20.8% and the Shanghai 

SE Composite Index down by 31.5%. Emerging market currencies also continue to be difficult, although much of UEM’s 

strong performance in June 2016 was due to the sharp decline in the value of Sterling following the largely unexpected 

result of the UK’s EU membership referendum at the end of June. Over the year to 30 June 2016, Sterling fell by 15.2% 

and 9.4% against the Hong Kong Dollar and Chinese Renminbi. 

In the year to 30 June 2016 UIL reduced its holding in UEM by 7.9% with the sale of 3.5m shares, realising £6.1m.

Somers’ reported NAV per share decreased to US$17.03 as at 31 March 2016 from US$17.56 as at 31 March 2015, 

a decrease of 3.0%. Adding back dividends over the 12 months to 31 March 2016 the Somers total loss was 0.6%. 

Somers, a financial services investment company, is listed on the Bermuda Stock Exchange (“BSX”) and its share price 

has remained virtually unchanged in the 12 months to 30 June 2016, decreasing slightly from US$14.00 to US$13.75 

and the discount to the NAV has reduced to 17.7% from 25.4% last year. Somers is classified as an investment company 

under IFRS 10 and, accordingly, values its investments at fair value.

Somers’ two biggest investments remain Bermuda Commercial Bank Limited (“BCB”) and Waverton Investment 

Management Limited (“Waverton”). BCB reported total revenue of US$13.5m for the six months ended 31 March 2016 

(31 March 2015: US$13.9m). Following the acquisition of a majority interest in Private & Commercial Finance Group 

plc (“PCFG”) in September 2015, consolidated core earnings have improved with net interest income of US$14.1m for 

the six months (2015: US$6.1m). This improvement was offset by a reduction in BCB’s investment portfolio, leaving 

an overall net loss of US$3.9m for the six month period (2015: net income US$2.1m). As at 31 March 2016, the value 

of BCB’s holding in PCFG, on a mark to market basis, has increased by US$5.0m since acquisition and this unrealised 

gain is not included in the foregoing results.

PCFG’s portfolio performance and profitability in the 12 months to 31 March 2016 has outperformed management’s 

objectives. New business originations were £63m, up from £56m last year, while the car and commercial finance portfolio 

INDICES MOVEMENTS

from June 2015 to June 2016

CURRENCY MOVEMENTS vs STERLING

from June 2015 to June 2016

115

110

105

100

95

90

85

Sep

Jun
15
Australian Stock Exchange (”ASX”)
New Zealand Stock Exchange (”NZX”)

Dec

110

100

90

80

Mar

S&P 500
FTSE All-Share

Jun
16

Source: Bloomberg

Jun
15

Sep

Dec

Mar

Australian Dollar
US Dollar

New Zealand Dollar
Euro

Jun
16

Source: Bloomberg

1313

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016of finance receivables grew by 12% to £112m. The quality of 

PCFG’s loan book improved again over the period, while loan 

COMMODITIES MOVEMENTS 

loss provisioning continued to reduce.

from June 2015 to June 2016
120

Waverton’s assets under management (“AuM”) were £4.5bn 

as at 31 March 2016 (30 September 2015: £4.3bn). For the 

six months ended 31 March 2016, Waverton earned revenue 

of £15.8m (March 2015: £16.0m), EBITDA of £3.8m (March 

2015: £5.2m) and profit before tax of £3.7m (March 2015: 

£4.8m). The year on year financial results were impacted by 

a lower average AuM driven by weaker capital markets and 

increased property costs due to Waverton moving into new 

premises in September 2015. 

110

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

Ascot Lloyd Holdings Limited (“Ascot Lloyd”), one of Somers’ 

strongest  performing  investments,  had  assets  under 

administration at 30 June 2016 of approximately £2.5bn. 

Importantly for an independent financial advisory business, 

Jun
15

Sep

Dec

Mar

Jun
16

Copper
Oil

Iron Ore
Nickel

Gold

Source: Bloomberg

Ascot Lloyd’s recurring income has grown to approximately £14m on an annualised basis. For the six months ended 

30 June 2016, Ascot Lloyd reported unaudited revenue of £9.6m, profit before tax of £0.4m and underlying EBITDA 

of £2.4m. 

Zeta’s net tangible assets (“NTA”) per share fell by 27.8% in the year to 30 June 2016. Over this same period, Zeta’s 

share price fell by 55.0%, from A$0.40 to A$0.18. The share price discount to NTA at the end of June 2016 was 41.6%. 

Zeta’s investments in oil and nickel were affected by falls in those commodity prices, which were down over the year 

by 21.9% and 21.2% respectively. In contrast, the price of gold on a US Dollar basis was up by 12.8%. As Zeta employs 

debt capital, changes in the share prices of its underlying investments have a magnified effect on Zeta’s NTA.

Aside from Resolute (discussed below), Zeta’s three largest investments are an oil and gas producer, New Zealand Oil 

and Gas Limited (“NZOG”), Australian-based oil junior Pan Pacific Petroleum NL (“PPP”), and Australian nickel company 

Panoramic Resources Limited (“Panoramic”). In the wake of lower oil prices, NZOG has curtailed exploration and 

moved to reduce costs; in the year to 30 June 2016, NZOG’s share price fell by 15.5%. Similarly, PPP has also cut back on 

exploration and reduced costs; PPP’s shares fell by 19.4%. At the end of 2015, Panoramic decided to put its operations 

on care and maintenance rather than continue to produce nickel uneconomically; its share price closed the financial 

year down by 72.8%.

Infratil had, what its managment deemed to be, a “satisfactory” year, continuing to deliver on a commitment to 

realise value through asset sales. In the year to March 2016, Infratil completed sales of Z Energy and iSite Limited, 

disposing of its remaining 20% stake in the former for NZ$480.0m and its 100% holding in the latter for NZ$49.0m. 

The investment returns on these sales were particularly impressive, with the NZ$392.3m net gain realised on Z Energy 

equating to a 48.4% annualised IRR over 5.5 years and the NZ$27.0m net gain recorded for iSite Limited equating to 

a 30.0% annualised IRR over 6.5 years. As a consequence, Infratil’s net surplus reached a record NZ$438.3m, up from 

NZ$383.5m in the prior year.

Infratil’s underlying EBIDAF registered a 2.5% year-on-year increase in the financial year to 31 March 2016. Strong 

growth at NZ Bus and RetireAustralia offset a flat result at Trustpower, which remains challenged by low wholesale 

pricing and generation-overcapacity. While NZ Bus has benefited considerably from productivity-focused investment, 

1414

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS’ REPORT(continued)RetireAustralia has seen strong momentum in both sales and pricing, which has lifted profitability. Meanwhile, Wellington 

Airport delivered another consistent performance, with growth of 4.9% in earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, 

amortisation and fair value adjustments (“EBITDAF”) benefiting from a strong uplift in passenger numbers (domestic 

+4.6%; international +16.0%). Going forward, growth should reflect new investment in route development – with the 

airport now part way through a NZ$300m investment upgrade programme – and scheduled increases in aeronautical 

charges.

The divestment of assets over the past several years has left Infratil with significant capacity for capital deployment, 

with over NZ$1bn in cash and undrawn bank facilities available. Investments across a number of sectors, including 

renewable energy, retirement & elderly care, waste and telecoms infrastructure, are currently being considered. 

Moreover, the demerger of Trustpower gives Infratil the opportunity to deploy significant capital for the expansion of 

wind farm developments.

In the year to 30 June 2016, Infratil’s share price increased by 1.3%. UIL reduced its holding in Infratil by 60.6% with the 

sale of 21.5m shares at an average price of NZ$3.22, realising £31.3m.

BFIC’s share price was unchanged over the year to 30 June 2016. BFIC’s investee companies are beginning to reflect 

the improvement in Bermuda’s economy over the last 12 months as infrastructure projects in advance of the 2017 

America’s Cup start to benefit the island. Bermuda’s GDP grew in 2015 for the first time in a number of years and, with 

increased tourism and business investment, the outlook is benign.

BFIC’s two major investments remain KeyTech Limited (“KeyTech”) and Ascendant Group Limited (“Ascendant”). During 

the year KeyTech completed a significant transaction with the acquisition of the 58% of Cellone (one of Bermuda’s two 

mobile networks) it didn’t already own and the investment in KeyTech by ATN International Inc (“ATN”) of BM$42m, which 

has resulted in ATN becoming a 51% shareholder in KeyTech. As a result of this investment, KeyTech was able to pay 

a special dividend of BM$0.75 per share, to reduce its net debt and to bring forward some of its capital expenditure 

plans in both Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. Ascendant reported much improved results in 2015 with operating 

profit doubling. This was the result of stronger sales driven by the improving Bermuda economy and reduced operating 

costs. Ascendant has been working with the Bermuda Government and recently submitted an integrated resource 

plan which focuses on the energy future of Bermuda, including the potential conversion of generation facilities to 

liquefied natural gas.

As at 30 June 2016, BFIC had total assets of BM$25.2m and reported a net profit for the twelve months of BM$1.9m. 

BFIC shares were untraded on the BSX in the year, but remained quoted at a bid price of BM$10.00. As a result, the 

holding in BFIC has been moved from level one to level two. As support for the bid price UIL has looked through to fair 

value of both Ascendant and Keytech, its two significant investments.

Vix Investments is an unlisted investment company holding a number of unlisted investments in technology companies, 

primarily related to FinTech. The largest holding in Vix Investment is Optal, which provides payment solutions to travel 

agents, principally as an issuer of single use Mastercard numbers. This allows agents to secure and pay for bookings 

through the Mastercard system, using a virtual card number linked to an individual transaction.

In the year to 31 December 2015, Optal’s revenue was up to €81.3m and excluding disposals the profit before tax was 

up to €10.5m.

Two former holdings of Vix Investments, Touchcorp and DTI Group, listed last year and UIL now holds its share of these 

investments directly.

1515

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016DIRECT INVESTMENTS
UIL has four direct investments in the top ten: Resolute, Vix Technology Limited (“VixTech”), Touchcorp and Augean 

plc (“Augean”).

Resolute is UIL’s largest investment, accounting for 20.0% of the portfolio as at 30 June 2016 and is an Australian gold 

mining company. Resolute was the top performer on the ASX 300 in the twelve months to 30 June 2016. Its share price 

in the year to 30 June 2016 rose by 326.7% to A$1.28. This was a reflection of increased gold prices, a decline in the 

Australian Dollar/US Dollar exchange rate, and cost reductions by the company. A change in management has seen a 

shift in culture towards a lower risk, cost conscious business. This is evident in the move to underground from open 

pit mining at Syama and the early pre-payment of all of its longer duration debts, leaving the company with a much 

stronger balance sheet and a net cash position. 

Production in the year to 30 June 2016 of 315,169oz of gold was down on the previous year’s production of 328,684oz. 

Resolute’s principal producing assets include the Syama gold mine in Mali and Ravenswood in Australia. Gold ounces 

produced at Syama decreased by 6.8% to 209,617oz while the company focused on processing ore stockpiles ahead of 

development of underground mining, while cash costs rose by 3.8% to A$830/oz. At Ravenswood gold ounces produced 

rose by 1.7% to 105,552oz, largely in line with the previous year. Cash costs per ounce at Ravenswood increased by 

9.9% to A$1,033/oz, in part due to the processing of larger volumes of lower grade ore.

In the year to 30 June 2016 Resolute reported revenues up by 21% year-on-year, gross profits up by 135% and net profit 

after tax at A$213m versus a loss of A$569m in the prior year. At end-June, Resolute had cash and bullion on hand of 

A$102m compared to total borrowings of just A$27m. The A$15m convertible note offering which was completed in 

December 2014, partially sub-underwritten by UIL was converted and redeemed in June 2016. Net cash inflows for 

the year totalled A$139m and Resolute used a significant portion of that to repay debt.

During the year Resolute completed a definitive feasibility study for underground mining in Syama, with work expected to 

commence on development in September 2016. Successful development of underground mining in Syama is expected 

to extend the life of the mine by at least 10 years. Resolute has also completed a feasibility study to commence mining 

at the Bibiani gold project in Ghana. The results were positive, and Resolute proposes to undertake additional drilling 

in order to extend the study’s projected five-year mine life. Meanwhile at Ravenswood, Resolute is drilling with the aim 

of pursuing underground mining at Buck Reef West.

Resolute has provided guidance for gold production of 300,000oz at an all-in-sustaining-cost of A$1,280/oz (US$934/

oz) for the year to 30 June 2017.

VixTech is an unlisted company in which UIL has a 39.8% holding. VixTech is a global leader in smart booking, ticketing, 

payments, real-time information and data management solutions for large-scale transport networks, with a customer 

base of more than 200 customers worldwide. VixTech leverages more than 25 years of industry experience designing, 

operating and maintaining proven next-generation ticketing, payment and loyalty platforms to help governments 

and businesses manage around five billion transactions a year and create new ways to connect with their customers. 

Harnessing the latest technologies, VixTech now also works with major sporting clubs, mining communities and event 

venues to boost engagement, save resources and enable powerful data-driven loyalty and reward schemes through 

simple solutions that achieve measurable growth and increase customer satisfaction. VixTech has a long history of 

successful transit ticketing and payment solutions in regions including Singapore, Hong Kong, USA, UK, Sweden and 

France. VixTech developed the world’s largest payment central clearing house in Beijing before the 2008 Olympics, 

capable of processing more than 10 million passenger journeys per day. 

1616

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS’ REPORT(continued)Over the year to 30 June 2016, VixTech continued to deliver on its short term objectives to improve the quality of the 

order book, which resulted in a 29.6% increase in revenues. However, following management changes, VixTech is at 

the start of a transitional period to ensure that going forward it can operate more efficiently as a global, unified player. 

As a result, VixTech has incurred an increase in operating costs, resulting in EBITDA for the period falling by 68.0%. 

Management’s drive to expand geographically and increase its product offering continued throughout the year as it 

managed to secure a second contract with the Malaysian government authority, SPAD, to introduce a second transit 

ticketing system, enabling Malaysians in the near future to travel on bus, rail and monorail networks with one single 

smartcard. In addition, VixTech secured a contract with STIB, the Brussels’ transport authority, to implement a new 

transit ticketing back office system, integrating multiple bus, tram and rail operators and operating systems into a 

single core platform. VixTech’s pipeline remains robust as a number of opportunities are arising from major clients 

which should in the near future provide a solid sustainable uplift in revenue. The transitional period of making VixTech 

a more unified global player should result in the medium term in additional margin expansion which, if delivered and 

sustained, will result in a significant positive revaluation of the company.

Touchcorp is an Australian headquartered FinTech company, operating in Scandinavia, Europe, South–East Asia and 

the Australia Pacific regions. Touchcorp provides value-added products and services, including payment services, to 

retailers and to the providers of prepaid mobile phones, prepaid cards and to health and government organisations, 

through channels including the internet, mobile devices and retail agents (e.g. convenience stores, newsagents and 

petrol stations), as well as directly to consumers on behalf of product and service owners.

Touchcorp continued to exhibit strong growth with reported revenue for the year to 31 December 2015 up by 70.8% and 

pre-tax profits up by 27.0%. During the year, Touchcorp developed a solution for Afterpay Holdings Limited (“Afterpay”), 

a company that allows e-commerce website operators to offer their customers the facility to pay for their purchases 

in instalments. Touchcorp owns 30% of Afterpay.

Afterpay successfully listed on the Australian Stock Exchange in April 2016, with its shares advancing strongly ahead of 

the A$1.00 IPO price. Afterpay is currently benefiting from strong growth, with the number of customers, end users, 

transaction values and revenues more than doubling in the quarter to 30 June 2016 compared with the quarter to 31 

March 2016.

Augean is a UK-based company providing specialist waste management services across a variety of industries. Augean’s 

share price declined by 13.2% in the twelve months to 30 June 2016, despite Augean’s good financial progress. In 

its financial year to December 2015, revenues increased by 10.9% and EBITDA increased by 20.2%, underpinned by 

strong growth in the core energy & construction business. However, reported net income registered a decline of 

66.8%, impacted by a one-off asset impairment. Adjusted profit before tax was up by 12.1% and dividends increased 

by 30.0% on the previous year.

Landfill volumes handled by the energy & construction unit recorded an impressive 30.8% year-on-year increase, 

buoyed by increased activity in the construction sector. However, a decline in higher-margin air pollution control 

activities acted as a drag on the segment’s EBITDA growth, which, at 15.0%, nonetheless exceeded expectations. 

In contrast, Radioactive Waste Services recorded a sharp 26.3% drop in volumes and 13.0% EBITDA growth as it is 

dependent on waste material from nuclear decommissioning. The Nuclear Decommissioning Authority reduced the 

release rate through 2015 but management anticipate a strong recovery from late-2016 to 2017.

Augean North Sea Services proved resilient in the year to December 2015, recording 34.0% EBITDA growth, albeit 

on relatively weak 2014 base-year figures. It is, however, worth mentioning that results in the second half of the year 

were significantly weaker than those in the first half, but new contracts relating to production platforms, onshore 

1717

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016waste management and decommissioning, as opposed to exploration drilling waste management, are in line with 

management objectives to diversify the business away from oil-price dependent services. While the outlook for this 

segment is challenging, management are confident they can maintain profitability.

Following a recent review of the portfolio based on tighter parameters a number of investments have been moved 

from level one to level two as they are infrequently traded.

UNLISTED INVESTMENTS
Unlisted investments were valued at £65.5m, 14.5% of the portfolio, as at 30 June 2016, up from £56.6m (15.5% of the 

portfolio), as at 30 June 2015. In addition, UIL has made loans to listed platform companies totalling £30.6m, some 

6.8% of the portfolio, up from £25.8m, 7.0% at the previous year end. As these companies are listed, these loans are 

not regarded as an investment in an unlisted company.

Together the unlisted investments and the loans to the platforms are reported as level 3 investments amounting to 

£96.1m, prior year £82.4m.

FINTECH AND PAYTECH
Given our FinTech and PayTech performance and track record we are reviewing how better to achieve value from these 

investments to maximise our investment opportunity and the establishment of a platform may be the logical conclusion.

SECTOR REVIEWS
Gold Mining – 23.7%, prior year 7.3%
UIL’s largest investment in gold mining is in Resolute, which is held directly through UIL (20.0% of the portfolio) and 

indirectly including through Zeta. Resolute is reviewed above.

The gains in gold mining are all down to the value uplift of Resolute and the Australian Dollar versus Sterling.

Technology – 21.0%, prior year 15.7%
UIL holds a number of investments in the technology sector, both directly and through Vix Investments. UIL’s largest 

technology investment is Touchcorp, the seventh largest holding in the portfolio as at 30 June 2016, which successfully 

listed in Australia in March 2015 and is reviewed above.

VixTech provides ticketing payment solutions and is UIL’s fifth largest investment. VixTech is reviewed above.

Vix Investments is UIL’s ninth largest holding and has a number of investments in unlisted companies, principally in 

the FinTech space. Vix Investments is reviewed above.

Outside of the top ten, UIL holds shares in a small number of listed and unlisted technology companies which offer a 

range of software, hardware and specialist engineering solutions.

The technology sector grew mainly as a result of value increases.

Financial Services – 15.4%, prior year 15.1%
UIL’s largest investment in financial services is in Somers, which accounts for 14.7% of UIL’s portfolio as at 30 June 2016; 

Somers is reviewed above. 

Financial services saw some increase mainly through value gains but percentage wise was marginally the same.

1818

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS’ REPORT(continued)Oil & Gas – 9.6%, prior year 13.0%
UIL’s largest investment in oil & gas is via Zeta, which accounts for 9.4% of UIL’s portfolio as at 30 June 2016; Zeta is 

reviewed above.

Oil & gas declined due to strong downward pressure from weak commodities resulting in most investments declining 

in value.

DERIVATIVES
Equity: UIL continued to hold a modest market derivatives portfolio, mainly through S&P500 index options which 

resulted in a small loss of £0.1m for the year to 30 June 2016.

Foreign exchange: Currency positions within UIL’s portfolio made significant losses of £21.9m due to Sterling’s weakness. 

UIL has hedged a mixture of New Zealand Dollar, Australian Dollar, Euro and US Dollar. At the period end UIL’s forward 

currency sale contracts in place were for nominal NZ$71.1m, A$142.7m, €22.5m and US$36.3m. 

UIL has run a Sterling liability neutral policy and therefore hedged its predominantly Sterling liabilities with an appropriate 

mix of portfolio asset currency exposures.

GEARING
Gearing (including the ZDP shares) reduced from 160.4% three years ago to 124.1% last year and to 101.6% as at 30 June 

2016. Although debt has increased by £15.3m in the year to 30 June 2016 from £206.8m to £222.1m, there has been 

a significant increase in shareholders’ equity to £218.6m from £166.6m.

UIL has a goal of reducing gearing to 100.0% or below and this looks deliverable in the coming year.

ZDP SHARES
UIL’s wholly owned subsidiary, UIL Finance, started the year with £172.4m of ZDP shares in issue, including £83.5m of 

2016 ZDP shares due for redemption on 31 October 2016. 

As indicated in the interim report, UIL Finance created 2022 ZDP shares in the second half of the financial year. Existing 

2016 ZDP shareholders elected to roll approximately 15.0m shares into the 2022 ZDP shares, resulting in the issue of 

28.1m 2022 ZDP shares and a further 12.9m 2022 ZDP shares were placed for cash in the market. On a consolidated 

basis, there were £40.4m 2022 ZDP shares and £61.3m 2016 ZDP shares outstanding as at 30 June 2016. The ZDP shares 

outstanding in total rose to £197.4m, up by £25.0m of which £12.7m represents the ZDP finance costs and £12.2m 

represents new 2022 ZDP shares placed in the market. The £12.2m cash raised has been used to reduce the bank debt.

As part of the rollover and placing, UIL acquired 9.0m 2022 ZDP shares for investment purposes; on consolidation, the 

ZDP shares held by UIL are eliminated.

Since the year end UIL Finance has placed out an additional 10.8m 2020 ZDP shares, raising some £13.8m and UIL has 

taken an additional 3.2m of these shares onto its balance sheet, all at 128.00p per 2020 ZDP share. 

The ZDP cover has risen through the year and the yield to maturity reduced. This is a pleasing result. Further details 

on the ZDP shares is included in note 16 to the accounts on page 87. 

DEBT
Bank debt increased from £34.4m at the start of the financial year to £52.1m at 31 December 2015 and then reduced to 

£24.7m as at 30 June 2016, with the reduction arising from the proceeds of the ZDP share placing of £12.2m, as noted 

1919

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016above and portfolio realisations. The intention is to reduce the debt to nil ahead of the 2016 ZDP share redemption, 

with it rising to £50.0m on funding of the redemption.

Scotiabank extended the £50.0m facility to 22 March 2018 and also granted UIL a short-term £25.0m bridging facility, 

should it be needed, to help fund the redemption of the 2016 ZDP shares.

REVENUE RETURNS
Revenue returns were £5.7m, down on the previous year’s £7.8m, a reduction of some 27.0%, mainly as a result of a 

combination of total lower income of £0.7m and finance costs being higher by £0.7m. The total income reduced due to 

realisations to fund the share buybacks. The finance cost increase reflects the borrowings in Sterling being switched 

to both the Australian Dollar and New Zealand Dollar which carry higher interest charges but offer natural hedges 

against portfolio assets in those currencies. The revenue return EPS of 6.23p was down from the prior year’s 7.84p, a 

reduction of 20.5%. The outcome at an EPS level is due to the reduction in number of ordinary shares in issue following 

the significant buybacks undertaken in the year.

The Board maintained total dividends at 7.50p per ordinary share and this represents a yield on the year end closing 

share price of 5.7%. Looking forward the Board expects to maintain the current dividend profile. Undistributed revenue 

reserves carried forward are some 11.56p per share.

The ICM management fees were unchanged throughout the year to 30 June 2016 at the voluntarily discounted rate of 

0.25%. In July 2016 the UIL NAV exceeded the adjusted high watermark and as a result the management fee discount 

no longer applies and the fee has reverted to historic 0.5% per annum.

CAPITAL RETURNS
Capital returns were £62.3m, a significant increase over the previous year’s return of £2.4m. This reflects portfolio gains 

of £103.5m offset by losses on derivative financial instruments, mainly FX transactions to hedge the short UK Sterling 

ZDP share positions of £22.0m. UIL managed a currency neutral liability position going into Brexit and Sterling’s fall of 

some 10% gave rise to much of this loss.

Ongoing charges (both excluding and including performance fees payable by the other companies managed by ICM) 

were 3.3%. These include operational, recurring costs payable by the Group and a proportion of costs incurred in 

other investment companies held within the portfolio.

ICM Investment Management Limited and ICM Limited  

Investment Managers 

19 September 2016

2020

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS’ REPORT(continued)GEOGRAPHICAL & SECTOR SPLIT OF INVESTMENTS

GEOGRAPHICAL SPLIT OF INVESTMENTS

2016

2015

SECTOR SPLIT OF INVESTMENTS

2016

2015

COUNTRY

Gold mining

Australia

Bermuda

Asia

UK and Channel Islands 

New Zealand

Europe excluding UK

Latin America

Africa

North America

 % OF TOTAL
2016

2015

23.7

17.9

16.0

10.6

10.1

7.4

7.2

4.0

2.1

1.0

7.3

18.0

16.1

15.7

13.8

15.0

6.6

3.9

2.6

1.0

Source: ICM

SECTOR

 % OF TOTAL
2016

2015

Gold mining 

Technology 

Financial Services

Oil & Gas 

Telecoms

Electricity 

Water & waste

Other

Renewables

Airports

Ports 

Toll roads

Resources 

Infrastructure 

23.7

21.0

15.4

9.6

5.5

4.7

4.1

3.9

3.1

3.0

2.5

1.2

1.2

1.1

7.3

15.7

15.1

13.0

6.9

4.9

5.5

7.0

8.6

4.0

3.5

2.3

2.8

3.4

Source: ICM

2121

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016GEOGRAPHICAL & SECTOR SPLIT OF INVESTMENTSTEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

2016 2015

Company  
Description

5

1

2

4

7

3

6

8

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

Resolute Mining Limited

Gold mining company

Utilico Emerging Markets Limited

Emerging markets investment company

Somers Limited

Financial services investment company

Zeta Resources Limited

Resources investment company

Vix Technology Limited

Automated fare collection systems

Infratil Limited

Infrastructure company

Touchcorp Limited

Electronic payment services company

Bermuda investment company

10

Vix Investments Limited

Technology investment company

10

9

Augean plc

Waste treatment

Ten largest holdings

Other investments 

Total investments

2222

Fair Value 
£’000s

% of total 
investments

 90,368 

20.0%

 79,981 

17.7%

 66,370 

14.7%

 42,583 

9.4%

 29,052 

6.4%

 23,793 

5.3%

 22,712 

5.0%

 15,202 

3.4%

 9,736 

2.1%

 399,746 

88.4%

 52,451 

11.6%

 452,197 

100.0%

Bermuda First Investment Company Limited

 19,949 

4.4%

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS 
REVIEW OF THE TEN LARGEST HOLDINGS

RESOLUTE MINING LIMITED

www.rml.com.au
Market Cap A$842.5m

Resolute is a gold producer listed on the ASX with two 
operating mines, one in southern Mali and the other 
in  northeast  Australia.  In  addition,  Resolute  owns 
a  gold  project  in  Ghana.  Production  in  the  year  to 
30 June 2016 of 315,169/oz of gold was down on the 
previous year’s production of 328,684/oz and average 
cash costs rose from A$845/oz in the previous year to 
A$898/oz in the year ended June 2016.

The  first  half  of  the  calendar  year  2016  has  seen  a 
significant  rise  in  the  Australian  Dollar  price  of  gold. 
Prior  to  this  rise,  Resolute  had  focused  on  lowering 
costs. This focus on costs has meant the recent rise in 
gold prices has resulted in significant cash inflows to 
the company. During the period, Resolute repaid most 
of  its  outstanding  debt  and  ended  June  2016  with  a 
net  cash  balance  (including  gold  bullion)  of  A$75m. 
Looking  forward,  Resolute  has  completed  feasibility 
studies  for  underground  mining  at  Syama  in  Mali, 
development of Bibiani in Ghana and has taken steps 
to  increase  the  life  of  operations  at  Ravenswood  in 
Australia. 

The  gold  price  closed  at  US$1,326/oz  as  at  30  June 
2016, up by 12.8% from the prior year. During the year 
ended  30  June  2016,  Resolute’s  share  price  rose  by 
326.7%.

UTILICO EMERGING MARKETS LIMITED

www.uem.limited
Market Cap £406.0m

UEM  is  traded  on  the  London  Stock  Exchange  and 
invests predominantly in emerging markets with a focus 
on publicly-listed infrastructure and utility assets. 

In  the  twelve  months  to  30  June  2016  UEM’s  NAV 
increased by 6.3% on a total return basis, significantly 
ahead  of  the  MSCI  Emerging  Markets  Total  Return 
Index  (Sterling  adjusted)  which  grew  by  3.9%.  This 
return  reflects  a  solid  underlying  performance  from 
the  portfolio  constituents,  aided  by  Sterling  currency 
weakness  following  the  sharp  decline  in  the  value  of 
Sterling on the back of the surprise Brexit vote. 

In the year to 30 June 2016 UEM’s share price increased 
by 1.2%, while dividends increased to 6.40p per share 
from 6.10p as at 30 June 2015. 

UEM’s  performance  over  three  and  five  years  to  31 
March 2016 saw UEM achieve positive total returns of 
7.6% and 32.5% respectively versus the MSCI Emerging 
Markets  Total  Return  Index  (Sterling  adjusted)  which 
had  a  negative  return  over  both  periods  of  7.0%  and 
8.1% respectively.

2323

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016REVIEW OF THE TEN LARGEST HOLDINGSSOMERS LIMITED

www.somers.limited
Market Cap US$164.5m

Somers  is  a  financial  services  investment  holding 
company whose shares are listed on the BSX.

Its  two  major  investments  are  its  wholly  owned 
subsidiary,  BCB  (one  of  the  four  licensed  banks  in 
Bermuda)  and  a  62.5%  interest  in  Waverton  (a  UK 
private  wealth  manager  with  over  £4.6bn  in  assets 
under  management).  Other  investments  include  a 
diluted  44%  interest  in  Ascot  Lloyd,  a  57%  interest  in 
West Hamilton Holdings Limited and a 23% interest in 
Merrion  Capital  Holdings  Limited.  Post  the  year  end 
Somers completed an additional £1.0m investment in 
Ascot Lloyd, increasing its economic interest up to 49%.

