Results for the year ended 30 June 2017

RNS Number : 0302S

Hansard Global plc

28 September 2017

Hansard Global plc

Hansard Global plc ("Hansard" or "the Group"), the specialist long-term savings provider, issues its results for the year ended 30 June 2017 ("FY 2017").

Summary

	FY 2017	FY 2016
New business sales - PVNBP	£148.3m	£119.3m
Operating cash surplus IFRS underlying profit after tax	£22.7m £8.8m	£15.9m £9.2m
IFRS profit after tax	£7.7m	£8.3m
EEV profit after tax	11.7m	13.1m
Recommended final dividend per share*	5.3p	5.3p
IFRS earnings per share	5.6p	6.0p

As at	30 June	30 June
	2017	2016
Assets under Administration	£1,050m	£923m
European Embedded Value	£196m	£196m

* subject to approval at the AGM

Gordon Marr, Group Chief Executive Officer, commented:

"Our annual results again demonstrate the continuing trend of strong, diversified levels of new business growth across all the regions in which we operate. We are confident that we can continue to leverage opportunities for growth while maintaining an efficient cost base and that this will ultimately produce attractive returns."

NEW BUSINESS

As previously announced, our new business levels of £148.3m are up 24% on FY 2016 on a Present Value of New Business Premiums ("PVNBP") basis. We continue to make good progress in line with our strategy and achieved strong growth across all our regions. We are pleased with the geographic diversification of our new business, insulating us from concentration risk.

Strategy IMPLEMENTATION

As we continued to achieve growth with our existing distribution, we were pleased to announce in January 2017 a strategic alliance with a local insurer in the United Arab Emirates. We have seen encouraging levels of interest in this product suite and expect sales to continue to increase month on month during FY 2018. We also continue to review and pursue opportunities for additional licences and partnerships in a small number of targeted locations.

TRADING RESULTS

IFRS profit after tax for the year was £7.7m (FY 2016: £8.3m). Excluding one-off items, underlying IFRS profit was £8.8m compared with £9.2m in FY 2016.

The adjustment to underlying profit is due to a £1.1m provision taken against doubtful broker balances during the year (£0.7m of which was incurred in the results for the first six months of the year). Brexit-driven foreign exchange gains last year of £1m were not repeated this year, although a weaker sterling has assisted generally in the increase in Group fee income to £52.6m from £51.3m in FY 2016. Increased sales volumes in Hansard International have more than offset a reduction of £1m in fee income from our closed book of business in Hansard Europe.

Administrative expenses exclusive of exceptional items were flat at £21.7m despite the substantially increased new business levels, reflecting the highly scalable nature of our model. This includes an increase in litigation defence costs of £0.3m compared to FY 2016.

The Group European Embedded Value ("EEV") has remained level at £196m after taking account of the payment of dividends to shareholders during the year of £12.2m. An EEV operating loss of £8.2m was incurred (FY 2016: loss of £1.1m) as a positive New Business Contribution of £1.3m (FY 2016: £0.2m) was offset by a number of negative experience variances and assumption changes. These were primarily related to persistency and to allow for a temporary period of lower policy count. Positive investment return variances resulted in an overall EEV profit of £11.7m for the year (FY 2016: £13.1m). The New Business Margin for 2017 was 0.9% (FY 2016: 0.2%). Margins improved due to increased volumes, offset somewhat by a changing product mix.

DIVIDENDS

The Board has proposed a final dividend of 5.3p (2016: 5.3p) per share which, if approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting on 8 November 2017, represents a total dividend of 8.9p (2016: 8.9p) per share in respect of the financial year. Such dividend will be paid on 16 November 2017 to shareholders on the register on 6 October 2017. The associated ex-dividend date is 5 October 2017.

policyholder complaints AND LITIGATION

The Group continues to manage carefully its litigation exposures relating to the legacy operations of Hansard Europe. Outstanding writs total €16.3m (£14.3m), up €0.6m from the half-year. The Group continues to believe it has strong defences against the claims being made. We successfully defended net claims of approximately £0.3m during the year which affirms confidence in our legal arguments. Initial judgements have mostly been appealed and to be prudent we continue to report the exposure for these cases. The claims are recorded as contingent liabilities in the annual report and accounts.

CURRENT TRADING

We are continuing to deliver further new business growth in Q1 FY 2018 compared to Q1 FY 2017 with all regions contributing well and with product mix as expected.

INTERIM MANAGEMENT STATEMENT

The first Interim Management Statement in respect of the year ending 30 June 2018 is expected to be published on 9 November 2017.

For further information:

Hansard Global plc

Gordon Marr, Group Chief Executive Officer

Tim Davies, Chief Financial Officer

Phone: +44 (0) 1624 688000

Email: investor-relations@hansard.com

Notes to editors:

· Hansard Global plc is the holding company of the Hansard Group of companies. The Company was listed on the London Stock Exchange in December 2006. The Group is a specialist long-term savings provider, based in the Isle of Man.

· The Group offers a range of flexible and tax-efficient investment products within a life assurance policy wrapper, designed to appeal to affluent, international investors.

· The Group utilises a controlled cost distribution model by selling policies exclusively through a network of independent financial advisors, and the retail operations of certain financial institutions who provide access to their clients in more than 170 countries. The Group's distribution model is supported by Hansard OnLine, a multi-language internet platform, and is scalable.

· The principal geographic markets in which the Group currently services contract holders and financial advisors are the Middle East, the Far East and Latin America, in the case of Hansard International Limited, and Western Europe in the case of Hansard Europe Designated Activity Company, the Group's two life assurance companies. Hansard Europe Designated Activity Company closed to new business with effect from 30 June 2013.

· The Group's objective is to grow by attracting new business and positioning itself to adapt rapidly to market trends and conditions. The scalability and flexibility of the Group's operations allow it to enter or develop new geographic markets and exploit growth opportunities within existing markets without the need for significant further investment.

· Following the closure of Hansard Europe Designated Activity Company to new business with effect from 30 June 2013, the Group continues to report new business performance within this document on Hansard International Limited alone. Reporting of Assets under Administration incorporates cash flows relating to insurance contracts issued by both Hansard International Limited and Hansard Europe Designated Activity Company.

Forward-looking statements:

This announcement may contain certain forward-looking statements with respect to certain of Hansard Global plc's plans and its current goals and expectations relating to future financial condition, performance and results. By their nature forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainties because they relate to future events and circumstances which are beyond Hansard Global plc's control. As a result, Hansard Global plc's actual future condition, performance and results may differ materially from the plans, goals and expectations set out in Hansard Global plc's forward-looking statements. Hansard Global plc does not undertake to update forward-looking statements contained in this announcement or any other forward-looking statement it may make. No statement in this announcement is intended to be a profit forecast or be relied upon as a guide for future performance.

This announcement contains inside information which is disclosed in accordance with the Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014.

Chairman's Statement

It is pleasing to see new business levels rise by almost 25% on the previous year. We are seeing new distribution relationships flourish and are well positioned to maintain this growth in 2018 with additional business streams.

New business

Total new business levels rose 24% to £148.3m PVNBP. As a consequence our new business margin has continued to improve and is now 0.9% (2016: 0.2%).

I indicated last year that the Group continues to work on a number of new initiatives that would enable us to sell our products in new markets in the financial year 2018 and beyond. We remain on track with this target and were delighted to have signed a strategic alliance with a local insurance company in the UAE in Q3 FY 2017. We have seen significant levels of interest in this product range and expect this to convert to issued business in the coming period.

Financial performance

Our IFRS profit for the year after taxation was £7.7m (2016: £8.3m). This figure reflects a charge of £1.1m taken as a provision against balances due from a brokerage firm which has experienced financial difficulties during the year. Underlying profit for FY 2017 was £8.8m compared to £9.2m for FY 2016. This underlying performance reflects the development of the Group's international business within Hansard International, offset by reducing Hansard Europe income and increased legal defence costs.

On an EEV basis the profit for the year after taxation was £11.7m (2016: £13.1m). EEV profit continues to be supported by positive investment return variances.

Cash flows have improved reflecting the past two years of growth. Cash flows from operations for the year increased to £8.4m for FY 2017 (2016: £4.7m). This remains less than our 2017 dividend payout but is comfortably funded by our substantial cash balances. As announced in our 2017 half year results, we intend to reduce our dividend in 2018 to better match cash flows and to allow the business to capitalise on future business development opportunities.

Regulatory developments

During 2017, the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority (FSA) released its "2017 Roadmap for updating the Isle of Man's regulatory framework for insurance business", together with a number of key consultations. These changes are wide ranging and will affect all aspects of Hansard's international insurance business from 1 January 2019. The underlying objectives of the Roadmap are to improve policyholder protection, maintain confidence in the island's financial services industry through effective regulation, to observe international standards and core principles and to achieve a positive equivalence assessment under the EU Solvency II framework. Some of the key changes include additional point of sale requirements, including commission disclosure, and a more robust approach to the acceptance and oversight of broker relationships. Given the scale and complexity of these initiatives, we welcome the FSA's recent pragmatic decision to allow the industry until 2019 to develop and implement the necessary changes.

Capitalisation and solvency

The Group remains well capitalised to meet the requirements of regulators, contract holders, intermediaries and other stakeholders. Aggregate minimum solvency margins are covered by £40.8m (2016: £35.5m) of excess assets. We have maintained our prudent investment policy for shareholder assets, which minimises market risk and has provided a stable and resilient solvency position over recent years.

Dividends

The Board has resolved to pay a final dividend of 5.3p per share (2016: 5.3p). The dividend is subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting. If approved, this will represent total dividends for the financial year of 8.9p per share (2016: 8.9p). The final dividend will be paid on 16 November 2017.

Concluding remarks

The Board is pleased to see the continuing growth of the business but is clear that further growth is required to achieve increased economies of scale and improved margins. We are confident that there are significant additional opportunities to capitalise upon in FY 2018 and that we have the appropriate capabilities and structures in place to do so.

Philip Gregory

Chairman

27 September 2017

GROUP CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER'S OVERVIEW

The year has built further on the growth and diversification of our business achieved over the past two years. We have seen a number of regions mature and deliver consistent results while a number of others have grown rapidly as new distribution relationships come on stream.

We were delighted to launch a new business model in the UAE this year which pairs the local knowledge and experience of a domestic insurer with Hansard's leading technology, product and administration capabilities. This locally licensed model allows us to expand our target market and we believe this offers an attractive growth opportunity for the current financial year.

I would also like to highlight the Group's 30-year anniversary which was reached in 2017. There are few companies left in our industry which have not gone through some form of re-branding, takeover or market exit. This stability and consistency we view as a strength and a source of comfort to our customers and distribution partners that we are here for the long term. We were delighted to celebrate this longevity recently at a gala event in the historic grounds of University College Isle of Man.

STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

In light of a global environment where technology and regulation are rapidly evolving, we decided during 2017 to establish a dedicated strategy team and appoint a Chief Strategy Officer.

This team has three main aims:

i) to capitalise on near term strategic opportunities;

ii) to ensure the Group is correctly positioned for future regulatory developments and change; and

iii) to consider and plan for longer term industry and technological evolution.

In due course, we will communicate the output from these considerations and ensure the Group is positioned correctly for the short, medium and long term.

In the meantime, we continue to focus on growing our core offering. We still see plenty of opportunity in developing new and existing broker relationships and indeed as a number of the larger, multi-national insurers take a step back from non-core markets, we see opportunity to step in and meet the needs of customers in those regions.

We are also continuing initiatives to secure additional licenses and partnerships in a small number of targeted locations.

RESULTS FOR THE YEAR UNDER REVIEW

We believe that the following areas are the fundamental factors for the success of the Group.

1. Sourcing significant flows of regular premium new business flows from diversified target markets;

2. Managing our exposure to business risk;

3. Positioning ourselves to incorporate ever-increasing levels of regulation into our business model;

4. Leveraging Hansard OnLine developments and;

5. Managing our cash flows through the cycle to fund the appropriate balance of investment in new business and dividends.

I would draw your attention to the following. Additional information is contained in the Business and Financial Review.

1. New Business distribution

The level of new business* we earned during the financial year ("FY") of £148.3m (using the Present Value of New Business Premiums ("PVNBP") metric) is some 24% above the £119.3m from FY 2016.

Both regular and single premium new business grew during the year. Despite recent changes to UK regulations, we saw strong growth in international pension products and also in our refreshed Capital Builder product. Latin America was our fastest growing region during the year as new relationships started to produce results.

2. Operational, Business and Financial Risks

Our business model involves the acceptance of a number of risks. We maintain an enterprise risk management framework to identify, assess, manage, monitor and control current and emerging risks. However the system of internal control can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Group's internal control and risk management processes have operated satisfactorily throughout the year. There are a number of areas outlined below which are of significance for understanding the results and operating environment of the Group.

2.1 Complaints and potential litigation

We continue to deal with complaints in circumstances where a contract holder believes that the performance of an asset linked to a particular contract is not satisfactory. We do not give investment advice and are not party to the selection of the asset and therefore we believe that such claims have no merit. Sometimes these complaints progress to litigation with the resulting increase in cost and resource to the Group. In many cases the litigation relates to decisions taken by individuals during, or as a result of, the global financial crisis some years ago.

During the year the Group successfully won a further two cases in Italy and Germany which continues to affirm confidence in the Group's legal arguments. The outstanding writs have not materially reduced however as one case has since been appealed and the other case was of a relatively minor value. Two additional claims were made during the year, resulting in a net increase of outstanding writs of €1.2m. The total level of net writs outstanding at the end of the year was €16.9m (£14.8m). At this time it is not possible to put a reliable estimate on the ultimate liability of such writs. Such writs continue to be treated as contingent liabilities within the Annual Report and Accounts.

*Following the closure of Hansard Europe DAC (previously Hansard Europe Limited) to new business with effect from 30 June 2013, new business performance commentary within this document will relate to Hansard International Limited alone, except where indicated.

3. Leverage Hansard OnLine

Hansard OnLine is a powerful sales and business administration tool that is used by IFAs and clients the world over. It is an integral part of the Group's operating model and allows us to better service IFAs and clients, embed process efficiencies and be flexible in operational deployment.

Hansard OnLine provides IFAs and clients with a reliable online self-service model which they can access 24/7 from anywhere around the world with an internet connection. It provides an important foundation to our strategic goal of delivery of excellent customer service.

We have continued to invest in the system over the last year, extending its functionality and reporting capabilities.

Additional information concerning developments in Hansard OnLine is set out in the Business and Financial Review.

4. Operating cash flows and dividends

The Group generates positive operating cash flows to fund investment in new business and support dividend payments.

Operating cash flows have recovered in line with the improved level of new business and Assets under Administration achieved. As outlined in the Cash Flow analysis section of the Business Review, the Group generated £5.8m (2016: £1.2m) in net cash flows before dividends, after the investment of £17.4m (2016: £15.4m) in acquiring new business. Dividends of £12.2m were paid in the financial year (2016: £12.2m), reflecting the strong cash reserves we have in place while we continue to grow the business.

An interim dividend of 3.6p per share was declared on 23 February 2017. A final dividend of 5.3p per share has been proposed by the Board and will be considered at the Annual General Meeting on 8 November 2017. When the final dividend is paid at this level, these dividends will total 8.9p per share in respect of this financial year.

As previously announced we intend to reduce the dividend in 2018 to 50% of current levels which will better match cash flows with dividend pay outs and furthermore allow the business to take advantage of strategic and new business opportunities.

FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE

Results for the year

Financial performance is summarised as follows. A detailed review of performance is set out in the Business and Financial Review that follows this report.

	FY 2017	FY 2016
	£m	£m
New business sales - PVNBP	148.3	119.3
Underlying IFRS profit after tax	8.8	9.2
IFRS profit after tax	7.7	8.3
New business contribution	1.3	0.2
EEV operating loss after tax	(8.2)	(1.1)
EEV profit after tax	11.7	13.1
EEV at 30 June	195.5	195.9

IFRS results

Fees and commissions were £52.6m for the year, up 2.5% or £1.3m from 2016. Fees from Hansard International have increased by £2.5m or 5.5% over 2016 as a result of increasing new business levels and the positive impact on income of sterling's continued weakness. Against this, income from Hansard Europe has continued to fall, as expected, and is 16% down on last year. Further detail and analysis is contained in the Business and Financial Review.

Administrative and other expenses were £27.1m for the year, increased from £25.3m in 2016. The increase is primarily as a result of a £1.1m provision for doubtful debts and an increase of £0.3m in litigation costs.

