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Wonderful Times Group

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FY2015 Annual Report · Wonderful Times Group
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Watchstone Group plc
Annual Report and Financial Statements  

for the year ended 31 December 2015

 
 
 
 
 
In this year’s Report

Business Review
Key Summary

Chairman’s Report

Group Chief Executive’s Update

Strategic Report

Governance
Board of Directors

Directors’ Remuneration Report

Corporate Governance Report

Directors’ Report

Audit Committee Report

Independent Auditor’s Report

Financial Statements
Financial Statements

Consolidated Income Statement

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

Notes to the Financial Statements

Company Balance Sheet and Notes

Officers and Professional Advisers

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Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20151

Key Summary

Financial:
 ■ Underlying* business revenues steady at £58.3m (2014: £56.5m)

 ■ Underlying EBITDA loss of £16.1m (2014: loss of £16.8m)

 ■ Disposal of the Professional Services Division generated a profit of £494.3m

 ■ Impairment of goodwill and other intangible and non-cash assets – total charge of £113.5m (2014: £129.1m)

 ■ Total profit after tax £274.9m (2014: loss of £374.5m)

 ■ Group net assets (excluding contingent liabilities) of £137.1m representing approximately 297 pence per share following 

capital return of £411.9m

 ■ Group cash at 31 December 2015 of £103.2m including £97.6m in the Company

* Underlying includes Hubio, Ingenie, ptHealth, BAS, Maine Finance and Central

Operational:
 ■ Disposal of the Professional Services Division for £645m plus deferred contingent consideration completed in May 2015

 ■ Court approved capital return of 90 pence per ordinary share completed in December 2015 

 ■ New Group CEO and Board in place which has brought stability and started to rebuild investor confidence

 ■ Substantial work completed and on-going to simplify the Group, reduce the Group’s losses and build the platform to 

deliver the best possible shareholder value from all the Group’s operational and other assets

 ■ Clear strategy and plan for all Group businesses – energetically pursuing opportunities and robustly dealing with challenges 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20152

Chairman’s Report

The story of Watchstone through 2015 
was one of challenge and change. Today, 
however, we can look back on the period 
as one in which decisive action brought 
stabilisation, through which we have 
started to rebuild investor confidence.

Watchstone began 2015 with operational and reputational 
issues and a challenged financial position, all due to our 
historic legacy. The team has worked tirelessly to deliver 
a series of achievements including the transformational 
sale of the Professional Services Division (“PSD”) to Slater 
and Gordon Limited (“S&G”) for £645m plus contingent 
consideration and the execution of a Court approved, 
return of capital. In addition, the Board and corporate 
governance of the Company was overhauled and the Group 
refocused strategically, while the extent of the issues we 
were dealing with was laid bare with the publication of an 
extraordinarily complex set of accounts for the period ended 
31 December 2014.

The Board is pleased with the significant progress made in 
consigning historical issues to the past and with the fact that 
we are well advanced in creating a solid base for the future. 
In November 2015, the Group was rebranded to Watchstone 
Group plc and this has helped reposition the Group as the 
smaller, more focused Group it now is, with a clear strategy 
going forward.

Board and management team

In the year, we appointed a new Board. Indro Mukerjee, 
became Group Chief Executive Officer in September 2015. 
He is supported by Mark Williams, our Group Finance 
Director, appointed in May 2015 and Stefan Borson, Group 
General Counsel & Company Secretary. Together they have 
made a substantial impact re-shaping and repositioning the 
Group. We have been open as to the scale of the challenges 
we face as well as the opportunities ahead if we can succeed 
in our chosen markets.

In addition to my appointment as Non-executive Chairman, 
we introduced a number of other Non-executive Directors to 
the Company and constituted four new Committees (Audit, 
Disclosure, Remuneration and Nomination). The Board now 
has the right level of seniority, skills, independence and 
governance to ensure the highest level of oversight. 

Corporate activity

In addition to the transformational PSD disposal, in 
November 2015, we completed the acquisition of the 
remaining shares that we did not own in the leading 
Canadian physiotherapy business, PT Healthcare Solutions 
Corp (“ptHealth”). We also carried out a number of small 
disposals including our holdings in Nationwide Accident 
Repair Solutions plc (“NARS”) and the 360GlobalNet 
Group (“360”). These decisions were taken with a view to 
simplifying and focusing the Group on delivering shareholder 
value. We have continued into 2016 with this strategy by 
exiting our property services interests and selling Quintica 
Holdings Limited (“Quintica”), both of which were loss 
making. As we have made clear, further disposals will occur 
over time if we think this is the right path to take to create 
shareholder value.

Restoring confidence

I am pleased to say that our decisive action through 2015 
has brought some stability back to the Group. We have much 
work to do, but we have started to rebuild the confidence of 
investors, customers and suppliers, regulators and colleagues 
alike. The year prior to the disposal of the PSD was a difficult 
period for the Group and the businesses suffered both from 
management challenges and financial issues. Inevitably, the 
Group focused its efforts on ensuring its continued viability 
and only following receipt of the proceeds of the PSD 
disposal could the re-building task begin in earnest. A great 
deal has been done in a relatively short space of time to turn 
the tide, and the Board is confident in the Company’s future 
and the potential of our businesses.

On 5 August 2015, following the publication of our results for 
the year ended 31 December 2014, the Financial Reporting 
Council (“FRC”) closed its enquiry into the Group’s historic 
financial reports specifically commenting that this was in light 
of the positive actions taken by the Directors in correcting 
the identified errors and amending accounting policies. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20153

On the same day, the Serious Fraud Office (“SFO”) 
informed the Company that it had opened an investigation 
relating to previous management’s past business and 
accounting practices at the Company. Shortly after this 
the Financial Conduct Authority announced that, in light of 
the investigation by the SFO, it had decided to discontinue 
its own investigation with immediate effect. The SFO 
investigation is on-going and we continue to co-operate fully 
with it and it is now the only regulatory enquiry to which the 
Company is subject.

Cash and return of capital

In December 2015, the Company completed an 
unprecedented Court approved, return of capital totalling 
£411.9m. As at 20 May 2016, the Group has cash of 
approximately £93.1m including cash in the Company of 
£86.9m with a further £50.0m in escrow, and no material 
debt. We are confident that the £50.0m currently reserved 
in a joint escrow account for any warranty claims will be 
released in November 2016. No claims have been received 
from S&G at this stage. As detailed at the time of the 
December 2015 return of capital, we will look to make a 
further return of capital of approximately £1 per share if, 
as anticipated, the further escrow monies are released 
at the end of November 2016. 

It is likely that such return of capital will require both the 
approval of shareholders and Court approval for a further 
capital reduction. As previously required, the Board will 
need to ensure the interests of creditors are adequately 
safeguarded (including in respect of any contingent 
liabilities). An appropriate amount will also be held in 
reserve for developing and growing our businesses.

We remain hopeful of receiving, in time, substantial 
contingent consideration in respect of the disposal of the 
PSD and we remain in close contact with S&G in respect 
of this matter.

Conclusions

I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our 
colleagues who worked under very stressful and trying 
circumstances in the first half of 2015 yet remained focused 
on delivering for our customers. I would also like to thank 
our investors who have maintained support for the Company 
and been patient as the intense work to deliver the best 
possible value from our assets has continued. The Board 
is confident that we will go on to reward that support. 

A vast amount of work has been carried out but, as always, 
there remains much to be done. We have some exciting 
opportunities to create value in our remaining businesses 
and we are committed to deploy resources and energy 
to maximise such potential.

Richard Rose
Non-executive Chairman 
27 May 2016

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20154

Group Chief Executive’s Update

“Building the future, managing the past”

As I approach the start of my fourth quarter with the Group, 
I would like to take this opportunity to share some thoughts 
and plans.

I feel that we already have a very different company 
today from when I started and, while we continue with 
determination to manage issues of the past, we are working 
with clarity and focus to build the best value possible from 
our operating companies. 

Watchstone Group plc has been developed to be a company 
focused on managing the Group’s operating, contingent and 
cash assets in order to achieve the maximum value possible, 
whilst always ensuring good governance. As Group CEO, this 
has involved my working both closely with, and very much in 
our operating businesses. 

Our results for the year ended 31 December 2015 give 
an idea of my starting point with the Group. From the start, 
it was clear to me that the Group was a diverse collection 
of businesses spanning a number of sectors – some being 
quite sub scale and all needing work to improve strategic 
positioning and operational execution.

Our focus has been on the simultaneous aims of reducing 
the Group’s unsustainable losses whilst creating a platform 
to achieve the best possible value and performance from 
our operating businesses. It has been apparent that these 
twin aims are closely linked. In some areas, we have reduced 
losses by ceasing activities that have no positive future and, 
in others, by reshaping those businesses where we see long 
term potential value so that they are leaner, more focused 
and more efficient. 

The work to reduce costs and losses continues and has been 
determined and successful to date. So far, approximately 
£7.6m of annualised losses have been eliminated. This work 
continues and by the end of 2016, the total is expected to be 
in excess of £13.5m. Critically, our teams have ensured that 
work for our customers has not been negatively impacted 
by these changes. 

Business review

Taking each of our businesses in turn:

1.  Healthcare Services – ptHealth

ptHealth is the largest and longest established of our 
businesses and operates the third largest physiotherapy and 
rehabilitation clinic network in Canada treating over 5,000 
patients a day. ptHealth’s unaudited revenue performance 

of £6.6m in Q1 2016 was (excluding exchange rate 
fluctuations) up 4.4% vs. Q1 2015 which is encouraging given 
this was achieved with fewer corporate owned clinics. I detail 
this further below. 

ptHealth has potential to be of real value to the Group with 
its strong fundamentals, the opportunities for expansion 
afforded by the fragmented nature of the Canadian clinic 
market and the fact that the North American healthcare 
space is one which is attracting interest from investors 
and buyers in the public and private markets.

ptHealth has established a presence in the Canadian market 
via its 83 owned clinics (where we employ the people) 
and further generates income from providing services to 
some 153 independent network clinics. This latter activity 
is enabled by ptHealth’s managed services offering which 
includes our proprietary clinic management software as well 
as digital marketing for lead generation and other services.

In order to fully exploit the shareholder value possibilities 
in this business, ptHealth, which is now cash generative, 
was recently divided into two focused activities, each with 
its own clear strategy: 

Owned clinic business – immediate and determined 
operational improvement work 
ptHealth’s owned clinic business is being taken from loss 
making to profitability during 2016. This is being done by 
improving or exiting from the previously loss making clinics. 
Where possible, loss making clinics are being sold with a 
service contract element to allow us to assist and share in 
operational improvement made following their sale. Since the 
start of 2016, 11 owned clinics have been disposed of and 
10 clinics have been taken from loss making to profitable.

In all our work at ptHealth, we are ensuring that in 
operating the business in line with our commitment to 
improve shareholder value we stay true to the core health 
service principles of ensuring patient care, dignity and 
ethics. In order to do this, I have spent significant time with 
management to understand what makes the business tick 
and the “soul” of its excellent connection with Canadians as 
a respected care provider, including first class relationships 
with important patient and regulatory bodies. For example, 
it is a measure of these relationships that one of our 
colleagues is the current President of the Ontario College 
of Physiotherapists and we are active contributors to 
standards bodies.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20155

Underpinning the work to improve the business results has 
been the implementation of a full performance tracking 
information suite which looks at all aspects of treatments 
provided, return on investment throughout and enables 
the optimisation of capacity planning and utilisation. 
Key improvements noted include average revenue per 
clinic, which improved by 12% comparing Q1 2016 to 
Q1 2015. In addition, assessment and treatment numbers 
have increased by 11% and 7% respectively during the 
same period.

ptHealth has the potential to scale profitably through 
improved utilisation of clinic capacity by:

 ■ broadening its range of services to patients to include 

sales of medical devices and appliances;

 ■ providing other types of treatments; and 

 ■ procuring contracts from insurance companies for 

volume-related road traffic and other rehabilitation work. 

This strategy is starting to bear fruit and we are currently 
implementing two additional insurance contracts which are 
expected to provide a minimum of 200 new assessments per 
month which could generate an additional 2,000 treatments 
every month.

Clinic management services – InnoCare
InnoCare was successfully launched as an innovative spin out 
from ptHealth in April 2016, with the objective of creating a 
company to supply SaaS, cloud-based clinic management 
software as well as business process outsourcing products 
to the North American healthcare market. Our initial focus 
is on the Canadian physiotherapy and rehabilitation clinics 
(approximately 9,000 independent clinics) but our products 
could then be expanded to other types of clinic (opticians, 
doctors) as well as expanded into the US.

The foundation of this business is our proven clinic 
management technology which already powers 236 
clinics across Canada and InnoCare will be developed as a 
technology led, B2B business. InnoCare is already showing 
positive business development indicators in terms of leads 
generated and its first new customers since launch. Indeed, 
since launch, there have been over 10,000 unique visits to 
InnoCare’s website generating over 500 credible inbound 
leads for InnoCare software despite limited marketing activity 
to date.

2.  Hubio

Hubio was launched in January 2016 bringing together three 
quite disparate insurance technology companies into one 
in order to most efficiently deal with the challenges in and 
opportunities for these companies and to create the optimal 
way to go forward. Hubio’s unaudited Q1 2016 revenue was 
£4.3m which is 4.4% above Q1 2015.

I decided to be the ‘founding CEO’ in order to deeply immerse 
myself into what we have, what we were trying to do and the 
markets, customers and competitors. My objective was to 
fully understand our businesses in this space and to develop 
a strategy to optimise the use of our cash resources.

Working with Hubio’s businesses and in the external market 
with customers, prospects and influencers, I could see that 
our businesses generally had poor market connections, 
certainly through 2015, partly attributable to past 
reputational issues within the insurance sector and partly 
due to financial constraints caused by the working capital 
intensive, growth of the professional services division prior 
to its disposal. 

As a consequence of these challenges in 2014 and 2015, 
the sales and commercial pipeline was very weak across all 
of Hubio’s product lines. Existing telematics engagements 
in North America have not developed as planned and, across 
Hubio generally, the resource base had become one more 
suited to a much larger scale business, with the need to 
improve processes and efficiencies across businesses which 
had not been integrated. It has therefore been necessary 
to make the impairments to carried forward goodwill in the 
businesses that comprise Hubio and these changes are 
reflected in these results.

The number of active devices as at end of April 2016 was 
38,631 which, although 77% more than at the same point 
last year, is not where it should be. These numbers are 
reflective of the challenges both in Hubio and in the wider 
insurance telematics market.

Nevertheless, it is also clear to me that we do have a number 
of relevant and well-engineered technology capabilities which 
have potential. These include a highly scalable and versatile 
telematics tracking platform in terms of gateway and data 
analytics on our servers, advanced algorithms for scoring and 
rating and an award-winning policy and claims enterprise 
suite. I believe that these and other Hubio technologies have 
the potential to create shareholder value but the way the 
business is run and the scale of continued investment must 
and will be bounded by reality.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20156

Group Chief Executive’s Update (continued)

We have therefore started on a program to make Hubio 
much more streamlined, focused and agile by taking the 
following actions:

Sharpening Hubio’s value proposition and target markets
 ■ Fleet – this is the most established telematics sector 
with a clearly growing market and real demand in 
many countries. We are launching HubioFleet which 
will combine our already developed telematics tracking 
platform with our relatively small, RoadAngel fleet 
business. We have approximately 10,000 devices across 
750 customers in the market and the plan is to grow this 
installed base with a new, improved proposition rolling 
out by the end of Q3. The fleet market is proven and 
has a number of well-established players so execution 
will be critical but we are confident in our plan with 
the intention to price our differentiated technologies 
competitively, mainly targeting small to medium sized 
fleets of 5-100 vehicles initially in the UK and then 
we will plan to move to other markets. We have some 
capable people involved here and believe there is strong 
return on investment potential in this market;

 ■ Usage based insurance (UBI) – this remains a niche 
market but we believe that, in line with market analyst 
research, it will grow in scale from low single digit 
penetration in some countries to over 10% by the 
start of the next decade. This has been the area of 
greatest unfulfilled hope for Hubio to date and, having 
studied the market, the area with the lowest return 
on investment for other service providers. Hubio will 
now strictly focus on engagements with highly qualified 
opportunities where we can leverage our insight 
and analytics capabilities, in particular young driver 
programs. We do not need to develop any fundamental 
new technology in this area, will better filter our target 
engagements and will act accordingly when we find 
real potential from existing and new customers;

 ■ Automotive – there are opportunities to help 

dealerships, motoring organisations and warranty 
companies connect directly with their consumers’ 
cars. Hubio can offer relevant technologies to 
enable this. As with UBI, our sales focus will be on 
opportunity qualification and on efficiently deploying 
resources. What we know from the engagements 
we have developed over the last few months is that 
there are some really interesting possibilities, with our 
technologies being well suited to this area. We need to 
and will act smartly in this vertical because the historic 
speed of market development has been slower than 
the industry originally expected; and

 ■ Enterprise and professional – Hubio’s enterprise 

software for insurance policy and claims management 
is recognised in the industry and has a number of 
customer engagements but also the potential to be 
sold more widely. This UK focused business certainly 
wasn’t helped by some of the reputational issues during 
2014 and 2015 and, by its nature, its target projects 
have long sales cycles. This business and its resources 
will now be clearly focused on projects with mid/small 
tier insurance players where our technology enables 
fast implementation, including SaaS capability and 
out-compete alternatives on price and speed. Hubio’s 
broker portal and reporting tools are well established 
with a presence in the Canadian market. There are some 
interesting opportunities in this market as shown by our 
recent successful ‘farming portal’ launch. We have good 
technology in enterprise software and insurance portals 
and have a clear plan on how to develop business 
efficiently and effectively.

Operating Hubio smartly with financial prudence
Whilst there are opportunities for Hubio’s technologies, 
we need to and will ensure that these are pursued smartly 
with financial prudence. This will be achieved by the 
continued process of reshaping the organisation to have 
a smaller, more agile footprint with market engagement 
more efficiently focused.

This process is well advanced and has been informed by 
what we have found in the market. Cash investment in Hubio 
will reduce from in excess of £11.0m in 2015 to less than 
£5.0m per annum on an annualised basis from September 
2016 with a target to make the business self-financing 
during 2017.

3.  ingenie

ingenie is a leading telematics based insurance broker and 
one of the original pathfinders in the industry. ingenie has 
established a position in the market through a successful 
focus on, and development of, a proposition for young 
drivers. Its business model is to generate fees and 
commissions from its panel of underwriters on new and 
renewal insurance policies. ingenie’s unaudited revenue 
for Q1 2016 was £3.5m which is 34% above Q1 2015 and 
reflective of the good momentum detailed below. 

The essential elements of ingenie are its relationship 
with its customers through smart communications and 
services (on average its customers review driver feedback 
14 times a month); its relationship with leading insurance 
underwriters, for whom it plays an important part of 
their respective telematics strategies; and its access 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20157

Making our core technology a repeatable, white label B2B 
sales proposition 
ingenie’s customer proposition and the service it provides 
to its panel of underwriters are both enabled by the Group’s 
technology which includes the ability to host data, process 
journey information, perform advanced server side analytics 
and driver scoring algorithms based on over 600 million 
driving miles of data.

This technology has been used to create a white label 
proposition which can be licensed to multiple third party 
brands/insurers who wish to create their own young driver 
telematics based offering. Following targeted marketing 
our first external customer are expected to be announced 
in the second half of this year.

4.  Other 

a.  Business Advisory Service (“BAS”)
BAS is an energy brokerage which provides added value 
energy procurement and consultancy services and receives 
commissions from a panel of suppliers. We are a relatively 
small player in a significant and growing market, which will 
likely undergo further consolidation. 

The focus of our work in this business has been to enable 
rapid operational improvements and to position it for growth 
and the best way to be able to realise value for shareholders. 

BAS is being developed to be profitable during this year and 
is well placed for growth, with unaudited revenues for Q1 
2016 of £0.8m, an increase of 21% on the same period in 
2015 and the business is now cash generative. BAS is now 
better placed strategically with the addition of an Industrial 
& Corporate Group to access larger, corporate customers as 
well as its existing SME target market. In addition, it has also 
launched its Openview platform which enables e-auction 
pricing for large customer bids.

In line with the strategy to develop larger corporate 
customers, BAS has been working on its first public sector 
customer, with whom we are aiming to enter into a contract 
in the coming months. BAS is being operated to grow its 
business profitably, gain share in the market and we are 
confident about the prospects for this business.

to differentiated technology and know-how, the foundation 
of which is a set of over 200 advanced data analytics 
algorithms for determining driver behaviour and adding 
value to both drivers and insurers (see below for our plans 
for our technology). 

Over the last couple of years, the market has grown with the 
addition of new entrants, including a number of the large 
direct insurance players. This certainly created pressure 
on retention rates during 2015.

Our activities over the last couple of quarters have been 
to focus on the fundamentals of the business with the 
following actions:

Energising customer connections and improving 
partnerships with underwriters 
ingenie’s business model is proven and scalable and so the 
decision was taken around the end of last year to energise 
the brand, way of working and to improve market outreach. 
With greater focus on marketing, including smart social 
media and radio campaigns, strongly improved results from 
aggregator sales together with new policies sold via the 
Vauxhall affinity scheme, results have increased significantly 
over last year as the table below highlights:
Q1  
2015

% 
change

Q1  
2016

Metric

2014

2015

% 
change

£55.2m £65.6m

+18% £16.8m £20.7m

+23%

30,727

33,757

+10%

8,985

10,706

+19%

31,294

36,963

+18% 34,515

39,700

+15%

Gross 
written 
premium 
(“GWP”)

Policies 
written

Policies  
in force  
(at period  
end)

ingenie has built strong relationships with a panel of 
leading underwriters, which consists of Ageas, RSA, Covea 
and LV. These are important and reciprocal relationships 
with ingenie gaining customers and market access and the 
underwriters benefiting from ingenie’s technology which 
has enabled a strong connection between driving scores 
and claims frequency and severity. Rebroking (our ability to 
switch a customer’s underwriter at renewal to enable them 
to receive the most competitive rate) was introduced at 
the end of last year and this has shown a marked increase 
in retention rates.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20158

Group Chief Executive’s Update (continued)

b.  Maine Finance and quotesupermarket.com
Maine Finance distributes a range of financial services 
products, including life insurance and pensions, through 
the quotesupermarket.com site. The combined unaudited 
Q1 2016 revenue for Maine Finance and QSM was £0.4m 
(Q1 2015: £0.5m). In order to move to profitability, we took 
the decision to exit the consumer life insurance market 
and to focus instead on distribution to the SME market. 
Additionally, we have ideas to use the quotesupermarket.com 
site for other activities across the Group and beyond.

Conclusions

Even taking the legacy, non-operational matters to one side, 
the Group I joined in September 2015 was disproportionately 
complex and needed operational improvement. At the same 
time, I have found a number of good examples of advanced 
technology capabilities; capable people; and healthy market 
positions across our operating companies. 

We are determined to build and manage our businesses to 
be the best they can in their respective markets. This will be 
achieved on a foundation of greater simplicity and efficiency 
as we continue to reduce our operational costs and execute 
our strategy.

In cases where we consider the best way to deliver 
shareholder value would be to find alternative owners for 
a particular business, we will do so with a clear view of 
value in mind. Should such expectation not be met, we will 
determinedly continue with our ownership and develop 
businesses within our principles of strong governance, 
careful cash management and prudent investment. 

I believe we have made strong progress towards our 
key objectives in the last three quarters and there is 
demonstrable momentum in our ptHealth/InnoCare, ingenie 
and BAS businesses with a strong determination to continue 
to set Hubio and Maine Finance/QSM on paths to maximise 
their potential.

I thank our staff for their continued hard work and our 
shareholders for their support.

Indro Mukerjee
Group Chief Executive Officer
27 May 2016

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Strategic Report

1. Business Review

1.1 About Watchstone

Watchstone Group plc is a company focused on managing 
the Group’s operating, contingent and cash assets in order 
to achieve the maximum value possible, whilst always 
ensuring good governance.

The Group’s businesses offer leading technology solutions 
and other services primarily to the insurance, automotive 
and healthcare industries. While we have a diverse portfolio, 
our operating businesses are unified by a set of shared 
commercial principles:

 ■ We seek to anticipate change and we have the agility 
to exploit the dynamism of customer behaviour;

 ■ We invest in the people and technologies that will drive 

innovation and success in our markets;

 ■ We promote in-depth sector knowledge and experience 

as the starting point of value creation; and

 ■ We strive for efficiency across our businesses 

through the optimal allocation of resources and 
good governance.

The individual businesses and segments in which they 
operate are set out below:

 ■ Hubio was created as a combination of Himex, our 
UK based insurance policy and claims technology 
business, QETS and our Canadian software and services 
division, QSI. It provides integrated solutions to help 
organisations in the insurance and automotive sectors 
increase efficiency, reduce claims, build customer 
engagement and enable usage-based personalisation. 

 ■ Healthcare

 – ptHealth is a national healthcare company that owns 
and operates physical rehabilitation clinics across 
Canada. From large cities to small communities, 
ptHealth takes pride in delivering quality services 
in a compassionate and patient-centered atmosphere 
that is focused on providing recovery solutions for 
its patients.

9

 – InnoCare is a proprietary clinic management software 

platform and call centre and customer service 
operation based in Canada. InnoCare was a spin 
out from ptHealth and uses its established industry 
expertise to enable clinic owners to transform their 
patient’s experience and operate more efficient and 
productive practices in the growing North American 
healthcare market.

 ■ ingenie is an insurance broker focused on helping 

young drivers get on the road safely and affordably. 
Using telematics technology, ingenie gives its community 
feedback, advice and discounts to help them improve 
their driving skills and stay safe. ingenie was recently 
named Telematics Champion of the Year by the 
Insurance Times.

 ■ Other

 – BAS is one of the UK’s leading energy brokerages 

providing a range of energy services to UK companies 
– including procurement, energy audit, monitoring 
and targeting and data sampling.

 – Maine Finance is a life insurance broker, selling life, 
critical illness and income protection insurance 
policies direct to customers and businesses 
throughout the UK. Maine Finance specialises in 
offering real-time pricing to customers from some of 
the largest insurance brands in the UK. Maine Finance 
works with our comparison site quotesupermarket.
com which seeks to help people save money and to 
find the best quotes from a wide range of high quality 
insurance providers.

1.2 Overview of 2015

Having started the year under considerable external 
scrutiny both in relation to corporate governance, financial 
reporting and cash management, the Group ends it with 
improved standards of governance, secure financial health 
and a clearer focus on our technology businesses with 
opportunities for growth. 

In December 2014, the Group entered into discussions with 
S&G, which were to culminate in the disposal of the PSD 
in May 2015. The disposal of the PSD allowed the Group 
to satisfy its external debt and to return the majority of 
the proceeds to shareholders whilst retaining adequate 
resources for the remaining Group.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201510

Strategic Report (continued)

In August 2015, the Group published its results for the year 
ended 31 December 2014 (“2014 Report and Accounts”), 
which concluded a process of thorough examination and 
investigation into its previous accounting policies and practices 
with a focus on its historic transactions. The 2014 Report 
and Accounts included a major restatement of accounting 
policies in connection with the recognition of revenues and 
also prior year adjustments arising largely as a result of the 
identification of additional information, not previously made 
available to the Auditors, indicating a number of omissions and 
misstatements in the financial statements of one or more prior 
periods. A review by the FRC, concluded satisfactorily with the 
publication of the 2014 Report and Accounts.

In line with its stated intention on the disposal of the PSD, 
the Company successfully paid to shareholders the majority 
of the proceeds received via a Court approved, return 
of capital. This process followed extensive work with its 
businesses, legal and financial advisers. Court approval for 
the capital reduction was obtained on 18 December 2015 
and an overall return of £412m was paid in December 2015.

On 7 September 2015, the Group successfully recruited a 
new Group Chief Executive Officer, Indro Mukerjee, following 
a process which commenced once the disposal of the PSD 
had been finalised. This has resulted in a sharpening of 
strategic effort into those businesses the Group retains 
which have the potential for profitable growth and value 
enrichment for our shareholders. 

Our focus has been on the simultaneous aims of reducing 
the Group’s unsustainable losses whilst creating a platform 
to achieve the best possible value and performance from our 
operating businesses. We have reorganised those businesses 
where we see long term potential value so that they are 
leaner, more focused and more efficient and the one off 
costs of this reorganisation will be recognised in both the 
2015 and 2016 financial years.

As described in the Group Chief Executive’s Report, historic 
and existing telematics engagements in North America have 
not developed as planned and, across Hubio generally, the 
resource base had become one more suited to a much larger 
scale business, with the need to improve processes and 
efficiencies across businesses which had not been integrated. 
Generally, Hubio’s businesses had poor market connections 
through 2015, partly attributable to past reputational issues 
within the insurance sector and partly due to financial 
constraints caused by the working capital intensive, growth 
of the PSD prior to its disposal. As a consequence of these 
challenges in 2014 and 2015, the sales and commercial 
pipeline was weak across all of Hubio’s product lines. 

Hubio does have a number of relevant and well engineered 
technology capabilities which have potential. These include 
a highly scalable and versatile telematics tracking platform 
in terms of gateway and data analytics on our servers, 
advanced algorithms for scoring and rating and an award-
winning policy and claims enterprise suite. Whilst there are 
opportunities for Hubio’s technologies, the Group will need 
to ensure that these are pursued with financial prudence. 
This will be achieved by the continued process of reshaping 
the organisation to have a smaller, more agile footprint with 
market engagement more efficiently focused.

In ingenie, a combination of management change and 
increased competition from the addition of new entrants, 
including a number of the large direct insurance players 
created pressure on retention rates during 2015.

ingenie continues to benefit from its close relationship with 
customers and its leading insurance underwriters, for whom 
it plays an important part of their respective telematics 
strategies. In addition, ingenie has access to differentiated 
technology and know-how, the foundation of which is a 
set of over 200 advanced data analytics algorithms for 
determining driver behaviour and adding value to both 
drivers and insurers. 

In light of these challenges and factors, the new Board and 
management teams have assessed the operating models 
and adopted more cautious future revenue projections 
in both Hubio and ingenie which has resulted in material 
impairments to the carrying values of associated non-cash 
assets, being goodwill and other intangibles as well as stocks 
of inventory in both businesses. 

Since the year end, consistent with this strategic direction, 
the management team has been continued with the 
identification and elimination of excess costs. Businesses that 
were considered a drain on the resources of the Group and 
that were felt unlikely to contribute materially to the growth 
of the Group’s value have been disposed of. Specifically, 
the Group has:

 ■ Exited the property services business sector, including 
the sale of that part of the business, B E Insulated (UK) 
Limited (“BEI”) and Carbon Reduction Company (UK) 
Limited (“CRC”). Property services, which was already 
a challenged business, suffered a strategic blow when 
the Government removed the domestic subsidy for solar 
insulation. The cost reductions and subsequent sale 
removed ongoing losses of approximately £2m from 
the Group; and

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201511

 ■ Sold Quintica, which is a reseller and integrator of 

software to the telecoms industry. This business had 
suffered approximately £2m losses per annum for the 
last two years.

1.3 Overview of Financial Statements

The Financial Statements are presented on pages 34 to 132. 

An overview of the main factors which have influenced 
the Financial Statements are:

 ■ Disposal of the PSD in May 2015 and its results for 

the period thereto have been classified as discontinued. 
As at 31 December 2014, the balance sheet reflected 
the PSD as an asset held for sale of £304m, and 
liabilities held for sale of £183m, a net amount of 
£121m. The closing balance sheet of 2015 reflects 
the disposal related assets, including escrow and cash 
balances and associated provisions but no material debt, 
that having been discharged on disposal. 

 ■ Return of capital. The Court approved process to 

reduce the capital of the Company by £414m in order 
to return the majority of the disposal proceeds from 
the disposal of the PSD concluded in December 2015, 
with £412m paid back to shareholders. At the same 
time, the Company carried out a share consolidation 
on a 1:10 basis as approved by shareholders to achieve 
a less volatile share price. The disposal of PSD, capital 
reduction, return of capital and associated reserves 
movements has resulted in negative distributable 
reserves as at 31 December 2015 of £15.5m.

 ■ Creation of Hubio, review and reassessment 

of carrying value of non-cash assets.

 ■ Classification as discontinued businesses of property 

services (including BEI and CRC) and Quintica and treated 
as assets/liabilities held for sale as at 31 December 2015.

Auditors’ Opinion on the Financial Statements
We are pleased to confirm that the Auditors have issued 
a clean opinion on the Income Statement for the year 
ended 31 December 2015 and Balance Sheet of both the 
Company and Group as at 31 December 2014 and for 2015. 
The issues that were discussed in detail in the 2014 Financial 
Statements are now only relevant to the closing position 
as at 31 December 2013 and, therefore, solely impact the 
comparatives for the Income Statement. This is a testament 
to the thoroughness with which the Group approached the 
preparation of the 2014 Financial Statements.

Financial Reporting Council
Upon publication of the 2014 Financial Statements, the 
FRC confirmed that its review of the 2011 and 2012 report 
and accounts was to be closed. The FRC commented on 
the positive actions taken by the Directors in correcting the 
identified historic errors and amending accounting policies. 
The Directors undertook to the FRC to notify shareholders 
of any further material adjustments to historic numbers 
which might result from additional information or which 
might impact the Group’s reported results and to make such 
corrections as may be necessary. There is no adjustment 
to the reported results or net assets, however there is one 
historic transaction that requires restatement and this is 
solely in respect of an £11.3m correction to certain reserve 
balances, as explained in note 5 to the Financial Statements.

1.4 Acquisitions and Investments

During the year, the Group completed the acquisitions of 
the remaining 50% of BEI and CRC and the remaining shares 
of ptHealth that it did not own. In addition, the Group also 
acquired the business, trade and assets of Clinic Server, 
a mission critical system to ptHealth and what has become 
the basis of our newly launched InnoCare business.

1.4.1 Property Services
On 4 March 2015, the Group acquired the remaining 50% 
of BEI that it did not own, and the entire share capital of 
CRC. The acquisition concluded the creation of the Property 
Services Division, part of the strategy of the previous Board. 
The acquisition was for a consideration of £3.3m settled 
by the issue of 3.7m ordinary shares (pre consolidation) 
and resulted in goodwill arising of £4.3m. The Property 
Services Division failed to meet expectations and, specifically, 
the business model is subject to the political decisions of 
Government in setting energy and associated subsidies 
and tariffs. Significant reductions in subsidies were made 
in the Budget in May 2015. As a result, an impairment of 
the goodwill of £4.3m was recognised. After the year end, 
in January 2016, BEI was disposed of for no gain or loss. 
The overall Property Services Division has delivered losses 
of £5.0m, plus additional closure costs of £0.2m in 2015.

1.4.2 Remaining shares in PT Healthcare Solutions Corp
Having already owned 49.9% of ptHealth, the Group 
completed the acquisition of the remaining 50.1% on 
4 November 2015. Consideration was 9.4m ordinary shares 
(pre consolidation) at a value of £19.7m. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201512

Strategic Report (continued)

The Group had already consolidated ptHealth since 
September 2013, as the Directors had considered that the 
Group controlled ptHealth by virtue of the put and call options 
that existed regarding the acquisition of the remaining shares 
in ptHealth, and by virtue of the funding that the Group had 
provided to ptHealth since it took its initial 26% investment 
in September 2013.

1.4.3 Clinic Server business
On 31 July 2015, the Group purchased the business, 
trade and assets of Clinic Server, thus securing for itself 
ptHealth’s mission critical operational system, which now 
forms the heart of the newly launched InnoCare business. 
Consideration was settled in cash at £1.2m and goodwill 
has arisen of £0.5m.

1.5 Disposals

During the year, the Group executed a strategy of releasing 
value from the disposal of the PSD combined with further 
disinvestments of assets not wholly controlled and, therefore, 
not capable of providing complementary technology services.

1.5.1 Professional Services Division 
The disposal of the PSD completed on 29 May 2015, 
resulting in a profit on disposal arising as follows:

Business

Consideration
Cash received

Cash held in escrow

Other consideration

Total consideration
Net assets at 31 December 2014

Five months trading

Debt repaid

Other adjustments

Net assets at disposal
Costs of sale

Other costs and adjustments

Total costs of sale and other adjustments

Profit on disposal

Group
£m

583.1

53.8

8.1

645.0

120.8

(18.2)

31.9

(2.2)

132.3

12.2

6.2

18.4

494.3

The sale and purchase agreement relating to the PSD 
included provision for an adjustment to consideration 
based on a completion accounts mechanism. The amount 
of any adjustment was expected to fall within the range of 
+/–£10.0m and an amount of £5.0m was held in joint escrow, 
pending the finalisation of this adjustment. In May 2016, this 
amount was finalised and £3.8m was released from escrow 
to the Group.

The remainder of the balance of cash in escrow of £50.0m 
is held in a joint escrow account as security against any 
potential warranty claims (“Warranty Escrow”). The period 
for warranty claims extends for 18 months from completion 
(i.e. to 29 November 2016) (7 years for tax claims) and 
warranty claims are subject to a de-minimus of £200,000 
for each item (£100,000 in the case of tax claims) with an 
aggregate basket of £2.5m before any claim can be made 
under the warranties. 

The limit of total liability in respect of warranty claims is 
£100.0m. Warranties are qualified by extensive disclosure 
given during the due diligence and negotiation process. 
No warranties were given by the Group in respect of historic 
accounting policies. Subject to any claims, the Warranty 
Escrow will be released at the end of November 2016.

To date there have been no warranty claims made by S&G, 
either formally or putative. The Group remains confident 
it will receive a release of the £50.0m currently held in 
escrow and has recognised its value in full as a non-cash 
current asset.

The disposal of the PSD contained an element of contingent 
consideration in relation to future receipts arising on Noise 
Induced Hearing Loss (“NIHL”) cases which were current at 
completion. Given the inherent uncertainties of this business 
line, the parties could not agree on an appropriate valuation 
at completion and so the agreement provides that the 
Group will receive 50% of the net after tax receipts (after 
allowing for administrative costs) collected on the NIHL cases 
outstanding at completion. Approximately 53,000 NIHL cases 
were active and transferred at completion. Such amounts 
will be determined on a six monthly basis with the first 
measurement date on 31 December 2015. The process will 
continue until 30 June 2017 when a terminal value projection 
of expected receipts will be agreed. If no agreement is 
reached, the process will continue with payments every six 
months until the earlier of the date when a terminal value 
is agreed or 31 December 2018. 

Based on an assessment of the costs that S&G will need to 
incur to pursue the NIHL cases and the potential outcome of 
the NIHL cases, the fair value of the contingent consideration 
has been determined as £nil. 

1.5.2 Investment in 360 GlobalNet Group
On 22 May 2015, the Group concluded its disposal of its 49% 
holding of the 360, having disposed of 10% on 5 January 
2015. Total consideration received was £6.0m, and a net 
profit on disposal of £2.0m has been recognised.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201513

1.5.3 Investment in Nationwide Accident Repair Services plc
Having concluded that its 25% holding in NARS was no longer 
of strategic importance, this investment was sold on 4 March 
2015 for proceeds of £7.1m. The Group had written down 
the carrying value of its investment as at 31 December 2014 
so no profit or loss was recorded on sale.

1.6 Capital reduction and return of capital
The disposal of the PSD resulted in the Group receiving 
the majority of the consideration in cash. It was the stated 
intention of the Board to distribute the majority of those 
proceeds to shareholders. The total consideration for the 
PSD was £645m, which following the settlement of the 
immediate costs of sale and extant bank debt meant that 
the Group had cash of £524m as at 30 September 2015. 
The Board then conducted a thorough review of both actual 
and contingent liabilities including the need to fund the 
operating requirements of the Group and its businesses for 
the foreseeable future. The Board considered the Group’s 
and businesses budgets and cash flow projections and 
cash needs arising, potential contingent cash obligations 
in relation to the ongoing SFO investigation, and we took 
extensive legal advice including from leading counsel. 
Our financial projections were then subject to review by 
the Auditors, KPMG, and we further commissioned a non-
statutory audit of our Company balance sheet as at 30 June 
2015 in order that we had a firm base from which to project. 

We then considered what the most appropriate amount of 
the cash return should be in light of three relevant factors: 

 ■ The requirement to be able to discharge our liabilities 

(actual and contingent) as they fall due; 

 ■ The reasonable expectations of our shareholders; and

 ■ The requirement to present to the Court a credible 
application given the SFO investigation and putative 
lawsuit potentially facing the company.

We therefore recommended a capital reduction and return of 
capital to shareholders of up to £414m, being 90p per share 
(pre consolidation). This was approved by both shareholders 
and the Court and we effected the payment of £412m to 
shareholders in December 2015. The Board has further 
indicated its intention to return a further £1 per share 
(following the 1:10 share consolidation), contingent upon the 
receipt of the Warranty Escrow due to be released at the end 
of November 2016. The further return of capital is likely to 
be conducted via a similar Court approved, capital reduction 
process in early 2017.

1.7 Retained earnings

Alongside the work carried out as part of the capital 
reduction, the Company carried out a detailed analysis 
of its distributable reserves. As a result of transactions 
in the current and prior years, transfers from both the 
merger reserve (£164.1m) and share based payment 
reserve (£28.5m) have been made to retained earnings. 
The Company has negative retained earnings as at 
31 December 2015 of £14.0m and after deducting for 
unrealised profits of £1.5m, has negative realised profits 
totalling £15.5m.

1.8 Share Consolidation

As part of the capital reduction process, and in order to 
reduce volatility in the Company’s shares, we sought and 
received approval to implement a 1:10 share consolidation. 
The issued and unissued shares in the capital of the 
Company were reduced by a factor of 10, and so, for each 
shareholder, for every 10 shares they held pre consolidation 
they received 1 new share post consolidation.
Pre-
As at Court hearing,  
consolidation
18 December 2015

Post-
consolidation

Shares issued and allotted

458,227,083

45,822,708

Share options not exercised

8,691,559

869,172

As at 31 December 2015

Pre-
consolidation 
(notional 
amount only)

Post-
consolidation

Shares issued and allotted

459,633,333

45,963,333

Share options not exercised

7,285,309

728,547

1.9 Impairments of Goodwill and Intangible assets 

During the year, the Group refocused its businesses with the 
creation of Hubio, focusing on delivering technology services 
to businesses in the insurance and automotive sectors. 