Somers  reported  a  NAV  per  share  of  US$17.03  as  at 
31 March 2016 on shareholders’ funds of US$203.8m. 
As at 30 June 2016 Somers‘ market capitalisation was 
US$164.5m  and  its  dividend  yield  was  3.1%.  In  the 
year to 30 June 2016, Somers’ share price decreased 
by 1.8%.

ZETA RESOURCES LIMITED

www.zetaresources.limited
Market Cap A$18.0m

Zeta is an ASX listed investment company, focused on 
investing in resource companies. As at 30 June 2016, 
its  five  largest  holdings  were:  Resolute  (discussed 
separately  as  UIL  also  has  a  direct  investment  in 
Resolute);  NZOG,  a  New  Zealand  based  oil  and  gas 
exploration  and  production  firm  with  operations 
in  New  Zealand  and  Indonesia;  PPP,  an  ASX-listed 
oil  junior  with  an  interest  in  producing  oil  in  New 
Zealand;  Panoramic,  an  Australian  nickel  company; 
and Seacrest, an unlisted specialist oil and gas seismic 
exploration firm.

Zeta has a concentrated portfolio, having slowly built 
up cornerstone shareholdings in gold, nickel, natural 
gas  and  oil  companies.  Subsequently,  the  pace  of 
acquisitions  has  slowed  and  Zeta  has  focused  on 
adding value to its existing investments.

Having  been  funded  in  part  by  debt  financing  from 
UIL, in late 2015 Zeta issued UIL shares and options in 
satisfaction of some of the outstanding debt, in order 
to strengthen Zeta’s balance sheet. 

In the year ended 30 June 2016, Zeta’s net assets per 
share  fell  by  27.8%  and  its  share  price  fell  by  55.0%. 
The share price discount to net tangible assets at the 
end of June 2016 was 41.6%.

2424

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REVIEW OF THE TEN LARGEST HOLDINGSVIX TECHNOLOGY

www.vixtechnology.com
unlisted

VixTech  is  an  unlisted,  integrated  payment  solutions 
company  with  a  global  footprint.  VixTech’s  products 
are  the  cornerstone  of  some  of  the  world’s  largest 
smartcard  payment  and  billing  systems  and  include 
flagship  transportation  solutions  such  as  the  Hong 
Kong Octopus Card, Singapore EzLink, Beijing ACC and 
Melbourne Metcard. 

VixTech  has  developed  solutions  for  over  200  cities 
and regions in 25 countries, enabling millions of people 
worldwide  to  experience  the  convenience  of  low-cost, 
smartcard  travel  via  integrated  systems  processing 
billions of transactions per annum. 

In  the  year  ended  30  June  2016  revenues  increased 
by  29.6%  whilst  EBITDA  fell  by  68.0%.  The  reduction 
in  EBITDA  reflects  increased  investment  in  products, 
processes  and  people  as  VixTech  focuses  on  being  a 
stronger player in its chosen markets.

INFRATIL LIMITED

www.infratil.com
Market Cap NZ$1,796.6m

Infratil is an infrastructure holding company managed 
by H.R.L. Morrison & Co and listed on the NZX and ASX. 

Key businesses in which it is invested include Trustpower, 
where  it  has  a  51%  shareholding,  Wellington  Airport, 
(66% shareholding), RetireAustralia, (50% shareholding) 
and NZ Bus (100% shareholding).

In its financial year to 31 March 2016, Infratil recorded 
a 2.5% increase in underlying EBITDAF. Strong growth 
at  NZ  Bus  and  RetireAustralia  offset  a  flat  result  at 
Trustpower.  Meanwhile,  Wellington  Airport  delivered 
another  consistent  performance,  benefiting  from  a 
strong  uplift  in  passenger  numbers.  In  September 
2015, Infratil completed the sale of its remaining 20% 
stake in Z Energy, recording a net gain of NZ$392.3m. 
As of March 2016, Infratil’s surplus stood at a record 
NZ$438.3m.

In  the  year  to  30  June  2016,  Infratil’s  share  price 
increased by 1.3%.

2525

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016TOUCHCORP LIMITED

www.touchcorp.com
Market Cap A$206.0m

Touchcorp is an Australian listed and managed FinTech 
company  that  provides  value  added  products,  such 
as mobile phone top-ups, tolls and tickets. Touchcorp 
also provides services, including payment services, to 
retailers, health providers and governments. Touchcorp 
provides solutions to allow these products to be sold 
through retailers, with the company servicing outlets in 
Australia and a number of European countries, as well 
as online and through mobile phones.

Touchcorp  has  developed  a  solution  for  Afterpay,  a 
rapidly growing ASX listed company in which Touchcorp 
has  a  30%  stake.  Afterpay  allows  e-commerce 
merchants  in  Australia  to  offer  their  customers  the 
option to pay for goods by instalments. 

In the six months to 30 June 2016, Touchcorp reported 
revenues  up  by  20.4%  and  net  income  up  by  14.1% 
compared with the same period in 2015. Afterpay listed 
on  the  ASX  in  May  2016  at  A$1.00  and  by  the  end  of 
June its share price had risen to A$1.44. UIL also has a 
direct holding in Afterpay.

BERMUDA FIRST INVESTMENT  
COMPANY LIMITED

www.bfic.limited
Market Cap BM$20.1m

BFIC is an investment holding company whose shares 
and loan notes are listed on the BSX. It has a number 
of  investments  in  local  Bermudan  companies,  which 
are  listed  on  the  BSX.  Its  two  main  investments 
are  KeyTech,  a  holding  company  for  a  number  of 
telecommunications  companies 
in  Bermuda  and 
Ascendant,  Bermuda’s  main  energy  company.  In 
addition  to  these  holdings,  BFIC  has  interests  in 
insurance companies and a service company. 

As at 30 June 2016, BFIC had total assets of BM$25.2m 
and  reported  a  net  profit  for  the  twelve  months  of 
BM$1.9m.

BFIC’s  bid  share  price  remained  the  same  over  the 
year  to  30  June  2016.  It  should  be  noted  that  the 
shares  were  untraded  on  the  BSX  in  the  year,  but 
remained quoted at a bid price of BM$10.00.

2626

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REVIEW OF THE TEN LARGEST HOLDINGSVIX INVESTMENTS LIMITED

Vix  Investments  is  an  unlisted  investment  company 
holding a number of unlisted investments in technology 
companies, primarily related to FinTech.

The  largest  holding  by  value  is  Optal.  Optal  provides 
payment  solutions  to  travel  agents,  principally  as  an 
issuer  of  single  use  Mastercard  numbers.  This  allows 
agents  to  secure  and  pay  for  bookings  through  the 
Mastercard system, using a virtual card number linked 
to an individual transaction.

In the year to 31 December 2015, Optal grew revenues 
to  €81.3m  and,  excluding  disposals,  profit  before  tax 
increased to €10.5m. 

Other  smaller  holdings  in  Vix  Investments  include 
Cohort  Solutions,  which  provides  payment  solutions 
for international students and Plexure (formerly Vmob) 
which provides location based mobile advertising and 
promotion services to clients including McDonalds and 
7-Eleven.

VIX

AUGEAN PLC

www.augeanplc.com
Market Cap £48.3m

Augean  is  a  UK-based  waste  management  company 
listed  on  AIM.  Specialist  services  are  provided 
through five key business units, which include energy 
& construction, industry & infrastructure, radioactive 
waste services and North Sea services. More recently, 
Augean has taken steps to diversify revenue streams 
in the oil-dependent North Sea services unit.

In  the  year  to  December  2015,  Augean  recorded 
revenue growth of 10.9% and EBITDA growth of 20.2%, 
underpinned by increased construction activity.

In the year to June 2016, Augean’s share price declined 
by 12.4%.

2727

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016STRATEGIC REPORT AND BUSINESS REVIEW

UIL is an investment company holding investments with gross assets of £440.7m as at 30 June 2016. Its principal activity 

is portfolio investment.

INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE
 The Company’s investment objective is to maximise shareholder returns by identifying and investing in investments 

worldwide where the underlying value is not reflected in the market price.

STRATEGY AND BUSINESS MODEL
The Company invests in accordance with the objective given above. It has no employees and outsources its activities 

to third party service providers. The strategy the Board of non-executive directors’ follows to achieve that investment 

objective is to appoint external managers to deliver investment performance, with the Board setting investment policy 

and risk guidelines, together with investment limits. The Board oversees and monitors the activities of the service 

providers, including the Investment Managers, who are the principal service providers. 

ICMIM, an English incorporated company which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority as an 

alternative investment fund manager (“AIFM”) pursuant to the AIFM Rules, was appointed to act as the Company’s 

AIFM with effect from 13 April 2015 and as joint portfolio manager alongside ICM. ICMIM also provides the company 

secretarial function.

ICMIM and ICM managed the portfolio throughout the year. Successful implementation of the investment strategy is 

achieved by identifying undervalued stocks in the relevant sectors, which generally generate an income stream, with the 

aim to maximise value for shareholders through a relatively concentrated portfolio of investments. This model, combined 

with the use of gearing, should crystallise financial returns, generating a total return through both capital and income. 

The investment team responsible for the management of the portfolio is headed by Duncan Saville and Charles Jillings. 

The Board, together with the Investment Managers, consider how the business strategy and model has to be adapted 

to comply with new legislation and regulations. 

F&C Management Limited (the “Administrator”) has been appointed to undertake general administration services, 

including dealing. Other administrative functions are contracted to external service providers.

INVESTMENT POLICY AND RISK
The Company will identify and invest in opportunities where the underlying value is not reflected in the market price. 

This perceived undervaluation may arise from factors such as technological change, market motivation, prospective 

financial engineering opportunities, competition, underperforming management or shareholder apathy.

The Company aims to maximise value for shareholders through a relatively concentrated portfolio of investments. 

Historically the Company had invested a significant proportion of its gross assets in existing infrastructure, utility and 

related sectors but, following the change in mandate in 2007, this direct exposure has reduced as the Company has, 

in addition, invested in other sectors. The Company has been reclassified in the Association of Investment Companies 

(“AIC”) database as a “Flexible Investment”.

Subject to compliance with the Listing Rules in force, from time to time UIL may invest in other investment companies 

or vehicles, including any managed by the Investment Managers, where such investment would be complementary to 

the Company’s investment objective and policy.

2828

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016The Company has the flexibility to invest in shares, bonds, convertibles and other types of securities, including non- 

investment grade bonds and to invest in unlisted securities.

The Company may also use derivative instruments such as American Depositary Receipts, promissory notes, foreign 

currency hedges, interest rate hedges, contracts for difference, financial futures, call and put options and warrants and 

similar instruments for investment purposes and efficient portfolio management, including protecting the Company’s 

portfolio and balance sheet from major corrections and reducing, transferring or eliminating investment risks in its 

investments. These investments will be long term in nature.

The Company has the flexibility to invest in markets worldwide although investments in the utilities and infrastructure 

sectors are principally made in the developed markets of Australasia, Western Europe and North America, as UIL’s 

exposure to the emerging markets infrastructure and utility sectors is primarily through its holding in UEM. UIL has 

the flexibility to invest directly in these sectors in emerging markets with the prior agreement of UEM.

The Company believes it is appropriate to support investee companies with their capital requirements whilst at the 

same time maintaining an active and constructive shareholder approach through encouraging a review of the capital 

structure and business efficiencies. The Investment Managers’ team maintains regular contact with investee companies 

and UIL may often be among the largest shareholders. There are no limits on the proportion of an investee company 

that UIL may hold and UIL may take legal or management control of a company from time to time.

As required by the Listing Rules, there will be no material change to the investment policy without prior approval of 

the FCA and shareholders. Any such change would also require the approval of the ZDP shareholders.

INVESTMENT LIMITS
The Board has prescribed the following limits on the investment policy, all of which are at time of investment unless 

otherwise stated.

There are no fixed limits on the allocation of investments between sectors and markets, however the following 

investment limits apply:

•  investments in unlisted companies will in aggregate not exceed 20% of gross assets at the time that any new unlisted 

investment  is  made.  This  restriction  does  not  apply  to  loans  to  listed  platform  companies  and  to  the  Company’s 

holding  of  shares  linked  to  a  segregated  account  of  Global  Equity  Risk  Protection  Limited  (“GERP”),  an  unquoted 

Bermuda segregated accounts company. This account, which is structured as the Bermuda equivalent of a protected 

cell, exists for the sole purpose of carrying out derivative transactions on behalf of the Company (see below);

•  no single investment will exceed 30% of gross assets at the time such investment is made, save that this limit shall 

not  prevent  the  exercise  of  warrants,  options  or  similar  convertible  instruments  acquired  prior  to  the  relevant 

investment reaching the 30% limit; and

•  derivative transactions are carried out by GERP on behalf of the Company to enable it to make investments more 

efficiently and for the purposes of efficient portfolio management. GERP spreads its investment risks by having the 

ability to establish an overall net short position in index options, contracts for difference, swaps and equity options. 

GERP may not hold more than 50% of the value of UIL’s segregated portfolio in index options and GERP may not 

hold more than 100% of the relevant debt or of the relevant market value in foreign currency by way of foreign 

exchange options or forwards.

None of the above restrictions will require the realisation of any assets of the Company where any restriction is 

breached as a result of an event outside of the control of the Investment Managers which occurs after the investment 

2929

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016is made, but no further relevant assets may be acquired or loans made by the Company until the relevant restriction 

can again be complied with.

VALUATION METHODOLOGY
Investments are measured at the Board’s estimate of fair value at the reporting date, in accordance with IFRS 13 – Fair 

Value measurement.

Fair value is the amount for which an asset (or liability) could be exchanged between knowledgeable, willing parties in 

an arm’s length transaction.

Publicly traded securities
Investments listed in an active market are valued at their closing bid price on the reporting date. When a bid price is 

not available, the price of the most recent reported transaction would normally be used. 

Market bid prices are used even in situations where the Company holds a large position and a sale could reasonably 

affect the quoted price. Active market quotations are included in level one and inactive in level two. Where there is an 

inactive market the bid price is used unless there is reason to believe it is incorrect.

Unquoted securities
Unlisted loans to listed companies are valued at the principal amount loaned or if impaired at the impaired value.

The determination of fair value for other unquoted securities where there is little, if any, market activity, is achieved by 

the application of a valuation technique that is appropriate for the circumstances, in accordance with the International 

Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines. This will make the maximum use of market based information 

and is consistent with methodology generally used by market participants.

Valuation is normally determined by using one of the following valuation methodologies:

Recent investments

For an initial or most recent relevant transaction, the approach used is cost for a limited period following the 

transaction, where the transaction represents fair value.

Established investments

There are three approaches to valuing established investments: multiples; discounted cash flows or earnings; and net 

assets. Depending on the investment and relevance of the approach, any or all of these valuation methods could be used.

Appropriate market multiples will vary by instrument, but would typically be by reference to one or more of, but not 

limited to, net earnings ratio, EV/EBITDA ratio, dividend yield, discount to NAV or yield to maturity. 

Discounted earnings multiples will use maintainable earnings discounted at appropriate rates to reflect the value of 

the business. Generally, the latest historical accounts are used unless reliable forecast results for the current year are 

available. Earnings are adjusted where appropriate for exceptional or non-recurring items.

BORROWING AND GEARING POLICY
The Board carefully considers the Company’s policy in respect of the level of equity exposure. The Board takes 

responsibility for the Company’s gearing strategy and sets guidelines to control it, which it may change from time to 

time. The Company may, from time to time, use bank borrowings for short-term liquidity purposes. In addition it has 

longer term borrowings in the form of the ZDP shares that its subsidiary UIL Finance has issued. Details of the ZDP 

shares in issue and any changes during the year are included in note 16 to the accounts.

3030

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) STRATEGIC REPORT AND BUSINESS REVIEWUnder UIL’s Bye-laws, the Group is permitted to borrow (excluding the gearing provided through the Group’s capital 

structure) an aggregate amount equal to 100% of the Group’s gross assets. Borrowings will be drawn down in any 

currency appropriate for the portfolio.

The Board has set a current limit on gearing (being total borrowings excluding the ZDP shares measured against gross 

assets) not exceeding 33.3% at the time of drawdown. Borrowings may be drawn down in Sterling, US Dollars or any 

currency for which there are corresponding assets within the portfolio (at the time of draw down, the value drawn 

must not exceed the value of the relevant assets in the portfolio).

The Company has a £50m multicurrency revolving facility with Scotiabank Europe plc which has been extended until 

22 March 2018; as at 30 June 2016 £24.7m was drawn down under the facility. The Company has also entered into 

a £25m secured short term loan facility with Scotiabank, which can be drawn down at the end of October 2016 for 

six months to facilitate the redemption of the 2016 ZDP shares, if required. Further details of these loan facilities are 

included in note 17 to the accounts.

DERIVATIVES
The Investment Managers may follow a policy of actively hedging the market and balance sheet risks faced by the Company.

A review of the investment portfolio, borrowings and hedging is included in the Investment Managers’ report and also 

within the notes to the accounts.

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Delivery of shareholder value is achieved through the increase in capital value of the Company’s shares and by its 

income return.

The Board reviews performance by reference to a number of Key Performance Indicators (“KPI”) that include the following:

•  NAV total return relative to the FTSE All-Share Index

•  Share price

•  Discount to NAV

•  Revenue earnings 

•  Ongoing charges figure

While some elements of performance against KPIs are beyond management control, they provide measures of the 

Group’s absolute and relative performance and are therefore monitored by the Board on a regular basis. 

30 JUNE

NAV total return (%)

FTSE All-Share Index total return (%)

Share price (pence)

Discount to NAV (%)

Percentage of issued shares bought back during the year (based on 

opening share capital) (%) 

Revenue EPS (pence)

Ongoing charges figure (%)

2016

47.1

2.2

2015
2015

6.4

2.6

130.75

117.00

45.8

8.0

6.23

3.3

30.8

0.6

7.84

2.0

3131

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016The Company achieved a positive performance in the year reflecting successful implementation of the business strategy 

by the Investment Managers.

A graph showing the historic NAV total return performance compared to the FTSE All-Share Index can be found on page 

5.  The  Investment  Managers’  Report,  on  pages  11  to  20,  provides  a  commentary  on  how  this  performance 

was achieved. 

The ten year record on page 107 shows historic data for the Company’s metrics.

Discount to NAV: The Board monitors the premium/discount at which the Company’s shares trade in relation to the 

assets. During the year the Company’s shares traded at a discount relative to NAV in a range of 25.5% to 45.8% and an 

average discount of 35.0%. The Board and the Investment Managers closely monitor both movements in the Company’s 

share price and significant dealings in the shares. In order to avoid substantial overhangs or shortages of shares in the 

market the Board asks shareholders to approve resolutions which allow for the buyback of shares and their issuance 

which can assist in the management of the discount. The Company bought back, and cancelled, 7,903,425 ordinary 

shares during the year, representing 8.0% of its issued share capital.

Earnings and dividends per share: The Board’s objective is to maintain or increase the total annual dividend. The 

Board and the Investment Managers attach great importance to maintaining dividends per share. The Board has the 

flexibility to pay dividends from capital reserves.

Dividends form a key component of the total return to shareholders and the level of potential dividend payable and 

income from the portfolio is reviewed at every Board meeting. The Company has declared four quarterly interim 

dividends, each of 1.875p, in respect of the year ended 30 June 2016. The fourth quarterly interim dividend was declared 

on 10 August 2016 and will be paid on 28 September 2016 to shareholders on the register at 9 September 2016. The 

total dividend for the year was 7.50p, the same as in the previous year. 

Ongoing charges: These are the industry measure of costs as a percentage of NAV. The expenses of the Company 

are reviewed at every Board meeting, with the aim of managing costs incurred and their impact on performance. The 

ongoing charges figure appears high when compared to other investment companies as the expenses are expressed 

as a percentage of average net assets (after the deduction of the ZDP shares) and comprises all operational, recurring 

costs that are payable by the Company or suffered within underlying investee funds. This ratio is sensitive to the size 

of the Company as well as the level of costs.

FINANCIAL POSITION
As at 30 June 2016, the Group’s net assets were valued at £218.6m (2015: £166.6m). These comprised a portfolio of 

mainly equity investments and net current assets. 

UIL has a leveraged balance sheet structure, with the ordinary shares leveraged by the ZDP shares, bank debt and 

other loans. 

Due to the readily realisable nature of the Company’s assets, cash flow does not have the same significance as for an 

industrial or commercial company. The Company’s principal cash flows arise from the purchase and sales of investments 

and the income from investments against which must be set the costs of borrowing and management expenses.

The 2016 ZDP shares are repayable on 31 October 2016 at 192.78p per share. The capital cost of the redemption will be met 

from the issue of new ZDP shares, the realisation of assets and bank borrowings as described in the Chairman’s Statement.

3232

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) STRATEGIC REPORT AND BUSINESS REVIEWPRINCIPAL RISKS AND RISK MITIGATION 
ICMIM was appointed as the Company’s AIFM with effect from 13 April 2015 and has sole responsibility for risk 

management subject to the overall policies, supervision, review and control of the Board.

The Board carefully considers the Company’s principal risks and seeks to mitigate these risks through continual and 

regular review, policy setting, compliance with and enforcement of contractual obligations and active communication 

with the Investment Managers and the Company’s Administrator.

The Board applies the principles and recommendations of the UK Code on Corporate Governance and the AIC’s Code 

on Corporate Governance (the “AIC Code”) as described on page 52. The Company’s internal controls are described 

in more detail on pages 46 and 47. Through these procedures, and in accordance with Internal Control: Revised 

Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code (the “FRC guidance”), the Board has established an on-going process 

for identifying, evaluating and managing the significant risks faced by the Company and has regularly reviewed the 

effectiveness of the internal control systems for the year. This process has been in place throughout the year under 

review and to the date hereof and will continue to be regularly reviewed by the Board going forward. 

Most of the Company’s principal risks are market-related and similar to those of other investment companies which invest 

globally in various currencies around the world. The principal ongoing risks and uncertainties currently faced by the Company, 

and the controls and actions to mitigate those risks are described below. Further details of risks and risk management policies 

as they relate to the financial assets and liabilities of the Company are detailed in note 30 to the accounts. 

Investment risk – the risk that the investment strategy does not achieve long-term total returns for 
Investment risk – the risk that the investment strategy does not achieve long-term total returns for the 
the Company’s shareholders
Company’s shareholders

The Board monitors the performance of the Company and has established guidelines to ensure that the investment policy that 

has been approved is pursued by the Investment Managers.

The investment process employed by the Investment Managers combines assessment of economic and market conditions in 

the relevant countries with stock selection. Fundamental analysis forms the basis of the Company’s stock selection process, 

with an emphasis on sound balance sheets, good cash flows, the ability to pay and sustain dividends, good asset bases and 

market conditions. The political risks associated with investing in these countries are also assessed. Overall, the investment 

process aims to achieve absolute returns through an active fund management approach. 

The Company’s results are reported in Sterling, whilst the majority of its assets are priced in foreign currencies. The impact of 

adverse movements in exchange rates can significantly affect the returns in Sterling of both capital and income. Such factors 

are out of the control of the Board and the Investment Managers and may give rise to distortions in the reported returns to 

shareholders. It can be difficult and expensive to hedge some currencies.

In addition, the ordinary shares of the Company may trade at a discount to their NAV. The Board monitors the price of the 

Company’s shares in relation to their NAV and the premium/discount at which they trade. The Board may buy back shares if 

there is a significant overhang of stock in the market, having regard to the percentage of shares in public hands.

The Board regularly reviews strategy in relation to a range of issues including the balance between quoted and unquoted 

stocks, the allocation of assets between geographic regions and sectors and gearing. Periodically the Board holds a separate 

meeting devoted to strategy, the most recent one being held in November 2015.

A fuller review of economic and market conditions is included in the Investment Managers’ Report section of this Strategic Report.

There is no guarantee that the Company’s strategy and business model will be successful in achieving its investment objective. The 

value of an investment in the Company and the income derived from that investment may go down as well as up and an investor 

may not get back the amount invested. Past performance of the Company is not necessarily indicative of future performance.

No material change in overall risk in the year.

Gearing: the risk that the use of gearing may adversely impact on the Company’s performance

3333

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016Gearing: the risk that the use of gearing may adversely impact on the Company’s performance

The ordinary shares rank behind the bank debt and ZDP shares, making them a geared instrument. 

The gearing level is high due to the capital structure of the balance sheet. Whilst the gearing should enhance total return 

where the return on the Company’s underlying securities is rising and exceeds the cost of borrowing, it will have the 

opposite effect where the underlying return is falling. As at 30 June 2016, gearing on net assets, including bank loans, any 

overdrafts and ZDP shares, was 101.6%. The Board reviews the level of gearing at each Board meeting.

No material change in overall risk in the year.

Banking: a breach of the Company’s loan covenants might lead to funding being summarily withdrawn

Banking: a breach of the Company’s loan covenants might lead to funding being summarily withdrawn

ICMIM monitors compliance with the banking covenants when each drawdown is made and at the end of each month. The 

Board reviews compliance with the banking covenants at each Board meeting.

No material change in overall risk in the year.

 Key staff: loss by the Investment Managers of key staff could affect investment returns

 Key staff: loss by the Investment Managers of key staff could affect investment returns

The quality of the management team is a crucial factor in delivering good performance. There are training and development 

programs in place for employees of the Investment Managers and the recruitment and remuneration packages have been 

developed in order to retain key staff.

Any material changes to the management team are considered by the Board at its next meeting; the Board discusses 

succession planning with the Investment Managers at regular intervals.

No material change in overall risk in the year.

Reliance on the Investment Managers and other service providers: inadequate controls by the Investment 
Reliance on the Investment Managers and other service providers: inadequate controls by the Investment 
Managers or Administrator or other third party service providers could lead to misappropriation of assets
Managers or Administrator or other third party service providers could lead to misappropriation of assets

Failure by any service provider to carry out its obligations to the Company in accordance with the terms of its appointment 

could have a materially detrimental impact on the operation of the Company and could affect the ability of the Company 

to successfully pursue its investment policy. The Company’s main service providers are listed on page 106. The Audit 

Committee monitors the performance of the service providers.

All listed investments are held in custody for the Company by JPMorgan Chase Bank NA, Jersey (“JPMorgan”); the unlisted 

investments are held in custody by BCB (together “the Custodians”).

Following the appointment of J.P. Morgan Europe Limited (“JPMEL”) as the Company’s Depositary services provider, JPMEL also 

monitors the movement of cash and assets across the Company’s accounts.

The Audit Committee reviews the Administrator’s annual internal control report which details the controls around the 

reconciliation of the Administrator’s records to those of the Custodians. The Administrator reviews the control reports 

published by JP Morgan and draws any issues to the attention of the Board. 

The Board reviews operational issues at each Board meeting and the Audit Committee receives reports on the operation of 

internal controls and the risk of cybercrime, as explained in more detail within ”Internal Controls” on pages 46 and 47. 
The risk of cybercrime is high, as it is with most organisations, but the Board regularly seeks assurances from the Investment 

Managers and other service providers on the preventative steps that they are taking to reduce this risk.

Although there has been no change in overall risk in the year, the possibility of cybercrime continues to be a concern. The Company’s 

assets are considered to be relatively secure, so the risk is the inability to transact investment decisions for a period of time and 

reputational risk

3434

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) STRATEGIC REPORT AND BUSINESS REVIEWOUTLOOK AND FUTURE TRENDS
The main trends and factors likely to affect the future development, performance and position of the Company’s 

business can be found in the Investment Managers’ Report section of this Strategic Report. Further details as to the 

risks affecting the Company are set out above under “Principal Risks and Risk Mitigation”.

VIABILITY STATEMENT
In accordance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code, published by the Financial Reporting Council 

in September 2014 (the “Code”), the Directors have assessed the prospects of the Company over the next three years. 

The Board has determined that a three year period is a reasonable time horizon to consider the continuing viability of 

the Company, given the current regulatory environment, as they do not expect there to be any significant change to 

the current principal risks and to the mitigating controls in place over this period.

In its assessment of the viability of the Company, the Board has considered each of the Company’s principal risks and 

uncertainties detailed above, as well as the impact of a significant fall in equity markets on the value of the Company’s 

investment portfolio. All of the key operations required by the Company are outsourced to third party providers and 

alternative providers could be engaged at relatively short notice if necessary. The Directors have also considered the 

Company’s income and expenditure projections and the fact that a significant percentage of the Company’s investments 

comprise readily realisable securities which could be sold to meet funding requirements if necessary.

Based on the Company’s processes for monitoring operating costs, share price discount, the Investment Managers’ 

compliance with the investment objective and policy, asset allocation, the portfolio risk profile, gearing, counterparty 

exposure, liquidity risk and financial controls, the Board has concluded that there is a reasonable expectation that 

the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the next three years.

This Strategic Report and Business Review was approved by the Board of Directors on 19 September 2016.

By order of the Board 

ICM Investment Management Limited 

Company Secretary

19 September 2016

3535

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND TEAM

ICMIM, a company authorised and regulated by the FCA as an AIFM pursuant to the AIFM Rules, is the Company’s 

AIFM with sole responsibility for risk management, subject to the overall policies, supervision, review and control of 

the Board and is joint portfolio manager of the Company, alongside ICM. 

The Investment Managers are focused on finding investments at valuations that do not reflect their true long term value. Their 

investment approach is to have a deep understanding of the business fundamentals of each investment and its environment 

versus its intrinsic value. The Investment Managers are long term investors and see markets as a place to exchange assets.

ICM manages over £11.5bn in funds, directly and indirectly, in a range of mandates. ICM has over 40 staff based in 

offices in Bermuda, Cape Town, Dublin, Hong Kong, London, Melbourne, Singapore and Wellington.

UIL has a broad investment opportunity. To better execute the mandate UIL has set up a number of platforms to 

focus the investment process and decisions. The Investment Managers have mirrored these platforms in establishing 

investment teams dedicated to each.

The investment teams are led by Duncan Saville and Charles Jillings.

Duncan Saville, a director of ICM, is a chartered accountant with experience in corporate finance and asset management. 