After eliminating significant, one-off items, the underlying profit after tax was £8.8m compared to £9.2m in 2016.

EEV results

During the year, the Group has continued to invest in the development and implementation of its strategic objectives, while at the same time managing the expenses of supporting its existing business. Operating cash flows have remained positive.

With distribution levels increasing during the year, New Business Contribution has improved to £1.3m for the year (2016: £0.2m). Overall, an EEV profit after tax of £11.7m was produced (2016: £13.1m). This was driven by strong positive investment return variances. Offsetting that were a number of expense, persistency and encashment variances which are outlined further in the EEV section of this report.

The key drivers of these variances were:

	FY 2017	FY 2016
	£m	£m
Investment performance of contract holder funds	14.9	(7.6)
Impact of economic changes on contract holder activity margins	3.8	(4.7)
Exchange rate movements	1.1	26.1
Change in expense assumptions	(5.3)	1.0
Persistency and encashment experience variances	(3.7)	(2.0)

Following the payment of dividends of £12.2m (2016: £12.2m), the Group's EEV was £195.5 at 30 June 2017 (30 June 2016: £195.9m).

Capitalisation and solvency

Our key financial objective is to ensure that the Group's solvency is managed safely through the economic cycle to meet the requirements of regulators, contract holders, intermediaries and shareholders. The Group is well capitalised. The required minimum solvency margins are covered by excess assets of £40.8m, which are typically held in a wide range of deposit institutions and in highly-rated money market liquidity funds. This prudent investment policy for shareholder assets minimises market risk and has provided a stable and resilient solvency position over recent years.

We recognise that Hansard Europe's capital surplus is not available for distribution in the near future. It is therefore included within the total of Required Capital of £27.8m in the analysis of the Group's EEV balance sheet at 30 June 2017. Allowing for this, the EEV balance sheet reflects that the Group has a free surplus of £21.4m (2016: £27.9m) available for investment and distribution.

our people

The Group has a dedicated dynamic workforce across a number of locations around the world. We recognise that our people are key to our success and that our ambitious goals and development plans can only be achieved with their hard work and commitment. This year, many of our people across all disciplines were involved in establishing a new operating model with our strategic partner in the UAE and I am grateful for all the hard work and effort that went into that. It was also pleasing to see our employee engagement scores continue to increase this year and this reflects well on the many initiatives deployed to develop engagement levels in recent years.

G S Marr

Group Chief Executive Officer

27 September 2017

BUSINESS AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

Our Business Model and Strategy

Hansard is a specialist long-term savings provider that has been providing innovative financial solutions for international clients since 1987. We focus on helping financial advisors and institutions to provide their clients (individual and corporate investors) with savings and investment products in secure life assurance wrappers to meet long-term savings and investment objectives.

We administer assets in excess of £1 billion for over 500 financial advisor businesses with approximately 40,000 client accounts in as many as 155 countries.

Business

The Company's head office is in Douglas, Isle of Man, and its principal subsidiaries operate from the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland. Hansard International Limited ("Hansard International") is regulated by the Financial Services Authority of the Isle of Man Government and has a branch in Malaysia, regulated by the Labuan Financial Services Authority, to support business flows from Asian growth economies. Hansard Europe DAC ("Hansard Europe", previously Hansard Europe Limited) is regulated by the Central Bank of Ireland. Hansard Europe ceased accepting new business with effect from 30 June 2013.

Our products are designed to appeal to affluent international investors, institutions and wealth-management groups. They are distributed exclusively through independent financial advisors ("IFAs") and the retail operations of financial institutions.

Our network of Account Executives provides local language-based support services to financial advisors in key territories around the world, supported by our multi-language online platform, Hansard OnLine.

Strategy

Our aim is to be the preferred choice of distributors when recommending international savings and investment products to their clients.

We have developed attractive products and services and will continue to improve them. We recognise that clients are at the heart of our business and, consequently, we must work hard to build long-term positive relationships with them.

Our vision encompasses every part of our business. Beneath this, we have identified a range of strategic objectives to meet this target and continue to work towards them. Through careful execution of our plans in each of the following areas we intend to add increased scale to the business, on a diversified basis, at acceptable levels of risk and profitability.

· More long-term relationships with distributors;

· Better value for clients;

· A more visible profile in the market;

· Excellent client service;

· A motivated and engaged workforce; and

· Market-leading online systems.

Products

The Group's products are unit-linked regular or single premium life assurance and investment contracts which offer access to a wide range of investment assets. The contracts are flexible, secure and held within "wrappers" allowing life assurance cover or other features depending upon the needs of the client. The contract benefits are directly linked to the value of those assets that are selected by, or on behalf of, the client and held within the wrapper. The Group does not offer investment advice. Contract holders bear the investment risk.

The Group's products do not include any contracts with financial options and/or guarantees regarding investment performance and, hence, unlike the situation faced by some other life assurers, the Group carries no guarantee risk that can cause capital strain.

As a result of high levels of service, the nature of the Group's products, the functionality of Hansard OnLine, and the ability of the contract holder to reposition assets within a contract, we expect to retain the contract holder relationship over the long term.

Contract holder servicing and related activities are performed by Hansard Administration Services Limited, which is authorised by the Financial Services Authority of the Isle of Man Government to act as an Insurance Manager to both Hansard International and Hansard Europe.

We continuously seek to develop and enhance our products. In particular during the past year, we launched an enhanced version of our flexible Capital Builder product.

Revenues

The main sources of income for the Group are the fees earned from the administration of insurance contracts. These fees are largely fixed in nature and amount. Approximately 30% of the Group's revenues, under IFRS, are based upon the value of assets under administration. The new business generated in a particular year is expected to earn income for an average period of 14 years. Accordingly, with careful expense management, this provides a healthy return on the capital invested in that business. Our business is therefore long term in nature both from a contract holder perspective and with regards to the income that is generated.

From this income we meet the overheads of the business, invest in our business, invest to acquire new insurance contracts and pay dividends.

Managing Risk

While markets have substantially emerged from the global financial crisis of 2007 and beyond, there remains fragility to global economic and market growth. Events such as the UK referendum result on EU membership, terrorist attacks and geo-political tensions can cause significant volatility to stock market and foreign exchange markets. We therefore continue to maintain a robust, low risk balance sheet. We believe this prudent approach to be appropriate to meet the requirements of regulators, contract holders, intermediaries and shareholders.

We are conscious that managing operational risk is critical to our business and we are continuously developing our enterprise risk management system and controls. Further details of our approach to risk management and the principal risks facing the Group are outlined in the Risk Management and Internal Control Section.

Hansard OnLine

Hansard OnLine is a powerful and secure tool that is used by our IFAs around the world. It allows them to access vast amounts of information about their clients, to generate reports for their clients, to submit new business applications online, to place dealing and switch instructions online, to access all client correspondence and to access a library of forms and literature.

The number of reports and actions processed through Hansard OnLine continues to rise and is now approaching 3 million with over 85% of new business applications and dealing/switch instructions submitted online.

The benefit of this tool is recognised by many IFA's as market leading, which was recently independently acknowledged with Hansard International winning the prestigious International Life Award 2017 for the "Best Online Proposition - Middle East". This is one of, if not the largest International IFA markets in the world.

Online Accounts

Whilst many of our IFAs are technologically sophisticated and have been utilising our online offering for years, our client base has typically lagged behind. However, we are now observing a growing trend amongst our clients to take more control of their financial wellbeing by embracing mobile technology to better monitor and manage their finances.

To support our commitment to delivering 'excellent customer service', we believe it is vital to provide our clients with a modern and secure online platform that allows them to access their finances easily and comprehensively, 24/7. We provide this through our client-facing version of Hansard OnLine, called Online Accounts. Similar to our IFA-facing online platform, the client's Online Account allows them to access all their policy information, valuation statements, transaction history, premium reports, switch their funds online, access all correspondence, access a library of forms and literature, and much more.

A large and increasing number of clients have signed up for this service which allows them to view all documentation and communications relating to their contracts via their Online Account as well as choosing to receive post electronically, rather than in hard-copy form. This not only provides a more secure, faster and cost efficient means of communication with clients but also the convenience to manage their own contract within a timeframe which is more suitable.

Continuous Improvements to our Online Proposition

When it comes to improving how we operate and the proposition we offer, we value the views of our clients and IFAs. This means that we regularly seek feedback through surveys and office visits in order to identify ways in which we can improve our systems and processes to best meet their needs.

However, it is not just functionality that is important, we also have running alongside a continuous programme to enhance the overall user experience, for both IFA's and our clients.

Cyber Security

At a time when 'cyber criminals' are becoming increasingly active and targeting commercial and public enterprises alike, Hansard continues to invest in its cyber security. In addition to continuous upgrades to our firewall protection we have also recently enhanced our forensic capabilities and will continue to do so.

Excellent Customer Service

The restructure mentioned last year has now bedded in and together with a supporting cross training program in place this has given us the flexibility to optimise our resource management. In turn, this has allowed us to cover increased workload and operational peaks, whilst maintaining a high level of service, without the need for a commensurate increase in operational headcount.

Our service levels to IFA's has again been recognised externally by IFA's in Malaysia, where we have won the International Life Award "Readers' Choice" award for the second year running.

Process Re-engineering

The initiative now has significant momentum and is proving to be a huge success. To date, we have reengineered over 120 back office processes, delivering significant process efficiency savings and at the same time reducing operational risk. With most of the core back office process now completed we are extending the program to other parts of the business where we anticipate similar outcomes.

Key performance indicators

The Group's senior management team monitors a wide range of Key Performance Indicators, both financial and non-financial, that are designed to ensure that performance against targets and expectations across significant areas of activity are monitored and variances explained.

The following is a summary of the key indicators that were monitored during the financial year under review.

New Business - The Group's internal indicator of calculating new business production, Compensation Credit ("CC") reflects the amount of base commission payable to intermediaries. Incentive arrangements for intermediaries and the Group's Account Executives incorporate targets based on CC (weighted where appropriate).

New business levels are reported daily and monitored weekly against target levels. As is reported elsewhere in this Report and Accounts, new business flows have continued to recover after the decline in 2014/2015. The Group expects further recovery of CC levels in future years.

Administrative Expenses (excl. exceptional items) - The Group maintains a rigorous focus on expense levels and the value gained from such expenditure. The objective is to develop processes to restrain increases in administrative expenses to the rates of inflation assumed in the charging structure of the Group's policies. The Group's administrative and other expenses for the year (excl. exceptional items) were £21.7m compared to £21.7m in the previous year. Further detail is contained in the section on Administrative and other expenses in the Business Review.

Cash - Bank balances and significant movements on balances are reported weekly. The Group's liquid funds at the balance sheet date were £71.6m (2016: £76.6m). The change is reflective of the level of dividends paid and the level of new business written during the year which has an initial cash flow strain.

Business continuity - Maintenance of continual access to data is critical to the Group's operations. This has been achieved throughout the year through a robust infrastructure. The Group is pro-active in its consideration of threats to data, data security and data integrity. Business continuity and penetration testing is carried out regularly by internal and external parties.

Risk profile - The factors impacting on the Group's risk profile are kept under continual review. Senior management review operational risk issues at least weekly. The significant risks faced by the Group are summarised later in this Strategic Report.

business AND FINANCIAL REVIEW

Strategy DEVELOPMENT

We have sought to build distribution relationships for the long term over a diversified geographical base. We have been focussed in 2017 in leveraging our proposition across new and existing distribution channels and have seen a number of regions mature, such as Middle East & Africa, while others remain in a higher growth phase, such as Latin America.

Our strategy takes account of current and future regulatory developments and we are pursuing opportunities to increase onshore business streams written through new licenses or partnerships in a small number of jurisdictions where we believe attractive levels of business can be obtained.

During the latter part of FY 2017 we successfully launched our first such partnership with a local insurer in the UAE. This allies Hansard's market-leading technology and administration capabilities with the direct insurer's local knowledge and expertise.

We are seeking opportunities to replicate this model in other targeted jurisdictions over the coming years.

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

· Office of Strategic Development

Given the changing industry landscape, particularly in terms of regulation and technology, the Group has established an Office of Strategic Development which comprises experienced resource from across the business to design, review and execute the Group's strategy. Our Chief Operating Officer has been appointed to lead this group as Chief Strategy Officer.

The department has three initial primary aims:

i) to capitalise on near term strategic opportunities;

ii) to ensure the Group is correctly positioned for future regulatory developments and change and;

iii) to consider and plan for longer term industry and technological evolution.

· Regulatory change

The Isle of Man Financial Services Authority ("FSA") is in the process of introducing significant regulatory change to the island's insurance landscape via its "Roadmap for updating the Isle of Man's regulatory framework for insurance business". In common with many other jurisdictions around the world, the intention of these changes is to implement regulatory best practice and ensure the continued reputation of the Isle of Man as a stable and well-regulated place to do business. Changes will include enhanced requirements around consumer disclosures, certain minimum standards for distribution relationships and a Solvency II equivalent risk based capital regime.

We are pro-actively working with the FSA and locally based insurers to shape the practical implementation of the Roadmap and to adapt our business model and processes accordingly. The changes are currently scheduled for implementation on 1 January 2019.

New Business Flows - year ended 30 june 2017

New business performance for the year is summarised in the table below:

	2017	2016	%
Basis	£m	£m	change
Present Value of New Business Premiums	148.3	119.3	24.3 %
Annualised Premium Equivalent	23.2	18.7	24.1 %
Compensation Credit	12.4	10.2	21.6 %

New business figures were substantially higher than the prior year as the business continued the roll-out of its refreshed product proposition. Expatriate broker distribution continues to perform strongly around the world and significant growth was seen in Latin America during the year as new relationships have developed.

· Present Value of New Business Premiums ("PVNBP")

New business flows for Hansard International on the basis of PVNBP are summarised as follows:

	2017	2016	%
PVNBP by product type	£m	£m	change
Regular premium	75.3	65.6	14.8 %
Single premium	73.0	53.7	35.9 %
Total	148.3	119.3	24.3 %

	2017	2016	%
PVNBP by region	£m	£m	change
Rest of World	53.4	44.6	19.7 %
Middle East and Africa	40.6	36.8	10.3 %
Far East	35.4	25.7	37.7 %
Latin America	18.9	12.2	54.9 %
Total	148.3	119.3	24.3 %

We continue to receive business from a diverse range of financial advisors around the world. There has been no significant change in the currencies in which contractual premiums were received.

	2017	2016
Currency denominations (as a percentage of PVNBP)	%	%
US dollar	63.4	68.4
Sterling	30.0	25.4
Euro	4.6	4.4
Other	2.0	1.8
	100.0	100.0

· New business margins

New business margins (calculated on a PVNBP basis) are sensitive to sales levels and product mix (regular premium products and smaller premium sizes typically have a higher margin). During FY 2017, we experienced higher new business levels than FY 2016 which is positive for our margin because much of our cost base is fixed. However this has been offset by an increasing percentage of single premium business as a proportion of PVNBP and increased volumes of our Vantage Platinum product which has a lower margin than its predecessor. Overall, our new business margin has improved to 0.9% for the year, compared to 0.2% for FY 2016.

Presentation of financial results

Our business is long term in nature. For this reason we present the results on an EEV basis in addition to the statutory IFRS basis. We believe that EEV is a valid measure of profitability and shareholder value. Our embedded value is based on the EEV principles which were set out as an industry standard by the Chief Financial Officers (CFO) Forum in 2004 and most recently extended in 2016.

The profit that the Group expects to earn from the issue of an insurance contract is the same, irrespective of the basis of measurement, however:

· The EEV result is a discounted cash flow valuation of the future profits expected to emerge from the current book of insurance contracts and provides a more complete recognition of management's activity throughout the financial year. It demonstrates the expected emergence of shareholder cash over the long term, by reflecting the net present value of the expected future cash flows.

· The IFRS methodology smooths recognition of profit from new business by spreading the initial costs (and revenues) evenly over the life of the business. The IFRS result therefore, reflects neither the future shareholder value added, nor the cash impact of the new business in a particular year.

Results for the year

The following is a summary of key items to allow readers to better understand the results for the year. A small number of comparative figures have been restated in this section to ensure consistency of presentation. IFRS profit after tax for the year is £7.7m (2016: £8.3m).

The reduction in IFRS profit in 2017 is driven primarily by a £1.1m provision for bad debts and increased litigation defence costs of £0.3m, offset partially by an increase in income from the Group's book.