The creation of Hubio coincided with a thorough 
assessment of the markets it operates in, its customers 
and how best to deploy its products and other assets 
to serve them. In addition to business restructuring 
comprising rationalisation of staff, property and inventory, 
we revisited the market developments, assumptions and 
projections inherent in our valuations of goodwill and other 
intangible assets.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201514

Strategic Report (continued)

This has resulted in the following impairments to those 
assets deployed within Hubio:

£m

Net at 31 December 2015 
before impairment

– Himex

– QETS

– QSI

Impairments

– Himex

– QETS

– QSI

As at 31 December 2015

Total Hubio

Goodwill

Other 
intangibles

Total

46,525

4,896

0

38,675

85,200

4,728

3,057

9,624

3,057

(43,553)

(37,962)

(81,515)

(4,725)

(2,899)

(7,624)

0

(2,638)

(2,638)

3,143

2,961

6,104

The acquisition of ingenie in 2014, resulted in total intangible 
assets of £32.7m at the 2014 year end, which have 
been reviewed for indicators of impairment, with the 
following results:

£m

Net at 31 December 2015 
before impairment

Goodwill

28,232

Other 
intangibles

Total

4,201

32,433

Impairment

(13,558)

(1,315)

(14,873)

As at 31 December 2015

14,674

2,886

17,560

1.10 Discontinued operations and assets available 
for sale

The results for the PSD are included within the results for 
2014 and for the 5 months to 29 May 2015 as discontinued 
operations. Also included as discontinued in 2015 are the 
trading results, including partial closure costs, of the Property 
Services Division and Quintica. As at 31 December 2015, 
the assets and liabilities of Property Services Division and 
Quintica are treated as assets and liabilities held for sale.

1.11 Post balance sheet events 

1.11.1 Disposal of BEI and CRC and the closure of the 
Property Services Division
On 7 January 2016, the Group substantially concluded its 
exit for the businesses that comprised the Property Services 
Division by the disposal of BEI and CRC. The Property 
Services Division has recorded an operating loss of £7.2m 
in 2015 (2014: loss of £28.9m).

The business activities of the other entities in the Property 
Services Division, Quindell Property Services and Brand 
Extension UK had been substantially reduced earlier in 2015 
following disappointing business performance, with their 
remaining activities transferred into or fulfilled by BEI. 

BEI is predominantly a property insulation supply and 
installation business and CRC is a provider of property 
maintenance services. Since acquisition, the performance 
of both BEI and CRC had been below expectations due to 
the unforeseeable changes to the market and legislation 
and, as a result, were loss making. The businesses operate 
in markets where unexpected changes to Government 
legislation in the funding of green, solar and other initiatives 
have substantially impacted trading and, in the view of 
the Board, the likely ongoing performance and prospects 
of the businesses.

The Group impaired the carrying value of goodwill in the first 
half 2015 interim results by £4.3m. Nominal consideration 
received in 2016 is £1 with net assets disposed of 
approximately £(0.1)m representing the nominal profit 
that will be recognised in 2016.

1.11.2 Quintica Holdings Limited 
On 7 March 2016, the Group disposed of the entire issued 
share capital of Quintica, a reseller and integrator of software 
to the telecoms industries. 

For the year ended 31 December 2015, Quintica 
recorded an operating loss of £1.9m (2014: £2.1m 
loss). Following a review of the business by the Board, 
it was concluded that Quintica was non core, as it did 
not fit with the Group’s current strategy and focus and 
due to its historical performance and associated cash 
funding requirements. 

Total consideration was approximately £1.35m; being £1.0m 
cash (£500,000 payable on completion and £500,000 due 
by 1 January 2017), plus the repayment of intra company 
debt of US$500,000 (approximately £350,000).

When Quintica was acquired in September 2012, the 
consideration was largely satisfied in ordinary shares, giving 
rise to goodwill of £5.9m. The Group has recognised an 
impairment of goodwill in the results to 31 December 2015, 
bringing the carrying value in line with the realisable value 
such that no profit or loss will be recognised on the disposal 
in 2016. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201515

2. Financial Review 

The PSD, Property Services Division, and Quintica have all 
been classified as a discontinued operation during 2015 
and 2014. Accordingly, this review focuses primarily on the 
continuing operations of the Group.

2.1 KPIs on continuing business

Throughout 2015, the Board used a number of measures to 
determine the performance of the Group. The principal KPIs 
are as set out in note 6 to the Financial Statements, which 
provides a breakdown of EBITDA and adjusted profit before 
tax, and note 14 to the Financial Statements and the Income 
Statement and are summarised in the following table:

Continuing business only
KPI

Revenue

Gross profit margin

Underlying EBITDA

Underlying (loss)/profit before tax

Underlying basic earnings 
(pence per share)

2015

£000

58,256

43.3%

(16,080)

(22,546)

(40.4)

2014

£000

56,501

33.5%

(16,780)

(23,456)

(60.9)

2.2 Performance and adjusted results

2.2.1 Revenue
Underlying revenue for 2015 for continuing operations was 
£58.3m (2014: £56.5m).

The Hubio business, formed during late 2015 is an 
amalgamation of Himex, QETS and the Group’s Canadian 
insurance technology businesses, QSI. As detailed in 
the Group Chief Executive’s Update and in section 1.2 
above (Overview of 2015), Hubio had a challenging 
2015. Telematics based Usage Based Insurance (“UBI”) 
revenues consist of proceeds from the sale of On Board 
Devices (“OBDs”) and service charges for their usage and 
associated data provision. Revenues for Himex were £8.2m 
(2014: £6.6m). The Canadian telematics and UBI revenues 
for 2015 were £1.5m (2014: £0.8m). The Group’s other 
insurance technology software business (formerly iter8) 
continues to deliver steady revenues of £1.8m (2014: £1.6m). 
QETS delivered revenues from its enterprise software 
services of £5.8m (2014: £8.6m). 

ingenie’s revenues, which principally comprise broker 
commissions from UK insurers, rose to £12.5m in 2015 
(2014: £5.9m). This increase reflects the full year of 
ownership of ingenie in 2015 and an increase in new driver 
customers from 30,727 to 33,757, and by renewals increasing 
from 6,343 to 10,307 customers. 

ptHealth’s major source of revenues is from the provision 
of physiotherapy and similar services and showed a small 
decrease in the year to £25.1m in 2015 (2014: £27.7m). 
An underlying increase in customers served by ongoing 
clinics of was offset by a loss of revenues from the exiting 
of loss making clinics, and the conclusion of a service 
agreement in Q1 2015 to provide physiotherapy within 
retirement homes.

BAS saw revenue growth on an underlying basis of £1.5m, 
from £1.3m in 2014 to £2.8m in 2015. 

Maine Finance, including Quotesupermarket, reported 
revenue of £2.1m against £1.4m in 2014. A more prudent 
calculation of commission clawback had been implemented 
in 2014 resulting in a reduction to revenue of £0.7m, which 
largely explains this movement.

2.2.2 EBITDA
EBITDA on an underlying basis, was a loss of £16.1m, 
(2014: £16.8m) and is considered as follows:

Central costs have been identified as underlying and non 
underlying and treated accordingly. Underlying costs have 
further been split and allocated to the business units 
where a link to that business unit has been established, 
on an appropriate basis for the type of cost. For example, 
senior management time would be allocated based on 
an assessment of the time spent working with or on behalf 
of that business unit, and property costs would be allocated 
based on headcount occupying the space. 

Hubio reports a loss before central cost allocation of £7.2m 
against a loss of £5.4m in 2014, and once central costs are 
allocated this is a loss of £9.2m (2014: £6.1m). This arises 
due to ingenie in the UK generated an underlying profit 
before central cost allocation of £0.8m (2014: loss of £0.4m) 
which reflects ptHealth reported a break even result before 
cost allocation in 2015 against a loss of £0.2m in 2014. 
The movement in results reflecting a heightened focus on 
cost control and elimination of loss making clinics.

BAS delivered a break even result on an underlying basis 
before cost allocation, against a small profit of £0.2m in the 
previous year. The new management team have focused 
on the quality of business secured which maximises its 
collection and minimises the risk of ultimate clawback which 
would arise either due to early termination or downward 
revision of supply estimates.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201516

Strategic Report (continued)

Maine Finance, including quotesupermarket and operating 
under new management, continues to experience margin 
compression while striving to deliver high quality leads and 
conversions, its activities in 2015 delivered an underlying loss 
before cost allocation of £0.7m (2014: loss of £4.9m).

2.2.5 Cashflow 
The Group has generated net cash inflows of £53.7m for the 
year ended 2015 (2014: cash outflows £129.5m), of which 
some £50.1m (2014: loss of £77.9m) was consumed by the 
continuing non-exceptional business activities.

Central expenses totalled £8.9m in 2015 (2014: £8.0m), with 
£3.5m allocated to the business units (2014: £1.7m), and 
£5.4m attributable to head office plc costs (2014: £6.3m). 
Some £5.5m was spent on Board and other staff costs 
(2014: £4.3m) with legal, financial and other professional 
adviser and consultancy costs totalling £2.4m (2014: £1.7m).

2.2.3 Exceptional Items 
The Group has reported £135.7m of exceptional items 
(2014: £168.0m). 

Impairment of non-cash assets totalled £113.5m 
(2014: £129.1m), with impairments in Hubio of £91.7m and 
Ingenie £14.9m the largest components of this, as shown in 
1.9 above. Reorganisation costs in Hubio were £2.8m in the 
year (2014: £Nil), with the costs of corporate restructuring 
at £8.7m in the current year (£2014: £8.9m). Legal and 
regulatory costs totalled £7.1m (2014: £8.0m), with share 
based payments an expense of £3.9m (2014: £13.3m). 

2.2.4 Profit before tax 
The Group has incurred a continuing loss before tax of 
£178.0m for the year ended 2015 (2014: £205.3m), of 
which some £22.5m (2014: loss of £23.5m) derive from the 
underlying business activities.

Overall, including the profit on disposal of the PSD, the Group 
made a profit before tax of £276.5m (2014: loss £342.5m).

2.2.6 Balance Sheet
The net assets shown in the statement of financial position 
at 31 December 2015 were £137.1m (2014: £264.5m). 

A summary analysis of the principal components and how 
they moved during the year is set out below. 

The closing net assets can be analysed by their proximity 
to cash as follows:

As at 31 December

Net cash

Escrow balances

Other net current liabilities/assets

Creditors, loans and provisions 
over one year

Non-cash assets

Net assets

2015

£m

103.2

53.8

(57.8)

(5.5)

43.4

137.1

2014

£m

34.4

–

58.2

(17.5)

189.4

264.5

Included in the net current liabilities/assets assets at 
31 December 2015 are the escrow balances in relation to 
the disposal of PSD including the Warranty Escrow of £50.0m 
and the completion accounts escrow of which £3.8m was 
received in May 2016.

Included in the net current liabilities/assets assets 
at 31 December 2014 are the net assets of the PSD 
of £120.8m.

Balance sheet movement summary

As at 31 December 2014
Underlying EBITDA

Discontinued and non-underlying EBITDA

Amortisation & depreciation

Exceptional items (excluding SBPs)

Disposals and acquisitions

Tax

Cash funding and interest

FX

Capital return (including options cash out)

Share issues (including treasury shares)

As at 31 December 2015

Central

£000

(15,818)

(8,875)

(1,437)

(1,263)

(15,333)

593,507 

1,172 

(22,829)

– 

(423,023)

5,234 

111,335 

Other 

Ingenie

Continuing Discontinued

Hubio

£000

103,673 

(7,225)

– 

(12,212)

(102,505)

– 

11,191 

11,192 

(1,683)

– 

– 

£000

33,651 

817 

– 

(1,149)

(13,558)

– 

334 

(2,197)

– 

– 

– 

2,431 

17,898 

£000

22,162 

(797)

(1,179)

(2,563)

(1,466)

(14,095)

492 

(23)

320 

– 

2,746 

5,597 

Group  
Total

£000

£000

120,829 

264,497 

– 

(29,589)

(1,838)

(15,082)

(85,970)

(1,401)

13,095 

(196)

– 

– 

(16,080)

(32,205)

(19,025)

(147,944)

493,442 

11,788 

(762)

(1,559)

(423,023)

7,980 

(152)

137,109 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20152.2.7 Earnings per share
The underlying basic and diluted EPS, as defined in note 14 
to the Financial Statements, was a loss of 40.4 pence per 
share (2014: loss of 60.9 pence per share). 

2.3 Going Concern

The Group has significantly reduced its working capital 
requirements through the disposal of a number of non-core, 
loss making businesses. The Group holds significant cash 
reserves and no material debt. The Group has concluded 
that its cash reserves together with ongoing operating 
cash flows, and receipts of deferred consideration from 
the disposal of the Professional Services Division will be 
sufficient to fund the ongoing operations of the Group’s 
businesses together with any future development needs 
of those businesses. 

On this basis, the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Group has adequate resources to continue 
in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
The Directors have not identified any material uncertainties 
that would cast significant doubt on the ability of the Group 
to continue as a going concern. As such, the Directors 
continue to adopt the Going Concern basis of accounting 
in the preparation of the financial statements. 

2.4 Internal financial discipline

We have defined the financial disciplines under which we 
operate at the Group and operating company level and are 
making progress to full compliance with these practices. 
We have summarised below the key areas upon which 
we are focussing:

 ■ Ethics. Relationships and transactions will be conducted 

to high ethical standards. Customers, staff and 
suppliers should be treated fairly and transactions will 
be concluded on an arms-length basis. Regulators are 
communicated with on an open and prompt basis;

 ■ Safeguarding of assets. We will ensure that the assets 
of the Group are appropriately protected and managed 
and that maximisation of shareholder value is at the 
heart of all transactions involving corporate assets;

17

 ■ Cash and profit management. The Group and 

operating businesses are managed such that both 
profits and cash are given equal focus, recognising that 
some operating businesses may require investment to 
generate increased future profit and cash. Revenues and 
profit growth will be balanced by a requirement for 
there to be appropriate realisation of profits into cash. 
Dividend policy will be established such that cash profit 
generation forms the basis of a future sustainable 
dividend flow to our shareholders;

 ■ Establishment of an Investment Disciplines. 
Operating businesses are challenged to deliver 
profitable growth and the timescales for each 
will depend on their relative maturity and market 
positioning. Appropriate investment will be made by 
the Group in order to maximise shareholder value from 
these assets. Each investment will be made following 
a rigorous business case and evaluation process which 
will be subject to post investment reviews of outturn;

 ■ Authorisation and accountability. Matters reserved 
for Board approval and the control environment are 
proportionate to the size of the Group. Operating and 
project expenditure will typically be authorised via 
the business planning process culminating in an 
approved budget in advance of the year commencing. 
Outside of the cycle additional expenditure can be 
approved subject to the appropriate justification 
and business case being established if appropriate. 
Individuals will have authority to approve expenditure 
to certain limits, determined by type of expenditure. 
Accountability for expenditure is ensured via the regular 
process of business performance reporting and review.

 ■ Financial Planning, Reporting and Monitoring. 

The Group will run a business cycle as summarised below:

Mid year

Strategic review and target setting for the 
Group and its operating businesses.

Q3

Q4

Operating businesses perform detailed 
business planning and budget setting 
for the subsequent 3 years.

Group review and challenge of operating 
businesses plans. Board review and 
approval by year end.

Monthly

Reporting of financial results and KPIs.

Quarterly

Re-forecast of full year expected outturn 
and review with Group.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201518

Strategic Report (continued)

In addition to the internal financial discipline, the Group will 
make trading statements (as appropriate) and report full 
and half yearly financial results externally.

2.5 Interim Financial Statements for the period ended 
30 June 2016

We intend to prepare a set of interim Financial Statements 
for the 6 months ended 30 June 2016 which will be subject 
to review by the Auditor. 

3. Capital management

The Group’s objective is to maintain a balance sheet 
structure that is efficient in terms of providing long term 
returns to shareholders and which safeguards the Group’s 
financial position through economic cycles.

Following the disposal of the PSD and return of capital to 
shareholders, there is little or no external debt finance 
in the business and the Group maintains sufficient liquid 
funds in order to be able to fund the growth aspirations 
of its operating businesses.

4. Principal risks and uncertainties

The Group is exposed to a number of risks and uncertainties 
which could have a material impact on its long term 
performance. The Directors have identified those which 
they regard as being the principal risks and these are set 
out below.

4.1 Strategic risk

The take up rate of telematics by consumers globally and 
in local markets over the next three to five years, influenced 
by factors such as end-user perceptions, rate of adoption 
of new technologies, regulatory drivers and the economic 
climate could put at risk the Group’s ability to meet its 
strategic objectives in the areas of telematics and connected 
car solutions. The Group may fail to execute its ongoing 
strategic plan in relation to connected car and the expected 
benefits of that plan may not be achieved at the time or to 
the extent expected. The Group monitors local and global 
trends alongside other market commentators and analysts. 
Through its activities within the industry, the Group aims 
to be at the forefront of connected car initiatives globally.

4.2 Technological change

The markets for the Group’s services can be affected by 
technological changes, resulting in the introduction of 
new products, evolving industry standards and changes to 
consumer behaviour and expectations. The Group regularly 
monitors trends in technological advancement so as to 
anticipate and plan for future changes and maintains close 
relationships with businesses and organisations which it 
believes will keep it to the forefront of product and service 
development on a sustained basis.

4.3 Key personnel and resources

The success of the Group depends to a large extent upon 
its executive management team and its ability to recruit and 
retain high calibre individuals at all relevant levels within the 
organisation. The Group will continue to seek to mitigate this 
resource risk by providing appropriate training, competitive 
reward and compensation packages, incentive schemes and 
succession planning.

4.4 Regulatory and reputational risks

The investigation commenced by the SFO may affect 
the Group’s reputation and brand and attract negative 
media coverage. Failure to protect the Group’s reputation 
and brand in the face of regulatory, legal or operational 
challenges could lead to a loss of trust and confidence and a 
decline in our existing and future customer base. In addition, 
regulatory investigations could also affect our ability to 
recruit and retain talented employees. It is also possible 
that regulators will seek to levy fines on the Group or Courts 
will award damages against the Group. Reputational issues 
may also affect the attractiveness of the Company’s shares 
to new and existing investors.

Following the Group’s disposal of the PSD, the parts of 
the Group that were regulated in the UK by the Solicitors 
Regulation Authority have been disposed of and that part 
regulated by the FCA reduced, thereby lessening ongoing 
regulatory risk in this area.

As a data controller, the Group is also subject to risks related 
to matters such as data processing and security, and data 
and service integrity. In the event of a breach, these risks 
may give rise to reputational, financial or other sanctions 
against some or all of the Group. Law or regulation of data 
use and protection may change. The Group considers these 
risks seriously and designs, maintains and reviews its policies 
and processes so as to mitigate or avoid these risks.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201519

The pricing of products and services, the activities of major 
industry organisations, and the Group’s ability to operate and 
contract in the manner that it has done so in the past, may 
be affected by the actions of regulatory bodies both in the 
UK and internationally. Such action could affect the Group’s 
profitability either directly or indirectly. The Group continually 
monitors and assesses the likelihood, potential impact and 
opportunity provided by regulatory change, and adapts 
its plans and activities accordingly.

4.5 Liquidity risk

Prior to the disposal of the PSD, the Group used borrowing 
principally to fund its working capital needs. The Group’s 
facilities were repaid following the completion of this 
disposal. In future, the Group expects to manage liquidity 
within its cash capacity. The Group actively forecasts, 
manages and reports its working capital requirements, 
including conducting sensitivity analyses on a regular basis 
to ensure that it has sufficient funds for its operations. 
In addition, it will manage the timing and value of any future 
investments in light of forecast cashflow requirements and in 
light of other expected cash inflows in respect of contingent 
consideration for NIHL claims and any proceeds from 
disposals of non-core assets.

4.6 Management of growth

Following the disposal of the PSD, the Group will operate at 
a smaller scale and be more focused on its insurance related 
technology and associated markets. Growth management 
will be controlled through the planning cycle and include 
scenario planning to ensure that the businesses are resilient 
when expanding in key markets and geographical locations.

4.7 Market conditions

Market conditions, including general economic conditions 
and their effect on exchange rates, interest rates and 
inflation rates, may impact the ultimate value of the Group 
regardless of its operating performance. The Group also 
faces competition from other organisations, some of 
which may have greater resources than the Group, or be 
more established in a particular territory or product area. 
The Group’s strategy is to target a balance of markets, 
offering a range of tailored or specialised products 
and services.

4.8 Foreign exchange

The international nature of some of the Group’s operations 
mean that it is exposed to volatility in exchange rates. This is 
in respect of foreign currency denominated transactions 
and the translation of income statements and net assets 
of foreign subsidiaries. The Group has its most significant 
presence in North America, and therefore its most significant 
foreign currency exposure is in relation to US$ and CDN$. 
Foreign currency exposure is mitigated where possible 
by matching the purchasing and sales of revenue and cost 
transactions. The Company has not sought to mitigate 
its exposure to the translation of net assets.

Mark P Williams
Group Finance Director
By order of the Board
27 May 2016

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201520

Board of Directors

Richard Rose (60)

David Currie (46)

Non-Executive Chairman
Richard is Non-Executive Chairman of AO World plc, 
Crawshaw plc, Anpario plc and Blue Inc Limited. Previously, 
he has held a number of positions in organisations such as 
Booker plc (‘Booker’) where he was Non-Executive Chairman 
(previously an Executive Director and Chairman of Blueheath 
Holdings plc immediately prior to its reverse acquisition 
by Booker in 2007), AC Electrical Wholesale, where he was 
Chairman from 2003 to 2006 and Whittard of Chelsea plc, 
where he was Chief Executive Officer and then Executive 
Chairman from 2004 to 2006.

Non-executive Director
David has worked within the financial sector for over 20 
years, and was appointed to the Board in July 2014. In April 
2013 David established Codex Capital Partners and for the 
prior 10 years David headed Investec Bank plc’s Investment 
Banking division.

As part of Investec’s UK management and investment 
committee, he oversaw more than 100 clients in both the 
public and private markets and worked on a wide variety 
of transactions across many sectors.

Indro Mukerjee (55)

Group Chief Executive Officer
Indro joined the Group as Group Chief Executive Officer 
in September 2015. He has previous Board level leadership 
experience in corporate multinational, new venture 
and private equity backed fast moving technology and 
industrial companies.

Prior to joining the Group, Indro launched FlexEnable 
Limited, a leader in flexible electronics technology for 
wearables and sensors, which was created from the 
transformation of Plastic Logic where he was CEO. 

His earlier career included being CEO of C-MAC 
MicroTechnology, a private equity backed LBO from 
which three market-leading businesses were created 
and sold; several executive board positions with Philips 
Semiconductors BV, including Executive VP Global Marketing 
& Sales and CEO of Automotive business unit; Commercial 
Director of VideoLogic during IPO and senior management 
positions within Hitachi’s European semiconductor division. 

Indro is a member of the Board of Sector Skills Council for 
UK Science, Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies 
and is the founding Chairman of the UK Electronics 
Skills Foundation.

Indro has a degree in Engineering Science from 
Oxford University, is a graduate of the Wharton 
Advanced Management Program and speaks several 
European languages.

Mark Williams (51)

Group Finance Director
Mark Williams is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered 
Accountants and has 30 years of finance experience.

Mark has had a varied career to date, having qualified 
with what is now Deloitte. His experience ranges from 
a technology driven entrepreneurial start up through to 
divisions of major international FTSE businesses and through 
several business cycles.

He has operated at Board level for the past 15 years, 
including roles at AXA, Cofunds, Guardian Royal Exchange, 
Legal & General, Old Mutual and Skandia.

The Rt. Hon. Lord Howard of Lympne, CH, QC (74)

Senior Non-executive Director
Lord Howard is the former leader of the Conservative 
Party, a distinguished lawyer and served as a Member of 
Parliament for 27 years. He filled many government posts, 
including Home Secretary, Secretary of State for Employment 
and Secretary of State for the Environment, as well as 
Shadow Foreign Secretary and Shadow Chancellor.

After his retirement from the House of Commons at 
the 2010 General Election, Lord Howard was created a  
Life Peer. He was created a Companion of Honour in the  
Queen’s Birthday Honours List, 2011. Lord Howard is the 
Non-executive Chairman of Entree Gold Inc. and the  
Non-executive Chairman of Soma Oil & Gas Holdings Limited.

Tony Illsley (59)

Non-executive Director
Tony has held a variety of senior business positions including 
Chief Executive of Telewest Communications PLC, President 
of Pepsi Cola Asia Pacific and Senior Independent Non-
Executive Director of easyJet PLC.

He is currently a Non-Executive Director of KCOM Group PLC, 
Camelot Global Services Limited and Camelot UK Lotteries 
Limited. 

David Young (54)

Non-executive Director
David qualified as an accountant with Arthur Andersen 
before joining Morgan Grenfell as an Investment Banker 
specialising in Mergers & Acquisitions. In 1994, he joined 
listed insurance broker Bradstock Group PLC, initially as 
Finance Director before becoming Chief Operating Officer 
and, ultimately, Chief Executive. On leaving, David joined 
Barchester Group, a strategic and advisory business aimed 
at technology businesses.

David has held numerous Non-executive positions and 
audit committee chairs with insurance and financial services 
businesses. He is currently a Non-executive Director of 
Premium Credit Limited, the British Gas Insurance Group, 
Key Retirement Group and is a consultant to Independent 
Audit Limited. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201521

Directors’ Remuneration Report

The Board recognises the importance of 
shareholder transparency and compliance 
with corporate governance principles. 
The Company has prepared this report in 
order to enable a better understanding of 
Directors’ remuneration. The information 
included in this report is unaudited.

The information in this report relates 
to the remuneration arrangements 
that applied during the year ended 
31 December 2015 and the remuneration 
policy that applies in 2016.

Remuneration Committee

Tony Illsley was appointed chairman of the Committee in 
June 2015. The additional members are David Young and 
Lord Howard all of whom are independent. Richard Rose, 
the Non-executive Chairman is invited to attend all meetings 
of the Committee and is actively involved in consultation with 
major shareholders on key matters of remuneration.

The Committee meets at least twice each year and has 
delegated responsibility for making recommendations to 
the Board regarding the remuneration and other benefits 
of the executive Directors and senior executives and the  
Non-executive Chairman. The remuneration of the  
Non-executive Directors is determined by the Board.

Senior executives of the Company may be invited to attend 
meetings. The Group General Counsel & Company Secretary 
acts as secretary to the Committee (save where a conflict 
exists). No Director or other executive is involved in any 
decisions about his/her own specific remuneration.

Remuneration policy

The Board’s policy is designed to promote the long-term 
success of the Company by rewarding senior executives with 
competitive but responsible salary and benefit packages 
combined with a significant proportion of executive 
remuneration dependent on performance, both short-term 
and long-term. 

The Board’s intention is to combine appropriate levels of 
fixed pay with incentive schemes that provide executives 
with the ability to earn above median levels for true out-
performance. In determining the remuneration policy 
the Committee was conscious of both the unusual and 
challenging circumstances of the Company and the Board’s 
strategy to simplify and focus the Company on delivering 
shareholder value (as detailed in the Chairman’s Report 
and Group Chief Executive’s Update). Accordingly, the 
Committee believes that the MIRP (as detailed below) 
focuses the executive Directors on enhancing value and 
returning that value to shareholders and ensures alignment 
between the executive Directors, Board strategy and 
shareholder interests.

The remuneration packages for executive Directors 
comprises the following main elements:

 ■ basic annual salary – Basic salaries are reviewed by the 

committee annually to take effect on 1 January. In setting 
basic salaries the Committee assesses individual 
responsibilities, experience and performance and 
considers external market data;

 ■ annual bonus payments in respect of the performance 
of the individual, achievement of performance criteria 
and the individual’s contribution to that performance 
and the Group calculated as a percentage of salary; and

 ■ a cash-based incentive and retention scheme 

(“MIRP”), focused on delivering growth in the value of 
the Company’s operating businesses going forward 
without penalising or rewarding management in respect 
of historic matters. 

Recruitment and remuneration of the executive 
Directors in 2015

Following completion of the disposal of the PSD in May 2015, 
the new Board was appointed. 

Given the scale, complexity and history of the Group, 
recruitment and retention of key management was 
considered, and remains, of critical importance. In addition, 
the Board and key management are required to accept an 
unusual level of risk in respect of the historical circumstances 
of the Company particularly given the investigations in 
2015 by the FRC, the FCA (both now terminated) and the 
SFO (ongoing). Accordingly, the Remuneration Committee 
believed it appropriate that pay and incentive packages 
should reflect these factors such that the Group was able to 
offer above average remuneration to recruit and retain the 
best people.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201522

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Mark Williams (Group Finance Director)

On 29 May 2015, Mark Williams, who had worked with the 
Company as part of Baxter Bruce Limited since January 2015, 
was appointed Group Finance Director with a base salary 
of £250,000 per annum and an entitlement to an annual 
discretionary bonus of up to 150% of salary. In addition, 
Mr Williams is entitled to typical executive benefits including 
a pension contribution of 10% of base salary, life assurance 
and health and medical insurance. His notice period on his 
rolling service contract is 6 months. 

Indro Mukerjee (Group Chief Executive Officer)

On 7 September 2015, Indro Mukerjee was appointed 
Group Chief Executive Officer with a base salary of £475,000 
per annum and an entitlement to an annual discretionary 
bonus of up to 175% of salary. In addition, Mr Mukerjee is 
entitled to a maximum of £47,000 per annum in cash in 
respect of pension contributions or other purposes, and 
typical executive benefits including life assurance and health 
and medical insurance. 

At his request, Mr Mukerjee’s notice period on his rolling 
service contract was agreed as initially 12 months and 
reducing by one month for each of the first 9 completed 
months from 7 September 2015. Accordingly, the minimum 
notice period will be 3 months which will apply from 
7 June 2016.

As part of the negotiations relating to his appointment, 
in light of the regulatory uncertainty at the time of the 
appointment and to compensate for cash bonuses forfeited 
in respect of previous posts, the Remuneration Committee 
agreed to pay a total payment of £500,000 in cash (“Deferred 
Compensation Payment”) to Mr Mukerjee. The Deferred 
Compensation Payment accrues on a daily basis for one year 
from 7 September 2015 and is not be subject to any exercise 
of discretion by the Remuneration Committee. £161,417 
of the Deferred Compensation Payment was accrued and 
paid in respect of the period up to 31 December 2015. 
The remaining £338,582 of the Deferred Compensation 
Payment will accrue to 6 September 2016 and be payable 
by 21 September 2016. 

The Deferred Compensation Payment is offsetable 
against Mr Mukerjee’s entitlement to annual discretionary 
bonus such that his aggregate entitlement to Deferred 
Compensation Payment and annual discretionary bonus 
cannot exceed 175% of salary.

Annual bonuses of the executive management team 

In deciding on the annual cash bonuses to be awarded to 
the executive management team for 2015, the Remuneration 
Committee took into account the exceptional circumstances 
and work of the team in respect of, inter alia, the:

 ■ stabilisation of the business against a backdrop 

of challenging financial circumstances prior to the 
disposal of the PSD and a period where the Group 
was led by an interim management structure without 
a Chief Executive Officer;

 ■ disposal of the PSD to Slater and Gordon for £645m 

plus contingent consideration;

 ■ production of the exceptionally complex 2014 Report 
and Accounts and associated work including thorough 
reviews of the historic accounts, M&A and previous 
public disclosures;

 ■ liaison and work leading to the ending of the enquiry 

of the FRC;

 ■ completion of the unprecedented £412m capital 

return process; 

 ■ creation of the Group’s strategy following the disposal 

of the PSD; and 

 ■ restructuring of the Group across multiple jurisdictions 

and companies.

For details of the annual bonuses paid to the Directors, 
please see the table below and the associated notes.

For 2016, annual discretionary bonuses for the executive 
management team will be closely aligned to the interests of 
the Company and its shareholders. Executive management 
will be rewarded based on the achievement of outcomes 
consistent with the optimisation of shareholder value 
in this Company. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201523

The benefits paid pursuant to the MIRP (if any) will 
specifically exclude the impact of, or adjustment for the 
Company’s cash balances the cash to be released from 
Warranty Escrow at the end of November 2016 and the 
deferred contingent consideration payable pursuant to the 
disposal of the PSD; and any cash paid to resolve liabilities 
relating to events which occurred prior to the appointment 
of the new Board of the Company on 29 May 2015. 

Indro Mukerjee, Mark Williams and Stefan Borson are entitled 
to a share of up to a total of 9.5% of any growth in value of 
each division of the Group above the Hurdle (as adjusted 
for cash invested or generated from 1 January 2016). 

Non-executive Directors

The Non-executive Directors do not have service contracts, 
nor do they participate in any share option plan, MIRP, long 
term incentive plan or pension scheme. The services of 
each Non-executive Director are provided under a letter of 
engagement which can be terminated by either party giving 
notice (one months’ notice for each Non-executive Director 
except David Currie (3 months)). Fees payable under the 
terms of their appointments for those Directors who served 
during the year are shown in the table below. 

The discretionary bonus plan will reward, inter alia, 
a combination of: 

 ■ resolution, careful management and mitigation of 
legacy matters both at the plc level and within our 
operating companies; 

 ■ optimisation of returns from contingent assets;

 ■ reduction and elimination of losses; 

 ■ growth and improvement of the Group’s more 

established businesses; and 

 ■ putting in place the foundations for other businesses 

to deliver the best growth and value.

All of the above will be required to be delivered within a 
constrained set of cash management targets. Award of the 
maximum discretionary bonuses will only be given on optimal 
achievement of these targets.

The maximum potential bonus payments for the executive 
Directors are as detailed above.

Management Incentive and Retention Plan

Prior to 2015, the Board granted share options to reward 
performance at the discretion of the Committee and to 
align the interests of executives with those of shareholders. 
Neither of the executive Directors have any interest 
in options under this scheme although Stefan Borson 
(Group General Counsel & Company Secretary) retains 
options over 50,000 ordinary shares at an exercise price of 
1,500 pence per share. In March 2016, the Group announced 
a new cash-based management incentive and retention plan.

The MIRP is a cash-based incentive and retention scheme 
that will only be triggered upon value-crystallising events 
(including, inter alia, a takeover of the Group or disposals 
of individual divisions) in excess of base values. A market 
price of 250 pence per share (being approximately a 18.5% 
premium to the closing share price on 18 March 2016) for 
the Group as a whole (including all its assets and liabilities) 
was used to ascribe a base value to each division (“Hurdle”). 
The Hurdle will be adjusted, inter alia, for cash invested by 
the Group and dividends or other proceeds paid to the 
Group by the respective divisions. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201524

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Directors’ emoluments

The remuneration of the Directors, including the highest paid Director who was Mark Williams, was as follows: 

Executive
I Mukerjee1

M Williams2,10

R Terry3

R Fielding4,9

L Moorse5

Non-executive
R Rose2,10,11

D Currie6

A Bowers7,8

R Bright5

R Burrow5,8

R Cooling5

S Scott3,8,9

A Illsley2

M Howard2

D Young2

Total

Salary and 
fees

£000

166

147

–

149

171

633

108

50

–

49

50

45

7

44

44

44

Bonus

£000

269

369

–

–

–

638

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Contributions 
to personal 
pension 
schemes

Compensation 
for loss of 
office

Total 2015

Total 2014

£000

£000

£000

£000

–

14

–

–

36

50

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

575

575

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

435

530

–

149

782

1,896

108

50

–

49

50

45

7

44

44

44

–

–

2,272

1,976

625

4,873

–

123

140

55

60

63

50

–

–

–

1,074

638

50

575

2,337

5,364

Notes
1  

2 

 Appointed 7 September 2015. In addition to the Deferred Compensation Payment, I Mukerjee was awarded an additional £108,000 which in aggregate represented his maximum annual cash 
bonus of £269,417 (£831,250 pro rated for the period from 7 September 2015 to 31 December 2015).
 Appointed 29 May 2015. M Williams bonus includes £100,000 paid for consultancy services provided prior to becoming a Director, £50,000 retention payment paid in December 2015 (a further 
£50,000 retention payment is due as at 31 December 2016), and his maximum annual cash bonus of £218,750 (£375,000 pro rated for the period from 29 May 2015 to 31 December 2015).

3  Resigned 18 November 2014.
4  Appointed 19 June 2014.
5 

 Resigned 29 May 2015. On 17 November 2014, L Moorse entered into a Deed of Variation in respect of his Service Agreement dated 11 July 2011 in which L Moorse agreed to serve as a Director 
until the Company’s Annual General Meeting in 2015 (“LM Termination Date”) and to provide other services for a 12 month period thereafter. In consideration of these changes, L Moorse was 
entitled to receive his salary of £410,000 per annum until the LM Termination Date, to a bonus of up to £307,500 for the year ended 31 December 2014, a bonus of £153,750 for the year ended 
31 December 2015 and other benefits. Mr Moorse was also entitled to a new fixed term 12 month service agreement from the LM Termination Date at a salary of £410,000 and other benefits 
(“LM Fixed Term Agreement”). On 19 May 2015, in lieu of a) the outstanding payments due to L Moorse after 29 May 2015 (50% of the bonus due for the year ended 31 December 2014 and 
all of the bonus due for the year ended 31 December 2015); and b) Mr Moorse’s entitlement to the LM Fixed Term Agreement, the Company agreed to enter into a Settlement Agreement with 
Mr Moorse pursuant to which he received a final settlement of £575,000.

6  Appointed 14 July 2014.
7  Resigned 27 October 2014 due to death.
8  Non-executive Director fees were paid to companies connected to these Directors (see note 39).
9  Also provided services to the Group (see note 39).
10   BaxterBruce Limited provided strategic consultancy services during the year. M Williams and R Rose were 2 of the consultants providing the services. Please refer to note 39 for further information. 
11   R Rose was employed by the Company from 12 January 2015, prior to his appointment as Director, during which period he earned £72,000. As disclosed in the 2014 Annual Report, he was also 

paid £1,000,000 in relation to consulting services provided prior to his appointment as Director.

This report was approved by the Board on 27 May 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Tony Illsley
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201525

Corporate Governance Report

The Group is supportive of the principles 
embodied in the UK Corporate 
Governance Code that was issued by the 
Financial Reporting Council in 2010 and 
most recently updated in 2014. This report 
describes how the principles of corporate 
governance are applied to the Group. 

The Board

The Group has appointed Non-executive Directors to bring an 
independent view to the Board and to provide a balance to 
the executive Directors. During the year, the Board of Directors 
comprised of between one and two executive Directors and 
between four and five independent Non-executive Directors, 
of whom, Robert Burrow was the senior independent 
Director until 29 May 2015 and Lord Howard, was the senior 
independent Director from 29 May 2015. On 29 May 2015, 
David Currie stepped down as interim Non-executive 
Chairman but remained a Non-executive Director with 
Richard Rose joining the Board as Non-executive Chairman.

The Board meets monthly throughout the year (save in 
August and December), and meets at various times between 
these dates to discuss matters and agree actions on an 
ongoing basis. In preparation of each regular meeting, the 
Board receives a Board pack with the information necessary 
for it to discharge its duties. The Board has responsibility 
for formulating, reviewing and approving the Group’s 
strategy, its financial plans, regulatory announcements, 
major items of expenditure, investments, acquisitions and 
disposals and the Directors’ report and Annual and Interim 
Financial Statements.

Each Director has access to the advice and services of the 
Group General Counsel & Company Secretary and is able 
to take professional advice at the Group’s expense.

The Group maintains appropriate insurance cover in 
respect of legal actions against Directors as well as against 
material loss or claims against the Group and reviews the 
adequacy of cover regularly. The Group has also entered 
an agreement with each of its Directors whereby the Director 
is indemnified against certain liabilities to third parties which 
might be incurred in the course of carrying out his duties as 
a Director. These arrangements constitute a qualifying third 
party indemnity provision for the purposes of the Companies 
Act 2006.

Board committees

The Board has established four committees: Audit, 
Remuneration, Nomination and Disclosure. The Group 
Company Secretary is secretary to each committee but 
does not act where discussion relates to him or where 
there is another conflict. 

Audit committee

The Audit Committee is chaired by David Young and consists 
of David Young, Tony Illsley and Lord Howard. It meets 
at least twice a year with attendance from the external 
Auditors and internal personnel as required. The committee 
is responsible for: 

 ■ ensuring that the appropriate financial reporting 

procedures are properly maintained and reported on; 

 ■ meeting the Auditors and reviewing their reports relating 
to the Group’s accounts and internal control systems; 

 ■ reviewing and monitoring the independence of the 

external Auditor and the objectives and effectiveness 
of the audit process; and

 ■ reviewing arrangements by which staff may in 

confidence raise concerns about possible improprieties 
in matters of financial reporting or otherwise and 
receiving and dealing with matters reported under 
these arrangements. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201526

Corporate Governance Report (continued)

Remuneration committee

Shareholder relations

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Tony Illsley 
and consists of Tony Illsley, David Young and Lord Howard. 
It meets at least twice a year and is responsible for reviewing 
the performance of the executive Directors and other 
senior executives and for determining appropriate levels of 
remuneration. The Committee’s report is set out on pages 21 
to 24.

Nomination committee

The Nomination Committee consists of Richard Rose, 
Lord Howard and Tony Illsley and is chaired by Richard Rose. 
It meets at least once a year and reviews the size, structure 
and composition of the Board and makes recommendations 
on changes, as appropriate. It also gives consideration 
to succession planning in the light of developments 
in the business. 

Disclosure committee

The Disclosure Committee consists of Mark Williams, 
David Young and David Currie and is chaired by 
Mark Williams. The role of the Disclosure Committee is to 
assist and inform the Board in making decisions concerning 
the identification of information that requires announcement 
pursuant to the AIM Rules for Companies and other relevant 
rules. The Disclosure Committee meets as necessary to 
consider all relevant matters. It will in particular meet in 
advance of the release of all trading statements and other 
announcements of price sensitive information to ensure that 
they are true, accurate and complete and to consider if they 
are fair, balanced and understandable. 

The Company meets with institutional shareholders and 
analysts as appropriate and uses its website to encourage 
communication with private, existing and prospective 
shareholders. The Company welcomes feedback from 
investors about its published reports and website. 
Please address your feedback to our investor relations 
team by e-mail to investor.relations@watchstonegroup.com 
or in writing to Watchstone Group plc, 1 Barnes Wallis Road, 
Segensworth East, Fareham, Hampshire, PO15 5UA.

Internal control and risk management

The Group operates a system of internal control and 
intends to develop and review that system in accordance 
with guidance published by the FRC. The internal control 
system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the 
risk of failure to achieve business objectives. The Board 
is responsible for the system of internal control and for 
reviewing its effectiveness. It can only provide reasonable, 
but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement 
or loss.

Internal financial control monitoring procedures undertaken 
by the Board and executive team include the preparation 
and review of annual forecasts, review of monthly financial 
reports and KPIs, monitoring of performance, and the prior 
approval of all significant transactions.

The Company has established a policy and share dealing 
code relating to dealing in the Company’s shares by 
Directors, employees and connected persons.

Going concern

The Board of Directors’ consideration of the adequacy of the 
Group’s resources to enable it to continue in operational 
existence for the foreseeable future is set out on page 17. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201527

Directors’ Report

The Directors present their report and the 
audited Financial Statements for the year 
ended 31 December 2015. 

As at 31 December 2015, the following Directors held shares 
in the Company: Richard Rose (100,000); Indro Mukerjee 
(50,550); Mark Williams (50,550); Lord Howard (12,608); 
and David Currie (1,950).

Company name

On 26 November 2015, the Company changed its name 
from Quindell Plc to Watchstone Group plc.

Directors

The Directors who held office at 31 December 2015 and 
up to the date of this report are set out on page 20 along 
with their biographies.