He was formerly a non-executive director of Utilico Investment Trust plc and is an experienced director having been or 

is a non-executive director of a number of utility, financial services, resource and technology companies. He is currently 

a director of New Zealand Oil and Gas Limited, Cue Energy Resources Limited, Touchcorp Limited, Vix Technology 

Limited, Somers Limited, West Hamilton Holdings Limited and Global Equity Risk Protection Limited.

Charles Jillings, a director of ICM and chief executive of ICMIM, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the Company 

and the investment portfolio. He is a qualified chartered accountant and has extensive experience in corporate finance 

and asset management. He is an experienced director having previously been a non-executive director in the water, 

waste and financial services sectors. His current portfolio of directorships include Keytech Limited, Somers Limited, 

Waverton Investment Management Limited, Merrion Capital Holdings Limited, Vix Investments Limited and Global 

Equity Risk Protection Limited. 

Core teams assisting them at a senior level, including consultants, are:

Utilities & Infrastructure

Jacqueline Broers, who has been involved in the running of UIL and UEM since September 2010. Mrs Broers is focused on the 

transport sector worldwide with particular emphasis on emerging markets. Prior to joining the investment team, Mrs Broers 

worked in the corporate finance team at Lehman Brothers and Nomura. Mrs Broers is a qualified chartered accountant.

Jonathan Groocock, who has been involved in the running of UIL and UEM since February 2011. Mr Groocock is focused 

on the utilities sector worldwide with particular emphasis on emerging markets. Prior to joining the investment team 

Mr Groocock had nine years’ experience in sell side equity research, covering telecoms stocks at Investec. Mr Groocock 

qualified as a CFA charterholder in 2005.

Mark Lebbell who has been involved in the running of UIL and UEM since their inception and before that was involved 

with Utilico Investment Trust plc and The Special Utilities Investment Trust PLC since 2000. Mr Lebbell is focused on the 

communications sector worldwide with particular emphasis on emerging markets. Mr Lebbell is an associate member 

of the Institute of Engineering and Technology.

Fixed Income

Gavin Blessing, joined ICM in 2012. He has over 20 years of experience, mostly in the corporate fixed income markets, 

both investment grade and high yield. He worked as a credit research analyst and portfolio manager at Goldman Sachs 

3636

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND TEAMAsset Management in London for 10 years and subsequently as head of credit origination at ISTC in Dublin, Ireland. 

Prior to joining ICM he was head of bond credit research at Canaccord Genuity in Dublin. Mr Blessing is a qualified 

chartered accountant and chartered financial analyst.

Resources

Dugald Morrison, based in Wellington, New Zealand, is responsible for ICM NZ Limited. He is an experienced investment 

analyst, having worked in stockbroking, investment banking and investment management firms in New Zealand, the 

United Kingdom and the United States since 1987. Mr Morrison is focused on the resources sector worldwide and he is a 

non-executive director of Pan Pacific Petroleum NL. Mr Morrison is a member of the New Zealand Institute of Directors.

Technology

Rhoda Phillippo, based in Sydney, Australia, is an executive director of Vix Investments and executive chair of Vix Technology, 

chair of Snapper Services Ltd and a non-executive director on the board of Vocus Communications Ltd in Australia, LINQ 

(a technology start up in New Zealand) and Kiwibank Limited and is an alternate director for the Future Fund’s investment 

in Perth Airport. Ms Phillippo has more than 30 years’ experience in the telecommunications and IT sectors and also has 

experience in the energy sector. Ms Phillippo holds an MSc in Telecommunications Engineering and Business Management 

from University College London. 

Corporate finance

Alasdair Younie is a director of ICM, based in Bermuda. Mr Younie is responsible for the day to day running of the Somers 

Group. Mr Younie has extensive experience in financial markets and corporate finance. He worked for six years within 

the corporate finance department of Arbuthnot Securities Limited in London. He is a director of Ascendant Group 

Limited, Bermuda Commercial Bank Limited, Bermuda First Investment Company Limited, Somers Limited and West 

Hamilton Holdings Limited. Mr Younie is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Sandra Pope is a director of ICMIM. She has over 25 years’ experience in corporate finance, having previously worked in 

corporate finance at Deloitte Haskins & Sells, Hill Samuel Bank and Close Brothers for 10 years and has worked for the 

ICM Group since 1999. Mrs Pope is a director of several private companies, including Westhouse Holdings plc. Mrs Pope 

is a qualified chartered accountant and holds the Securities & Investment Institute Certificate of Corporate Finance.

Operations

Brad Goddard has over 25 years’ experience in international markets and finance and their related operations. Brad has 

been involved with UIL since its inception and prior to that, he was also involved with The Special Utilities Investment 

Trust plc. He was involved in the establishment of GERP and has previously served as a director of GERP. Brad is currently 

working closely with Somers’ investee companies to achieve greater operational synergies across the Somers group.

Werner Van Kets has managed various operational and financial aspects of ICM since its inception. He manages ICM 

Corporate Services (Pty) Ltd, which provides accounting and other corporate support services to the ICM group. His 

previous work experience includes Deloitte (South Africa) and Credit Suisse in London. Werner is a qualified chartered 

accountant.

Company Secretary, ICM Investment Management Limited

Amanda Marsh, a chartered secretary, joined the team in March 2012 and provides company secretarial services for 

the Company and UEM. Miss Marsh has over 30 years’ experience administering closed-end investment companies. 

Miss Marsh is a qualified chartered secretary.

3737

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016INVESTMENT MANAGERS AND TEAMDIRECTORS

Peter Burrows AO* (Director and Chairman with effect from 16 November 2015), who was appointed as a Director 

in September 2011, has many years’ experience as a stockbroker and founded his own independent specialist private 

client firm, Burrows Limited, in 1986. Mr Burrows was previously the chairman of Garratt’s Limited, ASC Limited and 

Rabbit Photo Holdings Ltd and a director of a number of other listed and unlisted companies. Mr Burrows was made 

an officer in the Order of Australia (AO) for his services to medical research, tertiary education and finance.

Alison Hill, FCMA, CGMA*, who was appointed a Director in November 2015, is an executive director and chief executive 

officer of The Argus Group in Bermuda, which provides insurance, retirement and financial services. Ms Hill has over 

twenty five years’ experience in global corporations in the financial services sector. Ms Hill is a trustee and a member 

of committees of a number of non-corporate organisations in Bermuda. Ms Hill is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute 

of Management Accountants and a Chartered Global Management Accountant.

Warren McLeland, appointed in September 2013, was formerly a stockbroker and investment banker and he is 

now chief executive officer of RESIMAC Limited, a securitisation company. In addition, he acts as an adviser in funds 

management and business strategy to companies operating in the Asia Pacific region. He is chairman of Somers Limited 

and an experienced non-executive director.

Christopher Samuel, ACA*, who was appointed a Director in November 2015, was chief executive of Ignis Asset 

Management until mid-2014, when it was taken over by Standard Life and has worked in the investment sector for most 

of his career. He is chairman of Defaqto and a non-executive director of Alliance Trust PLC, Alliance Trust Investments 

Limited, Blackrock Throgmorton Trust plc, JP Morgan Japanese Investment Trust plc and The London Community 

Foundation, where he is also a member of the executive committee and chair of the finance and investment committee. 

Mr Samuel is a chartered accountant.

David Shillson, LLM, who was appointed a Director in November 2015, is an experienced corporate and commercial 

lawyer and a senior partner of Kensington Swan, a New Zealand law firm. He has many years of experience acting 

for a mix of non-government and central and local government clients, particularly in acquisitions and investment 

structuring, advising on transactional and governance matters across the utilities (ports, airports), technology, energy, 

transport (rail and roads) and finance sectors. Mr Shillson is a member of the New Zealand Law Society.

Eric Stobart, FCA* (Chairman of Audit and Management Engagement Committees), who was appointed in May 

2007. He has spent most of his career in merchant and commercial banking, latterly as Director of Public Policy and 

Regulation for what is now Lloyds Banking Group.  He is a non-executive director of BlackRock Throgmorton Trust 

plc and Capita Managing Agency Limited and a member of the audit and risk committee of London Business School. 

He is also a trustee of the Anglian Water Group Pension Schemes, the Dixons Retail Pension Scheme and Lloyd’s 

Superannuation Fund.  Mr Stobart is a chartered accountant with an MBA from London Business School. 

* Independent Director and member of the Audit Committee and Management Engagement Committee

3838

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016REPORT OF THE DIRECTORS

The Directors submit the Annual Report and Accounts of the Company and Group for the year ended 30 June 2016. 

The Corporate Governance Statement commencing on page 51, the Audit Committee Report on page 60 and the 

Directors’ Remuneration Policy and Remuneration Report on page 56 all form part of this Report of the Directors. 

There are no instances where the Company is required to make disclosures in respect of Listing Rule 9.8.4R.

STATEMENT REGARDING ANNUAL REPORT AND ACCOUNTS
The Directors consider that, following advice from the Audit Committee, the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a 

whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the 

Company’s performance, business model and strategy.

STATUS OF THE COMPANY 
The Company is a Bermuda exempted closed end investment company with company registration number 39480. 

It changed its name from Utilico Investments Limited to UIL Limited on 17 November 2015. The Company’s ordinary 

shares are listed on the premium segment of the Official List of the FCA and are traded on the Main Market of the 

London Stock Exchange. It is a member of the AIC in the UK. 

The Company’s subsidiary undertaking, UIL Finance, carries on business as an investment company. The Company holds 

shares in a segregated account in GERP, an unquoted Bermuda segregated accounts company. This account, which 

is structured as the Bermuda law equivalent of a protected cell, exists for the sole purpose of carrying out derivative 

transactions on behalf of the Company. The segregated account in GERP is classified as a subsidiary of the Company 

and its financial results are included within the accounts of the Group. 

Details of the subsidiary companies are given in note 11 to the accounts. 

As at the year-end, the Company also held over 50% of BFIC, a company listed on the BSX which invests in Bermuda 

companies and of Zeta, a resources focused holding and development company, listed on the ASX and two unlisted 

non-trading companies. Details of these investments are given in note 11 to the accounts. 

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
Details of the Company’s performance in the year to 30 June 2016 are set out in the Chairman’s Statement and 

Investment Managers’ Report. The results for the year are set out in the attached accounts, which are prepared on a 

going concern basis as disclosed in note 29 to the accounts; details of the dividends declared in respect of this financial 

year are included in note 9 to the accounts.

The dividends in respect of the year, which total 7.50p per ordinary share, have been declared and paid as four interim 

dividends in order to maintain quarterly payments (in December, March, June and September) as the Board and its 

Investment Managers believe, from discussions with shareholders, that the timely and regular payment of dividends 

is valued by the Company’s shareholders.

THE EU ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND MANAGERS DIRECTIVE (“AIFMD”)
The Company is a non-EU Alternative Investment Fund for the purposes of the AIFMD. The Company has appointed 

ICMIM, an English incorporated company which is regulated by the FCA, as its AIFM with effect from 13 April 2015, 

with sole responsibility for risk management and ICM and ICMIM jointly to provide portfolio management services.

The AIFMD requires certain information to be made available to investors in Alternative Investment Funds (“AIFs”) before 

they invest and requires that material changes to this information be disclosed in the annual report of each AIF. An 

3939

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016Investor Disclosure Document (“IDD”), which sets out information on the Company’s investment strategy and policies, 

leverage, risk, liquidity, administration, management, fees, conflicts of interest and other shareholder information, is 

available on the Company’s website at www.uil.limited.

The Company has also appointed JPMEL as its depositary services provider, with effect from 13 April 2015. JPMEL’s 

responsibilities, which are set out in the IDD on the Company’s website at www.uil.limited, include general oversight 

over the issue and cancellation of the Company’s shares, the calculation of the NAV, cash monitoring and asset 

verification and record keeping. JPMEL receives an ad-valorem fee of 2.2bps for its services, subject to a minimum fee 

of £25,000 per annum, payable monthly in arrears.

There have been no material changes to the information in the IDD requiring disclosure, other than a correction to the 

maximum leverage exposure, which was corrected to 425%. Any information requiring immediate disclosure pursuant to 

the AIFMD will be disclosed to the London Stock Exchange through a Regulatory Information Service. As a UK authorised 

AIFM, ICMIM will make the requisite disclosures on remuneration levels and policies to the FCA at the appropriate time.

FUND MANAGEMENT ARRANGEMENTS
The joint portfolio managers are ICMIM and ICM. The aggregate fees payable by the Company under the Investment 

Management Agreement (“IMA”) are 0.5% per annum of gross assets after deducting current liabilities (excluding 

borrowings incurred for investment purposes), payable quarterly in arrears , with such fees to be apportioned between 

ICMIM and ICM as agreed by them. The Investment Managers agreed to reduce the management fee payable by the 

Company to 0.25% per annum until such time as the performance fee high watermark was regained; subsequent to 

the year end the high watermark has been achieved and the management fee has reverted to 0.5% per annum with 

effect from 1 July 2016. Note 4 to the accounts provides detailed information in relation to the management fee. The 

Investment Managers may also become entitled to a performance-related fee.

The IMA may be terminated by the Company giving ICM and ICMIM not less than one year’s written notice or by the 

Investment Managers, acting together, giving the Company not less than six months’ notice in writing.

ICMIM has also been appointed as UIL’s company secretary under the IMA. 

The Board continually reviews the policies and performance of the Investment Managers. The Board’s philosophy and 

the Investment Managers’ approach are that the portfolio should consist of shares thought attractive irrespective of 

their inclusion or weighting in any index. Over the long term, the Board expects the combination of the Company’s 

and Investment Managers’ approach to generate a positive return for shareholders. The Board is satisfied with the 

terms of appointment of ICMIM and ICM.

REGULATORY AND COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
The Company is obliged to comply with Bermuda law, the Listing Rules of the FCA and International Financial Reporting 

Standards (“IFRS”). The financial statements are also presented, where relevant, in compliance with the Statement of 

Recommended Practice (“SORP”) for Investment Trusts issued by the AIC in November 2014. The Company is exempt 

from taxation, except insofar as it is withheld from income received and capital gains taxes in some jurisdictions. Under 

Bermuda law, the Company may not distribute income or capital reserves by way of a dividend unless, after distribution 

of the dividend, the Company would be able to pay its liabilities as they become due and the realisable value of the 

Company’s assets would be greater than the aggregate of its liabilities and its issued share capital and share premium 

account. It is registered with the IRS in the USA under the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act.

4040

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSIn addition to annual and half-yearly accounts published under these rules, the Company announces net asset values 

weekly via the London Stock Exchange’s Regulatory News Service and provides more detailed statistical information 

on a monthly basis on its website and to the AIC in order to allow investors and brokers to review its performance. 

The Company also reports to shareholders on performance against the investment objective, Directors’ dealings in 

the shares of the Company, corporate governance, investment activities and share buybacks. 

The accounting policies of the Company are detailed in note 1 to the accounts on pages 75 to 77. 

DIRECTORS 
The Company has a Board of six non-executive Directors who oversee and monitor the activities of the Investment 

Managers and other service providers and ensure that the Company’s investment policy is adhered to. Details of 

the Board’s responsibilities and the information it relies upon are set out below. The Board is supported by an Audit 

Committee and a Management Engagement Committee, which deal with specific aspects of the Company’s affairs as 

summarised on pages 60 and 44 respectively.

Dr Roger Urwin and Mr Graham Cole retired from the Board on 16 November 2015. On the same date, Mr Peter 

Burrows was elected as Chairman and Ms Alison Hill, Mr Christopher Samuel and Mr David Shillson were all appointed 

as additional Directors of the Company. Information about the three new Directors is set out on page 38.

The Directors have a range of business, financial and asset management skills as well as experience relevant to the 

direction and control of the Company. Brief biographical details of the members of the Board are shown on page 38.

Under the Company’s Bye-Laws, the number of Directors on the Board may not exceed ten.

There is no chief executive position within the Company, as day-to-day management of the Company’s affairs has been 

delegated to the Investment Managers under the terms of the IMA. 

CHAIRMAN
The Chairman of the Company is Peter Burrows, a non-executive Director, who the Board considers to be independent. 

Mr Burrows has been Chairman of the Board of Directors since November 2015 and is responsible for leadership of 

the Board and ensuring its effectiveness on all aspects of its role. Mr Burrows has been a Director since 2011 and 

in common with all the other members of the Board, he is subject to an annual performance appraisal. Following 

this year’s appraisal, the Board has confirmed that Mr Burrows’ performance as Chairman is effective and therefore 

recommends his re-election.

SENIOR INDEPENDENT DIRECTOR
It is considered unnecessary to identify a senior independent director due to the nature of an investment company 

and the relationship between the Board and the Investment Managers. Any of the Directors is available if shareholders 

have concerns which have not been resolved through the normal channels of contact with the Chairman or Investment 

Managers, or for which such channels are inappropriate.

BOARD RESPONSIBILITIES
The Board of Directors is responsible for overall stewardship of the Company, including corporate strategy, corporate 

governance, risk and controls assessment, overall investment policy and gearing limits. Although the Company has 

appointed ICMIM as its AIFM with responsibility for risk management, in performing its services, ICMIM is subject to 

the overall policies, supervision, review and control of the Board.

4141

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016Directors have a duty to promote the success of the Company taking into consideration the likely consequences of 

any decision in the long-term; the need to foster the Company’s business relationships with its Investment Managers 

and advisers; the impact of the Company’s operations on the community and the environment; the desirability of 

the Company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct; and the need to act fairly as between 

shareholders of the Company. The Directors are also responsible for the proper conduct of the Company’s affairs 

and for promoting the success of the Company by directing and supervising its affairs within a framework of effective 

controls which enable risk to be assessed and managed. In addition, the Directors are responsible for ensuring that the 

Company’s policies and operations are in the best interests of all of its shareholders and that the interests of creditors 

and suppliers to the Company are properly considered.

The Board is committed to the prevention of corruption in the conduct of the Company’s affairs and, taking account of 

the nature of the Company’s business and operations, has put in place procedures that the Board considers adequate 

to prevent persons associated with it from engaging in bribery for and on behalf of the Company.

A formal schedule of matters reserved for decision by the Board and detailing the responsibilities of the Board has been 

established. The main responsibilities include setting the Company’s objectives, policies and standards, considering any 

major acquisitions or disposals of portfolio companies (more than 15% of the portfolio), ensuring that the Company’s 

obligations to shareholders and others are understood and complied with, approving accounting policies and dividend 

policy, managing the capital structure, setting long-term objectives and strategy, assessing and managing risk (including 

supervising and reviewing the performance of ICMIM as the Company’s AIFM with responsibility for risk management), 

reviewing investment performance, monitoring the net borrowing position, approving recommendations made by 

the Audit Committee, reviewing Directors’ remuneration, undertaking nomination responsibilities and assessing the 

Investment Managers on an ongoing basis. The Board also seeks to ensure that shareholders are provided with 

sufficient information in order to understand the risk/reward balance to which they are exposed by holding their shares, 

through the portfolio details given in the annual and half-yearly financial reports, factsheets and weekly NAV disclosures.

There is an agreed procedure for Directors, in the furtherance of their duties, to take legal advice at the Company’s 

expense, having first consulted with the Chairman. 

SUPPLY OF INFORMATION
To enable the Directors to fulfil their roles, the Investment Managers ensure that all Directors have timely access to all 

relevant management, financial and regulatory information.

On being appointed to the Board, Directors are fully briefed as to their responsibilities and are continually updated 

throughout their term in office on industry and regulatory matters. The Board and the Investment Managers have also 

put arrangements in place to address the ongoing training requirements of Directors which include briefings from 

the Investment Managers’ staff or external advisers and which ensure that Directors can keep up to date with new 

legislation and changing risks. The Board holds meetings with various specialists including the auditor at least once a 

year at which specific topics are addressed.

The Board meets on a regular basis at least four times each year. Additional meetings are arranged as necessary. 

Regular contact is maintained between the Investment Managers, the Chairman and the other Directors between 

formal meetings.

Board meetings follow a formal agenda, which includes a review of the investment portfolio with a report from the 

Investment Managers on the current investment position and outlook, strategic direction, performance against stock 

market indices and the Company’s peer group, asset allocation, gearing policy, cash management, revenue forecasts 

4242

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSfor the financial year, marketing and shareholder relations, corporate governance, regulatory changes and industry 

and other issues. The Board also receives reports from the Board’s Committees (Audit and Management Engagement).

BOARD DIVERSITY, APPOINTMENT, RE-ELECTION AND TENURE
The Board as a whole undertakes the responsibilities which would otherwise be assumed by a nomination committee. 

It considers the size and structure of the Board, including the balance of expertise and skills brought by individual 

Directors. It has regard to board diversity and recognises the value of progressive refreshing of, and succession 

planning for, company boards, which matters are discussed by the Board as a whole at least annually. The Board also 

seeks to have Directors with knowledge and experience of relevant sectors, who understand the key influences on 

businesses in their area, whether they are economic, political, regulatory or other issues. On the issue of diversity, any 

new appointment is considered on the basis of the skills and experience that the individual would bring to the Board, 

regardless of gender. 

The Board is of the view that length of service does not necessarily compromise the independence or contribution 

of directors of an investment company, where continuity and experience can add significantly to the strength of the 

Board. This is supported by the views on independence expressed in the AIC Code. No limit on the overall length of 

service of any of the Company’s Directors, including the Chairman, has been imposed. The Board has put in place a 

policy whereby Directors who have served for nine years or more will be subject to annual re-election. 

The Board reviews succession planning at least annually. Appointments of new Directors will be made on a formalised 

basis with the Chairman agreeing in conjunction with his colleagues the skills and expertise required and other relevant 

selection criteria, and the methods of recruitment (where appropriate using an external recruitment agency), selection 

and appointment. The potential Director would meet with Board members prior to formal appointment. An induction 

process will be undertaken with new appointees to the Board being given a full briefing on the workings and processes 

of the Company and the management of the Company by the Chairman, the Investment Managers, the company 

secretary and other appropriate persons. All appointments are subject to subsequent confirmation by shareholders 

in general meeting.

The Bye-laws require that a Director shall retire and be subject to re-election at the first AGM after appointment and 

at least every three years thereafter. Ms Hill, Mr Samuel and Mr Shillson will retire at the forthcoming AGM and, being 

eligible, will offer themselves for re-election to the Board.

One-third of the Board is subject to retirement by rotation each year and in addition, any Director who is not considered 

to be independent stands down annually and seeks re-election. Mr Burrows will retire by rotation at the forthcoming 

AGM; as the Chairman, his re-election has been separately considered and reported on above. Mr Stobart has been a 

director for over nine years and will be seeking re-election at the AGM and Mr McLeland, who is not considered to be 

independent due to his directorship of other companies associated with the Investment Managers, retires annually 

and will do so at the forthcoming AGM and, being eligible, offers himself for re-election. The Bye-laws provide that the 

Company may, in a special general meeting, remove any Director from the Board.

The Board has reviewed the independence of Mr Stobart, who has served for more than nine years and also of Mr 

Samuel, who holds a common directorship with Mr Stobart. The Board has concluded that both Directors remain 

independent non-executive directors of the Company. 

The Board has considered the election of Ms Hill, Mr Samuel and Mr Shillson and the re-election of Mr Stobart and Mr 

McLeland and has reviewed the composition of the Board as a whole and borne in mind the need for a proper balance 

of skills and experience. Following an appraisal of the performance of these Directors, the Board believes that these 

4343

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016Directors should be put forward for re-election. The Board feels that all five Directors make a valuable contribution 

based on their individual skills, knowledge and experience. They have commitment to their roles and the Board believes 

that their re-election would be in the best interests of the Company. 

AUDIT COMMITTEE
The composition and activities of the Audit Committee are summarised in the Audit Committee Report on pages 60 

to 63. Copies of the terms of reference are available on the Company’s website at www.uil.limited.

 MANAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE 
The Board has appointed a Management Engagement Committee, chaired by Mr Stobart, which operates within written 

terms of reference clearly setting out its authority and duties. Copies of the terms of reference are available on the 

Company’s website at www.uil.limited.

 The Management Engagement Committee is comprised of the independent Directors of the Company and will meet 

at least once a year. 

The Investment Managers’ performance is considered by the Board at every meeting, with formal evaluation by the 

Management Engagement Committee annually. During the year, the Board received detailed reports and views from 

the Investment Managers on investment policy, asset allocation, gearing and risk at each Board meeting, with ad hoc 

market/company updates if there were significant movements in the intervening period. The Board reviewed the 

portfolio management services to be provided jointly by the Investment Managers when it considered the new IMA 

in April 2015.

The Management Engagement Committee also considers the effectiveness of the administration services provided by 

the Investment Managers and Administrator, including the timely identification and resolution of areas of accounting 

judgement and implementation of new regulatory requirements and the performance of other third party service 

providers. In this regard, the Management Engagement Committee assessed the services provided by the Investment 

Managers, the Administrator and the other service providers to be good. 

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE
The Board as a whole undertakes the work which would otherwise be undertaken by a Remuneration Committee. Its 

work is summarised in the Directors’ Remuneration Report which starts on page 56. 

BOARD, COMMITTEE AND DIRECTORS’ PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL
The Directors recognise the importance of the AIC Code’s recommendations in respect of evaluating the performance 

of the Board as a whole, the Audit Committee and the Management Engagement Committee and individual Directors. 

The performance of the Board, Audit Committee and Management Engagement Committee and Directors has been 

assessed during the year in terms of:

•  attendance at meetings;

•  the independence of individual Directors;

•  the  ability  of  Directors  to  make  an  effective  contribution  to  the  Board  and  Committees  through  the  range  and 

diversity of skills and experience each Director brings to their role; and

•  the Board’s ability to challenge the Investment Managers’ recommendations, suggest areas of debate and set the 

future strategy of the Company.

4444

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSThe Board opted to conduct performance evaluation through questionnaires and discussion between the Directors, 

the Chairman and the chairman of the Committees. This process is conducted by the Chairman, having regard to the 

performance evaluation questionnaire, reviewing individually with each of the Directors their performance, contribution 

and commitment to the Company and the possible further development of skills. In addition, the Chair of the Audit 

Committee reviews the performance of the Chairman with the other Directors, taking into account the views of the 

Investment Managers. The relevant points arising from these meetings are then reported to, and discussed by, the 

Board as a whole. This process has been carried out in respect of the year under review and will be conducted on an 

annual basis. The result of this year’s performance evaluation process was that the Board, the Committees of the Board 

and the Directors individually were all assessed to have performed satisfactorily. No follow-up actions were required.

It is not felt appropriate currently to employ the services of, or to incur the additional expense of, an external third 

party to conduct the evaluation process as an appropriate process is in place; this will, however, be kept under review.

ATTENDANCE AT BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS
The Board meets at least quarterly, with additional Board and Board committee meetings being held on an ad hoc 

basis to consider particular issues as they arise.

The quorum for any Board meeting is two Directors, however attendance by all Directors at each meeting is strongly 

encouraged. A committee of the Board is constituted to deal with any matters between scheduled Board meetings. 

The following table sets out the number of formal Board meetings (excluding Board committee meetings) and other 

committee meetings held during the year under review and the number of meetings attended by each Director who 

held office at the end of the year under review. 

Number of meetings held during the year

 Peter Burrows

 Alison Hill

 Warren McLeland

 Christopher Samuel

 David Shillson

 Eric Stobart

BOARD

AUDIT  
COMMITTEE

MANAGEMENT 
MANAGEMENT 
ENGAGEMENT 
ENGAGEMENT 
COMMITTEE
COMMITTEE

6

6

5/5

4

5/5

5/5

6

3

3

2/2

n/a

2/2

n/a

3

1

1

0/0

n/a

0/0

n/a

1

Apart from the meetings detailed above, there were a number of meetings held by committees of the Board to approve 

the final versions of the interim and annual financial statements, the declaration of quarterly dividends, the 2016 ZDP 

share rollover proposals  and other ad hoc items.

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION AND SHAREHOLDINGS
The Directors’ Remuneration Report, which can be found on page 56, contains information on the policy and annual 

remuneration of the Directors and their share interests in the Company. Shareholders will be asked to approve the 

Directors’ annual report on remuneration on page 57 (excluding the remuneration policy which is next due for 

approval in 2017).

4545

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS 
The Directors’ interests in the ordinary share capital of the Company are disclosed in the Directors’ Remuneration 

Report on page 58.

No Director was a party to, or had any interests in, any contract or arrangement with the Company at any time during 

the year or at the year end. There are no agreements between the Company and its Directors concerning compensation 

for loss of office.

A Director must avoid a situation where he has, or can have, a direct or indirect interest that conflicts, or possibly may 

conflict, with the Company’s interests. The Directors have declared any potential conflicts of interest to the Company. 

Potential conflicts of interest are reviewed regularly by the Board. The Directors have undertaken to advise the company 

secretary and/or Chairman as soon as they become aware of any potential conflicts of interest.

DIRECTORS’ AND OFFICERS’ LIABILITY INSURANCE
The Company maintains Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance which provides appropriate cover for any legal action 

brought against its Directors. 

SAFE CUSTODY OF ASSETS
The Company’s listed investments are held in safe custody by JPMorgan who was appointed on 13 April 2015, in place 

of JPMorgan Chase, London Branch. Operational matters with JPMorgan are carried out on the Company’s behalf by 

ICMIM and the Administrator in accordance with the IMA and the Administration Agreement. JPMorgan is paid a variable 

fee dependent on the number of trades transacted and the location of the securities held.

The Company’s unlisted investments continue to be held in safe custody by BCB.

INTERNAL FINANCIAL AND NON-FINANCIAL CONTROLS
The Directors acknowledge that they are responsible for ensuring that the Company maintains a sound system of 

internal financial and non-financial controls (“internal controls”) to safeguard shareholders’ investments and the 

Company’s assets.

The Company’s system of internal control is designed to manage rather than eliminate risk of failure to achieve the 

Company’s investment objective and/or adhere to the Company’s investment policy and/or investment limits. The 

system can therefore only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.

The Investment Managers, Administrator and Custodians maintain their own systems of internal controls and the Board 

and the Audit Committee receive regular reports from the Investment Managers and Administrator. 

The Board meets regularly, at least four times a year. It reviews financial reports and performance against relevant 

stock market criteria and the Company’s peer group, amongst other things. The effectiveness of the Company’s system 

of internal controls, including financial, operational, compliance and risk management systems is reviewed at least bi-

annually against risk parameters approved by the Board. The Board confirms that the necessary actions are taken to 

remedy any significant failings or weaknesses identified from its review. No significant failings or weaknesses occurred 

during the year ended 30 June 2016 or subsequently up to the date of this annual financial report.