Prior to the significant, one-off items totalling a cost of £1.1m (2016: cost of £0.8m), the underlying IFRS profit was £8.8m before taxation, compared with £9.2m in 2016.

Abridged consolidated income statement

The consolidated statement of comprehensive income presented under IFRS reflects the financial results of the Group's activities during the year. This income statement however, as a result of its method of presentation, incorporates a number of features that might affect an understanding of the results of the Group's underlying transactions. This relates principally to:

· Investment gains during the year attributable to contract holder assets of £134.5m (2016: £60.8m) and;

· Fund management fees paid by the Group to third parties having a relationship with the underlying contract. In 2017, third party fund management fees attributable to contract holder assets were £4.3m (2016: £3.6m). These are reflected in both income and expenses under the IFRS presentation.

An abridged non-GAAP consolidated income statement in relation to the Group's own activities is presented below, excluding the items of income and expenditure indicated above.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Fees and commissions attributable to Group activities before one-off items	48.3	48.4
Investment and other income	1.5	2.7
	49.8	51.1
Origination costs	(19.3)	(20.2)
Administrative and other expenses attributable to the Group, before
exceptional items	(21.7)	(21.7)
Operating profit for the year before significant one-off items	8.8	9.2
One-off income adjustments	-	(0.8)
One-off expense items	(1.1)	-
Profit for the year before taxation	7.7	8.4
Taxation	-	(0.1)
Profit for the year after taxation	7.7	8.3

Fees and commissions

Fees and commissions for the year attributable to Group activities were £48.3m, on a par with last year's level prior to one-off items.

Contract fee income totalled £34.6m for the year (2016: £34.4m). Contract fee income includes the amortised element of up-front income deferred under IFRS and contract-servicing charges. Hansard International fee income has increased reflecting increases in new business and some AuA-based streams. Against this we have seen a further reduction in the year of £1.0m due to the continuing run-off of Hansard Europe which closed to new business in 2013.

Fund management fees accruing to the Group and commissions receivable from third parties totalling £13.7m (2016: £13.2m) are related directly to the value of assets under administration and are therefore exposed to market movements, currency rates and valuation judgements.

A summary of fees and commissions is set out below:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Contract fee income	34.6	34.4
Fund management fees accruing to the Group	9.0	9.1
Commissions receivable	4.7	4.1
	48.3	47.6

Included in contract fee income is £18.1m (2016: £18.5m) representing the amortisation of fees prepaid in previous years, as can be seen in the analysis set out below:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Amortisation of deferred income	18.1	18.5
Income earned during the year	16.5	15.9
Contract fee income	34.6	34.4

Investment and other income

Historically low UK interest rates continue to result in relatively modest levels of interest income earned on the Group's deposits and money market funds. The Brexit-related foreign exchange gains of FY 2016 have not been repeated in FY 2017 with little net movement over the year in our primary foreign exchange rates.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Bank interest	1.0	0.9
Foreign exchange gains on revaluation of net operating assets	-	1.2
Other operating income	0.5	0.6
	1.5	2.7

Origination costs

Under IFRS, new business commissions paid, together with the directly attributable incremental costs incurred on the issue of a contract, are deferred and amortised over the anticipated life of that contract to match the longer-term income streams expected to accrue from the contracts issued this year. Typical terms range between 6 years and 16 years, depending on the nature of the product. Other elements of the Group's new business costs, for example recruitment costs and initial payments to new Account Executives, which reflect investment in distribution resources in line with our strategy, are expensed as incurred.

With the increased new business volumes which the Group experienced during the year, origination costs incurred in the year are similarly increased from the prior year. Overall, net origination costs expensed to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income were slightly lower at £19.3m compared to £20.2m in 2016.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Origination costs - deferred to match future income streams	16.8	15.1
Origination costs - expensed as incurred	3.2	2.5
Total origination costs incurred in the year	20.0	17.6
Net amortisation of deferred origination costs	(0.7)	2.6
	19.3	20.2

Amounts totalling £16.1m (2016: £17.7m) have been expensed to match contract fee income earned this year from contracts issued in previous financial years, as can be seen in the analysis below.

Origination costs in the year were:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Amortisation of deferred origination costs	16.1	17.7
Other origination costs incurred during the year	3.2	2.5
	19.3	20.2

Administrative and other expenses

We continue to manage our expense base robustly to control administrative expenses while supporting our strategic developments and other new business growth activities with targeted expenditure.

An analysis of administrative and other expenses is set out in notes 8 and 9 to the consolidated financial statements under IFRS. The following summarises some of the expenses attributable to the Group's own activities.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Salaries and other employment costs	9.3	10.0
Other administrative expenses	6.5	6.6
Professional fees, including audit	3.5	2.8
Recurring administrative and other expenses	19.3	19.4
Growth investment spend	2.4	2.3
Administrative and other expenses, excl. significant one-off items	21.7	21.7
Provision for doubtful debts	1.1	-
Total administrative and other expenses	22.8	21.7

Salaries and other employment costs have decreased by £0.7m or 7% to £9.3m. Salaries in general have remained relatively flat, despite the increased levels of new business. Discretionary bonuses for management and administrative personnel of £0.3m were payable for 2016, with no comparable figure accrued this year. Costs of £0.3m were incurred in 2016 in recruitment and other handover costs relating to a number of senior management positions.

The average Group headcount for the 2017 financial year was 204 people (2016: 206 people).

Other administrative expenses have decreased marginally from £6.6m to £6.5m.

Professional fees including audit in the year include amounts totalling £0.5m paid to the Group's auditor (2016: £0.6m); £0.5m (2016: £0.3m) for administration, custody, dealing and other charges paid under the terms of the investment processing outsourcing arrangements; recruitment costs of £0.1m (2016: £0.2m) and costs of Investor Relations activities of £0.4m (2016: £0.4m). In addition costs associated with the defence of the litigation against Hansard Europe totalled £0.8m (2016: £0.5m).

Growth investment spend represents internal and external costs to generate opportunities for growth. The Group continues to invest to build its business and to implement product and technological changes to support intermediaries, contract holders and other stakeholders. Specifically, this year's figure includes £0.3m invested in our strategic alliance with a local insurer in the UAE.

Provision for doubtful debts reflects a charge of £1.1m taken as a provision against balances due from a brokerage firm which has experienced financial difficulties.

Cash Flow ANALYSIS

Operating cash flows have increased this year reflecting improved levels of new business over the past two years, more than offsetting changes to our product pricing profile and the run-off of Hansard Europe.

The operational cash surplus (fees deducted from contracts and commissions received, less operational expenses paid) for the year was £22.7m (2016: £15.9m). This surplus funds the cost of new business acquisition for the year which totalled £17.4m (2016: £15.4m).

Writing new business, particularly regular premium business, produces a short-term cash strain as a result of the commission and other costs incurred at the inception of a contract. Annual management charges offset this strain and produce a positive return over time.

Future increases in new business levels can be funded where necessary by the Group's significant cash resources, but over time as the level of contract holder assets is built up, the annual management charges that are earned from the Group's newer products will become sufficient to sustain new business growth and dividends.

To reduce the risk that the targeted return on investment in new business is jeopardised, the Group withholds a portion of initial commission from certain intermediaries pending completion of the initial period of particular contracts. At the balance sheet date, amounts totalling £2.2m (2016: £1.6m) had been withheld. These amounts are reflected within "Other payables" in note 19 to the consolidated balance sheet.

The following non-GAAP tables summarise the Group's own cash flows in the year. This analysis demonstrates that the in-force contract book generated the cash required to support the Group's primary business objective of investing in new business whilst enhancing distribution and other infrastructure. Dividends of £12.2m (2016: £12.2m) paid during the year were covered by the Group's excess cash resources. As we have previously communicated, we are planning to reduce the current level of dividend by 50% in 2018 which will better match the level of operating cash flows generated and allow the Group to take advantage of other new business development and strategic opportunities.

Overall cash and deposits have decreased from £76.6m at 30 June 2016 to £71.6m at 30 June 2017.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Net cash surplus from operating activities	22.7	15.9
Interest received on shareholder bank deposits	1.0	1.0
Net cash inflow from operations	23.7	16.9
Net cash investment in new business	(17.4)	(15.4)
Purchase of property and computer equipment	(0.4)	(0.2)
Corporation tax paid	(0.1)	(0.1)
Net cash inflow before dividends	5.8	1.2
Dividends paid	(12.2)	(12.2)
Net cash outflow	(6.4)	(11.0)


	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Net cash outflow	(6.4)	(11.0)
Increase in amounts due to contract holders	1.0	3.4
Net Group cash movements	(5.4)	(7.6)
Group cash at beginning of year	76.6	80.9
Effect of exchange rate changes	0.4	3.3
Group cash and deposits at end of year	71.6	76.6

Bank deposits and money market funds

The Group holds its liquid assets in highly-rated money market liquidity funds and with a wide range of deposit institutions to minimise market risk. Deposits totalling £14.4m have original maturity dates greater than 3 months and are therefore excluded from the definition of "cash and cash equivalents" under IFRS as reflected in note 16 to the consolidated balance sheet (2016: £15.7m). The following table summarises the total shareholder cash and deposits at the balance sheet date.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Money market funds	49.2	53.6
Short-term deposits with credit institutions	8.0	7.3
Cash and cash equivalents under IFRS	57.2	60.9
Shareholders' longer-term deposits with credit institutions	14.4	15.7
Shareholder cash and deposits	71.6	76.6

The longer-term term deposits have maturity dates of between 4 months and 11 months from the balance sheet date.

Abridged consolidated balance sheet

The consolidated balance sheet presented under IFRS reflects the financial position of the Group at 30 June 2017. As a result of its method of presentation, the consolidated balance sheet incorporates the financial assets held to back the Group's liability to contract holders, and also incorporates the net liability to those contract holders of £1,049.7m (2016: £923.5m). Additionally, that portion of the Group's capital that is held in bank deposits is disclosed in "cash and cash equivalents" based on original maturity terms, as noted above.

The abridged consolidated balance sheet presented below, adjusted for those differences in disclosure, allows a better understanding of the Group's own capital position.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Assets
Deferred origination costs	111.6	110.9
Other assets	7.3	6.5
Bank deposits and money market funds	71.6	76.6
	190.5	194.0
Liabilities
Deferred income	129.2	130.5
Other payables	29.6	27.3
	158.8	157.8
Net assets	31.7	36.2
Shareholders' equity
Share capital and reserves	31.7	36.2

Deferred origination costs

The deferral of origination costs reflects that the Group will earn fees over the long-term from contracts issued in a given financial year. These costs are recoverable out of future net income from the relevant contract and are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the life of each contract.

The movement in value over the financial year is summarised below.

	2017	2016
Carrying value	£m	£m
At beginning of financial year	110.9	113.5
Origination costs incurred during the year	16.8	15.1
Origination costs amortised during the year	(16.1)	(17.7)
	111.6	110.9

Deferred income

The treatment of deferred income ensures that contract fees are taken to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income in equal installments over the longer-term, reflecting the services to be provided over the period of the contract. This is consistent with the treatment of deferred origination costs. Deferred income at the balance sheet date is the unamortised balance of accumulated initial amounts received on new business.

The proportion of income deferred in any one year is dependent upon the mix and volume of new business flows in previous years. The Group's focus on regular premium business means that these fees are received over the initial period of the contract, rather than being received up front, as is often the case with single premium contracts.

The majority of initial fees collected during the year relates to charges taken from contracts issued in prior financial years demonstrating the cash generative nature of the business. Regular premium contracts issued in this financial year will generate the majority of their initial fees over the next 18 months on average.

The movement in value of deferred income over the financial year is summarised below.

	2017	2016
Carrying value	£m	£m
At beginning of financial year	130.5	137.6
Income received and deferred during the year	16.8	11.4
Income recognised in contract fees during the year	(18.1)	(18.5)
	129.2	130.5

CONTRACT holder Assets under administration

In the following paragraphs, contract holder assets under administration ("AuA"), refers to net assets held to cover financial liabilities, as analysed in note 17 to the consolidated financial statements presented under IFRS.

The Group enjoys a stream of cash flows from the large number of regular premium contracts administered on behalf of clients around the world. The Group has continued to build an increasing stream of single premium business which increased to £66.4m this year (2016: £52m). The majority of premium contributions are designated in currencies other than sterling, reflecting the wide geographical spread of those contact holders. Premium contributions during the year also includes additional contributions of approximately £4.0m (2016: £4.3m) relating to single and regular premium contracts issued by Hansard Europe in prior years.

These flows are offset by charges and withdrawals, by premium holidays affecting regular premium policies and by market valuation movements. During the year, the Group benefitted from significant market gains which drove AuA to over £1 billion.

The currency composition of AuA at the balance sheet date is similar to that as at 30 June 2016, with 60% of AuA designated in US dollar (2016: 69%) and 19% in euro (2016: 12%).

The value of AuA at 30 June 2017 was £1,049.7m, £126.2m above the value at 30 June 2016.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Deposits to investment contracts - regular premiums	84.5	71.9
Deposits to investment contracts - single premiums	66.4	52.0
Withdrawals from contracts and charges	(159.2)	(168.3)
Effect of market movements	123.8	(48.1)
Effect of currency movements	10.7	108.9
Movement in year	126.2	16.4
At beginning of financial year	923.5	907.1
	1,049.7	923.5

The analysis of AuA held by each Group subsidiary to cover financial liabilities is as follows:

	2017	2016
Fair value of AuA at 30 June	£m	£m
Hansard International	878.5	749.0
Hansard Europe	171.2	174.5
	1,049.7	923.5

As expected the level of assets in Hansard Europe continues to decline after closing to new business in 2013. However, investment market strength and sterling's continued weakness has offset significantly the impact of net contract holder withdrawals.

complaints and potential litigation

In valuation issues such as those referred to above, financial services institutions can be drawn into disputes in cases where the performance of assets selected directly by or on behalf of contract holders through their advisors fails to meet their expectations. This is particularly relevant in the case of more complex products distributed throughout Europe.

Even though the Group does not give any investment advice, as this is left to the contract holder directly or through an agent, advisor or an entity appointed at their request or preference, the Group has been subject to a number of complaints in relation to the performance of assets linked to contracts.

Some of these complaints escalate into litigation, particularly in Europe. At the beginning of this financial year the Group was facing litigation based on writs totalling €15.7m (£13.1m).

During the year the Group successfully won a further three cases in Italy and Germany which continues to affirm confidence in the Group's legal arguments. The outstanding writs have not materially reduced as two cases have since been appealed and the other case was of a relatively minor value. Two additional claims were made during the year, resulting in a net increase of outstanding writs of €1.2m. The total level of writs outstanding at the end of the year was €16.9m (£14.8m).

While it is not possible to forecast or determine the final results of such litigation, based on the pleadings and advice received from the Group's legal representatives, we believe we have a strong chance of success in defending these claims. The writs have therefore been treated as contingent liabilities and are disclosed in note 26 to the consolidated financial statements.

Results for the year under European Embedded Value

Headline results

During the course of the 2017 financial year, the Group made a European Embedded Value ("EEV") profit of £11.7m (2016: profit of £13.1m), analysed into an EEV operating loss of £8.2m (2016: loss of £1.1m) and gains from investment return variances and economic assumption changes of £19.9m (2016: gains of £14.2m).

The EEV operating loss is primarily driven by a negative experience variance of £4.7m and negative operating assumption changes of £5.9m. Experience variances arise when actual experience differs from that assumed in the prior year's EEV. Operating assumption changes reflect changes in management's view of the behaviour of the existing business.

Headline results for the EEV are shown in the tables below:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
EEV operating loss after tax	(8.2)	(1.1)
Investment return variances and economic assumption changes	19.9	14.2
EEV profit	11.7	13.1

EEV before dividends	207.7	208.1
Dividends paid during the financial year	(12.2)	(12.2)
Closing Embedded Value	195.5	195.9

The EEV at 30 June 2017 of £195.5m has remained broadly level with the 30 June 2016 amount of £195.9m, after the payment of dividends of £12.2m for the year (2016: £12.2m).

Sales metrics

New business comparatives are shown below:

	2017	2016
New business sales ("PVNBP")	£148.5m	£119.5m
New Business Contribution ("NBC")	£1.3m	£0.2m
New Business Margin ("NBM")	0.9 %	0.2%

The change is primarily due to the increase in new business volumes over the period and the existence of a greater number of insurance contracts to spread initial expenses over.