Changes to the Board during the year and up to the date 
of this report were as follows:
Name

Position

Date

Richard Rose

Appointed on 
29 May 2015

Independent Non-Executive 
Director and Chairman of the 
Board and of the Nominations 
Committee

Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance and 
indemnification of Directors

The Company maintains Directors’ and Officers’ liability 
insurance which gives appropriate cover for any legal action 
brought against its Directors. The Company has also granted 
indemnities to each of its Directors to the extent permitted 
by law. Qualifying third party indemnity provisions (as defined 
in Section 324 of the Companies Act 2006) have been 
adopted by the Board. These indemnities remain in force 
in relation to certain losses and liabilities which the Directors 
may incur to third parties in the course of acting as Directors 
of the Company.

Share capital

Appointed on 
29 May 2015

Independent Non-Executive 
Director and Senior Independent 
Non-Executive Director

The Company has only ordinary shares of 10 pence nominal 
value in issue. Note 28 to the consolidated Financial 
Statements summarises the rights of the ordinary shares. 

The Rt. Hon. 
Lord Howard of 
Lympne, CH, QC

Tony Illsley

David Young

Mark Williams

Indro Mukerjee

Robert Burrow

Appointed on 
29 May 2015

Appointed on 
29 May 2015

Appointed on 
29 May 2015

Appointed on 
7 September 
2015

Resigned on 
29 May 2015

Independent Non-Executive 
Director and Chairman of 
Remuneration Committee

Independent Non-Executive 
Director and Chairman of the 
Audit Committee

Group Finance Director and 
Chairman of the Disclosure 
Committee

Group Chief Executive Officer 

Independent Non-Executive 
Director and Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee

Robert Bright

Robert Cooling 

Robert Fielding

Laurence Moorse

Resigned on 
29 May 2015

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Resigned on 
29 May 2015

Independent Non-Executive 
Director

Resigned on 
29 May 2015

Resigned on 
29 May 2015

Group Chief Executive Officer

Group Finance Director

The remuneration of the Directors including their respective 
shareholdings in the Company is set out in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 21 to 24.

In addition to the changes to the Directors, on 29 May 2015, 
Edward Walker resigned as Company Secretary and Stefan 
Borson was appointed as Group Company Secretary.

Substantial shareholdings

As at 24 May 2016, the Company had been advised under 
the Disclosure and Transparency Regime, or had ascertained 
from its own analysis, that the following held interests of 3% 
or more of the voting rights of its issued share capital:
Shareholder

Percentage 

Shares

Beachpoint Capital Management LP

M&G Investments

Sand Grove Capital Management LLP

4,001,335

2,916,666

2,305,383

(%)

8.69

6.34

5.01

Dividends

The Directors do not recommend the payment of a final 
dividend (2014: 1.5 pence per share of 15 pence). 

Committees of the Board

The Board has established Audit, Nominations, Remuneration 
and Disclosure Committees. Details of these Committees, 
including membership and their activities during 2015 are 
contained in the Corporate Governance section of this 
Annual Report and in the Remuneration Report.

Corporate governance

The Group’s report on Corporate Governance is on pages 25 
to 26 and forms part of this Directors’ Report. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201528

Directors’ Report (continued)

Companies Act 2006 disclosures

Going concern 

In accordance with Section 992 of the Companies Act 2006, 
the Directors disclose the following information:

 ■ The Company’s capital structure and voting rights are 
summarised in note 28, and there are no restrictions 
on voting rights nor any agreement between holders 
of securities that result in restrictions on the transfer 
of securities or on voting rights; 

 ■ There exist no securities carrying special rights with 

regard to the control of the Company;

 ■ Details of the substantial shareholders and their 
shareholdings in the Company are listed above;

 ■ The rules concerning the appointment and replacement 
of Directors, amendment to the Articles of Association 
and powers to issue or buy back the Company’s shares 
are contained in the Articles of Association of the 
Company and the Companies Act 2006;

 ■ There exist no agreements to which the Company 

is party that may affect its control following a takeover 
bid; and 

 ■ There exist no agreements between the Company and 

its Directors providing for compensation for loss of office 
that may occur because of a takeover bid.

Articles of Association 

The Company’s Articles of Association set out the rights 
of shareholders including voting rights, distribution 
rights, attendance at general meetings, powers of 
Directors, proceedings of Directors as well as borrowing 
limits and other governance controls. A copy of the 
Articles of Association can be requested from the Group 
Company Secretary. 

Conflicts of interest 

During the year no Director held any beneficial interest in any 
contract significant to the Company’s business, other than 
a contract of employment. The Company has procedures 
set out in the Articles of Association for managing conflicts 
of interest. Should a Director become aware that they, or 
their connected parties, have an interest in an existing or 
proposed transaction with the Group, they are required 
to notify the Board as soon as reasonably practicable. 

The Directors have made appropriate enquiries and consider 
that the Group 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 Financial Statements.

Financial instruments

At the end of the year, the Group does not have complex 
financial instruments. The financial instruments comprise 
borrowings, cash and liquid resources and various items 
such as trade debtors and trade creditors that arise from its 
operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments 
is to manage the Group’s operations. Further information 
in relation to the financial risk management objectives of 
the Group, the financial risk factors noted and a detailed 
analysis of the Group’s exposure to interest risk, liquidity 
risk, capital risk and credit risk is included in note 33 
to these Financial Statements.

Transactions in which one or more of the Directors 
had a material interest in and to which the Company, 
or its subsidiaries, was a party during the financial year 
are described in note 39, Related Parties. Other than 
as described in that note, there were no contractual 
relationships between the Directors and companies with 
which they are connected and the Watchstone Group plc 
Group of companies during the year. 

Employees

The Group has a policy of offering equal opportunities to 
employees at all levels in respect of the conditions of work. 
Throughout the Group it is the Board’s intention to provide 
possible employment opportunities and training for disabled 
people and to care for employees who become disabled 
having regard to aptitude and abilities.

Regular consultation and meetings, formal or otherwise, 
are held with all levels of employees to discuss problems 
and opportunities. Information on matters of concern 
to employees is presented in the in-house letters 
and publications.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201529

Statement of Directors responsibilities in respect 
of the annual report, strategic report, the Directors 
report and the Financial Statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual 
Report, Strategic Report, the Directors’ Report and the Group 
and Parent Company Financial Statements in accordance 
with applicable law and regulations.

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

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

 ■ select suitable accounting policies and then apply 

them consistently;

 ■ make judgements and estimates that are reasonable 

and prudent;

 ■ for the Group Financial Statements, state whether 
they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs 
as adopted by the EU;

 ■ for the Parent Company Financial Statements, state 

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

 ■ prepare the Financial Statements on the going 

concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume 
that the Group and the Parent Company will continue 
in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate 
accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain 
the Parent Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the 
Parent Company and enable them to ensure that its Financial 
Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They have 
general responsibility for taking such steps as are reasonably 
open to them to safeguard the assets of the Group and 
to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and 
integrity of the corporate and financial information included 
on the Company’s website. Legislation in the UK governing 
the preparation and dissemination of Financial Statements 
may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Disclosure of information to the Auditors

In the case of each of the persons who are Directors of 
the Company at the date when this report is approved:

(a)   so far as each Director is aware, there is no relevant 

audit information of which the Company’s Auditors are 
unaware; and

(b)   each of the Directors has taken all steps that they ought 
to have taken as a Director to make themselves aware 
of any relevant audit information (as defined) and to 
establish that the Auditors are aware of that information.

This information is given and should be interpreted in 
accordance with the provisions of section 418 of the 
Companies Act 2006.

Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)

The 2016 AGM will be held at 10.00am on 30 June 2016 at 
Plaza Suites 1 – 3, 200 Westminster Bridge Road, London 
SE1 7UT. The Chairmen of the Board and of each of its 
Committees will be in attendance at the AGM to answer 
questions from shareholders. The Company will be making 
use of the electronic voting facility provided by its registrars, 
Capita Asset Services. The facility includes CREST voting 
for members holding their shares in uncertificated form. 
For further information, please refer to the section on  
on-line services and electronic voting set out in the notes 
to the Notice of Meeting. The Notice of Meeting and an 
explanation of the resolutions to be put to the meeting are 
set out in the Notice of Meeting accompanying this Annual 
Report. The Board fully supports all the resolutions and 
encourages shareholders to vote in favour of each of them.

By order of the Board

Stefan Borson
Group General Counsel & Company Secretary 
27 May 2016

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201530

Audit Committee Report

The Audit Committee is chaired by David 
Young and consists of David Young, Lord 
Howard and Tony Illsley. It meets at least 
twice a year with attendance from the 
external Auditors and internal personnel 
as required. 

The Committee is responsible for: 

 ■ ensuring that the appropriate financial reporting 

procedures are properly maintained and reported on; 

 ■ meeting the Auditors and reviewing their reports relating 
to the Group’s accounts and internal control systems; 

 ■ reviewing and monitoring the independence of the 

external Auditor and the objectives and effectiveness 
of the audit process; and

 ■ reviewing arrangements by which staff may in 

confidence raise concerns about possible improprieties 
in matters of financial reporting or otherwise and 
receiving and dealing with matters reported under 
these arrangements. 

Summary of meetings during the year

The focus of the Committee has been on the integrity of the 
Group’s financial accounting and ensuring that shareholders 
can have confidence in the Group’s accounting systems 
and policies and, as a result, in its reported results. The very 
substantial amount of work undertaken on producing, in 
August 2015, the 2014 Report and Accounts with their 
revisions and disclosures relating to prior years necessitated 
three formal meetings of the Committee and a substantial 
number of briefing discussions with individual committee 
members. The openness, commitment and resilience of the 
financial management team and the Auditors in that process 
was noteworthy.

The thoroughness of the 2014 Report and Accounts 
preparation was reflected in a significant reduction of issues 
which needed to be considered in the interim results for the 
period ended 30 June 2015 and in producing these accounts. 
The Committee is particularly pleased that the Auditors have 
issued a clean opinion on the Income Statement for the year 
ended 31 December 2015 and Balance Sheet of both the 
Parent Company and Group as at 31 December 2014 and for 
2015. The issues that were discussed in detail in the 2014 
Financial Statements are now only relevant to the closing 
position as at 31 December 2013 and, therefore, solely 
impact the comparatives for the Income Statement.

2015 Audit and Financial Reporting

The Committee reviewed with both management and the 
external Auditor the appropriateness of the half-year and 
annual financial statements concentrating on, amongst 
other matters:

 ■ the quality and acceptability of accounting policies 

and practices;

 ■ the appropriateness and clarity of the disclosures 
and compliance with financial reporting standards;

 ■ material areas in which significant judgements have 
been applied or where there has been discussion 
with the Auditor;

 ■ whether the annual report and accounts, taken as a 
whole, present the results for the year in a fair and 
balanced way and provide the information necessary 
for shareholders to assess the Company’s performance, 
business model and strategy.

As a Committee it supports the Auditors in displaying the 
necessary professional scepticism their role requires.

The Committee paid particular consideration to the scope of 
the audit and materiality proposed in the light of the changes 
to the composition of the Group as well as the risks with the 
greatest impact on the audit. It reviewed and considered the 
significant issues in relation to the Financial Statements and 
how these have been addressed, including:

 ■ Revenue recognition, particularly on those contracts 

containing multiple elements
 The Group adopted new accounting policies on 
revenue recognition in 2014 following external advice. 
A number of contracts contain multiple elements such 
as the provision, future development and maintenance 
of software combined with the sale of hardware. 
The Committee reviewed the treatment of major 
contracts in force during the year.

 ■ Presentation of the income statement following 

the disposal of the PSD
 The sale of the PSD was concluded during the year 
and was referred to in the 2014 Accounts. The disposal 
proceeds contain a number of estimates of amounts 
which are material to the Balance Sheet, in particular 
of the Warranty Escrow and deferred contingent 
consideration potentially receivable in respect of NIHL 
cases. The Committee has reviewed the estimates used 
in the light of the contractual rights and commitments 
and public announcements by S&G to the Australian 
Stock Exchange.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
 
31

 The accounts and strategic report make a number of 
references to exceptional costs and other adjusting 
items. The Committee has reviewed the presentation 
of these costs in the light of applicable accounting 
standards and guidance by the FRC.

 ■ Valuation of goodwill and intangible assets

 The Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 
includes goodwill arising on acquisitions as well as other 
intangible assets such as software development costs. 
The goodwill arising on, inter alia the acquisitions of 
Ingenie, Himex and ptHealth (which are the Group’s 
largest remaining businesses) was substantively 
reviewed covered in the 2014 Report and Accounts, 
but has been re-evaluated in the light of changes in 
market conditions and resulting changes in strategy.

 ■ Estimates of provisions required at the year end
 The Group has significant provisions for corporate 
and payroll tax related matters, legal and regulatory 
investigations and disputes, onerous contracts and 
reorganisation costs as shown in note 26. Provisions can 
involve significant judgement and therefore we have 
reviewed the assumptions made by management of 
the accuracy and valuation of tax related assets and 
liabilities and of the likelihood of other costs expected to 
be incurred, in particular as a result of the investigations 
and actions referred to in note 26.

Relationship with the Auditor

Shareholders approved the re-appointment of KPMG at the 
2015 AGM at which the Committee Chairman explained that 
the Board remained satisfied as to KPMG’s independence 
and objectivity and the quality of the 2014 audit. In addition, 
KPMG’s knowledge of the history of the Group would be an 
important factor in supporting an application to the Court for 
a return of capital. In the light of the ongoing investigation 
by the FRC into KPMG’s audit of the 2013 accounts and the 
substantial time commitment which would be needed, the 
Committee agreed with KPMG that a new audit engagement 
partner and audit Director from an office unconnected with 
the 2013 audit would be appointed. 

Following an interview process by the Audit Committee Chair 
and the Group Finance Director, we were pleased to appoint 
an audit partner from KPMG’s technology sector team based 
in its London office with appropriate expertise of the North 
American market, where many of the Group’s technology 
businesses are based. We have, however, retained access 
to KPMG’s historical knowledge of the Group which may be 
necessary to support a Court application for a further return 
of capital. 

The Committee believes that the independence of the 
Auditor is one of the primary safeguards for shareholders. 
The Committee reviewed audit independence and the 
scope of non-audit services and independence safeguards 
with KPMG. As part of this review, the Committee has 
received and reviewed written confirmation that, in KPMG’s 
professional judgement, KPMG is independent within the 
meaning of all UK regulatory and professional requirements 
and the objectivity of the audit engagement partner and 
audit staff is not impaired.

The Committee is satisfied that there has been appropriate 
focus and challenge on the primary areas of audit risk and 
assess the quality of the audit process to be good and 
therefore has recommended to the Board the reappointment 
of KPMG as Auditor. 

Risk management and internal control

The Committee has reviewed with the Group Finance 
Director the structure of the financial management team 
which is appropriate for the size and strategy of the 
Group going forward, taking into account the need still to 
manage legacy issues. The Committee has encouraged the 
implementation of a revised system of internal financial 
controls and has received reports from a contract internal 
Auditor who was engaged to carry out further investigations 
into certain historic issues. The Committee expects to 
focus greater attention in 2016 into ensuring that the risk 
management and internal control systems are proportionate 
for a Group of Watchstone’s size and business strategy.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
 
 
32

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
members of Watchstone Group plc

We have audited the Financial Statements of Watchstone 
Group plc for the year ended 31 December 2015 set out 
on pages 34 to 132. The financial reporting framework 
that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law 
and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
adopted by the EU and, as regards the Parent Company 
Financial Statements, as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006. 

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

Respective responsibilities of Directors and Auditor 

As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities 
Statement set out on page 29, the Directors are responsible 
for the preparation of the Financial Statements and 
for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. 
Our responsibility is to audit, and express an opinion on, 
the Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law 
and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). 
Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing 
Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

Scope of the audit of the Financial Statements 

A description of the scope of an audit of Financial Statements 
is provided on the Financial Reporting Council’s website 
at frc.org.uk/auditscopeukprivate. 

Basis for qualified opinion on Financial Statements 

Limitation in scope with respect to Group Loss 
and related party transactions for the year ended 
31 December 2014

The audit evidence available to us was limited in respect of 
the Group’s loss and related party transactions for the year 
ended 31 December 2014 in the following areas: 

 ■ As explained in note 42 to the Group Financial 

Statements and note 63 to the Parent Company 
Financial Statements, the Directors in office at the 
date of approval of the 31 December 2014 Financial 
Statements (“current Directors”) took into account all 
available information in the application of the Group and 
Parent Company’s accounting policies and in forming 
judgements over a number of identified adjustments 
accounted for as prior year adjustments in preparing 
the 31 December 2014 Financial Statements relating 
to certain historical acquisitions, revenue and share 
transactions and the disclosure in those prior Financial 
Statements of previously inadequately disclosed related 
party and share transactions. The current Directors in 
preparing the 31 December 2014 Financial Statements 
amended the accounting and disclosure of these 
transactions based on information that had then been 
made available by former members of management, 
former Directors and others in response to enquiries by 
them and by us and which was not part of the Group’s 
or Parent Company’s records and had not previously 
been made available to us. In a number of respects this 
information contradicted representations previously 
made to us by former members of management and 
former Directors as well as information contained in the 
Group’s and Parent Company’s accounting records and 
called into doubt the previously adopted accounting 
treatments of these transactions and/or the values 
that were attributed to the transactions. The current 
Directors explain that, whilst they have made all 
reasonable efforts to identify all relevant information 
that could impact on the accounting, including 
making requests for information to former Directors, 
the intention or commercial purpose of certain of 
these transactions and/or the values to attribute to 
the transactions remain unclear. Whilst the current 
Directors believe that all material transactions have been 
identified and reviewed, it is also possible that there are 
transactions into which the Group has entered of which 
they are unaware, as a result of weaknesses in the books 
and records maintained by the Parent Company, 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201533

 in fulfilling their responsibilities to prepare the 
31 December 2014 Financial Statements and to 
provide to us all the information and explanations that 
we considered necessary for the purpose of our audit. 
We have not identified alternative evidence that would 
allow us to resolve this. As set out in note 42 to the 
Group Financial Statements, the current Directors would 
expect any such transactions affecting the 31 December 
2014 statement of financial position, if material, to have 
been identified during the course of preparation of the 
31 December 2014 and 31 December 2015 Financial 
Statements and related work, but note the possibility that 
additional related party transactions may exist relating to 
prior years which would fall to be disclosed. Owing to the 
deficiencies in the Group’s and Parent Company’s records 
in these regards and the significant doubts we now have 
over representations we received from former members 
of management and former Directors, we were unable 
to obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding 
these matters, which might have a material effect on the 
Group’s loss for the year ended 31 December 2014; and 

 ■ As set out in note 42 to the Group Financial Statements 

and note 63 of the Parent Company Financial 
Statements, the current Directors identified a number 
of previously undisclosed related party transactions 
(including share transactions) with former Directors and 
others, often but not always related to the historical 
acquisitions, revenue and share transactions referred 
to above. We have been unable to obtain sufficient 
audit evidence to conclude whether or not there are 
additional related party transactions which would be 
required to be disclosed under International Accounting 
Standard 24 and the Companies Act 2006 in respect of 
the year ended 31 December 2014. 

We qualified our audit opinions on the Financial Statements 
for the year ended 31 December 2014 with regard to the 
same limitations. 

Qualified opinion on Financial Statements 

In our opinion the Financial Statements give a true and fair 
view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s 
affairs as at 31 December 2015. 

In our opinion, except for the possible effect solely on 
the comparative information of the Group’s loss for the 
year ended 31 December 2014 of the matters described 
in the basis for qualified opinion on Financial Statements 
paragraphs, the Financial Statements: 

 ■ give a true and fair view of the Group’s profit for the 

year ended 31 December 2015;

 ■ the Group Financial Statements have been properly 
prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 
the EU; 

 ■ the Parent Company Financial Statements have been 

properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted 
by the EU and as applied in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and 

 ■ the Financial Statements have been prepared in 

accordance with the requirements of the Companies 
Act 2006. 

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the 
Companies Act 2006 

In our opinion the information given in the Strategic Report 
and the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which 
the Financial Statements are prepared is consistent with 
the Financial Statements. 

Matters on which we are required to report 
by exception 

In respect solely of the limitations on our work described 
above that affect the comparative information in respect of 
the Group’s loss for the year ended 31 December 2014, we 
have not obtained all the information and explanations that 
we considered necessary for the purpose of our audit.

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters 
where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you 
if, in our opinion: 

 ■ adequate accounting records have not been kept by the 
Parent Company or returns adequate for our audit have 
not been received from branches not visited by us; or 

 ■ the Financial Statements are not in agreement with the 

accounting records and returns; or 

 ■ certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified 

by law are not made. 

Tudor Aw (Senior Statutory Auditor)  
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants 
15 Canada Square, 
London  
E14 5GL 
27 May 2016

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
34

Financial Statements

Consolidated Income Statement  

for the year ended 31 December 2015

Note

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Administrative expenses

Other income

Share of results of associates

Group operating loss
Finance income

Finance expense

Loss before taxation
Taxation

Loss after taxation for the year from 
continuing operations
Net gain on disposal of discontinued 
operations

Loss for the year from discontinued 
operations, net of taxation

Profit/(loss) after taxation for the year
Attributable to:

Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

Earnings/(loss) per share (pence):
Basic

Diluted

Loss per share from continuing  
activities (pence)
Basic

Diluted

9

10

12

12

13

37

37

14

14

14

14

2015

2015

Underlying

Non-
underlying

2015

Total

£000

58,784

(33,398)

25,386

£000

528

(373)

155

£000

58,256

(33,025)

25,231

(47,541)

–

103

Restated (note 5)

2014

2014

Underlying

Non-
underlying

2014

Total

£000

60,128

(41,086)

19,042

£000

3,627

(3,517)

110

£000

56,501

(37,569)

18,932

(42,201)

–

278

(157,568)

(205,109)

1,971

–

1,971

103

(200,397)

(242,598)

18,001

434

18,001

712

(22,207)

(155,442)

(177,649)

(22,991)

(181,852)

(204,843)

1,236

(1,575)

–

–

1,236

(1,575)

(22,546)

(155,442)

(177,988)

3,771

9,419

13,190

(18,775)

(146,023)

(164,798)

–

–

494,317

494,317

(54,580)

(54,580)

417

(882)

(23,456)

(4,900)

(28,356)

–

–

–

–

417

(882)

(181,852)

(205,308)

2,124

(2,776)

(179,728)

(208,084)

–

–

(166,400)

(166,400)

(18,775)

293,714

274,939

(28,356)

(346,128)

(374,484)

(18,280)

293,714

275,434

(495)

–

(495)

(18,775)

293,714

274,939

(40.4)

(40.4)

609.0

609.0

(363.3)

(363.3)

(25,791)

(2,565)

(28,356)

(60.9)

(60.9)

(346,128)

(371,919)

–

(2,565)

(346,128)

(374,484)

(878.9)

(878.9)

(485.7)
(485.7)

Non-underlying results have been presented separately to give a better guide to underlying business performance (see note 1).

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income  

for the year ended 31 December 2015

Profit/(loss) after taxation
Share of other comprehensive income of associates

Items that may be reclassified in the Consolidated Income Statement
  Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Fair value movements on available for sale assets:

  Fair value decrease on available for sale assets

Fair value movements on available for sale assets taken to the Consolidated Income Statement:

Previous fair value gain recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in respect of an investment becoming an 
associate on a stepped acquisition

Total comprehensive income for the year

Attributable to:
Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

From profit/(loss) for the year

35

2015

£000

274,939
–

2014

£000

(374,484)

(1,327)

(1,674)

1,837

–

–

(1,500)

1,500

273,265

(373,974)

273,760

(495)

273,265

(371,409)

(2,565)

(373,974)

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201536

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 

as at 31 December 2015

Non-current assets
Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Interests in associates

Investments

Current assets
Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Corporation tax assets

Cash

Assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Total current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities
Bank overdraft

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Other secured and unsecured loans

Trade and other payables

Obligations under finance leases

Provisions

Liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Obligations under finance leases

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Note

16

15

17

18

19

20

21

22

37

24

24

24

23

25

26

37

24

25

26

27

28

29

29

38

2015

£000

28,377

7,539

7,440

86

–

43,442

871

66,169

8,165

103,200

178,405

3,382

181,787

225,229

–

(427)

(154)

(41,667)

(144)

(36,704)

(79,096)

(3,534)

(82,630)

(4,816)

(64)

(306)

(304)

(5,490)

(88,120)

137,109

4,596

146,626

(14,722)

136,500

609

137,109

Restated  
(note 5)
2014

£000

97,832

66,271

14,091

7,169

4,017

189,380

3,473

32,863

7,196

42,036

85,568

303,674

389,242

578,622

(4,968)

(500)

(2,633)

(71,852)

(1,081)

(32,767)

(113,801)

(182,845)

(296,646)

(4,947)

(1,080)

(257)

(11,196)

(17,480)

(314,126)

264,496

65,467

667,707

(472,743)

260,431

4,065

264,496

The Financial Statements of Watchstone Group plc, registered number 05542221, on pages 34 to 113 were approved 
and authorised for issue by the Directors on 27 May 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Mark P Williams   
Director   

David Young 
Director   

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Financial Statements (continued) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
37

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity 

Reverse 
acquisition 
and 
merger 
reserve

Shares 
to be 
issued

Other 
equity 
reserves

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve

Total 
other 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

Equity 
attributable 
to equity 
holders of 
the parent

Non-
controlling 
interests

Total 
equity

£000
160,795

£000
30,744

£000
31,036

£000

£000
(2,401) 667,707

£000
(472,743)

£000
260,431

£000
4,065

£000
264,496

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(164,107)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(21,047)

(5,652)

–

–

(9,697)

–

–

–

–

12,496

–

–

–

–

17,235

(28,468)

–

–

–

–

275,434

275,434

(495)

274,939

(1,674)

(1,674)

–

(1,674)

–

(1,674)

(1,674)

(1,674) 275,434

273,760

(495)

273,265

2,727

–

5,461

–

(11,150)

(11,150)

(349,708)

1,442

(411,871)

(9,697)

9,470

(227)

12,496

(9,750)

2,746

17,235

 –

17,235

(192,575) 192,575

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

5,461

(11,150)

(411,871)

(227)

2,746

17,235

–

–

–

–

–

(2,846)

(2,846)

115

(115)

–

115

115

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Share 
premium 
account

£000
447,533

Share 
capital

£000
65,467

–

–

–

–

–

–

2,734

29,426

–

–

(63,605)

(349,708)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

for the year ended 
31 December 
2015

At 1 January 2015 
(as restated (note 5))

Profit for the year

Other 
comprehensive 
income

Total 
comprehensive 
income

Issue of share 
capital (notes 28,29)

Cash out of 
options (note 28)

Effect of capital 
reduction and 
return of capital 
(note 28)

Shares no longer 
issuable (note 29)

Disposal of shares 
treated as held in 
treasury (note 29)

Share-based 
payments (note 28)

Other reserves 
movements, 
including transfer 
of realised profits 
to retained 
earnings (note 29)

Non-controlling 
interests 
disposed of

Exchange 
differences on non-
controlling interests

Total transactions 
with owners, 
recognised directly 
in equity

At 31 December 
2015

(60,871)

(320,282)

(164,107)

(30,744)

(4,389)

115

(519,407) 182,587

(397,691)

(2,961)

(400,652)

4,596

127,251

(3,312)

–

26,647

(3,960) 146,626

(14,722)

136,500

609

137,109

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201538

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity (continued) 

Reverse 
acquisition 
and 
merger 
reserve 
(note 5)

Share 
premium 
account 
(note 5)

Shares 
to be 
issued

Other 
equity 
reserves

Foreign 
currency 
translation 
reserve

Total 
other 
reserves

Retained 
earnings

£000
322,905

£000
113,857

£000
55,505

£000
(1,854)

£000

£000
(4,238) 486,175

£000
(100,962)

Share 
capital

£000
56,700

–

11,278

(11,278)

–

–

–

–

–

Equity 
attributable 
to equity 
holders of 
the parent

£000
441,913

–

Non-
controlling 
interests

£000
3,746

–

Total 
equity

£000
445,659

–

56,700

334,183

102,579

55,505

(1,854)

(4,238) 486,175

(100,962)

441,913

3,746

445,659

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

8,767

111,646

58,216

(73,802)

(2,826)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,704

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

73,118

(24,077)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(36,659)

32,055

17,386

22,934

–

–

–

8,767

113,350

58,216

(24,761)

32,890

–

–

(371,919)

(371,919)

(2,565)

(374,484)

1,837

1,837

(1,327)

510

–

510

1,837

1,837

(373,246)

(371,409)

(2,565)

(373,974)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

93,234

73,118

–

–

102,001

73,118

(24,077)

24,077

–

(36,659)

–

(36,659)

33,759

(16,432)

17,327

17,386

22,934

–

–

17,386

22,934

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

102,001

73,118

–

(36,659)

17,327

17,386

22,934

(6,180)

–

–

–

(6,180)

(6,180)

–

–

–

–

45,655

45,655

(42,771)

(42,771)

179,695

1,465

189,927

2,884

192,811

65,467

447,533

160,795

30,744

31,036

(2,401) 667,707

(472,743)

260,431

4,065

264,496

for the year ended 
31 December 
2014

At 1 January 2014

Issue of share 
capital in respect of 
prior years (note 5)

At 1 January 2014 
(as restated (note 5))

Profit for the year

Other 
comprehensive 
income

Total 
comprehensive 
income

Issue of share 
capital (restated) (note 5)

Shares to be 
issued

Shares no longer 
issuable

Shares treated as 
held in treasury

Disposal of shares 
treated as held in 
treasury

Share-based 
payments

Fair value 
adjustment 
to share 
consideration

Dividends paid 
(note 41)

Non-controlling 
interest at 
acquisition

Non-controlling 
interest acquired

Total transactions 
with owners, 
recognised directly 
in equity

At 31 December 
2014 (as restated 
(note 5))

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Financial Statements (continued)39

Note

31

2015

£000

2014 
(restated)

£000

(50,109)

(17,983)

(68,092)

419

(76,774)

(2,108)

(78,882)

(25,747)

(67,673)

(104,629)

(5,636)

(4,285)

143

1,358

(648)

–

575,001

–

–

7,069

–

109

573,111

–

1,305

(411,871)

(11,150)

(1,510)

1,234

(2,738)

793

(30,265)

2,746

–

(326)

(451,782)

53,656

50,482

(299)

103,839

103,839

–

22

22

(9,624)

(13,126)

–

1,500

(8,746)

8,047

(3,849)

(500)

(1,751)

–

(3,000)

208

(30,841)

(6,180)

100

–

–

(2,135)

570

(910)

6,678

(8,247)

17,328

164

(1,386)

5,982

(129,488)

179,954

16

50,482

69,991

(19,509)

50,482

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement 

for the year ended 31 December 2015

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations before exceptional costs, net finance expense and tax

Cash outflow from exceptional items

Cash used in operations before net finance expense and tax

Corporation tax received/(paid)

Net cash used by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of intangible fixed assets

Proceeds on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from sale of investments

Acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash acquired

Advance receipt in respect of sale of PSD (see footnote)

Disposal of subsidiaries net of cash foregone

Purchase of associated undertakings

Purchase of fixed asset investments

Disposal of associated undertakings

Deposits held in escrow

Dividends received from associates

Net cash generated by/(used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid

Issue of share capital

Capital return

Cash out of options

Finance expense paid

Finance income received

Finance lease repayments

Additional secured loans

Repayment of secured loans

Sale of shares treated as held in treasury

Additional unsecured loans

Repayment of unsecured loans

Net cash (used in)/generated by financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Exchange (losses)/gains on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash

Bank overdrafts

The above Consolidated Cash Flow Statement includes cash flows from both continuing and discontinued operations. 
Further details of the cash flows relating to discontinued operations are shown in note 37.

22

103,839

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201540

Notes to the Financial Statements

1.  General information

Watchstone Group plc is a company registered and 
domiciled in the United Kingdom. The Financial Statements 
are presented in pounds sterling, to the nearest thousand, as 
this is the currency of the primary economic environment in 
which the Company operates. The address of the registered 
office is 1 Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth East, Fareham, 
Hampshire PO15 5UA. The nature of the Group’s operations 
and its principal activities are set out on page 9.

Consolidated Income Statement presentation

The Income Statement is presented in three columns. 
This presentation is intended to give a better guide to 
underlying business performance by separately identifying 
adjustments to Group results which are considered to 
either be exceptional in size, nature or incidence, relate 
to businesses which do not form part of the continuing 
business of the Group, or have potential significant variability 
year on year in non-cash items which might mask underlying 
trading performance (see notes 9 and 10). The columns 
extend down the Income Statement to allow the tax and 
earnings per share impacts of these transactions to be 
disclosed. Equivalent elements of the Group results arising 
in future years, including increases in or reversals of items 
recorded, will be disclosed in a consistent manner.

2. 

 Significant accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the 
preparation of these Financial Statements are set out below. 
These policies have been consistently applied to all the 
years presented.

Basis of preparation

These Financial Statements have been prepared in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRS) and IFRIC interpretations adopted by the European 
Union (EU). The Financial Statements have been prepared 
under the historical cost convention. A summary of the 
significant Group accounting policies, which have been 
applied consistently across the Group, is set out below. 
The Group has reviewed its accounting policies in accordance 
with IAS 8 and determined that they are appropriate for 
the Group and have been consistently applied.

In preparing these Financial Statements the board has taken 
into account all available information in the application 
of its accounting policies and in forming judgements. 

Going concern

The Group has significantly reduced its working capital 
requirements through the disposal of a number of non-core, 
loss making businesses. The Group holds significant cash 
reserves and no material debt. The Group has concluded 
that its cash reserves together with ongoing operating cash 
flows, and receipts of deferred contingent consideration from 
the disposal of the Professional Services Division (“PSD”) will 
be sufficient to fund the ongoing operations of the Group’s 
businesses together with any future development needs 
of those businesses. 

On this basis, the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Group has adequate resources to continue 
in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
The Directors have not identified any material uncertainties 
that would cast significant doubt on the ability of the Group 
to continue as a going concern. As such, the Directors 
continue to adopt the Going Concern basis of accounting 
in the preparation of the Financial Statements.

Basis of Consolidation

The Financial Statements represent a consolidation of the 
Company and its subsidiary undertakings as at the Statement 
of Financial Position date and for the year then ended. 
Subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are 
included in the Consolidated Financial Statements from, or 
up to, the date upon which the investor has control over 
the investee. In accordance with IFRS 10 the definition of 
control is such that an investor has control over an investee 
when a) it has power over the investee; b) it is exposed, 
or has the rights, to variable returns from its involvement 
with the investee; and c) has the ability to use its power to 
affect its returns. All three of these criteria must be met for 
an investor to have control over an investee. All subsidiary 
undertakings in which the Group has control have been 
consolidated in the Group’s results.

Non-controlling interests represent the portion of profit 
or loss in subsidiaries that is not held by the Group and 
is presented within equity in the Consolidated Statement 
of Financial Position, separately from the Company 
shareholders’ equity. All intra-group transactions, balances, 
income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201541

Business Combinations

The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for in line with 
IFRS 3, ‘business combinations’. On acquisition, the assets 
and liabilities and contingent liabilities of a subsidiary are 
measured at their fair values at the date of acquisition. 
Any excess of the cost of acquisition over fair values 
of the identifiable net assets acquired is recognised as 
goodwill. Any deficiency of the cost of acquisition below 
the fair values of the identifiable net assets acquired (i.e. 
discount on acquisition) is credited to the Consolidated 
Income Statement in the year of acquisition. Where the 
Group acquires a business with which it had a previous 
relationship, to the extent that is necessary, any settlement 
of a pre-existing relationship is separated from the business 
combination accounting.

Where investments are subsequently re-measured, 
profits or losses are recognised through the Consolidated 
Income Statement.

Assets and disposal groups held for sale

Assets are classified as held for sale if their carrying amount 
will be recovered by sale rather than by continuing use in 
the business. Where a group of assets and their directly 
associated liabilities are to be disposed of in a single 
transaction, such disposal groups are also classified as held 
for sale. For this to be the case, the asset or disposal group 
must be available for immediate sale in its present condition, 
and management must be committed to and have initiated a 
plan to sell the asset or disposal group which, when initiated, 
was expected to result in a completed sale within 12 months. 
Assets that are classified as held for sale are not depreciated. 
Assets or disposal groups that are classified as held for sale 
are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair 
value less costs to sell.

Revenue recognition

Revenue earned by continuing operations
The Group receives income through Software ILF (Initial 
Licence Fee), SaaS (Software as a Service), consulting fees, 
physiotherapy services, management charges, membership 
fees, e-commerce revenues, click fees and other success 
based one-time fees. Intellectual property rights (“IPR”) or 
distribution rights to IPR are sold and recognised on the 
delivery of IPR or granting of the rights to the customer.

When selling software, new solution sales typically involve 
software licences being sold together with Post Customer 
Support (PCS) services and/or implementation services. 

Where the commercial substance of such a combination 
is that the individual components operate independently 
of each other and fair values can be attributed to each of 
the components, each are then recognised in accordance 
with their respective policies described below. Where it is 
not possible to attribute reliable fair values to two or more 
components, these are viewed as a combination and 
revenue is recognised on the combined revenue streams 
as the combined service is delivered using the percentage 
of completion method. Provisions for estimated losses on 
uncompleted contracts are recorded in the year in which such 
losses become probable, based on contract cost estimates.

When selling products such as telematics devices, a sale 
is recognised when legal title has passed to the customer. 
This may be under bill and hold style arrangements when 
agreed with the customer. 

The revenue recognition policies for separately identifiable 
revenue streams are as follows:

Physiotherapy services
Revenues are recognised upon the delivery of the service 
by the healthcare professional. 

Initial licence fees, SaaS and other success based  
one-time fees
Revenues are recognised when pervasive evidence of an 
arrangement exists, delivery has occurred, the licence or 
other one-time fee is fixed or determinable, the collection 
of the fee is reasonably assured, no significant obligations 
with regard to success, installation or implementation of the 
software or service remain, and customer acceptance, when 
applicable, has been obtained. On certain SaaS contracts 
where there are fixed and contracted term lengths and no 
other services are required to be performed during the 
remainder of the contract, receivables under the contracts 
are recognised at the point of sale.

Maintenance, Hosting and other PCS Services
Maintenance, Hosting and PCS services are billed on a 
periodic basis in advance. The Group recognises revenue 
on these services evenly over the period of the contract.

Solution Delivery Implementation Services
Revenues for all fixed fee contracts are recognised on 
a percentage complete basis. The Group calculates the 
percentage to complete by comparing the number of man 
days utilised at the period end with the total number of 
man days required to complete the project. Project plans 
are reviewed on a regular basis with any losses recognised 
immediately in the period in which such losses become 
probable based on contract cost estimates.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201542

Telematics Services and Devices
Revenues are recognised evenly over the period of the 
contract they relate to, including upfront payments, 
commencing when the end user takes up the telematics 
service. All elements of the service are treated as an 
integrated part of the overall offering and are not unbundled 
or fair valued because they are not separately usable 
to the end user. Costs excluding telematics boxes are 
recognised in the period as incurred. Where telematics 
devices are included as part of the services to end users 
they are capitalised and depreciated over their useful 
economic life. Where telematics devices are sold separately 
to intermediaries in the telematics revenue chain a sale is 
recognised for these items when their legal title has passed.

Broking Commissions
Broking commission revenues for life insurance policies 
are recognised at inception of the policy or, where they are 
paid in instalments, over the life of the policy when the end 
user policy is sold. Broking commission revenues for motor 
insurance policies are recognised at inception of the policy.

Broking commissions for its energy broking business is 
recognised when the contract between the customer and 
the energy supplier becomes live, and is measured at the fair 
value of the consideration received, or receivable when the 
amount of revenue can be reliably measured and it is probable 
that future economic benefits will flow into the entity.

Where services are subject to clawbacks of revenue over the 
duration of the contract, an initial estimate of clawback is 
made based on historical data and an adjustment is made 
to the revenue already recognised.

Revenue earned by the Professional Services Division 
(included within discontinued operations) 
Revenue from the rendering of a particular service is 
recognised upon the delivery of that service to the customer. 
Where a service is provided in advance of settlement of a 
claim being reached with the at fault third party insurer, and 
there is uncertainty regarding the amount of total proceeds 
to be received, revenue is recognised either to the extent 
of the expenses which are expected to be recoverable, or 
deferred until the case is agreed and settled.

The Group earns revenue either as principal or agent, 
differentiated by the extent to which the Group is at risk for the 
transaction, and whether it is acting in its capacity as broker or 
as agent. Where the Group retains the liability for the delivery or 
settlement of some, or all, of the contract, revenue is accounted 
for gross. Where the Group acts as broker or agent, the Group’s 
revenue is recorded solely as the fee relating to the provision 
of services provided by the Group on that transaction.

The material revenue streams of the PSD relates ultimately 
to the servicing of parties involved in Road Traffic Accidents 
(RTAs) or non RTA related personal injury cases. RTA cases 
typically comprise the provision of all or some of the 
following services: replacement vehicle hire, vehicle repair, 
management of personal injury cases, provision of medical 
reports and rehabilitation. Where more than one service is 
provided under a single arrangement and it is possible to 
attribute reliable fair values to each service, the consideration 
receivable is allocated to the identifiable services. Claims are 
typically presented to insurers, acting for the at fault party.

Prior to admission of liability by the at fault third party insurer, 
hire revenue is recognised to the extent of expenses incurred 
which are expected to be recoverable. The hire cost is known, 
generally being based on prices agreed with third party hirers.

Repair revenue is recognised to the extent of costs incurred 
on completion of the repair and return of the vehicle. 
The cost is known on completion of the repair. Prior to 
admission of liability by the at fault third party insurer, 
revenue is only recognised to the extent of expenses 
incurred which are expected to be recoverable.

Revenue for servicing the other aspects of the hire and repair 
claim is recognised on settlement being reached with the 
at fault third party insurer in favour of the claimant. 

Revenue from legal services administered through the 
Ministry of Justice Portal (MOJ Portal) is recognised on 
admission of liability by the third party to the extent 
of attributable fixed fees arising under the MOJ Portal. 
Any further income arising on these cases and for all cases 
settling outside of the MOJ Portal, revenue is recognised 
on the successful settlement of the case. 

Amounts incurred by the Group with third parties in 
relation to legal disbursements are expensed as incurred. 
Once settlement is reached with the at fault third party 
insurer any disbursements previously incurred are sought 
to be recovered.

Income arising from medical services is recognised in line 
with the revenue recognition for the legal claim which it 
supports, either on admission of liability by the third party 
or settlement of the case. Income on admission of liability 
by a third party can be reliably estimated based on fees 
incurred for the medical service. Where claims proceed 
directly through the courts, revenue for medical services 
is recognised on settlement of the claim in favour of the 
claimant. Income arising from rehabilitation services prior to 
admission of liability is recognised to the extent of expenses 
incurred which are expected to be recoverable.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)43

Operating segments

Share-based payments

For reporting purposes the results of the Group are 
allocated between reporting segments. These operate in 
specific product and market areas and are described in 
note 7. Head office and central costs are shown separately. 
The Group’s accounting policies are applied consistently 
across the Group.