The Board has reviewed and accepted the Investment Managers’ anti-bribery and corruption and whistleblowing 

policies. It has also noted the whistleblowing policy of the Administrator.

4646

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSThe Administrator produces an annual report on policies and procedures in operation in respect of Investment Trust 

Fund Accounting in accordance with AAF (AAF 01/06) issued by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and 

Wales for its clients. This sets out the control policies and procedures with respect to the duties carried out by the 

Administrator on the Company’s behalf. The effectiveness of these controls is monitored by the Administrator’s group 

audit committee, which receives regular reports from the Administrator’s internal audit department. The Company’s 

Audit Committee has received and reviewed the statement for the period ended 31 October 2015, together with a 

report from the Administrator’s group audit committee on the effectiveness of the internal controls maintained on 

behalf of the Company. 

COMPANY SECRETARY
The Board has direct access to the advice and services of the company secretary, who is an employee of ICMIM. The 

company secretary, with advice from the Company’s lawyers and financial advisers, is responsible for ensuring that 

the Board and Committee procedures are followed and that applicable rules and regulations are complied with. The 

company secretary is also responsible to the Board for ensuring timely delivery of information and reports and that the 

statutory obligations of the Company are met. The company secretary is responsible for advising the Board, through 

the Chairman, on all governance matters.

ADMINISTRATION 
The provision of accounting, dealing and administration services to the Company has been delegated to the Administrator. 

The Company and the Investment Managers entered into a new administration agreement with the Administrator on 

26 June 2015, in place of the previous agreement, under which the Administrator agreed to continue to provide dealing, 

accounting and general administrative services to the Company and UIL Finance for a fee, payable monthly in arrears, 

of £310,000 per annum (previously £295,000 per annum). The Administrator and any of its delegates are also entitled 

to reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by it in connection with its duties. The Company or the Administrator 

may terminate this agreement upon six months’ notice in writing.

Annually, the Management Engagement Committee also considers the ongoing administrative requirements of the 

Company and assesses the services provided. The Board, based on the recent review of activities by the Management 

Engagement  Committee,  believes  that  the  continuing  appointments  of  ICMIM  as  company  secretary  and  F&C 

Management Limited as administrator remain in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders.

SHARE CAPITAL 
As at 30 June 2016 the issued share capital of the Company and the total voting rights were 90,653,789 ordinary shares 

of 10p each. Full details of changes to the Company’s authorised and issued share capital during the year can be found 

in note 18 to the accounts. 

Since the year end, the Company has bought back 306,581 ordinary shares at an average price of 165.76p per share. 

As at 19 September 2016 the issued share capital and total voting rights were 90,347,208 ordinary shares of 10p each. 

At the last AGM, the Company was granted authority to make market purchases of up to 14.99% of its ordinary shares. 

A total of 7,903,425 ordinary shares were bought back and cancelled during the year.

UIL Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, issued a total of 50.0m 2022 ZDP shares (of which approximately 

28.1m shares arose on the conversion of 2016 ZDP shares pursuant to the 2016 ZDP share rollover offer) on 20 June 

2016. Since the year end UIL Finance has issued 14.0m 2020 ZDP shares. 

4747

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016SUBSTANTIAL SHARE INTERESTS 
As at 19 September 2016, the Company had received notification of the following holdings of voting rights: 

General Provincial Life Pension Fund (L) Limited

Permanent Mutual Limited

NUMBER OF ORDINARY 

SHARES HELD % HELD

 56,001,533

6,354,977

61.9

7.0

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE, SOCIALLY RESPONSIBLE INVESTMENT AND VOTING 
The Company has developed a policy on corporate governance, socially responsible investment and voting. The 

Company believes that the interests of its shareholders are served by investing in companies that adopt best practice 

in corporate governance and social responsibility. Where the Investment Managers become aware that best practice 

in corporate governance and social responsibility is not followed, the Company and the Investment Managers will 

encourage changes towards this goal. 

As an investment company, environmental policy has limited application. The Investment Managers consider various 

factors  when  evaluating  potential  investments.  While  a  company’s  policy  towards  the  environment  and  social 

responsibility, including with regard to human rights, is considered as part of the overall assessment of risk and 

suitability for the portfolio, the Investment Managers do not necessarily decide to, or not to, make an investment on 

environmental and social grounds alone. 

The Company is not within the scope of the Modern Slavery Act 2015 because it has no or insufficient turnover and is 

therefore not obliged to make a human trafficking statement.

The exercise of voting rights attached to shares held by the Company lies with the Investment Managers. Their 

Stewardship and Voting policy is included on the Company’s website at www.uil.limited. Generally, the Investment 

Managers will vote in favour of all resolutions at general meetings, unless they see clear investment reasons for doing 

otherwise. The Board periodically receives a report on instances where the Investment Managers have voted against 

the recommendation of the management on any resolution. It also expects to be informed of any sensitive voting 

issues involving the Company’s investments.

GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS
The Company has no employees or property and it does not combust any fuel or operate any facility. The Company 

does not purchase electricity, heat, steam or cooling for its own use. Accordingly, the quantifiable amount of carbon 

dioxide equivalent produced by the Company annually is zero tonnes. All services are outsourced on a fee basis that 

is independent of any energy expended on its behalf and it is not practical for the Company to attempt to quantify 

emissions in respect of such proxy energy use.

FACILITATING RETAIL INVESTMENTS
The Company currently conducts its affairs so that its securities can be recommended by Independent Financial 

Advisers to ordinary retail investors in accordance with the FCA’s rules in relation to non-mainstream investment 

products and intends to continue to do so for the foreseeable future.

4848

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSThe securities are excluded from the FCA’s restrictions which apply to non-mainstream investment products because 

the investment returns received in connection with the shares are wholly or predominantly linked to, contingent on, 

highly sensitive to or dependent on, the performance of or changes in the value of shares, debentures or government 

and public securities.

As a consequence, the Company’s shares qualify to be considered as a mainstream investment product suitable for 

ordinary retail investors.

The Company’s ordinary shares are eligible for inclusion in an ISA.

THE COMMON REPORTING STANDARD 
New tax legislation under The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) Common Reporting 

Standard for Automatic Exchange of Financial Account Information (the “Common Reporting Standard”) was introduced 

on 1 January 2016. The legislation requires the Company, as an investment company, to provide personal information 

on shareholders to the Company’s local tax authority in Bermuda. The Bermuda tax authority may in turn exchange 

the information with the tax authorities of another country or countries in which the shareholder may be tax resident, 

where those countries (or tax authorities in those countries) have entered into agreements to exchange financial 

account information.

All new shareholders, excluding those whose shares are held as depositary interests, who are entered on the share 

register from 1 January 2016 will be sent a certification form for the purposes of collecting this information.

RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS 
The Company welcomes the views of shareholders and places great importance on communication with shareholders. 

The Investment Managers hold meetings with the Company’s largest shareholders and report back to the Board on 

these meetings. The Chairman and other Directors are available to discuss any concerns with shareholders, if required. 

The prime medium by which the Company communicates with shareholders is through the half-yearly and annual 

financial reports, which aim to provide shareholders with a full understanding of the Company’s activities and its results. 

This information is supplemented by the calculation and publication weekly, via a Regulatory Information Service, of 

the NAV of the Company’s ordinary shares and by monthly factsheets produced by the Investment Managers. 

Shareholders can visit the Company’s website: www.uil.limited in order to access copies of half-yearly and annual 

financial reports, Company factsheets and regulatory announcements. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The Company’s AGM will be held on 16 November 2016. 

The notice of the AGM and related notes can be found on pages 103 to 105. All resolutions are ordinary resolutions 

unless otherwise identified.

Resolutions relating to the following items of special business will be proposed at the forthcoming AGM:

Resolution 12 Authority for the Company to purchase its own shares 

The Directors’ authority to buy back shares was renewed at last year’s AGM and will expire at the end of the AGM in 2016.

The Directors are proposing to renew the authority at the forthcoming AGM, and are seeking authority to purchase in 

the market up to 13,550,000 ordinary shares (equivalent to approximately 14.99% of the issued ordinary shares as at 

4949

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016the date of this report) as set out in Resolution 12 in the Notice of AGM. This authority, unless it is varied, revoked or 

renewed, will expire at the conclusion of the Company’s AGM in 2017. 

Any purchases will be made at prices below the prevailing NAV per ordinary share. The maximum price that can be paid 

is the higher of: (a) 105% of the average of the mid-market quotations of the ordinary shares for the five business days 

immediately before the date of purchase; and (b) the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest 

current independent bid on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out. Any ordinary shares purchased by 

the Company may be held in treasury or cancelled. 

Any purchases are regarded as investment decisions. It is proposed that any purchase of shares would be funded from 

the Company’s own cash resources or, if appropriate, from short-term borrowings. 

The Board intends to seek a renewal of such authority at subsequent AGMs. 

Resolution 13 Disapplication of pre-emption rights

The Company’s Bye-laws provide that, unless otherwise determined by a special resolution, the Company is not able to 

allot ordinary shares for cash without offering them to existing shareholders first in proportion to their shareholdings. 

Resolution 13 will grant the Company authority to dis-apply these pre-emption rights in respect of up to £451,700 of 

relevant securities in the Group (equivalent to 4,517,000, ordinary shares of 10p each, representing 5% of its ordinary 

shares in issue as at 19 September 2016). This will allow the Company flexibility to issue further ordinary shares for 

cash without conducting a rights issue or other pre-emptive offer in circumstances where the Directors believe it may 

be advantageous to shareholders to do so. Any such issues would only be made at prices greater than NAV and would 

therefore increase the assets underlying each share. The issue proceeds would be available for investment in line with 

the Company’s investment policy. 

Resolution 13 is a Special Resolution and will require the approval of a 75% majority of votes cast in respect of it. 

RECOMMENDATION
The Board considers the resolutions to be proposed at the AGM to be in the best interests of the Company and its 

shareholders as a whole. Accordingly, the Directors recommend that shareholders should vote in favour of all the 

resolutions to be proposed at the AGM.

By order of the Board  

ICM Investment Management Limited, Secretary  

19 September 2016

5050

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE DIRECTORSCORPORATE GOVERNANCE

THE COMPANY‘S GOVERNANCE NETWORK
Responsibility for good governance lies with the Board. The Board is committed to maintaining high standards of 

corporate governance and is accountable to shareholders for the governance of the Company’s affairs.

The governance framework of the Company reflects the fact that as an investment company it has no employees and 

outsources investment management and company secretarial services to the Investment Managers and administration 

to the Administrator and other external service providers.

THE BOARD

Key Objectives:

Six non-executive directors (NEDs)

Chairman: Peter Burrows

•  to set strategy, values and standards;

•  to provide leadership within a framework 
of prudent and effective controls which 
enable risk to be assessed and managed; 
and

•  to constructively challenge and scrutinise 
performance of all outsourced activities.

AUDIT COMMITTEE 

All the independent Directors

Key Objective:

Chairman: Eric Stobart

•  to oversee the financial reporting 

and control environment.

MANAGEMENT ENGAGEMENT COMMITTEE 

All the independent Directors

Key Objectives:

Chairman: Eric Stobart 

•  to review the performance of the 
Investment Managers and the 
Administrator; and

•  to review the performance of other 

service providers.

NOMINATION COMMITTEE FUNCTION

The Board as a whole  
performs this function 

Key Objectives:

•  to regularly review the Board’s 
structure and composition; and

•  to consider any new appointments.

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE FUNCTION

The Board as a whole  
performs this function

Key Objective:

•  to set the remuneration policy for 
the Directors of the Company.

INTRODUCTION
As a Bermuda incorporated company with a premium listing on the Official List, the Company is required to comply 

with the UK Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council. The Board has considered the 

principles and recommendations of the AIC Code by reference to the AIC Corporate Governance Guide for Investment 

5151

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016CORPORATE GOVERNANCE 
 
Companies. The AIC Code, as explained by the AIC Guide, addresses all the principles set out in the UK Corporate 

Governance Code, as well as setting out additional principles and recommendations on issues that are of specific 

relevance to investment companies. Bermuda does not have its own corporate governance code.

The Board considers that reporting against the principles and recommendations of the AIC Code, and by reference to 

the AIC Guide (which incorporates the UK Corporate Governance Code), will provide better information to shareholders.

COMPLIANCE WITH THE AIC CODE
The Company has complied with the recommendations of the AIC Code and the relevant provisions of the UK Corporate 

Governance Code, except as set out below. 

The UK Corporate Governance Code includes provisions relating to:

•  the role of the chief executive

•  executive directors’ remuneration 

•  the need for an internal audit function

•  nomination of a senior independent director

For the reasons set out in the AIC Guide, and as explained in the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board considers 

these provisions are not relevant to the position of UIL, being a Bermuda incorporated investment company with 

external investment managers. In particular, all of the Company’s day-to-day management and administrative functions 

are outsourced to third parties. As a result, the Company has no executive directors, employees or internal operations. 

The Company has therefore not reported further in respect of these provisions.

In common with most investment companies, the Company does not have an internal audit function. All of the 

Company’s management and administration functions are delegated to the Investment Managers and Administrator, 

whose controls are monitored by the Board and which include audit and risk assessment. It is therefore felt that there 

is no need for the Company to have its own internal audit function. However, this is reviewed annually by the Audit 

Committee. Action will be taken to remedy any significant failings or weaknesses identified from the review of the 

effectiveness of the internal control system.

In view of the requirement of the Bye-laws that all Directors retire by rotation, the Board considers that it is not 

appropriate for the Directors to be appointed for a specified term as recommended by the AIC Code. In addition, the 

Board has considered provision B.7.1 in the UK Corporate Governance Code issued by the Financial Reporting Council 

published in September 2014 recommending that all directors of FTSE 350 companies should be subject to annual 

re-election. The Board believes that the current election system, with each Director being re-elected to the Board at 

least every three years or re-elected annually if they have served more than nine years or are “non-independent”, is 

sufficient, as there could be risks in respect of continuity and stability on the Board with annual re-elections. 

The Company does not have a Nomination or Remuneration Committee.

Details of the Company’s ten largest investments are published monthly and in this report; a full list of investments 

is not published.

Information on how the Company has applied the principles of the AIC Code and the UK Corporate Governance Code 

is provided in the Report of the Directors as follows:

•  The  composition  and  operation  of  the  Board  and  its  Committees  is  summarised  on  pages  41,  44  and  51, 

and pages 60 to 63 in respect of the Audit Committee.

•  The Company’s approach to internal control and risk management is summarised on pages 33 and 34 and page 46.

5252

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) CORPORATE GOVERNANCE•  The contractual arrangements with, and assessment of, the Investment Managers are summarised on page 40.

•  The  Company’s  capital  structure  and  voting  rights  are  summarised  on  page  47.  The  substantial  shareholders  in 

the Company are listed on page 48.

•  Powers to buy back the Company’s shares or to issue shares on a non pre-emptive basis, which are sought annually, 

are summarised on page 49.

Details of how the Company communicates with its shareholders are included in the Report of the Directors, under 

“Relations with Shareholders” on page 49

By order of the Board 

ICM Investment Management Limited 

Company Secretary

19 September 2016

5353

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016CAPITAL STRUCTURE

UIL has a leveraged balance sheet structure, with the ordinary shares 
leveraged by the ZDP shares, bank debt and other loans.

ORDINARY SHARES
The number of ordinary shares in issue, and the voting rights, as at 30 June 2016 were 90,653,789 shares. The ordinary 

shares are entitled to all the revenue profits of the Company available for distribution and resolved to be distributed 

by the Directors by way of a dividend. The Directors consider the payment of dividends on a quarterly basis.

On a winding up, holders of ordinary shares will be entitled, after payment of all debts and the satisfaction of all liabilities 

of the Company, to the winding up revenue profits of the Company and thereafter, after paying to UIL Finance for its 

ZDP shareholders their accrued capital entitlement, to all the remaining assets of the Company.

ZDP SHARES
The ZDP shares are issued by UIL Finance, a wholly-owned subsidiary of UIL. The ZDP shares carry no entitlement to 

income and the whole of any return will take the form of capital.

2016 ZDP shares

32,546,966 2016 ZDP shares were in issue as at 30 June 2016. The 2016 ZDP shares rank for payment in priority to the 

ordinary shares (save for any undistributed revenue profit on a winding up) and the 2018, 2020 and 2022 ZDP shares, 

but rank behind the bank debt for capital repayment of 192.78p per 2016 ZDP share on 31 October 2016. The capital 

repayment is equivalent to a redemption yield of 7.25% per annum based on the initial capital entitlement of 100p.

2018 ZDP shares

49,842,413 2018 ZDP shares were in issue as at 30 June 2016. The 2018 ZDP shares rank for payment in priority to the 

ordinary shares (save for any undistributed revenue profit on winding up) and the 2020 and 2022 ZDP shares, but rank 

behind the bank debt and 2016 ZDP shares for capital repayment of 160.52p per 2018 ZDP share on 31 October 2018. The 

capital repayment is equivalent to a redemption yield of 7.25% per annum based on the initial capital entitlement of 100p.

2020 ZDP shares

25,000,000 2020 ZDP shares were in issue as at 30 June 2016. The 2020 ZDP shares rank for payment in priority to the 

ordinary shares (save for any undistributed revenue profit on winding up) and the 2022 ZDP shares but rank behind 

the bank debt, 2016 and 2018 ZDP shares for capital repayment of 154.90p per 2020 ZDP share on 31 October 2020. 

The capital repayment is equivalent to a redemption yield of 7.25% per annum based on the initial capital entitlement 

of 100p. Subsequent to the year end, a further 14.0m 2020 ZDP shares have been issued, of which UIL took 3.2m.

2022 ZDP shares

50,000,000 2022 ZDP shares were in issue as at 30 June 2016. The 2022 ZDP shares rank for payment in priority to the 

ordinary shares (save for any undistributed revenue profit on winding up) but rank behind the bank debt, 2016, 2018 

and 2020 ZDP shares for capital repayment of 146.99p per 2022 ZDP share on 31 October 2022. The capital repayment 

is equivalent to a redemption yield of 6.25% per annum based on the initial capital entitlement of 100p.UIL held 9.0m 

of the 2022 ZDP shares as at 30 June 2016.

BANK DEBT
At the year-end UIL had a £50.0m multi-currency loan facility provided by Scotiabank, secured against the Company’s 

assets by way of a debenture. It also has a bridging facility in place, which it can draw down at the end of October 2016 

for a period of six-months to provide part funding for the redemption of the 2016 ZDP shares, if required.

5454

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016CAPITAL STRUCTURESPLIT OF GROSS ASSETS  
as at 30 June 2016

UIL’S CONSOLIDATED FUNDING COST STRUCTURE  
as at 30 June 2016

by value

by percentage

£218.6m

Ordinary shares

49.6%

£40.4m
£28.1m

2022 ZDP shares
2020 ZDP shares

£67.6m

2018 ZDP shares

£61.3m

£24.7m

2016 ZDP shares

Bank loans

9.2%
6.4%

15.3%

13.9%

5.6%

7.25% 7.25% 7.25%

6.25%

6.5%

2016
ZDP
shares

2018
ZDP
shares

2020
ZDP
shares

2022
ZDP
shares

Blended 
cost 
of prior 
charges 
to 
ordinary 
shares

2.5%

Bank 
loans

Source: ICM

Source: ICM

SENSITIVITY OF RETURNS AND RISK PROFILES 
Ordinary shares rank behind the ZDP shares (save for any undistributed revenue profit on a winding up) and bank debt 

such that they represent a geared instrument. For every £100 of gross assets of the Company as at 30 June 2016, the 

ordinary shares could be said to be interested in £49.60 of those assets after deducting the prior claims as above. This 

makes the ordinary shares more sensitive to movements in gross assets. Based on these amounts, a 1.0% movement 

in gross assets would change the NAV attributable to ordinary shares by 2.0%.

The interest cost of UIL’s bank debt, combined with the annual accruals in respect of ZDP shares, currently represents 

a blended cost to the ordinary shares of 6.5%.

Based on their final entitlement of 192.78p per share, the final entitlement of the 2016 ZDP shares was covered 5.13 

times by gross assets as at 30 June 2016. Should gross assets fall by 80.5% over the remaining life of the 2016 ZDP 

shares, then the 2016 ZDP shares would not receive their final entitlement in full. Should gross assets fall by 94.5%, 

equivalent to an annual fall of 100.0%, the 2016 ZDP shares would receive no payment at the end of their life.

Based on their final entitlement of 160.52p per share, the final entitlement of the 2018 ZDP shares was covered 2.68 

times by gross assets as at 30 June 2016. Should the gross assets fall by 62.7% over the remaining life of the 2018 ZDP 

shares, then the 2018 ZDP shares would not receive their final entitlement in full. Should gross assets fall by 80.5%, 

equivalent to an annual fall of 50.3%, the 2018 ZDP shares would receive no payment at the end of their life.

Based on their final entitlement of 154.90p per share, the final entitlement of the 2020 ZDP shares was covered 2.18 

times by gross assets as at 30 June 2016. Should the gross assets fall by 54.0% over the remaining life of the 2020 ZDP 

shares, then the 2020 ZDP shares would not receive their final entitlement in full. Should gross assets fall by 62.7%, 

equivalent to an annual fall of 20.3%, the 2020 ZDP shares would receive no payment at the end of their life.

Based on their final entitlement of 146.99p per share, the final entitlement of the 2022 ZDP shares was covered 1.60 

times by gross assets as at 30 June 2016. Should the gross assets fall by 37.6% over the remaining life of the 2022 ZDP 

shares, then the 2022 ZDP shares would not receive their final entitlement in full. Should gross assets fall by 54.0%, 

equivalent to an annual fall of 11.5%, the 2022 ZDP shares would receive no payment at the end of their life.

5555

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

The Board is composed solely of non-executive Directors, none of whom has a service contract with the Company and 

therefore no remuneration committee has been appointed. The Board as a whole undertakes the responsibilities which 

would otherwise be assumed by a remuneration committee.

Full details of the Company’s policy with regards to Directors’ fees and fees paid during the year ended 30 June 2016 are 

shown below. There were no changes to the policy during the year.

Under company law, the auditor is required to audit certain disclosures provided. Where disclosures have been audited 

they are indicated as such. The auditor’s report is contained on pages 65 to 68.

STATEMENT BY THE CHAIRMAN
The Board’s policy on remuneration is set out below. A key element is that fees payable to Directors should reflect the 

time spent by them on the Company’s affairs and should be sufficient to attract and retain individuals with suitable 

knowledge and experience. 

DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION POLICY 
The Board considers the level of the Directors fees at least annually. The Company’s Bye-laws currently limit the aggregate 

fees payable to the Directors to a total of £250,000 per annum (increased from £200,000 at the AGM in 2015). Within that 

limit, it is the responsibility of the Board as a whole to determine the level of Directors’ fees. 

The Board’s policy is to set Directors’ remuneration at a level commensurate with the skills and experience necessary 

for the effective stewardship of the Company and the expected contribution of the Board as a whole in continuing to 

achieve the investment objective. Time committed to the Company’s business and the specific responsibilities of the 

Chairman, Directors and the chairman of the Audit Committee are taken into account. The policy aims to be fair and 

reasonable in relation to comparable investment companies. 

The fees are fixed and are payable in cash, quarterly in arrears. Directors are entitled to be reimbursed for any 

reasonable expenses properly incurred by them in connection with the performance of their duties and attendance at 

Board and general meetings and committee meetings. Directors are not eligible for bonuses, pension benefits, share 

options, long-term incentive schemes or other benefits.

Directors are provided with a letter of appointment when they join the Board. There is no provision for compensation upon 

early termination of appointment. The letters of appointment are available on request at the Company’s registered office 

during business hours and will be available for 15 minutes before and during the forthcoming AGM.

The Directors’ Remuneration Policy was approved by shareholders at the Company’s AGM in November 2014. Over 

99% of the votes cast were in favour of resolution and less than 1% were against. The Directors’ Remuneration Policy 

will next be put to shareholders for approval at the AGM in 2017 unless changes are proposed to be made in the 

meantime. The Directors’ Remuneration Report was approved by shareholders at the Company’s AGM in November 

2015. Over 99% of the votes cast were in favour of the resolution and less than 1% were against. 

The Board reviews the fees payable to the Chairman and Directors annually. The fees payable to the Chairman and 

Directors were reviewed and increased with effect from 1 July 2015 such that the Directors received fees of £31,000 

per annum, the chairman of the Audit Committee received £40,000 and the Chairman of the Board received £42,000 

in the year to 30 June 2016. 

5656

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016for the year ended 30 June 2016DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORTThe review in respect of 2016/2017 has resulted in the fees being increased with effect from 1 July 2016 as detailed 

in the table below.

Chairman

Directors

Chairman of Audit Committee

*Actual

2017 
£’000s 

2016* 
£’000s 

2015* 
£’000s 

43.0

31.8

41.0

42.0

31.0

40.0

40.5

30.0

38.5

Based on the levels of fees effective from 1 July 2016, Directors remuneration for the year ending 30 June 2017 would 

be as follows:

YEAR ENDING

Peter Burrows (Chairman) 

Alison Hill

Warren McLeland

Christopher Samuel

David Shillson

Eric Stobart

Total

2017 
2017 
£’000s 
£’000s 

43.0

31.8

31.8

31.8

31.8

41.0

211.2

DIRECTORS’ ANNUAL REPORT ON REMUNERATION
Shareholders will be asked to approve this Directors’ annual report on remuneration at the forthcoming annual general 

meeting.

During the year ended 30 June 2016, the Chairman received a fee of £37,950 (based on his position as a Director to 15 

November 2015 and then his election as Chairman) and the remaining Directors received a fee of £31,000, pro-rated 

from their date of appointment where relevant. The chairman of the Audit Committee received a fee, including his 

Director’s fees, of £40,000 per annum. 

The amounts paid to each Director are set out in the following table, which has been audited. These fees were for 

services to the Company solely in the capacity of non-executive Directors and have no performance related element.

5757

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
REMUNERATION FOR QUALIFYING SERVICES TO THE COMPANY (AUDITED)

DIRECTOR(1)

2016 
£’000s

2015 
£’000s(1) 

Peter Burrows (Director and then Chairman from 16 November 2015)

Roger Urwin (Chairman until his retirement on 16 November 2015)

Graham Cole(2)

J Michael Collier(3)

Alison Hill(4)

Warren McLeland 

Christopher Samuel(4)

David Shillson(4)

Eric Stobart(5)

Total

37.9

15.9

11.7

-

19.4

31.0

19.4

19.4

40.0

194.7

30.0

40.5

24.0

6.0

-

30.0

-

-

38.5

169.0

The Directors’ entitlement to fees is calculated in arrears as set out in note 1(j) on page 77
Appointed 11 September 2014; retired 16 November 2015
Retired 11 September 2014
Appointed 16 November 2015

(1) 
(2) 
(3) 
(4) 
(5)  Mr Stobart’s fee includes entitlement of £9,000 (2015, £8,500) for being chairman of the Audit Committee

DIRECTORS’ INTERESTS AND INDEMNIFICATION
There were no contracts of significance to which the Company was a party and in which a Director is, or was, materially 

interested during the year.

The Company has insurance in place which indemnifies the Directors against certain liabilities arising in carrying out 

their duties.

There are no agreements between the Company and its Directors concerning compensation for loss of office.

DIRECTORS’ BENEFICIAL SHARE INTERESTS
Ordinary shares of 10p each 

AT 30 JUNE 

Peter Burrows(1)

Graham Cole(2)

Alison Hill

Warren McLeland 

Christopher Samuel 

David Shillson

Eric Stobart

Roger Urwin(2)

*at date of appointment
(1)  Mr Burrows holds a further 100,000 shares in a non-beneficial capacity
(2)  Retired as a Director on 16 November 2015

5858

2016

539,617

–

–

23,879

20,000

32,333

50,000

–

2015

76,456

12,878

–

23,879

–

–

50,000

144,371

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORTNo Director held any interest, beneficial or otherwise, in the issued shares of the Company other than as stated in 

the table.

COMPANY PERFORMANCE
The Board is responsible for the Company’s investment strategy and performance, although the management of the 

Company’s investment portfolio is delegated to the Investment Managers pursuant to the IMA, as referred to in the 

Report of the Directors’ on page 40. The graph below compares, for the seven years ended 30 June 2016, the share 

price total return to ordinary shareholders (assuming all dividends are reinvested) to the FTSE All-Share Index total 

return (GBP adjusted). An explanation of the performance of the Company for the year ended 30 June 2016 is given in 

the Chairman’s Statement and Investment Managers’ Report. 

SHARE PRICE TOTAL RETURN
from June 2009 to June 2016 (rebased to 100 at 30 June 2009)

220

200

180

160

140

120

100

80

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

UIL ordinary share price total return
FTSE All-Share Index total return

Source: ICM

RELATIVE IMPORTANCE OF SPEND ON PAY
The following table compares the remuneration paid to the Directors with aggregate distributions paid to shareholders in 

the year to 30 June 2016 and the prior year. This disclosure is a statutory requirement, however the Directors consider that 

comparison of Directors’ remuneration with annual dividends does not provide a meaningful measure relative to the Company’s 

overall performance as an investment company with an objective of providing shareholders with long-term total return.

2016 
£’000s 

2015 
£’000s 

CHANGE 
£’000s

Aggregate Directors’ emoluments

195

169

Aggregate shareholder distributions(1) 

6,799

7,426

26

(627)

(1)  The dividend per share was the same in both years at 7.50p per ordinary share; the total dividend paid has 
reduced in 2016 due to the reduction in number of shares in issue following the significant share buybacks.

On behalf of the Board 

Peter Burrows 

Chairman 

19 September 2016

5959

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT

As chairman of the Audit Committee, I am pleased to present the Audit Committee’s report to shareholders for the 

year ended 30 June 2016.

ROLE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The  Company  has  established  a  separately  chaired  Audit  Committee  whose  duties  include  considering  and 

recommending to the Board for approval the contents of the half yearly and annual financial statements and providing 

an opinion as to whether the annual report and accounts, taken as a whole, are fair, balanced and understandable 

and provide the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, business model and 

strategy. The terms of reference detailing the scope and duties of the Audit Committee are available on the website 

www.uil.limited/investor_relations/other_documents

The Audit Committee meets at least three times a year. Two of the planned meetings are held prior to the Board 

meetings to approve the half yearly and annual results and the Audit Committee receives information from the 

Investment Managers and Administrator on their internal controls. Representatives of the Investment Managers and 

the Administrator attend all meetings.