The New Business Contribution and Margin have increased primarily due to the increase in new business volumes over the period and the existence of a greater number of insurance contracts to spread initial expenses over. New Business Margin is also impacted by the mix of business written, with regular premium business having a larger margin than single premium business. During 2017, a higher proportion of single premium business was written than in 2016.

The high-level components of the EEV are shown in the table below:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Free Surplus	21.4	27.9
Required Capital	27.8	27.6
Net Worth	49.2	55.5
Value of In-Force ("VIF")	152.6	147.8
Other	(6.3)	(7.4)
Value of Future Profits ("VFP")	146.3	140.4
EEV	195.5	195.9

Net Worth has reduced to £49.2m from £55.5m as profits earned from the existing business are offset by the dividend paid. It is represented by liquid cash and money market balances.

Free Surplus, which is available for investment and distribution, has reduced to £21.4m from £27.9m reflecting the fact that more of the cash which continues to emerge from the existing policies was needed to invest in increasing levels of new business. Required Capital has not changed significantly. It currently includes around £20m of Hansard Europe capital, the use of which management estimates is constrained for up to three years.

The increase in VFP reflects sterling exchange rates on 30 June 2017, increased new business levels, the conversion of VFP to Net Worth and the impact of contract holder behaviour and renewal expenses.

The Other component of VFP includes a reduction to non-market risk and frictional costs, which have not changed substantially over the year.

Change in Net Worth	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Opening Net Worth	55.5	63.5
Expected new Net Worth from existing business	27.9	24.0
Time value	0.1	0.5
Net worth variance	(1.3)	(1.7)
Net Worth from Existing Business	26.7	22.8
New Business Strain	(20.8)	(18.6)
Dividends paid	(12.2)	(12.2)
Closing Net Worth	49.2	55.5

The Net Worth is lower than projected by £1.3m (2016: lower by £1.7m) primarily because of worse than assumed operating experience during the year. The Net Worth has grown by £26.7m (2016 £22.8m), of which £20.8m (2016: £18.6m) has been invested in new business (shown as New Business Strain) and £12.2m has been paid in dividends (2016: £12.2m).

EEV profit after tax

The Group's EEV profit after tax is £11.7m (2016: £13.1m). New business, experience variances, operating assumptions and model changes drive this result at an operating profit level. Thereafter, the impact of positive investment return variances and economic assumption changes more than offset the loss at an operating level.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
New Business Contribution	1.3	0.2
Experience variances	(4.7)	(3.8)
Operating assumption and model changes	(5.6)	1.0
Expected return on new and existing business and Net Worth	0.8	1.5
EEV operating loss after tax	(8.2)	(1.1)
Investment return variances	16.8	18.8
Economic assumption changes	3.1	(4.6)
EEV profit after tax	11.7	13.1

Experience variances	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Full encashments	(2.0)	(1.2)
Premium reductions and underpayments	(1.7)	(0.8)
Charges	(0.7)	(0.6)
One-off expenses	(0.5)	(0.3)
Policies made paid up	(0.4)	(0.1)
Ongoing expenses	(0.2)	(1.3)
Other	0.8	0.5
Experience variances	(4.7)	(3.8)

Experience variances arise when the behavior of the existing book differs from that assumed. Major contributors to the experience variances this year are worse than assumed encashment and premium persistency.

Full encashments were significantly impacted by a single broker which has now ceased trading.

Operating assumption changes	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Ongoing expenses	(5.3)	1.0
Premium persistency	(2.1)	0.9
Full encashment	(0.6)	0.6
Partial encashment	0.7	(2.5)
Contract holder activity margins	1.4	-
Other	-	(0.1)
Operating assumption changes	(5.9)	(0.1)

The primary change in operating assumption changes during the year was a strengthening of the expenses assumed to be borne by each in-force contract. This was to reflect a lengthier period being taken by the Group to achieve the scale assumed in its long-term assumptions, impacted also by the closure to new business of Hansard Europe.

Investment return variances

Investment performance principally reflects the investment choices, by nature and currency, made by contract holders. It is therefore largely outside the Group's control.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Investment performance of contract holder funds	14.9	(7.6)
Exchange rate movements	1.1	26.1
Other	0.8	0.3
Investment return variances	16.8	18.8

Economic assumption changes

There was a positive variance of £3.1m (2016: negative £4.6m) from economic assumption changes. This reflects changes to government yields for the currencies to which the Group is exposed in line with EEV Principles.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Contract holder activity margins	3.8	(4.7)
Risk discount rates and unit growth	(0.7)	0.1
Economic assumption changes	3.1	(4.6)

Net asset value per share

On an EEV basis, the net asset value per share at 30 June 2017 is 142.3p (2016: 142.5p) based on the EEV at the balance sheet date divided by the number of shares in issue at that date, being 137,444,792 ordinary shares (2016: 137,440,456 shares).

The net asset value per share at 30 June 2017 on an IFRS basis, is 23.1p (2016: 26.3p).

Risk management and internal control

As with all businesses, the Group is exposed to risk in pursuit of its objectives. The Board has overall responsibility for the Group's system of risk management and internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. The schedule of powers reserved to the Board ensures that the Directors are responsible for determining, evaluating and controlling the nature and extent of the principal risks which the Board is willing to take in achieving its strategic objectives and the Board oversees the strategies for principal risks that have been identified.

The Executive Management Team works within the risk appetite established by the Board and the governance, risk management and internal control arrangements which constitute the Group Enterprise Risk Management (ERM) Programme and which direct the Group, including setting the cultural tone and expectations from the top, delegating authorities and monitoring compliance.

Having regard to the Financial Reporting Council's 'Guidance on Risk Management, Internal Control and Related Financial and Business Reporting', the ERM Programme encompasses the policies, processes, tasks, behaviours and other aspects of the Group's environment, which cumulatively:

· Facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the Group and its subsidiaries by enabling appropriate responses to be made to significant business, operational, financial, compliance and other risks to business objectives, so safeguarding the assets of the Group;

· Help to ensure the quality of internal and external reporting. This requires the maintenance of proper records and processes that generate a flow of timely, relevant and reliable information from within and outside the Group;

· Seek to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations and also with internal policies with respect to the conduct of business.

Approach

The ERM Programme is structured in accordance with the component elements and supporting principles of the Committee of Sponsoring Organisations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) Enterprise Risk Framework and has been designed to be appropriate to the nature, scale and complexity of the Group's business at both corporate and subsidiary level. A comprehensive review of the component elements of the ERM Programme has been undertaken during the year ended 30 June 2017. The review has sought to strengthen the governance arrangements associated with the identification and management of risks across the Group and to enhance the reporting arrangements which assist the Directors in their assessment of the adequacy and effectiveness of the Group's risk management and internal control systems.

The ERM Programme continues to be built upon the 'three lines of defence' model, which addresses how specific duties relating to risk management and internal control are assigned and coordinated between front line management (first line), risk and compliance monitoring functions (second line) and the independent assurance services of internal audit (third line). Each of the three lines plays a distinct role within the Group's overarching governance framework.

The ERM Programme seeks to add value through embedding risk management and effective internal control systems as continuous and developing processes within strategy setting, programme level functions and day-to-day operating activities. The ERM Programme also acknowledges the significance of the Group's operating culture and values in relation to risk management and their impact on the overall effectiveness of the internal control framework.

The ERM Programme promotes the pursuit of its overarching performance, information and compliance objectives through focus on five interrelated elements, which enable the management of risk at strategic, programme and operational level to be integrated, so that layers of activity support each other. The five interrelated elements are defined as:

· Management oversight and the control culture

· Risk recognition and assessment

· Control activities and segregation of duties

· Information and communication

· Monitoring activities and correcting deficiencies

Risk management processes are undertaken on both a bottom-up and top-down basis. The top-down aspect involves the Board assessing, analysing and evaluating what it believes to be the principal risks facing the Group. The bottom-up approach involves the identification, review and monitoring of current and forward-looking risks on a continuous basis at functional and divisional levels, with analysis and formal reporting to the Executive Risk Committee, established by the Board, on a quarterly basis and onward analytical reporting to the Board. The terms of reference of the Committee are published on the Company's website.

The system of internal control is designed to manage rather than eliminate risk of failure to achieve business objectives, and can only provide reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.

Review of risk management and internal control systems

The results of the risk management processes combine to facilitate identification of the principal business, financial, operational and compliance risks and any associated key risks at a subordinate level. Established reporting cycles enable the Board to maintain oversight of the quality and effectiveness of risk management and internal control activities throughout the year and ensure that the entirety of the governance, risk management and internal control frameworks, which constitute the ERM Programme, are operating as intended. These processes have been in place throughout the year under review and up to the date of this report.

Independently of the quarterly cyclical risk reporting arrangements and in accordance with provision C.2.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code, the Board has conducted its annual review of the effectiveness of the company's risk management and internal control systems including financial, operational and compliance controls. This review is undertaken in collaboration with the Audit Committee and is based upon analysis and evaluation of:

· Attestation reporting from subsidiary companies of the Group as to the effective functioning of the risk management and internal control framework and the ongoing identification and evaluation of risk within each subsidiary;

· Formal compliance declarations from senior managers at divisional level that key risks are being managed appropriately within the functional and operational areas falling under their span of control and that controls have been examined and are effective;

· The cumulative results of cyclical risk reporting by senior and executive management via the Executive Risk Committee, covering financial, operational and compliance controls;

· Independent assurance work by the Group Internal Audit Department to identify any areas for enhancements to internal controls and work with Management to define associated action plans to deliver them.

The Board has determined that there were no areas for enhancement which constituted a significant weakness for the year under review and they are satisfied that the Group's governance, risk management and internal control systems are operating effectively and as intended.

Financial reporting process

The Group maintains a process to assist the Board in understanding the risks to the Group of failing to meet its objectives. This incorporates a system of planning and sensitivity analysis incorporating Board approval of forecast financial and other information. The Board receives regular representations from the senior executives.

Performance against targets is reported to the Board quarterly through a review of the Group's and Company's results based on accounting policies that are applied consistently throughout the Group. Financial and management information is prepared quarterly by the Chief Financial Officer ("CFO") and presented to the Board and Audit Committee. The members of the Audit Committee review the draft financial statements for the half year ended 31 December annually and for the full financial year, and meet with the CFO to discuss and challenge the presentation and disclosures therein. Once the draft document is approved by the Audit Committee, it is reviewed by the Board before final approval at a Board meeting.

Outsourcing

The majority of investment dealing and custody processes in relation to policyholder assets are outsourced to Capital International Limited ("CIL"), a company authorised by the Isle of Man Financial Services Authority and a member of the London Stock Exchange.

These processes are detailed in a formal contract that incorporates notice periods and a full exit management plan. Delivery of services under the contract is monitored by a dedicated relationship manager against a documented Service Level Agreement and Key Performance Indicators.

CIL is required to confirm monthly that no material control issues have been identified in their operations; this is overseen via the delivery of services monitoring performed by the relationship manager. Each year CIL are required to confirm and evidence the adequacy and effectiveness of their internal control framework through an Assurance report, with an external independent review performed every second year. The last such report, which included an external independent review, was issued by CIL on 13 May 2016 and did not reveal any material control deficiencies in the period reviewed from 1 January 2015 to 31 December 2015.

Risks relating to the Group's financial and other exposures

Hansard's business model involves the controlled acceptance and management of risk exposures. Under the terms of the unit-linked investment contracts issued by the Group, the policyholder bears the investment risk on the assets in the unit-linked funds, as the policy benefits are directly linked to the value of the assets in the funds. These assets are administered in a manner consistent with the expectations of the contract holders. By definition, there is a precise match between the investment assets and the policyholder liabilities, and so the market risk and credit risk lie with policyholders.

The Group's exposure on this unit-linked business is limited to the extent that income arising from asset management charges and commissions is generally based on the value of assets in the funds, and any sustained falls in value will reduce earnings. In addition, there are certain financial risks (credit, market and liquidity risks) in relation to the investment of shareholders' funds. The Group's exposure to financial risks is explained in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements.

The Board believes that the principal risks facing the Group's earnings and financial position are those risks which are inherent to the Group's business model and operating environment.. The regulatory landscape continues to evolve at both a local and international level and the risk management and internal control frameworks of the Group must remain responsive to developments which may change the nature, impact or likelihood of such risks

Principal Risks

The following table sets out the principal inherent risks that may impact the Group's strategic objectives, profitability or capital and how such risks are managed or mitigated. The Board robustly reviews and considers its principal risks on at least an annual basis.

Risk	Risk factors and management
Business model risk	The scale and pace of change in regulatory and supervisory standards at an international level continue to drive developments at a local level. The interpretation or application of regulation over time may impact market accessibility, broker relationships and / or competitive positioning. If the Group fails to monitor the regulatory environment or adequately integrate the management of associated obligations within strategic, business model or business planning processes there may be material risk to the achievement of strategic objectives both in the short and longer term. How we manage the risk: · Robust strategic planning processes informed by analytical review of the external environment and consideration of associated risk in the short and longer term. · Continuous monitoring and review of developments in local and international law and regulation. · Engagement with regulatory authorities and industry bodies, including active engagement in and responding to regulatory consultation exercises.
Distribution strategy compromised as a result of market changes, technology or competitor activity	The business environment in which the international insurance industry operates is subject to continuous change as new market and competitor forces come into effect and as technology continues to evolve. Hansard may fail to sufficiently differentiate itself from its competitors and global brands and as a result be unable to build and sustain successful distribution relationships. How we manage the risk: · Close monitoring of marketplaces and competitor activity for signs of threats to forecast new business levels. · Revised strategies designed to add additional scale to the business, on a more diversified basis, through organic growth at acceptable levels of risk and profitability. · Continuous development of technology.
Conduct risk	Any failure to adequately assess, monitor, manage and mitigate risks to the delivery of fair customer outcomes, or to market integrity, can be expected to result in material detriment to the achievement of strategic objectives and is likely to incur regulatory censure, financial penalty, contract holder litigation and / or reputational damage. How we manage the risk: · Developments in the Group's ERM framework will continue to drive and deliver the integration of conduct risk management at both a cultural and practical level. · Business activities designed to manage the volume and velocity of regulatory change are fundamentally concerned with ensuring compliance with conduct risk obligations, managing conflicts of interest, preventing market abuse and building robust governance arrangements around new product development and product suitability processes. · The Group maintains regular dialogue with its regulatory authorities and continual discussions with its advisors in relation to developments in the regulatory environment in which we operate.
Infrastructure risk Infrastructure risk (cont.)	A material failure in our core business systems or business processes may result in significant, costly interruptions, customer dissatisfaction and regulatory censure. How we manage the risk: · Maintenance of detailed and robust Business Continuity Plans, including full data replication at an independent recovery centre, which can be invoked when required. · Frequent and robust testing of business continuity and disaster recovery arrangements.
Cyber risk	As we and our business partners increasingly digitalise our businesses, we are unavoidably exposed to the risk of cybercrime. If the Group fails to take adequate and appropriate measures to protect its systems and data from the inherent risk of attack, disruption and/or unauthorised access by internal or external parties could arise, resulting in confidential data being exposed and/or systems interruption. A significant cybercrime event could result in reputational damage, regulatory censure and financial loss. How we manage the risk: · Continuous focus on the maintenance of a robust, secure and resilient IT environment that protects customer and corporate data. · Control techniques deployed to evaluate the security of systems and proactively address emerging threats both internally within the organisation and externally, through regular engagement with internet and technology providers and through industry forums.
Failure to drive the right corporate culture and attract, develop, engage and retain key personnel	Delivery of the Group's strategy is dependent on attracting and retaining experienced and high-performing management and staff. The performance, knowledge and skills of our employees are central to our success. We must attract, integrate, engage and retain the talent required to deliver our strategy and have the appropriate processes and culture in place. The inability to retain key people, and adequately plan for succession can be expected to negatively impact the performance of the Group. How we manage the risk: · Significant resources focussed on communicating strategy and desired cultural behaviours to all employees. · Forums established for employees to provide feedback for continuous improvement. · Employee engagement monitored and measured through periodic employee surveys. · Group performance management system in place. · Training and development strategy in place to manage talent, provide development opportunities and address any skill gaps. · Remuneration models and trends monitored closely by the Group's Human Resources Department and the Remuneration Committee. · Succession planning strategy in place, to manage and mitigate 'key person' risk.

Other Key Risks

In addition to the principal risks identified above, there are other key risks that the Group is subject to that derive from the nature of the business it operates. These are outlined below, together with how they are managed.