Marketing expenses

Marketing expenses are expensed in the period in which 
they are incurred.

Operating profit

Operating profit is profit stated before finance income, 
finance expense and tax.

Exceptional items

Exceptional items are those that in management’s 
judgement, need to be disclosed by virtue of their size, 
nature or incidence, in order to draw the attention of 
the reader and to better show the underlying business 
performance of the Group. These are expected to be non-
recurring material items which are outside of the Group’s 
ordinary activities. Such items are included within the 
income statement caption to which they relate, and are 
separately disclosed either in the notes to the consolidated 
financial statements or on the face of the consolidated 
income statement. 

Retirement benefit costs

The Group provides pension arrangements to certain of 
its full time UK employees through a money purchase 
(defined contribution) scheme. Contributions and pension 
costs are based on pensionable salary and are charged 
as an expense as they fall due. The Group has no further 
payment obligations once the contributions have been 
paid. Payments made to state-managed retirement benefit 
schemes are dealt with as payments to defined contribution 
schemes where the Group’s obligations under the schemes 
are equivalent to those arising in a defined contribution 
retirement benefit scheme. 

Borrowing costs

All borrowing costs are recognised in the Consolidated 
Income Statement in the year in which they are incurred. 
Borrowing costs have not been capitalised on the grounds of 
materiality as the business has not developed any significant 
qualifying assets.

Warrants
The Group has adopted a Black-Scholes model to calculate 
the fair value of warrants. The fair value is calculated at the 
time of issue and charged immediately to the Consolidated 
Income Statement.

Options
The fair value of options granted to individuals is recognised 
as an expense, with a corresponding increase in equity, 
over the period in which the unconditional entitlement 
occurs. The fair value of the options granted is measured 
using an option valuation model, taking into account the 
terms and conditions upon which the options were granted. 
The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to reflect 
the actual number of share options expected to vest. 
Upon the exercise of share options, the proceeds received 
net of attributable transaction costs are credited to share 
capital and share premium.

The Group adopted a Black-Scholes model to calculate the 
fair value of options granted. Costs relating to employees 
of subsidiaries has been accounted for by increasing the 
Company’s cost of investment of those subsidiaries.

Post combination vendor remuneration
Where consideration towards an acquisition is linked to 
ongoing employment within the Group this consideration 
is not treated as a cost of the acquisition. It is treated as 
post combination remuneration and is recognised in the 
Consolidated Income Statement over the period in which the 
employment services are delivered. The valuation of such 
amounts, where the form of the payment is in shares, uses an 
option valuation model. Where such costs relate to employees 
of subsidiaries, this has been accounted for by increasing 
the Company’s cost of investment of those subsidiaries.

Foreign currency translation

The functional and presentational currency of the Parent 
Company is UK pounds sterling. Transactions denominated 
in currencies other than the functional currency are recorded 
at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the 
transactions. At each Statement of Financial Position date, 
monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in 
foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing 
on the Statement of Financial Position date, with any gains 
or losses being included in net profit or loss for the year.

On consolidation the assets and liabilities of the Group’s 
overseas operations are translated at exchange rates 
prevailing on the Statement of Financial Position date. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201544

Income and expense items are translated at the average 
exchange rates for the year. Exchange differences arising, 
if any, are dealt with through the Group’s reserves, until such 
time as the subsidiary is sold whereupon the cumulative 
exchange differences relating to the net investment in that 
foreign subsidiary are recognised as part of the profit or 
loss on disposal in the Consolidated Income Statement. 
Where the Group loans monies to overseas subsidiaries as 
quasi-equity, to facilitate an acquisition, this is designated as 
a net investment hedge in foreign operations and the foreign 
exchange movement is recognised directly in reserves.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition 
of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of 
the foreign entity and translated at the closing rate. 

Goodwill

Goodwill on the acquisition of a business is recognised as 
an asset at the date the business is effectively acquired 
(“the acquisition date”) for both Group and subsidiary 
undertakings. Goodwill is measured as the excess of the 
sum of the consideration transferred over the net of the 
acquisition date amounts of the identifiable assets acquired 
and the liabilities assumed. If the Group’s interest in the 
fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets exceeds 
the sum of the consideration transferred the excess 
is recognised immediately in the Consolidated Income 
Statement as a bargain purchase gain. 

Goodwill is not amortised but is reviewed for impairment at 
least annually with any impairment recognised immediately 
in the Consolidated Income Statement and not subsequently 
reversed. For the purpose of impairment testing, goodwill is 
allocated to each of the Group’s CGUs expected to benefit 
from the synergies of the combination. If the recoverable 
amount of the CGU is less than the carrying amount of the 
unit, the impairment loss is allocated to reduce the carrying 
amount of the goodwill allocated to the unit and then 
to the other assets of the unit on a pro-rata basis.

Other intangible assets

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are initially measured 
at cost, or their fair value on the date of acquisition. 
These assets are assumed to have a residual value of £nil 
and amortised over their useful economic lives as follows:

 ■ IPR, software and licences: between 3-10 years;

 ■ Data and brands: between 2-10 years; and

 ■ Customer contracts: over the anticipated life 

of contracts.

Internal costs are capitalised where these are directly 
attributable to the intangible asset.

Impairment of tangible fixed assets and intangible 
assets including goodwill

At each Statement of Financial Position date, the Group 
reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible 
assets to determine whether there is any indication that 
those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such 
indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset 
is estimated to determine the extent of any impairment 
loss. The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s 
value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. Value in 
use is calculated using cash flow projections for the asset 
(or group of assets where cash flows are not identifiable 
for specific assets) discounted at a pre-tax discount rate 
based on the Company’s cost of capital adjusted to reflect 
current market assessment of time value of money and 
the risk specific to the asset or cash-generating unit. If the 
recoverable amount of an asset (or CGU) is estimated to 
be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of 
the asset (or CGU) is reduced to its recoverable amount. 
An impairment loss is recognised as an expense in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income, unless the relevant 
asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the 
impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Research and development expenditure – 
internally generated

Expenditure on research activities is recognised 
as an expense in the year in which it is incurred.

Development costs are capitalised as they are incurred 
where these are separately identifiable and directly 
attributable to specific intangible assets that meet the IAS 38 
(Intangible Assets) criteria whereby an intangible asset arising 
from development (or from the development phase of an 
internal project) shall be recognised if, and only if, an entity 
can demonstrate all of the following:

(a)  the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset 

so that it will be available for use or sale;

(b)  its intention to complete the intangible asset and use 

or sell it;

(c)  its ability to use or sell the intangible asset;

(d)  how the intangible asset will generate probable future 
economic benefits. Among other things, the entity can 
demonstrate the existence of a market for the output 
of the intangible asset or the intangible asset itself 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)45

or, if it is to be used internally, the usefulness of the 
intangible asset;

the venturers’ unanimous consent for strategic financial and 
operating decisions. 

(e)  the availability of adequate technical, financial and 
other resources to complete the development and 
to use or sell the intangible asset; and

(f)  its ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable 

to the intangible asset during its development.

Subsequent costs continue to be capitalised provided they 
continue to qualify under IAS 38. The intangible assets are 
amortised by specific asset on a straight line basis over each 
assets’ specific economic life. Assets are evaluated annually 
against IAS 38 for any impairment and where identified are 
written down immediately in line with IAS 38.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net 
of depreciation and any provision for impairment. 
Depreciation is not provided on freehold land. On other 
assets, depreciation is calculated to write off the cost less 
estimated residual values over their estimated useful lives 
as follows:

 ■ Freehold buildings: 2%-5% per annum straight line;

 ■ Improvements to freehold land and buildings:  

5%-10% per annum straight line;

 ■ Improvements to leasehold land and buildings: 

Over the term of the lease; and

Associates and jointly controlled entities are accounted 
for using the equity method (equity accounted investees) 
and are initially recognised at cost. The Group’s investment 
includes goodwill identified on acquisition, net of any 
accumulated impairment losses. The Consolidated 
Financial Statements include the Group’s share of the total 
comprehensive income and equity movements of equity 
accounted investees, from the date that significant influence 
or joint control commences until the date that significant 
influence or joint control ceases.

When the Group’s share of losses exceeds its interest 
in an equity accounted investee, the Group’s carrying 
amount is reduced to nil and recognition of further losses 
is discontinued except to the extent that the Group has 
incurred legal or constructive obligations or made payments 
on behalf of an investee. The Group has not accounted 
for any undertakings in which it has a 20 percent or less 
shareholding as an associate, other than where the Group 
gained significant influence through other factors. For all 
undertakings in which the Group holds between 20 and 
50 percent of the voting power, the Group has considered 
whether indicators of significant influence exist in respect 
of such holdings in accordance with IAS 28. All such 
undertakings in which a significant influence exists have been 
accounted for as an associate using the equity method.

 ■ Plant and equipment: 20%-33⅓% per annum 

Investments

reducing balance.

Assets in the course of construction are capitalised as 
expenditure is incurred. Depreciation is not charged until the 
asset is brought into use. Assets held under finance leases 
are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same 
basis as owned assets or, where shorter, over the term of 
the relevant lease. Residual value is based on the estimated 
amount that would currently be obtained from disposal.

Estimated residual values and useful economic lives are 
reviewed annually and adjusted where necessary.

Associates

Associates are those entities in which the Group has significant 
influence, but not control. Significant influence is presumed 
to exist when the Group holds between 20 and 50 percent of 
the voting power of another entity. Jointly controlled entities 
are those entities over whose activities the Group has joint 
control, established by contractual agreement and requiring 

Fixed asset investments comprise the Group’s strategic 
investments in entities that do not qualify as subsidiaries, 
associates or jointly controlled entities. They are valued at 
fair value on initial recognition. Any impairments are dealt 
with through the Consolidated Income Statement, as are 
differences between carrying values and disposal receipts. 
Where investment stakes are subsequently increased a 
stepped acquisition approach is taken, i.e. when each 
additional tranche of shares is acquired, the indicators 
of control and influence for that investment are reviewed 
to determine how that transaction should be reflected in 
the Consolidated Financial Statements and also whether 
the shareholding should be accounted for as a fixed 
asset investment, associate (under the equity method) 
or a subsidiary undertaking (and consolidated).

Where investments are subsequently re-measured, 
profits or losses are recognised through the Consolidated 
Income Statement.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201546

Changes in the fair value of investments classified as 
available for sale are recognised in other comprehensive 
income. When investments classified as available for sale are 
sold or impaired, the accumulated fair value adjustments 
recognised in equity are included in the income statement as 
‘Other income/losses’. Dividends on available-for-sale equity 
instruments are recognised in the income statement as part 
of other income when the Group’s right to receive payments 
is established.

Leases

Rentals payable under operating leases are charged 
to income on a straight line basis over the term of the 
relevant lease.

Finance leases, which transfer to the Group substantially 
all the risks and benefits incidental to the ownership of the 
leased item are capitalised at the inception of the lease at 
the fair value of the leased asset, or if lower, at the present 
value of the minimum lease payments. Lease payments are 
apportioned between the finance charges and reduction of 
the lease liability so as to achieve a constant rate of interest 
on the remaining balance of the liability. The finance cost 
is charged to the Consolidated Income Statement over the 
lease period as part of finance expense.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable 
value. Costs comprise direct materials and, where applicable, 
direct labour costs and those overheads that have been 
incurred in bringing the inventories to their present location 
and condition. Net realisable value represents the estimated 
selling price less all estimated costs of completion and costs 
to be incurred in marketing, selling and distribution.

Trade receivables

Trade receivables are held at amortised cost less any 
impairment provisions and this equates to their recoverable 
value. Movements in the impairment provision relating to 
credit risk are recognised within administrative expenses 
as bad debt expenses. 

Trade payables

Trade payables do not carry any interest and are stated 
at their fair value.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash in the Statement of Financial Position comprises cash 
at banks and in hand. For the purpose of the Consolidated 
Cash Flow Statement, cash and cash equivalents consist 
of cash and cash equivalents as defined above, net of 
outstanding bank overdrafts.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present 
legal or constructive obligation in respect of a past event and 
it is probable that settlement will be required of an amount 
that can be reliably estimated. 

Taxation including deferred tax

The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and 
deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Consolidated Income 
Statement except to the extent that it relates to items 
recognised in equity in which case it is recognised in 
equity. The current tax is based on taxable profit for the 
year calculated using tax rates that have been enacted 
or substantively enacted by the Statement of Financial 
Position date.

Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability 
method on temporary differences between the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities in the Financial Statements 
and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation 
of taxable profit. In principle deferred tax liabilities are 
recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred 
tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable 
that future taxable profits will be available against which 
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets 
and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference 
arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other 
than in a business combination) of other assets or liabilities 
in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the 
accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at 
each Statement of Financial Position date and reduced to 
the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable 
profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset 
to be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected 
to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset 
is realised. Tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is 
a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes 
relate to the same fiscal authority.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)Share capital

Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded 
at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Deferred consideration

Deferred consideration is recognised when it is probable 
that future economic benefits associated with the 
consideration will be received and may be measured reliably. 
Further information is provided in note 36.

3.  Adoption of new and revised Standards

In the current year, the following new and revised 
Standards and Interpretations have been adopted:

Standards, amendment and interpretations affecting 
the Financial Statements adopted by the Company

There are no new standards, amendments or interpretations 
adopted by the Company that have a material impact on the 
Financial Statements for this year. 

Standards, amendments and interpretations not 
significantly affecting the reported results nor the 
financial position

Amendment to IAS 19

Defined Benefit Plans:  
Employee Contributions

New standards, amendments and interpretations 
not yet adopted

A number of new standards and amendments to standards 
and interpretations are effective for annual periods beginning 
after 1 January 2015, and have not been applied in preparing 
these Consolidated Financial Statements. None of these are 
expected to have a significant effect on the Consolidated 
Financial Statements of the Company, as follows:

47

Amendments to IAS 1

Disclosure Initiative

Amendments to IFRS 10, 
12 and 28

Investment Entities: Applying 
the consolidation Exception

Annual Improvements 
to IFRSs

Amendments to IFRS 10 
and 28

Amendments to IAS 27

IFRS 9

Amendments to IAS 16 
and IAS 41

Amendments to IAS 16 
and IAS 38

Amendments to IFRS 11

2012-2014 cycle

Sale or Contribution of Assets 
between an Investor and its 
Associate or Joint Venture

Equity method in Separate 
Financial Statements

Financial Instruments

Agriculture: Bearer Plants

Clarification of acceptable methods 
of Depreciation and Amortisation

Accounting for Acquisitions of interests 
in Joint Operations

IFRS 14

Regulatory deferral accounts

The following standard has not been applied in preparing 
these Consolidated Financial Statements:

IFRS 15

IFRS 16

‘Revenue from contracts 
with customers’.
This standard deals with revenue 
recognition and establishes principles 
for reporting useful information to 
users of Financial Statements about the 
nature, amount, timing and uncertainty 
of revenue and cash flows arising from 
an entity’s contracts with customers. 
Revenue is recognised when a customer 
obtains control of a good or service and 
thus has the ability to direct the use 
and obtain the benefits from the good 
or service.
The standard is effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2018. The Group is assessing the impact 
of IFRS 15.

‘Leases’.
This standard replaces IAS 17 and 
changes the basis for recognising and 
measuring lease obligations. The major 
impact of the standard is to remove 
the concept of operating leases and 
recognising a related asset and liability 
on the Statement of Financial Position. 
The standard is effective for annual 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 
2019. The Group is assessing the impact 
of IFRS 15.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201548

4. 

 Critical accounting judgements and key sources 
of estimation uncertainty

As set out in the basis of preparation note, in the preparation 
of these Financial Statements the board has taken into 
account all available information in the application of its 
accounting policies and in forming judgements. In the 
process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, 
management has made a number of judgements, and the 
preparation of Financial Statements in conformity with 
generally accepted accounting principles requires the use 
of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported 
amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the Financial 
Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and 
expenses during the reporting year. Although these 
estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of 
the amount, event or actions, actual results ultimately may 
differ from those estimates.

The key management judgements together with assumptions 
concerning the future and other key sources of estimation 
uncertainty at the Statement of Financial Position date that 
have a significant risk of causing a material adjustment to 
the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next 
financial year are discussed below.

Revenue recognition in the services division 
(included within discontinued operations)

The Group formed judgements as to the most appropriate 
accounting policy in light of the underlying contractual 
arrangement that is entered into with the Claimant. The key 
judgement in this respect is the point at which revenue will 
be recognised which is set out in detail in note 3.

Recognition of revenue

Revenues are recognised in-line with the delivery and receipt 
of services to and for our customers. Each revenue type is 
considered separately and revenue is recognised when the 
customer has received the service, the amount of revenue 
can be reliably measured and conversion of the revenue 
in to cash or other economic benefit can be assured. 
These considerations are applied to both ongoing core 
service activities and one off contracts that are entered into.

Identification of CGUs and measurement and 
impairment of goodwill

CGUs, or groups of CGUs, are identified as the smallest 
identifiable group of assets that generate cash inflows that 
are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets 
or groups of assets. Goodwill is then allocated to each CGU 
or group of CGUs. Each unit or group of units to which the 
goodwill is so allocated represents the lowest level at which 
goodwill is monitored for management purposes and is not 
larger than the operating segments disclosed. 

The CGUs for the Group have been determined based 
upon the level of integration of the businesses and where 
interlinking cash flows exist within each division. These CGUs 
are smaller than the operating segments disclosed in note 7. 
Further detail regarding CGUs is included in note 16. ‘Other’ 
represents those other businesses which the Group held 
at 31 December 2015 which have not been integrated as a 
result of the change in strategy and focus of management on 
other operational matters. These businesses are monitored 
at an entity level and not measured as one CGU. 

The Group determines whether goodwill is impaired at least 
on an annual basis. This requires an estimation of the value 
in use of the cash-generating units to which the goodwill is 
allocated. Estimating the value in use requires the Group to 
make an estimate of the expected future cash flows from 
the cash-generating unit and also to choose a suitable 
discount rate in order to calculate the present value of those 
cash flows. 

Capitalisation of internally generated development costs

The Company capitalises internally generated development 
costs where these can be clearly and fully assessed against 
IAS 38 as per the policy laid out in note 2. Such costs are 
clearly and separately identifiable by developed saleable 
product, with all products assessed against IAS 38. 
Such assessment is continuous. The amount capitalised 
for 2015 is laid out in note 15.

Identification of discontinued operations

The Group classifies the results of component business 
as discontinued where they are considered to relate to a 
separate major line of business or geographical area and 
have been disposed of, or are is classified as held for sale. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)49

Consideration receivable for the Professional 
Services Division
£55,000,000 of the PSD sale consideration was placed in 
temporary escrow accounts and the Company has had to 
determine how much will be released. Total consideration 
for the sale of the PSD also includes deferred, contingent 
cash consideration and the Company has had to determine 
the fair value of this contingent consideration. Further detail 
regarding these judgements is given in note 37.

Provisions

The Group is aware of a number of legal and regulatory 
matters which, by their nature, are subject to significant 
judgement and uncertainty. All such matters are periodically 
assessed with the assistance of external professional 
advisers, where appropriate, to determine the likelihood 
of the Group incurring a liability and to evaluate the extent 
to which a reliable estimate of any liability can be made. 
However, the likely cost to the Group of the Serious Fraud 
Office (“SFO”) investigation and any group litigation which 
may potentially be brought against the Group is subject 
to a number of significant uncertainties and these cannot 
currently be estimated reliably. Accordingly, no provision 
has been made in respect of these matters.

Deferred tax in connection with the continuing 
business operations

Other taxable losses have arisen during the year ended 
31 December 2015 which have the potential to give rise to a 
deferred tax asset. This asset has not been recognised due 
to the extent of the continuing business losses incurred in 
2015 including head office costs, and the developing nature 
of the continuing businesses such that the expectation of 
profitability at sufficient quantum was not sufficiently certain 
within a reasonable timeframe.

Classification of underlying and non-underlying results

Management is required to exercise its judgement in the 
classification of certain items as exceptional and outside of 
the Group’s underlying results. The determination of whether 
an item should be separately disclosed as an exceptional 
item or other adjustments requires judgement on its nature 
and incidence, as well as whether it provides clarity on the 
Group’s underlying trading performance. In exercising this 
judgement, Management take appropriate regard of IAS 1 
“Presentation of financial statements” as well as guidance 
issued by the Financial Reporting Council on the reporting 
of exceptional items. 

5.  Restatement of prior year

Classification of depreciation on Telematics devices

Telematics devices awaiting fitment are held as inventory 
until they generate revenue for the business, at which point 
they are transferred to property, plant and equipment 
and depreciated. In the previously presented Annual 
Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 
31 December 2014, £1,305,000 of depreciation on these 
devices was included within normal administrative expenses. 
This depreciation should have been classified within cost 
of sales, since this directly relates to the revenue earned 
from the device. The amounts presented relating to the year 
ended 31 December 2014 have therefore been restated to 
reflect this change. The impact of this change is to reduce 
gross profit for the year ended 31 December 2014 by 
£1,305,000 and to reduce normal administrative expenses by 
£1,305,000. There is no impact upon the loss for that year or 
upon the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as at 
31 December 2014.

As part of this review, it was also identified that within 
note 17, Property, plant and equipment, £1,100,000 of 
depreciation on Telematics devices for 2014 had been 
incorrectly reflected as a deduction from additions. This has 
been corrected within note 17 and increases additions in 
the year ended 31 December 2014 by £1,100,000 and the 
depreciation charge for the year by £1,100,000. This is purely 
a restatement of movements within the Property, plant and 
equipment note and has no impact on the Consolidated 
Income Statement for that year or the Consolidated 
Statement of Financial Position as at 31 December 2014.

Classification of a provision within Trade and other 
Payables

In the previously presented Annual Report and Financial 
Statements for the year ended 31 December 2014 a number 
of provisions totalling £1,958,000 were incorrectly included 
within Trade and Other Payables at 31 December 2014. 
This amount has now been re-categorised to provisions 
within the Statement of Financial Position at 31 December 
2014 within these Financial Statements. There is no 
impact on the loss for that year or the net assets as at 
31 December 2014.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201550

Reclassification between share premium and merger reserve
The share premium and reverse acquisition and merger reserves have been restated to reclassify £6,185,000 in respect of the 
year ended 31 December 2014 and £11,278,000 in respect of years prior to 2014 to the share premium account from the 
reverse acquisition and merger reserve to appropriately reflect the accounting required under the Companies Act 2006 for the 
premium arising on the shares issued by Watchstone Group plc as part of a number of acquisitions in those years. The impact 
of this in 2014 is to change the issue of share capital within share premium from £105,461,000 to £111,646,000 and within 
reverse acquisition and merger reserve from £64,401,000 to £58,216,000. There is no impact on the loss for the year ended 
31 December 2014 or prior years or the net assets as at 31 December 2014 or prior years as a result of these reclassifications.

Disclosure of Associates

In the previously presented Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2014 the inclusion of BE 
Insulated (UK) Limited (“BEI”) as an associated undertaking was omitted from the disclosure of associates. This has now been 
reflected in note 18.

6.  Key performance indicators

Revenue:
Hubio

Ingenie

Healthcare services

Other

Total underlying revenue

Underlying gross profit margin

Underlying EBITDA (note 7)

Underlying group operating profit/(loss) (note 7)

Underlying basic earnings (pence per share) from continuing operations (note 14)

Cash (continuing businesses)

Total average number of employees (continuing operations)

Restated 
(note 5) 
2014

£000

17,505

5,933

27,712

5,351

56,501

2015

£000

17,341

12,530

25,147

3,238

58,256

43.3%

33.5%

(16,080)

(16,780)

(22,207)

(22,991)

(40.4)

(60.9)

103,200

42,036

1,426

1,631

*  Depreciation added back above when calculating Adjusted EBITDA from continuing operations excludes depreciation on telematics devices of £4,176,000 (2014: £2,405,000) which is included within 

cost of sales.

7.  Business and geographical segments

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-
maker and represent four divisions supported by a Group cost centre (denoted as Central below). The principal activities of 
each segment are as follows. Hubio: a provider of telematics and insurance technology solutions. Ingenie: Telematics based 
insurance broking. Healthcare Services: A Canadian based physiotherapy network. “Other” includes a number of businesses 
including Business Advisory Service Limited (“BAS”), an energy brokerage and Maine Finance Limited (“Maine Finance”), 
a life insurance broker. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)51

Within the results of the discontinued operation are the PSD, disposed of to Slater and Gordon UK (1) Limited (“S&G”) 
in May 2015, and Quintica Holdings Limited (“Quintica”) and property services both disposed of in 2016.

Segment information about these businesses is presented below. The accounting policies of the reportable segments 
are the same as the Group’s accounting policies described in note 2. Intra-segmental transactions have been eliminated 
in analysis below.

Restated year ended 31 December 2014 (note 5)
Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses excluding depreciation 
and amortisation*

Underlying EBITDA before central cost allocation

Allocation of central costs

Underlying adjusted EBITDA

Depreciation and amortisation*

Share of results from associates

Underlying group operating loss

Net finance expense

Underlying group loss before tax

Non-underlying adjustments

Total group loss before tax from continuing operations

Year ended 31 December 2015

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses excluding depreciation 
and amortisation*

Underlying EBITDA before central cost allocation

Allocation of central costs

Underlying adjusted EBITDA

Depreciation and amortisation*

Share of results from associates

Underlying group operating loss

Net finance expense

Underlying group loss before tax

Non-underlying adjustments

Total group loss before tax from continuing operations

Hubio

£000
17,505

(11,091)

6,414

(11,648)

(5,234)

(850)

(6,084)

Ingenie

£000
5,933

(4,035)

1,898

(2,318)

(420)

(400)

(820)

Healthcare 
services

£000
27,712

(15,323)

12,389

(12,577)

(188)

(109)

(297)

Hubio

£000

17,341

(9,600)

7,741

(14,966)

(7,225)

(1,983)

(9,208)

Ingenie

£000

12,530

(7,451)

5,079

(4,262)

817

(333)

484

Healthcare 
services

£000

25,147

(13,864)

11,283

(11,288)

(5)

(319)

(324)

Other

£000
5,351

(7,120)

(1,769)

(1,194)

(2,963)

(326)

(3,289)

Other

£000

3,238

(2,110)

1,128

(1,920)

(792)

(876)

(1,668)

Central

£000
–

–

–

(7,975)

(7,975)

1,685

(6,290)

Central

£000

–

–

–

(8,875)

(8,875)

3,511

(5,364)

Total

£000
56,501

(37,569)

18,932

(35,712)

(16,780)

–

(16,780)

(6,489)

278

(22,991)

(465)

(23,456)

(181,852)

(205,308)

Total

£000

58,256

(33,025)

25,231

(41,311)

(16,080)

–

(16,080)

(6,230)

103

(22,207)

(339)

(22,546)

(155,442)

(177,988)

*  Depreciation added back above when calculating Underlying EBITDA from continuing operations excludes depreciation on telematics devices of £4,176,000 (2014: £2,405,000) which is included 

within cost of sales.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201552

Year ended 31 December 2014

Revenue – underlying

Other segment information

Total non-current assets

Capital expenditure

Tangible assets

Intangible assets

Year ended 31 December 2015

Revenue – underlying

Other segment information

Total non-current assets

Capital expenditure

Tangible assets

Intangible assets

8.  Operating loss

United 
Kingdom

£000

Canada

£000

USA Rest of World

£000

£000

Total

£000

23,035

30,080

3,498

2,680

59,293

70,497

16,993

97,549

4,341

189,380

8,844

134,372

2,090

2,850

2,101

125,928

25,603

28,466

4,187

31,779

11,614

–

4,639

5,381

283

2,125

489

2,240

72

–

–

49

24

–

2015

£000

6,035

15,250

292

3,851

(500)

1,892

(1,130)

(8,124)

46,837

13,107

263,150

58,256

43,442

5,435

9,746

Restated 
(note 5)  
2014

£000

6,098

33,172

165

3,046

209

1,370

(10)

–

50,811

2014

£000

420

–

530

50

–

370

1,370

The operating profit/loss for the year is stated after charging/(crediting):

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of intangible assets

Operating lease rentals

Finished goods inventories expensed

Net foreign exchange (gains)/losses

Auditor’s remuneration

Unused provisions released:

  – Underlying business

  – Non-underlying 

Staff costs (note 11)

Depreciation of £4,176,000 (2014: £2,405,000) relates to telematics devices which is included within cost of sales.

The analysis of Auditors’ remuneration for continuing and discontinued operations is as follows:

Fees payable to the Company’s Auditor and its associates for the audit of the Parent Company 
and Consolidated Financial Statements

Fees payable to the Company’s Auditor and its associates for other services:

  – Additional amounts in relation to the prior year audit

  – The audit of the Company’s subsidiaries

  – Audit-related services

  – Other assurance services

  – Corporate finance services

2015

£000

372

834

304

50

332

–

1,892

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)9.  Non-underlying administrative expenses

Exceptional items:

  – Corporate restructuring (note 28)

  – Business restructuring

  – Legal and regulatory

  – Share based payments (note 28)

  – Impairments of non-cash assets

  – Loss of control over subsidiary (note 36)

Total exceptional items

Other adjustments:

  – Share based payments

  – Amortisation of acquired intangibles

  – Other non-underlying administrative expenses

Total other adjustments

Total non-underlying administrative expenses

53

2015

£000

8,724

2,763

7,055

3,914

113,510

–

135,966

7,874

10,957

2,771

21,602

2014

£000

8,937

2,910

7,961

13,283

129,116

5,841

168,048

5,867

12,141

14,341

32,349

157,568

200,397

Other non-underlying administrative expenses relate principally to central costs associated with discontinued operations.

Impairments of non-cash assets above relates to:

Goodwill

Other intangible assets

Tangible fixed assets

Associated undertakings

Investments

Stocks

Loans

2015

£000

61,836

44,616

1,861

–

2,691

2,506

–

113,510

2014

£000

99,151

8,971

661

1,338

1,830

1,079

16,086

129,116

The corporate restructuring costs of £8,724,000 (2014: £8,937,000) for the year ended 31 December 2015 are stated after 
taking into account the release of unused provisions of £2,586,000 (2014: £nil). These provisions were established prior 
to the year ended 31 December 2014. Corporate restructuring costs consist of acquisition related fees of £12,000 credit 
(2014: £2,798,000 charge), employers national insurance contributions in respect of the cashing out of options of £243,000 
(2014: £nil), costs of raising finance of £nil (2014: £6,139,000), working capital and strategic review costs of £6,666,000 
(2014: £nil) and costs associated with the return of capital of £1,827,000 (2014: £nil).

Business restructuring includes costs in relation to the creation of Hubio and the revised structure of the group.

The legal and regulatory costs of £7,055,000 for the year ended 31 December 2015 are stated after taking into account the 
release of unused provisions of £5,538,000, which were created in 2014 and £12,593,000 of costs in relation to the known 
historical issues. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201554

10.  Other income

Continuing operations:

Net gain on re-measurement of investments on becoming associates and associates 
on acquisition of control

Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertakings

Loss on disposal of fixed asset investments

2015

£000

–

3,329

(1,358)

1,971

2014

£000

18,001

–

–

18,001

The net gain on re-measurement of investments in 2014 comprised the following movements: (a) on acquisition of control 
of Himex of £15,472,000; (b) on Ingenie, a gain of £7,564,000 and a loss of £3,535,000 on acquisition of control; and (c) a loss 
of £1,500,000 on reclassification of SMI from investment to associate. Further information is available in note 18 and note 36.

In the year ended 31 December 2015, the profit on disposal of subsidiary undertakings related to the disposal of 360GlobalNet 
and loss on disposal of fixed asset investments in respect of 360ViewMax.

Other non-underlying administrative expenses relate principally to central costs associated with discontinued operations.

11.  Employee numbers

The average number of employees during the year including executive Directors for continuing operations was as follows:

Front office technology, consulting and outsourcing

Back office management and administration

2015

Number

953

473

1,426

2014

Number

1,166

465

1,631

There were 168 employees relating to the disposal group classified as held for sale (2014: 2,465) split between front office 
technology, consulting and outsourcing 95 (2014: 1,495) and back office management and administration 73 (2014: 970).

The remuneration of the executive and non-executive Directors was as follows:

Emoluments

Compensation for loss of office

2015

£000

1,763

575

2014

£000

3,884

1,480

The emoluments of the highest paid Director were £530,000 (2014: £1,976,000). The Director did not exercise any share 
options or receive any shares as part of a long term incentive plan. No retirement benefits were accruing under any schemes 
in respect of any of the Directors (2014: nil). Two Directors received a total of £51,000 (2014: one Director a total of £61,000) 
in connection with contributions to pension schemes. Further details are provided in the Directors’ Remuneration Report 
and in particular the tables on page 24 form part of this note to the Financial Statements.

Total employee costs for continuing operations were as follows:

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Pension costs

Share-based payment charges

2015

£000

37,494

2,611

274

10,978

51,357

2014

£000

44,530

5,061

267

7,432

57,290

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)55

Included in the total above are £4,520,000 (2014: £6,479,000) of salaries which were capitalised during the year in relation 
to software development.

12.  Net finance income/expense

Continuing operations:

Bank interest receivable

Interest payable on bank loans and overdrafts

Interest on obligations under finance leases

Foreign exchange loss on intercompany trading

Other interest payable

Total interest payable

Net finance expense

13.  Taxation

Continuing operations:

The taxation (credit)/charge comprises:

Current tax:

  – Current year

  – Adjustments in respect of prior year

Total current tax

Deferred tax:

  – Current year

  – Adjustments in respect of changes in tax rates

  – Adjustments in respect of prior year

Total deferred tax

Taxation

2015

£000

1,236

(169)

(305)

(547)

(554)

(1,575)

(339)

2014

£000

417

(269)

(103)

–

(510)

(882)

(465)

2015

£000

2014

£000

–

(2,062)

(2,062)

(12,408)

(180)

1,460

(11,128)

(13,190)

132

921

1,053

(1,213)

(7)

2,943

1,723

2,776

The tax provision in the 2014 accounts took a cautious approach when estimating the corporation tax refund that would be 
claimed when carrying back the 2014 losses and restating the 2013 computations. The approach taken in the computations that 
were finally submitted resulted in a higher refund of tax previously paid. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201556

Income tax for the UK is calculated at the standard rate of UK corporation tax of 20.25% (2014: 21.50%) on the estimated 
assessable profit for the year. The total charge for the year can be reconciled to the accounting profit as follows:

Loss on ordinary activities before tax from continuing operations

Tax at 20.25% (2014: 21.50%) thereon

Effect of:

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes

Unprovided deferred tax on losses

Intangible and investment impairments

Other short term timing differences

Research and development tax credit claim

Reduction in rate of deferred tax

Adjustments to tax charge in respect of prior periods

Total tax (credit)/charge for the year

2015

£000

(177,988)

(36,036)

2014

£000

(205,308)

(44,127)

10,278

6,088

7,250

13

–

(181)

(602)

(13,190)

4,579

11,891

26,556

–

(131)

144

3,864

2,776

The tax impact of the items included in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income is £nil (2014: £nil).

Deferred tax assets are recognised for tax losses available for carrying forward to the extent that the realisation of the related 
tax benefit through future taxable profits is probable. The continuing businesses have recognised deferred tax assets of £nil 
(2014: £nil) in respect of losses amounting to £nil (2014: £nil) that can be carried forward against future taxable income.

The total amount of goodwill that is expected to be deductible for tax for continuing businesses is £1,042,000 
(2014: £20,106,000).

Factors affecting future tax charges

Reductions in the UK corporation tax rate from 23% to 21% (effective from 1 April 2014) and 20% (effective from 1 April 2015) 
were substantively enacted on 2 July 2013. Further reductions to 19% (effective from 1 April 2017) and to 18% (effective 
1 April 2020) were substantively enacted on 26 October 2015. This will reduce the Company’s future current tax charge 
accordingly. The deferred tax liability at 31 December 2015 has been calculated based on these rates.

An additional reduction to 17% (effective from 1 April 2020) was announced in the Budget on 16 March 2016. This will reduce 
the Company’s future current tax charge accordingly and reduce the deferred tax liability at 31 December 2015 by £3,000.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)57

14.  Earnings per share

Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average 
number of ordinary shares in issue during the year.

For diluted earnings per share the weighted average number of ordinary shares is adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive 
potential ordinary shares where, on warrants or options, exercise price is less than the average market price of the Company’s 
ordinary shares during the year.

The calculation of the basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the following data. The underlying profit for the year and 
resultant underlying earnings per share is used by the Directors as a measure of the underlying performance of the business:

Profit/(loss) attributable to ordinary shareholders

Net (gain)/loss from discontinued operations (including profit on disposal from 
discontinued operations)

Loss attributable to ordinary shareholders from continuing activities:

Other adjustments in respect of non-underlying results:

  – Gross profit/(loss)

  – Non-recurring administrative expenses

  – Other income

  – Share of results of associates

  – Tax effect on the above

Underlying loss attributable to ordinary shareholders

Basic weighted average number of shares

Dilutive potential ordinary shares

Diluted weighted average number of shares

2015

£000

275,434

(439,737)

2014

£000

(371,919)

166,400

(164,303)

(205,519)

(155)

157,568

(1,971)

–

(9,419)

(18,280)

(110)

200,397

(18,001)

(434)

(2,124)

(25,791)

45,229,213

42,316,367

–

–

45,229,213

42,316,367

Due to their anti-dilutive effect in 2015 and in 2014, options which could potentially be exercised after the balance sheet date 
have not been included in the calculation of diluted earnings per share and underlying diluted earnings per share in 2015.

Earnings/(loss) per share (pence):
  – Basic

  – Diluted

Loss per share from continuing operations (pence):
  – Basic

  – Diluted

Underlying loss per share (pence):
  – Basic

  – Diluted

Earnings/(loss) per share from discontinued operations (pence):
  – Basic

  – Diluted 

2015

Pence

609.0

609.0

(363.3)

(363.3)

(40.4)

(40.4)

972.2

972.2

2014

Pence

(878.9)

(878.9)

(485.7)

(485.7)

(60.9)

(60.9)

(393.2)

(393.2)

After the balance sheet date, the Company issued a further 75,000 shares of 10 pence in respect of an exercise of options.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201558

15.  Intangible assets

Other intangible assets

Goodwill

The movement in other intangible assets was as follows:

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Acquired with subsidiary (note 36)

Additions – internally generated

Additions – purchased

Note

16

2015

£000

7,539

28,377

35,916

2014

£000

66,271

97,832

164,103

Customer  
contracts, data,  
brands and  
relationships

IPR, software 
and licences

£000

£000

Total

£000

116,290

59,450

–

77

20,069

136,359

–

10,062

2,827

59,450

10,062

2,904

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

(105,039)

(5,531)

(110,570)

Exchange differences

At 1 January 2015

Additions – internally generated

Additions – purchased

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Amortisation
At 1 January 2014

Charge for the year

Impairments

–

70,778

361

–

(147)

(1,444)

–

69,548

73,041

28,210

1,025

169

27,596

29

4,520

–

(3,020)

(291)

28,834

4,417

4,962

8,377

169

98,374

390

4,520

(147)

(4,464)

(291)

98,382

77,458

33,172

9,402

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

(85,107)

(2,865)

(87,972)

Exchange differences

At 1 January 2015

Charge for the year

Impairments

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Disposals

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

–

17,169

11,452

36,174

(83)

(284)

–

43

14,934

3,798

8,442

–

(668)

(91)

43

32,103

15,250

44,616

(83)

(952)

(91)

64,428

26,415

90,843

5,120
53,609

2,419
12,662

7,539
66,271

Amortisation relating to discontinued activities during the year ended 31 December 2015 was £1,568,000 (2014: £16,823,000). 
Impairment charges of £64,000 (2014: £nil) were recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in the year in respect of 
discontinued activities. During the year ended 31 December 2015, £4,034,000 of research and development was taken directly 
to profit and loss (2014: £28,000).

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)59

Brands are included within customer contracts, data, brands and relationships. The carrying value of brands at 1 January 2015 
was £14,335,000 (2014: £10,033,000) with amortisation charged in the year of £1,245,000 (2014: £1,098,000) and impairment 
charges of £1,367,000 (2014: £nil) recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in the year. Brands acquired with 
subsidiaries were £nil (2014: £5,400,000) and brands with a carrying value of £9,085,000 (2014: £nil) were disposed of in the 
year (as part of the sale of the PSD). The carrying value at 31 December 2015 was £2,638,000 (2014: £14,335,000).

All of these assets are recognised at fair value at acquisition or cost to purchase and are amortised over their estimated useful 
lives. Fair values of acquired intangible fixed assets have been assessed by reference to the future estimated cash flows arising 
from the application of assets, discounted at an appropriate rate to present value, or by reference to the amount that would 
have been paid in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. The amortisation charge is included 
within administrative expenses.

The Group has conducted a review of all intangible assets at the balance sheet date and identified further assets previously 
valued at £19,789,000 (2014: £5,402,000) which are or will become obsolete, either because they are unused and are expected 
to remain so or will be replaced by other similar and existing assets held by the Group at the balance sheet date. 

In note 33 an explanation is given to show the degree to which fair values are observable. These are grouped into three levels: 
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

Where fair value calculations have been performed to identify separable intangible assets as part of the cost of an acquisition, 
to show separately from goodwill within other intangible assets, the level was as follows:

Non-current assets:
Other intangible assets

Fair value 
degree 
observable

2015

£000

2014

£000

Level 3

4,795

59,450

The fair value degree represents unobservable inputs as they are based on an assessment of assets acquired. Where valuation 
techniques have been used the key inputs included an assessment of future performance and cash flows, growth rates, 
appropriate discount rate, the valuation of assembled workforces and contributory asset charges. The sensitivity to the 
unobservable inputs is not considered significant as the only impact of these fair values is an amortisation charge in the 
Consolidated Income Statement from separable intangibles identified on acquisitions.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201560

16.  Goodwill

The movement in goodwill is as follows:

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions – purchased

Arising on acquisition of subsidiaries (note 36)

Arising on acquisition of subsidiaries – 2013 acquisitions assessment period change (note 36)

Disposal of a subsidiary (note 37)

Transfer of assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Exchange differences

At 1 January 2015

Additions – purchased
Arising on acquisition of subsidiaries (note 36)
Disposal of a subsidiary (note 37)

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Impairment
At 1 January 2014

Charge for the year

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

At 1 January 2015

Charge for the year
Disposal of a subsidiary (note 37)

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s CGU’s as follows:

Hubio USA

Hubio UK

Hubio Canada

Road Angel

Total Hubio
Ingenie

Healthcare services

Other UK

Other non-UK

Goodwill

£000

194,969

159

219,760

1,010

(62,589)

(125,851)

(972)

226,486

511

4,325

(4,875)

(36,028)

(4,503)

185,916

2,022

126,632

–

128,654

61,836

(1,836)

(27,487)

(3,628)

157,539

28,377
97,832

2014

£000

36,670

4,896

–

9,855

51,421

28,232

7,253

6,710

4,216

97,832

2015

£000

–

171

–

2,972

3,143

14,674

6,889

3,671

–

28,377

The categorisation and description of the Group’s CGUs has been revised in 2015 following a recent strategic review performed 
by management.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)61

The Road Angel business (providers of GPS based safety camera and other such products for the UK consumer and commercial 
markets) which formed part of the Himex acquisition in 2014 is now treated as a separate CGU. The remaining Himex 
businesses (which currently operate largely in the Usage Based Insurance (UBI) markets in the USA) form the ‘Hubio USA’ CGU.

