Final Results

RNS Number : 1799D
Randall & Quilter Inv Hldgs PLC
25 April 2013
 



 

 

 

Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc

("Randall & Quilter" or the "Group")

 

Final results for the year ended 31 December 2012

 

The Board of Randall & Quilter (AIM: RQIH), the specialist non-life insurance investor, service provider and underwriting manager, is pleased to announce the Group's final results for the year ending 31 December 2012.

 

 

FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

 

•    Total Group income of £52.0m (2011: £36.8m), an increase of over 41%

•    Profit before tax of £10.7m1 (2011: £8.8m)2, an increase of 22%

•    Earnings per share of 20.4p (2011: (0.9p))

•    Total cash distribution to shareholders increased to 8.4p3 per share for the year (2011: 8.1p)

•    Undiscounted net tangible asset value per share of 114.4p (2011: 107.3p4), an increase of 6.6%

•    Acquisition momentum continued with 6 deals completed in 2012

•    Successful launch of Group's own managed specialist active Lloyd's syndicate (Syndicate 1991)

 

1 After deduction of Minority Interests

2 Excludes goodwill impairment

3 Final distribution of 5p per share approved in a General Meeting on 3 April 2013 and expected to  to be paid on or around  3 May 2013

4 Adjusted for Share Cancellation

 

STRATEGIC INITIATIVES

 

·     Successful placing of new ordinary shares, raising gross proceeds of £25.0 (£24.1m net of expenses), subject to shareholder approval. The new capital will be used to support the Group's growing Lloyd's syndicate participations particularly on Syndicate 1991 and help finance new legacy acquisitions (see separate announcement).

 

·     Following the proposed placing, total distributions to shareholders will be maintained at 8.4p per share for 2013, absent unforeseen circumstances. The Group will thereafter follow a standard progressive distribution policy and remains committed to providing strong cash returns to shareholders.

 

·     New  insurance company consolidator for EEA based run-off  insurers to be established in Malta. This company should significantly enhance operational and capital efficiencies and provide a beneficial regulatory framework for the acquisition and transfer of future run-off portfolios.

 

·     The Group proposes to redomicile its parent company to Bermuda in July, subject to shareholder and regulatory approvals. The move is being considered for regulatory, operational and commercial reasons. The parent company intends to maintain its tax domicile in the UK (see separate announcement).

 

DIVISIONAL PERFORMANCE

 

•    Insurance Investments Division - A strong result with an operating profit of £9.9m (2011: £8.3m2) driven by positive claims settlements and reserve releases on the Group's two run-off syndicates and R&Q Re (UK) and strong investment returns.

•    Insurance Services Division (now incorporating the formerly separate Captives Division) - A satisfactory core result with a much improved performance from captive management. This outturn, together with exceptional levels of credit write backs predominantly from certain US service operations resulted in a significantly higher operating profit for the year of £10.3m (2011: £5.8m).

•    Underwriting Management Division - Revenues doubled to £11.6m (2011: £5.4m), highlighting the significant progress in expanding its operations during the year. An operating loss of £1.5m was reported (2011: loss of £1.1m).  Excluding the operating loss and closure costs of the now discontinued Canadian MGA, the operating loss of the continuing operations was £0.5m. Costs associated with Solvency II and the scaling up of the Division adversely impacted the result, as did slower than anticipated premium development in certain of the other fledgling coverholder operations. The division however enters 2013 with much improved scale and good prospects for future profitable growth.

 

Commenting on the results Ken Randall, Executive Chairman and CEO, said:

 

"We are pleased to announce another strong set of results for R&Q, as evidenced by the growth in income and profit during 2012. We are also excited to announce a number of notable strategic initiatives including raising gross proceeds of £25.0m (subject to shareholder approval), a proposed redomicile to Bermuda and the creation of a Malta based insurance company consolidation vehicle for our European run-offs. These measures will position the Group well for the next stage of its growth strategy.