Risk	Risk factors and management
Market risk	While the Group does not invest shareholder funds in assets subject to any significant market risk, the Group's earnings and profitability are influenced by the performance of contract holder assets and the fees derived from their value. Significant changes in equity markets and interest rates can adversely affect fee income earned. Extreme market conditions can influence the purchase of financial services products and the period over which business is retained. How we manage the risk --- These risks are inherent in the provision of investment-linked products. We model our business plans across a broad range of market and economic scenarios and take account of alternative economic outlooks within our overall business strategy.
Credit Risk	In dealing with financial institutions, banking, money market and settlement, custody and other counterparties the Group is exposed to the risk of financial loss and operational disruption of our business processes. How we manage the risk --- The Group seeks to limit exposure to loss from counterparty and third party failure through selection criteria, minimum rating agency limits, pre-defined risk based limits on concentrations of exposures and monitoring positions.
Liquidity risk	If the Group does not have sufficient liquid assets available to pay its creditors, the Group may fail to honour its obligations as they fall due, or may have to incur significant loss or cost to do so. How we manage the risk --- The Group maintains highly prudent positions in accordance with its risk appetite and investment policies which ensures a high level of liquidity is available in the short term at all times. Generally, shareholder assets are invested in cash or money market instruments with highly rated counterparties.
Currency risk	The Group operates internationally and earns income in a range of different currencies. The vast majority of its operational cost base is denominated in Sterling. The movement of Sterling against US Dollars is the most significant exposure to reported income levels. How we manage the risk --- We seek to match currency assets and liabilities to mitigate against currency movements to the extent possible. As the Group's products are long term products, over time currency movements tend to even out, reducing the need for active hedging policies. Long term trends are monitored however and considered in pricing models.

Further detail around financial risks is outlined in Note 3 (Financial Risk Management) to the consolidated financial statements.

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income for the year ended 30 June 2017

		Year ended	Year ended
		30 June	30 June
		2017	2016
	Notes	£m	£m


Fees and commissions	5	52.6	51.3

Investment income	6	135.5	62.8

Other operating income		0.5	0.6

		188.6	114.7

Change in provisions for investment contract liabilities		(134.5)	(60.8)

Origination costs	7	(19.3)	(20.2)

Administrative and other expenses	8	(27.1)	(25.3)
		(180.9)	(106.3)
Profit before taxation		7.7	8.4

Taxation	10	-	(0.1)
Profit and total comprehensive income for the year
after taxation		7.7	8.3

Earnings per share

		2017	2016
	Note	(p)	(p)

Basic	11	5.6	6.0

Diluted	11	5.6	6.0

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

for the year ended 30 June 2017

	Share	Other	Retained
	capital	reserves	earnings	Total
	£m	£m	£m	£m
At 1 July 2015	68.7	(48.3)	19.7	40.1

Profit and total comprehensive income for the
year after taxation	-	-	8.3	8.3

Transactions with owners

Dividends paid	-	-	(12.2)	(12.2)
At 30 June 2016	68.7	(48.3)	15.8	36.2

	Share	Other	Retained
	capital	reserves	earnings	Total
	£m	£m	£m	£m
At 1 July 2016	68.7	(48.3)	15.8	36.2

Profit and total comprehensive income for the
year after taxation	-	-	7.7	7.7

Transactions with owners

Dividends paid	-	-	(12.2)	(12.2)
At 30 June 2017	68.7	(48.3)	11.3	31.7

Consolidated Balance Sheet As at 30 June 2017

		2017	2016
	Notes	£m	£m

Assets
Property, plant and equipment	13	1.0	1.0

Deferred origination costs	14	111.6	110.9

Financial investments
Equity securities		20.5	13.0
Investments in collective investment schemes		920.9	784.5
Fixed income securities		22.0	22.6
Deposits and money market funds		103.1	120.2

Other receivables	15	5.2	4.4
Cash and cash equivalents	16	57.2	60.9
Total assets		1,241.5	1,117.5

Liabilities
Financial liabilities under investment contracts	17	1,049.7	923.5
Deferred income	18	129.2	130.5
Amounts due to investment contract holders		22.8	20.7
Other payables	19	8.1	6.6
Total liabilities		1,209.8	1,081.3
Net assets		31.7	36.2

Shareholders' equity
Called up share capital	21	68.7	68.7
Other reserves	22	(48.3)	(48.3)
Retained earnings		11.3	15.8
Total shareholders' equity		31.7	36.2

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement for the year ended 30 June 2017

	2017	2016
	£m	£m

Cash flow from operating activities
Profit before tax for the year	7.7	8.4
Adjustments for:
Depreciation	0.4	0.5
Dividends receivable	(3.9)	(3.9)
Interest receivable	(0.8)	(0.6)
Foreign exchange gains	(0.4)	(3.3)

Changes in operating assets and liabilities
Increase in other receivables	(0.7)	(0.3)
Dividends received	3.9	3.9
Interest received	0.8	0.7
(Increase)/decrease in deferred origination costs	(0.7)	2.6
Decrease in deferred income	(1.3)	(7.1)
Increase in creditors	3.5	3.6
Increase in financial investments	(126.3)	(16.2)
Increase in financial liabilities	126.3	16.5
Cash flow from operations	8.5	4.8
Corporation tax paid	(0.1)	(0.1)
Cash flow from operations after taxation	8.4	4.7
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of plant and equipment	(0.4)	(0.2)
Proceeds from sale of investments	0.3	-
Purchase of investments	(0.2)	(0.1)
Cash flows used in investing activities	(0.3)	(0.3)
Cash flows from financing activities
Dividends paid	(12.2)	(12.2)
Cash flows used in financing activities	(12.2)	(12.2)
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(4.1)	(7.8)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year	60.9	65.4
Effect of exchange rate changes	0.4	3.3
Cash and cash equivalents at year end	57.2	60.9

Notes to the consolidated financial statements

1 Principal accounting policies

Hansard Global plc ("the Company") is a limited liability company, incorporated in the Isle of Man, whose shares are publicly traded. The principal activity of the Company is to act as the holding company of the Hansard group of companies. The registered office of the Company is Harbour Court, Lord Street, Box 192, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1QL.

These consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and the results of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings ("the Group"). The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below or, in the case of accounting policies that relate to separately disclosed values in the primary statements, within the relevant note to these consolidated financial statements. These policies have been consistently applied, unless otherwise stated.

1.1 Basis of presentation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union ("IFRSs"), International Financial Reporting Standards Interpretations Committee ("IFRSIC") interpretations, and with the Isle of Man Companies Acts 1931 to 2004. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of financial investments and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss. The Group has applied all International Financial Reporting Standards adopted by the European Union and effective at 30 June 2017.

The Directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements.

There has been no significant impact in the financial statements due to the mandatory application of new accounting standards for the year ended 30 June 2017.

The following new standards and interpretations are in issue but not yet effective and have not been early adopted by the Group:

· IAS7, 'Statement of cash flows in disclosure initiative

· IFRS 15, 'Revenue from contracts with customers'

· Annual improvements 2014

· IFRS 9, 'Financial instruments'

· IFRS 16, 'Leases'

· IFRS 17, 'Insurance contracts

· Amendments to IAS12, 'On recognition of deferred tax assets for unrealised losses'

· Amendment to IFRS 4, 'Insurance contracts' regarding the implementation of IFRS 9, 'Financial instruments'.

The adoption of the above standards is not expected to have any material impact on the Group's results.

There are no other standards, amendments or interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective, that would have a material impact on the Group's financial statements.

The financial statements are presented in pounds sterling rounded to the nearest one hundred thousand pounds.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires management to make judgements, estimates and assumptions that affect the application of policies and reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting year. The estimates and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and various other factors that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the year in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that year or in the year of the revision and future years if the revision affects both current and future years.

The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial statements, are disclosed in note 2.

1.2 Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements incorporate the assets, liabilities and the results of the Company and of its subsidiary undertakings. Subsidiaries are those entities in which the Company directly or indirectly has the power to govern the financial and operating policies generally accompanying a shareholding of more than one half of the voting rights. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. Where necessary, accounting policies applied by subsidiary companies have been adjusted to present consistent disclosures on a consolidated basis. Intra-group transactions, balances and unrealised gains and losses arising from intra-group transactions, are eliminated in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

2 Critical accounting estimates and judgements in applying accounting policies

Estimates, assumptions and judgements are used in the application of accounting policies in these financial statements. Critical accounting estimates are those which involve the most complex or subjective judgements or assessments. Estimates, assumptions and judgements are evaluated continually and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances. Actual outcomes may differ from assumptions and estimates made by management.

2.1 Accounting estimates and assumptions

The principal areas in which the Group applies accounting estimates and assumptions are in deciding the type of management expenses that are treated as origination costs and the period of amortisation of deferred origination costs and deferred income. Estimates are also applied in determining the recoverability of deferred origination costs.

2.1.1 Origination costs

Management expenses have been reviewed to determine the relationship of such expense to the issue of an investment contract. Certain expenses vary with the level of new business production and have been treated as origination costs. Other expenses are written off as incurred.

2.1.2 Amortisation of deferred origination costs and deferred income

Deferred origination costs and deferred income are amortised on a straight-line basis over the life of the underlying investment contract. Deferred origination costs and deferred income are amortised over the anticipated life of the contract estimated to be between 6 and 16 years, depending on the product type.

2.1.3 Recoverability of deferred origination costs

If, based upon a review of the remaining contracts, there is any other indication of irrecoverability or impairment, the contract's recoverable amount is estimated. Impairment losses are reversed through the statement of comprehensive income if there is a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. Such losses are reversed only to the extent that the contract's carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of amortisation where applicable, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

2.2 Judgements

The primary areas in which the Group has applied judgement in applying accounting policies are as follows:

· The classification of contracts between insurance and investment business. All contracts are treated as investment contracts as they do not transfer significant insurance risk;

· The Group has elected to treat all assets backing its contracts at fair value through profit or loss although some of the assets in question may ultimately be held to maturity;

· The fair value of certain financial investments. Where the Directors determine that there is no active market for a particular financial instrument, fair value is assessed using valuation techniques based on available relevant information and an appraisal of all associated risks. This process requires the exercise of significant judgement on the part of Directors, as is discussed further in note 3.5 to these consolidated financial statements and;

· To determine whether a provision is required in respect of any pending or threatened litigation, which is addressed in note 26.

3 Financial risk management

Risk management objectives and risk policies

The Group's objective in the management of financial risk is to minimise, where practicable, its exposure to such risk, except when necessary to support other objectives. The Group seeks to manage risk through the operation of unit-linked business whereby the contract holder bears the financial risk. In addition, shareholder assets are invested in highly rated investments.

Overall responsibility for the management of the Group's exposure to risk is vested in the Board. To support it in this role, an enterprise risk management framework is in place comprising risk identification, risk assessment, control and reporting processes. Additionally, the Board and the Boards of subsidiary companies have established a number of Committees with defined terms of reference. These are the Actuarial Review, Audit, Executive, Investment and Risk Committees. Additional information concerning the operation of the Board Committees is contained in the Corporate Governance section of this Report and Accounts.

The more significant financial risks to which the Group is exposed are set out below. For each category of risk, the Group determines its risk appetite and sets its investment, treasury and associated policies accordingly.

3.1 Market risk

This is the risk that the fair value or future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in market prices, analysed between price, interest rate and currency risk. The Group adopts a risk averse approach to market risk, with a stated policy of not actively pursuing or accepting market risk except where necessary to support other objectives. However, the Group accepts the risk that the fall in equity or other asset values, whether as a result of price falls or strengthening of sterling against the currencies in which contract holder assets are denominated, will reduce the level of annual management charge income derived from such contract holder assets and the risk of lower future profits.

Sensitivity analysis to market risk

The Group's business is unit-linked and the direct associated market risk is therefore borne by contract holders (although there is a secondary impact as shareholder income is dependent upon the markets, as mentioned above). Financial assets and liabilities to support Group capital resources held outside unitised funds primarily consist of units in money market funds, cash and cash equivalents, and other assets and liabilities. Cash held in unitised money market funds and at bank is valued at par and is unaffected by movement in interest rates. Other assets and liabilities are similarly unaffected by market movements.

As a result of these combined factors, the Group's financial assets and liabilities held outside unitised funds are not materially subject to market risk, and movements at the reporting date in interest rates and equity values have an immaterial impact on the Group's profit after tax and equity. Future revenues from annual management charges may be affected by movements in interest rates, foreign currencies and equity values.

(a) Price risk

Unit linked funds are exposed to securities price risk as the investments held are subject to prices in the future which are uncertain. The fair value of financial assets (designated at fair value through profit or loss) exposed to price risk at 30 June 2017 was £963.4m (2016: £820.1m). In the event that investment income is affected by price risk then there will be an equal and opposite impact on the value of the changes in provisions for investment contract liabilities in the same accounting period. The impact on the profit or loss before taxation in a given financial year is negligible.

An overall change in the market value of the unit-linked funds would affect the annual management charges accruing to the Group since these charges, which are typically 1% per annum, are based on the market value of contract holder assets under administration. The approximate impact on the Group's profits and equity of a 10% change in fund values, either as a result of price, interest rate or currency fluctuations, is £1.3m (2016: £1.2m).

(b) Interest rate risk

Interest rate risk is the risk that the Group is exposed to lower returns or loss as a direct or indirect result of fluctuations in the value of, or income from, specific assets arising from changes in underlying interest rates.

The Group is primarily exposed to interest rate risk on the balances that it holds with credit institutions and in money market funds. A change of 1% p.a. in interest rates will result in an increase or decrease of approximately £0.8m (2016: £0.8m) in the Group's annual investment income and equity.

A summary of the Group's liquid assets at the balance sheet date is set out in note 3.2.

Currency risk is the risk that the Group is exposed to higher or lower returns as a direct or indirect result of fluctuations in the value of, or income from, specific assets and liabilities arising from changes in underlying exchange rates.

(c)(i) Group foreign currency exposures

The Group is exposed to currency risk on the foreign currency denominated bank balances, contract fees receivable and other liquid assets that it holds to the extent that they do not match liabilities in those currencies. The impact of currency risk is minimised by frequent repatriation of excess foreign currency funds to sterling. The Group does not hedge foreign currency cash flows. At the balance sheet date the Group had exposures in the following currencies:

	2017	2017	2017	2016	2016	2016
	US$m	€m	¥m	US$m	€m	¥m
Gross assets	15.2	3.8	202.8	10.9	7.4	254.0
Matching currency liabilities	(10.8)	(5.2)	(97.8)	(13.3)	(4.4)	(127.7)
Uncovered currency exposures	4.4	(1.4)	105.0	(2.4)	3.0	126.3
Sterling equivalent (£m)	3.4	(1.3)	0.7	(1.8)	2.5	0.9

The approximate effect of a 5% change: in the value of US dollars to sterling is less than £0.1m (2016: less than £0.1m); in the value of the euro to sterling is £0.1m (2016: £0.1m); and in the value of the yen to sterling is less than £0.1m (2016: less than £0.1m).

(c)(ii) Financial investments by currency

Certain fees and commissions are earned in currencies other than sterling, based on the value of financial investments held in those currencies from time to time.

The sensitivity of the Group to the currency risk inherent in investments held to cover financial liabilities under investment contracts is incorporated within the analysis set out in (a) above.

At the balance sheet date the analysis of financial investments by currency denomination is as follows, US dollars: 59.6% (2016: 63.2%); euro: 18.9% (2016: 17.2%); sterling: 18.9% (2016: 16.9%); other: 2.6% (2016: 2.8%).

3.2 Credit risk

Credit risk is the risk that the Group is exposed to lower returns or loss if another party fails to perform its financial obligations to the Group. The Group has adopted a risk averse approach to such risk and has a stated policy of not actively pursuing or accepting credit risk except when necessary to support other objectives.

The clearing and custody operations for the Group's security transactions are mainly concentrated with one broker, namely Capital International Limited, a member of the London Stock Exchange. At 30 June 2017 and 2016, substantially all contract holder cash and cash equivalents, balances due from broker and financial investments are placed in custody with Capital International Limited. These operations are detailed in a formal contract that incorporates notice periods and a full exit management plan. Delivery of services under the contract is monitored by a dedicated relationship manager against a documented Service Level Agreement and Key Performance Indicators, and attested periodically by external advisors. Investment risk is borne by the contract holder.

The Group has an exposure to credit risk in relation to its deposits with credit institutions and its investments in unitised money market funds. To manage these risks; deposits are made, in accordance with established policy, with credit institutions having a short-term rating of at least F1 and P1 from Fitch IBCA and Moody's respectively and a long-term rating of at least A and A3. Investments in unitised money market funds are made only where such fund is AAA rated. Additionally maximum counterparty exposure limits are set both at an individual subsidiary company level and on a Group-wide basis.