The other core strategic CGUs have been renamed in line with the Group’s recent branding changes: ‘Solutions UK’ is now 
‘Hubio UK’, ‘Solutions Non-UK’ is ‘Hubio Canada’ and ‘Services Non-UK’ is ‘Healthcare Services’. 

‘Other’ continues to represent those other businesses which have not been integrated as a result of the change in strategy 
and focus of management on other operational matters. This ‘Other’ category now, as a result of the change in strategic 
focus, also includes both the BAS and Maine Finance operations (which were categorised as ‘Services UK’ at 31 December 
2014). At 31 December 2015, these are the only two businesses in the ‘Other’ category as 360 was disposed in 2015 and both 
Quintica and the property services businesses are treated as held for sale at the year end, see note 37. All of the businesses 
in the ‘Other’ category continue to be monitored at an entity level and not measured as one CGU.

Basis of valuation and key assumptions for impairment testing of goodwill and intangible assets

The recoverable amount of goodwill for businesses at the year-end is determined on the basis of Value in Use, using a 
discounted cash flow (“DCF”) appraisal based on periods of between 5 and 7 years (2014: all were based on 11 years) to reflect 
the maturity of the businesses and/or markets they operate in. External market data has been used where possible and the 
Group has also drawn upon data used in the strategic review. Other CGUs use growth assumptions which are more reflective 
of past experience. 

For each of the CGUs with significant amount of goodwill, the key assumptions used in the Value-in-Use calculations and 
recoverable amounts of goodwill are stated below.

2015
Long term growth rate

DCF appraisal period

Annualised revenue growth over DCF appraisal period

Pre-tax discount rate

Recoverable amount of goodwill (m)

2014
Long term growth rate

DCF appraisal period

Annualised revenue growth over DCF appraisal period

Pre-tax discount rate

Recoverable amount of goodwill (m)

Hubio  
USA
2%

7 years

21%

32%

£nil

Hubio  
USA
2%

Road  
Angel
2%

7 years

9%

17%

£3.0

Road  
Angel
2%

Hubio  
UK
2%

7 years

9%

17%

£0.2

Hubio  
UK
2%

11 years

11 years

11 years

44%

50%

£36.6

44%

50%

£9.9

10%

15%

£4.9

Ingenie
2%

7 years

6%

18%

£14.7

Ingenie
2%

11 years

17%

19%

£28.2

Healthcare 
Services
2%

5 years

8%

13%

£6.9

Healthcare 
Services
2%

11 years

5%

13%

£7.3

Other*
2%

5 years

6%

12%

£3.7

Other*
2%

11 years

5% & 8%

13%

£7.9

*  In 2014 only, ‘Other’ relates to just Quintica and BAS, for which annualised revenue growth was 5% and 8% respectively. 360 had been omitted from the table (as goodwill was carried at the 

recoverable amount based on its post year end sale) and Maine Finance was fully impaired at 31 December 2014. In 2015, ‘Other’ relates to BAS only.

Annualised revenue growth rates vary by operating division depending on the current development to maturity of the CGU. 
In determining the applicable discount rate, management has applied judgement in respect of several factors, including, inter 
alia, assessing the risk attached to future cashflows. Pre-tax discount rates have been assessed for each CGU. The discount rate 
for Hubio USA reflects uncertainty caused by the Evogi litigation and the risks associated with developing an immature market. 
The discount rate for Ingenie also reflects uncertainty in developing an immature market. Discount rates in the Road Angel, 
and Healthcare Services CGUs, as well as in the ‘Other’ category, are generally lower reflecting the reduced risk associated with 
those more mature markets while the discount rate for Hubio UK is slightly higher due to the increased risk in that market.

.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
62

Movement in Goodwill by CGU

The movement in goodwill by CGU is as follows:

Hubio USA

Hubio UK

Hubio Canada

Road Angel

Total Hubio
Ingenie

Healthcare Services

Other (continuing)

Continuing operations
Other (discontinued)

Arising in the 
year less 
disposal

Asset group 
held for sale

Other

Impairment

£000
–

£000
–

£000
–

–

–

–

–
–

511

(3,039)

(2,528)
4,325

1,797

–

–

–

–
–

–

–

–
(185)

(185)

–

–

–

–
–

(875)

–

(875)
–

(875)

£000
(36,670)

(4,725)

–

(6,883)

(48,278)
(13,558)

–

–

(61,836)

(8,356)

(70,192)

2014

£000
36,670

4,896

–

9,855

51,421
28,232

7,253

6,710

93,616
4,216

97,832

2015

£000

–

171

–

2,972

3,143

14,674

6,889

3,671

28,377

–

28,377

Impairment charges of £36.7m and £6.9m arose in Hubio USA and Road Angel respectively following an in depth review of the 
strategic direction of these businesses, its underlying operations and development activity. This has resulted in a major rebasing 
of the Hubio USA forecasts that had been previously provided by local management, all of whom are now no longer involved in 
these businesses. Goodwill allocated to the Road Angel CGU would be impaired by a further £311,000 if there was an increase 
in the pre-tax discount rate of 1 ppt or would be impaired by a further £209,000 if the long term growth rate was reduced 
by 1 ppt.

An impairment charge of £13.6m arose in Ingenie which largely reflects a different strategic direction adopted for this 
business together with certain trading assumption changes which have lowered the forecasts down to more attainable levels. 
Goodwill allocated to the Ingenie CGU would be impaired by a further £1,172,000 if there was an increase in the pre-tax 
discount rate of 1 ppt or would be impaired by a further £747,000 if the long term growth rate was reduced by 1 ppt.

Goodwill within Hubio UK has been impaired by a charge of £4.7m during the year to take into account the impact of the 
adverse publicity surrounding the Group during 2014 and disruption to its development program which has caused delays to 
securing contracts and implementing pipeline opportunities. Goodwill allocated to the Hubio UK CGU would be fully impaired 
if there was an increase in the pre-tax discount rate of 0.3 ppt or if the long term growth rate was reduced by 0.4 ppt.

£8.4m of impairment charges have been reflected in discontinued activities to reduce these goodwill assets to realisable 
value based on the terms of the post year-end sales of Quintica, BEI and Carbon Reduction Company (UK) Limited (“CRC”), 
see note 37.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)63

Total

£000

14,632

11,412

2,729

(499)

(6,963)

(163)

21,148

5,435

(9,957)

(806)

(1,066)

14,754

5,275

6,098

661

(298)

(4,594)

(85)

7,057

6,035

1,861

(6,347)

(645)

(647)

7,314

Freehold 
land and 
buildings

£000

Leasehold 
land and 
buildings

Plant and 
equipment

£000

£000

4,652

150

–

–

2,213

459

–

–

(1,228)

(178)

(8)

3,566

29

(1,270)

–

(6)

2,319

1,481

509

–

–

(136)

–

1,854

125

–

(1,186)

–

–

793

(71)

2,423

128

(225)

–

(436)

1,890

406

292

–

–

(171)

(30)

497

124

–

(163)

–

(234)

224

7,767

10,803

2,729

(499)

(5,557)

(84)

15,159

5,278

(8,462)

(806)

(624)

10,545

3,388

5,297

661

(298)

(4,287)

(55)

4,706

5,786

1,861

(4,998)

(645)

(413)

6,297

1,526
1,712

1,666
1,926

4,248
10,453

7,440
14,091

17.  Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions restated (note 5)

Acquired on acquisition of subsidiaries (note 36)

Disposals

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held 
for sale

Exchange differences

At 1 January 2015 restated (note 5)

Additions

Disposals

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held 
for sale

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Depreciation
At 1 January 2014

Charge for the year restated (note 5)

Impairments

Disposals

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held 
for sale

Exchange differences

At 1 January 2015 restated (note 36)

Charge for the year

Impairments

Disposals

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held 
for sale

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

There were no material commitments for the acquisition of property, plant or equipment at either 31 December 2015 
or 31 December 2014.

Depreciation of £298,000 (2014: £864,000) was charged in the year on assets of the disposal groups classified as held for sale.

Assets with a net book value of £13,000 (2014: £1,724,000) are held under finance leases, on which depreciation of £382,000 
(2014: £681,000) was charged in the year.

Telematics devices which are included as part of the services to end uses were held with a net book value of £4,865,000 
(2014: £5,793,000) on which depreciation of £4,176,000 (2014: 2,405,000) was charged in the year. The depreciation on these 
devices is included within Cost of Sales.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201564

18.  Associates

Set out below are the associates of the Group at 31 December 2015. The share capital of the associates listed below consists solely 
of ordinary shares which are held by the Group; the country of incorporation or registration is also their principal place of business.
Measurement 
method

Country of 
incorporation

Nature of the 
relationship

% ownership 
interest

Name of entity

Ferneham Health Limited

England and 
Wales

49.0%

Associate

Equity

Reconciliation of summarised financial information

2015

Opening net assets/(liabilities) at 1 January 2015

Reclassified as subsidiary undertaking

Additions

Disposals

Closing net liabilities

Group’s share of net liabilities

Consolidation and other adjustments

Impairment

Carrying value

2014 Restated (note 5)

Opening net assets/(liabilities) at 1 January 2014

On transfer from investments

Profit for the year/period to reclassification

Reclassified as a subsidiary undertaking

Dividends in the year

Other comprehensive income

On transfer from subsidiary undertaking

Profit for the interim period to reclassification

Reclassified as a subsidiary undertaking

Closing net (liabilities)/assets

Group’s share of net (liabilities)/assets

Consolidation and other adjustments

Impairment

Carrying value

Nationwide Accident  
Repair Services plc 
 (“NARS”)

Ingenie 
Limited 
(“Ingenie”)

Himex 
Limited 
(“Himex”)

£000

£000

£000

(4,624)

–

–

4,624

–

–

–

–

–

NARS

£000

(47)

–

670

–

(1,253)

(3,994)

–

–

–

(4,624)

(1,170)

9,577

(1,338)

7,069

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Ingenie

£000

Himex

£000

4,131

19,106

–

–

(4,131)

–

–

4,070

(121)

(3,949)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(19,106)

–

–

–

–

–

Other

£000

495

(497)

10,040

(10,040)

(2)

–

100

(14)

86

Other

£000

(323)

(3)

821

–

–

–

–

–

–

495

249

(149)

–

100

Total

£000

(4,129)

(497)

10,040

(5,416)

(2)

–

100

(14)

86

Total

£000

22,867

(3)

1,491

(4,131)

(1,253)

(3,994)

4,070

(121)

(23,055)

(4,129)

(921)

9,428

(1,338)

7,169

During 2014, Quob Park Solutions Limited (“QP Solutions”) (formerly Quob Park Technologies Limited, and prior, to that, 
SMI Technologies Limited) was reclassified from an Investment to an Associate during when the Group obtained the option to 
increase its investment increased from 19% to 33%. The investment was impaired to £nil prior to becoming an Associate and 
was held at a carrying value of £nil. In December 2015 QP Solutions issued further share capital diluting the Group’s ownership 
from 33% to 5.3%. As a consequence of the dilution the Group ceased treating the investment as an associated undertaking, 
further details are provided in note 19.

In January 2015, the Group disposed of 10.0% of its holding in 360Globalnet (“360G”) which reduced the Group’s holding in 
360G to 49.8%. 360G was previously accounted for in the Group’s results as a Subsidiary. As a result of this disposal, the criteria 
required (under IFRS 10 Consolidated Financial Statements) to continue to recognise 360G as a Subsidiary were no longer met 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)65

so the business was deconsolidated at this point and treated as an Associate. The fair value of the 360G Associate recognised 
in January 2016 in the group’s results was £5m. In May 2015, the remaining 49.8% interest held in 360G were disposed by the 
Group which resulted in £nil profit on disposal.

On 4 March 2015, the Group disposed of its minority investment in NARS for its carrying value of £7,069,000 and consequently 
recognised no gain or loss in the year. Also in March 2015, the Group purchased the remaining share capital of BEI (Included 
within ‘Other’), at which point the investment was reclassified as a subsidiary undertaking. This was subsequently disposed 
of in 2016, more details are provided in note 37.

Himex became a subsidiary during 2014. In February 2014, Ingenie was initially accounted for as a subsidiary. Consequently, 
management believes that Quindell lost control of Ingenie in May 2014 (so it was then accounted for as an associate) but 
then regained control in July 2014 upon signing the accelerated option agreements so it has since been accounted for 
as a subsidiary. On 20 January 2016, Himex Limited changed its name to Hubio Solutions Limited.

19.  Investments

Investments carried at fair value

Fair value 
degree 
observable

Level 3

2015

£000

–

2014

£000

4,017

In note 33, a definition is given to record the degree to which fair values are observable. These are grouped into three levels: 
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. Where fair value calculations have been performed for investments, the level is disclosed above 
under “fair value degree observable”. The fair value degree represents unobservable inputs as they are based on unquoted 
entities – as listed in note 47.

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions

Disposals

Reclassifications

Exchange differences

At 1 January 2015

Disposals 

Reclassification

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Impairment
At 1 January 2014

Movement for the year

Reclassifications

At 1 January 2015

Disposals

Reclassifications

Movement for the year

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

Shares in 
investments

£000

3,188

4,125

(1,500)

(1,500)

34

4,347

(1,788)

1,500

132

4,191

–

(1,830)

1,500

(330)

330

(1,500)

(2,691)

(4,191)

–
4,017

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201566

The following information relates to the fixed asset investment of the Group:

Investment name
eeGeo Inc.

Quob Park Solutions Limited

Country of 
incorporation
USA

Percentage 
holding
15.8%

England and Wales

5.3%

The principal activity of each investment is the provision of software, consulting and other services.

In 2014, the Group obtained an option to increase its investment in QP Solutions from 19% to 33%. Prior to being reclassified to 
associates, its fair value was written down to £nil, resulting in a charge to the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income 
of £1,500,000. Upon transfer as an Associate, the previous fair value loss was reversed and a net loss of £1,500,000 on the  
re-measurement of Investments becoming Associates was recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement within Other 
Income. The fair value of the investment was assessed based on anticipated future discounted cash flows to net present 
value arising from that entity, using inputs which were not based on observable market data and fell within Level 3 of the 
fair value hierarchy.

In December 2015, QP Solutions allotted and issued new share capital, which diluted the Group’s holding to 5.3% so this 
investment, as a result, was recategorised from being an Associate to a Fixed Asset Investment.

The fair value of remaining investments was assessed on net present value of cash flows or sales value less cost of sale and 
fall within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy. They have been impaired due to uncertainty over obtaining any future value 
in the investment.

Details of principal subsidiary undertakings are provided in note 47.

20.  Inventories

Finished goods for resale

Telematics devices held pending fitting

2015

£000

376

495

871

2014

£000

735

2,738

3,473

There is no material difference between the book value and the replacement cost of the inventories shown.

For the finished goods for resale £3,704,000 (2014 £2,760,000) was expensed for sales. £147,000 (2014: £286,000) was 
expensed as stock write downs in cost of sales. 

Telematics devices are taken to tangible fixed assets upon fitting to end user vehicles. During 2015, £2,506,000 
(2014: £1,079,000) impairment for obsolescence and firmware upgrades has been expensed prior to end user fitting.

21.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables (net of impairment provision)

Monies held in Escrow

Other receivables 

Prepayments

Accrued income

2015

£000

6,477

55,049

2,405

1,930

308

66,169

2014

£000

12,308

–

8,166

4,538

7,851

32,863

Monies held in escrow relate to the disposal of the PSD to S&G. Further details are provided in note 37.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)67

The Directors consider that the net carrying amount of Trade receivables approximates to their fair value. Further disclosures 
concerning trade receivables are given in note 33.

22.  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise the following for the purposes of the cash flow statement:

Cash

Bank overdrafts (note 24)

Amounts classified as held for sale
Cash

Bank overdrafts 

2015

£000

103,200

–

103,200

639

–

103,839

2014

£000

42,036

(4,968)

37,068

27,955

(14,541)

50,482

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash held by the Group. The carrying amount of these assets approximates to their 
fair value.

23.  Trade and other payables

Current liabilities
Trade payables 

Payroll and other taxes including social security

Accruals

Deferred income

Other liabilities

Restated 
(note 5) 
2014

£000

11,692

6,408

22,069

10,555

21,128

71,852

2015

£000

5,488

3,695

15,921

9,324

7,239

41,667

Trade payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The Directors consider that 
the carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value.

Included within other liabilities of £7.2m (2014: £21.1m) is £nil (2014: £12.1m) received from S&G, which included £nil 
(2014: £8.0m) in respect of advance purchase price consideration relating to the sale of the PSD and a further £nil 
(2014: £4.1m) held as a deposit against cases transferred to S&G in 2015 and up to the completion date of 29 May 2015.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201568

24.  Borrowings

Current
Bank overdrafts

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Other secured loans

Unsecured loans

Finance leases (note 25)

Non-current liabilities
Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Finance leases (note 25)

Total

The borrowings are repayable as follows:

  – On demand or within one year

  – In the second to fifth years inclusive

Less: Amount due for settlement within 12 months 
(shown under current liabilities)

Amount due for settlement after 12 months

2015

£000

–

427

154

–

144

725

4,816

64

4,880

5,605

2015

£000

725

4,880

5,605

(725)

4,880

2014

£000

4,968

500

2,307

326

1,081

9,182

4,947

1,080

6,027

15,209

2014

£000

9,182

6,027

15,209

(9,182)

6,027

The cumulative redeemable preference shares are in respect of PT Healthcare Solutions Corp. (“PT Heath”) and relate to  
non-voting Series ‘A’ preference shares (issued by PT Health between 2008 and 2011) with a cumulative dividend of 8.0% per 
annum paid quarterly. Holders of these shares may require PT Health to redeem them 10 years from the date of issuance 
at par of £5,447,000). In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of PT Health, the Series ‘A’ holders shall be 
entitled to receive, from the assets of PT Health, a sum equal to the redemption amount before any amount is paid or assets 
of PT Health are distributed to common shares or any shares ranking junior to the Series ‘A’ preference shares. The Series ‘A’ 
preference shares shall not otherwise be entitled to any other amount or assets of PT Health.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)69

In note 33 an explanation is given to show the degree to which fair values are observable. These are grouped into three levels: 
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.

Liabilities:
Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Fair value 
degree 
observable

2015

£000

2014

£000

Level 3

5,243

5,447

The fair value degree represents unobservable inputs as they are based on internal valuation techniques. The key variable 
components and assumptions within this model include the discount rate, the effective internal rate of return, the redemption 
profile and timing and dividend payments. The sensitivity to the unobservable inputs is not considered significant as the impact 
of this fair value valuation is insignificant in the Consolidated Income Statement.

The weighted average interest rates paid for continuing operations were as follows:

Bank overdrafts

Other secured loans

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Unsecured loans

The Directors estimate the fair value of the Group’s borrowings as follows:

Other secured loans (including invoice 
discounting facilities)

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Unsecured loans

Finance leases

2015

%

–

–

8.00

–

2015

£000

–

5,243

–

208

5,451

2014

%

3.25

3.44

8.00

1.09

2014

£000

2,307

5,447

326

2,161

10,241

The Group has the following committed undrawn borrowing facilities, all at floating interest rates which are based on prevailing 
LIBOR rates:

Expiring within one year

Expiring beyond one year

2015

£000

1,000

–

1,000

2014

£000

2,969

–

2,969

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201570

25.  Obligations under finance leases

Minimum lease payments
Within one year

In the second to fifth year inclusive

Less future finance charges

Present value of lease obligations

Present value of minimum lease payments
Within one year

In the second to fifth years inclusive

Present value of lease obligations

Analysed as:
Amounts due for settlement within one year

Amounts due for settlement after more than one year

2015

£000

124

98

222

(14)

208

144

64

208

92

116

208

2014

£000

1,170

1,123

2,293

(132)

2,161

1,081

1,080

2,161

263

1,898

2,161

It is the Group’s policy to lease certain of its fixtures and equipment under finance leases. The average lease term is 4 
years (2014: 3 years). For the year ended 31 December 2015, the average effective borrowing rate was 6.4% (2014: 6.0%). 
Interest rates are fixed at the contract date. All leases are on a fixed repayment basis and no arrangements have been entered 
into for contingent rental payments. All lease obligations are denominated in sterling or Canadian dollars. The fair value of the 
Group’s lease obligations is approximately equal to their carrying amount. The Group’s obligations under finance leases are 
secured by the lessor’s rights over the leased assets disclosed in note 17.

26.  Provisions

At 1 January 2014
Additional provisions restated (note 5)

Unused amounts released

Used during the year

At 1 January 2015 restated (note 5)
Additional provisions

Unused amounts released

Used during the year

At 31 December 2015

Split:

Non-current

Current

Tax related 
matters

Legal 
disputes

Onerous 
contracts

£000
4,341

16,767

–

–

21,108
6,586

(3,716)

(435)

23,543

£000
1,000

6,538

–

–

7,538
4,400

(5,538)

–

6,400

£000
–

1,511

–

–

1,511
6,502

–

(4,370)

3,643

Other

£000
–

3,085

(10)

(208)

2,867
1,885

–

(1,328)

3,424

Total

£000
5,341

27,901

(10)

(208)

33,024
19,373

(9,254)

(6,133)

37,010

–

23,543

–

6,400

16

3,627

290

3,134

306

36,704

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)71

Tax related matters

A provision for tax-related matters has been established with respect to judgemental tax positions primarily in relation to PAYE 
and VAT which have not yet been resolved. The amount provided represents the Directors’ estimate of the likely outcome based 
upon the information available; however the ultimate settlement may be different. The Group is taking steps to resolve this and 
believe this will be settled within twelve months from the balance sheet date. 

Legal disputes

The amount provided in respect of legal cases (including investigations and defence costs) is considered to be in the mid-range 
of possible outcomes given the uncertainty in relation to these outcomes. If successful in defending any such legal disputes 
then the final settlement and costs may be lower than the total provision recognised above.

On 23 June 2015, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) informed the Group that it had commenced an investigation under 
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in relation to public statements made regarding the financial accounts of the Group 
during 2013 and 2014. On 5 August 2015, the SFO informed the Group that it had opened an investigation, which relates to 
past business and accounting practices at the Group. On the same date, the Financial Reporting Council (“the Committee”) 
advised the Company that, in light of the positive actions taken by the Directors in correcting the identified errors, amending 
accounting policies and providing their undertakings, the Committee had closed its review of the 2011 and 2012 report 
and accounts. On 18 August 2015, the FCA announced that, in light of the above investigation by the SFO it had decided to 
discontinue its own investigation with immediate effect. The Group is co-operating fully with the SFO investigation which is now 
the only ongoing investigation to which the Company is aware of. At this stage, the timing of completion of the SFO investigation 
and its conclusions cannot be anticipated. Therefore, having taken external advice, no liability has been recognised at the 
balance sheet date as it is not possible to reliably estimate a provision (if any) in respect of this matter.

On 14 December 2015, the Company received a letter of claim from a law firm (“Claimant Firm”) acting for 342 claimants 
commencing an action against the Company under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“Letter of Claim”). 
Despite the Company’s endeavours in correspondence with the Claimant Firm, the Company is yet not in a position to verify 
the assertions in the Letter of Claim which, inter alia, details the expected value of the potential claims against the Company to 
be approximately £9.4 million. However, having taken external advice, no liability has been recognised at the balance sheet date 
as it is not possible to reliably estimate a provision (if any) in respect of this matter.

Onerous contracts

Where contracted income is expected to be less than the related expected expenditure the difference is provided in full. 
The timing and amount of these items can be reasonably determined.

Other

Provisions have been established for expected costs where a commitment has been made at the balance sheet date and 
for which no future benefit is anticipated. No reimbursement has been recognised in relation to any provision as there is no 
certainty of recovery or reliable means of estimation. An element of this relates to costs expected to be incurred as a result of 
the restructuring of the senior management team committed before the year end but for which the exact timing and quantum 
was not agreed until after the year end.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201572

27.  Deferred tax

The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the 
current and prior year.

At 1 January 2014

Credit to Income Statement

Acquired with subsidiaries

Transfer to liabilities of disposal group classified 
as held for sale

At 1 January 2015

Credit to Income Statement

Transfer to liabilities of disposal group classified 
as held for sale

At 31 December 2015

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax assets

Provisions 
and other 
temporary 
timing 
differences

Accelerated 
capital 
allowances

£000
2,973

(1,657)

11,964

(2,071)

11,209

(11,061)

236

384

£000
(569)

549

–

7

(13)

(67)

–

(80)

2015

£000

384

(80)

304

Total

£000
2,404

(1,108)

11,964

(2,064)

11,196

(11,128)

236

304

2014

£000

11,209

(13)

11,196

At the Statement of Financial Position date, there are unrecognised deferred tax assets of £13,305,000 (2014: £11,175,000). 
Deferred tax balances for Statement of Financial Position purposes are analysed as follows:

Deferred tax liability falling due within one year

Deferred tax liability falling due after one year

Deferred tax asset to be recovered within one year

Deferred tax asset to be recovered after one year

2015

£000

–

384

384

–

(80)

(80)

2014

£000

–

11,209

11,209

–

(13)

(13)

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)73

Nominal 
value fully 
paid

£000

65,298

2,681

(63,447)

39

–

14

4,585

Nominal 
value fully 
paid

£000

56,700

5,001

–

–

3,597

65,298

Nominal 
value unpaid

Nominal 
value total

£000

169

–

(158)

–

–

–

11

£000

65,467

2,681

(63,605)

39

–

14

4,596

Nominal 
value unpaid

Nominal 
value total

£000

–

–

169

–

–

169

£000

56,700

5,001

169

–

3,597

65,467

Number

000

436,447

17,871

–

3,909

(412,405)

141

45,963

Number

000

5,669,978

500,097

16,899

(5,774,509)

23,982

436,447

28.  Share capital

2015

At 1 January – issued shares of 15 pence

Issued shares of 15 pence fully paid

Effect of capital reduction

Issued shares of 1 pence fully paid

Effect of share consolidation

Issued shares of 10 pence

At the end of the year

2014

At 1 January – issued shares of 1 pence

Issued shares of 1 pence fully paid

Issued shares of 1 pence unpaid

Effect of share consolidation

Issued shares of 15 pence

At the end of the year

On 16 December 2015, the High Court of Justice in England and Wales made an order approving the reduction of the 
Company’s share capital under the Companies Act 2006, which had been approved by shareholders at a General Meeting 
held on 26 November 2015. The capital reduction became effective on 18 December 2015 and the nominal value of the 
Company’s shares reduced to 1 pence at that time, which had the effect of reducing the nominal value of issued share capital 
by £63,605,000 and share premium by £349,708,000. Subsequently, £411,871,000 was paid out to shareholders as a return of 
capital. On 21 December 2015, the ordinary shares of the Company were consolidated. The share consolidation replaced every 
10 existing ordinary shares of 1 pence each with 1 new ordinary share of 10 pence. The impact of the share consolidation on 
the number of allotted, called up, unpaid and fully paid shares was 412 million. There was no change in the total nominal value 
of the Company’s issued share capital.

On 20 June 2014, the ordinary shares of Watchstone Group plc were consolidated. The share consolidation replaced every 
15 existing ordinary shares of 1 pence each with 1 new ordinary share of 15 pence each. The impact of the share consolidation 
on the number of allotted, called up, unpaid and fully paid shares was 5,775 million. There was no change in the total value 
of the Company’s issued share capital.

Included within the ordinary share capital, as at 31 December 2015, are nil shares of 10 pence (31 December 2014: 2,283,333 
shares of 15 pence) with a carrying value of £nil (31 December 2014: £12,498,000) held by PT Health. Further details are 
provided in note 29.

The Company has one class of ordinary shares of 10 pence each which carry no right to fixed income.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201574

The Company issued the following ordinary shares during the year:

Reason for issue

In respect of 15 pence shares
Acquisitions:

BE Insulated (UK) Limited/ 
Carbon Reduction Company (UK) Limited

Navseeker, Inc.

Iter8 Inc. (deferred consideration)

PT Healthcare Solutions Corp.

Share-based payments:

In respect of Iter8 Inc.

In respect of 1 pence shares
Exercise of options:

In respect of 10 pence shares
Exercise of options:

Effective date 
of issue 
(2015) 

Issue share 
price

Pence

Number

Issue 
Premium

£000

5 March

90.75

3,666,667

2,777

13 March

19 May

4 November

99.50

161.99

210.27

832,946

844,644

9,358,675

19 May

178.40

3,168,050

17,870,982

704

1,242

18,275

5,177

28,175

16 December

33.00

3,909,091

1,251

23 December

10.00

140,625

–

29,426

On 18 June 2014, the Company issued 16,899,321 ordinary shares of 1 pence to TMC (Southern) Limited (“TMC”), a related 
party (see note 39). The shares remain unpaid as at the balance sheet date and the Company has yet to call upon TMC for 
payment. The shares were issued under a trust arrangement in which the Group retained the effective control of the shares 
and have therefore been presented in own equity. It is the intention of the Group to seek either repayment of the unpaid share 
capital amounting to £169,000 from TMC or apply for the forfeiture of the shares in accordance with the Articles of Association 
of the Company. In the event that the shares are forfeited, then it is intended that the shares will be cancelled and no further 
amounts will be receivable from TMC. 

The total premium of £29,426,000 has been posted to the share premium account.

Share based payments – all schemes (warrants, options and post-combination vendor remuneration)

Volatility is a measure of the amount by which a price is expected to fluctuate during a period. The measure of volatility used 
in all of the Group’s option pricing models are the annualised standard deviation of the continuously compounded rates of 
return on the share over a period of time. In estimating the future volatility of the Company’s share price, the Board considers 
the historical volatility of the share price over the most recent period that is generally commensurate with the expected term 
of the option, taking into account the remaining contractual life of the option.

Share based payments in the 2015 Consolidated Income Statement include options charges of £7,064,000, 2013 post 
combination vendor remuneration charge of £4,162,000 and 2012 post combination vendor remuneration charge of £562,000, 
totalling £11,788,000. A further £6,257,000 was charged to the loss from discontinued operations.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)75

Share-based payments – warrants

The Group has issued warrants, which are equity settled share based payments. It did not have any warrants outstanding 
as at 31 December 2015. Details of the movement in share warrants outstanding are as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Granted

Forfeited

Cancelled

Exercised

Expired

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year:
Issued at 195.00 pence

Issued at 262.50 pence

2015

WAEP

Pence

199.50

–

–

–

–

Number

17,857,143

–

–

–

–

(17,857,143)

199.50

Number

16,936,572

17,857,143

–

(16,666,667)

(269,905)

–

2014

WAEP

Pence

192.48

717.50

–

750.00

37.05

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

17,857,143

199.50

16,666,667

1,190,476

17,857,143

195.00

262.50

199.50

The Group recognised a total expense of £nil (2014: £9,953,000) related to the cost of warrants during the year (included 
as exceptional costs within administrative expenses).

As at 31 December 2015, the weighted average remaining contractual life of all warrants outstanding was nil (2014: 0.46 years) 
and the weighted average exercise price was nil (2014: 717.50 pence).

There were no warrants granted in 2015. The weighted average fair value of warrants granted during 2014 determined using 
the Black-Scholes valuation model (after adjusting for the 1 for 15 share consolidation), was 131.39 pence per warrant. 

The weighted average significant inputs into the Black-Scholes model for warrants issued in each of the years shown below 
were as follows.

Weighted average share price (pence)

Weighted average exercise price (pence)

Expected volatility

Expected life (years)

Risk free rate

Expected dividend yield

Year ended 
31 December

Year ended 
31 December

2015

–

–

–

–

–

–

2014

565.50

717.50

80.00%

1.21

0.42%

0.00%

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201576

Share-based payments – options

The Group has issued options, which are equity settled share based payments. Generally, these options vest in equal annual 
or 6-monthly tranches if the performance criteria for each option holder, which includes reference to the Group’s upper targets 
for adjusted earnings per share, has been met for that year.

On 16 October 2015, the Company settled for cash 21,892,991 vested share options at a total cost of £11,150,000 (shown as a 
movement in equity) and national insurance contributions of £1,352,000 (£243,000 of which is shown within corporate restructuring 
within exceptional items, and £1,109,000 within the loss in the period from discontinued operations).

The Group had the following options outstanding as at 31 December 2015:

Grant Date
21 November 2013

21 November 2013

21 November 2013

21 November 2013

6 March 2014

20 June 2014

18 December 2014

12 January 2015

Details of the movement in options outstanding are as follows:

Outstanding at the beginning of the year

Granted

Forfeited

Cancelled

Exercised

Cashed out

Effect of share consolidation 21 December 2015

Outstanding at the end of the year

Exercisable at the end of the year:
Issued at 10 pence (previously 68.65 pence)

Issued at 1,500 pence (previously 240.00 pence)

Issued at 5,100 pence (previously 600.00 pence)

Exercise Price 
(Pence)
1,500.00

1,500.00

1,500.00

1,500.00

5,100.00

1,500.00

Expiry Date
30 June 2019

30 June 2019

30 June 2017

30 June 2019

30 June 2019

30 June 2019

10.00 18 December 2024

10.00

12 January 2025

2015

2014

Number  
(options over 10 
pence shares)
281,525

Number  
(options over 15 
pence shares)
4,027,046

158,523

1,724,533

15,583

31,250

58,333

108,333

–

75,000

728,547

103,544

445,832

583,333

1,333,333

16,333,332

–

24,550,953

2015 
WAEP

Pence

110.84

118.16

147.00

160.15

33.00

48.42

Number

7,738,601

18,583,332

(1,770,980)

–

–

–

2014 
WAEP

Pence

240.00

72.59

420.00

–

–

–

Number

24,550,953

31,265,115

(8,728,940)

(12,593,487)

(5,315,341)

(21,892,991)

(6,556,762)

728,547

1,634.86

24,550,953

110.84

75,000

329,609

25,000

429,609

10.00

1,500.00

5,100.00

1,449.37

–

1,681,773

–

1,681,773

68.65

240.00

600.00

240.00

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)77

The Group recognised a total expense of £7,064,000 (2014: £4,102,000) related to the cost of options during the year (included 
as share based payment charges within administrative expenses). A further charge of £6,257,000 was recognised within the 
profit on sale of discontinued operations, relating to the accelerated charge for those employees belonging to the PSD. As of 
31 December 2015, the weighted-average remaining contractual life of the options outstanding is 4.0 years (2014: 8.1 years) 
and the weighted-average exercise price was 1,634.86 pence (2014: 110.84 pence). The expected life used in the model 
was adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, performance conditions, exercise 
restrictions, and behavioural considerations.

The weighted average fair value of options granted during the year determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model was 
37.26 pence per option (2014: 34.14 pence). The options are equity settled share based payments and the significant inputs 
into the Black-Scholes model for options issued were as follows.

Weighted average share price (pence)

Weighted average exercise price (pence)

Expected volatility

Expected life (years)

Risk free rate

Expected dividend yield

Options granted in 2015

Year ended 31 
December

Year ended 31 
December

2015

84.75

118.16

131%

2014

70.17

72.59

120%

0.5 – 3.0 years

0.5 – 3.3 years

2.0%

0%

0.4% – 1.8%

0%

Options over 19,640,115 ordinary shares of 15 pence in the Company with an average exercise price of 147.46 pence were 
granted on 12 January 2015 under the Group’s Unapproved Share Option Scheme with an exercise period for all options 
vested under the scheme ending on 12 January 2025. Options over 8,728,940 ordinary shares of 15 pence granted to Richard 
Rose, appointed non-executive Chairman on 29 May 2015, were forfeited on completion of the sale of the PSD to S&G on 
29 May 2015, resulting in an accelerated charge of £2,236,000 (included as share-based payment charges within administrative 
expenses). The remaining 10,911,175 options which were granted to Jim Sutcliffe were cancelled on the cessation of his 
employment with the Company on 30 June 2015 and did not attract a charge.

Options over 11,625,000 ordinary shares of 15 pence in the Company with an average exercise price of 68.65 pence were 
granted on 12 January 2015 under the Group’s Unapproved Share Option scheme with an exercise period for all options 
vested under the scheme on 12 January 2015. These options vested on completion of the disposal of the PSD on 29 May 2015 
and attracted an accelerated charge of £6,619,000 (£3,203,000 of which is included as share-based payment charges within 
administrative expenses and £3,416,000 of which is included in the profit on disposal of PSD).

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201578

29.  Reserves

Share premium account

Reverse acquisition and merger reserve

Shares to be issued

Other equity reserves

Foreign currency translation reserve

Total other reserves
Retained earnings

Non-controlling interests

Restated  
(note 5)  
2014

£000

447,533

160,795

30,744

31,036

(2,401)

667,707

(472,743)

4,065

2015

£000

127,251

(3,312)

–

26,647

(3,960)

146,626

(14,722)

609

The share premium account represents the fair value of the share consideration over and above the share’s nominal value of 
10 pence per share (15 pence per share prior to the share consolidation exercise in December 2015 and 1 pence per share 
prior to the share consolidation exercise in June 2014) for those shares issued as consideration for acquisitions that take 
the Group’s ownership of the acquired entity up to 90%. In addition to the increase to the reserve noted in note 28 above 
of £29,426,000, there was a decrease of £349,708,000 due to the capital reduction which was approved by the Court on 
16 December 2015.

The reverse acquisition and merger reserve represents the fair value of the share consideration over and above the share’s 
nominal value of 10 pence per share (15 pence per share prior to the share consolidation exercise in December 2015 
and 1 pence per share prior to the share consolidation exercise in June 2014) for those shares issued as consideration for 
acquisitions that take the Group’s ownership of the acquired entity above 90%. The movement in the year of £164,107,000 
represents amounts which have become realised as a result of impairments to the underlying investments to which certain 
merger reserve postings were made, and have been credited to retained earnings.

The consolidated Group accounts show the reverse acquisition and merger reserve net of the reverse acquisition reserve of 
£10,842,000 created on the reverse acquisition of Quindell Limited by Mission Capital plc (now Watchstone Group plc, which 
occurred in 2011). In the transaction, the Company remains the legal parent and therefore the Company accounts show the 
gross position of the reverse acquisition reserve.

The fair value of the share consideration over and above the share’s nominal value of 10 pence per share (15 pence per 
share prior to the share consolidation exercise in December 2015 and 1 pence per share prior to the share consolidation 
exercise in June 2014) for all other shares issued by the Company is included in the share premium reserve. In addition, directly 
attributable costs incurred in the issuing of shares are also recognised in the share premium reserve. 

The shares to be issued reserve represents deferred consideration payable by the issue of the Company’s shares in respect 
of acquisitions made by the Group. Movements in the reserve in the year are as follows:

At 1 January 2015

Shares issued:

Iter8

PT Healthcare Solutions Corp.

Shares no longer issuable:

PT Healthcare Solutions Corp.

Quindell Property Services Limited (“QPS”)

Shares to be issued at 31 December 2015

£000

£000
30,744

(1,368)

(19,679)

(227)

(9,470)

(21,047)

(9,697)

–

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)79

Quindell Property Services Limited did not meet certain profit and cash generation targets in the year, meaning that 5,629,630 
ordinary shares of 15 pence at 168.218 pence each were no longer issuable and have been transferred to retained earnings.

On 4 November 2015, the Group completed the acquisition of the remaining 50.1% of the issued share capital in PT Health 
that it did not own. Shareholders of PT Health holding 0.6% of the shares did not agree to receive shares of the Company 
in exchange for their shares in PT Health, and cash compensation will be agreed with those shareholders in due course. 
The value of £227,000 has been transferred to other creditors. 

Other reserves comprise:

At 1 January 2014

Shares treated as held in treasury

Disposal of shares treated as held in treasury

Fair value adjustment to share consideration

Share-based payments (note 28)

Shares issued in respect of iter8 (note 28)

At 1 January 2015

Shares treated as held in treasury

Disposal of shares treated as held in treasury

Fair value adjustment to share consideration
Share-based payments (note 28)
Shares issued in respect of iter8 (note 28)

Realised profits transfer to retained earnings

At 31 December 2015

Shares 
treated as 
held in 
treasury

£000
(8,061)

(36,659)

32,055

–

–

–

Equity 
reserve

£000
54

–

–

–

–

–

54

(12,665)

–

–

–

–

–

–

54

–

12,496

–

–

–

169

–

Share-based 
payments

Share 
consideration 
reserve

Total other 
equity 
reserves

£000
6,153

–

–

–

17,386

(2,826)

20,713

–

–

–

17,235

(5,652)

(28,637)

3,659

£000
–

–

–

22,934

–

–

22,934

–

–

–

–

–

–

22,934

£000
(1,854)

(36,659)

32,055

22,934

17,386

(2,826)

31,036

–

12,496

–

17,235

(5,652)

(28,468)

26,647

The acquisition of PT Health (see note 36) involved a share for share exchange in 2013 which resulted in the Company’s own 
ordinary share capital being held by one of its consolidated subsidiaries, PT Health. In accordance with IAS 32.33, the Group 
therefore accounted for these equity instruments held by PT Health as if they were treasury shares, and has accordingly 
deducted them at cost from equity by including them in other reserves. On sale, the shares treated as held in treasury reserve 
is credited at carrying value on a first in first out basis with any resulting gain or loss being shown directly in retained earnings.

This acquisition in 2013 was accounted for under the anticipated acquisition method whereby, although the subsidiary is 
not 100% owned (in PT Health’s case 26.0% was acquired in October 2013 which also represented the Group’s holding at 
December 2013), it is accounted for as if it were wholly owned based on the terms of acquisition of the remaining share capital 
of the subsidiary and, accordingly, the further consideration still expected to be paid is accounted for via the shares to be issued 
reserve. A further 23.9% of PT Health’s share capital was acquired by the Group in June 2014 (which took its holding to 49.9%) 
and this was also via a share for share exchange so the shares acquired by PT Health pursuant to this transaction, which were 
valued at £36,490,000, have also been accounted for as if they were treasury shares.

At the year end, the carrying value of the Company’s shares held by PT Health was £nil (2014: £12,498,000) which represented 
nil shares (2014: 2,283,333 shares). Any gains or losses recognised in the subsidiary’s income statement have been removed 
on consolidation.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201580

Shares treated as held in treasury reserve

In accordance with IAS 32.33, the Group treats its own shares, which are held by consolidated subsidiaries or where it has 
issued equity instruments where the underlying substance dictates that the economic benefit flows back to the Group, 
as if such shares were treasury shares and deducts them at cost from equity by including them within the shares treated 
as held in treasury reserve. On sale, the reserve is credited at carrying value on a first in first out basis. Any gains arising 
on the subsequent sale of shares are recognised as an increase in share premium whilst any losses are shown directly 
in retained earnings.