 

Performance was good in both our Insurance Investment and Insurance Service Divisions.  The scaling up of the Underwriting Management Division and the launch of Syndicate 1991 particularly brings significant opportunities for profitable growth.  The acquisition pipeline for new legacy assets is also strong.  We believe that the outlook for the Group is good and look forward to the future with confidence."

 

 

Enquiries:

 

Company:                           Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc

                                Tom Booth                                                          Tel: 020 7780 5895

 

Nominated Advisor        Numis Securities Limited

& Joint Broker: Stuart Skinner/Robert Bruce (Nominated Advisor)         

Tel: 020 7260 1314        

                                                Charlie Farquhar (Broker)                            Tel: 020 7260 1233

 

Joint Broker:                      Shore Capital Stockbrokers Ltd

                                                Dru Danford                                                       Tel: 020 7408 4090

                                Stephane Auton                                               Tel: 020 7408 4090

 

Corporate &                       FTI Consulting

Financial PR:                      Neil Doyle                                                          Tel: 020 7269 7237

                                Ed Berry                                                               Tel: 020 7269 7297

                                Tom Blackwell                                                  Tel: 020 7269 7222

 

The Chairman's Statement, Business Review and Highlights of Accounts are attached.  The full final results for the year ended 31 December 2012 will be sent to shareholders shortly and will be available on the Company's website at www.rqih.com.

 

There will be an analyst presentation at 8:30am on Thursday 25th April 2013 at the Company's registered offices. Those analysts wishing to attend and who have not registered are asked to contact Tom Blackwell at FTI on +44 20 7269 7222 or at tom.blackwell@fticonsulting.com.

 

Notes to Editors:

 

Since formation, Randall & Quilter has pursued a buy and build strategy to create a comprehensive range of investment activities and services in the global non-life insurance market and is focused on the following three core areas:

 

·     Insurance Investments;

 

·     Insurance Services; and

 

·     Underwriting Management

 

 

The Group:

 

·     has a team of up to 400 insurance professionals based in the UK, USA, Bermuda, and Continental Europe with wide service capability in both the 'live' and 'run-off' market;

 

·     has a current portfolio of 12 insurance companies in run-off (from the UK, US and Continental Europe) with net assets of c.£91.3m as at 31 December 2012

 

·     owns a Bermuda Class 3A insurance company which currently supports the Group's four syndicate participations;

 

·     has launched Syndicate 1991 which commenced underwriting from January 1, 2013 with a Capacity of £77m for 2013, provides 'turnkey' management services to Lloyd's syndicate 1897, manages two RITC ('run-off') syndicates and owns and operates 3 MGA business units; and

 

·     acquires and manages a portfolio of insurance receivables, with a carrying cost of c.£6.5m as at 31 December 2012.

 

The Group was founded by Ken Randall, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive, and Alan Quilter, Chief Operating Officer.

 

Highlights and Summary of Results

For the year ended 31 December 2012

 

 

Summary of Results



Year ended

31 December 2012

Year ended

31 December 2011



£000 

£000 

Group Results

 

 




 

Operating profit


11,5371

9,3922

 





 

Profit on ordinary activities before income taxes


10,7281

8,8012

 





 

Profit/(loss) after tax


10,1011

(488)

 





 

Earnings Per Share (Basic)


20.4p

(0.9)p

 





 

Net Tangible Assets per Share


114.4p

107.3p

 

 

 




 

Divisional Performance

 

Insurance Investments Division Operating Profit


9,9231

8,3172

 





 

Insurance Services Division Operating Profit


10,264

5,751

 





 

Underwriting Management Division Operating Loss


(1,456)

(1,113)

 





 

1 After deduction of Minority Interests

2 Prior to goodwill write-off

 

 

Chairman's Statement and Business Review

For the year ended 31 December 2012

 

Chairman's Statement

 

The Group has delivered strong income and profit growth during 2012 whilst achieving important operational milestones, including the establishment of its own specialist active Lloyd's syndicate and the expansion of its investing activities into areas such as discontinued captives. These operational developments, together with the formation in Malta of a new insurance company consolidation vehicle for our EEA based run-off  insurers, provide the Group with significant new growth opportunities and we are therefore delighted to announce today a successful placing of new ordinary shares, raising £24.1m, net of expenses, subject to shareholder approval. The new capital raised will be used to finance the Group's growing Lloyd's syndicate participations, the acquisition of additional legacy insurance companies, captives and insurance portfolios in run-off and insurance debt. Further details are included in the accompanying announcement relating to the proposed placing and in the circular which is being sent to shareholders today.