At the balance sheet date, an analysis of the Group's own cash and cash equivalent balances and liquid investments was as follows (an analysis by maturity date is provided in note 3.4):

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Deposits with credit institutions	22.4	23.0
Investments in money market funds	49.2	53.6
	71.6	76.6

3.3 Liquidity risk

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group, though solvent, does not have sufficient financial resources to enable it to meet its obligations as they fall due, or can only secure them at excessive cost. The Group is averse to liquidity risk and seeks to minimise this risk by not actively pursuing it except where necessary to support other objectives.

The Group's objective is to ensure that it has sufficient liquidity over short- (up to one year) and medium-term time horizons to meet the needs of the business. This includes liquidity to cover, amongst other things, new business costs, planned strategic activities, servicing of equity capital as well as working capital to fund day-to-day cash flow requirements.

Liquidity risk is principally managed in the following ways:

· Assets of a suitable marketability are held to meet contract holder liabilities as they fall due.

· Forecasts are prepared regularly to predict required liquidity levels over both the short- and medium-term.

The Group's exposure to liquidity risk is considered to be low since it maintains a high level of liquid assets to meet its liabilities.

3.4 Undiscounted contractual maturity analysis

Set out below is a summary of the undiscounted contractual maturity profile of the Group's assets.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Maturity within 1 year
Deposits and money market funds	71.6	76.6
Other assets	2.3	1.4
	73.9	78.0
Maturity from 1 to 5 years
Other assets	-	0.1
	-	0.1
Assets with maturity values	73.9	78.1
Other shareholder assets	115.8	115.0
Shareholder assets	189.7	193.1
Gross assets held to cover financial liabilities under investment contracts	1,051.8	924.4
Total assets	1,241.5	1,117.5

There is no significant difference between the value of the Group's assets on an undiscounted basis and the balance sheet values.

Assets held to cover financial liabilities under investment contracts are deemed to have a maturity of up to one year since the corresponding unit-linked liabilities are repayable and transferable on demand. In certain circumstances the contractual maturities of a portion of the assets may be longer than one year, but the majority of assets held within the unit-linked funds are highly liquid. The Group actively monitors fund liquidity.

The contractual maturity analyses of financial and other liabilities are included in notes 17 and 19 to the consolidated balance sheet.

3.5.1 Fair value estimation

The Group closely monitors the valuation of assets in markets that have become less liquid. Determining whether a market is active requires the exercise of judgement and is determined based upon the facts and circumstances of the market for the instrument being measured. Where the directors determine that there is no active market for a particular financial instrument, for example where a particular collective investment scheme is suspended from trading, fair value is assessed using valuation techniques based on available, relevant, information and an appraisal of all associated risks. When a collective investment scheme recommences regular trading, the value would be transferred back to Level 1. This process requires the exercise of significant judgement on the part of Directors.

IFRS 13 requires the Group to classify fair value measurements into a fair value hierarchy by reference to the observability and significance of the inputs used in measuring that fair value. The hierarchy is as follows:

· Level 1: fair value is determined as the unadjusted quoted price for an identical instrument in an active market.

· Level 2: fair value is determined using observable inputs other than unadjusted quoted prices for an identical instrument and that does not use significant unobservable inputs.

· Level 3: fair value is determined using significant unobservable inputs.

The following table analyses the Group's financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, at 30 June 2017:

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	£m	£m	£m	£m
Equity securities	20.5	-	-	20.5
Collective investment schemes	853.8	-	67.1	920.9
Fixed income securities	22.0	-	-	22.0
Deposits and money market funds	103.1	-	-	103.1
Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	999.4	-	67.1	1,066.5

3.5.2 Transfers into and out of Level 3

During this financial year ended 30 June 2017, no assets were transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. Assets with a fair value of £8.5m were transferred from Level 1 to Level 3, due to the change in market for the related assets. Of these, assets with a value of £2.1m were reclassified from Level 1 to Level 3 and subsequently valued at zero by the Directors, as they believe this reflects the fair value of these assets at the balance sheet date.

In total, assets with a fair value of £67.1m are classified as Level 3 as the Directors believe that valuations can no longer be obtained for these assets from an observable market price due to suspension in trading or the asset becoming illiquid. The Directors value these assets at the latest available NAV of the investment unless there is more appropriate information, which indicates a reduction to the fair value.

No assets were transferred from Level 3 to Level 1 or Level 2 during the financial year.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
	£m	£m	£m	£m
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss	-	1,049.7	-	1,049.7

The following table analyses the Group's financial assets and liabilities at fair value through profit or loss, at 30 June 2016:

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	£m	£m	£m	£m
Equity securities	13.0	-	-	13.0
Collective investment schemes	724.4	-	60.1	784.5
Fixed income securities	22.6	-	-	22.6
Deposits and money market funds	120.2	-	-	120.2
Total financial assets at fair value through profit or loss	880.2	-	60.1	940.3

During the financial year ended 30 June 2016, no assets were transferred from Level 2 to Level 1. Assets with a fair value of £2.8m were transferred from Level 1 to Level 3, due to the change in market for the related assets. Assets with a value of £3.3m were reclassified from Level 1 to Level 3 and subsequently valued at zero by the Directors, as they believe this reflects the fair value of these assets at the balance sheet date. Assets with a fair value of £57.3m were transferred from Level 2 to Level 3 during the year as the directors believe that valuations can no longer be obtained for these assets from an observable market price due to suspension in trading or the asset becoming illiquid.

No assets were transferred from Level 3 to Level 1 or Level 2 during the financial year.

	Level 1	Level 2	Level 3	Total
	£m	£m	£m	£m
Financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss	-	923.5	-	923.5

Due to the unit-linked nature of the contracts administered by the Group's insurance undertakings, any change in the value of financial assets held to cover financial liabilities under those contracts will result in an equal and opposite change in the value of contract liabilities. The separate effect on financial assets and financial liabilities is included in investment income and investment contract benefits, respectively, in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

4 Segmental information

Disclosure of operating segments in these financial statements is consistent with reports provided to the Chief Operating Decision Maker ("CODM") which, in the case of the Group, has been identified as the Executive Committee of Hansard Global plc.

In the opinion of the CODM, the Group operates in a single reportable segment, that of the distribution and servicing of long-term investment products. New business development, distribution and associated activities in relation to the Republic of Ireland ceased with effect from 30 June 2013. All other activities of the Group are continuing.

The Group's Executive Committee uses two principal measures when appraising the performance of the business: Net Issued Compensation Credit ("NICC") and expenses. NICC is the amount of basic initial commission payable to intermediaries for business sold in a period and is calculated on each piece of new business. It excludes override commission paid to intermediaries over and above the basic level of commission. NICC is a high level measure of the value of new in-force business and top-ups on existing single premium contracts and is supplemented by a quarterly review of New Business Contribution at a product level.

The following table analyses NICC geographically and reconciles NICC to origination costs incurred during the year as set out in the Business and Operating Review section of this Report and Accounts.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Middle East and Africa	3.0	4.5
Rest of World	3.0	1.9
Far East	2.9	2.1
Latin America	1.6	0.9
Net Issued Compensation Credit	10.5	9.4
Other commission costs paid to third parties	4.9	4.5
Enhanced unit allocations	1.4	1.2
Origination costs incurred during the year	16.8	15.1

The net issued compensation credit figure of £10.5m for the year all relates to continuing operations based in the Isle of Man (2016: £9.4m).

Revenues and expenses allocated to geographical locations contained in sections 4.1 to 4.4 below reflect the revenues and expenses generated in or incurred by the legal entities in those locations.

4.1 Geographical analysis of fees and commissions by origin

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Isle of Man	46.9	44.5
Republic of Ireland	5.7	6.8
	52.6	51.3

4.2 Geographical analysis of profit before taxation

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Isle of Man	7.8	8.3
Republic of Ireland	(0.1)	0.1
	7.7	8.4

4.3 Geographical analysis of gross assets

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Isle of Man	1,038.6	909.7
Republic of Ireland	202.9	207.8
	1,241.5	1,117.5

4.4 Geographical analysis of gross liabilities

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Isle of Man	1,025.8	892.6
Republic of Ireland	184.0	188.7
	1,209.8	1,081.3

5 Fees and commissions

Fees are charged to the contract holders of investment contracts for contract administration services, investment management services, payment of benefits and other services related to the administration of investment contracts. Fees are recognised as revenue as the services are provided. Initial fees that exceed the level of recurring fees and relate to the future provision of services are deferred in the balance sheet and amortised on a straight-line basis over the life of the relevant contract. These fees are accounted for on the issue of a contract and on receipt of incremental premiums on existing single premium contracts.

Regular fees charged to contracts are recognised on a straight-line basis over the period in which the service is provided. Transactional fees are recorded when the required action is complete.

Commissions receivable arise principally from fund houses with which investments are held. Commissions are recognised on an accruals basis in accordance with the relevant agreement.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Contract fee income	34.6	34.4
Fund management charges	13.4	12.8
Commissions receivable	4.6	4.1
	52.6	51.3

6 Investment income

Investment income comprises dividends, interest and other income receivable, realised gains and losses on investments and unrealised gains and losses. Movements are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income in the period in which they arise. Dividends are accrued on the date notified. Interest is accounted for on a time proportion basis using the effective interest method.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Interest income	0.8	0.6
Dividend income	4.4	3.9
Gains on realisation of investments	27.2	30.7
Movement in unrealised gains	103.1	27.6
	135.5	62.8

7 Origination costs

Origination costs include commissions, intermediary incentives and other distribution-related expenditure. Origination costs which vary with, and are directly related to, securing new contracts and incremental premiums on existing single premium contracts are deferred to the extent that they are recoverable out of future net income from the relevant contract. Deferred origination costs are amortised on a straight-line basis over the life of the relevant contracts. Origination costs that do not meet the criteria for deferral are expensed as incurred.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Amortisation of deferred origination costs	16.1	17.7
Other origination costs	3.2	2.5
	19.3	20.2

8 Administrative and other expenses

Included in administrative and other expenses is the following:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Auditors' remuneration:
- Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the
Company's annual accounts	0.1	0.1
- Fees payable for the audit of the Company's subsidiaries
pursuant to legislation	0.3	0.3
- Other services provided to the Group	0.1	0.2
Employee costs (see note 9)	10.6	11.4
Directors' fees	0.3	0.3
Fund management fees	4.7	3.6
Renewal and other commission	1.4	1.3
Professional and other fees	2.8	2.3
Impairment of broker receivable	1.1	-
Litigation fees and settlements	1.0	0.5
Operating lease rentals	0.9	0.7
Licences and maintenance fees	1.0	0.9
Insurance costs	1.1	0.9
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	0.4	0.5
Communications	0.6	0.5

9 Employee costs

The Group provides a range of benefits to employees, including annual bonus arrangements, paid holiday arrangements and defined contribution pension plans.

Short term benefits, including holiday pay and other similar non-monetary benefits, are recognised as an expense in the period in which the service is received.

The Group pays fixed pension contributions on behalf of its employees (defined contribution plans). Once the contributions have been paid the Group has no further payment obligations. The contributions are recognised as an expense when they are due. Amounts not paid are shown in accruals in the balance sheet. The assets of the plan are held separately from the Group in independently administered funds.

The Group operates an annual bonus plan for employees. An expense is recognised in the statement of comprehensive income when the Group has a legal or constructive obligation to make payments under the plan as a result of past events and a reliable estimate of the obligation can be made.

9.1 The aggregate remuneration in respect of employees (including sales staff and executive Directors) was as follows:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Wages and salaries	10.9	11.2
Social security costs	1.0	1.0
Contributions to pension plans	0.9	1.0
	12.8	13.2

Total salary and other staff costs for the year are incorporated within the following classifications:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Administrative and other expenses	10.6	11.4
Origination costs	2.2	1.8
	12.8	13.2

The above information includes Directors' remuneration (excluding non-executive directors' fees).

9.2 The average number of employees during the year was as follows:

	2017	2016
	No.	No.
Administration	138	138
Distribution and marketing	32	31
IT development	34	37
	204	206

10 Taxation

Taxation is based on profits and income for the period as determined with reference to the relevant tax legislation in the countries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate. Tax payable is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in equity. Tax on items relating to equity is recognised in equity.

The Group's profits arising from its Isle of Man-based operations are taxable at zero percent. Profits in the Republic of Ireland are taxed at 12.5%.

There is no material difference between the current tax charge in the income statement and the current tax charge that would result from applying standard rates of tax to the profit before tax.

11 Earnings per share

The calculation for earnings per share is based on the profit for the year after taxation divided by the average number of shares in issue throughout the year.

	2017	2016
Profit after tax (£m)	7.7	8.3
Weighted average number of shares in issue (millions)	137.4	137.4
Basic and diluted earnings per share in pence	5.6	6.0

The Directors believe that there is no material difference between the weighted average number of shares in issue for the purposes of calculating either basic or diluted earnings per share. Earnings under either measure is 5.6p per share (2016: 6.0p).

12 Dividends

Interim dividends payable to shareholders are recognised in the year in which the dividends are paid. Final dividends payable are recognised as liabilities when approved by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting.

The following dividends have been paid by the Group during the year:

	Per share	Total	Per share	Total
	2017	2017	2016	2016
	p	£m	p	£m
Final dividend in respect of previous
financial year	5.3	7.3	5.25	7.3
Interim dividend in respect of current
financial year	3.6	4.9	3.6	4.9
	8.9	12.2	8.85	12.2

The Board has resolved to pay a final dividend of 5.3p per share on 16 November 2017, subject to approval at the Annual General Meeting, based on shareholders on the register on 5 October 2017.

13 Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment is stated at historical cost less depreciation and any impairment. The historical cost of property, computer equipment and fixtures & fittings is the purchase cost, together with any incremental costs directly attributable to the acquisition. The historical cost of computer software is the purchase cost. Computer software is recognised as an intangible asset.

Depreciation is calculated so as to amortise the cost of tangible and intangible assets, less their estimated residual values, on a straight-line basis over the expected useful economic lives of the assets concerned and is included in administration and other expenses in the statement of comprehensive income.

The carrying amount, residual value and useful life of the Group's plant and equipment is reviewed annually to determine whether there is any indication of impairment, or a change in residual value or expected useful life. If there is any indication of impairment, the asset's carrying value is revised.

The economic lives used for this purpose are:

Freehold property	50 years
Computer equipment and software	3 to 5 years
Fixtures & fittings	4 years

The cost of property, computer equipment and fixtures & fittings at 30 June 2017 is £9.0m (2016: £8.6m), with a net book value of £1.0m (2016: £1.0m). The cost of computer software at 30 June 2017 is £0.7m (2016: £0.7m), with a net book value of £0.1m (2016: £0.1m).

Accumulated depreciation at 30 June 2017 is £8.0m (2016: £7.6m).

14 Deferred origination costs

Amortisation of deferred origination costs is charged within the origination costs line in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Formal reviews to assess the recoverability of deferred origination costs on investment contracts are carried out at each balance sheet date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If there is any indication of irrecoverability or impairment, the asset's recoverable amount is estimated. Impairment losses are reversed through the statement of comprehensive income if there is a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. Such losses are reversed only to the extent that the asset's carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of amortisation where applicable, if no impairment loss had been recognised.

The movement in value over the financial year is summarised below.

	2017	2016
Carrying value	£m	£m
At beginning of financial year	110.9	113.5
Origination costs incurred during the year	16.8	15.1
Origination costs amortised during the year	(16.1)	(17.7)
	111.6	110.9

	2017	2016
Carrying value	£m	£m
Current	11.0	9.5
Non-current	100.6	101.4
	111.6	110.9

15 Other receivables

Other receivables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost, less any provision for impairment.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Contract fees receivable	0.1	0.3
Commission receivable	2.4	1.2
Other debtors	2.7	2.9
	5.2	4.4

Estimated to be settled within 12 months	5.1	4.3
Estimated to be settled after 12 months	0.1	0.1
	5.2	4.4

At the balance sheet date there are receivables impaired of £1.1m (2016: £nil) relating to a £1.4m commission balance due from a broker. There are no receivables overdue but not impaired (2016: £nil). Due to the short-term nature of these assets the carrying value is considered to reflect fair value.