At 1 January 2015

Sale of shares by PT Healthcare Solutions Corp.

Transfer of unpaid shares to retained earnings

Shares treated as held in treasury reserve at 31 December 2015

£000
(12,665)

12,496

169

–

The sale of shares held by PT Health realised a loss of £9,750,000, which is shown as a reduction in retained earnings.

Share consideration reserve

The share consideration reserve represents the difference between the fair value of shares consideration versus the value 
of the non-controlling interest acquired.

Share-based payment reserve

The share-based payment reserve is increased to reflect the fair value to the Group of share-based payment transactions, 
with the reserve being reduced when shares are issued. An amount of £28,637,000 was transferred to retained earnings, 
representing amounts which have become realised profits.

30.  Operating lease commitments

At the Statement of Financial Position date the Company had outstanding commitments for minimum lease payments 
due under non-cancellable operating leases, which expire as follows:

Expiring:

Within one year

Between two and five years

After five years

Land and buildings
2014
£000

2015
£000

Plant and equipment
2014
£000

2015
£000

4,112

9,073

1,721

14,906

4,047

9,123

2,966

16,136

4

–

–

4

13

–

–

13

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of its rehabilitation clinics in Canada, office 
properties and operating equipment. Leases are typically negotiated for an average period of three years in the case of plant 
and machinery, five years in the case of buildings.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)31.  Cash flow from operating activities

Profit/(loss) after tax

Tax

Finance expense

Finance income

Operating profit/(loss)

Adjustments for:

  – Exceptional costs

  – Share-based payments

  – Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

  – Amortisation of intangible assets

  – Impairment of goodwill

  – Impairment of investments and associates

  – Impairment of intangible assets

  – Impairment of property, plant and equipment

  – Impairment of inventories

  – Share of profit of associates

  –  Net gain on re-measurement of investments on becoming associates and 

associates on acquisition of control

  – Loss on loss of control over subsidiary

  – Loss on disposal of plant, property and equipment

  – Profit on disposal of interests in property, subsidiary undertakings and operations (note 37)

  – Profit on disposal of subsidiary undertakings and fixed asset investments

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital and provisions
  – Decrease in inventories

  – (Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

  – Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Cash used by operations before exceptional costs

81

2014

£000

(374,484)

(750)

2,135

(570)

(373,669)

2,108

28,665

6,098

33,172

126,632

2,392

9,402

661

1,079

(712)

(18,001)

5,781

201

–

–

(176,191)

2,377

39,847

57,193

(76,774)

2015

£000

274,939

(11,788)

1,989

(1,238)

263,902

17,983

17,235

6,333

16,818

70,192

2,691

44,680

1,861

2,506

(103)

–

–

1,935

(494,317)

(1,971)

(50,255)

91

(18,075)

18,130

(50,109)

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201582

32.  Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds

2015

Cash

Overdrafts and bank loans

Cash and cash equivalents

Other secured loans < 1 year

Other secured loans > 1 year

Cumulative redeemable preference shares < 1 year

Cumulative redeemable preference shares > 1 year

Unsecured loans < 1 year

Unsecured loans > 1 year

Finance leases < 1 year

Finance leases < 1 year

Net funds

2014

Cash

Overdrafts and bank loans

Cash and cash equivalents

Other secured loans < 1 year

Other secured loans > 1 year

Cumulative redeemable preference shares < 1 year

Cumulative redeemable preference shares > 1 year

Unsecured loans < 1 year

Unsecured loans > 1 year

Finance leases < 1 year

Finance leases < 1 year

Net funds

1 January

£000

Acquisitions 
& Disposals

Cash flow 
movements

Non-cash 

movements 31 December

£000

£000

£000

£000

69,991

(19,509)

50,482

(25,840)

(3,879)

(500)

(4,947)

(326)

–

(1,086)

(1,080)

12,824

(3,204)

–

(3,204)

73

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(3,131)

37,351

19,509

56,860

25,767

3,705

–

–

326

–

942

1,035

88,635

(299)

103,839

–

–

(299)

103,839

–

20

73

131

–

–

–

(19)

(94)

–

(154)

(427)

(4,816)

–

–

(144)

(64)

98,234

1 January

Acquisitions

Cash flow 
movements

Non-cash 

movements 31 December

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

199,596

(19,642)

179,954

(25,145)

(6,139)

(604)

(5,026)

(752)

(796)

(610)

(661)

(12,480)

(117,141)

(866)

999

(13,346)

(116,142)

(4)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(691)

2,260

–

–

426

796

910

–

140,221

(13,350)

(112,441)

16

–

16

–

–

104

79

–

–

(1,386)

(419)

(1,606)

69,991

(19,509)

50,482

(25,840)

(3,879)

(500)

(4,947)

(326)

–

(1,086)

(1,080)

12,824

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)83

33.  Financial instruments

(a) Carrying value and fair value

The accounting classification of each class of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities, together with their fair values 
is as follows:

Available for 
sale

Loans and 
receivables

Other 
liabilities

Total carrying 
value

£000

£000

£000

£000

At 31 December 2015

Available for sale investments

Trade and other receivables

Monies held in Escrow

PSD deferred, contingent consideration

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Unsecured loans

Other secured loans

Trade and other payables

Finance leases

Bank overdraft

Cash and cash equivalents

At 31 December 2014
Available for sale investments

Trade and other receivables

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Unsecured loans

Other secured loans

Trade and other payables

Finance leases

Bank overdraft

Cash and cash equivalents

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

4,017

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,477

55,049

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

103,200

–

12,308

–

–

–

–

–

–

42,036

Total fair 
value

£000

–

6,477

55,049

–

–

–

–

–

–

6,477

55,049

–

(5,243)

(5,243)

(5,243)

–

(154)

(9,183)

(208)

–

–

–

–

(5,447)

(326)

(2,307)

(18,100)

(2,161)

(4,968)

–

–

(154)

(9,183)

(208)

–

–

(154)

(9,183)

(208)

–

103,200

103,200

4,017

12,308

(5,447)

(326)

(2,307)

(18,100)

(2,161)

(4,968)

42,036

4,017

12,308

(5,447)

(326)

(2,307)

(18,100)

(2,161)

(4,968)

42,036

The fair values of financial assets and liabilities are determined as follows:

(a)  The fair value of available for sale investments represents disposal proceeds less cost to sell or by discounting future cash 

flows to net present values

(b)  The fair value of the PSD deferred, contingent consideration has been determined using an income approach taking into 

account the risk in the expected cash flows

(c)  The fair value of obligations under finance leases, cumulative redeemable preference shares and other borrowings 

is estimated by discounting the future cash flows to net present values

(d)  The fair value of cash and cash equivalents and bank overdraft is equivalent to the carrying value due to the short-term 

nature of those instruments

(e)  The fair value of other financial assets and liabilities with standard terms and conditions is determined in relation 

to estimated discounted cash flows to net present values

Cash and cash equivalents, classified as loans and receivables mainly comprise investments in major UK bank deposits which 
can be withdrawn without notice. Monies held in Escrow relate to the disposal of the PSD and are also held with a major 
UK bank.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201584

(b) Fair value hierarchy

The Group’s financial instruments which are carried at fair value comprise available for sale investments in unlisted companies 
and the PSD deferred, contingent consideration. Fair values are measured using inputs that are not based on observable 
market data and are categorised as Level 3 in the fair value hierarchy.

(c) Financial risk management

The Group’s financial instruments comprise borrowings, derivative financial instruments, cash and liquid resources and various 
items such as trade debtors and trade creditors that arise from its operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments 
is to manage the Company’s operations.

Fair value estimation

Certain assets and liabilities, as separately disclosed in these Financial Statements, are carried at fair value. Fair value 
is determined by a valuation method which is categorised as follows:

 ■ Level 1 – quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities;

 ■ Level 2 – inputs other than quoted prices included within Level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly 

(that is, prices) or indirectly (that is, derived from prices); and

 ■ Level 3 – inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (that is, unobservable inputs).

Interest risk and sensitivity

The Group repaid the majority of its borrowings using part of the proceeds from the disposal of the PSD. The remaining 
borrowings mainly comprise preference share (classified as debt) arising from previous acquisitions. These will be settled 
at maturity. Since the preference shares attract a fixed rate of interest there is minimal exposure to the Group from changes 
to interest rates upon its borrowings.

Interest bearing assets consist of cash balances which earn interest at variable rates. Finance lease arrangements are 
contracted on fixed rate terms.

An increase of 100 basis points in interest rates at the reporting date would have decreased equity and profit and loss 
by the amounts shown below. This analysis assumes that all other variables remain constant.

Variable rate instruments

2015

£000

–

2014

£000

20

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)85

Liquidity risk

The Group generates funds from operations which are managed centrally. The Group has historically maintained a mix of 
short and medium term borrowings from the Group’s lenders. Following the sale of the PSD, the Group’s facilities were 
repaid. Furthermore, £411,871,000 of the proceeds from the disposal of the PSD were returned to shareholders through a 
return of capital. The Group has retained a sufficient level of liquidity to ensure it has a sufficient level of funding to develop its 
operations, recognising that it operates in markets which it believes are high growth. Liquidity risks will be managed through 
regular forecasting and reporting of its working capital requirements, including conducting sensitivity analysis and growth 
scenario testing. It will maintain surplus funds in accessible deposits.

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities:

Non-derivative financial liabilities

2015

Other secured loans

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Unsecured loans

Trade and other payables

Finance leases

2014
Other secured loans

Cumulative redeemable preference shares

Unsecured loans

Trade and other payables

Finance leases

Capital risk

Carrying 
amount

Contractual 
cash flows

Less than 1 
year

Between 1-5 

years Over 5 years

£000

£000

£000

£000

£000

154

5,243

–

9,183

208

14,788

2,307

5,447

326

18,100

2,161

28,341

(154)

(7,393)

–

(9,183)

(222)

(16,952)

(2,374)

(5,447)

(328)

(18,100)

(2,293)

(28,542)

(154)

(427)

–

(9,183)

(124)

(9,888)

(2,374)

(500)

(328)

(18,100)

(1,170)

(22,472)

–

–

(5,718)

(1,248)

–

–

(98)

(5,816)

–

–

–

(1,248)

–

–

(2,742)

(2,205)

–

–

(1,123)

(3,865)

–

–

–

(2,205)

The Group defines its capital as the Group’s total equity, including non-controlling interests. Its objectives when managing 
capital is to safeguard the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and to 
have available the necessary financial resources to allow the Group to invest in other areas that may deliver future benefit 
and to maintain sufficient financial resources to mitigate risks and unforeseen events, without need to raise further equity 
from shareholders. The Group will manage its capital base to source any future investment requirement from working capital 
realisation or other cash inflows in respect of deferred, contingent consideration for NIHL cases, return of warranty escrow 
and the proceeds from disposal of non core assets. It will use its planning cycle to manage capital risk, including conducting 
sensitivity and scenario testing on forecast capital and in assessing any new investments.

Credit risk

The Group is not subject to significant concentration of credit risk with exposure spread across many companies. The credit 
quality of the Group’s trade receivables is considered by management to be good as the exposure to a concentration of debt 
from a small number of individual end customers is low. Further information is given in the Financial Review in relation to areas 
of cash and debtor management. No interest is charged on the receivables balances. The Group does not hold any collateral 
or other credit enhancements over these balances nor has the legal right of offset with any amounts owed by the Group 
to the receivables counterparty.

The Group holds significant deposits which are spread across UK regulated banks holding either AAA or AA credit ratings. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201586

The carrying amounts of borrowings are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Canadian Dollar

Other

2015

£000

61

5,390

154

5,605

2014

£000

9,284

5,691

234

15,209

The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure. At the reporting date the principal financial 
assets were:

Non-derivative financial assets
Trade receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Note

21

22

2015

£000

6,477

103,200

109,677

The maximum exposure to credit risk for trade receivables at the reporting date by geographic region was:

UK

Canada

Rest of World

The carrying amounts of trade receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling

Canadian Dollar

Other

2015

£000

3,164

2,631

682

6,477

2015

£000

3,164

2,631

682

6,477

The ageing of loans and other receivables at 31 December 2014 was as follows:

Under 1 year

1-2 years

2-3 years

3 years and over

2015 
Gross

£000

6,144

2,543

61

–

2015 
Impairment

£000

1,246

970

55

–

2015 
Net

£000

4,898

1,573

6

–

2014 
Gross

£000

17,417

103

4

–

2014 
Impairment

£000

5,166

46

4

–

2014

£000

12,308

42,036

54,344

2014

£000

7,245

2,606

2,457

12,308

2014

£000

7,245

2,606

2,457

12,308

2014 
Net

£000

12,251

57

–

–

8,748

2,271

6,477

17,524

5,216

12,308

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of loans and other receivables during the year was as follows:

At 1 January

Provision for receivables impairment

Acquired with subsidiary

Receivables written off

Unused amounts reversed

Transfer to assets of the disposal group classified as held for sale

Exchange differences

2015

£000

5,216

1,393

–

(4,180)

(15)

(107)

(36)

2,271

87

2014

£000

1,445

4,889

467

(1)

(71)

(1,513)

–

5,216

The allowance has been determined by reference to the recoverability of specific due and overdue debts. There is also an 
allowance of £1,255,000 for impairment of other receivables which is included in impairments in the Consolidated Income 
Statement. The creation and reversal of provisions for impaired trade receivables where they arise are included in administrative 
expenses in the Consolidated Income Statement. The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other 
receivables approximates their fair value.

34.  Ultimate parent company

The ultimate parent company of the Group is Watchstone Group plc. There were no shareholders with overall control of the 
Company as at 31 December 2015 or 31 December 2014.

35.  Contingent liabilities

The Group routinely enters into a range of contractual arrangements in the ordinary course of business which can give rise 
to claims or potential litigation against Group companies. It is the Group’s policy to make specific provisions at the Statement 
of Financial Position date for all liabilities which, in the opinion of the Directors, are expected to result in a significant loss.

36.  Acquisition of subsidiaries

The Group made one acquisition during the year. The Group obtained control through control over voting rights. 
The Company’s own shares formed part of the consideration of the acquisition and have been valued according to the opening 
bid price (as recorded by the London Stock Exchange) on the day legal title passed.

Where contingent or deferred consideration (cash or shares) that is linked to future performance conditions is included in the 
cost of acquisition, the fair value of the maximum amount, be that in cash or by way of issuing shares, has been included based 
on a current assessment of performance of each business against those future performance conditions. In the event that any 
performance conditions are not met, then these contingent elements are subject to clawback provisions. The range of potential 
outcomes that could arise is as shown in the table below, whereby an amount up to the full value of the contingent or deferred 
consideration could be recovered. However, consistent with the current judgement noted above, no amounts are currently 
expected to be clawed back and as a result, no indemnification asset has been recognised.

In note 33, a definition is given to record the degree to which fair values are observable. These are grouped into three levels: 
Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201588

Where fair value calculations have been performed for any contingent consideration or indemnification assets included as part 
of the cost of acquisition, the level was as follows:

Non-current assets:
Consideration subject to clawback

Fair value 
degree 
observable

Level 3

2015

£000

–

2014

£000

–

The fair value degree represents unobservable inputs as they are based on warranted result performance conditions in 
relation to profit and/or cash generation targets of the underlying businesses acquired. There is no sensitivity of this fair 
value judgement on the Consolidated Income Statement as no amounts have been recognised for clawback in either financial 
year. An indemnification asset of £1,694,000 was recognised in respect of the acquisition of Crusader in 2014 relating 
to the settlement of a customer dispute which existed at the acquisition date and which was settled during that year.

BE Insulated (UK) Limited and Carbon Reduction Company (UK) Limited

On 5 March 2015, Brand Extension (UK) Limited (“BEUK”) acquired the 50% of the entire issued share capital of BEI not already 
owned by the Group, and the entire issued share capital of CRC, for consideration of 3,666,667 ordinary shares of 15 pence plus 
up to a further 200,000 ordinary shares of 15 pence by way of contingent consideration. The Directors did not consider that the 
contingent consideration would become payable and therefore fair valued the further shares at nil value.

The Company’s initial interest in BEI was acquired as part of the acquisition of Quindell Property Services which was first 
announced on 3 May 2013. The primary reason for the acquisition was to consolidate its property services interests in order 
to facilitate future options for disposal. BEI is predominantly a property insulation supply and installation business and CRC 
is a provider of property maintenance services.

The fair value of the identifiable assets and liabilities of BEI and CRC at acquisition date were as follows:

Net assets acquired
Cash at bank

Property, plant and equipment

Trade and other receivables

Trade and other payables

Provision for tax-related liability

Total identifiable net liabilities

Consideration
Ordinary shares of 15 pence (3,666,667)

Goodwill

£000

352

67

632

(1,148)

(900)

(997)

3,328

4,325

The fair value of the 3,666,667 ordinary shares of 15 pence issued as consideration was based on the published share price on 
5 March 2015. There were no restrictions applied to the consideration shares. The fair value of the Company’s initial interest in 
BEI immediately prior to the acquisition of the remaining 50% was £1.

The resultant goodwill represents the value to the Group that can be driven from these underlying assets over the life of the 
acquired business and comprises the value of expected synergies arising from the acquisition together with the workforce, which is 
not separately identified. Acquired receivables are included within the trade and other receivables balances above and the carrying 
value of these is considered to be their fair value. No significant trade receivable provision was acquired, nor adjusted.

Since acquisition, revenues of £2,716,000 have been included in the consolidated results of the Group. The acquired entities 
contributed a loss before tax of £1,046,000 over the same period. Had the acquired entities been included from 1 January 2015, 
revenues of £3,436,000 and a loss before tax of £815,000 would have been included.

The Group disposed of its interest in BEI and CRC on 7 January 2016 – see note 37.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)89

37.  Discontinued operations and disposals

Disposal of businesses

Nationwide Accident Repair Services Plc
The Group disposed of its entire shareholding in NARS on 4 March 2015. No gain or loss occurred in the year on the disposal 
of NARS.

360 GlobalNet (“360G”) and 360ViewMax (“360V”)
The interests that the Group held in 360G and 360V were sold in January 2015 and May 2015. In 2015, a £3,329,000 gain 
was recognised on the sale of 360G and a loss of disposal of £1,358,000 was recognised on the sale of 360V. These are both 
reported as Other Income in the Consolidated Income Statement.

Professional Services Division
On 29 May 2015, the Group disposed of the PSD (i.e. its interests in its legal, claims management and health service businesses) 
to S&G for a total consideration of £644,867,000 together with further contingent cash consideration payable in respect of the 
future settlement of its clients’ noise induced hearing loss (“NIHL”) cases. The initial consideration of £644,867,000 consisted 
of cash consideration at completion of £636,820,000 (of which £55,000,000 is held in escrow) and an incremental advance 
payment of £8,047,000 (which had been received in December 2014).

Given the inherent uncertainties of the NIHL business line, the parties could not agree on an appropriate valuation at 
completion and so the agreement provides that the Group will receive 50% of the net after tax receipts (after allowing for 
administrative costs) collected on the NIHL cases outstanding at completion. Approximately 53,000 NIHL cases were active 
and transferred at completion. Such amounts will be determined on a six monthly basis commencing on 31 December 2015. 
The process will continue until 30 June 2017 when a terminal value projection of expected receipts will be agreed. If no 
agreement is reached, the process will continue with payments every six months until the earlier of the date when a terminal 
value is agreed or 31 December 2018. Based on an assessment of the costs that S&G will need to incur to pursue the NIHL 
cases and the potential outcome of the NIHL cases, the fair value of the contingent consideration has been determined as £nil.

The profit arising on this disposal comprises the following elements:

Sales proceeds

Net assets at disposal

Expenses and other costs of sale

Profit arising on sale

£000

644,867

(132,234)

(18,316)

494,317

The net gain on disposal of PSD represents sales proceeds of £644,867,000 less net assets at completion of £132,234,000 
and expenses of £18,316,000. These figures differ from the estimates given in the 2014 strategic report as those did not reflect 
actual movements in net assets and intercompany balances settled out of the total consideration received.

£55,000,000, of the £644,867,000, was placed in temporary escrow accounts relating to the sale of the PSD to S&G. £50,000,000 
of the escrow balances relates to the warranties provided by the Company in respect of the disposal of the PSD. The total 
maximum claims allowed in respect of the warranties is £100,000,000. The Company has not been made aware of any claims or 
potential claims and is confident that the due diligence process in respect of the disposal will ensure that all of the £50,000,000 
currently reserved in a joint escrow account for any warranty claims will be released in November 2016. A provision has, 
therefore, not been made as at 31 December 2015 in respect of the warranties provided by the Company in respect of the 
disposal of the PSD.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201590

The overall result recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement for the PSD operations disposed of was:

Revenue

Expenses

Loss before tax of discontinued operation

Tax

Loss after tax of discontinued operation

The assets and liabilities of the PSD entities classified as held for sale were:

Intangibles and goodwill

Property, plant and equipment

Trade and other receivables

Corporation tax

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets classified as held for sale

Overdraft

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Finance leases

Deferred tax

Liabilities classified as held for sale

Net assets classified as held for sale

2015

£000

95,162

(134,988)

(39,826)

(1,361)

(41,187)

2015

£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

2014

£000

220,540

(357,740)

(137,200)

3,992

(133,208)

2014

£000

148,450

2,369

110,125

14,775

27,955

303,674

(14,541)

(27,412)

(138,822)

(5)

(2,065)

(182,845)

120,829

The cash flows of the PSD discontinued operations recognised in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement were as follows:

Operating cash outflows

Investing cash flows

Financing cash flows

Total cash flows

2015

£000

(24,919)

(150)

10,260

(14,809)

2014

£000

(83,242)

(868)

80,335

(3,775)

BE Insulated (UK) Limited and Carbon Reduction Company (UK) Limited

By the balance sheet date, the Group were in negotiations to sell its interests in BEI and CRC and, after the year end, on 
7 January 2016, the Group entered into an agreement to dispose of the entire issued share capital of BEI and CRC for a nominal 
consideration of £1 to The BE Smart Group Limited (a company owned by Ben Williams, a statutory director of BEI and CRC) 
(“BEI Agreement”). Following the completion of the BEI Agreement, the Group ceased to operate directly in the property and 
maintenance services sector.

The results of these businesses have therefore been disclosed as discontinued activities on the face of the Consolidated Income 
Statement and related notes. Amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position relating to these businesses have 
been classified as held for sale.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)The assets and liabilities of BEI and CRC classified as held for sale at 31 December 2015 were:

Intangibles and goodwill

Property, plant and equipment

Trade and other receivables

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets classified as held for sale

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Liabilities classified as held for sale

Net liabilities classified as held for sale

91

£000

102

41

1,082

12

1,237

(1,395)

(900)

(2,295)

(1,058)

IFRS 5 requires the disposal group to be measured at the lower of its carrying value and its fair value less costs to sell. 
Accordingly, as at 31 December 2015, the carrying value of these businesses was written down to realisable value and a goodwill 
impairment charge of £4.2 million was recognised in the discontinued activities in the year ended 31 December 2015.

The overall result recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement for BEI’s, CRC’s and the other property and maintenance 
operations disposed of was as follows:

Revenue

Expenses

Loss before tax of discontinued operation

Tax

Loss after tax of discontinued operation

2015

£000

4,657

(11,926)

(7,269)

17

2014

£000

7,610

(36,475)

(28,865)

15

(7,252)

(28,850)

The cash flows of BEI and CRC’s discontinued operations recognised in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement were as follows:
2014

2015

Operating cash outflows

Investing cash flows

Financing cash flows

Total cash flows

Quintica Holdings Limited 

£000

(1,198)

–

858

(340)

£000

–

–

–

–

By the balance sheet date, the Group were also in negotiations to sell its interests in Quintica (a reseller and integrator of 
software to the telecoms industries, and the Group’s only significant trading arm in Africa). After the year end, on 4 March 
2016, it disposed of the entire issued share capital of Quintica to Quintica International Holdings Inc (“QIH”) for approximately 
£1.35 million (the “Quintica Agreement”). In addition, the Company will be entitled to additional consideration in the event that 
Quintica is disposed of (in whole or part) by QIH in the year following completion of the transaction.

Under the Quintica Agreement, the Group received £1 million in cash (£0.5 million paid immediately and £0.5 million due 
by 1 January 2017), plus the repayment of intra-company debt of US$0.5 million (approximately £0.35 million).

The results of this business has therefore been disclosed as discontinued activities on the face of the Consolidated Income 
Statement and related notes. Amounts in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position relating to this business have been 
classified as held for sale.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201592

The assets and liabilities of Quintica classified as held for sale at 31 December 2015 were:

Intangibles and goodwill

Property, plant and equipment

Trade and other receivables

Deferred tax

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets classified as held for sale

Trade and other payables

Corporation tax

Liabilities classified as held for sale

Net assets classified as held for sale

£000

83

42

1,025

368

627

2,145

(1,153)

(86)

(1,239)

906

IFRS 5 requires the disposal group to be measured at the lower of its carrying value and its fair value less costs to sell. 
Accordingly, as at 31 December 2015, the carrying value of this business was written down to realisable value and a goodwill 
impairment charge of £4.2 million was recognised in the discontinued activities in the year ended 31 December 2015.

The overall result recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement for Quintica’s operations disposed of was as follows:

Revenue

Expenses

Loss before tax of discontinued operation

Tax

Loss after tax of discontinued operation

2015

£000

5,576

(11,659)

(6,083)

(58)

(6,141)

2014

£000

4,278

(8,139)

(3,861)

(481)

(4,342)

The cash flows of Quintica’s discontinued operations recognised in the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement were as follows:

Operating cash outflows

Investing cash flows

Financing cash flows

Total cash flows

2015

£000

(2,556)

(3)

2,678

119

2014

£000

(1,633)

(18)

1,676

25

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)93

38.  Non-controlling interests

Material non-controlling interest

At 31 December 2015 the Group did not have any material non-controlling interests (“NCI”).

At 31 December 2014 the Group had the following material NCIs:

360 GlobalNet Limited

Non-controlling interests held a 40.2% voting rights and ownership interest in the entity which is incorporated in the UK, also 
being its principal place of business. On 5 January 2015 the Group disposed of part of its shareholding representing 10% of 
the share capital of 360, at which point the Group ceased consolidating and the NCI also ceased to be recognised at this point. 
On 22 May 2015 the remaining interest in the Company was disposed of, further details are provided in note 37. The profit and 
accumulated interests are listed below:

Loss allocated to NCI

Accumulated interest

Dividends paid to NCI

Summarised Statement of Financial Position

Current
Total current assets

Total current liabilities

Non-current
Total non-current assets

Total non-current liabilities

Net assets

Summarised Statement of Comprehensive Income

Revenue

Pre-tax profit from continuing operations

Post-tax profit from continuing operations

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

2014

£000

(39)

(2,829)

–

2014

£000

1,914

(2,517)

2,749

(173)

1,973

2014

£000

2,789

(101)

(101)

–

(101)

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201594

39.  Related party transactions

Transactions between Group undertakings, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation and are not 
disclosed in this note.

Disposal of businesses
On 8 January 2016 the Group disposed of its entire investment in BEI and CRC for a nominal consideration of £1 
to the BE Smart Group Limited, being a company owned by Ben Williams, a statutory director of BEI and CRC.

On 7 March 2016 the Group disposed of its investment in Quintica to QIH being a company owned by Charles Osburn, 
a statutory director of Quintica for approximately £1.35 million. Additionally the Group will be entitled to additional 
consideration in the event that Quintica is disposed of (in whole or part) by QIH in the year following completion 
of the transaction.

Compensation of key management personnel

Key management personnel include the Directors, James Sutcliffe and Richard Rose prior to his appointment as non-executive 
Chairman on 29 May 2015.

During the year, BaxterBruce Limited, of which James Sutcliffe is the non-executive Chairman, provided strategic consultancy 
services to the Board of Directors. Richard Rose, Mark Williams and James Sutcliffe were consultants providing services under 
the arrangement. Included in the table below, as well as emoluments paid to the Company’s Directors, are amounts paid directly 
to Richard Rose of £1,072,000 (prior to his becoming a Director) and £247,000 to James Sutcliffe in the period to 30 June 2015.
2014

2015

Short-term employee benefits*

Post-employment benefits

Termination benefits

Share-based payments

£000

3,041

51

575

6,122

9,789

£000

3,047

61

1,696

2,250

7,054

* Including in aggregate £nil (2014: £406,000) paid to close family members employed in positions by a subsidiary undertaking in respect of wages, salaries and social security costs.

Transactions with Directors and Key Management
In the first half of 2015, the Group purchased £2,800,000 of financial services from Codex Capital Partners (UK) Limited, 
a company of which D Currie is a Director, in relation to the disposal of the PSD and an additional £52,000 in relation 
to other services (2014: £650,000). No amounts were outstanding at 31 December 2015.

Transactions with previous Directors and Key Management not disclosed in the 2014 Annual Report

Prior to his resignation from the Board of Directors on 18 November 2014, R Terry was employed as a Director of the Company 
holding the positions of Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman. The Company engaged the services of an internal 
auditor towards the end of 2015 to review expense claims submitted by Mr Terry and payments made by the Company to him 
during his period of employment (“Investigation”). The initial phase of the investigation was completed in February 2016, and 
identified an amount of expenses and payments that the Directors allege should not have been claimed from the Company. 
These expenses totalled £184,865. Pending completion of the Investigation, the Company ceased paying Mr Terry instalments 
of payments relating to Mr Terry’s settlement agreement with the Company entered into upon his exit in November 2014. 
On 10 December 2015, Mr Terry issued proceedings to claim outstanding instalments and on 8 February 2016 the Company 
lodged a defence and counterclaim for the recovery of the allegedly improper expenses and payments. The Investigation  
is on-going as is the litigation with Mr Terry as detailed above.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)95

Those transactions that form part of the Company’s defence and counterclaim detailed above had not been disclosed 
in historic Director’s Remuneration Report or Related Party Transaction notes. The Company will provide full disclosure 
in due course, if necessary.

Transactions with previous Directors and Key Management disclosed in the 2014 Annual Report
During 2014, the Group made sales of £70,000 to, and purchased goods and services totalling £454,000 from Advanced Data 
Simulations Limited (which has subsequently changed its name to Quob Park Estate Limited (“QPE”)), a company controlled 
by R Terry, a former Director of the Company. In the first quarter of 2015 the Group made sales of fixed assets for £134,000 to 
QPE. This included an amount of £85,000 for the sale of Quob Barn, the former head office of the Company. In November 2014, 
as part of the overall settlement with R Terry, the Group granted him a call option to purchase Quob Barn, which he exercised 
in December 2014. As it was contractually required to do, the Group paid £70,000 in dilapidations and repairs on exiting 
Quob Barn and impaired its carrying value by £85,000 to the value realised on sale. During 2014, the Group made payments 
of £10,000 to Quindell Directorial Services, the trading name of R Terry. 

In the first quarter of 2015, the Group made payments of £20,000 to Quindell Directorial Services. From February 2015, 
QPE subleased an apartment from the Group in Ontario, Canada for CDN$66,000 per annum for a period to 20 August 2016 
(being the head lease expiration date). There are no further commercial obligations between the Group and QPE or R Terry. 

2091205 Ontario Inc, a company owned 50% by T Scurry (Chief Executive, North America during 2014) and 50% by his wife, 
leased an apartment in Ontario, Canada to the Group for CDN$119,400 per annum, which is the subject of the sublet to QPE 
noted above.

Bickleigh Ridge Limited, a company connected to S Scott, a former Director of the Company, invoiced the Group £254,000 
for consultancy services. At 31 December 2014, the balance owed by the Group in relation to these services was £23,655.

T Bowers invoiced the Group £23,750 for consultancy services. At the end of the year, the balance owed by the Group in 
relation to these services was £nil.

In April 2014, a vendor of Compass Costs made a disposal of ordinary shares to certain Directors. The Company advanced the 
consideration for the ordinary shares to the vendor but did not immediately collect a corresponding payment from the Directors 
such that loans to the Directors were inadvertently created for a short period during the year as detailed below. All loans were 
settled by the year end:

Director
L Moorse

R Cooling

R Bright

S Scott

A Bowers

R Terry

Amount
£20,000

Cash received
September 2014

£5,000

£5,000

£19,000

£25,000

July 2014

July 2014

July 2014

July 2014

£95,000

December 2014

Transactions with TMC (Southern) Limited

As disclosed in the 2014 Annual Report the Board has concluded, based on the evidence available to it, that TMC was at certain 
points in 2014 was a related party of the Group. Transactions between TMC and/or its Director, M Ford, and the Group and 
other related parties of the Group during 2014 are of the following nature:

(a)  Transactions in the Company’s shares;
(b)  Issue of shares in June 2014.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201596

(a)  Transactions in the Company’s shares
During 2014 TMC sold shares in the Company to, bought shares from, or lent shares to, various individuals who had a 
connection with the Company, for example by virtue of being vendors of businesses to the Group. Proceeds from the sale 
of shares by TMC were remitted to the Group and recognised as a debt owed to TMC. The Group made no pecuniary gain 
or loss on these transactions, and the dealings in the Company’s shares were required to be announced in the usual way. 
These transactions would not ordinarily fall to be disclosed in the Company’s Accounts, but have been described because 
(a) in some cases these the transactions gave rise to loans to Directors (see below); (b) in order to provide information 
in relation to the loan owed by the Group to TMC; and (c) for completeness. 

Certain Directors made purchases of shares from, and sales of shares to, TMC on an arms length basis. The Group did not 
make a pecuniary gain or loss on these transactions and the involvement of TMC did not alter the requirements relating to 
announcements of these transactions by the Directors concerned. However, the Company has identified that for a short period, 
loans from Quindell to a Director were inadvertently outstanding for a period, prior to the Director remitting payment for the 
shares, as follows:

 ■ R Cooling: £60,000 was outstanding for the purchase of shares for the period from January 2014 – February 2014

 ■ R Bright: £125,000 was outstanding for the purchase of shares for the period from December 2013 – February 2014.

None of the loans had agreements hence there were no repayment terms attached nor any attributable interest rate. As at 
31 December 2014, the amount owed by the Group to TMC was £2,225,000. This balance was partly settled by the payment 
of £1,006,000 in January 2015 and the balance of £1,219,000 was outstanding at 31 December 2015. The liability was disposed 
of with the disposal of B.E. Insulated in 8 January 2016 (note 37). The Company has no ongoing business with TMC.

(b) Issue of shares in June 2014
On 18 June 2014, the Company issued 16,899,321 ordinary shares of 1 pence to TMC. The shares remain unpaid as at the 
statement of financial position date and the Company has yet to call upon TMC for payment. It appears that some form of trust 
or related arrangement was intended, pursuant to which TMC would hold the shares on behalf of the Company, or possibly on 
behalf of certain vendors of companies to the Company; although it is not clear that this trust arrangement was documented 
or effective. The shares have therefore been presented in shares treated as held in treasury within other reserves. It is the 
intention of the Group to seek either repayment of the unpaid share capital amounting to £169,000 from TMC or apply for the 
forfeiture of the shares in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company. In the event that the shares are forfeited, 
then it is intended that the shares will be cancelled and no further amounts will be receivable from TMC.

Transactions with SMI

On 22 December 2014, the Group entered into an agreement with SMI and others which included, inter alia, the right for the 
Group to elect, on or before 31 January 2015, for SMI to settle historic research and development costs. SMI was an investment 
of the Group during the period.

On 1 January 2014, the Group held a 19% investment in SMI with a carrying value of £1,500,000. The Group provided services 
of £918,000 during the year (2013: £4,260,000) and made purchases on behalf of SMI of £4,960,000 (2013: £3,427,000). 
At 22 December 2014, the Group had a trade receivable of £9,209,000 due from SMI, which was settled on that date 
through an option for the Group to acquire a further 14% in SMI to take its stake to 33%, whereupon SMI was reclassified 
as an associate company. As noted in note 19, the opening investment and trade receivable have been impaired to £nil.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)97

40.  Post balance sheet events

On 8 January 2016, the Group announced that, as part of a programme of actions to strategically focus the Group on its key 
growth areas, it had disposed of the Group’s property and maintenance services businesses. The Company’s subsidiary BEUK 
entered into the BEI Agreement. Following the completion of the BEI Agreement, the Group ceased to operate directly in the 
property and maintenance services sector. Further details are provided in note 36.

On 7 March 2016, and continuing the programme of actions described above, the Group disposed of the entire issued share 
capital of to QIH (a company owned by Charles Osburn, a statutory director of Quintica) for approximately £1.35 million. 
In addition, the Group will be entitled to additional consideration in the event that Quintica is disposed of (in whole or part) 
by QIH in the year following completion of the transaction. Further details are provided in note 36.

41.  Dividends

During the year, the Group paid dividends of £nil (2014: 1.5 pence per ordinary share of 15 pence), totalling £nil (2014: £6,180,000).

42.   Group Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2014 included as comparatives in these 

Financial Statements

Overview

In preparing the 2014 Financial Statements, the Board took into account all available information in the application of its 
accounting policies and in forming judgements. The Board undertook extensive investigations of historical transactions which 
appeared to be unusual and/or with related parties using significant third party legal and accounting support. Nevertheless, 
although we had discussions with certain members of the previous management team, there were a number of limitations in 
the information available which led to unresolvable ambiguities in analysing the substance of certain historical acquisitions, 
revenue and share transactions in respect of 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014, where the intention or commercial purpose could not 
be verified and/or the fair value to apply to certain of these transactions could not be assessed, as a result of weaknesses in the 
books and records maintained by the Company. It is also possible that there were transactions into which the Group entered 
of which we are unaware. The Board would expect any such transactions affecting the 2014 statement of financial position, 
if material, to have been identified during the course of preparation of those Financial Statements and related work, but notes 
the possibility that additional related party transactions may exist which would fall to be disclosed.

As set out below, the Board revised the accounting treatment and/or fair values attributed to a number of these transactions 
which, based on the information available in preparing the 2014 Financial Statements the Board considered were accounted 
for incorrectly or where we were unable to establish a reliable fair value. In the absence of further information or discussion 
with former management to remove any ambiguity behind these transactions the Board considered the revised accounting to 
be the most appropriate presentation. Where there remained limitations to the information or ambiguities, the Board took an 
appropriately prudent view in assessing the recognition and valuation of assets and liabilities as at 31 December 2014. As a 
result, whilst it cannot be ruled out that there were transactions that should be reflected in the statement of financial position 
at that date of which the Board is unaware, the Board is satisfied that the statement of financial position at 31 December 2014 
is presented fairly in all material respects. 

Revisions to accounting policies and other prior year adjustments made in the 2014 Financial Statements
A description of the revisions to accounting policies and prior year adjustments as a result of the matters noted above is set 
out below. The explanation is copied verbatim from note 3 in the 2014 Financial Statements, except that the tables setting 
out the quantitative changes to 2013 and 2012 Financial Statements have been omitted as they are not relevant to these 
Financial Statements. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 201598

Disclosures in respect of related party transactions included in the 2014 Financial Statements

The disclosures in respect of related party transactions which were set out in note 39 to the 2014 Financial Statements are 
copied verbatim below, except that the parts of that disclosure setting out transactions with related businesses, disclosures 
in relation to current Directors and key management and Compensation of key management personnel, have been omitted 
as they are not relevant to these Financial Statements.

Verbatim extracts from the 2014 Financial Statements (Reference to “notes” or defined terms in these extracts are 
to those included within the 2014 Financial Statements which may not be replicated in the 2015 Financial Statements)

On 20 March 2014, the Financial Reporting Council Conduct Committee (“FRC”) opened an enquiry into the Group’s Financial 
Statements for the year ended 31 December 2012. This enquiry included a review of revenue recognition within the PSD. 
The FRC extended its enquiry to certain aspects of the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2011 on 
30 September 2014; specifically these enquiries resulted in the prior year adjustments in relation to the reverse acquisition 
of Mission Capital plc (“Mission Capital”) (“PYA A”) and transactions with TMC (Southern) Limited (“TMC”) (“PYA B”) which are 
described later in this note. The Board has co-operated with the FRC throughout its enquiry and has considered its implications. 
In reaching its conclusions the Board has been mindful of the key concepts of relevance, reliability and understandability of the 
financial information being presented.

As set out later in this note, the Board, along with KPMG, has performed a review of the prior years’ Financial Statements and 
certain key transactions within them, which has led to other prior year adjustments.

PSD revenue recognition and related accounting entries

The Board undertook a review of the Group’s principal accounting policies adopted during the year and identified that certain of 
the policies recognising revenue and deferring case acquisition costs were largely acceptable but were at the aggressive end of 
acceptable practice. The review also identified that certain policies and their application were not appropriate, principally those 
relating to the noise induced hearing loss (“NIHL”) cases revenue and related balances which became significant during 2014. 

The Board decided that a more appropriate and conservative approach to accounting for revenues and, therefore, profits would 
be to recognise revenues at a later stage. The Board has decided to achieve this by revising the policy for revenue recognition 
throughout the PSD, also effectively addressing the inappropriate application of those previous policies to NIHL cases and 
related balances. The Board has not reviewed in detail the judgements and estimates made in the previous policy, neither has 
the Board formed a different view as to the economic model of the PSD. 

Throughout this process, the Board has kept its Auditor, KPMG LLP (“KPMG”), fully informed and, as appropriate, taken account 
of their independent expert opinion in arriving at its conclusions.

The Board has concluded that the revised approach is to recognise revenue later on the basis of services received by the customer. 
In recognition of the fundamental importance of cash generation as a validity check on profit recognition we have moved revenue 
and profit recognition to later in the client service cycle. In summary revenues and profits are now recognised, in the majority 
of cases, when liability is admitted by the at-fault insurer. Related costs are expensed as incurred, specifically marketing costs, 
which had previously been deferred and expensed only as cases reported revenues and profits. Admission of liability is generally 
considered to be at settlement of the case and is typically followed shortly thereafter by the invoicing and receipt of cash. 

For legal cases revenue will be recognised on admission of liability or settlement of the case by the at-fault third party insurer. 
Previously, revenue for the legal cases was recognised on a stage of completion basis as supported by the evidence from 
the considerable case completion track record. In respect of the element of revenue relating to NIHL cases, which became 
significant during 2014, the Board concluded that the previous accounting policy was inappropriate. Given the Board’s decision 
that a change in policy across the whole of PSD was the appropriate approach to take, and that the amounts in relation to NIHL 
were not considered to be a significant component of the overall restatement to the prior year results, it has not been reported 
separately as a prior year accounting error. Revenue recognised in respect of NIHL cases in 2013 was approximately £17.5m 
and for the 6 months ended 30 June 2014 was £125.6m. Case acquisition costs previously deferred were approximately £2.3m 
and £11.9m respectively. Full year 2014 revenue for NIHL cases under the previous accounting policy would have been £213.6m 
and case acquisition costs deferred of approximately £17.4m. Revenue on NIHL cases prior to 2013 was negligible.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)99

Revenue for medical report services will be recognised in line with the legal claim which it supports and for rehabilitation 
services revenue will be recognised, prior to settlement, to the extent of expenses incurred which are expected to be 
recoverable as the service is provided. Previously, revenue for medical and rehabilitation services was recognised on delivery 
of the service. 