COMPOSITION
The Audit Committee is composed of the independent Directors of the Company and is chaired by Eric Stobart. It is 

considered that there is a range of recent and relevant financial experience amongst the members of the Audit Committee.

RESPONSIBILITIES AND REVIEW OF THE EXTERNAL AUDIT
During the year the principal activities of the Audit Committee included:

•  regular review of the portfolio, particularly of the unlisted investments;

•  considering  and  recommending  to  the  Board  for  approval  the  contents  of  the  half  yearly  and  annual  financial 

statements and reviewing the external auditor’s report;

•  considering the Company’s viability statement:

•  considering  the  narrative  elements  of  the  annual  financial  report,  including  whether  the  annual  financial  report 

taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the necessary information for shareholders;

•  evaluation of reports received from the auditor with respect to the annual financial statements and its review of 

the interim report;

•  management of the relationship with the external auditor, including its appointment and the evaluation of scope, 

effectiveness, independence and objectivity of its audit, with particular regard to non-audit fees; 

•  evaluation of the effectiveness of the internal control and risk management systems, including reports received on 

the operational controls of the Company’s service providers;

•  monitoring  developments  in  accounting  and  reporting  requirements  that  impact  on  the  Company’s  compliance 

with relevant statutory and listing requirements; and

•  review of AAF and SSAE 16 reports or their equivalent from the Administrator and the Custodian.

AUDITOR AND AUDIT TENURE
KPMG LLP (“KPMG”) has been the auditor of the Company since 2012, following a competitive tender process. The 

audit director is Neil Palmer. The Audit Committee has considered the independence of the auditor and the objectivity 

of the audit process and is satisfied that KPMG has fulfilled its obligations to shareholders as independent auditor to 

the Company.

6060

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORTIt is the Company’s policy not to seek substantial non-audit services from its auditor, unless they relate to a review of the 

interim report or reporting on financial information in circulars or prospectuses, as the Board considers the auditor is 

best placed to provide these services. If the provision of significant non-audit services were to be considered, the Audit 

Committee would consider whether the particular skills of the audit firm made it a suitable supplier of those services and 

that there was no threat to the objectivity and independence of the audit. Non-audit fees paid to KPMG during the year 

amounted to £59,000 for the year ended 30 June 2016 (2015: £4,000) and related to the review of the interim accounts 

(£4,000) and acting as reporting accountants on the issue of the 2022 ZDP shares (£55,000); more details are included 

in note 5A to the accounts.

The director and manager of the audit team at KPMG presented their audit plan to the Audit Committee and subsequently 

reported on the nature, scope and results of their audit at the meeting when the draft annual financial report was 

considered. Representatives of the Administrator’s investment trust and business risk departments also attended the 

Audit Committee meetings at which the half yearly and annual financial reports were considered in order to inform the 

Audit Committee on internal control, risk and regulatory matters that might have a bearing on the Company’s business.

Members of the Audit Committee meet in camera with the external auditor at least once annually.

The audit plan and timetable were presented by and agreed with KPMG in advance of the financial year end. Items of 

audit focus were discussed, agreed and given particular attention during the audit process. KPMG reported to the Audit 

Committee on these items, amongst other matters. This report was considered by the Audit Committee and discussed 

with KPMG and the Investment Managers prior to approval of the annual financial report.

ACCOUNTING MATTERS AND SIGNIFICANT AREAS
The Audit Committee considered the appropriateness of the accounting policies at the meeting when it reviewed the 

annual financial statements and agreed with KPMG when discussing the audit plan the more significant accounting 

matters in relation to the Company’s annual financial statements. For the year end the accounting matters that were 

subject to specific consideration by the Audit Committee and consultation with KPMG where necessary were as follows:

SIGNIFICANT AREA

HOW ADDRESSED

Carrying value of the 
listed investments

Actively traded listed investments are valued using stock exchange prices provided by 
third party pricing vendors. 

The Audit Committee regularly reviews the portfolio. 

The Audit Committee reviews the annual internal control report produced by the 
Administrator, which is reported on by independent external accountants and which 
details the systems, processes and controls around the daily pricing of the securities.

KPMG independently tests the pricing of the listed investments.

Value of the unlisted 
investments

Investments that are unlisted or not actively traded are valued using a variety of 
techniques to determine a fair value, as set out in note 1(d) to the accounts, and all 
such valuations are carefully reviewed by the Audit Committee with the Investment 
Managers.

The Audit Committee receives detailed information on all the unlisted investments and 
it discusses and challenges the valuations with the Investment Managers. It considers 
market comparables and discusses any proposed revaluations with the Investment 
Managers. The Audit Committee checks with KPMG that it has reviewed and tested the 
proposed valuations for reasonability.

6161

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016The  above  was  satisfactorily  addressed  through  consideration  of  reports  provided  by,  and  discussed  with,  the 

Investment Managers, the Administrator and KPMG. As a result, and following a thorough review process, the Audit 

Committee advised the Board that it is satisfied that, taken as a whole, the annual financial report for the year to 30 

June 2016 is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the 

Company’s performance, business model and strategy. In reaching this conclusion, the Audit Committee has assumed 

that the reader of the report would have a reasonable level of knowledge of the investment company industry.

The Chairman of the Audit Committee will be present at the AGM to respond to any questions relating to the financial 

statements.

EXTERNAL AUDIT, REVIEW OF ITS EFFECTIVENESS AND AUDITOR REAPPOINTMENT 
The Audit Committee advises the Board on the appointment of the external auditor, its remuneration for audit and 

non-audit work and its cost effectiveness, independence and objectivity.

As part of the review of the effectiveness of the audit process, a formal evaluation process incorporating views from the 

members of the Audit Committee and relevant personnel at the Investment Managers and Administrator is followed 

and feedback is provided to KPMG. Areas covered by this review include:

•  the calibre of the audit firm, including reputation and industry presence;

•  the extent of quality controls including review processes, second director oversight and annual reports from its 

regulator;

•  the performance of the audit team, including skills of individuals, specialist knowledge, partner involvement, team 

member continuity and quality and timeliness of audit planning and execution;

•  audit communication including planning, relevant accounting and regulatory developments, approach to significant 

accounting risks, communication of audit results and recommendations on corporate reporting;

•  ethical standards including independence and integrity of the audit team, lines of communication to the Committee 

and partner rotation; and

•  reasonableness of audit fees.

For the 2016 financial year, the Audit Committee is satisfied that the audit process was effective.

Resolutions proposing the reappointment of KPMG as the Company’s auditor and authorising the Directors to determine 

its remuneration will be put to the shareholders at the forthcoming AGM.

AUDIT INFORMATION
The Directors confirm that, so far as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s 

auditor is unaware and each Director has taken steps that he ought to have taken as a Director to make himself 

aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditor is aware of that information. This 

confirmation is given and should be interpreted in accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the UK Companies 

Act 2006.

INTERNAL CONTROLS AND RISK MANAGEMENT
The Company’s risk assessment process and the way in which significant risks are managed is a key area of focus for 

the Audit Committee. Work here was driven by the Committee’s assessment of the risks arising in the Company’s 

operations and identification of the controls exercised by the Board and its delegates, the Investment Managers, the 

Administrator and other service providers. These are recorded in risk matrices prepared by ICMIM as the Company’s 

AIFM with responsibility for risk management and by the Administrator, which continue to serve as effective tools to 

6262

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORThighlight and monitor the principal risks, details of which are provided in the Strategic Report and Business Review. 

The Committee also received and considered, together with representatives of the Investment Managers, reports in 

relation to the operational controls of the Investment Managers, Administrator, Custodians and share registrar. These 

reviews identified no issues of significance.

INTERNAL AUDIT
Due to the nature of the Company, being an externally managed investment company with no executive employees, the 

Company does not have its own internal audit function. The Committee and the Board have concluded that there is no 

current need for such a function, based on the satisfactory operation of controls within the Company’s service providers.

COMMITTEE EVALUATION
The Audit Committee’s activities formed part of the review of Board effectiveness performed in the year. Details of this 

process can be found under “Board, Committee and Directors’ performance appraisal” on page 44.

Eric Stobart 

Chairman of the Audit Committee 

19 September 2016

6363

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIES

The Directors are responsible for preparing the annual report and accounts, which is required to include a Strategic 

Report, a Corporate Governance Statement, a Directors’ Remuneration Report and a Report of the Directors.

The Directors must not approve the Group and Company financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give 

a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Company as at 30 June 2016 and of the results for the year 

then ended. The Directors are also responsible for ensuring that the annual report and accounts is fair, balanced and 

understandable and that the accounting records are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and 

disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and Group and enable them to 

ensure that the financial statements and the Directors’ annual report on remuneration comply with IFRS. They have a 

general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Company 

and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

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

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; 

•  present  information,  including  accounting  policies,  in  a  manner  that  provides  relevant,  reliable,  comparable  and 

understandable information; 

•  make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent; 

•  provide additional disclosures when compliance with the specific requirements in IFRS is insufficient to enable users 

to understand the impact of particular transactions, other events and conditions on the entity’s financial position 

and financial performance; and

•  state that the Company has complied with IFRS, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the 

financial statements.

The Directors of the Company, whose names are shown on page 38 of this report, each confirm to the best of their 

knowledge that:

•  the  financial  statements,  which  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  applicable  Bermuda  law  and  IFRS,  as 

adopted by the European Union, on a going concern basis, give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial 

position and net return of the Company and Group;

•  the annual financial report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the Company and the 

important events that have occurred during the financial year and their impact on the financial statements, including 

a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces; and

•  the financial statements and the Report of the Directors’ include details of any related party transactions.

Approved by the Board on 19 September 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Peter Burrows 

Chairman

ELECTRONIC PUBLICATION

The  annual  report  and  accounts  are  published  on  the  Company’s  website,  www.uil.limited,  the  maintenance  and 
integrity of which is the responsibility of ICMIM. The work carried out by the auditor does not involve consideration of 
the maintenance and integrity of the website and accordingly, the auditor accepts no responsibility for any changes that 
have occurred in the financial statements since they were originally presented on the website. Visitors to the website 
need  to  be  aware  that  the  legislation  governing  the  preparation  and  dissemination  of  the  accounts  may  differ  from 
legislation in their jurisdiction.

6464

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016in respect of the financial statementsDIRECTORS’ STATEMENT OF RESPONSIBILITIESREPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR
To the members of UIL Limited only

OPINIONS AND CONCLUSIONS ARISING FROM OUR AUDIT

1  Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified 

We have audited the financial statements of UIL Limited for the year ended 30 June 2016 set out on pages 69 to 

102.  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 30 June 2016 and of the 

profit of the Group and Parent Company for the year then ended; and  

•  have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the 

European Union. 

2  Our assessment of risks of material misstatement

In arriving at our audit opinion above on the financial statements the risks of material misstatement that had the 

greatest effect on our audit were as follows (unchanged from 2015):

Carrying amount of Listed Investments (£327.4m (2015: £284.6m)) Risk vs 2015  

Refer to page 61 (Audit Committee Report), page 76 (accounting policy) and pages 82 to 83 (financial disclosures)

•  The risk: The Group’s portfolio of listed investments makes up 72% of the total Group assets (by value) and is 

considered to be one of the key drivers of performance results. We do not consider these investments to be at 

high risk of significant misstatement, or to be subject to a significant level of judgement because they comprise 

liquid, quoted investments. However, due to their materiality in the context of the financial statements as a 

whole, they are considered to be one of the areas which had the greatest effect on our overall audit strategy and 

allocation of resources in planning and completing our audit. 

•  Our response: Our procedures over the existence, completeness, ownership and valuation of the Group’s 

portfolio of listed investments included, but were not limited to:

•  documenting and assessing the processes in place to record investment transactions and to value the listed 

portfolio;

•  agreeing the pricing of the listed investments in the portfolio to externally quoted prices; and

•  agreeing 100% of investment holdings in the portfolio to independently received third party confirmations.

Carrying amount of Unlisted Investments (£124.8m (2015: £82.3m)) Risk vs 2015 

Refer to page 61 (Audit Committee Report), page 76 (accounting policy) and pages 82 to 83 (financial disclosures)

•  The risk: 27% of the Group’s total assets (by value) is held in investments where no quoted market price is available. 

Unquoted investments are measured at fair value, which is established in accordance with the International Private 

Equity and Venture Capital Valuation Guidelines by using measurements of value such as prices of recent orderly 

transactions, earnings multiples, and net assets. There is a significant risk over the valuation of these investments 

and this is a key judgemental area that our audit focused on.  

•  Our response: Our procedures over the existence, completeness, ownership and valuation of the Group’s 

portfolio of unlisted investments included, but were not limited to: 

•  documenting and assessing the processes in place to record investment transactions and to value the unlisted 

portfolio; 

6565

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR•  challenging the Investment Manager on key judgements affecting investee company valuations in the context 

of observed industry best practice and the provisions of the International Private Equity and Venture Capital 

Valuation Guidelines.  In particular, we challenged the appropriateness of the valuation basis selected as well 

as the underlying assumptions, such as discount factors, and the choice of benchmark for earnings multiples; 

•  comparing key underlying financial data inputs to external sources, investee company audited accounts and 

management information as applicable; 

•  challenging the assumptions around sustainability of earnings based on the plans of the investee companies 

and whether these are achievable, and we obtained an understanding of existing and prospective investee 

company cash flows to understand whether borrowings can be serviced or whether refinancing may be 

required; 

•  where a recent transaction had been used to value a holding, we obtained an understanding of the circumstances 

surrounding the transaction and whether it was considered to be on an arms-length basis and suitable as an 

input into a valuation. Our work included consideration of events which occurred subsequent to the year end 

up until the date of this audit report;

• 

inspected loan documentation supporting loan positions to understand how secure the loans were by looking 

at performance against covenants where applicable;

•  attending the year-end Audit Committee meeting where we assessed the effectiveness of the Audit Committee’s 

challenge and approval of unlisted investment valuations; and

•  consideration of the appropriateness, in accordance with relevant accounting standards, of the disclosures in 

respect of unlisted investments and the effect of changing one or more inputs to reasonably possible alternative 

valuation  assumptions;  and  obtaining  confirmation  of  ownership  by  inspecting  of  loan  documentation, 

custodian confirmation or share certificates.

3  Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit

The materiality for the financial statements as a whole was set at £4.6m (2015: £5.6m), determined with reference 

to a benchmark of Total Assets, of which it represents 1% (2015: 1.5%) reflecting industry consensus levels. 

In addition, we applied materiality of £0.3m (2015: £0.4m) to a number of income statement items, including 

investment and other income, management and administration fees, and other expenses for which we believe 

misstatements of lesser amounts than materiality for the financial statements as a whole could reasonably be 

expected to influence the Company’s members’ assessment of the financial performance of the company.

We report to the Audit Committee any corrected and uncorrected identified misstatements exceeding £0.2m (2015: 

£0.3m); any corrected and uncorrected identified misstatements exceeding £0.02m (2015: £0.02m) for the financial 

statement captions described above; and, in addition to other identified misstatements that warranted reporting 

on qualitative grounds are also communicated.

Our audit of the Group was undertaken to the materiality level specified above and was principally performed at 

the office of the managers, ICM Management Limited, in Epsom, United Kingdom and at our offices in London, 

United Kingdom.

6666

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITOR4  Our opinion on the Directors’ Remuneration Report is unmodified

In addition to our audit of the financial statements, the Directors have engaged us to audit the information in the 

Directors’ Remuneration Report that is described as having been audited, which the Directors have decided to prepare 

(in addition to that required to be prepared) as if the Company were required to comply with the requirements of 

Schedule 8 to The Large and Medium-sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 (SI 

2008 No. 410) made under the UK Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report which we were engaged to audit has been properly 

prepared in accordance with SI 2008 No. 410 made under the UK Companies Act 2006, as if those requirements 

were to apply to the Company. 

5  We have nothing to report on the disclosures of principal risks

Based on the knowledge we acquired during our audit, we have nothing material to add or draw attention to in 

relation to: 

•  the Directors’ statement of longer term viability on page 35, concerning the principal risks, their management, 

and, based on that, the Directors’ assessment and expectations of the Company’s continuing in operation over 

the next three years; or 

•  the disclosures in note 1 of the financial statements concerning the use of the going concern basis of accounting. 

6  We have nothing to report in respect of the matters on which we are required to report by exception

Under ISAs (UK and Ireland) we are required to report to you if, based on the knowledge we acquired during our 

audit, we have identified other information in the annual report that contains a material inconsistency with either 

that knowledge or the financial statements, a material misstatement of fact, or that is otherwise misleading. 

In particular, we are required to report to you if: 

•  we have identified material inconsistencies between the knowledge we acquired during our audit and the 

Directors’ statement that they consider that the annual report and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, 

balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s 

performance, business model and strategy; or

•  the Audit Committee Report does not appropriately address matters communicated by us to the audit committee.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the part of the Corporate Governance Statement on pages 52 

and 53 relating to the Company’s compliance with the eleven provisions of the 2014 UK Corporate Governance 

Code specified for our review.

In addition to our audit of the financial statements, the Directors have engaged us to review certain other disclosures 

as if the Company were required to comply with the Listing Rules applicable to companies incorporated in the UK.  

Under the terms of our engagement we are required to review the Directors’ statement, set out on page 39 in 

relation to going concern.

We have nothing to report in respect of the above responsibilities.

SCOPE AND RESPONSIBILITIES
As  explained  more  fully  in  the  Directors’  Responsibilities  Statement  set  out  on  page  64,  the  directors  are 

responsible  for  the  preparation  of  the  financial  statements  and  for  being  satisfied  that  they  give  a  true  and  fair 

6767

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016view.  A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s 

website at www.frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. This report is made solely to the company’s members as a body 

and is subject to important explanations and disclaimers regarding our responsibilities, published on our website at 

www.kpmg.com/uk/auditscopeukco2014a, which are incorporated into this report as if set out in full and should be read 

to provide an understanding of the purpose of this report, the work we have undertaken and the basis of our opinions.

THE PURPOSE OF THIS REPORT AND RESTRICTIONS ON ITS USE BY PERSONS OTHER THAN THE 
COMPANY’S MEMBERS AS A BODY
This report is made solely to the Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with section 90(2) of the Companies Act 

1981 of Bermuda and, in respect of the separate opinion in relation to the Directors’ Remuneration Report, on terms 

that have been agreed. 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, in respect of the separate opinion in relation to the 

Directors’ Remuneration Report, those matters that we have agreed to state to them in our 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.

Neil Palmer 

for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor  

Chartered Accountants  

15 Canada Square 

London 

E14 5GL  

19 September 2016

6868

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) REPORT OF THE INDEPENDENT AUDITORGROUP INCOME STATEMENT

for the year to 30 June

s
e
t
o
N

Revenue 
return 
£’000s

Capital 
return 
£’000s

2016

Total 
return 
£’000s

Revenue 
return 
£’000s

Capital  
return 
£’000s

2015

Total  
return 
£’000s

10 Gains on investments

 – 

103,464

103,464

 – 

6,308

6,308

13 (Losses)/gains on derivative financial 

instruments

 – 

(22,013)

(22,013)

Foreign exchange gains/(losses)

181

(6,388)

(6,207)

 – 

(74)

6,347

2,989

6,347

2,915

2 Investment and other income

10,318

 – 

10,318

11,271

 – 

11,271

Total income

10,499

75,063

85,562

11,197

15,644

26,841

3 Income not receivable

4 Management and administration fees

5 Other expenses

(887)

(849)

(1,083)

 – 

 – 

(2)

(887)

(849)

 – 

(846)

(1,085)

(1,003)

 – 

 – 

(5)

 – 

(846)

(1,008)

Profit before finance costs and taxation

7,680

75,061

82,741

9,348

15,639

24,987

6 Finance costs

(1,739)

(12,734)

(14,473)

(1,082)

(13,195)

(14,277)

Profit before taxation

5,941

62,327

68,268

8,266

2,444

10,710

7 Taxation

(268)

 – 

(268)

(500)

 – 

(500)

Profit for the year

5,673

62,327

68,000

7,766

2,444

10,210

8 Earnings per ordinary share (basic) – 

pence

6.23

68.45

74.68

7.84

2.47

10.31

The Group does not have any income or expense that is not included in the profit for the year, and therefore the “profit for the year” is also the “total 
comprehensive income for the year”, as defined in International Accounting Standard 1 (revised).

All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

All income is attributable to the equity holders of the Company. There are no minority interests.

6969

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016COMPANY INCOME STATEMENT

for the year to 30 June

s
e
t
o
N

Revenue 
return 
£’000s

Capital 
return 
£’000s

2016

Total 
return 
£’000s

Revenue 
return 
£’000s

Capital  
return 
£’000s

2015

Total  
return 
£’000s

10 Gains on investments

 – 

103,674

103,674

 – 

6,233

6,233

13 (Losses)/gains on derivative financial 

instruments

 – 

(21,944)

(21,944)

Foreign exchange gains/(losses)

181

(6,420)

(6,239)

 – 

(74)

6,423

2,993

6,423

2,919

2 Investment and other income

10,318

 – 

10,318

11,271

 – 

11,271

Total income

10,499

75,310

85,809

11,197

15,649

26,846

3 Income not receivable

4 Management and administration fees

5 Other expenses

(887)

(834)

(1,075)

 – 

 – 

(2)

(887)

(834)

(1,077)

 – 

(831)

(996)

 – 

 – 

(5)

 – 

(831)

(1,001)

Profit before finance costs and taxation

7,703

75,308

83,011

9,370

15,644

25,014

6 Finance costs

(1,739)

(12,745)

(14,484)

(1,082)

(13,237)

(14,319)

Profit before taxation

5,964

62,563

68,527

8,288

2,407

10,695

7 Taxation

(268)

 – 

(268)

(500)

 – 

(500)

Profit for the year

5,696

62,563

68,259

7,788

2,407

10,195

8 Earnings per ordinary share (basic) – 

pence

6.25

68.71

74.96

7.87

2.43

10.30

The Company does not have any income or expense that is not included in the profit for the year, and therefore the “profit for the year” is also the 
“total comprehensive income for the year”, as defined in International Accounting Standard 1 (revised).

All items in the above statement derive from continuing operations.

All income is attributable to the equity holders of the Company.

7070

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016GROUP STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

for the year to 30 June 2016

s
e
t
o
N

Ordinary
share
capital
£’000s

Share
premium
account
£’000s

Special 
reserve 
£’000s 

Non-
distributable
reserve
£’000s

Capital
reserves
£’000s

Revenue
reserve
£’000s

Total
£’000s

Balance at 30 June 2015

9,856

28,414

233,866

32,069

(149,255)

11,608

166,558

Profit for the year

9 Ordinary dividends paid

18 Shares purchased by 
the Company

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(791)

(8,383)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

62,327

5,673

68,000

 – 

 – 

(6,799)

(6,799)

 – 

(9,174)

Balance at 30 June 2016

9,065

20,031

233,866

32,069

(86,928)

10,482

218,585

for the year to 30 June 2015

Ordinary
share
capital
£’000s

Share
premium
account
£’000s

Special 
reserve 
£’000s 

Other non-
distributable
reserve
£’000s

Capital
reserves
£’000s

Revenue
reserve
£’000s

Total
£’000s

Balance at 30 June 2014

9,916

29,020

233,866

32,069

(151,699)

11,268

164,440

Profit for the year

9 Ordinary dividends paid

Shares purchased by 

the Company

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

(60)

(606)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2,444

7,766

10,210

 – 

 – 

(7,426)

(7,426)

 – 

(666)

Balance at 30 June 2015

9,856

28,414

233,866

32,069

(149,255)

11,608

166,558

7171

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY

for the year to 30 June 2016

s
e
t
o
N

Ordinary
share
capital
£’000s

Share
premium
account
£’000s

Special 
reserve 
£’000s 

Other non-
distributable
reserve
£’000s

Capital
reserves
£’000s

Revenue
reserve
£’000s

Total
£’000s

Balance at 30 June 2015

9,856

28,414

233,866

32,069

(149,451)

11,804

166,558

Profit for the year

9 Ordinary dividends paid

18 Shares purchased by the 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Company

(791)

(8,383)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

62,563

5,696

68,259

 – 

 – 

(6,799)

(6,799)

 – 

(9,174)

Balance at 30 June 2016

9,065

20,031 233,866

32,069

(86,888)

10,701

218,844

for the year to 30 June 2015

Ordinary
share
capital
£’000s

Share
premium
account
£’000s

Special 
reserve 
£’000s 

Other non-
distributable
reserve
£’000s

Capital
reserves
£’000s

Revenue
reserve
£’000s

Total
£’000s

Balance at 30 June 2014

9,916

29,020

233,866

32,069

(151,858)

11,442

164,455

Profit for the year

9 Ordinary dividends paid

Shares purchased by the 

Company

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(60)

(606)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2,407

7,788

10,195

 – 

 – 

(7,426)

(7,426)

 – 

(666)

Balance at 30 June 2015

9,856

28,414

233,866

32,069

(149,451)

11,804

166,558

7272

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016BALANCE SHEETS

s at 30 June

e
t
o
N

Non-current assets

10 Investments

Current assets

12 Other receivables

13 Derivative financial instruments

Cash and cash equivalents

Current liabilities

14 Loans

15 Other payables

13 Derivative financial instruments

16 Zero dividend preference shares

Net current liabilities

Total assets less current liabilities

Non-current liabilities

17 Loans

16 Zero dividend preference shares

Net assets

Equity attributable to equity holders

18 Ordinary share capital

19 Share premium account

20 Special reserve

21 Non-distributable reserve

22 Capital reserves

23 Revenue reserve

Total attributable to equity holders

24 Net asset value per ordinary share

GROUP

COMPANY

2016

£’000s

2015

£’000s

2016

£’000s

2015

£’000s

452,197

366,928

462,624

367,609

2,945

1,067

174

4,186

2,583

3,359

1,236

7,178

 – 

(34,351)

2,945

 – 

11

2,956

 – 

(207,467)

(14,570)

 – 

(222,037)

(219,081)

243,543

 – 

(24,699)

 – 

2,583

2,658

1,053

6,294

(34,351)

(172,994)

 – 

 – 

(207,345)

(201,051)

166,558

 – 

 – 

218,844

166,558

9,065

20,031

233,866

32,069

(86,888)

10,701

218,844

9,856

28,414

233,866

32,069

(149,451)

11,804

166,558

(560)

(196)

 – 

(35,107)

(27,929)

338,999

(172,441)

166,558

9,856

28,414

233,866

32,069

(149,255)

11,608

166,558

(1,101)

(14,637)

(61,327)

(77,065)

(72,879)

379,318

(24,699)

(136,034)

218,585

9,065

20,031

233,866

32,069

(86,928)

10,482

218,585

Basic – pence

241.12

169.00

241.41

169.00

Approved by the Board on 19 September 2016 and signed on its behalf by

P Burrows 
Chairman 

E St C Stobart 
Director

7373

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS

GROUP

COMPANY

s for the year to 30 June

e
t
o
N

25 Cash flows from operating activities

Investing activities

Purchases of investments

Sales of investments

Purchases of derivatives

Sales of derivatives

Cash flows on margin accounts

Cash flows from investing activities

Cash flows before financing activities

Financing activities

Equity dividends paid

Movements on loans

Cash flows from issue of ZDP shares

Cash flows from redemption of ZDP shares

Cost of shares purchased for cancellation

2016

£’000s

4,217

(46,049)

65,169

(8,302)

3,022

 – 

13,840

18,057

(6,799)

(11,483)

12,435

 – 

(9,174)

2015

£’000s

3,587

(42,255)

86,466

(887)

3,246

1

46,571

50,158

(7,426)

12,634

8,993

(62,172)

(666)

2016

£’000s 

4,238

(46,582)

65,169

(4,716)

 – 

 – 

13,871

18,109

(6,799)

(11,483)

12,435

 – 

(9,174)

Cash flows from financing activities

(15,021)

(48,637)

(15,021)

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

3,036

1,521

3,088

2015

£’000s 

3,613

(43,746)

86,466

 – 

2,817

 – 

45,537

49,150

(7,426)

12,634

8,993

(61,346)

(666)

(47,811)

1,339

(2,694)

2,397

1,225

(4,375)

(2,689)

2,393

1,042

(4,407)

(114)

1,225

(277)

1,042

174

(288)

(114)

1,236

(11)

1,225

11

(288)

(277)

1,053

(11)

1,042

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of 

the year

Effect of movement in foreign exchange

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of 

the year

Comprised of:

Cash

Bank overdraft

Total

7474

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS

1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES

The Company, UIL Limited (formerly Utilico Investments Limited), is an investment company incorporated in Bermuda and traded 

on the London Stock Exchange. The Company commenced trading on 20 June 2007.

The Group Accounts comprise the results of the Company, UIL Finance Limited (formerly Utilico Finance Limited) (“UIL Finance”) 

and Global Equity Risk Protection Limited (“GERP”). Details of the subsidiaries and associates are included in notes 10 and 11 to 

the Accounts.

The Group is engaged in a single segment of business, focusing on maximising shareholder returns by identifying and investing 

in investments where the underlying value is not reflected in the market price.

(a)  Basis of accounting

The Accounts have been prepared on a going concern basis in accordance with IFRS, which comprise standards and interpretations 

approved by the IASB, and International Accounting Standards and Standing Interpretations Committee interpretations approved 

by the IASC that remain in effect and to the extent that they have been adopted by the European Union.

The functional and reporting currency is pounds Sterling because that is the currency the Group operates in and is the currency 

most relevant to the Company’s shareholders.

There have been no significant changes to the accounting policies during the year to 30 June 2016.

Where  presentational  recommendations  set  out  in  the  revised  Statement  of  Recommended  Practice  “Financial  Statements  of 

Investment Trust Companies and Venture Capital Trusts” (“SORP”), issued in the UK by the Association of Investment Companies 

(“AIC”) in November 2014, do not conflict with the requirements of IFRS, the Directors have prepared the Accounts on a basis 

consistent with the recommendations of the SORP, in the belief that this will aid comparison with similar investment companies 

incorporated and listed in the United Kingdom.