16 Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, and other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less, net of short-term overdraft positions where a right of set-off exists.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Money market funds	49.2	53.6
Short-term deposits with credit institutions	8.0	7.3
	57.2	60.9

17 Financial liabilities under investment contracts

17.1 Investment contract liabilities, premiums and benefits paid

17.1.1 Investment contract liabilities

Investment contracts consist of unit-linked contracts written through subsidiary companies in the Group. Unit-linked liabilities are measured at fair value by reference to the value of the underlying net asset value of the Group's unitised investment funds, determined on a bid basis, at the balance sheet date.

The decision by the Group to designate its unit-linked liabilities at fair value through profit or loss reflects the fact that the liabilities are calculated with reference to the value of the underlying assets.

17.1.2 Investment contract premiums

Investment contract premiums are not included in the statement of comprehensive income but are reported as deposits to investment contracts and are included in financial liabilities in the balance sheet. On existing business, a liability is recognised at the point the premium falls due. The liability for premiums received on new business is deemed to commence at the acceptance of risk.

17.1.3 Benefits paid

Withdrawals from policy contracts and other benefits paid are not included in the statement of comprehensive income but are deducted from financial liabilities under investment contracts in the balance sheet. Benefits are deducted from financial liabilities and transferred to amounts due to investment contract holders on the basis of notifications received, when the benefit falls due for payment or, on the earlier of the date when paid or when the contract ceases to be included within those liabilities.

17.2 Movement in financial liabilities under investment contracts

The following table summarises the movement in liabilities under investment contracts during the year:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Deposits to investment contracts	150.9	123.9
Withdrawals from contracts and charges	(159.2)	(168.3)
Change in provisions for investment contract liabilities	134.5	60.8
Movement in year	126.2	16.4
At beginning of year	923.5	907.1
	1,049.7	923.5

	£m	£m
Contractually expected to be settled within 12 months	28.5	25.0
Contractually expected to be settled after 12 months	1,021.2	898.5
	1,049.7	923.5

The change in provisions for investment contract liabilities includes dividend and interest income and net realised and unrealised gains and losses on financial investments held to cover financial liabilities.

17.3 Investments held to cover liabilities under investment contracts

The Group classifies its financial assets into the following categories: financial investments and loans and receivables. Financial investments consist of units in collective investment schemes, equity securities, fixed income securities and deposits with credit institutions. All financial investments are designated at fair value through profit or loss.

The decision by the Group to designate its financial investments at fair value through profit or loss reflects the fact that the investment portfolio is managed, and its performance evaluated, on a fair value basis.

The Group recognises purchases and sales of investments on trade date. Investment transaction costs are written off in administration expenses as incurred.

All gains and losses derived from financial investments, realised or unrealised, are recognised within investment income in the statement of comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

The value of financial assets at fair value through profit or loss that are traded in active markets (such as trading securities) is based on quoted market prices at the balance sheet date. The quoted market price for financial assets held by the Group is the current bid price. Investments in funds are valued at the latest available net asset valuation provided by the administrators or managers of the funds and companies, unless the directors are aware of good reasons why such valuations would not be the most appropriate or indicative of fair value. Where necessary, the Group uses other valuation methods to arrive at the stated fair value of its financial assets, such as recent arms' length transactions or reference to similar listed investments.

Loans and receivables are financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market. Loans and receivables consist, primarily, of contract fees receivable, long-term cash deposits (i.e. with an original maturity duration in excess of three months) and cash and cash equivalents.

The following investments, cash and cash equivalents, other assets and liabilities are held to cover financial liabilities under investment contracts. They are included within the relevant headings on the consolidated balance sheet.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Equity securities	20.5	13.0
Investments in collective investment schemes	920.4	784.0
Fixed income securities	22.0	22.6
Deposits and money market funds	88.8	104.8
Total assets	1,051.7	924.4
Other payables	(2.0)	(0.9)
Net financial assets held to cover financial liabilities	1,049.7	923.5

18 Deferred income

Fees charged for services related to the management of investment contracts are recognised as revenue as the services are provided. Initial fees which exceed the level of recurring fees and relate to the future provision of services are deferred. These are amortised over the anticipated period in which services will be provided.

The movement in value of deferred income over the financial year is summarised below.

		2017	2016
Carrying value		£m	£m
At beginning of financial year		130.5	137.6
Income received and deferred during the year		16.8	11.4
Income recognised in contract fees during the year		(18.1)	(18.5)
		129.2	130.5

	2017			2016
Carrying value	£m			£m
Current	13.0			12.8
Non-current	116.2			117.7
	129.2			130.5

19 Other payables

Other payables are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost. They are recognised at the point where service is received but payment is due after the balance sheet date.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Commission payable	1.4	1.6
Other creditors and accruals	6.7	5.0
	8.1	6.6

All payable balances, including amounts due to contract holders, are deemed to be current. Due to the short-term nature of these payables the carrying value is considered to reflect fair value.

20 Capital management

It is the Group's policy to maintain a strong capital base in order to:

· satisfy the requirements of its contract holders, creditors and regulators;

· maintain financial strength to support new business growth and create shareholder value;

· match the profile of its assets and liabilities, taking account of the risks inherent in the business and;

· generate operating cash flows to meet dividend requirements.

Within the Group each subsidiary company manages its own capital. Capital generated in excess of planned requirements is returned to the Company by way of dividends. Group capital requirements are monitored by the Board.

The Group's policy is for each company to hold the higher of:

· the company's internal assessment of the capital required; and

· the capital requirement of the relevant supervisory body plus a specified margin over this to absorb changes.

There has been no material change in the Group's management of capital during the period and all regulated entities exceed significantly the minimum solvency requirements at the balance sheet date.

The capital held within Hansard Europe is considered not to be available for dividend to Hansard Global plc until such time as the legal cases referred to in note 26 are resolved.

21 Called up share capital

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Authorised:
200,000,000 ordinary shares of 50p	100.0	100.0
Issued and fully paid:
137,444,792 (2016: 137,440,456) ordinary shares of 50p	68.7	68.7

4,336 shares were issued in the year.

22 Other reserves

Other reserves comprise the merger reserve arising on the acquisition by the Company of its subsidiary companies on 1 July 2005, the share premium account and the share save reserve. The merger reserve represents the difference between the par value of shares issued by the Company for the acquisition of those companies, compared to the par value of the share capital and the share premium of those companies at the date of acquisition.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Merger reserve	(48.5)	(48.5)
Share premium	0.1	0.1
Share save reserve	0.1	0.1
	(48.3)	(48.3)

23 Equity settled share-based payments

The Company has established a number of equity-based payment programmes for eligible employees. The fair value of expected equity-settled share-based payments under these programmes is calculated at date of grant using a standard option-pricing model and is amortised over the vesting period on a straight-line basis through the statement of comprehensive income. A corresponding amount is credited to equity over the same period.

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews its estimate of the number of options expected to be exercised. The impact of any revision in the number of such options is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income so that the charge to the statement of comprehensive income is based on the number of options that actually vest. A corresponding adjustment is made to equity.

The estimated fair value of the schemes and the imputed cost for the period under review is not material to these financial statements.

23.1 SAYE programme

This is a standard scheme approved by the Revenue authorities in the Isle of Man that is available to all employees where individuals may make monthly contributions over three or five years to purchase shares at a price not less than 80% of the market price at the date of the invitation to participate.

At the date of this report, the following options remain outstanding under each tranche:

	2017	2016
	No. of	No. of
Scheme year	options	options
2013	-	4,044
2014	70,550	82,114
2015	666,158	783,332
2016	117,846	182,629
2017	271,639	-
	1,126,193	1,052,119

A summary of the transactions in the existing SAYE programmes during the year is as follows:

	2017			2016
		Weighted			Weighted
		average			average
	No. of	exercise	No. of		exercise
	options	price (p)	options		price (p)
Outstanding at the start of year	1,052,119	79	1,630,199		78
Granted	271,639	72	182,629		84
Exercised	(4,336)	79	(51,787)		78
Forfeited	(193,229)	79	(708,922)		78
Outstanding at end of year*	1,126,193*	78	1,052,119		79

*41,636 of these options are exercisable as at 30 June 2017.

Financial assumptions underlying the calculation of fair value

The fair value expense has been based on the fair value of the options granted, as calculated using the Black Scholes pricing model. Expected volatility is based on an analysis of the Group's share price volatility on the London Stock Exchange.

The fair value of the share options granted during the year has been calculated using the following assumptions:

2017 award assumptions	3-year	5-year
Date of grant	1 May 2017	1 May 2017
Fair value (pence)	12	14
Exercise price (pence)	72.4	72.4
Share price (pence)	91	91
Expected volatility	26%	26%
Expected dividend yield	5.35%	5.35%
Risk-free rate	0.64%	0.84%

2017 award details
Date of grant	12 April 2017
No. of shares awarded	271,639
Vesting conditions	3- or 5-year savings term
Exercise period - 3-year	12 April 2017 - 31 October 2020
Exercise period - 5-year	12 April 2017 - 31 October 2022

24 Financial commitments

Operating leases are defined as leases in which the lessor retains a significant proportion of the risks and rewards. Costs in respect of operating leases, less any incentives received from the lessor, are charged to the statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

The total of future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases for property rental is as follows:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Amounts due:
Within one year	0.6	0.6
Between two and five years	1.4	1.3
After five years	-	0.2
	2.0	2.1

25 Related party transactions

25.1 Intra-group transactions

Various subsidiary companies within the Group perform services for other Group companies in the normal course of business. The financial results of these activities are eliminated in the consolidated financial statements.

25.2 Key management personnel compensation

Key management consists of 10 individuals (2016: 9), being members of the Group's Executive Committee and executive Directors of direct subsidiaries of the Company.

The aggregate remuneration paid to key management as at 30 June 2017 is as follows:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Salaries, wages and bonuses	2.0	1.8

The total value of investment contracts issued by the Group and held by key management is zero (2016: zero).

25.3 Transactions with controlling shareholder

Dr L S Polonsky is regarded as the controlling shareholder of the Group, as defined by the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority. Except as reported below, there were no significant transactions between the Group and Dr Polonsky during the year under review.

· Dr Polonsky received fees of £50,000 (2016: £50,000) for services provided to the Group under the terms of his service agreement dated 22 September 2016. This fee represents the standard arm's length fee paid to each of the Group's non-executive directors.

· Dr Polonsky has an investment contract issued by the Group on terms available to employees in general. At 30 June 2017 this contract had a fair value of £15.7m (2016: £17.5m). A withdrawal of £10.8m was made during July 2017.

25.4 Employee Benefit Trust

An Employee Benefit Trust was established in November 2011 with the transfer to it of 400,000 ordinary shares in Hansard Global plc by Dr Polonsky. The purpose of the Trust is to use the income derived from dividends to reward longer serving staff, where sales targets are met. At the date of this Report and Accounts, the Trust holds 803,949 shares (2016: 760,521 shares), following the purchase of 43,428 shares in the year. There were no awards paid by the Trust during the year as the performance targets were not met (2016: £nil).

25.5 Other related party transactions

The Company entered into a contract in July 2011 with Mr. Gordon Marr, the Group Chief Executive Officer, to purchase a residential property for the sum of £481,000, exercisable at his discretion. Mr. Marr purchased the property in July 2011 for £501,000. The contract has not been exercised at the date of this Report and Accounts.

26 Contingent liabilities

The Group does not give any investment advice. Investment decisions are taken either by the contract holder directly or through a professional intermediary appointed by the contract holder. Contract holders bear the financial risk relating to the investments underpinning their contracts, as the policy benefits are linked to the value of the assets. Notwithstanding the above, financial services institutions are frequently drawn into disputes in cases where the value and performance of assets selected by or on behalf of contract holders fails to meet their expectations. At the balance sheet date a number of fund structures remain affected by liquidity or other issues that hinder their sales or redemptions on normal terms with a consequent adverse impact on transactions.

As reported previously, the Group has been subject to a number of complaints in relation to the selection and performance of assets linked to contracts. Hansard Europe has been served with a number of writs arising from such complaints and other asset-related issues.

As at 30 June 2017, there were outstanding writs served upon Hansard Europe totalling €16.9m, or £14.8m in sterling terms (30 June 2016: €15.7m, or £13.1m).

During the year, the Group successfully defended net claims of approximately £0.3m which affirms confidence in the Group's legal arguments. Two cases have subsequently been appealed.

While it is not possible to forecast or determine the final results of pending or threatened legal proceedings, based on the pleadings and advice received from the Group's legal representatives, the Directors believe that the Group has strong defences to such claims. Notwithstanding this, there may be circumstances where in order to avoid the expense and distraction of protracted litigation the Group may consider it in the best interests of the Group and its shareholders to reach a commercial resolution with regard to certain of these claims. There were no such settlements made or provided for during the year (2016: nil). It is not possible at this time to make any further estimates of liability.

27 Foreign exchange rates

The Group's presentational and functional currency is pounds sterling, being the currency of the primary economic environment in which the Group operates.

Foreign currency transactions are translated into sterling using the applicable exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transactions. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into sterling at the rates of exchange prevailing at the balance sheet date, and the gains or losses on translation are recognised in the statement of comprehensive income.

Non-monetary assets and liabilities that are held at historical cost are translated using exchange rates prevailing at the date of transaction; those held at fair value are translated using exchange rates ruling at the date on which the fair value was determined.

The closing exchange rates used by the Group for the conversion of significant balance sheet items to sterling were as follows:


	2017	2016
US Dollar	1.30	1.33
Japanese Yen	146.5	137.4
Euro	1.14	1.20

28 Non statutory accounts

The financial information set out above does not constitute the Company's statutory accounts for the years ended 30 June 2017 or 2016, but is derived from those accounts. The auditor has reported on those accounts; their report was (i) unqualified, (ii) did not include a reference to any matters to which the auditors drew attention by way of emphasis without qualifying their report.

29 Annual report

The Company's annual report and accounts for the year ended 30 June 2017 is expected to be posted to shareholders by 13 October 2017. Copies of both this announcement and the annual report and accounts will be available to the public at the Company's registered office at Harbour Court, Lord Street, PO Box 192, Douglas, Isle of Man, IM99 1QL and through the Company's website at www.Hansard.com.

Responsibility statement of the directors in respect of the annual financial report

The Directors confirm to the best of their knowledge that:

· The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Reporting Financial Standards as adopted by the EU and give a true and fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit for the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation as a whole as required by the Disclosure and Transparency Rules Chapter 4.2.4;

· The EEV Information has been prepared in accordance with the EEV Principles and;

· Pursuant to Disclosure and Transparency Rules Chapter 4, the Directors' report of the Company's annual report and accounts includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the business.

On behalf of the Board

G S Marr	T N Davies
Director	Director
On behalf of the Board
27 September 2017

EUROPEAN EMBEDDED VALUE INFORMATION

1 INTRODUCTION

The European Embedded Value ("EEV") measure is an estimate of the value of the shareholders' interest in the Group. The EEV covers the entire business of the Group, including its life assurance companies and subsidiaries providing administration, distribution and other services.

The EEV comprises Net Worth and the Value of Future Profits ("VFP") i.e. future profits from business in-force at the valuation date, 30 June 2017. It excludes the value of any future new business that the Group may write after the valuation date. All results are calculated net of corporation tax.

The Group's EEV methodology complies fully with the set of EEV Principles published by the CFO Forum in May 2004 and most recently extended in April 2016. It has been calculated using market-consistent economic assumptions and best estimate operating assumptions having regard for the Group's experience and its assessment of future experience. A description of the EEV methodology is set out in the Notes to the EEV Information. There have been no significant changes in the EEV methodology from that used in the previous financial year.

2 EEV PROFIT PERFORMANCE FOR THE YEAR

2.1 EEV profit / (loss)

EEV profit / (loss) is a measure of the performance over the year. It is derived as follows:

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
New Business Contribution	1.3	0.2
Experience variances	(4.7)	(3.8)
Operating assumption changes	(5.9)	(0.1)
Model changes	0.3	1.1
Expected return on new and existing business	0.6	1.0
Expected return on Net Worth	0.2	0.5
EEV operating loss after tax	(8.2)	(1.1)
Investment return variances	16.8	18.8
Economic assumption changes	3.1	(4.6)
EEV profit after tax	11.7	13.1

2.1.1 New Business Contribution

New Business Contribution ("NBC") was £1.3m for the year (2016: £0.2m). The positive NBC reflects the increase in new business volumes during 2017 and the existence of a greater number of insurance contracts to spread initial expenses over.