Revenue for vehicle hire prior to admission of liability by the at-fault third party insurer will be recognised to the extent of cost 
incurred. Previously, revenue was recognised based on rates recoverable from insurers over the car hire period or repair period, 
recognising the profit upfront.

In addition to the revenue recognition changes to the Services Division, set out above, there was also an element of revenues 
for iSaaS Technology Limited (“iSaaS”) and Intelligent Claims Management Limited (“ICM”), which are reported in the Solutions 
Division which has been treated on a consistent basis with the policies set out above resulting in a later recognition of revenue.

In parallel with the revisions to revenue recognition policies, set out above, the Board also revised accounting policies in 
respect of certain related costs which were deferred as an asset in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position. The most 
significant of these related to the treatment of legal case acquisition costs and disbursements. Case acquisition costs will 
now be written off immediately as incurred. Disbursements will be written off as incurred until the point of settlement on the 
related case. The Board concluded that the previous accounting policy for case acquisition costs was inappropriate for NIHL. 
However, as this was not considered to be a significant component of the overall restatement to the prior year results, it has 
not been reported separately as a prior year accounting error. Total case acquisition costs previously deferred (inclusive of 
NIHL cases above) at 31 December 2012, 31 December 2013 and 30 June 2014 were £5.6m, £7.4m and £23.3m respectively. 
Case acquisition costs which would have been deferred at 31 December 2014 under the previous accounting policy 
were £26.9m.

The impact of these revisions on the current period and comparative, prior to the reclassification of the PSD to discontinued 
operations and asset held for sale can be summarised as follows:

(Increase)/decrease in loss for the year

Revenue 
  – Legal

  – Medical

  – Rehabilitation

  – Hire & repair

  – Total services

  – Total solutions

Cost of sales

Administrative expenses –amortisation of intangible
Taxation

Loss for the year

Year ended 
31 December 
2014

Year ended 
31 December 
2013

£000

£000

(289,783)
(257,192)

(12,701)

(1,183)

(2,735)

(108,720)
(94,403)

(3,145)

(1,992)

(2,880)

(273,811)

(102,420)

(15,972)

(10,185)

(12,341)
30,109

(6,300)

(4,280)

(31,927)
15,073

(282,200)

(129,854)

The revenue recognition policy change has resulted in reduced profits subject to tax. Where appropriate a reduction in the 
current year tax charge has been shown. Where losses result from the policy change and cannot be forecast to be utilised 
in the year, no deferred tax asset has been recognised on these surplus losses.

This policy change has also been reflected in the related acquisition accounting treatment. The previous acquisition accounting 
treatment included the fair value of claims related assets and liabilities. Consequently, where the revised policy reduces work 
in progress balances on acquisition it results in the creation of an intangible asset of the same value, representing the fair 
value of future net revenue on cases acquired. The intangible asset has been amortised over the expected life of the cases 
acquired. It has been assessed that there is no difference between the original carrying value and the fair value on acquisition. 
As a consequence the intangible assets at 31 December 2012 increased by £42.8m (2013: £12.3m; 2014: £nil).

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015100

In addition, a number of related balance sheet adjustments were made. These included adjustments to bad debt provisioning, 
the reversal of accrued income and creation of deferred income and reduction of other debtors and creditors. These have been 
summarised as follows:

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position(decrease)/increase in net assets

Intangible assets

Trade debtor provision

Corporation tax

Other debtors

Accrued income

Other creditors

Deferred income

Net assets

Year ended 
31 December 
2014

Year ended 
31 December 
2013

Year ended 
31 December 
2012

£000

–

16,747

45,182

£000

12,341

9,893

15,073

(96,771)

(41,691)

(426,826)

(137,336)

61,015

(37,364)

23,335

(37,432)

(438,017)

(155,817)

£000

42,823

8,001

–

(19,041)

(30,738)

8,213

(35,221)

(25,963)

The Board has concluded that revenue recognition on the basis set out above provides relevant and reliable information as this 
revision to accounting policy is a more conservative representation of the substance of the contractual terms of the agreement 
entered into between the Group and the customer and is more reflective of the service provided to the customer. The revised 
policy more closely aligns the recognition of revenues and profits with the actual receipts of cash in relation to services 
provided. Therefore financial reporting outcomes are now more closely aligned with one of the Board’s key performance 
indicators (“KPIs”) in ensuring the proper management of all the Group’s business activities. The impact of the restatement on 
the future Financial Statements is confined to the 5 month period ended 29 May 2015. The Financial Statements for the PSD 
at 29 May 2015 are subject to the production of completion accounts and, therefore, it is not possible to quantify the precise 
impact of future adjustment.

The Board has concluded in accordance with IAS 8 that this change in policy should be amended by way of prior period 
adjustments. The nature of the adjustments and the impact on the financial items affected is stated below in parts a-d 
of this note.

Other prior year adjustments (“PYA”) 

As set out in the Basis of Preparation note (note 2), in the preparation of these Financial Statements, the Board, along with 
KPMG, has performed a review of the prior years’ Financial Statements and certain key transactions included within them. 
This review has identified additional information, not previously made available to the auditors, indicating a number of omissions 
from, and misstatements in, the Financial Statements for one or more prior periods. The auditors have limited the scope of their 
audit opinion having regard to a number of these matters. In a number of respects this information contradicts representations 
previously made to them by former members of management and former Directors as well as information contained in 
the prior year Group’s and Parent Company’s accounting records and calls into doubt the previously adopted accounting 
treatments of these transactions and/or the values that were attributed to the transactions. No additional information was 
identified in relation to the Mission Capital reverse acquisition.

The adjustments set out below that relate to 2011 have been discussed with the FRC during their enquiry into the Financial 
Statements for the years ended 31 December 2011 and 2012. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)101

The Company has therefore restated its 2012 and 2013 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, 2013 Consolidated 
Income Statement and 2013 Consolidated Cash Flow Statement to reflect the relevant adjustments required to correct 
the errors identified as described below.

These PYA relate to the following areas:

(a)  Mission Capital reverse acquisition;
(b)  Transactions with TMC;
(c)  Acquisition related consideration, share-based payments, share transactions and equity swaps; and
(d)  Revenues from sales to companies that were subsequently acquired.

PYA A: Mission Capital reverse acquisition in 2011

The Group has reviewed its treatment of the acquisition of Quindell Limited (now renamed Quindell Technologies Limited 
(“QTL”)) by Mission Capital (subsequently renamed Quindell Portfolio Plc, and later Quindell Plc) which occurred in 2011. 
This was previously accounted for as an acquisition by Mission Capital, but has since been reconsidered and determined that 
this should have been accounted for as a reverse acquisition in view of the relative sizes, voting rights and Board membership 
post acquisition. The effect of this adjustment has been to eliminate the goodwill previously recognised on the acquisition 
of £25.2m, decrease the reverse acquisition reserve recognised on the transaction by £10.8m, and decrease the opening 
retained earnings of QTL by £14.4m. The adjustment to the reverse acquisition reserve has been presented net against the 
reverse acquisition and merger reserve. The overall impact is a reduction of net assets of £25.2m compared to those previously 
reported as at 31 December 2012 and 2013.

PYA B: Transactions with TMC in 2011

The Group has reviewed its treatment of transactions with TMC which occurred in 2011. It has identified that revenues 
derived from the sale and purchase of shares held by TMC, which had in some respects the characteristics of treasury share 
transactions, had been previously accounted for as revenue but, in line with the accounting policy adopted from 2012, should 
have been shown in the treasury share reserve.

The effect of this adjustment in 2011 is to increase the treasury share reserve (shown within the share premium reserve) by 
£1.5m and reduce retained earnings by the same amount. Furthermore, each of revenue and profit in 2011 should have been 
reduced by £1.5m. There was no impact to net assets. In the Company’s Statement of Financial Position, it is reflected by an 
increase in the share premium reserve and an increase in the cost of investment in its subsidiaries, as the Company is deemed 
to have given a capital contribution to one of its subsidiaries.

Furthermore, it has been identified that the Group formerly accounted for the sale of the benefit of certain contracts to 
TMC, previously acquired from TMC, as revenue. This treatment has been reconsidered and it has been determined that this 
should have been accounted for as a reduction in the goodwill arising on the original acquisition from TMC. The effect of 
this adjustment is to reduce goodwill, revenue and profit for the year and retained earnings by £2.0m. Net assets have been 
reduced by £2.0m. There is no effect to the Company’s Statement of Financial Position for this adjustment. Further information 
relating to TMC is contained in note 39.

PYA C: Acquisition related consideration, share-based payments, share transactions and equity swaps

Acquisition related consideration
On 3 December 2012, the Company announced that it had paid a non-refundable deposit of £19.75m on entering into a share 
purchase agreement to acquire Abstract Legal Holdings Limited (“ALH”), satisfied by the issue of 28,571,429 ordinary shares 
of 1 pence each (“Initial ALH Shares”) and the payment of £15.0m in cash. The balance of the consideration for the acquisition 
of ALH was to be satisfied by the issue of 267,800,000 ordinary shares of 1 pence each on completion (“ALH Agreement”). 
The acquisition of ALH was initially presented in the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 as a post 
balance sheet date business combination. However, on early adoption of IFRS 10 in 2013, the business combination was  
re-presented as having been effected during 2012.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015102

Pursuant to the ALH Agreement, on completion or termination of the ALH Agreement, the Company had an obligation to pay 
£5.0m cash to the vendors. From the date of the ALH Agreement on 2 December 2012, the Company had the right to direct the 
sale of the initial ALH Shares, with any proceeds in excess of £5.0m being retained by the Company. In the event that the sale 
of the initial ALH Shares generated less than £5.0m of net proceeds, Quindell was required to provide any shortfall in cash from 
its own resources. The commercial effect of this arrangement is that the Company had entered into a financial liability of £5.0m 
with the vendors of ALH in exchange for the right to retain the proceeds of the initial ALH Shares.

The effect on the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2012 was to reduce goodwill and shares to be 
issued by £1.5m, to decrease other reserves (shares treated as held in treasury) by £5.0m and increase accruals by £5.0m. 
In 2013, goodwill has reduced by £1.5m and retained earnings reduced by £1.5m, being the loss on the shares treated as held 
in treasury.

Share-based payments 
As reported and adjusted in the 2013 Financial Statements, the Board has reviewed certain acquisitions and concluded that in 
some cases consideration payable previously accounted for as a cost of acquisition and resulting in goodwill should have been 
treated as post combination vendor remuneration in accordance with IFRS 3. As part of the work in preparing these Financial 
Statements it has been identified that there are further acquisitions in 2012 and 2013 where the accounting for consideration 
paid has not followed the requirements of IFRS 3.

The Group has previously disclosed the following acquisitions, consideration paid and resultant goodwill recognised:
Year first 
reported

Date Consideration

Acquisition

2012

2012

2012

2013

2013

SH Auto Services Limited (formerly Simon Hall Associates Limited)

Enzyme International Limited

SWB Consulting Limited

Skillwise Consulting Limited

Quindell Financial Services Limited (formerly MUM Financial Services Limited) (“QFS”)

May 2012

Mar 2012

Sept 2012

Sept 2013

Sept 2013

£000

1,000

581

1,239

2,767

1,354

Goodwill

£000

1,000

581

1,010

2,767

1,354

The consideration values are materially the same as the calculated share-based payment charge.

In respect of SHA, Enzyme and SWB, the Company has reviewed the share purchase agreements and identified certain clauses 
which result in the recovery or non-issuance of contingent shares in the event that the vendors, or individuals with whom the 
vendors are connected, end their employment or consultancy arrangements with the Group. The Company has concluded 
that it believes the primary purpose of these acquisitions was to acquire the services of certain members of the management 
and executive team, or to retain or incentivise them. In the case of Enzyme, which had a previous trading history, there is 
uncertainty as to whether the issue of shares to the vendor of the business represented remuneration under IFRS 2, whether 
the transaction was a business combination under IFRS 3, or whether both elements were present in the transaction. However, 
given the nature of other similar transactions identified during the review, the available evidence as to the value of the Company, 
and the terms of the transaction as referred to above, the Board has concluded that the transaction should be treated entirely 
as a share-based payment under IFRS 2.

The Company has been informed that Skillwise was acquired in connection with the settlement of a dispute between a vendor 
of part of the Quindell Property Services (“QPS”) division, M Ford (also director and owner of TMC) (see note 39 for further 
information), and a former business partner of Mr Ford (“SW Vendor”). The dispute was in relation to the ownership of Brand 
Extension (UK) Limited (“BEUK”) or its intellectual property. BEUK had been previously acquired by the Company as part of its 
acquisition of QPS. The SW Vendor assigned certain IPR to Skillwise prior to its acquisition by BEUK. As the Company has been 
unable to verify the value of the IPR transferred to Skillwise, while recognising at fair value the shares issued in connection 
with this transaction, the Group has impaired the whole of the goodwill that was recognised in connection with its acquisition.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)103

In the case of QFS, it is unclear as to whether the substance of the entire transaction, the issue of shares to the vendors of the 
business, represented remuneration under IFRS 2 or an element represented a business combination under IFRS 3. Given the 
nature of other similar transactions identified during the review, and conflicting information as to the purpose of this acquisition, 
the Board has concluded that the transaction should be treated entirely as share-based payment under IFRS 2. The shares 
issued to R Fielding as part of this acquisition are detailed under the Remuneration Table within the Remuneration Report.

The Directors consider that a more appropriate accounting treatment of the consideration paid pursuant to these agreements 
is as share-based remuneration under IFRS 2. The effect of this adjustment is to reduce goodwill as at 31 December 2012 by 
£2.8m, increase trade receivables by £0.8m, increase in provisions for liabilities of £2.4m and reduce retained earnings by £4.4m 
to reflect the share-based payment charge and related tax. The transactions which arose during 2013 resulted in a cumulative 
decrease in goodwill of £5.6m, a cumulative increase in trade receivables of £0.4m, a cumulative increase in provisions of 
£4.3m, reduction in corporation tax payable of £0.5m, an increase in shares to be issued of £1.4m and a cumulative reduction 
in retained earnings of £10.3m (a £5.9m reduction on the 2013 results within the income statement). The carrying value of the 
investments have all been reversed from the books of the subsidiaries in which they were originally reflected and the total write 
off reflected in the books of the Company.

In 2014 further shares were issued that have been treated as a share based payment under IFRS 2 as opposed to being treated 
as consideration in a business combination per IFRS 3. These totalled to an increase in share capital and premium and an 
expense to the income statement of £5.9m, with incremental PAYE liabilities and charges totalling to £7.7m.

Share transactions
During 2012 and 2013, Ubiquity Capital LLP and Ubiquity Capital Partners Limited (together, “Ubiquity”), both being entities 
part owned by J Cale, a non-executive Director of the Company between 25 July 2011 and 30 September 2013, received a fee 
as an adviser or introducer in connection with the acquisitions of ICM, Overland Associates Limited (“Overland”), Silverbeck 
Rymer (“SR”) and ALH. The Company understands that Ubiquity would typically receive a fee, in the form of Company shares, 
out of the consideration received by the vendors (although such mechanism to achieve this varied). In historic Financial 
Statements these fees were included in the cost of investment. On reconsideration of these matters, the Board has determined 
that these fees should properly be accounted for as acquisition costs of the Group and, therefore, expensed through the 
income statement at the date of acquisition. The effect of this adjustment is to reduce goodwill and retained earnings 
at 31 December 2012 and 2013 by £5.8m.

Equity swaps
Since 2012, the Company or its subsidiaries have entered into the following equity swaps:

 ■ the Company issued shares to and at the same time entered into an equity swap arrangement with a third party, Yorkville 
Global Master SPV, Ltd (“Yorkville”) as part of the funding for the acquisition of ALH in 2012 (“ALH Equity Swap”); and

 ■ 360GlobalNet Limited (“360”) a subsidiary of the Company entered into an equity swap arrangement with Yorkville 
in respect of shares in the Company that it then held, which was assigned to TMC in 2013 (the “360 Equity Swap”).

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015104

ALH Equity Swap
As previously disclosed in 2012 and 2013 Financial Statements, on 1 December 2012, the Group entered into the ALH Equity 
Swap. The ALH Equity Swap was viewed as being separate from the share issue to Yorkville and was recorded in the balance 
sheet as a financial instrument at fair value in 2012 and was disposed of during 2013, when it was used as part consideration 
for a 19% investment in Himex. Any change in the fair value of the derivative financial instrument relating to the ALH Equity 
Swap was recognised immediately in the income statement. 

The Board have reconsidered the accounting adopted in respect of the ALH Equity Swap and consider that in order to assess 
the substance of the transaction it is necessary to consider the share issue and the ALH Equity Swap together. When viewed in 
this way, the Board considers that the overall substance was an issue of shares in tranches over a period of time. To the extent 
that the transactions did not result in the Company receiving cash, the initial share issue has been treated as an issue into the 
“shares treated as treasury shares” with each subsequent cash receipt under the ALH Equity Swap being treated as an issue 
of “treasury shares” for cash with Yorkville acting as the Company’s agent in return for a fixed fee. As a result, the Financial 
Statements have been restated to recognise a treasury share balance within equity and de-recognise the derivative financial 
instrument and to eliminate changes in the fair value of the ALH Equity Swap from the income statement. 

The effect of this restatement in 2012 is to reduce trade and other receivables by £13.3m, increase profit in the year by 
£2.3m, increase retained earnings by £3.7m and increase treasury shares by £17.0m. There is no effect on cash flows in 2012. 
The effect of the restatement in 2013 is to increase profit in the year by £5.1m and decrease retained earnings by £3.7m. 
The closing 2013 year end balance sheet is therefore unaffected by this restatement. Inflows from financing activities previously 
shown as receipts on the ALH Equity Swap have been represented as inflows from sale of shares treated as held in treasury.

360 Equity Swap
On 2 May 2013 the Company acquired a further 40.8% of 360 (taking its interest in 360 to 60%). Pursuant to the terms of this 
acquisition, the Company issued 23,428,560 ordinary shares of 1 pence (the “New Shares”) at 360’s direction to Yorkville in 
exchange for the issue of new 360 shares to the Company. 360 already owned shares in the Company (the “Existing Shares”) 
as a result of the Company’s previous investment in 360 which were also transferred to Yorkville. The New Shares and the 
Existing Shares were together the subject of the 360 Equity Swap. The terms of the 360 Equity Swap provided for the sale each 
month by Yorkville of a specified number of the Company’s shares and for a monthly payment by Yorkville to 360, the value 
of which was dependent on the Company’s share price.

The Board considers that the substance of the 360 Equity Swap is that 360 retained all the significant risks and rewards of 
ownership of the Company’s shares until each tranche was sold and that Yorkville acted as 360’s agent in return for a fixed fee.

360 subsequently novated its interest in the 360 Equity Swap to TMC for a total of £4.0m to be paid by TMC to 360 in equal 
instalments over a 24 month period (“Swap Payments”). Notwithstanding the fact that the Company was not a party to, or a 
beneficiary of, the 360 Equity Swap, inflows of cash from the 360 Equity Swap which were due to TMC were paid by Yorkville 
through a Group bank account and used to fund the Swap Payments to 360 on a monthly basis. Over the life of the 360 Equity 
Swap, TMC realised a gain of £2.3m but no gain or loss was made by the Group as, although the Swap Payments were remitted 
to the Group which recognised a corresponding increase in the debt it owed to TMC. The gain has, however, subsequently been 
transferred to Quindell as part of a wider settlement of the Company’s arrangements with TMC and M Ford (see note 39 for 
further details). The Board therefore considers that the purported transfer of 360’s rights under the 360 Equity Swap to TMC 
had no commercial effect and that 360 retained its interest in the Company’s shares notwithstanding this transfer.

Having considered the evidence available, the Board has decided that the substance of the transaction is that to the extent 
that cash had not been received at any point in time 360 owned shares in the Company which should have been recorded as 
“shares treated as treasury shares” in the Group Financial Statements with each subsequent cash receipt under the 360 Equity 
Swap being treated as an issue of “treasury shares” for cash with Yorkville acting as 360’s agent in return for a fixed fee.

The changes to the accounting on the 31 December 2013 balance sheet are to reduce goodwill by £0.5m, decrease other 
debtors by £2.2m, increase retained earnings by £0.1m and decrease other reserves (shares treated as held in treasury) by 
£2.8m. Cash flows of £1.8m previously shown as a reduction in debtors have been represented as inflows in financing activities. 
In 2014, the balance in other reserves reduced to nil, retained earnings have increased by £1.6m (being profit from sale 
of shares treated as held in treasury) and cash inflows of £4.4m were shown as inflows in financing activities.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)105

PYA D: Revenues from sales to companies that were subsequently acquired

As disclosed in the 2013 Financial Statements, the Group engaged in trading activities with certain third parties which the Group 
subsequently acquired. These trading activities would include either the sale of a perpetual software licence, sale of software 
consultancy services, a licence to distribute its software or otherwise utilise its IPR.

The Group had applied the requirements of IAS 18 in determining whether revenue should be recognised in the Financial 
Statements for each of the transactions. In most instances, the Group had concluded that the transactions that were entered 
into with the counterparty stood alone from any other transactions entered into by the Group and so should be recognised 
at the contracted values. Furthermore, the Group concluded that each transaction had substance and a commercial purpose. 
The counterparty transactions typically included the purchase of distribution rights, an investment in the Company acquired 
or acquisition of the Company itself.

The Group had also entered into similar transactions during the first half of 2014. During 2014, whilst the Auditors were 
not engaged to carry out a review of the interim results for the period ended 30 June 2014 (“2014 Interims”) they met with 
management on a number of occasions as part of their ongoing relationship. Prior to the 2014 Interims being issued by the 
Company, the Auditors raised a number of concerns with management and the then Chairman of the Audit Committee in 
connection with certain revenue transactions entered into in the first half of 2014. Management and the Company’s Audit 
Committee at the time concluded that the transactions entered into were revenue generative and were, therefore, included 
in the 2014 Interims.

As discussed in the Strategic Report, the management team responsible for organising and implementing the transactions 
are no longer employed by the Group. The Board has reconsidered the accounting analysis in respect of the 2014 transactions 
and concluded that the contracts entered into in 2014 should not be treated as revenue generative under IAS 18 and should 
not be recognised based on there being linked transactions and/or uncertainty regarding their contracted values. 

With regard to one transaction with an agreed value of £6.0m, although it is not considered that this transaction lacked 
commercial substance, fair values have not been able to be attributed to each component of the overall transaction. 
Without access to the management or Directors at that time, the Board are unable to obtain further evidence to support the 
fair values. The Group has, therefore, concluded that the transaction should not have been treated as revenue generative.

As a result of this review, the Board, in conjunction with the Auditor, has conducted a review of certain prior year revenue 
transactions to consider whether all available information in respect of these transactions was taken into account in the 
preparation and presentation of the Financial Statements.

This review identified that there was information that ought to have been available to the Board and Auditor at that time in 
taking into account whether the transactions were revenue generative under IAS 18. Had the Board at that time taken this 
additional information into account, or had the information been made available to the Auditor, including side agreements 
and cash flow arrangements, revenue should not have been recognised in respect of those transactions.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015106

The Board has reviewed these transactions and, whilst recognising that there are remaining uncertainties in determining the 
commercial nature and appropriate pricing of the software (or other rights or services) sold, has formed the opinion that these 
transactions, whilst varying in their individual detail, should not be recorded as giving rise to revenue that should be recorded 
in the Financial Statements. Accordingly, the Board has adjusted the Financial Statements to remove the following revenues and 
profits reported in 2013 from these transactions with companies subsequently acquired:

Company

Ingenie Limited and Group companies

ACH Group Management Limited

Intrinsic Insurance Solutions Inc

Sale by 
Company

Software

Software

Software

Revenue

£000

9,417

3,300

2,000

Impact on 
Profit

£000

9,417

3,300

2,000

In one other instance, the Board at that time had determined that revenues generated from the transaction was, in substance, 
a barter transaction. In this case, the Group sold distribution rights and access to IPR in respect of its policy and claims 
management software to Himex in exchange for cash consideration of £9.1m. At the same time, the Group agreed to acquire 
the distribution rights to certain telematics software and IPR for £10.0m.

The Board at that time appears to have considered the consideration transferred for each transaction to be at a fair market 
value. However, in light of the findings of the wider review by the Board in respect of other 2013 transactions, although it is not 
considered that this transaction lacked commercial substance, sufficiently reliable fair values have not been able to be attributed 
to each component of the overall transaction. Without access to relevant management or Directors at that time, the Board are 
unable to obtain further evidence to support the fair values. The Board has therefore concluded that the transaction should not 
have been treated as revenue generative and so all the previously recognised revenue has been removed from the 2013 results.
Impact on 
Profit

Sale by 
Company

Company

Revenue

Himex Limited

Distribution licence

£000

9,100

£000

9,100

The Board has also determined that revenues of £1.0m for consultancy services to Loft Space Insulation Limited (“LSI”) 
immediately prior to the purchase of the trade and assets of that business should be removed.

The total effect of these changes results in a reduction in intangible assets of £11.1m, a reduction in interests in associates and 
investments of £10.4m, a reduction in trade and other receivables of £3.3m, a reduction in trade and other payables of £1.0m, 
a reduction in corporation tax of £5.1m, an increase in provisions of £1.0m and a reduction in retained earnings of 19.8m. 
In the cash flow, net cash used by operations has been increased by £23.8m, cash used in the purchase of intangible fixed 
assets reduced by £9.1m, cash used in the acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash acquired has reduced by £5.3m and cash 
used in the purchase of associated undertakings has reduced by £9.4m.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)107

Transactions with TMC

As set out in note 39, certain other transactions have come to the attention to the Board in respect of transactions with 
TMC including:

 ■ the issue of shares in June 2014;

 ■ the acquisition of BEUK; and

 ■ the issue of shares under a trust arrangement.

As set out in note 39, the Board has determined that TMC was a related party for the period from 2011 to 2014 and therefore 
should have been appropriately disclosed.

In reviewing a number of historic transactions, some of which are set out above as prior year adjustments (PYA A, B and C (360 
Equity Swap)), the Board has concluded, based on the evidence available to it, that TMC was at certain points in time a related 
party of the Group, though it never had a shareholding in TMC.

In light of this, and because aspects of the Company’s transactions with TMC require disclosure, the Company has provided in 
note 39, for completeness, a description of its relationship with TMC from 2011 onwards. Although in some respects the nature 
of the relationship between the TMC and the Company is unclear, the Company does not consider that the substance of the 
economic relationships between TMC and the Group for the years 2013 and 2014 indicate that it controlled TMC. Whilst not 
leading to prior year adjustments to the results it is important to note the additional related party disclosures, relating to prior 
years, in note 39 and the transactions are disclosed therein.

The key additional disclosures cover the following areas:

Transactions in the Company’s shares
During 2012, 2013 and 2014, TMC sold shares to, bought shares from, or lent shares to, various individuals who had a 
connection with the Company, for example by virtue of being vendors of businesses to the Group. Proceeds from the sale 
of shares by TMC were remitted to the Group and recognised as a debt owed to TMC. The Group made no pecuniary gain 
or loss on these transactions, and the dealings in the Company’s shares were required to be announced in the usual way.

Acquisition of BEUK
In July 2012, M Ford sold to Quindell 51% of a business which was subsequently renamed BEUK and certain other rights for 
£1,750,000. In 2013, the Group acquired the remaining 49% of BEUK in connection with the acquisition of QPS. Also in 2013, 
the Group entered into an agreement with M Ford by which a warranty claim in respect of the acquisition of BEUK was settled, 
by the forgiveness of a balance of £1,600,000 owed to M Ford.

Issue of shares in June 2014
On 18 June 2014, the Company issued 16,899,321 ordinary shares of 1 pence to TMC. The shares remain unpaid as at the 
Statement of Financial Position date and the Company has yet to call upon TMC for payment. It appears that some form of trust 
or related arrangement was intended, pursuant to which TMC would hold the shares on behalf of the Company, or possibly on 
behalf of certain vendors of companies to the Company; although it is not clear that this trust arrangement was documented 
or effective. The Company holds a corresponding share certificate for 1,126,621 ordinary shares of 15 pence in safekeeping. 
The shares have therefore been presented in own equity. It is the intention of the Group to seek either repayment of the 
unpaid share capital amounting to £169,000 from TMC or apply for the forfeiture of the shares in accordance with the Articles 
of Association of the Company. In the event that the shares are forfeited, then it is intended that the shares will be cancelled 
and no further amounts will be receivable from TMC.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015108

Impact of revisions to accounting policies: Consolidated Income Statement (2014)

Revenue
Analysed as:

  – Solutions

  – Services

Cost of sales
Gross profit

Administrative expenses

  – Normal

  – Share-based payments

  – Impairments

  – Other exceptional costs

  – Total administrative expenses
Other income

Share of results of associates

Group operating loss

Finance income

Finance expense

Loss before taxation

Taxation

Loss for the year

Discontinued operations
Loss for the year from discontinued operations  
(attributable to equity holders of the Company)

Loss for the year
Attributable to:

Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

PSD revenue 
recognition and 
related accounting 
entries

Reclassify to 
discontinued 
operations

As presented 
2014

£000

£000

(289,783)

(220,540)

(15,972)

(273,811)

(10,185)

(299,968)

(10,142)

(210,398)

282,571

62,031

(12,341)

55,830

–

–

–

(12,341)

–

–

–

–

18,123

73,953

–

–

£000

72,015

33,580

38,435

(49,882)

22,133

(76,704)

(7,432)

(157,028)

(37,367)

(278,531)

18,001

712

(312,309)

135,984

(237,685)

–

–

(312,309)

30,109

(282,200)

(79)

1,295

553

(902)

137,200

(238,034)

(3,992)

(3,242)

133,208

(241,276)

Proforma 
2014

£000

582,338

59,694

522,644

(322,268)

260,070

(120,193)

(7,432)

(157,028)

(55,490)

(340,143)

18,001

712

(61,360)

632

(2,197)

(62,925)

(29,359)

(92,284)

–

–

(133,208)

(133,208)

(92,284)

(282,200)

(89,719)

(2,565)

(92,284)

(282,200)

–

(282,200)

–

–

–

–

(374,484)

(371,919)

(2,565)

(374,484)

The impact of the restatements on basic and diluted loss per share in 2014 was to increase basic loss per share by 66.688 
pence per share to a loss per share of 87.890 pence and increase diluted basic loss per share by 66.688 pence to a loss per 
share of 87.890 pence.

The pro-forma column shows the 2014 Consolidated Income Statement before the effect of the policy change for PSD revenue 
recognition and related accounting entries and the reclassification of the PSD to discontinued operations. See note 37 for 
further discussion of the reclassification to discontinued operations.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)Impact of revisions to accounting policies and other prior year adjustments:  
Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income (2014)  

Loss after taxation

Share of Other Comprehensive Income of associates

Items that may be recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement:
  – Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations

Fair value movements on available for sale assets:

  – Fair value decrease on available for sale assets

Fair value movements on available for sale assets taken to the Consolidated Income Statement:

  –  Previous fair value loss recognised in the Consolidated Income Statement in respect of an 

investment becoming an associate on a stepped acquisition

Total comprehensive income for the year 
Attributable to:

Equity holders of the parent

Non-controlling interests

109

PSD revenue 
recognition 
and related 
accounting 
entries

£000

(282,200)

–

–

–

–

Proforma 
2014

£000

(92,284)

(1,327)

1,837

(1,500)

1,500

As presented 
2014

£000

(374,484)

(1,327)

1,837

(1,500)

1,500

(91,774)

(282,200)

(373,974)

(89,209)

(2,565)

(91,774)

(282,200)

–

(282,200)

(371,409)

(2,565)

(373,974)

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015110

Impact of revisions to accounting policies:  
Consolidated Statement of Financial Position (2014)  

Non-current assets
Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Interests in associates and investments

Current assets
Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Corporation tax

Cash

Assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Total assets

Current liabilities
Bank overdraft

Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Corporation tax

Obligations under finance leases

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings

Trade and other payables

Obligations under finance leases

Provisions

Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale

Net assets

Equity
Share capital

Share premium account

Reverse acquisition and merger reserve

Shares to be issued

Other reserves

Foreign currency translation reserve

Retained earnings

Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent
Non-controlling interests

Total equity

1,063,501

(484,879)

–

PSD revenue 
recognition and 
related accounting 
entries

Reclassify to 
held for sale 
operations

As presented 
2014

£000

£000

£000

–

–

–

–

–

(148,450)

(2,369)

–

(150,819)

–

(506,850)

(110,125)

21,971

–

(14,775)

(27,955)

(484,879)

(152,855)

–

303,674

–

–

23,651

23,211

–

–

–

14,541

23,533

138,822

–

5

–

–

164,103

14,091

11,186

189,380

3,473

32,863

7,196

42,036

85,568

303,674

578,622

(4,968)

(3,133)

(73,810)

–

(1,081)

(30,809)

–

46,862

176,901

(113,801)

–

–

–

–

–

–

46,862

–

(438,017)

–

–

–

–

–

–

(438,017)

(438,017)

–

(438,017)

3,879

–

–

–

2,065

5,944

182,845

(182,845)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(4,947)

–

(1,080)

(257)

(11,196)

(17,480)

(131,281)

(182,845)

264,496

65,467

430,070

178,258

30,744

31,036

(2,401)

(472,743)

260,431

4,065

264,496

Proforma 
2014

£000

312,553

16,460

11,186

340,199

3,473

649,838

–

69,991

723,302

–

(19,509)

(26,666)

(236,283)

(23,211)

(1,086)

(30,809)

–

(337,564)

(8,826)

–

(1,080)

(257)

(13,261)

(23,424)

(360,988)

–

702,513

65,467

430,070

178,258

30,744

31,036

(2,401)

(34,726)

698,448

4,065

702,513

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)111

The pro-forma column shows the 2014 Consolidated Statement of Financial Position before the effect of the policy change 
for PSD revenue recognition and related accounting entries and the reclassification to held for sale of the PSD discontinued 
operations. See note 37 for further discussion of the reclassification to held for sale operations.

Transactions with previous Directors and Key Management
During 2014, the Group made sales of £70,000 (2013: £1,000) to, and purchased goods and services totalling £454,000 
(2013: £77,000) and fixed assets of £nil (2013: £90,000) from Advanced Data Simulations Limited (which has subsequently 
changed its name to Quob Park Estate Limited (“QPE”)), a company controlled by R Terry, a former Director of the Company. 
In the first quarter of 2015 the Group made sales of fixed assets for £134,000 to QPE. This included an amount of £85,000 for 
the sale of Quob Barn, the former head office of the Company. In November 2014, as part of the overall settlement with R Terry, 
the Group granted him a call option to purchase Quob Barn, which he exercised in December 2014. The Group paid £70,000 
in dilapidations and repairs on exiting Quob Barn and impaired its carrying value by £85,000 to the value realised on sale. 
During 2014, the Group made payments of £10,000 to Quindell Directorial Services, the trading name of R Terry. 

In the first quarter of 2015, the Group made payments of £20,000 to Quindell Directorial Services. From February 2015, 
QPE subleased an apartment from the Group in Ontario, Canada for CDN$66,000 per annum for a period to 20 August 2016 
(being the head lease expiration date). There are no further commercial obligations between the Group and QPE or R Terry. 

Bickleigh Ridge Limited, a company connected to S Scott, a former Director of the Company, invoiced the Group £254,000 
(2013: £266,000) for consultancy services. At the end of the year, the balance owed by the Group in relation to these services 
was £23,655 (2013: £nil). 

T Bowers invoiced the Group £23,750 (2013: £31,000) for consultancy services. At the end of the year, the balance owed by the 
Group in relation to these services was £nil (2013: £4,875). 

In April 2014, a vendor of Compass Costs made a disposal of ordinary shares to certain Directors. The Company advanced the 
consideration for the ordinary shares to the vendor but did not immediately collect a corresponding payment from the Directors 
such that loans to the Directors were inadvertently created for a short period during the year as detailed below. All loans were 
settled by the year end:

Laurence Moorse

Robert Cooling

Robert Bright

Steve Scott

Anthony Bowers

Rob Terry

Purchase

Purchase

Purchase

Purchase

Purchase

Purchase

£20,000

£5,000

£5,000

£19,000

£25,000

£95,000

Creditor

Creditor

Creditor

Creditor

Creditor

Creditor

Cash received

September 2014

July 2014

July 2014

July 2014

July 2014

December 2014

In April 2013, Ubiquity, a company part owned by J Cale, a non-executive Director of the Company until September 2013, acted 
for the vendors of Compass Costs in respect of its acquisition by the Company. Ubiquity was entitled to receive a fee from 
the vendors of Compass Costs equivalent to 6% of the consideration payable to those vendors in the form of ordinary shares 
(“Compass Fee Shares”). At this time, the Company advanced £500,000 in cash to Ubiquity, to be repaid out of the Compass 
Fee Shares (“Ubiquity Advance”). Following completion, Ubiquity and the vendors agreed that the Compass Fee Shares would 
be sold at Ubiquity’s direction and that the proceeds of sale, less a 10% retention, would be paid to Ubiquity. The proceeds of 
the Compass Fee Shares were used to part-repay the Ubiquity Advance. A further remittance of £187,000 was subsequently 
made by Ubiquity to settle the Ubiquity Advance in full.

Transactions with TMC 

In reviewing a number of historic transactions, summarised further below, the Board has concluded, based on the evidence 
available to it, that TMC was at certain points in time a related party of the Group, though it never had a shareholding in TMC. 
In light of this, and because aspects of the Company’s transactions with TMC require disclosure, the Company has provided 
below, for completeness, a description of its relationship with TMC from 2011 onwards. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015112

Although in some respects the nature of the relationship between TMC and the Group is unclear, the Board does not consider 
that the substance of the economic relationships between TMC and the Group for the years 2013 and 2014 indicate that 
it controlled TMC. 

Background information and disclosures in relation to transactions with TMC are set out below: 

Background 

On 1 April 2011, QTL, prior to its admission to AIM via reverse acquisition of Mission Capital in July 2011, the Company acquired 
a beneficial interest in outsourced sales contracts operated by TMC largely relating to the sales of gas and electric contracts to 
primarily consumer households (“TMC Contracts Agreement”). Under the terms of the TMC Contracts Agreement, in addition 
to an initial 2 million QTL shares, TMC was entitled to receive up to 140 million new ordinary shares of 1 pence in the Company 
subject to achieving a target contribution of £1.2m (“Earnout Target”). 

Pursuant to the TMC Contracts Agreement certain non-trading revenues of TMC were capable of contributing to the 
achievement of the Earnout Target. In particular, the Company announced on 17 May 2011 that TMC had acquired Utility Switch 
Limited (“Utility Switch”) for £600,000. The Company subsequently acquired Utility Switch from TMC. The acquisition of Utility 
Switch generated £200,000 of profits for TMC, which contributed towards the assessment of the Earnout Target. 

On 2 December 2011, the Company announced that it has agreed an early settlement (“Settlement”) of the Earnout Target and 
140 million ordinary shares of 1 pence in the Company were allotted to TMC. At this time, certain contracts were disposed of 
by the Company to TMC for a stated consideration of £2.0m. The balance of TMC’s contracts were transferred into a company, 
UK Sun Limited, which was acquired by the Company pursuant to the Settlement. The original accounting entries for this 
transaction have been dealt with in note 3. As at 31 December 2011, TMC held approximately 73.5 million ordinary shares 
of 1 pence in the Company and continued to operate as a business in its own right. 

Further transactions 

Additional transactions between TMC and/or its Director, M Ford, and the Group and other related parties of the Group took 
place during 2012, 2013 and 2014 and are of the following nature: 

(a)  Transactions in the Company’s shares; 
(b)  Acquisition of BEUK; 
(c)  360 Equity Swap (as defined in note 3); and 
(d)  Issue of shares in June 2014. 

(a)  Transactions in the Company’s shares 
During 2012, 2013 and 2014, TMC sold shares in the Company to, bought shares from, or lent shares to, various individuals 
who had a connection with the Company, for example by virtue of being vendors of businesses to the Group. Proceeds from 
the sale of shares by TMC were remitted to the Group and recognised as a debt owed to TMC. The Group made no pecuniary 
gain or loss on these transactions, and the dealings in the Company’s shares were required to be announced in the usual way. 
These transactions would not ordinarily fall to be disclosed in the Company’s Accounts, but have been described because 
(a) in some cases these the transactions gave rise to loans to Directors (see below); (b) in order to provide information 
in relation to the loan owed by the Group to TMC; and (c) for completeness. 

Certain Directors made purchases of shares from, and sales of shares to, TMC on an arms length basis. The Group did not 
make a pecuniary gain or loss on these transactions and the involvement of TMC did not alter the requirements relating to 
announcements of these transactions by the directors concerned. However, the Company has identified that for a short period, 
loans from Quindell to a Director were inadvertently outstanding for a period, prior to the Director remitting payment for the 
shares, as follows: 

 ■ R Cooling: £60,000 was outstanding for the purchase of shares for the period from January 2014 – February 2014 

 ■ R Bright: £125,000 was outstanding for the purchase of shares for the period from December 2013 – February 2014.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)113

None of the loans had agreements hence there were no repayment terms attached nor any attributable interest rate.  
As at 31 December 2013, the amount owed by the Group to TMC was £162,000. As at 31 December 2014, the amount owed 
by the Group to TMC was £2,225,000. This balance was partly settled by the payment of £1,006,000 in January 2015 and the 
balance of £1,219,000 remains outstanding. The Company has no ongoing business with TMC. 

(b) Acquisition of BEUK 
In July 2012, M Ford sold to Quindell 51% of a business which was subsequently renamed BEUK and certain other rights for 
£1.8m. In 2013, Quindell acquired the remaining 49% of BEUK in connection with the acquisition of QPS. Also in 2013, Quindell 
entered into an agreement with M Ford by which a warranty claim in respect of the acquisition of BEUK was settled, by the 
forgiveness of a balance of £1.6m owed. 

(c)  360 Equity Swap 
On 2 May 2013, as part of the transaction to acquire QPS, the Company acquired a further 40.8% of 360 (taking its interest 
in 360 to 60%). Pursuant to the terms of the acquisition of 360, the Company issued 23,428,572 shares of 1 pence (the “New 
Shares”) at 360’s direction to Yorkville. 360 already owned shares in the Company (the “Existing Shares”) as a result of the 
Company’s previous investment in 360 which were also transferred to Yorkville. The New Shares and the Existing Shares were 
together the subject of the 360 Equity Swap. The terms of the 360 Equity Swap provided for the sale each month by Yorkville of 
a specified number of the Company’s shares and for a monthly payment by Yorkville to 360, the value of which was dependent 
on the Company’s share price.