In  accordance  with  the  SORP,  the  Income  Statement  has  been  analysed  between  a  revenue  return  (dealing  with  items  of  a 

revenue  nature)  and  a  capital  return  (relating  to  items  of  a  capital  nature).  Revenue  returns  include,  but  are  not  limited  to, 

dividend  income,  operating  expenses,  finance  costs  and  taxation  (insofar  as  they  are  not  allocated  to  capital,  as  described  in 

notes 1(j) and 1(k)). Net revenue returns are allocated via the revenue return to the revenue reserve.

Capital returns include, but are not limited to, profits and losses on the disposal and the valuation of non-current investments 

and derivative instruments and on cash and borrowings. Net capital returns are allocated via the capital return to capital reserves.

Dividends on ordinary shares may be paid out of the revenue reserve and the capital reserves.

A  number  of  new  standards  and  amendments  to  standards  and  interpretations  are  effective  for  annual  periods  beginning 

after 1 January 2018 and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated accounts. None of these are expected to have 

a  significant  effect  on  the  consolidated  accounts  of  the  Company  except  for  IFRS  9  ‘Financial  Instruments’.  IFRS  9  ‘Financial 

Instruments’  could  change  the  classification  and  measurement  of  financial  assets.  The  Company  does  not  plan  to  adopt  this 

standard early and the extent of the impact has not been determined.

The key assumptions concerning the future and other key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant risk of causing 

a  material  adjustment  to  the  carrying  amounts  of  assets  and  liabilities  within  the  next  financial  year  relate  to  the  valuation  of 

unlisted investments, details of which are set out in accounting policy 1(d).

(b)  Basis of consolidation

The  consolidated  Accounts  include  the  Accounts  of  the  Company  and  its  operating  subsidiaries,  UIL  Finance  and  GERP.  All 

intra  group  transactions,  balances,  income  and  expenses  are  eliminated  on  consolidation.  Other  subsidiaries  and  associate 
undertakings  held  as  part  of  the  investment  portfolio  (see  1(d)  below)  are  not  accounted  for  in  the  Group  Accounts,  but  are 

carried at fair value through profit or loss and accounted for in accordance with IFRS 10 Financial Instruments: Recognition and 

Measurement.

7575

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 20161.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued)
(c)  Financial instruments

Financial instruments include non-current assets, derivative assets and liabilities and long-term debt instruments. For those financial 

instruments  carried  at  fair  value,  accounting  standards  recognise  a  hierarchy  of  fair  value  measurements  for  financial  instruments 

which gives the highest priority to unadjusted quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities (Level 1) and the lowest 

priority to unobservable inputs (Level 3). The classification of instruments depends on the lowest significant applicable input, as follows:

Level 1 –  Unadjusted, fully accessible and current quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities. Included within 

this category are investments listed on any recognised stock exchange or quoted on any secondary market.

Level 2 –  Quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, or other directly or indirectly observable inputs which exist for the duration of 

the period of investment. Examples of such instruments would be convertible loans in listed investee companies, securities 

for  which  the  quoted  price  has  been  recently  suspended,  forward  exchange  contracts  and  certain  other  derivative 

instruments.

Level 3 –  External  inputs  are  unobservable.  Value  is  the  Directors’  best  estimate  of  fair  value,  based  on  advice  from  relevant 

knowledgeable  experts,  use  of  recognised  valuation  techniques  and  on  assumptions  as  to  what  inputs  other  market 

participants  would  apply  in  pricing  the  same  or  similar  instruments.  Included  in  Level  3  are  investments  in  private 

companies or securities, whether invested in directly, via loans or through pooled private equity vehicles.

(d)  Valuation of investments and derivative financial instruments held at fair value through profit or loss

Investment purchases and sales are accounted for on the trade date, inclusive of transaction costs. Investments used for efficient 

portfolio management are classified as being at fair value through profit or loss. As the Company’s business is investing in financial 

assets with a view to profiting from their total return in the form of dividends, interest or increases in fair value, its investments 

(including  those  ordinarily  classified  as  subsidiaries  under  IFRS  10  but  exempted  by  that  financial  reporting  standard  from  the 

requirement  to  be  consolidated)  are  designated  as  being  at  fair  value  through  profit  or  loss  on  initial  recognition.  Derivatives 

including forward foreign exchange contracts and options are accounted for as a financial asset/liability at fair value through profit or 

loss. The Company manages and evaluates the performance of these investments and derivatives on a fair value basis in accordance 

with its investment strategy and information about the Company is provided internally on this basis to the Company’s Directors 

and key management personnel. Gains and losses on investments and on derivatives are analysed within the Income Statement 

as capital returns. Quoted investments are shown at fair value using market bid prices. The fair value of unquoted investments is 

determined by the Board in accordance with the International Private Equity and Venture Capital Valuation guidelines. In exercising 

its judgement over the value of these investments, the Board uses valuation techniques which take into account, where appropriate, 

latest  dealing  prices,  valuations  from  reliable  sources,  net  asset  values,  earnings  multiples,  recent  orderly  transactions  in  similar 

securities and other relevant factors. 

(e)  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the balance sheet comprise cash at bank.

(f)  Bank borrowings

Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts are initially measured at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using 

the effective interest method. No debt instruments held during the year required hierarchical classification. Finance charges, including 

interest, are accrued using the effective interest method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that 

they are not settled in the year. See 1(k) below for allocation of finance costs between revenue and capital return within the Income 

Statement.

(g)  Zero dividend preference shares

The  ZDP  shares,  due  to  be  redeemed  in  2016,  2018,  2020  and  2022  at  a  redemption  value,  including  accrued  capitalised 

returns (see note 16) of 192.78 pence per share, 160.52 pence per share, 154.90 pence per share and 146.99 pence per share 

respectively, have been classified as liabilities, as they represent an obligation on behalf of the Group to deliver to their holders a 

fixed and determinable amount at the redemption date. They are accordingly accounted for at amortised cost, using the effective 

interest method. ZDP shares held by the Company are deemed cancelled for Group purposes.

7676

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS1.  ACCOUNTING POLICIES (continued))

(h)  Foreign currency

Foreign currency assets and liabilities are expressed in Sterling at rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Foreign 

currency  transactions  are  translated  at  the  rates  of  exchange  ruling  at  the  dates  of  those  transactions.  Exchange  profits 

and  losses  on  currency  balances  are  credited  or  charged  to  the  Income  Statement  and  analysed  as  capital  or  revenue  as 

appropriate. Forward foreign exchange contracts are valued in accordance with quoted market rates. 

(i) 

Investment and other income
Dividends receivable are brought into the Income Statement and analysed as revenue return (except where, in the opinion of the 

Directors, their nature indicates they should be recognised as capital) on the ex-dividend date or, where no ex-dividend date is 

quoted, when the Group’s right to receive payment is established. Where the Group or the Company has elected to receive its 

dividends in the form of additional shares rather than in cash, the amount of the cash dividend foregone is recognised as revenue 

return. Any excess in the value of the shares received over the amount of the cash dividend foregone is recognised as capital 

return. Interest on debt securities is accrued on a time basis using the effective interest method. Bank and short-term deposit 

interest is recognised on an accruals basis. These are brought into the Income Statement and analysed as revenue returns.

(j)  Expenses

All expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis. Expenses are charged through the Income Statement and analysed under 

revenue return except for those expenses incidental to the acquisition or disposal of investments and performance related fees 

(calculated under the terms of the management agreement), which are analysed under the capital return, as the Directors believe 

such fees arise from capital performance.

(k)  Finance costs

Finance costs are accounted for using the effective interest method, recognised through the Income Statement and analysed 

under the revenue return except those finance costs of the ZDP shares which are analysed under the capital return.

(l)  Dividends payable

Dividends paid by the Company are accounted for in the year in which the Company is liable to pay them and are reflected in the 

Statement of Changes in Equity. Under Bermuda law, the Company is unable to pay dividends unless it has revenue and other 

reserves (excluding share capital and share premium) which together have a positive value exceeding the cost of the dividend.

(m)  Capital reserves

The following items are accounted for through the Income Statement as capital returns and transferred to capital reserves:

Capital reserve – arising on investments sold
 − gains and losses on the disposal of investments and derivative instruments

 − exchange differences of a capital nature

 − expenses allocated in accordance with notes 1(j) and 1(k)

Capital reserve – arising on investments held
 − increases and decreases in the valuation of investments and derivative instruments held at the year end.

(n)  Use of estimates and judgements

The  presentation  of  the  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRS  requires  management  to  make  judgements,  estimates  and 

assumptions that affect the application of accounting policies and the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. 

Actual results 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 estimates are revised and in any future periods affected.

7777

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
 
Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

6,679

3,636

10,315

3

10,318

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2016 
Total 
£’000s

6,679

3,636

8,858

2,412

10,315

11,270

3

1

10,318

11,271

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2016 
Total 
£’000s

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

(887)

 – 

(887)

 – 

 – 

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

539

310

849

 – 

 – 

 – 

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

524

310

834

 – 

 – 

 – 

2016  
Total  
£’000s

539

310

849

2016  
Total  
£’000s

524

310

834

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

547

299

846

 – 

 – 

 – 

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

532

299

831

 – 

 – 

 – 

2015 
Total 
£’000s

8,858

2,412

11,270

1

11,271

2015 
Total 
£’000s

 – 

2015  
Total  
£’000s

547

299

846

2015  
Total  
£’000s

532

299

831

2. 

INVESTMENT AND OTHER INCOME

Group and Company

Investment income

Dividends

Interest

Other income

Interest on cash and short-term deposits

Total income

3. 

INCOME NOT RECEIVABLE

Group and Company

Accrued dividend not received

4.  MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION FEES

Group

Payable to:

ICM/ICMIM – management fee, secretarial and 

administration fees

F&C Management Limited – administration fee

Company

Payable to:

ICM/ICMIM – management and secretarial fees

F&C Management Limited – administration fee

7878

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS 
 
 
 
4.  MANAGEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION FEES (continued) 
ICM Investment Management Limited (“ICMIM”) is the Company’s Alternative Investment Fund Manager and Company Secretary and 

joint portfolio manager with ICM Limited (“ICM”), for which they are entitled to a management fee, a performance fee and a company 

secretarial fee. The aggregate fees payable by the Company are apportioned between the joint portfolio managers as agreed by them.

The relationship between ICMIM and ICM is compliant with the requirements of the EU Alternative Investment Fund Manager Directive 

and also such other requirements applicable to ICMIM by virtue of its regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority.

The annual management fee is based on total assets less current liabilities (excluding borrowings and excluding the value of all holdings 

in companies managed or advised by the Investment Managers or any of its subsidiaries from which it receives a management fee), 

payable quarterly in arrears. The agreement with ICM and ICMIM may be terminated upon one year’s notice given by the Company 

and not less than six months’ notice given by ICM and ICMIM, acting together.

The  annual  management  fee  throughout  the  year  was  0.25%  per  annum  (prior  to  1  January  2014  the  fee  payable  was  0.5%  per 

annum). The fee payable will revert back to 0.5% per annum with effect from 1 July 2016 as the high watermark of net asset value of 

284.81p per share has been regained.

Included within the management fees of £489,000 (2015: £477,000) paid to the Investment Managers is £nil (2015: £32,000) salary 

and PAYE costs relating to employees of the Company (excluding the costs associated with the Company Secretary). These costs were 

deducted from the management fee payable by the Company to ICM. The average number of employees of the Company in the year 

was nil (30 June 2015: four).

In addition, the Investment Managers are entitled to a performance fee payable in respect of each financial period, equal to 15% of 

the amount by which the Company’s net asset value attributable to the holders of ordinary shares outperforms the real after-tax yield 

on the FTSE Actuaries Government Securities UK Gilt 5 to 10 years’ index during the period. The opening equity funds for calculation 

of the performance fee are the higher of the equity funds on the last day of a calculation period in respect of which a performance 

fee was last paid and the equity funds on the last day of the previous calculation period increased by the real percentage yield on the 

reference index during the calculation period. A performance fee was last paid in respect of the 12 month period to 30 June 2007. As 

at that date the equity holders’ funds were £279.0m. In calculating any performance fee payable, the value of all holdings in companies 

managed or advised by the Investment Managers from which they receive a management fee are removed from the calculation in 

order that any such fee is charged solely on the performance of the portfolio excluding those investments.

As at 30 June 2016, the attributable shareholders’ funds were below the high watermark and therefore no performance fee has been 

accrued (30 June 2015: same).

ICMIM also provides company secretarial services to the Company, with the Company paying one-third of the costs associated with 

this post.

ICM Corporate Services (Pty) Ltd is a 100% owned subsidiary of ICM and provides administration services to GERP for a fee of £15,000 

per annum. The agreement is terminable upon one month’s notice in writing.

F&C  Management  Limited  (“F&C”)  provides  accounting,  dealing  and  administration  services  to  the  Company  for  a  fee  of  £310,000 

per annum, payable monthly in arrears. The agreement with F&C may be terminated upon six months’ notice given by either party 

in writing.

7979

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 20165.  OTHER EXPENSES

Group

Auditors’ remuneration (see note 5A)

Broker and consultancy fees

Custody fees

Directors’ fees for services to the Company 

(see Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 56 to 59)

Travel expenses

Professional and legal fees

Sundry expenses

Company

Auditors’ remuneration (see note 5A)

Broker and consultancy fees

Custody fees

Directors’ fees for services to the Company 

(see Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 56 to 59)

Travel expenses

Professional and legal fees

Sundry expenses

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2016  
Total  
£’000s

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2015  
Total  
£’000s

65

51

166

195

171

134

301

1,083

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2

2

65

51

166

195

171

134

303

65

56

131

169

234

108

240

1,085

1,003

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

5

5

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2016  
Total  
£’000s

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

63

51

166

195

171

134

295

1,075

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2

2

63

51

166

195

171

134

297

1,077

63

56

131

169

234

108

235

996

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

5

5

65

56

131

169

234

108

245

1,008

2015  
Total  
£’000s

63

56

131

169

234

108

240

1,001

5A.  AUDITOR’S REMUNERATION
Fees paid to the Group’s auditor are summarised below:

Group Auditor – KPMG LLP 
Annual audit fees

Audit of the Group and Company’s annual financial statements

Audit of financial statements of subsidiaries

Total audit fees

Other non-audit services – review of interim financial statements

Total auditor’s remuneration allocated to the income statement

Other non-audit services – reporting accountants for the issue of ZDP shares and 

included within the ZDP share issue costs

Total auditor's remuneration for the year

2016 
£’000s 

Group 
2015 
£’000s 

2016 
£’000s 

Company 
2015 
£’000s 

55

6

61

4

65

 55 

 120 

55

6

61

4

65

–

65

55

4

59

4

63

 55 

 118 

55

4

59

4

63

–

63

8080

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS6.  FINANCE COSTS

Group

Loans and bank overdrafts

ZDP shares

Company

Loans and bank overdrafts

Intra-group loan account

7. 

 TAXATION

Group and Company

Overseas taxation

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2016  
Total  
£’000s

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2015  
Total  
£’000s

1,739

 – 

1,739

1,082

 – 

1,082

 – 

12,734

1,739

12,734

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

12,734

14,473

2016  
Total  
£’000s

 – 

13,195

1,082

13,195

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

13,195

14,277

2015  
Total  
£’000s

1,739

 – 

1,739

1,082

 – 

1,082

 – 

12,745

1,739

12,745

12,745

14,484

 – 

13,237

1,082

13,237

13,237

14,319

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2016  
Total  
£’000s

Revenue 
£’000s

Capital 
£’000s

2015  
Total  
£’000s

268

 – 

268

500

 – 

500

Profits of the Company and subsidiaries for the year are not subject to any taxation within their countries of residence (2015: same).

8.  EARNINGS PER ORDINARY SHARE
The calculation of earnings per ordinary share from continuing operations is based on the following data:

Revenue

Capital

Total

2016 
£’000s

5,673

62,327

68,000

Group

2015
£’000s

7,766

2,444

10,210

2016 
£’000s

5,696

62,563

68,259

Company

2015
£’000s

7,788

2,407

10,195

Number 

Number 

Number 

Number 

Weighted average number of shares in issue during the year for 

earnings per share calculations

91,060,816

99,005,981

91,060,816

99,005,981

8181

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 20169.  DIVIDENDS

Group and Company

2014 Fourth quarterly of 1.875p

2015 First quarterly of 1.875p

2015 Second quarterly of 1.875p

2015 Third quarterly of 1.875p

2015 Fourth quarterly of 1.875p

2016 First quarterly of 1.875p

2016 Second quarterly of 1.875p

2016 Third quarterly of 1.875p

Record date Payment date

22 Aug 14

08 Sep 14

28 Nov 14

19 Dec 14

27 Feb 15

20 Mar 15

15 May 15

16 Jun 15

21 Aug 15

16 Sep 15

20 Nov 15

21 Dec 15

19 Feb 16

08 Mar 16

03 Jun 16

23 Jun 16

2016 
Total 
£’000s

2015 
Total 
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

1,859

1,859

1,859

1,849

1,700

1,700

1,700

1,699

–

–

–

–

6,799

7,426

The Directors declared a fourth quarterly dividend in respect of the year ended 30 June 2016 of 1.875p per share which will be paid 

on 28 September 2016 to all ordinary shareholders on the register at close of business on 9 September 2016. The total cost of the 

dividend, which has not been accrued in the results for the year to 30 June 2016, is £1,695,000 based on 90,414,511 ordinary shares 

in issue.

10.  INVESTMENTS

Group

Investments brought forward 

Cost

Losses

Valuation

Movements in the year:

Transfer between levels*

Purchases at cost

Sales

proceeds

Level 1  
£’000s

Level 2  
£’000s

Level 3 
£’000s 

2016 
Total  
£’000s

Level 1  
£’000s

Level 2  
£’000s

Level 3 
£’000s 

2015 
Total  
£’000s

303,113

(18,537)

284,576

 – 

 – 

 – 

86,026

389,139

339,358

(3,674)

(22,211)

(1,392)

82,352

366,928

337,966

(90,344)

89,952

392

 – 

2,514

8,650

14,955

23,592

47,197

28,007

(45,715)

(218)

(19,459)

(65,392)

(82,416)

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

73,612

412,970

(9,040)

(10,432)

64,572

402,538

(2,514)

–

27,216

55,223

(14,725)

(97,141)

815

18,087

6,988

(11,779)

82,352

366,928

86,026

389,139

(3,674)

(22,211)

82,352

366,928

realised net gains on sales

11,627

 – 

Gains/(losses) on investments held at year end

80,884

1,705

1,367

7,881

12,994

17,272

90,470

(18,767)

Valuation at 30 June

Analysed at 30 June

Cost

Gains/(losses)

Valuation

249,678 106,394

96,125

452,197

284,576

174,702 117,332

91,904

383,938

303,113

74,976

(10,938)

4,221

68,259

(18,537)

249,678 106,394

96,125

452,197

284,576

*Transfer from level 1 to level 2 due to holdings in investee companies being thinly traded and from level 1 to level 3 due to security no longer traded.

8282

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS10.  INVESTMENTS (continued)

Company

Investments brought forward

Cost

Losses

Movements in the year:

Transfer between levels*

Purchases at cost

Sales

proceeds

Level 1 
£’000s 

Level 2  
£’000s

Level 3 
£’000s 

2016 
Total  
£’000s

Level 1  
£’000s

Level 2  
£’000s

Level 3 
£’000s 

2015 
Total  
£’000s

303,113

13,109

86,026

402,248

341,041

12,444

73,612

427,097

(18,537)

(12,428)

(3,674)

(34,639)

(1,389)

(12,326)

(9,040)

(22,755)

284,576

681

82,352

367,609

339,652

118

64,572

404,342

(90,344)

89,952

392

 – 

2,514

 – 

(2,514)

 – 

17,651

15,490

23,592

56,733

28,833

665

27,216

56,714

realised net gains on sales

11,627

–

Gains/(losses) on investments held at year end

81,154

1,645

1,367

7,881

12,994

17,302

90,680

(18,770)

(102)

6,988

(11,884)

(45,715)

(218)

(19,459)

(65,392)

(84,955)

 – 

 – 

(14,725)

(99,680)

815

18,117

Valuation at 30 June

Analysed at 30 June 

Cost

Gains/(losses) 

Valuation

258,949 107,550

96,125

462,624

284,576

681

82,352

367,609

183,703 130,976

91,904

406,583

303,113

13,109

86,026

402,248

75,246

(23,426)

4,221

56,041

(18,537)

(12,428)

(3,674)

(34,639)

258,949 107,550

96,125

462,624

284,576

681

82,352

367,609

*Transfer from level 1 to level 2 due to holdings in investee companies being thinly traded and from level 1 to level 3 due to security no longer traded.

Level 1 includes investments listed on any recognised stock exchange or quoted on any secondary market.

Level 2 includes investment in GERP on a look through basis and holdings linked directly to companies whose prices are quoted.

Level 3 includes investments in private companies and other unquoted securities.

Gains on investments held at fair value

Gains on investments sold

Gains/(losses) on investments held

Total gains on investments

2016  
£’000s

12,994

90,470

Group

2015  
£’000s

18,087

(11,779)

2016  
£’000s

12,994

90,680

103,464

6,308

103,674

Company

2015  
£’000s

18,117

(11,884)

6,233

Associated undertakings
Under  IFRS10  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and  IFRS  12  Disclosure  of  Interests  in  Other  Entities,  the  following  associate 

undertakings at 30 June 2016 are held as part of the investment portfolio and consequently are accounted for as investments at fair 

value through profit and loss:

Somers Limited
(“Somers”)

Vix Investments Limited 
(“Vix Investments”)

Vix Verify
(“Vix Verify”)

Vix Technology
(“VixTech”)

Country of registration and incorporation

Number of ordinary shares held

Percentage of ordinary shares held

Bermuda

5,940,288

49.7%

Bermuda

477,720

39.8%

Australia

Bermuda

44,327,353

39.8%

4,061

39.8%

8383

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201610.  INVESTMENTS (continued)

Transactions with associated undertakings

Somers 

Purchase of 50,000 ordinary shares at a cost of US$0.7m

Received 173,618 ordinary shares by way of stock dividends with a distribution value of US$2.4m 

Loans of A$1.0m, £4.0m and US$2.9m were advanced to Somers with £0.5m and US$2.7m repaid 

At the year end the balance of the loans were A$1.0m, £3.5m and US$0.3m, and the numbers of shares held 
were 5.9m valued at US$81.7m

Vix  
Investments

Loans of US$4.5m and NZ$1.3m were advanced to Vix Investments with US$0.5m repaid 

At the year end the balance of the loans were US$4.3m and NZ$1.3m

Vix Verify

There were no transactions 

VixTech

Net loans of A$2.8m advanced to Vix Tech 

At the year end the balance of the loan was A$3.2m

Significant interests
In addition to the above, the Group and Company have a holding of 3% or more of any class of share capital of the following investments, 

which are material in the context of the Accounts:

Company

Resolute Mining Limited

Utilico Emerging Markets Limited

Country of  
registration and 
incorporation

Class of  
instruments  
held

2016 
% of class of  
instruments 
held

2015 
% of class of  
instruments  
held

Australia

Ordinary Shares

Bermuda 

Ordinary Shares

19.3%

19.3%

19.8%

20.8%

11.  SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
The following were subsidiary undertakings of the Company at 30 June 2016 and 30 June 2015

Company

Country of 
registration and 
incorporation

Number and class  
of shares held

UIL Finance Limited(1)

Bermuda

10 ordinary shares of 10p nil paid share

Global Equity Risk Protection Limited(2) Bermuda

3,920 Class A shares linked to a segregated account in GERP

Holdings and 
voting rights  
%

100

100

(1)  The subsidiary was incorporated, and commenced trading, on 17 January 2007 to carry on business as an investment company.

(2)  The subsidiary, an unquoted Bermuda segregated accounts company, was incorporated, and commenced trading, on 4 May 2006. The segregated account, which 
is structured as the Bermuda law equivalent of a protected cell, exists for the sole purpose of carrying out derivative transactions on behalf of the Company. The 
holding represents 100% of the issued Class A shares that have no voting rights.

8484

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS11.  SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS (CONTINUED)

Under  IFRS  10  Consolidated  Financial  Statements  and  IFRS  12  Disclosure  of  Interests  in  Other  Entities,  Bermuda  First  Investment 

Company  Limited  (“BFIC”)  and  Zeta  Resources  Limited  (“Zeta”)  are  subsidiaries  of  the  Company,  held  as  part  of  the  investment 

portfolio, and are accounted for as investments at fair value through profit and loss.

BFIC

Energy Holdings Ltd

UIL Holdings Pte Ltd

Zeta

Country of  
registration 
and 
incorporation

Bermuda

Bermuda

Singapore

Bermuda

2016 
Holding and 
voting rights 
%

Number of 
ordinary  
shares held

2015 
Holding and 
voting rights 
%

Number of 
ordinary  
shares held

 1,582,360 

78.8

 1,582,360 

100

100

100.0

100.0

n/a

n/a

 85,489,612 

85.5

 77,990,502 

78.8

n/a

n/a

83.7

 Transactions with subsidiaries held as investments 

BFIC

Loan of US$0.4m was advanced to BFIC, US$1.4m repaid and loan interest received US$0.5m

Energy Holdings Ltd

The  subsidiary  was  incorporated  on  21  June  2016  and  remains  dormant.  UIL  paid  BM$100  for  100 

shares issued

UIL Holdings Pte Ltd

The  subsidiary  was  incorporated  on  28  August  2015  and  remains  dormant.  UIL  paid  S$100  for  100 

shares issued

Zeta

Purchase of 729,830 ordinary shares at a cost of A$180,000

Loans of A$21.4m advanced to Zeta 

UIL exchanged loans of A$8.8m and US$12.4m into ordinary shares and options exercisable at A$0.001 

12.  OTHER RECEIVABLES

Group and Company

Investment debtors

Accrued income

Prepayments and other debtors

2016 
£’000s

223

2,683

39

2,945

2015 
£’000s

 – 

2,530

53

2,583

8585

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201613.  DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS

Group

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/A$

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/EUR

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/NZ$

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/US$

Forward foreign exchange contracts – US$/A$

Total forward foreign exchange contracts

S&P futures and options – US$

Total derivative financial instruments

2016 
Net  
current 
assets/
(liabilities)  
£’000s

Current 
assets 
£’000s 

Current 
liabilities 
£’000s 

Current 
assets 
£’000s 

Current 
liabilities 
£’000s 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(6,222)

(6,222)

(1,233)

(1,233)

191

287

(4,491)

(4,491)

2,180

(2,376)

(2,376)

(248)

(248)

(14,570)

(14,570)

1,067

(67)

1,000

1,067

(14,637)

(13,570)

 – 

 – 

2,658

701

3,359

2015 
Net 
current 
assets/
(liabilities) 
£’000s

191

287

2,180

 – 

 – 

2,658

505

3,163

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(196)

(196)

Classified (see note 1(c)) as:

£’000s 

£’000s 

 £’000s

£’000s 

£’000s 

 £’000s

Level 1

Level 2

Company

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/A$

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/EUR

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/NZ$

Forward foreign exchange contracts – GBP/US$

Forward foreign exchange contracts – US$/A$

Total derivative financial instruments

1,067

(67)

1,000

 – 

(14,570)

(14,570)

1,067

(14,637)

(13,570)

701

2,658

3,359

(196)

 – 

(196)

505

2,658

3,163

2016 
Net  
current 
assets/
(liabilities)  
£’000s

Current 
assets 
£’000s 

Current 
liabilities 
£’000s 

Current 
assets 
£’000s 

Current 
liabilities 
£’000s 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

(6,222)

(6,222)

(1,233)

(1,233)

191

287

(4,491)

(4,491)

2,180

(2,376)

(2,376)

(248)

(248)

 – 

 – 

(14,570)

(14,570)

2,658

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2015 
Net 
current 
assets/
(liabilities) 
£’000s

191

287

2,180

 – 

 – 

2,658

The above derivatives are classified as level 2 as defined in note 1(c).

Changes in derivatives
Changes in total net current derivative financial instruments are as follows:

2016 
£’000s

3,163

8,302

Group

2015
£’000s

(825)

887

Company 

2016 
£’000s

2015
£’000s

2,658

4,716

(948)

 – 

(3,022)

(3,246)

 – 

(2,817)

(22,013)

(13,570)

6,347

3,163

(21,944)

(14,570)

6,423

2,658

Valuation brought forward

Net acquisitions

Net settlements

(Losses)/gains

Valuation carried forward

8686

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS14.  LOANS – CURRENT LIABILITY

Group and Company

€6.5m repaid March 2016

£20.5m repaid March 2016

NZ$21.5m repaid March 2016

For details of the loan facilities, see note 17.

15.  OTHER PAYABLES

Bank overdraft

Accrued finance costs

Intra-group loans

Accrued expenses

2016 
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2015
£’000s

4,605

20,500

9,246

34,351

2016 
£’000s

288

64

 – 

749

1,101

Group

2015
£’000s

11

21

Company 

2016 
£’000s

2015
£’000s

288

64

11

21

 – 

206,373

172,441

528

560

742

521

207,467

172,994

The Directors consider that the carrying values of other payables are equivalent to their fair value.

16.  ZERO DIVIDEND PREFERENCE SHARES

ZDP shares – current liabilities

2016 ZDP shares

ZDP shares – non-current liabilities

2016 ZDP shares

2018 ZDP shares

2020 ZDP shares

2022 ZDP shares

Total ZDP shares liabilities

Authorised ZDP shares of the Company at 30 June 2016 are as follows:

2016 ZDP shares of 10p each

2018 ZDP shares of 5.9319p each

2020 ZDP shares of 6.0514p each

2022 ZDP shares of 5.3180p each

2016 
£’000s

61,327

Group

2015
£’000s

–

 – 

83,493

67,548

62,816

28,134

26,132

40,352

 – 

136,034

172,441

197,361

172,441

Number

£’000s 

45,046,966

70,198,945

50,000,000

78,117,685

4,505

4,164

3,026

4,154

Authorised ZDP shares of the Company at 30 June 2015 are as follows:

Number

£’000s 

2012 ZDP shares of 10p each

2014 ZDP shares of 10p each

2016 ZDP shares of 10p each

2018 ZDP shares of 5.9319p each

2020 ZDP shares of 6.0514p each

60,592,190

50,000,000

60,000,000

59,842,413

25,000,000

6,059

5,000

6,000

3,550

1,513

8787

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201616.  ZERO DIVIDEND PREFERENCE SHARES (continued) 
On 18 May 2016, by written resolution, UIL Finance diminished its existing authorised share capital from £22,121,862 to £12,615,254 

by the cancellation of all the 2012 ZDP Shares and the 2014 ZDP Shares comprised in its authorised share capital and then increased 

its authorised share capital from £12,615,254 to £15,848,832 by the creation of a further 9,494,963 2020 ZDP Shares and 50,000,000 

2022 ZDP Shares of 5.3180p each.

Pursuant to a rollover offer made to the holders of the 2016 ZDP Shares, a total of 14,953,034 2016 ZDP Shares were converted into 

28,117,685 new 2022 ZDP Shares (on the basis of a conversion ratio of 1.8804 2022 ZDP Shares for each 2016 ZDP Share in respect 

of which a valid election was made and accepted under the rollover offer).