2.1.2 Experience variances

Experience variances arise where actual experience differs from that assumed in the prior year's EEV. Major contributors to the experience variances this year include worse than assumed encashment and premium persistency (both of which were substantially affected by issues experienced with a problematic broker during the year), lower than assumed charge inflation and changes to the expense base.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Full encashments	(2.0)	(1.2)
Premium reductions and underpayments	(1.7)	(0.8)
Charges	(0.7)	(0.6)
One-off expenses	(0.5)	(0.3)
Policies made paid up	(0.4)	(0.1)
Ongoing expenses	(0.2)	(1.3)
Other	0.8	0.5
	(4.7)	(3.8)

2.1.3 Operating assumption changes

The operating assumption changes reflect changes in management's view of the behaviour of the existing business. These changes decreased the EEV by £5.9m, (2016: decrease of £0.1m), as shown below.

Operating assumptions are generally management's best estimate, having regard to recent experience. Management has strengthened the partial encashment and contract holder activity margin assumptions, while weakening the expense, premium persistency and full encashment assumptions.

The adverse expense assumption reflects increased expenses assumed to be borne by each in-force contract. This reflects a lengthier period being taken by the Group to achieve the scale assumed in its long-term assumptions, impacted also by the closure to new business of Hansard Europe in 2013.

The premium persistency assumption change is primarily driven by issues experienced with a problematic broker during the year.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Ongoing expenses	(5.3)	1.0
Premium persistency	(2.1)	0.9
Full encashment	(0.6)	0.6
Partial encashment	0.7	(2.5)
Contract holder activity margins	1.4	-
Other	-	(0.1)
	(5.9)	(0.1)

2.1.4 Model changes

The Group continues to develop its modelling functionality. In particular, this year, a revised approach to calculating Hansard Europe's cost of capital and a revised approach to projecting future partial encashments. As a result of these model changes, the EEV increased by £0.3m (2016: £1.1m).

2.1.5 Expected return on new and existing business

Under EEV methodology, it is a convention to assume that the value of the business grows at 'start of period' assumptions. The expected return is therefore based on assumptions determined at 30 June 2016. These assumptions are applied to give the expected conversion from VFP to Net Worth in the year, and the time value of both existing business and non-market risk.

No assumptions are made about the level of future new business. New Business Strain is the initial capital needed to fund new sales. This is calculated using end of period operating assumptions (i.e. assumptions determined at 30 June 2017).

	2017			2016
	EEV	Net	VIF*	EEV	Net	VIF*
		worth			worth
	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m
Cash generated from VFP	-	27.9	(27.9)	-	24.0	(24.0)
New Business Strain	-	(20.8)	20.8	-	(18.6)	18.6
Time value of existing business	0.6	0.1	0.5	1.0	0.5	0.5
Time value of new business	-	-	-	-	(0.1)	0.1
	0.6	7.2	(6.6)	1.0	5.8	(4.8)

* Value of In-Force

The expected value of cash generated was £27.9m (2016: £24.0m) and New Business Strain was £20.8m (2016: £18.6m). These reflect higher levels of new business during the year. The time value figures use economic assumptions at 30 June 2016.

2.1.6 Expected return on Net Worth

The expected return on Net Worth of £0.2m (2016: £0.5m) reflects the anticipated increase in shareholder assets over the period due to the time value of money. In line with the EEV, its calculation is based on the 30 June 2016 year one risk discount rate for sterling which was 0.4% (2016: 0.7%).

2.1.7 Investment return variance

Investment performance principally reflects the investment choices, by nature and currency, made by contract holders. It is therefore largely outside the Group's control.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Investment performance of contract holder funds	14.9	(7.6)
Exchange rate movements	1.1	26.1
Other	0.8	0.3
	16.8	18.8

2.1.8 Economic assumption changes

There was a positive variance of £3.1m (2016: negative variance of £4.6m) from economic assumption changes: this variance follows the application of the EEV Principles and reflects changes to swap yields for the currencies to which the Group is exposed.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Contract holder activity margins	3.8	(4.7)
Risk discount rates and unit growth	(0.7)	0.1
	3.1	(4.6)

2.2 Analysis of EEV profit / (loss) by component

The table below shows a detailed analysis of EEV profit after tax for the year ended 30 June 2017.

	2017			2016
	Movement in			Movement in
	EEV	Net Worth	VIF	EEV	Net Worth	VIF
	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m	£m
New Business Contribution	1.3	-	1.3	0.2	-	0.2
Experience variances	(4.7)	(3.5)	(1.2)	(3.8)	(3.0)	(0.8)
Operating assumption changes	(5.9)	-	(5.9)	(0.1)	-	(0.1)
Model changes	0.3	-	0.3	1.1	-	1.1
Expected return on new and existing business	0.6	7.2	(6.6)	1.0	5.8	(4.8)
Expected return on Net Worth	0.2	0.2	-	0.5	0.5	-
EEV operating profit / (loss) after tax	(8.2)	3.9	(12.1)	(1.1)	3.3	(4.4)
Investment return variances	16.8	2.0	14.8	18.8	0.8	18.0
Economic assumption changes	3.1	-	3.1	(4.6)	-	(4.6)
EEV profit after tax	11.7	5.9	5.8	13.1	4.1	9.0

3 EMBEDDED VALUE AT 30 JUNE 2017

Following the payment of dividends of £12.2m (2016: £12.2m), the Group's EEV has remained at a level similar to last year of £195.5m (2016: £195.9m). The EEV balance sheet is presented below.

	2017	2016
	£m	£m
Free surplus	21.4	27.9
Required Capital	27.8	27.6
Net Worth	49.2	55.5
VIF	152.6	147.8
Frictional costs	(0.1)	(1.2)
Reduction for non-market risk	(6.2)	(6.2)
Value of Future Profits ("VFP")	146.3	140.4
EEV	195.5	195.9

At the balance sheet date, the Net Worth of the Group is represented by liquid cash and money market balances. Given the uncertainties inherent in the ultimate outcome of the litigation against Hansard Europe, we believe the extraction of any capital by the parent company will be constrained for up to three years.

The VFP is based on the value of contract holder funds under administration at 30 June 2017.

4 NEW BUSINESS PROFITABILITY

The Group has written business on a profitable basis. The following metrics illustrate the profitability of the Group's new business.

4.1 New business margin

	2017	2016
New business sales ("PVNBP")	£148.5m	£119.5m
New business contribution ("NBC")	£1.3m	£0.2m
New business margin ("NBM")	0.9%	0.2%

The New Business Margin for the year is 0.9% (2016: 0.2%). The change is primarily due to the increase in new business volumes over the period and the existence of a greater number of insurance contracts to spread initial expenses over. New Business Margin is also impacted by the mix of business written, with regular premium business having a larger margin than single premium business. During 2017, a higher proportion of single premium business was written than in 2016.

5 EEV SENSITIVITY ANALYSIS

Sensitivities provide an indication of the impact of changes in particular assumptions on the EEV at 30 June 2017 and the NBC for the year then ended.

The sensitivities will be affected by the change in the Group's business mix: different product types are sensitive to different assumptions in particular. Unless otherwise indicated, the sensitivities are broadly symmetrical.

The sensitivity analysis indicates that the Group's exposure to operating factors is limited, largely as a result of product design. A change in the level of expenses is the main operating exposure of the Group, although the VIF has become proportionately less sensitive to the changes in expense assumptions as a result of Hansard Europe being closed to new business. The largest sensitivities for the Group are related to economic factors. In particular, as a result of the diversified portfolio of assets under administration, it is exposed to movements in exchange rates and asset values through the impact on the level of future fund-based management income.

		2017
Impact on:	EEV		NBC
	£m		£m
Central assumptions	195.5		1.3

Operating Sensitivities

10% decrease in expenses	9.2		1.7
1% increase in expense inflation	(6.0)		(0.8)
1% increase in charge inflation	3.7		0.2
1% increase in expense and charge inflation	(2.1)		(0.6)
10% decrease in full encashment rates	1.8		0.3
5% decrease in mortality	0.1		-



Economic sensitivities

1% increase in risk discount rate	(7.0)		(0.7)
1% decrease in investment return rate	(7.0)		(0.5)
1% increase in risk discount rate and investment return rate	-		(0.2)
1% decrease in risk discount rate and investment return rate	-		0.2
10% decrease in the value of equities and property	(11.1)		-
10% strengthening of sterling	(16.5)		(1.2)

In each sensitivity calculation, all other assumptions remain unchanged, except those being tested. There is a natural correlation between many of the sensitivity scenarios tested, so the impact of two occurring together is likely to be different from the sum of the individual sensitivities.

No changes to statutory valuation bases, pricing bases and Required Capital have been allowed for. No future management action has been modelled in reaction to the changing assumptions. For new business, the sensitivities reflect the impact of a change from inception of the contract.

NOTES TO THE EUROPEAN EMBEDDED VALUE INFORMATION

1 BASIS OF PREPARATION OF EEV

1.1 EEV Principles

1.2 Covered business

EEV covers the entire business of the Group.

1.3 New business premiums

The following premiums are included in the calculation of the NBC and PVNBP:

· Premiums arising from the sale of new policies during the period, including:

o Contractual premiums;

o Non-contractual recurrent single premiums where the level of premium and period of payment is pre-defined and reasonably predictable.

· Non-contractual top-up premiums received during the period on existing policies.

1.4 Timing of cash flows

The EEV has been calculated using economic and operating assumptions as at the end of the financial year (i.e. the valuation date). The NBC and PVNBP where applicable have been calculated using economic assumptions as at the start of the year and operating assumptions as at the end of the year.

1.5 Real world returns

No credit is taken in the calculation of EEV, NBC or PVNBP where applicable for returns in excess of risk-free returns. This approach may differ from that used by some of our competitors who include an asset risk premium.

2 METHODOLOGY

2.1 Overview

The methodology used to derive the EEV results at the valuation date is consistent with the IFRS methodology used in relation to the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 30 June 2017. Under EEV methodology, profit is recognised as margins are released from contract related balances over the lifetime of each contract within the Group's in-force business. The total projected profit recognised over the lifetime of a contract under EEV methodology is the same as reported under IFRS, but the timing of recognition is different.

2.2 European Embedded Value

The Group's European Embedded Value is calculated on its covered business and is shown net of corporation tax. The Group does not have any debt or financial reinsurance arrangements in place at the valuation date. The EEV comprises the Net Worth and the Value of Future Profits, which can be further categorised as shown in the table below:

Components Of The EEV
Component	Sub-component
Net Worth	Required Capital
	Free Surplus
Value Of Future Profits	Value of In-Force
	Reduction for Non-market Risk
	Frictional Cost of Required Capital
	Cost of Financial Options & Guarantees

Each component is determined separately, as follows:

2.2.1 Required Capital

Required Capital is determined by the Board, bearing in mind the requirements of regulators of the Group's life insurance subsidiaries and the working capital required by the Boards of the Group's subsidiaries.

Given the uncertainties inherent in the ultimate outcome of the litigation against Hansard Europe, we believe the extraction of any capital by the parent company will be constrained for up to three years.

2.2.2 Free surplus

The Free Surplus is the difference between the Net Worth and the Required Capital.

2.2.3 Value of In-Force covered business ("VIF")

The VIF is determined by projecting, on a best estimate basis, the stream of future shareholder cash flows expected to arise from assets backing the liabilities of the covered business and then calculating the present value of the cash flows using an appropriate risk discount rate.

Future shareholder cash flows are deemed to arise when they are released from contract holder funds, following an actuarial valuation by the Appointed Actuary / Head of Actuarial Function.

VIF is calculated on a 'look through' basis whereby it includes all net cash flows arising from the products supported by the subsidiary companies providing administration, distribution and other services. The projections are performed using a proprietary actuarial modelling tool called Prophet.

2.2.4 Reduction for non-market Risk

The Directors make an annual assessment of the cost of non-market risks that are not covered in the VIF projections and determine an allowance to be deducted from VFP to meet these risks.

This year, the Directors have established an allowance of £6.2m (2016: £6.2m). This is equivalent to an increase of 0.9% in the risk discount rate assumption at the valuation date. The allowance has been assessed after considering past experience, the operational characteristics of the business and market information.

2.2.5 Frictional Cost of Required Capital

The cost of holding the Required Capital is, for the Group, the cost of tax on interest on the capital retained in Hansard Europe. The expected interest is projected, the tax calculated and then discounted to the valuation date.

2.2.6 Cost of financial options and guarantees

The Group's business does not include any policies with material options and/or guarantees regarding investment performance and, hence, unlike the situation faced by many other life assurers, the Group's cost of financial options and guarantees is zero.

3 OPERATING ASSUMPTIONS

The EEV is calculated using best estimate operating assumptions having regard for the Group's recent experience and management's best estimate of future behaviour, together with other relevant data.

The covered business is unit-linked: it comprises mainly investment-type products with minimal life cover and no financial options or guarantees. The three main product groups are regular premium, personal portfolio and recurrent single premium. Variations in experience between the product groups have been considered and, where appropriate, separate assumptions have been used.

The EEV assumptions are based on an assessment of the business as a going concern.

3.1 Expense assumptions

The allocation of expenses between acquisition and maintenance and the assumption setting process are generally consistent with prior years.

Development costs to enable future new business have been allocated to new business and are fully reflected in the calculation of the NBC. Other non-recurring development costs are generally charged as incurred, and hence will be reflected as a profit or loss in the year.

The number of contracts in-force has been falling over the last few years, partially as a result of the closure to new business of Hansard Europe in 2013. This trend is expected to continue for a period before the number of contracts in-force is assumed to return to the current level. We have made an allowance for this feature in the EEV calculation. In quantifying the impact we have assumed the continuation of significant growth in new business levels into the future.

Exceptional items are generally charged as incurred and hence are reflected as a variance in the year. Their value in 2017 was a charge of £0.5m (2016: £0.3m).

3.2 Demographic & contract holder experience assumptions

The assumption setting process is consistent with prior years.

3.3 Taxation

Current and expected future tax legislation, regulation and the Group's own tax position were considered in setting the assumptions. The tax rate assumptions for this year have remained unaltered as follows:

Corporation tax rates	2017	2016
Isle of Man	0%	0%
Republic of Ireland	12.5%	12.5%

3.4 Other operating assumptions

The process for setting assumptions for the impact of contract holder activity, such as fund switching, is generally consistent with prior years.

4 ECONOMIC ASSUMPTIONS

Under EEV principles, the economic assumptions used in the EEV calculations are actively reviewed at each valuation date and are internally consistent. The assumption setting process is generally consistent with prior years.

4.1 Risk discount rate

The risk discount rates are set equal to the risk-free rates based on the bid-swap yield curve for the applicable currency and term, sourced from the European Insurance and Occupational Pensions Authority (EIOPA). The EEV calculation uses the risk-free rates at the end of the year (i.e. at the valuation date), while the calculation of NBC and PVNBP uses the risk-free rate at the start of the year (i.e. at the previous year-end date).

4.2 Investment returns

All investments are assumed to provide a return equal to the risk-free rate less external fund manager investment charges and any other investment expenses charged directly against contract holder funds.

4.3 Risk premium

No credit is taken in the calculation of EEV, NBC or PVNBP for returns in excess of risk-free returns i.e. a cautious approach is adopted by assuming an asset risk premium of zero.

4.4 Inflation rates

In setting the expense inflation assumption, consideration is given to price and salary inflation rates in both the Isle of Man and the Republic of Ireland, and to the Group's own expense experience and expectations. Future price inflation is derived from the yields of UK inflation linked bonds, appropriate for the duration and nature of the cash flows. For service companies, expense inflation relates to the underlying expenses rather than the fees charged to the life assurance companies.

By design, contractual monetary-charge inflation is broadly matched to expense inflation: in Hansard Europe, the charge inflation is subject to a minimum increase of 5% per annum. The correlation between expense inflation and charge inflation dampens the impact of inflation on the embedded value results.

Inflation assumptions are as follows:

Inflation rates	30 June 2017	30 June 2016
Expense inflation per annum	2.9%	2.6%
Charge inflation per annum - Hansard Europe	5.0%	5.0%
Charge inflation per annum - Hansard International - Year 1	2.4%	1.9%
Charge inflation per annum - Hansard International - Year 2	2.6%	2.4%
Charge inflation per annum - Hansard International - Year 3+	2.9%	2.6%
The 5% charge inflation rate for Hansard Europe reflects the terms of the products. The three-year stepped approach to charge inflation for Hansard International reflects the terms of the products, trending towards a long-term inflation rate of 2.9% per annum.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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