360 subsequently novated its interest in the 360 Equity Swap to TMC for a total of £4.0m to be paid by TMC to 360 in equal 
instalments over a 24 month period (“Swap Payments”). Notwithstanding the fact that the Company was not a party to, or a 
beneficiary of, the 360 Equity Swap, inflows of cash from the 360 Equity Swap which were due to TMC were paid by Yorkville 
through a Group bank account and used to fund the Swap Payments to 360 on a monthly basis. Over the life of the 360 Equity 
Swap, TMC realised a gain of £2.3m but no gain or loss was made by the Group as, although the Swap Payments were remitted 
to the Group, it recognised a corresponding increase in the debt it owed to TMC. The gain has, however, subsequently been 
transferred to the Group as part of a wider settlement of its arrangements with TMC and M Ford. As disclosed in note 3, the 
Board has also reassessed the underlying commercial arrangements and concluded that the shares should be treated as held 
in treasury. 

(d) Issue of shares in June 2014 
On 18 June 2014, the Company issued 16,899,321 ordinary shares of 1 pence to TMC. The shares remain unpaid as at the 
statement of financial position date and the Company has yet to call upon TMC for payment. It appears that some form of trust 
or related arrangement was intended, pursuant to which TMC would hold the shares on behalf of the Company, or possibly on  
behalf of certain vendors of companies to the Company; although it is not clear that this trust arrangement was documented 
or effective. The Company holds a corresponding share certificate for 1,126,621 ordinary shares of 15 pence in safekeeping. 
The shares have therefore been presented in shares treated as held in treasury within other reserves. It is the intention of 
the Group to seek either repayment of the unpaid share capital amounting to £169,000 from TMC or apply for the forfeiture 
of the shares in accordance with the Articles of Association of the Company. In the event that the shares are forfeited, 
then it is intended that the shares will be cancelled and no further amounts will be receivable from TMC. 

Transactions with SMI 

On 22 December 2014, the Group entered into an agreement with SMI and others which included, inter alia, the right for 
the Group to elect, on or before 31 January 2015, for SMI to settle historic research and development costs, more details 
are provided in note 40. SMI was an investment of the Group during the period. 

On 1 January 2014, the Group held a 19% investment in SMI with a carrying value of £1,500,000. The Group provided services 
of £918,000 during the year (2013: £4,260,000) and made purchases on behalf of SMI of £4,960,000 (2013: £3,427,000). 
At 22 December 2014, the Group had a trade receivable of £9,209,000 due from SMI, which was settled on that date through 
an option for the Group to acquire a further 14% in SMI to take its stake to 33%, whereupon SMI was reclassified as an 
associate company. As noted in note 19, the opening investment and trade receivable have been impaired to £nil.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015114

Company Statement of Financial Position 

as at 31 December 2015

Non-current assets
Intangible assets

Property, plant and equipment

Investments in subsidiaries

Interests in associates

Investments

Current assets
Trade and other receivables

Corporation tax assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Assets of disposal group classified as held for sale

Total current assets

Total assets

Current liabilities
Other loans

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Liabilities of disposal group classified as held for sale

Total current liabilities

Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets

Equity
Share capital

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Total equity

Note

45

46

47

47

47

48

49

50

50

50

50

52

53

53

2015

£000

–

1,484

43,076

86

–

2014

£000

2,241

1,580

121,751

7,169

1,621

44,646

134,362

87,041

787

97,639

185,467

–

185,467

230,113

–

(72,687)

(28,322)

(101,009)

–

(101,009)

(28)

(28)

116,544

3,322

29,740

149,606

371,211

520,817

655,179

(2,000)

(79,101)

(23,016)

(104,117)

(21,653)

(125,770)

(9)

(9)

(101,037)

129,076

(125,779)

529,400

4,596

138,494

(14,014)

129,076

65,467

670,512

(206,579)

529,400

The Financial Statements of the Company, registered number 05542221, on pages 114 to 132 were approved by the Directors 
on 27 May 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Mark P Williams   
Director   

David Young 
Director   

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Cash Flow Statement 

for the year ended 31 December 2015

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash used by operations before exceptional costs, net finance expense and tax

Cash outflow from exceptional items

Cash used by operations before net finance expense and tax

Note

Corporation tax received/(paid)

Net cash used by operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 

Purchase of intangible fixed assets

Advance receipt in respect of sale of PSD

Sale of PSD

Acquisition of subsidiaries

Sale of subsidiaries

Sale of associated undertakings

Net movement on loans with group undertakings

Deposits held in escrow

Dividends received from associates

Net cash generated by/(used in) investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Net finance income received

Dividends paid

Issue of share capital

Repayment of secured loans

Return of capital

Cash out of options

Net cash used in financing activities

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year

115

2014

£000

(34,381)

(2,108)

(36,489)

(24,215)

(60,704)

(140)

(45)

8,047

–

(32,142)

–

–

3,395

(3,000)

208

(23,677)

293

(6,180)

100

–

–

–

(5,787)

(90,168)

119,908

29,740

2015

£000

(52,131)

(5,547)

(57,678)

366

(57,312)

(31)

–

–

558,739

(1,000)

5,194

7,069

(23,418)

–

–

546,553

2,375

–

1,305

(2,000)

(411,871)

(11,150)

(421,341)

67,899

29,740

97,639

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015116

Company Statement of Changes in Equity 

Issue of share capital (notes 28, 29)

2,734

29,426

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(63,605)

(349,708)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(164,107)

–

–

–

(21,047)

(9,697)

–

–

–

–

for the year ended 31 
December 2015

At 1 January 2015 (as restated (note 5))

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

Shares no longer issuable (note 29)

Cash out of options (note 28)

Effect of capital reduction and 
return of capital (note 28)

Share-based payments (note 28)

Reserves adjustments, 
including transfer of realised 
profits to retained earnings 
(note 29) 

Total transactions with owners, 
recognised directly in equity

Share 
premium 
account

£000
447,533

Share 
capital

£000
65,467

Merger 
reserve

£000
171,637

Shares 
to be 
issued

£000
30,744

Other 
equity 
reserve

£000
54

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve

Shares 
treated 
as held in 
treasury

Total 
other 
reserves

£000
20,713

£000
(169)

£000
670,512

Retained 
earnings

£000
(206,579)

Total 
equity

£000
529,400

228

–

228

–

9,470

228

–

228

5,461

(227)

–

–

–

2,727

(9,697)

–

(11,150)

(11,150)

(349,708)

1,442

(411,871)

17,235

–

17,235

169

(192,575)

192,575

–

–

–

–

(5,652)

–

–

–

17,235

(28,637)

(60,871)

(320,282)

(164,107)

(30,744)

(17,054)

169

(532,018)

192,337

(400,552)

At 31 December 2015

4,596

127,251

7,530

–

54

3,659

–

138,494

(14,014)

129,076

for the year ended 31 
December 2014

At 1 January 2014

Issue of share capital in respect 
of prior years (note 5)

Share 
premium 
account

£000
322,905

Share 
capital

£000
56,700

Merger 
reserve

£000
124,699

Shares 
to be 
issued

£000
55,505

Other 
equity 
reserve

£000
54

–

11,278

(11,278)

–

At 1 January 2014 (restated)

56,700

334,183

113,421

55,505

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Issue of share capital (note 5)

8,767

111,646

58,216

(73,802)

Shares to be issued

Shares treated as held in 
treasury

Shares no longer issuable

Disposal of shares treated as 
held in treasury

Share-based payments

Dividends received

Dividends paid

Total transactions with owners, 
recognised directly in equity

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

1,704

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

73,118

–

(24,077)

–

–

–

–

8,767

113,350

58,216

(24,761)

Share-
based 
payments 
reserve

Shares 
treated 
as held in 
treasury

Total 
other 
reserves

£000
6,153

–

£000

£000
(2,852) 506,464

–

–

Retained 
earnings

£000
7,131

–

Total 
equity

£000
570,295

–

6,153

(2,852) 506,464

7,131

570,295

–

–

–

(2,826)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(231,736)

(231,736)

–

–

(231,736)

(231,736)

93,234

73,118

(169)

(169)

–

–

–

102,001

73,118

(169)

–

(24,077)

24,077

–

2,852

4,556

(79)

4,477

17,386

–

–

–

–

–

17,386

–

–

–

208

17,386

208

(6,180)

(6,180)

14,560

2,683

164,048

18,026

190,841

At 31 December 2014

65,467

447,533

171,637

30,744

54

20,713

(169) 670,512

(206,579)

529,400

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

54

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015117

Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)

43.  General information

Watchstone Group plc is a company registered and 
domiciled in the United Kingdom. The Financial Statements 
are presented in pounds sterling, to the nearest thousand, 
as this is the currency of the primary economic environment 
in which the Company operates. The address of the 
registered office is 1 Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth East, 
Fareham, Hampshire PO15 5UA. 

44.  Significant accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the 
preparation of these Financial Statements are set out below. 
These policies have been consistently applied to all the years 
presented, except as described in note 3.

Basis of preparation

These Financial Statements have been prepared in 
accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) and IFRIC interpretations adopted by 
the European Union (EU). The Financial Statements have 
been prepared under the historical cost convention. 
A summary of the significant Company accounting policies 
is set out below. The Company has reviewed its accounting 
policies in accordance with IAS 8 and determined that 
they are appropriate for the Company and have been 
consistently applied.

In preparing these Financial Statements the board has taken 
into account all available information in the application 
of its accounting policies and in forming judgements. 

The Company holds significant cash reserves and no material 
debt. The Company has concluded that its cash reserves 
together with ongoing operating cash flows, and receipts of 
deferred consideration from the disposal of the Professional 
Services Division will be sufficient to fund the ongoing 
operations of the Company.

On this basis, the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Company has adequate resources to continue 
in operational existence for the foreseeable future. 
The Directors have not identified any material uncertainties 
that would cast significant doubt on the ability of the 
Company to continue as a going concern. As such, the 
Directors continue to adopt the Going Concern basis of 
accounting in the preparation of the Financial Statements.

Income Statement and Statement 
of Comprehensive Income

The Company has not presented its own Income Statement 
and Statement of Comprehensive Income as permitted 
by section 408 of the Companies Act 2006.

Assets and disposal groups held for sale

Assets are classified as held for sale if their carrying amount 
will be recovered by sale rather than by continuing use in 
the business. Where a group of assets and their directly 
associated liabilities are to be disposed of in a single 
transaction, such disposal groups are also classified as held 
for sale. For this to be the case, the asset or disposal group 
must be available for immediate sale in its present condition, 
and management must be committed to and have initiated a 
plan to sell the asset or disposal group which, when initiated, 
was expected to result in a completed sale within 12 months. 
Assets that are classified as held for sale are not depreciated. 
Assets or disposal groups that are classified as held for sale 
are measured at the lower of their carrying amount and fair 
value less costs to sell.

Discounting of cost of acquisition monies

In accordance with IFRS 3 where consideration is locked 
in to future conditions and requirements, the value of 
such consideration is discounted by the Company’s cost 
of equity for the time value of money. The impact of 
this adjustment on the Company Statement of Financial 
Position is £nil (2014: £1.1 million). The Financial Statement 
line items impacted are a reduction in Investments and 
a corresponding reduction in share premium for the 
amounts noted.

Operating profit

Operating profit is profit stated before finance income, 
finance expense and tax.

Share-based payments

Warrants
The Company has adopted a Black-Scholes model to 
calculate the fair value of warrants. The fair value is 
calculated at the time of issue and charged immediately 
to the Income Statement.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015118

Options
The fair value of options granted to individuals is recognised 
as an expense, with a corresponding increase in equity, 
over the period in which the unconditional entitlement 
occurs. The fair value of the options granted is measured 
using an option valuation model, taking into account 
the terms and conditions upon which the options were 
granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted 
to reflect the actual number of share options expected 
to vest. Upon the exercise of share options, the proceeds 
received net of attributable transaction costs are credited 
to share capital and share premium. The Company adopted 
a Black-Scholes model to calculate the fair value of options 
granted. Costs relating to employees of subsidiaries has 
been accounted for by increasing the Company’s cost of 
investment of those subsidiaries.

Post combination vendor remuneration

Where consideration towards an acquisition is linked to 
ongoing employment within the Company this consideration 
is not treated as a cost of the acquisition. It is treated as post 
combination remuneration and is recognised in the Income 
Statement over the period in which the employment services 
are delivered. The valuation of such amounts, where the 
form of the payment is in shares, uses an option valuation 
model. Where such costs relate to employees of subsidiaries, 
this has been accounted for by increasing the Company’s 
cost of investment of those subsidiaries.

Other intangible assets

Intangible assets with finite useful lives are initially measured 
at cost, or their fair value on the date of acquisition. 
These assets are assumed to have a residual value of £nil 
and amortised over their useful economic lives as follows:

 ■ Data and brands: between 2-10 years; and

 ■ Customer contracts: over the anticipated life 

of contracts.

 ■ Internal costs are capitalised where these are directly 

attributable to the intangible asset.

Impairment of tangible fixed assets and intangible assets 
excluding goodwill

At each Statement of Financial Position date, the Company 
reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible 
assets to determine whether there is any indication that 
those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such 
indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is 
estimated to determine the extent of any impairment loss. 
The recoverable amount is the higher of the asset’s value 
in use and its fair value less costs to sell. Value in use is 
calculated using cash flow projections for the asset (or group 
of assets where cash flows are not identifiable for specific 
assets) discounted at a pre-tax discount rate based on the 
Company’s cost of capital adjusted to reflect current market 
assessment of time value of money and the risk specific 
to the asset or cash-generating unit. If the recoverable 
amount of an asset (or CGU) is estimated to be less than 
its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or 
CGU) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment 
loss is recognised as an expense in the Statement of 
Comprehensive Income, unless the relevant asset is carried 
at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss 
is treated as a revaluation decrease.

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net 
of depreciation and any provision for impairment. 
Depreciation is not provided on freehold land. On other 
assets, depreciation is calculated to write off the cost less 
estimated residual values over their estimated useful lives 
as follows:

 ■ Freehold buildings: 2%-5% per annum straight line

 ■ Improvements to freehold land and buildings:  

5%-10% per annum straight line

 ■ Improvement to leasehold land and buildings:  

Over the term of the lease

 ■ Plant and equipment: 20%-33⅓% per annum 

reducing balance

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)119

Deferred tax is provided using the balance sheet liability 
method on temporary differences between the carrying 
amounts of assets and liabilities in the Financial Statements 
and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation 
of taxable profit. In principle deferred tax liabilities are 
recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred 
tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable 
that future taxable profits will be available against which 
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets 
and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference 
arises from goodwill or from the initial recognition (other 
than in a business combination) of other assets or liabilities 
in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the 
accounting profit.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at 
each Statement of Financial Position date and reduced to 
the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable 
profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to 
be recovered.

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected 
to apply in the period when the liability is settled or the asset 
is realised. Tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is 
a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes 
relate to the same fiscal authority.

Share capital

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded 
at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Exceptional costs

Exceptional costs are or are expected to be non-recurring 
material items which are outside of the Company’s ordinary 
activities. Such items are disclosed separately in the 
Financial Statements.

Assets in the course of construction are capitalised as 
expenditure is incurred. Depreciation is not charged until the 
asset is brought into use. Assets held under finance leases 
are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same 
basis as owned assets or, where shorter, over the term of 
the relevant lease. Residual value is based on the estimated 
amount that would currently be obtained from disposal. 
Estimated residual values and useful economic lives are 
reviewed annually and adjusted where necessary.

Trade receivables

Trade receivables are held at amortised cost less any 
impairment provisions and this equates to their recoverable 
value. Movements in the impairment provision relating to 
credit risk are recognised within administrative expenses 
as bad debt expenses. 

Trade payables

Trade payables do not carry any interest and are stated 
at their fair value.

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash in the Statement of Financial Position comprises cash 
at banks and in hand. For the purpose of the Consolidated 
Cash Flow Statement, cash and cash equivalents consist 
of cash and cash equivalents as defined above, net of 
outstanding bank overdrafts.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Company has a present 
legal or constructive obligation in respect of a past event and 
it is probable that settlement will be required of an amount 
that can be reliably estimated. 

Taxation including deferred tax

The tax expense represents the sum of current tax and 
deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Income Statement 
except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in 
equity in which case it is recognised in equity. The current 
tax is based on taxable profit for the year calculated using 
tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted 
by the Statement of Financial Position date.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015120

45.  Intangible Assets

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions

At 1 January 2015

Disposals

At 31 December 2015

Amortisation
At 1 January 2014

Charge for the year

Impairments

At 1 January 2015

Charge for the year

Disposals

Impairments

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

Customer contracts, data, 
brands and relationships

£000

5,125

45

5,170

(3,232)

1,938

548

838

1,543

2,929

337

(1,400)

72

1,938

–

2,241

All of these assets are recognised at fair value at acquisition or cost to purchase and are amortised over their estimated useful 
lives. Fair values of acquired intangible fixed assets have been assessed by reference to the future estimated cash flows arising 
from the application of assets, discounted at an appropriate rate to present value, or by reference to the amount that would 
have been paid in an arm’s length transaction between knowledgeable and willing parties. The amortisation charge is included 
within administrative expenses.

The Company has conducted a review of all intangible assets at the balance sheet date and identified assets previously valued 
at £72,000 (2014: £1,543,000) which are or will become obsolete, either because they are unused and are expected to remain 
so or will be replaced by other similar and existing assets held by the Company at the balance sheet date. The impairment 
charge is included within exceptional costs.

For further information please see note 15.

There were no material commitments for the acquisition of property, plant or equipment at either 31 December 2015 
or 31 December 2014.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)121

Leasehold land  
and buildings

£000

1,675

140

1,815

31

1,846

110

125

235

127

362

1,484
1,580

Total

£000

308,728

184,884

–

276,117

9,158

(13,007)

(278)

Shares in 
investments

Shares in 
associates

Shares in 
group 
undertakings

£000

£000

£000

3,188

–

–

–

3,188

–

(1,688)

–

1,500

–

1,567

1,567

(12)

(55)

–

1,500

–
1,621

–

(217,495)

(217,495)

36,669

500

(21,698)

268,871

184,384

21,698

15,471

257,458

9,158

(1,815)

–

264,801

271,990

413

135,294

135,707

86,018

–

–

1,619

143,957

145,576

86,020

(2,490)

(278)

221,725

228,828

–

(9,504)

(278)

5,689

1,206

7,096

8,302

14

(2,435)

(278)

5,603

86
7,169

43,076
121,751

43,162
130,541

46.  Property, plant and equipment

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions

At 1 January 2015

Additions

At 31 December 2015

Depreciation
At 1 January 2014

Charge for the year

At 1 January 2015

Charge for the year

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

47.  Investments

Cost
At 1 January 2014

Additions

Reclassifications

Transfer to assets of disposal group classified as held 
for sale

At 1 January 2015

Additions

Disposals

Other

At 31 December 2015

Impairment
At 1 January 2014

Charge for the year

At 1 January 2015

Charge for the year

Disposals

Other

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

31 December 2015
31 December 2014

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015122

The following information relates to the related undertakings of the Company. Unless otherwise stated, all holdings are 100% 
and the principal activity of the undertaking is the provision of software, consulting and other services.

Name of investment
7211589 Canada Inc

ACH Management Services Limited

BE Insulated (UK) Limited*

BestPriceHotDeals Limited

Blackspot Interactive Limited

Blackspot Limited

Brand Extension (UK) Limited

Business Advisory Service Limited

Carbon Reduction Company (UK) Limited*

Connected Car Solutions Inc

Connected Car Solutions Limited

Edgewater Employee Services Inc

Enzyme International Limited

Ferneham Health Limited*

Glanty Limited

Hubio Inc

Hubio SaaS Solutions Inc

Hubio Solutions Inc

Hubio Solutions Limited

Hubio Technologies Limited

ingenie (Canada) Inc

ingenie (UK) Limited

ingenie (US) Limited

ingenie Limited

ingenie Services Limited

ingenie Software Limited

Ingleby (1653) Limited

Intrinsic Holding Company Inc

Intrinsync Insurance Company Inc

Iter8 (USA) Inc

Iter8 Consulting Services Inc

LocX Inc

Maine Finance Limited

Metaskil Group Limited

Metaskil Limited

Mileage Management Limited

Morpheus Holdings Limited

Navseeker Inc

eeGeo Inc

Open Square Limited

Overland Associates Limited

Physiotherapy Rehabilitation Services Limited

pt Health Aspen Limited Partnership

pt Health NB 2015 Professional Corporation Inc

* Denotes sold after the year end – see note 37.

Country of 
incorporation
Canada

Nature of 
holding
Indirect

Class and percentage  
of shares held (100% 
ordinary shares unless 
otherwise stated)

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Canada

UK

Canada

UK

UK

UK

USA

Canada

Canada

UK

UK

Canada

UK

USA

UK

UK

UK

UK

Canada

Canada

USA

Canada

USA

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

USA

USA

UK

UK

UK

Canada

Canada

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Direct

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Direct

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

50%

50%

49%

3.15%

99.92%

88.33%

10.85%

51%

25% common shares, 100% 
preference shares

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)123

Country of 
incorporation
Canada

Nature of 
holding
Indirect

Class and percentage  
of shares held (100% 
ordinary shares unless 
otherwise stated)

UK

UK

UK

UK

South Africa

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Canada

Australia

Ghana

Dubai

South Africa

Abu Dhabi

UK

Mauritius

Kenya

South Africa

Uganda

Nigeria

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

USA

USA

UK

UK

UK

UK

UK

Canada

UK

UK

UK

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Indirect

Direct

Direct

Direct

Direct

98.4%

5.3%

5.3%

5.3%

Name of investment
PT Healthcare Solutions Corp

QPS Energy Limited

QPS Scaffolding Limited

QPS South West Limited

QSM (UK) Limited

Quindell Business Process Outsourcing (Pty) Limited

Quindell Business Process Services Limited

Quindell Champion and Challenger Methods Limited

Quindell Enterprise Solutions Limited

Quindell Financial Services Limited

Quindell Motor Services Limited

Quindell Property Services Limited

Quindell Services Inc

Quintica Asia Pacific*

Quintica Ghana Limited*

Quintica Group FZE*

Quintica Group Shared Services (Pty) Limited*

Quintica Gulf IT Consulting LLC*

Quintica Holdings Limited*

Quintica International Limited*

Quintica Kenya Limited*

Quintica SA (PTY) Limited*

Quintica Uganda Limited*

Quintica West Africa Nigeria Limited*

Road Angel Group Limited

Road Angel Pogo Limited

RoadPilot Limited

SH Auto Services Limited

Skillwise Consulting Limited

Quob Park Solutions Limited

Quob Park Telecoms Limited

SMI Telecoms Distribution Limited

SMI Telecoms Distribution LLC

SMI Telecoms LLC

Sunlite Solutions Limited

SWB Consulting Limited

UK Sun Limited

Utility Supplier Services Limited

Utility Switch Limited

Watchstone (Canada) Inc

Watchstone Brand Additions Limited

Watchstone Limited

Watchstone Telematics Limited

* Denotes sold after the year end – see note 37.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015124

All of the financial year ends of the Groups subsidiaries have been aligned to 31 December 2015, with the exception of Quindell 
Financial Services Limited, which has a year end date of 31 July: The above investments are treated as consolidated subsidiaries 
of the Group, with the exception of those set out below.

The following information relates to investments of the Company treated as associates within the Group accounts (see note 18). 

Name of investment
Ferneham Health Limited (49%)*

Country of 
incorporation
UK

Nature of 
holding
Direct

The following information relates to investments of the Company also treated as investments within the Group accounts (see 
note 19):

Name of investment
Quob Park Solutions Limited (5.3%)

eeGeo Inc (10.85%)

Country of 
incorporation
UK

Nature of 
holding
Direct

USA

Indirect

The fair value of investments was assessed on sales value less cost to sell and falls within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

In March 2016, as a result of an investment by a new third party, the Company’s interest in eeGeo Limited reduced to 8.9%

48.  Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables (net of impairment provision)

Payroll and other taxes including social security

Other debtors

Monies held in Escrow

Prepayments

Accrued income

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

2015

£000

–

567

1,553

55,049

111

–

29,761

87,041

2014

£000

2,424

–

4,672

–

576

396

108,476

116,544

All receivables fall due within one year of the balance sheet date. The Directors consider that the net carrying amount of trade 
receivables approximates to their fair value.

49.  Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents which comprise investments in AAA/AA bank deposits, which can be withdrawn without notice, 
comprise the following for the purpose of the cash flow statement:

Cash and cash equivalents

2015

£000

97,639

2014

£000

29,740

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)50.  Liabilities

Current liabilities
Other loans

Trade payables

Payroll and other taxes including social security

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

Other creditors

Accruals

Provisions

Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liabilities

125

2015

£000

–

1,692

–

56,671

3,960

10,364

28,322

2014

£000

2,000

2,498

4,191

52,079

12,805

7,528

23,016

101,009

104,117

28

28

9

9

The Directors consider that the net carrying amount of liabilities approximates to their fair value.

The analysis of provisions is as follows:

At 1 January 2014

Additional provisions

At 1 January 2015

Additional provisions

Unused amounts reversed

Used during the year

At 31 December 2015
Split:

Non-current

Current

Tax related matters

Tax related 
matters

Legal 
disputes

£000
4,341

12,356

16,697

4,000

–

–

20,697

–

20,697

£000
–

5,538

5,538

4,400

(5,538)

–

4,400

–

4,400

Other

£000
–

781

781

6,218

–

(3,774)

3,225

–

3,225

Total

£000
4,341

18,675

23,016

14,618

(5,538)

(3,774)

28,322

–

28,322

A provision for tax-related matters has been established with respect to judgemental tax positions primarily in relation to PAYE 
and VAT which have not yet been resolved. The amount provided represents the Directors’ estimate of the likely outcome based 
upon the information available; however the ultimate settlement may be different. The Company is taking steps to resolve this 
and believe this will be settled within twelve months from the balance sheet date. 

Legal disputes

The amount provided in respect of legal cases (including investigations and defence costs) is considered to be in the mid-range 
of possible outcomes given the uncertainty in relation to these outcomes. The final costs may be lower or higher than the 
provision recognised above depending upon how protracted such legal cases turn out to be.

On 23 June 2015, the Financial Conduct Authority (“FCA”) informed the Company that it had commenced an investigation under 
the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 in relation to public statements made regarding the financial accounts of the Group 
during 2013 and 2014. On 5 August 2015, the SFO informed the Company that it had opened an investigation, which relates to 
past business and accounting practices at the Group. On the same date, the Financial Reporting Council (“the Committee”) advised 
the Company that, in light of the positive actions taken by the Directors in correcting the identified errors, amending accounting 
policies and providing their undertakings, the Committee had closed its review of the 2011 and 2012 report and accounts. 

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015126

On 18 August 2015, the FCA announced that, in light of the above investigation by the SFO it had decided to discontinue its 
own investigation with immediate effect. The Company is co-operating fully with the SFO investigation which is now the only 
ongoing investigation to which the Company is aware of. At this stage, the timing of completion of the SFO investigation and its 
conclusions cannot be anticipated. Therefore, having taken external advice, no liability has been recognised at the balance sheet 
date as it is not possible to reliably estimate a provision (if any) in respect of this matter.

On 14 December 2015, the Company received a letter of claim from a law firm (“Claimant Firm”) acting for 342 claimants 
commencing an action against the Company under the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (“Letter of Claim”). Despite the 
Company’s endeavours in correspondence with the Claimant Firm, the Company is yet not in a position to verify the 
assertions in the Letter of Claim which, inter alia, details the expected value of the potential claims against the Company to 
be approximately £9.4 million. However, having taken external advice, no liability has been recognised at the balance sheet 
date as it is not possible to reliably estimate a provision (if any) in respect of this matter.

Other

Provisions have been established for expected costs where a commitment has been made at the balance sheet date and 
for which no future benefit is anticipated. No reimbursement has been recognised in relation to any provision as there is no 
certainty of recovery or reliable means of estimation. An element of this relates to costs expected to be incurred as a result of 
the restructuring of the senior management team committed before the year end but for which the exact timing and quantum 
was not agreed until after the year end.

51.  Financial instruments and financial risk management

(a) Financial instruments

The Company’s financial instruments comprise:

1.  Available for sale assets of £nil (2014: £1,621,000)

2. 

 Loans and receivables comprising: trade and other receivables including amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 
£29,761,000 (2014: £110,900,000)

3.  Monies held in Escrow of £55,049,000 (2014: nil)

4.  PSD deferred, contingent consideration of £nil (2014: £nil)

5.  Cash and cash equivalents of £97,639,000 (2014: £29,740,000)

6. 

 Other liabilities comprising: trade and other payables including amounts owed to Group undertakings of £58,363,000 
(2014: £54,577,000) and other loans of £nil (2014: £2,000,000).

The carrying value and fair values are approximately the same. The fair values of assets and liabilities and fair value hierarchy 
is as described in note 33.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015127

(b) Financial risk management

The Company manages its exposure to capital, liquidity and credit risk as set out in note 33.

The following are the contractual maturities of financial liabilities:

2015

Other loans

Trade and other payables

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

2014
Other loans

Trade and other payables

Amounts owed to Group undertakings

Carrying 
amount
£000

Contractual 
cash flows
£000

Less than 1 
year
£000

Between 1-5 

years Over 5 years
£000
£000

–

1,692

56,671

58,363

2,000

2,498

52,079

56,577

–

(1,692)

(56,671)

(58,363)

(2,000)

(2,498)

(52,079)

(56,577)

–

(1,692)

(56,671)

(58,363)

(2,000)

(2,498)

(52,079)

(56,577)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

Included within trade and other payables is an amount of CDN$520,000 (2014: CDN$21,000); all other financial instruments 
are denominated in pounds sterling.

Trade and other receivables of £nil (2014: £2,424,000) was current at the balance sheet date and does not include 
any impairment for bad debt.

52.  Called up share capital

2015

At 1 January – issued shares of 15 pence

Issued shares of 15 pence fully paid

Effect of Reduction of Capital

Issued shares of 1 pence fully paid

Effect of share consolidation

Issued shares of 10 pence

At the end of the year

2014

At 1 January – issued shares of 1 pence

Issued shares of 1 pence fully paid

Issued shares of 1 pence unpaid

Effect of share consolidation

Issued shares of 15 pence

At the end of the year

Nominal 
value fully 
paid

£000

65,298

2,681

(63,447)

39

–

14

4,585

Nominal 
value fully 
paid

£000

56,700

5,001

–

–

3,597

65,298

Nominal 
value unpaid

Nominal 
value total

£000

169

–

(158)

–

–

–

11

£000

65,467

2,681

(63,605)

39

–

14

4,596

Nominal 
value unpaid

Nominal 
value total

£000

–

–

169

–

–

169

£000

56,700

5,001

169

–

3,597

65,467

Number

£000

436,447

17,871

–

3,909

(412,405)

141

45,963

Number

£000

5,669,978

500,097

16,899

(5,774,509)

23,982

436,447

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015128

On 16 December 2015, the High Court of Justice in England and Wales made an order approving the reduction of the 
Company’s share capital under the Companies Act 2006, which had been approved by shareholders at a General Meeting 
held on 26 November 2015. The Reduction of Capital became effective on 18 December 2015 and the nominal value of the 
Company’s shares reduced to 1 pence at that time, which had the effect of reducing the nominal value of issued share capital 
by £63,605,000. On 21 December 2015, the ordinary shares of the Company were consolidated. The share consolidation 
replaced every 10 existing ordinary shares of 1 pence each with 1 new ordinary share of 10 pence. The impact of the share 
consolidation was to reduce the number of allotted, called up, unpaid and fully paid shares was 412 million shares. There was 
no change in the total nominal value of the Company’s issued share capital.

On 20 June 2014, the ordinary shares of the Company were consolidated. The share consolidation replaced every 15 existing 
ordinary shares of 1 pence each with 1 new ordinary share of 15 pence each. The impact of the share consolidation was to 
reduce the number of allotted, called up, unpaid and fully paid shares by 5,775 million. There was no change in the total value 
of the Company’s issued share capital.

Included within the ordinary share capital, as at 31 December 2015, are nil shares of 10 pence (31 December 2014: 2,283,333 
of 15 pence) with a carrying value of £nil (31 December 2014: £12,498,000) held by PT Healthcare Solutions Corp. 
Further details are provided in note 28.

The Company issued a number of share options, see note 28 for further details.

In 2014 and 2015, the company issued a number of shares options, see note 28 for further details.

The Company has one class of ordinary shares of 10 pence each which carry no right to fixed income.

53.  Reserves

Share premium account

Merger reserve

Shares to be issued

Other equity reserve

Share-based payments reserve

Shares treated as held in treasury

Other reserves

Retained earnings

2015

£000

127,251

7,530

–

54

3,659

–

138,494

(14,014)

2014

£000

430,070

189,100

30,744

54

20,713

(169)

670,512

(206,579)

The fair value of the share consideration over and above the share’s nominal value of 15 pence per share (1 pence per share prior 
to the share consolidation exercise in 2014) for all other shares issued by the Company is included in the share premium reserve. 
In addition, directly attributable costs incurred in the issuing of shares are also recognised in the share premium reserve.

The merger reserve represents the fair value of the share consideration over and above the share’s nominal value of 10 pence 
per share (15 pence per share prior to the share consolidation exercise in 2015) for those shares issued as consideration 
for acquisitions that take the Company’s ownership of the acquired entity above 90%.

The shares to be issued reserve represents deferred consideration payable by the issue of the Company’s shares in respect 
of acquisitions made by the Company.

The equity reserve represents the equity component of share-based payments prior to 1 October 2010.

In accordance with IAS 32.33, the Company treats its own shares, which are held by consolidated subsidiaries or where it has 
issued equity instruments where the underlying substance dictates that the economic benefit flows back to the Company, as 
if such shares were treasury shares and deducts them at cost from equity by including them within the shares treated as held 
in treasury reserve. On sale, the reserve is credited at carrying value on a first in first out basis, with any resulting gain or loss 
being shown directly in retained earnings.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)129

The share-based payment reserve is increased to reflect the fair value to the Company of share-based payment transactions, 
with the reserve being reduced when shares are issued.

Further details relating to reserves are included in the Company Statement of Changes in Equity on page 116. 

At the Statement of Financial Position date, the Company had negative distributable reserves of £15,509,000, as a result 
of unrealised profit amounts totalling £1,495,000 in retained earnings.

54.  Income statement of the Company

The Company has taken advantage of the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 to not disclose the Income 
Statement of the Company. The profit after taxation of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2015 was £229,000 
(2014: loss of £231,736,000). 

55.  Cash flow from operating activities

Profit/(loss) after tax

Tax

Finance expense

Finance income

Operating loss

Adjustments for:

Exceptional costs

Share-based payments

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of intangible assets

(Profit)/loss on disposal

Impairment of investments

Impairment of intercompany

Impairment of intangible assets

Operating cash flows before movements in working capital and provisions
Decrease in trade and other receivables

(Decrease)/increase in trade and other payables

Cash generated from operations before exceptional costs

Reconciliation of net cash flow to movement in net funds:

2015

Cash

Cash and cash equivalents

Other secured loans < 1 year

Net funds
2014

Cash

Cash and cash equivalents

Other secured loans < 1 year

Net funds

2015

£000

229

(782)

201

(2,603)

(2,955)

5,547

2,320

127

337

(218,327)

86,020

92,253

72

(34,606)

303

(17,828)

(52,131)

2014

£000

(231,736)

482

66

(3,299)

(234,487)

2,108

22,380

125

838

–

143,957

–

1,543

(63,536)

56

29,099

(34,381)

Cash flow 

1 January

movements 31 December

£000

£000

£000

29,740

29,740

(2,000)

27,740

119,908

119,908

(2,000)

117,908

67,899

67,899

2,000

69,899

(90,168)

(90,168)

–

(90,168)

97,639

97,639

–

97,639

29,740

29,740

(2,000)

27,740

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015130

56.  Discontinued operations and disposals

Disposal of businesses

Nationwide Accident Repair Services Plc (“NARS”) 
The Company disposed of its remaining interests in NARS in 4 March 2015. No gain or loss occurred in the year on the disposal 
of NARS.

360 GlobalNet and related investments (“360”)
The interests that the Company held in 360 were sold in January 2015 and May 2015. There was no gain or loss occurred 
in the period on this investment.

Professional Services Division (“PSD”)
On 29 May 2015, the Group disposed of the PSD (i.e. its interests in its legal, claims management and health service businesses) 
to S&G for a total consideration of £645m with a profit on disposal of £217m. 

The assets and liabilities of the entities classified as held for sale were:

Investments in subsidiaries

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

Assets classified as held for sale
Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings

Liabilities classified as held for sale

Net assets classified as held for sale

Quintica 

2015

£000

–

–

–

–

–

–

2014

£000

217,495

153,716

371,211
(21,653)

(21,653)

349,558

By the balance sheet date, the Company was in negotiations to sell its interests in Quintica (a reseller and integrator of software 
to the telecoms industries) and, after the year end, on 4 March 2016, it disposed of the entire issued share capital of Quintica 
to Quintica to QIH for approximately £1.35 million (the “Quintica Agreement”). In addition, the Company will be entitled to 
additional consideration in the event that Quintica is disposed of (in whole or part) by QIH in the year following completion 
of the transaction.

Under the Quintica Agreement, the Company received £1 million in cash (£0.5 million paid immediately and £0.5 million due 
by 1 January 2017), plus the repayment of intra-company debt of US$0.5 million (approximately £0.35 million).

The net assets of Quintica classified as held for sale at 31 December 2015 were nil. There is expected to be no gain or loss 
on the disposal of Quintica. 

Further details on discontinued operations and disposals are included in note 37. 

57.  Deferred tax

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax assets

2015

£000

28

–

28

2014

£000

9

–

9

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)131

2015

£000

–

28

28

2014

£000

–

9

9

Deferred tax balances for Statement of Financial Position purposes are analysed as follows:

Deferred tax liability falling due within one year

Deferred tax liability falling due after one year

58.  Ultimate controlling party

There are no shareholders with overall control of the Company as at 31 December 2015 or 31 December 2014.

59.  Contingent liabilities

The Company routinely enters into a range of contractual arrangements in the ordinary course of events which can give rise 
to claims or potential litigation against group companies. It is the Company’s policy to make specific provisions at the Statement 
of Financial Position date for all liabilities which, in the opinion of the Directors, are expected to result in a significant loss. 

60.  Related party transactions

The Directors had no material transactions with the Company during the year, other than disclosed in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report on pages 21 to 24 or as described in note 39. The Directors are considered to be the key management 
personnel of the Company.

During the year, the Company entered into transactions, in the ordinary course of business, with other related parties 
as follows:

Subsidiary undertakings:
Purchases

Sales

At 31 December the outstanding balances with subsidiaries are as follows:

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings

61.  Post balance sheet events

2015

£000

–

–

2014

£000

–

–

2015

£000

29,761

(56,671)

2014

£000

108,476

(52,079)

Since 31 December 2015 there have been a number of post balance sheet events, which are discussed in note 40.

62.  Dividends

During the year, the Company paid dividends of £nil (2014: 1.5 pence per ordinary share of 15 pence), totalling £nil 
(2014: £6,180,000).

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015132

63.   Parent company Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2014 included as comparatives in these 

Financial Statements

As disclosed in note 42, the Group identified certain accounting errors which were adjusted for as prior period restatements 
in preparing the consolidated Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2014. Certain errors relating to PYA B, 
PYA C and PYA D (shown within note 42) also directly impacted the Company’s own Financial Statements for the year ended 
31 December 2014.

Revisions to accounting policies and other prior year adjustments made in the 2014 Financial Statements

A description of the revisions to accounting policies and prior year adjustments as a result of the matters noted above is set 
out below. The explanation is copied verbatim from note 42 in the 2014 Financial Statements, except that the tables setting out 
the quantitative changes to 2013 and 2012 Financial Statements have been omitted as they are not relevant to these Financial 
Statements. As such, reference to “notes” are to those that comprised the 2014 Financial Statements which have not been 
replicated in the 2015 Financial Statements.

Disclosures in respect of related party transactions included in the 2014 Financial Statements

The disclosures in respect of related party transactions which were set out in note 60 to the 2014 Financial Statements 
are copied verbatim below, except that the cross reference to the 2014 Directors’ Remuneration Report has been omitted 
as it is not relevant to these Financial Statements.

Verbatim extracts from the 2014 Financial Statements (Reference to “notes” or defined terms in these extracts are 
to those included within the 2014 Financial Statements which may not be replicated in the 2015 Financial Statements)

Accounting Error
As disclosed in note 3, the Group identified certain accounting errors which have been adjusted for as a prior period 
restatement in the Consolidated Financial Statements. Certain errors relating to PYA B, PYA C and PYA D (shown within note 3) 
also directly impact the Company’s own Financial Statements and these have been restated accordingly. A further adjustment to 
the prior year figures has been made in respect of the capitalisation of part of an intercompany loan position with a subsidiary 
within the discontinued business. This has had the effect of increasing cost of investments and reducing amounts due from 
subsidiary undertakings by £4.9m.

During the year, the Company entered into transactions, in the ordinary course of business, with other related parties 
as follows:

During the year, the Company entered into transactions, in the ordinary course of business, with other related parties 
as follows:

Subsidiary undertakings:

Purchases

Sales

At 31 December the outstanding balances with subsidiaries are as follows:

Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings

Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings

2014

£000

–

–

2013

£000

–

1,500

2014

£000

108,476

(52,079)

2013

£000

156,450

(17,683)

In addition to the balances shown above are balances included within assets and liabilities classified as held for sale 
representing amounts due to and from the entities of the PSD.

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015Notes to the Financial Statements (continued)133

Officers and Professional Advisers

Auditor

KPMG LLP
15 Canada Square
London
E14 5GL

Solicitors

Dorsey & Whitney  LLP 
199 Bishopsgate 
London   
EC2M 3UT 

Herbert Smith Freehills LLP 
Exchange House
Primrose Street
London
EC2A 2EG

Registrars

Capita Asset Services
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road
Beckenham
Kent
BR3 4TU

Directors

Mr R Rose (Chairman)
Mr D Currie
Rt. Hon. Lord M Howard
Mr A Illsley
Mr D Young
Mr I Mukerjee
Mr M P Williams

Company Secretary

Mr S Borson

Registered Office

1 Barnes Wallis Road
Segensworth East
Fareham
Hampshire
PO15 5UA
Company Registration No. 05542221

Bankers

Royal Bank of Scotland Plc
Abbey Gardens
4 Abbey Street
Reading 
RG1 3BA

Broker and Nominated Adviser

Peel Hunt LLP
Moor House
120 London Wall
London
EC2Y 5ET

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
134

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 2015135

Watchstone Group plc  Annual Report and Financial Statements 20151 Barnes Wallis Road
Segensworth East
Fareham
Hampshire
PO15 5UA

watchstonegroup.com