ZDP shares issued by the Group are as follows:

2016

Number

£’000s  Number

£’000s  Number

£’000s  Number

2016 

2018 

2020 

2022 
£’000s 

Total 
£’000s 

Balance at 30 June 2015

47,500,000 83,493 49,842,413

62,816 25,000,000

26,132

 – 

 –  172,441

Issue of ZDP shares

Issue costs of ZDP shares

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Conversion of ZDP shares

(14,953,034) (28,117)

Finance costs (see note 6)

 –  5,951

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

4,732

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 –  40,999,212

40,999

40,999

 – 

 – 

2,002

 – 

 – 

 – 

(696)

(696)

 – 

(28,117)

49

12,734

Balance at 30 June 2016

32,546,966 61,327 49,842,413

67,548 25,000,000

28,134 40,999,212

40,352 197,361

2015

Number

2014 
£’000s 

Number

2016 
£’000s 

Number

2018 
£’000s 

Number

2020 
£’000s 

Total 
£’000s 

Balance at 30 June 2014

46,480,000 76,138 47,500,000

77,928 49,842,413

58,427

 – 

 –  212,493

Issue of ZDP shares

Issue costs of ZDP shares

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

ZDP shares purchased by UIL and 
held intra-group in the year

(495,000)

(826)

Conversion of ZDP shares

(9,382,718) (15,505)

Redemption of ZDP shares

(36,602,282) (61,345)

Finance costs (see note 6)

 –  1,538

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

5,565

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 –  25,000,000

25,000

25,000

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

4,389

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

(571)

(571)

 – 

(826)

–

(15,505)

 – 

(61,345)

1,703

13,195

Balance at 30 June 2015

 – 

 –  47,500,000

83,493 49,842,413

62,816 25,000,000

26,132 172,441

Pursuant to the rollover offer made to the holders of the 2016 ZDP Shares published by UIL Finance on 18 May 2016, shareholders 

elected  to  rollover  a  total  of  14,953,034  2016  ZDP  Shares  on  the  basis  of  each  2016  ZDP  Share  in  respect  of  which  an  election 

was  made  and  accepted  converting  into  1.8804  2022  ZDP  Shares.  Where  the  aggregate  number  of  2022  ZDP  Shares  to  which  a 

shareholder was entitled upon the conversion of their 2016 ZDP Shares resulted in an entitlement to a fraction of a 2022 ZDP Share, 

the total number of 2022 ZDP Shares to which such shareholder was entitled was rounded down to the nearest whole number and 

such rounded down fractional entitlements were then aggregated and became part of UIL Finance’s authorised but unissued share 

capital. Accordingly, a total of 28,117,612 new 2022 ZDP Shares were issued on 23 June 2016 pursuant to the rollover offer. 

Pursuant to a placing also announced on 18 May 2016, UIL Finance placed 12,881,600 new 2022 ZDP Shares at 100p per share with 

certain institutional and other investors on 23 June 2016, raising grossing proceeds of approximately £12.9 million. In addition, on the 

same date, 9,000,788 new 2022 ZDP Shares were subscribed for by UIL at 100p per 2022 ZDP Share, and are held by UIL for investment 

purposes in accordance with its investment policy. This intra group transaction is eliminated on consolidation.

The 50,000,000 new 2022 ZDP shares (including the 9,000,788 issued to UIL) were admitted to the Standard Segment of the Official 
List and to trading on the London Stock Exchange on 23 June 2016.

8888

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS16.  ZERO DIVIDEND PREFERENCE SHARES (continued) 

2016 ZDP shares
Based on the initial entitlement of a 2016 ZDP share of 100p on 15 June 2007, a 2016 ZDP share will have a final capital entitlement 

at the end of its life on 31 October 2016 of 192.78p equating to a 7.25% per annum gross redemption yield. The capital entitlement 

(excluding issue costs) per 2016 ZDP share as at 30 June 2016 was 189.00p (2015: 175.55p).

2018 ZDP shares
Based on the initial entitlement of a 2018 ZDP share of 100p on 26 January 2012, a 2018 ZDP share will have a final capital entitlement 

at the end of its life on 31 October 2018 of 160.52p equating to a 7.25% per annum gross redemption yield. The capital entitlement 

(excluding issue costs) per 2018 ZDP share as at 30 June 2016 was 136.81p (2015: 127.09p).

2020 ZDP shares
Based on the initial entitlement of a 2020 ZDP share of 100p on 31 July 2014, a 2020 ZDP share will have a final capital entitlement 

at the end of its life on 31 October 2020 of 154.90p equating to a 7.25% per annum gross redemption yield. The capital entitlement 

(excluding issue costs) per 2020 ZDP share as at 30 June 2016 was 114.77p (2015: 106.61).

2022 ZDP shares
Based on the initial entitlement of a 2022 ZDP share of 100p on 23 June 2016, a 2022 ZDP share will have a final capital entitlement 

at the end of its life on 31 October 2022 of 146.99p equating to a 6.25% per annum gross redemption yield. The capital entitlement 

(excluding issue costs) per 2020 ZDP share as at 30 June 2016 was 100.43p (2015: n/a).

The ZDP shares are traded on the London Stock Exchange and are stated at amortised cost using the effective interest method. The ZDP 

shares carry no entitlement to income however they have a pre-determined final capital entitlement which ranks behind all other liabilities and 

creditors of UIL Finance and UIL but in priority to the ordinary shares of the Company save in respect of certain winding up revenue profits.

The growth of each ZDP accrues daily and is reflected in the capital return and net asset value per ZDP share on an effective interest 

rate basis. The ZDP shares do not carry any voting rights at general meetings of the Company. However the Company will not be able 

to carry out certain corporate actions unless it obtains the separate approval of the ZDP shareholders (treated as a single class) at a 

separate meeting. Separate approval of each class of ZDP shareholders must be obtained in respect of any proposals which would 

affect their respective rights, including any resolution to wind up the Company. In addition the approval of ZDP shareholders by the 

passing of a special resolution at separate class meetings of the ZDP shareholders is required in relation to any proposal to modify, 

alter or abrogate the rights attaching to any class of the ZDP shares and in relation to any proposal by the Company or its parent 

company  which  would  reduce  the  Group’s  cover  of  the  existing  2016  ZDP  shares  and  2018  ZDP  shares  below  1.5  times  and  the 

Group’s cover of the existing 2020 ZDP shares and 2022 ZDP shares below 1.35 times.

On a liquidation of UIL and/or UIL Finance, to the extent that the relevant classes of ZDP shares have not already been redeemed, the shares 

shall rank in the following order of priority in relation to the repayment of their accrued capital entitlement as at the date of liquidation: 

(i) the 2016 ZDP shares shall rank in priority to the 2018 ZDP Shares, the 2020 ZDP shares and 2022 share;

(ii) the 2018 ZDP shares shall rank in priority to the 2020 ZDP shares and the 2022 ZDP shares; and 

(ii) the 2020 ZDP shares shall rank in priority to the 2022 ZDP shares.

The entitlement of ZDP shareholders of a particular class shall be determined in proportion to their holdings of ZDP shares of that class.

17.  BANK LOANS – NON-CURRENT LIABILITY

Group and Company

A$20.5m repayable March 2018

€$16.0m repayable March 2018

Balance carried forward

2016 
£’000s

11,441

13,258

24,699

2015
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

The Company has a committed loan facility of £50,000,000 from Scotiabank Europe plc (“Scotiabank”) expiring on 22 March 2018 and 

a further £25,000,000 new bridging loan facility from Scotiabank which may be drawn from the end of October 2016 and expiring on 

30 April 2017. Commissions are charged on any undrawn amounts at commercial rates. The terms of the loan facility, including those 

related to accelerated repayment and costs of repayment, are typical of those normally found in facilities of this nature. Scotiabank 

has a floating rate charge over the assets of the Company in respect of amounts owing under the loan facility.

8989

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201618.  ORDINARY SHARE CAPITAL

Equity share capital: 

Ordinary shares of 10p each with voting rights

Authorised

2016

Balance at 30 June 2015

Purchased for cancellation

Balance at 30 June 2016

2015

Balance at 30 June 2014

Purchased for cancellation

Balance at 30 June 2015

Number

£’000s 

250,000,000

25,000

Total shares  
in issue 
Number

Total shares  
in issue 
£’000s 

98,557,214

(7,903,425)

90,653,789

Total shares  
in issue 
Number

99,157,214

(600,000)

98,557,214

9,856

(791)

9,065

Total shares  
in issue 
£’000s 

9,916

(60)

9,856

During the year the Company bought back for cancellation 7,903,425 ordinary shares at a total cost of £9,174,000.

Since the year end, the Company has purchased for cancellation 306,581 ordinary shares at a total cost of £508,000.

In addition to receiving the income distributed by way of dividend, the ordinary shareholders will be entitled to any balances on the revenue 

reserve at the winding up date, together with the assets of the Company remaining after payment of the ZDP shareholders’ entitlement. The 

ordinary shareholders participate in all general meetings of the Company on the basis of one vote for each share held. 

19.  SHARE PREMIUM ACCOUNT

Group and Company

Balance brought forward

Purchase of ordinary shares

Balance carried forward

This is a non-distributable reserve arising on the issue of share capital.

20.  SPECIAL RESERVE

Group and Company

Balance brought forward and carried forward

2016 
£’000s 

28,414

(8,383)

20,031

2015 
£’000s 

29,020

(606)

28,414

2016 
£’000s 

2015 
£’000s 

233,866

233,866

The  special  reserve  can  be  used  to  purchase  the  Company’s  own  shares  in  accordance  with  Bermuda  law.  The  reserve  will  not 

constitute winding up revenue profits in the event of the Company’s liquidation, but it constitutes a reserve under Bermuda law for 

assessing the sufficiency of reserves for the purpose of making dividend payments to ordinary shareholders.

9090

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS21.  NON-DISTRIBUTABLE RESERVE

Group and Company

Balance brought forward and carried forward

2016 
£’000s 

32,069

2015 
£’000s 

32,069

The non-distributable reserve constitutes a reserve for the purpose of assessing the sufficiency of reserves for the purpose of making 

dividend payments to ordinary shareholders.

22.  CAPITAL RESERVES

Group

Gains on investments sold

Gains/(losses) on investments held

(Losses)/gains on derivative financial 

instruments sold

(Losses)/gains on derivative financial 

instruments held

Foreign exchange (losses)/gains

Other capital charges

ZDP shares finance charges

Capital 
reserve 
(arising on 
investments 
sold) 
£’000s 

Capital 
reserve 
(arising on 
investments 
held) 
£’000s 

12,994

 – 

 – 

90,470

2016 

Capital 
reserves 
total 
£’000s 

12,994

90,470

Capital  
reserve  
(arising on 
investments 
sold) 
£’000s 

Capital 
reserve 
(arising on 
investments 
held) 
£’000s 

2015 

Capital 
reserves  
total 
£’000s 

18,087

 – 

18,087

 – 

(11,779)

(11,779)

(5,029)

 – 

(5,029)

2,159

 – 

2,159

 – 

(16,984)

(16,984)

 – 

4,188

 – 

 – 

 – 

(6,388)

2,989

(2)

(5)

(12,734)

(13,195)

 – 

 – 

 – 

4,188

2,989

(5)

(13,195)

73,486

62,327

10,035

(7,591)

2,444

(6,388)

(2)

(12,734)

(11,159)

Balance brought forward

Balance at 30 June

(129,551)

(19,704)

(149,255)

(139,586)

(12,113)

(151,699)

(140,710)

53,782

(86,928)

(129,551)

(19,704)

(149,255)

Company

Gains on investments sold

Gains/(losses) on investments held

(Losses)/gains on derivative financial 

instruments sold

(Losses)/gains on derivative financial 

instruments held

Foreign exchange (losses)/gains

Other capital charges

Intra-group loan account finance charges

Capital 
reserve 
(arising on 
investments 
sold) 
£’000s 

Capital 
reserve 
(arising on 
investments 
held) 
£’000s 

12,994

 – 

 – 

90,680

2016 

Capital 
reserves 
total 
£’000s 

12,994

90,680

Capital  
reserve  
(arising on 
investments 
sold) 
£’000s 

Capital 
reserve 
(arising on 
investments 
held) 
£’000s 

2015 

Capital 
reserves  
total 
£’000s 

18,117

 – 

18,117

 – 

(11,884)

(11,884)

(4,716)

 – 

(4,716)

2,817

 – 

2,817

 – 

(17,228)

(17,228)

 – 

3,606

 – 

 – 

 – 

(6,420)

2,993

(2)

(5)

(12,745)

(13,237)

 – 

 – 

 – 

3,606

2,993

(5)

(13,237)

73,452

62,563

10,685

(8,278)

2,407

(6,420)

(2)

(12,745)

(10,889)

Balance brought forward

Balance at 30 June 

(117,470)

(31,981)

(149,451)

(128,155)

(23,703)

(151,858)

(128,359)

41,471

(86,888)

(117,470)

(31,981)

(149,451)

9191

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
22.  CAPITAL RESERVES (continued) 

Group and Company
Included  within  the  capital  reserve  movement  for  the  year  is  £nil  (2015:  £9,199,000)  of  dividend  receipts  recognised  as  capital  in 

nature, £3,000 (2015: £14,000) of transaction costs on purchases of investments and £84,000 (2015: £150,000) of transaction costs 

on sales of investments.

23.  REVENUE RESERVE

Amount transferred to revenue reserve

Dividends paid in the year

Balance brought forward

Balance at 30 June

24.  NET ASSET VALUE PER ORDINARY SHARE

2016 
£’000s

5,673

Group

2015
£’000s

7,766

Company 

2016 
£’000s

5,696

2015
£’000s

7,788

(6,799)

(7,426)

(6,799)

(7,426)

11,608

10,482

11,268

11,608

11,804

10,701

11,442

11,804

Group and Company
Net  asset  value  per  ordinary  share  is  based  on  net  assets  at  the  year  end  of  £218,585,000  for  the  Group  and  £218,844,000  for 

the Company (2015: £166,558,000 for the Group and Company) and on 90,653,789 ordinary shares in issue at the year end (2015: 

98,557,214).

25.  RECONCILIATION OF TOTAL RETURN BEFORE TAX TO NET CASH INFLOW FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES

2016 
£’000s

Group

2015
£’000s

Company 

2016 
£’000s

2015
£’000s

68,268

10,710

68,527

10,695

(103,464)

(6,308)

(103,674)

22,013

6,207

(2,038)

887

(153)

14

18

(6,347)

(2,915)

(1,890)

 – 

(2,278)

(5)

(75)

12,734

13,195

21,944

6,239

(2,038)

887

(153)

14

16

 – 

(6,233)

(6,423)

(2,919)

(1,890)

–

(2,278)

(5)

(71)

 – 

 – 

(269)

 – 

12,745

13,237

(500)

(269)

(500)

(64,051)

(7,123)

(64,289)

(7,082)

4,217

3,587

4,238

3,613

Profit before taxation 

Adjust for non-cash flow items: 

Gains on investments

Losses/(gains) on derivative financial instruments

Foreign exchange losses/(gains)

Non-cash flows on income

Income not receivable

Increase in accrued income

Decrease/(increase) in other debtors

Increase/(decrease) in creditors

ZDP share finance costs

Intra-group loan account finance costs

Tax on overseas income

Cash flows from operating activities

9292

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS26.  ULTIMATE PARENT UNDERTAKING
In the opinion of the Directors, the Group’s ultimate parent undertaking is General Provincial Life Pension Fund (L) Limited which is 

incorporated in Malaysia.

27.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
The following are considered related parties of UIL: 

UIL’s majority shareholder General Provincial Life Pension Fund (L) Limited (“GPLPF”) which holds 61.8% of UIL’s shares.

Subsidiaries of UIL:

BFIC,  Energy  Holdings  Limited,  GERP,  UIL  Finance,  UIL  Holdings  Pte  Ltd  and  Zeta  (on  consolidation,  transactions  between  the 

Company, UIL Finance and GERP have been eliminated) 

Controlled Entities:

Somers, Vix Investments Limited, Vix Technology and Vix Verify.

Subsidiaries of the above subsidiaries and controlled entities:

BCB, PCFG, Waverton, West Hamilton Holdings Limited and Zeta Energy.

Key management entities and persons:

ICM and ICMIM and the board of directors of ICM who are Duncan Saville, Charles Jillings, Alasdair Younie and of ICMIM, Charles Jillings 

and Sandra Pope.

Persons exercising control of UIL: 

The Board of UIL.

Companies controlled by key management persons:

Platform Technology Limited (“PTL”), Permanent Investment Limited (“PIL”), Permanent Mutual Limited (“PML”), Mitre Finance Limited 

and Mitre Investments Limited.

The following transactions were carried out during the year to 30 June 2016 between the Company and its related parties above:

UIL Finance
Loans from UIL Finance to UIL of £172.4m as at 30 June 2015 increased by £34.0m, to £206.4m as at 30 June 2016. Interest is payable 

at 7.05% per annum. The loans are repayable on demand.

In  the  year  to  30  June  2016,  the  number  of    ZDP  shares  subscribed  for  by  UIL  is  detailed  in  note  16  to  the  accounts  (2015:  UIL 

purchased 495,000 2014 ZDP shares in the open market).

GERP
During the year UIL made net payments to GERP of £0.5m in settlement of investment transactions.

BFIC, Zeta, UIL Holdings and Energy Holdings.
Transactions are disclosed in note 11.

Somers, Vix Investments Limited, Vix Verify and Vix Technology.
Transactions are disclosed in note 10.

BCB, Waverton, Zeta Energy, West Hamilton Holdings Limited and PCFG.
There were no transactions between these entities and UIL in the year.

ICM and ICMIM
ICM and ICMIM are joint portfolio managers of UIL. ICMIM received £100,000 for advice on the 2016 ZDP share refinancing. These 

were no other transactions with ICM or ICMIM or ICM Investment Research Limited and ICM Corporate Services (Pty) Ltd, both wholly 

owned subsidiaries of ICM, other than investment management, secretarial costs and administration fees as set out in note 4 and 

reimbursed  expenses  included  within  note  5  of  £85,000  (2015:  £148,000).  At  the  year-end  £247,000  (2015:  £225,000)  remained 

outstanding to ICM and ICMIM in respect of management, company secretarial fees and the advice of the 2016 refinancing.

9393

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201627.  RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (continued)

Duncan Saville, Charles Jillings, Alasdair Younie and Sandra Pope
Mr  Saville  is  a  director  of  Somers,  Touchcorp,  Vix  Technology,  Vix  Investments,  GERP,  West  Hamilton  Holdings  Limited  and  PTL. 

Mr Jillings is a director of PIL, Somers, Waverton and GERP. Mr Younie is a director of BCB, BFIC, Somers, West Hamilton, GERP and PTL. 

Mr Jillings bought 25,000 shares in UIL through his SIPP at 102.00p per share. Mr and Mrs Jillings bought 100,000 2020 ZDP shares in 

the initial placing by UIL at 100.00p each. Mr Jillings also received dividends from UIL of £24,844. There were no other transactions in 

the year with Duncan Saville, Charles Jillings, Alasdair Younie and Sandra Pope and UIL. 

The Board
As  detailed  in  the  Directors’  Remuneration  Report  on  page  58,  the  Board  received  aggregate  remuneration  of  £195,000  (2015: 

£169,000) included within “Other expenses” in note 5 to the Accounts for services as Directors. As at the year-end £51,500 (2015: 

£42,250) remained outstanding to the Directors. In addition to their fees, the Directors received dividends totalling £46,275 (2015: 
£24,141) during the year under review in respect of their shareholdings in the Company. 

There were no further transactions with the Board during the year.

PTL
PTL is 100% owned by Mr Saville and holds the regulated businesses of Newtel Holdings Limited (“Newtel”). UIL advanced a further 

£0.3m to Newtel. 100% of economic interest in Newtel accrues to UIL through a CFD.

PIL and PML
PIL and PML are both 100% owned by Mr Saville and hold 34.3% and 5.5% of Somers ordinary shares respectively. PML bought in the 

market 570,000 shares in UIL at an average price of 104.68p per share. PML also received dividends of £444,561 from UIL. 

There were no other transactions between the Company and PIL or between the Company and PML in the year.

Other
GPLPF received dividends of £4,200,115 from UIL. There were no other transactions between the above associates and the Company 

other than investments in the ordinary course of UIL’s business.

28.  OPERATING SEGMENTS
Operating segments are considered to be secondary reporting segment. The Directors are of the opinion that the Company’s activities 

comprise a single operating segment, which is investing in equity, debt and derivative securities to maximise shareholder returns.

29.  GOING CONCERN
The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis. The majority of the Company’s assets consist of equity shares in 

listed companies and in most circumstances are realisable within a short timescale. The use of the going concern basis of accounting is 

appropriate because there are no material uncertainties related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt about the ability 

of the Company to continue as a going concern. After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company 

has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the Directors continue to adopt the 

going concern basis in preparing the accounts.

As at the year end, the Company had a £50m multicurrency loan facility with Scotiabank expiring on 22 March 2018, and a further £25m 

new loan facility from Scotiabank expring on 30 April 2017. Drawdowns under the facility are detailed in note 17 to the accounts. The 

Company will either extend or replace the facility or repay the outstanding debt when due from portfolio realisations.

9494

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS30.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

The Group’s investment objective is to maximise shareholder returns by identifying and investing in investments worldwide when the 

underlying value is not reflected in the market share price.

The  Group  seeks  to  meet  its  investment  objective  by  investing  principally  in  a  diversified  portfolio  of  both  listed  and  unlisted 

companies.  Derivative  instruments  may  be  used  for  purposes  of  hedging  the  underlying  portfolio  of  investments.  The  Group  has 

the power to take out both short and long term borrowings. In pursuing the objective, the Group is exposed to financial risks which 

could result in a reduction of either or both of the value of the net assets and the profits available for distribution by way of dividend. 

These financial risks are principally related to the market (currency movements, interest rate changes and security price movements), 

liquidity  and  credit  and  counterparty  risk.  The  Board  of  Directors,  together  with  the  Investment  Managers,  is  responsible  for  the 

Group’s risk management. The Directors’ policies and processes for managing the financial risks are set out in (a), (b) and (c) below.

The  Company’s  risks  include  the  risks  within  UIL  Finance  and  GERP  and  therefore  only  the  Group  risks  are  analysed  below  as  the 

differences are not considered to be significant. The accounting policies which govern the reported Balance Sheet carrying values of 

the underlying financial assets and liabilities, as well as the related income and expenditure, are set out in note 1 to the Accounts. The 

policies are in compliance with IFRS and best practice, and include the valuation of financial assets and liabilities at fair value except 

as noted in (d) below and in note 16 in respect of ZDP shares. The Group does not make use of hedge accounting rules.

(a)  Market risks
The  fair  value  of  equity  and  other  financial  securities  held  in  the  Group’s  portfolio  and  derivative  financial  instruments  fluctuates 

with changes in market prices. Prices are themselves affected by movements in currencies and interest rates and by other financial 

issues, including the market perception of future risks. The Board sets policies for managing these risks within the Group’s objective 

and meets regularly to review full, timely and relevant information on investment performance and financial results. The Investment 

Managers  assess  exposure  to  market  risks  when  making  each  investment  decision  and  monitors  on-going  market  risk  within  the 

portfolio. The Group’s other assets and liabilities may be denominated in currencies other than Sterling and may also be exposed 

to  interest  rate  risks.  The  Investment  Managers  and  the  Board  regularly  monitor  these  risks.  The  Group  does  not  normally  hold 

significant cash balances. Borrowings are limited to amounts and currencies commensurate with the portfolio’s exposure to those 

currencies, thereby limiting the Group’s exposure to future changes in exchange rates.

Gearing may be short- or long-term, in Sterling and foreign currencies, and enables the Group to take a long-term view of the countries 

and markets in which it is invested without having to be concerned about short-term volatility. Income earned in foreign currencies 

is converted to Sterling on receipt. The Board regularly monitors the effects on net revenue of interest earned on deposits and paid 

on gearing.

Currency exposure
The principal currencies to which the Group was exposed were the Australian Dollar, Bermuda Dollar, Euro, New Zealand Dollar and 

US Dollar. The exchange rates applying against Sterling at 30 June and the average rates for the year were as follows:

A$ – Australian Dollar 

BM$ – Bermuda Dollar

EUR – Euro

NZ$ – New Zealand Dollar 

US$ – US Dollar 

2016

1.7953

1.3368

1.2033

1.8770

1.3368

Average

2.0242

1.4782

1.3368

2.2070

1.4782

2015

2.0462

1.5727

1.4115

2.3254

1.5727

9595

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201630.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)
The Group’s assets and liabilities at 30 June (shown at fair value, except derivatives at gross exposure value), by currency excluding 

Sterling based on the country of primary exposure, are shown below:

2016

Other receivables

Derivative financial instruments – assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Other payables 

Derivative financial instruments – liabilities

Long-term borrowings

Net monetary (liabilities)/assets

A$  
£’000s

1,895

7,054

(20)

–

(79,321)

(11,441)

(81,833)

BM$ 
£’000s 

EUR 
£’000s

NZ$ 
£’000s

US$ 
 £’000s

800

54,812

163

–

Other 
£’000s

40

 – 

(239)

(558)

Total 
£’000s

2,857

61,866

(86)

(558)

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

(18,683)

(37,810)

(44,564)

(13,258)

–

–

–

–

(180,378)

(24,699)

132

(31,941)

(37,810)

11,211

(757)

(140,998)

122

 – 

10

–

–

–

Investments

Net financial assets

2015

Other receivables

Derivative financial instruments – assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Short-term borrowings 

Other payables

Derivative financial instruments – liabilities

Net monetary (liabilities)/assets

Investments

Net financial assets

80,952

72,501

32,769

33,428

4,447

182,538

406,635

(881)

72,633

828

(4,382)

15,658

181,781

265,637

A$  
£’000s

1,706

 – 

436

 – 

(1)

(4,887)

(2,746)

63,543

60,797

BM$ 
£’000s 

755

 – 

9

 – 

 – 

 – 

EUR  
£’000s

NZ$  
£’000s

 – 

 – 

(6)

 – 

 – 

 – 

(4,605)

(9,246)

 – 

(1)

US$ 
 £’000s

69

13,353

180

 – 

 – 

(8,502)

(25,799)

(12,717)

764

(13,113)

(35,046)

71,887

72,651

24,886

11,773

55,825

20,779

885

3,654

4,539

Other 
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

Total 
£’000s

2,530

13,353

619

(13,851)

(2)

(51,905)

(49,256)

109,507

329,302

109,507

280,046

Based on the financial assets and liabilities held, and exchange rates applying, at Balance Sheet date, a weakening or strengthening 

of Sterling against each of these currencies by 10% would have had the following approximate effect on annualised income after tax 

and on net asset value (NAV) per share:

Weakening of Sterling

Income Statement

A$  
£’000s

BM$ 
£’000s 

EUR  
£’000s

NZ$  
£’000s

2016 
US$ 
 £’000s

A$  
£’000s

BM$ 
£’000s 

EUR  
£’000s

NZ$  
£’000s

2015 
US$ 
 £’000s

Revenue profit for the year

226

376

Capital profit for the year

(284)

8,057

Total profit for the year

(58)

8,433

 - 

92

92

153

 - 

(487)

1,651

(334)

1,651

174

6,566

6,740

359

7,988

8,347

–

1,308

1,308

366

2,309

2,675

–

497

497

NAV per share

Basic – pence

(0.06)

9.30

0.10

(0.37)

1.82

6.84

8.47

1.33

2.71

0.50

9696

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS30.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)

Strengthening of Sterling

Income Statement

A$  
£’000s

BM$ 
£’000s 

EUR  
£’000s

NZ$  
£’000s

2016 
US$ 
 £’000s

A$  
£’000s

BM$ 
£’000s 

EUR  
£’000s

NZ$  
£’000s

Revenue profit for the year

(226)

(376)

Capital profit for the year

284

(8,057)

Total profit for the year

58

(8,433)

 - 

(92)

(92)

(153)

487

334

 - 

(174)

(359)

–

(366)

(1,651)

(6,566)

(7,988)

(1,308)

(2,309)

(1,651)

(6,740)

(8,347)

(1,308)

(2,675)

2015 
US$ 
 £’000s

–

(497)

(497)

NAV per share

Basic – pence

0.06

(9.30)

(0.10)

0.37

(1.82)

(6.84)

(8.47)

(1.33)

(2.71)

(0.50)

These analyses are broadly representative of the Group’s activities during the current year as a whole, although the level of the Group’s 

exposure to currencies fluctuates in accordance with the investment and risk management processes.

Interest rate exposure
The exposure of the financial assets and liabilities to interest rate risks at 30 June is shown below:

Total  
£’000s

Within  
one year 
£’000s

2016 
More than  
one year 
£’000s

Total  
£’000s

Within  
one year  
£’000s

2015 
More than  
one year  
£’000s

174

(288)

(24,699)

(24,813)

174

(288)

 - 

(114)

 - 

 - 

(24,699)

(24,699)

1,236

(11)

(34,351)

(33,126)

1,236

(11)

(34,351)

(33,126)

 – 

 – 

–

–

Exposure to floating rates

 – Cash

 – Bank overdraft

 – Borrowings

Exposure to fixed rates

Zero dividend preference shares

(197,361)

(61,327)

(136,034)

(172,441)

–

(172,441)

Net exposures

 – At period end

 – Maximum in year

 – Minimum in year

Net exposures

 – Maximum in year

 – Minimum in year

(222,174)

(61,441)

(160,733)

(205,567)

(33,126)

(172,441)

(235,283)

(140,758)

(94,525)

(237,421)

(101,066)

(136,355)

(205,567)

(33,126)

(172,441)

(205,567)

(33,126)

(172,441)

Exposure to 
floating  
interest  
rates  
£’000s 

Total  
£’000s

Fixed  
interest  
rates  
£’000s

Exposure to 
floating  
interest  
rates  
£’000s 

Total  
£’000s

Fixed  
interest  
rates  
£’000s

(235,283)

(205,567)

(52,309)

(182,974)

(237,421)

(33,126)

(172,441)

(205,567)

(24,928)

(33,126)

(212,493)

(172,441)

9797

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201630.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)
Exposures vary throughout the year as a consequence of changes in the make-up of the net assets of the Group arising out of the 

investment and risk management processes. Interest received on cash balances or paid on overdrafts is at ruling market rates. Finance 

costs on the ZDP shares are fixed (see note 16). Interest paid on borrowings is at ruling market rates (2015: same) The Group’s total 

returns and net assets are sensitive to changes in interest rates on cash and borrowings. Based on the financial assets and liabilities 

held, and the interest rates pertaining, at each Balance Sheet date, a decrease or increase in interest rates by 2% would have had 

the following approximate effects on the Group Income Statement revenue and capital returns after tax and on the NAV per share.

Revenue profit for the year

Capital profit for the year

Total profit for the year

NAV per share

Basic – pence

Increase  
in rate  
£’000s

(496)

 – 

(496)

2016  
Decrease  
in rate  
£’000s

496

 – 

496

Increase  
in rate  
£’000s

(663)

 – 

(663)

2015  
Decrease  
in rate  
£’000s

663

 – 

663

(0.55)

0.55

(0.67)

0.67

Other market risk exposures
The portfolio of investments, valued at £452,197,000 at 30 June 2016 (2015: £366,928,000) is exposed to market price changes. The 

Group enters into currency and index options in managing its exposure to other market risks.

The Investment Managers assess these exposures at the time of making each investment decision. The Board reviews overall exposures 

at each meeting against indices and other relevant information. An analysis of the portfolio by country and major industrial sector is set 

out  on  page  21.  The  Investment  Managers  have  operated  a  strategic  market  position  via  the  purchase  and  sale  of  equity  index  put 

and call options, principally on the S&P500 Index. The level of the position is kept under constant review, and will depend upon several 

factors including the relative performance of markets, the price of options as compared to the market, and the Investment Managers’ 

view of likely future volatility and market movements.

Based on the portfolio of investments at the balance sheet date, and assuming other factors, including derivative financial instrument 

exposure, remain constant, a decrease or increase in the fair values of the portfolio by 20% would have had the following approximate 

effects on the Income Statement Capital Return after tax and on the NAV per share:

Increase in 
value

2016  
Decrease in 
value

Increase in  
value

2015  
Decrease in 
value

Income Statement capital profit for the year (£’000s)

90,439

(90,439)

73,552

(73,522)

NAV per share

Basic – pence

99.76

(99.76)

74.60

(74.60)

(b)  Liquidity risk exposure
The  Group  and  the  Company  are  required  to  raise  funds  to  meet  commitments  associated  with  financial  instruments  including  ZDP 

shares. These funds may be raised either through the realisation of assets or through increased borrowing. The risk of the Group or 

the Company not having sufficient liquidity at any time is not considered by the Board to be significant, given: the number of quoted 

investments held in the Group’s portfolio, 26 at 30 June 2016 (44 at 30 June 2015); the liquid nature of the portfolio of investments; the 

industrial and geographical diversity of the portfolio (see charts on page 21); and the existence of an on-going loan facility agreement. 

Cash balances are held with reputable banks.

9898

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS30.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)
The Investment Managers review liquidity at the time of making each investment decision. The Board reviews liquidity exposure at each 

meeting. The Group has bank loan facilities of £75.0m as set out in note 17 to the accounts and ZDP share liabilities of £197.4m as set 

out in note 16. The contractual maturities of the financial liabilities, based on the earliest date on which payment can be required, were 

as follows:

Three  
months  
or less  
£’000s

288

813

Bank overdraft

Other creditors

Derivative financial 

instruments

180,378

Bank loans

ZDP shares

 – 

 – 

More than  
three 
months but 
less than  
one year  
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

–

2016  

Total  
£’000s

288

813

Three  
months  
or less  
£’000s

11

549

180,378

51,905

More  
than  
one year  
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

More than  
three  
months but 
less than  
one year  
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

34,440

More  
than  
one year  
£’000s

 – 

 – 

 – 

 – 

2015  

Total  
£’000s

11

549

51,905

34,440

 – 

210,303

210,303

24,832

24,832

 62,744 

178,997

241,741

 – 

 – 

181,479

62,744

203,829

448,052

52,465

34,440

210,303

297,208

(c)  Credit risk and counterparty exposure
The Group is exposed to potential failure by counterparties to deliver securities for which the Group has paid, or to pay for securities 

which the Group has delivered. The Board approves all counterparties used in such transactions, which must be settled on a basis of 

delivery against payment (except where local market conditions do not permit). A list of pre-approved counterparties is maintained and 

regularly reviewed by the Administrator and the Board. Broker counterparties are selected based on a combination of criteria, including 

credit rating, balance sheet strength and membership of a relevant regulatory body. Cash and deposits are held with reputable banks. 

The Group has an on-going contract with its Custodians for the provision of custody services. The contracts are reviewed regularly. Details 

of securities held in custody on behalf of the Group are received and reconciled monthly. To the extent that the Investment Managers 

and  F&C  carry  out  duties  (or  cause  similar  duties  to  be  carried  out  by  third  parties)  on  the  Group’s  behalf,  the  Group  is  exposed  to 

counterparty risk. The Board assesses this risk continuously through regular meetings with management and internal auditors of F&C.

In summary, compared to the amounts included in the balance sheet, the maximum exposure to credit risk was as follows:

Current assets

Cash at bank

Financial assets through profit and loss

 – derivatives (put options and call options)

 – derivatives (forward foreign exchange contracts)

2016  
Maximum  
exposure 
in the year  
£’000s

30 June  
£’000s

174

8,219

2015  
Maximum  
exposure 
in the year  
£’000s

6,401

30 June  
£’000s

1,236

23,564

154,869

103,542

154,869

13,353

41,846

13,353

94,008

None of the Group’s financial assets are past due or impaired. The Group’s principal custodian is JPMorgan Chase Bank. BCB acts as 

custodian for unquoted investments. UIL has an indirect interest in BCB.

(d)  Fair values of financial assets and liabilities
The assets and liabilities of the Group are, in the opinion of the Directors, reflected in the Balance Sheet at fair value except for ZDP 

shares which are carried at amortised cost using effective interest rate basis (see note 16). Borrowings under loan facilities do not 

have a value materially different from their capital repayment amount. Borrowings in foreign currencies are converted into Sterling at 

exchanges rates ruling at each valuation date.

9999

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)
The fair values of ZDP shares derived from their quoted market price at 30 June, were:

Current assets

2016 ZDP shares

2018 ZDP shares

2020 ZDP shares

2022 ZDP shares

2016  
£’000s

62,165

73,393

32,500

42,844

2015  
£’000s

87,044

68,409

27,125

 – 

Unquoted investments are valued based on professional assumptions and advice that is not wholly supported by prices from current 

market transactions or by observable market data. The Directors make use of recognised valuation techniques and may take account 

of recent arms’ length transactions in the same or similar investments.

The Directors regularly review the principles applied by the Investment Manager to those valuations to ensure they comply with the 

Group’s accounting policies and with fair value principles.

Level 3 financial instruments
Valuation methodology
The  Directors  have  satisfied  themselves  as  to  the  methodology  used,  the  discount  rates  and  key  assumptions  applied  and  the 

valuation.  The  Level  3  assets  comprise  a  number  of  unlisted  investments  at  various  stages  of  development  and  each  has  been 

assessed based on its industry, location and business cycle. Where sensible, the Directors have taken into account observable data 

and events to underpin the valuations. All unlisted valuations which are based on observable data have been discounted by 10.0% to 

30.0% to reflect both the unlisted nature of the investment and business risks.

The Level 3 financial instruments are split between a) unlisted companies and b) loans to listed companies.

(i)  Unlisted companies

Vix Technology (“VixTech”) Bermuda incorporated
Valuation inputs: 2018 EV/EBITDA 9.2 times continuous EBITDA. Discount applied 30.0% and execution risk discount of 35.0%.

Valuation  methodology:  VixTech  has  been  valued  based  on  peer  comparisons  and  in  particular  EV/EBITDA  for  2018.  Listed  peer 
valuations averaged 9.2 times for 2018. Based on continuous EBITDA for the year to 30 June 2018 of A$29.1m and after applying a 

30.0% unlisted discount (prior year 20.0%) the valuation is A$183.2m. Given the organisational restructuring of VixTech an execution 

risk discount of 35.0% has been applied and based on this, a value of A$119.1m has been obtained. UIL holds a 39.8% equity interest 

in VixTech and as at 30 June 2016 carried this investment at A$47.4m, £26.4m.

Sensitivities: Should the 2018 EBITDA of VixTech move by A$1.0m the gain or loss in valuation would be A$1.7m, (£0.9m). Should the peer 
group multiple ascribed to VixTech’s EBITDA be reduced/increased by 1.0 the gain or loss on valuation for UIL would be A$5.3m (£2.9m).

Vix Investments Limited (“Vix Investments”) Bermuda incorporated
Valuation  inputs:  Sum-of-the-parts  valuations  range  from  transactions  through  to  peer  group  matrices.  The  key  asset  of  Vix 
Investments is Optal, which accounts for 85.0% of the gross assets. The holding in Optal is included at fair value to Vix, based on a 

share price of A$7.43, valuing Optal at A$452.2m. Discount applied to Optal of 20.0%. Vix Investments has a 15.5% interest in Optal. 

Valuation methodology: UIL has a 39.8% interest in Vix Investments and the investment was valued at A$28.5m at 30 June 2016. UIL 
has loans to Vix of US$4.3m and NZ$1.3m; together £15.2m.

Sensitivities: The underlying portfolio is ungeared in nature.

Seacrest Limited (“Seacrest”) Bermuda incorporated
Valuation inputs: The unlisted investment comprises an equity interest in Seacrest and a carried interest in the management fee for 
Seacrest. The company’s sole asset is its holding in Azimuth, a joint venture between Seacrest and PGS (the listed Norwegian seismic 

data service company). 

The valuation of Azimuth is based on fair value GAAP accounting. Using the General Partner’s valuation of the Seacrest portfolio a 

discount is applied to each Azimuth subsidiary. The extent of the discount depends on whether the assets are in a mature or frontier 

basin. In addition, following the fall in the oil price a further discount was applied thereby calculating a fair value for Azimuth. 

100100

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTS30.  FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT (continued)
Valuation methodology: UIL has used a fair value valuation of Seacrest of US$0.86 per share based on the value of Azimuth, described 
above; £5.5m.

Sensitivities: Given Azimuth is an exploration company its risks are significant in both directions. Should commercially recoverable oil 
not be discovered then the value will fall to nil. Should substantial commercially recoverable oil be discovered the valuation uplifts 

are significant.

Other unlisted companies
Valuation methodology: UIL has a further ten unlisted holdings valued from £0.04m to £2.9m each. These holdings were valued at a 
mixture of book value for recent investments, yield for two dividend distributors and realisable values, together a total value of £17.9m.

(ii)  Loans to listed companies

Zeta Resources Limited (“Zeta”) Bermuda incorporated
Valuation inputs: Gross asset to gross debt cover of over 2.0 times. The prior year loans were valued on a similar basis with debt cover 
being over 1.5 times.

Valuation methodology: The loan to Zeta (A$45.5m) carried interest at 10.0% to 30 June 2016 and currently bears interest at 7.5%. 
The loan is repayable on 31 December 2017. The asset cover and nature of Zeta’s portfolio is such that the loans are carried at book 

value plus accrued interest.

Sensitivities: Should Zeta’s assets increase/decline by 10.0% there would be no impact on UIL’s loans to Zeta.

Somers Limited (“Somers”) Bermuda incorporated
Valuation inputs: Gross asset to gross debt cover of over 50 times. The prior year loans were valued on a similar basis with debt cover 
being over 50 times. 

Valuation methodology: The loans to Somers of US$7.0m bears interest at 6.0%. The loans are repayable on 30 June 2017. The asset 
cover and nature of Somers’ portfolio is such that the loans are carried at book value plus accrued interest. The loan value at 30 June 

2016 was £5.3m, prior year £0.6m

Sensitivities: Should Somers’ assets increase/decline by 10.0% there would be no impact on UIL’s loans to Somers.

(e)  Capital risk management
The objective of the Group is stated as being to maximise shareholder returns by identifying and investing in investments where the 

underlying value is not reflected in the market price. In pursuing this long term objective, the Board has a responsibility for ensuring 

the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern. It must therefore maintain its capital structure through varying market conditions. 

This involves the ability to: issue and buy back share capital within limits set by the shareholders in general meeting; borrow monies in 

the short and long term; and pay dividends to shareholders out of current year earnings as well as out of brought forward reserves. 

Changes to ordinary share capital are set out in note 18 to the accounts.

Dividends are set out in note 9 to the accounts. Borrowings are set out in notes 14 and 17 to the accounts. ZDP shares are set out 

in note 16 to the accounts.

31.  ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT FUND MANAGERS DIRECTIVE (“AIMFD”)
In accordance with the AIFMD, information in relation to the Group’s leverage and the remuneration of the Company’s AIFM, ICMIM, 

is required to be made available to investors. Detailed regulatory disclosures including those on the AIFM’s remuneration policy are 

available on the Company’s website or from ICMIM on request. The numerical remuneration disclosures in relation to the AIFM’s first 

relevant accounting period will be made available in due course.

The Group’s maximum and actual leverage at 30 June 2016 are shown below:

Leverage exposure

Maximum permitted limit

Actual

Gross  
method

Commitment 
method

425%

285%

425%

284%

The leverage limits are set by the AIFM and approved by the Board. The AIFM is also required to comply with the gearing parameters 
set by the Board in relation to borrowings.

101101

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 201632.   POST BALANCE SHEET EVENTS
On 1 July 2016, UIL Finance announced plans to issue up to 14 million 2020 ZDP shares pursuant to the Placing Programme at a price 

of 128p per 2020 ZDP share. A total of 10,774,185 new 2020 ZDP shares were placed with certain institutional investors at a price of 

128p per 2020 ZDP share raising gross proceeds of £13.8 million. The remaining 3,225,815 new 2020 ZDP shares were acquired by 

UIL at a price of 128p per 2020 ZDP share and will be held by UIL for investment purposes in accordance with its investment policy.

The  14  million  2020  ZDP  shares  were  admitted  to  the  Official  List  and  to  trading  on  the  London  Stock  Exchange  and  dealings  on 

14 July 2016. 

Following the admission, the Group’s issued shares comprise of 90,653,789 ordinary shares, 32,546,966 2016 ZDP shares, 49,842,413 

2018 ZDP shares, 39,000,000 2020 ZDP shares (including shares held intra-group) and 50,000,000 2022 ZDP shares (including shares 

held intra-group).

Since the year end the Company has purchased in the market 342,807 2016 ZDP shares at an average price of 191.99p per 2016 ZDP 
share and has sold in the market 2,000,000 2022 ZDP shares at an average price of 106.78p per 2022 ZDP share.

Since the above admission, the Company has sold in the market 250,000 2020 ZDP shares at an average price of 133.25p per 2020 

ZDP share.

Following these sales and purchases UIL has a holding of 342,807 2016 ZDP shares, 2,975,815 2020 ZDP shares and 7,000,788 2022 

ZDP shares.

102102

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016(continued) NOTES TO THE ACCOUNTSNOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

THIS DOCUMENT IS IMPORTANT AND REQUIRES YOUR IMMEDIATE ATTENTION. If you are in any doubt 
as to what action to take, you should consult your stockbroker, solicitor, accountant or other appropriate 
independent  professional  adviser  authorised  under  the  Financial  Services  and  Markets  Act  2000.  If  you 
have  sold  or  otherwise  transferred  all  your  shares  in  UIL  Limited,  please  forward  this  document  and 
the  accompanying  Form  of  Proxy  to  the  person  through  whom  the  sale  or  transfer  was  effected,  for 
transmission to the purchaser or transferee.

Notice is hereby given that the 2016 Annual General Meeting of UIL Limited will be held at the Mandarin Oriental, 

5 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong on Wednesday, 16 November 2016 at 9.00am (local time) for the following 

purposes: 

To consider and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions:

ORDINARY BUSINESS:
1. 

To confirm the Minutes of the last General Meeting. 

2. 

To receive and adopt the Report of the Directors, the report of the independent auditor and the accounts for 

the year ended 30 June 2016.

To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report for the year ended 30 June 2016.

To elect Ms A Hill as a Director.

To elect Mr C Samuel as a Director.

To elect Mr D Shillson as a Director. 

To re-elect Mr P Burrows as a Director. 

To re-elect Mr E Stobart as a Director.

To re-elect Mr W McLeland as a Director.

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10.  To re-appoint KPMG LLP as auditor of the Company. 

11.  To authorise the Directors to determine the auditor’s remuneration.

SPECIAL BUSINESS:
12.  As an Ordinary Resolution: That in substitution for the Company’s existing authority to make market 

purchases of ordinary shares of 10p in the Company (“Ordinary Shares”), the Company be and it is generally and 

unconditionally authorised to make market purchases of Ordinary Shares, provided that: 
(a) the maximum number of Ordinary Shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 13,550,000 (being the 

equivalent of 14.99% of the issued Ordinary Shares as at the date of this notice); 

(b) the minimum price which may be paid for an Ordinary Share shall be 10p;
(c)  the maximum price (exclusive of expenses payable by the Company) which may be paid for an Ordinary 

Share shall be the higher of:
(i)  105% of the average of the middle market quotations of the Ordinary Shares for the five business days 

prior to the date on which such shares are contracted to be purchased; and 

(ii)  the higher of the price of the last independent trade and the highest current independent bid on the 

trading venue where the purchase is carried out;

(d)  such purchases shall be made in accordance with the Bermuda Companies Act; 
(e) unless renewed, the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General 

Meeting in 2017 save that the Company may, prior to such expiry, enter into a contract to purchase Ordinary 

Shares which will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after the expiration of such authority. 

103103

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING13.  As a Special Resolution: That, for the purpose of Bye-law 4A of the Company’s Bye-laws, the Company may 

issue Relevant Securities (as defined in the Bye-laws) representing up to 4,517,000 Ordinary Shares, equivalent 

to approximately 5% of the total number of Ordinary Shares in issue as at the date of this notice otherwise 

than on a pre-emptive basis, provided that such disapplication shall expire (unless and to the extent previously 

revoked, varied or renewed by the Company in general meeting by Special Resolution (as defined in the Bye-

laws)) at the earlier of the conclusion of the annual general meeting to be held in 2017 or 18 months from the 

date of this resolution but so that this power shall enable the Company to make such offers or agreements 

before such expiry which would or might otherwise require Relevant Securities to be issued after such expiry 

and the Directors may issue Relevant Securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if such expiry had 

not occurred.

By order of the Board  

ICM Investment Management Limited, Secretary 

19 September 2016

Notes
1.  Only the holders of ordinary shares registered on the register of members of the Company at close of business on 11 November 
2016 shall be entitled to attend and vote or to be represented at the meeting in respect of the shares registered in their name at 
that time. Changes to entries on the register after close of business on 11 November 2016 shall be disregarded in determining the 
rights of any person to attend and vote at the meeting. 

2.  A member entitled to attend and vote at the meeting may appoint one or more proxies to attend and vote instead of him/her. A 

proxy need not be a member of the Company. 

3.  If the Chairman, as a result of any proxy appointments, is given discretion as to how the votes are cast and the voting rights in 
respect of those discretionary proxies, when added to the interests in the Company’s securities already held by the Chairman, 
result in the Chairman holding such number of voting rights that he has a notifiable obligation under the Disclosure Guidance and 
Transparency Rules, the Chairman will make the necessary notifications to the Company and the Financial Conduct Authority. As 
a result, any person holding 3% or more of the voting rights in the Company who grants the Chairman a discretionary proxy in 
respect of some or all of those voting rights and so would otherwise have a notification obligation under the Disclosure Guidance 
and Transparency Rules need not make a separate notification to the Company and the Financial Conduct Authority.

4.  Any such person holding 3% or more of the voting rights in the Company who appoints a person other than the Chairman as his 

proxy will need to ensure that both he and such person complies with their respective disclosure obligations under the Disclosure 
Guidance and Transparency Rules.

5.  A form of proxy is provided with this notice of meeting. The return of a form of proxy will not preclude a member from attending 
the meeting and voting in person if he/she wishes to do so. To be valid, a form of proxy for use at the meeting and the power of 
attorney or other authority (if any) under which it is signed, or a notarially certified or office copy of such power or authority, must 
be deposited with the Company’s registrars, Computershare Investor Services (Bermuda) Limited, c/o The Pavilions, Bridgwater 
Road, Bristol BS99 6ZY not later than 4:00 pm (GMT) on 11 November 2016. Shareholders may also lodge their votes electronically 
by visiting the website www.eproxyappointment.com (the on-screen instructions will give details on how to complete the voting 
process).

In view of this requirement, investors holding shares in the Company through a depository interest should ensure that Forms 
of Instruction are returned to Computershare Investor Services PLC, The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol, BS99 6ZY not 
later than 4:00 pm (GMT) on 10 November 2016 or give an instruction via the CREST system as detailed below.

CREST members who wish to vote through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do so by using the 
procedures described in the CREST Manual. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST 
members who have appointed a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s), 
who will be able to take the appropriate action on their behalf.

In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message 
(a “CREST Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s 
specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual (available 
via www.euroclear.com/CREST). The message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an 

104104

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING(continued) amendment to the instruction given to a previously appointed proxy must, in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be 
received by the issuer’s agent (ID 3RA50) by not later than 10 November 2016 at 4:00 pm (GMT). For this purpose, the time of 
receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message by the CREST Applications Host) 
from which the issuer’s agent is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the manner prescribed by CREST. After 
this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be communicated to the appointee through 
other means.

CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors, or voting service providers should note that Euroclear UK & 
Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular messages. Normal system timings 
and limitations will, therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST 
member concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed 
a voting service provider, to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be 
necessary to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time. In this connection, 
CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system providers are referred, in particular, to those 
sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the 
Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

6.  The register of Directors’ holdings is available for inspection at the registered office of the Company during normal business hours 
on any weekday and will be available at the place of the meeting from 15 minutes prior to the commencement of the meeting until 
the conclusion thereof. 

7.  No service contracts exist between the Company and any of the Directors, who hold office in accordance with letters of 

appointment and the Company’s Bye-laws. The letters of appointment are available for inspection on request at the Company’s 
registered office and at the annual general meeting.

8.  The fourth quarterly dividend of 1.875p per ordinary share in respect of the year ended 30 June 2016 will be paid on 28 September 

2016 to the relevant holders on the register at the close of business on 9 September 2016.

105105

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016COMPANY INFORMATION

DIRECTORS
Peter Burrows, AO (Chairman)  
Alison Hill 
Warren McLeland 
Christopher Samuel 
David Shillson 
Eric St C Stobart

LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE COMPANY
(as to English law)

Norton Rose Fulbright LLP 
3 More London Riverside, London SE1 2AQ 
United Kingdom

LEGAL ADVISOR TO THE COMPANY
(as to Bermuda law)

REGISTERED OFFICE
34 Bermudiana Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda 
Company Registration Number: 39480

Appleby (Bermuda) Limited 
Canon’s Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM 12 
Bermuda

AIFM, JOINT PORTFOLIO MANAGER AND SECRETARY
ICM Investment Management Limited 
PO Box 208, Epsom, Surrey, KT18 7YF 
United Kingdom

Telephone number 01372 271486 
Authorised and regulated in the UK  
by the Financial Conduct Authority

JOINT PORTFOLIO MANAGER
ICM Limited 
34 Bermudiana Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

REPORTING ACCOUNTANTS AND  

REGISTERED AUDITOR
KPMG LLP 
15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL, United Kingdom 
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales

DEPOSITARY SERVICES PROVIDER
J.P. Morgan Europe Limited 
25 Bank Street, Canary Wharf, London E14 5JP 
United Kingdom
Authorised and regulated in the UK by the Financial Conduct Authority

ASSISTANT SECRETARY
BCB Charter Corporate Services Limited 
34 Bermudiana Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

CUSTODIANS
JPMorgan Chase Bank N.A. 
JPMorgan House, Grenville Street, St Helier, Jersey JE4 8QH

ADMINISTRATOR
F&C Management Limited (trading as BMO GAM) 
Exchange House, Primrose Street, London EC2A 2NY 
United Kingdom
Authorised and regulated in the UK  
by the Financial Conduct Authority

Bermuda Commercial Bank Limited 
34 Bermudiana Road, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda

REGISTRAR
Computershare Investor Services (Bermuda) Limited 
5 Reid Street, Hamilton HM 11, Bermuda 
Telephone 0370 707 4040

BROKER
Stockdale Securities Limited 
Beaufort House, 15 St Botolph Street, London EC3A 7BB 
United Kingdom
Authorised and regulated in the UK  
by the Financial Conduct Authority

REGISTRAR TO THE DEPOSITARY INTERESTS  

AND CREST AGENT
Computershare Investor Services PLC 
The Pavilions, Bridgwater Road, Bristol BS13 6ZY 
United Kingdom

COMPANY BANKER
Scotiabank Europe PLC 
201 Bishopsgate, 6th Floor, London EC2M 3NS 
United Kingdom

106106

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016COMPANY INFORMATIONHISTORICAL PERFORMANCE 

at 30 June

2016

2015

2014

2013(1)

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008(2)

2007(3)

NAV per ordinary share (pence)

241.12

169.00

165.84

148.33

209.67

201.63

166.39

146.87

225.20

350.29

Ordinary share price (pence)

130.75

117.00

128.00

130.00

144.00

147.25

116.50

117.00 234.00

299.00

Discount/(premium) (%)

FTSE All-Share Total Return Index

Returns and dividends (pence)

Revenue return per ordinary share

Capital return per ordinary share

Total return per ordinary share

Dividend per ordinary share

Capital distribution per ordinary share

ZDP shares(5) (pence)

2016 ZDP shares

45.8

5,737

6.23

68.45

74.68

7.50

–

30.8

22.8

12.4

31.3

27.0

30.0

20.3

(3.9)

4.2

5,614

5,471

4,837

4,101

4,234

3,370

2,782

3,499

4,023

7.84

2.47

7.03

12.06

11.99

7.65

10.49

2.77

3.56

1.84

19.85

(63.65)

2.73

26.05

21.15

(82.62)

(103.32)

178.01

10.31

26.88

(51.59)

14.72

33.70

31.62

(79.85)

(99.76)

179.85

7.50

7.50

10.00(4)

7.00

8.25

–

–

–

–

–

–

12.00

–

–

–

–

0.80

–

 – Capital entitlement per ZDP share

188.31

175.55

163.70

152.64

142.33

132.69

123.72

115.37

107.57

100.29

 – ZDP share price

2018 ZDP shares

191.00

184.63

177.13

165.50

148.50

133.50

108.75

102.50

103.75

103.00

 – Capital entitlement per ZDP share

136.32

127.09

118.50

110.50

103.03

 – ZDP share price

2020 ZDP shares

147.25

141.75

128.25

113.38

104.00

 – Capital entitlement per ZDP share

114.35

106.61

 – ZDP share price

2022 ZDP shares

 – Capital entitlement per ZDP share

 – ZDP share price

Equity holders' funds (£m)

130.00

122.38

100.12

104.50

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

440.7

24.7

197.4

–

373.4

399.1

383.0

434.5

408.7

334.2

288.9

414.6

454.6

34.4

22.2

42.5

–

30.9

29.3

17.0

69.2

44.8

172.4

212.5

193.4

224.4

172.8

161.2

145.1

140.2

130.8

–

–

–

1.2

3.5

–

–

–

–

218.6

166.6

164.4

147.1

208.9

201.5

143.7

126.8

205.2

279.0

Gross assets(6)

Bank debt 

ZDP shares 

Other debt

Equity holders’ funds

Revenue account (£m)

Income

10.5

11.2

10.4

16.2

15.9

11.9

13.8

Costs (management and other expenses)

Finance costs

Financial ratios of the Group (%)

Revenue yield on average gross assets

Ongoing charges figure

Bank loans, other loans and ZDP shares 

1.9

1.7

2.9

3.3(7)

1.8

1.1

2.1

0.9

3.2

0.8

3.0

0.8

2.9

2.0

2.9

2.6

4.2

4.0

3.1

2.0(7)

2.2(7)

1.8(7)

1.7(7) 

2.0(7) 

2.4

1.4

4.2

0.7

8.5

2.4

2.6

2.6

0.8

10.5

3.1

3.6

2.3

0.7

8.4

2.6

4.1

2.3

0.7

gearing on net assets

101.6

124.1

144.4

160.4

108.0

102.8

132.6

127.9

102.0

62.9

(1)  Restated on adoption of IFRS10 Consolidated Financial Statements
(2)  Restated consolidating GERP
(3)  UIL began trading on 20 June 2007. An investment update was produced for the year ended 30 June 2007 which included figures from UIL’s predecessor, Utilico Investment 

Trust PLC. As such these numbers are neither audited nor reviewed under auditing standards
Includes the special dividend of 2.50p per share
Issued by UIL Finance, a wholly owned subsidiary of UIL

(4) 
(5) 
(6)  Gross assets less current liabilities excluding loans
(7)  The ongoing charges figures is expressed as a percentage of average net assets. Ongoing charges comprise all operational, recurring costs that are payable by the 

Group or suffered within underlying investee funds, in the absence of any purchases or sales of investments, excluding performance fees, and income not receivable

107107

UIL LimitedReport & Accounts for  the year to 30 June 2016HISTORICAL PERFORMANCE6
1
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N
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UK ContactPO Box 208Epsom SurreyKT18 7YFTelephone: 01372 271 486www.uil.limited