 

It is proposed to redomicile the parent company to Bermuda in July through a UK Court approved Scheme of Arrangement, which will result in the new parent company being readmitted to AIM and shareholders receiving equivalent number of shares in the new Bermudian company. The Scheme and readmission are subject to shareholder approval. A circular detailing the proposals, together with a document required by the AIM rules providing detail on the new Group and its structure will be sent to shareholders on 18 May 2013. The redomicile is being proposed for regulatory, operational and commercial reasons. In particular, the move to Bermuda will alleviate uncertainty as regards the timing and nature of future regulatory capital requirements for the Group in the context of the continuing delays in the implementation of Solvency II in the UK and the rest of the EEA. The new parent company intends to maintain its tax domicile in the UK.

 

The strong 2012 pre-tax profits1 of £10.7m were due primarily to: (i) the excellent results from the run-off syndicates and UK insurance companies together with higher than anticipated investment income in the Insurance Investments Division; and (ii) the beneficial impact of an exceptional level of credit write-backs predominantly from certain US operations. Whilst the Underwriting Management Division produced an operating loss during the year, a significant portion of this loss was attributable to now discontinued activities and on-going investment. The launch of Syndicate 1991 brings both scale and exciting growth potential to the division and the wider Group and represents a significant broadening of operations.

 

Distributions of 8.4p per share for the year were broadly in line with our former distribution policy (2011: 8.1p). In the light of the proposed placing and the substantial investment opportunities open to the Group, we have decided to amend slightly our distribution policy from the current year by maintaining the target distribution level at 8.4p per share for 2013. Thereafter we will adopt a standard progressive distribution policy, which will reflect the Group's financial performance, rather than committing to future distribution growth of at least 5% p.a.

 

Net tangible assets per share grew by  6.6% to 114.4p even after significant cash distributions to shareholders during the year. 

 

DIVISIONAL PERFORMANCE

 

Insurance Investments Division

 

The Insurance Investments Division produced an excellent result for the year, driven by a strong performance in the run-off syndicates and R&Q Re (UK) from successful commutation activity and reserve redundancy. Investment income was also much higher than anticipated following capital gains arising from credit spread tightening, especially in the structured securities and high yield parts of the portfolio. The evidence of a pick-up in asbestos related claims in the US, which we have commented on for some time, resulted in a reversal of the first half reserve releases in R&Q Re (US) but the impact was relatively contained given substantial reinsurance coverage. The resolution of the legal disputes with the ACE Group during the latter part of the year as regards R&Q Re (US) also removed a significant source of uncertainty.

 

Once again, we managed to extract a significant amount of capital from the Group's legacy insurance assets with £8m of dividends and capital reductions during the year across the owned insurance companies and discontinued captives.

 

Having assumed a reinsurance to close of the open years of former Syndicate 1208, the acquisition of 5 captives (in Guernsey and Barbados), a Finnish reinsurance company in run-off and 10 new insurance receivable positions, 2012 was one of the most active years for the Group's legacy acquisition activity for some time. 2013 has already seen two new transactions relating to discontinued captives and the acquisition pipeline remains very strong. We are currently progressing a number of new opportunities to acquire attractively priced insurance companies, captives and portfolios in run-off in a variety of domiciles, some of which are more substantial in size than recently announced transactions. We are also pleased to have successfully received in principle approval to establish a new insurance company consolidator for our EEA run-off portfolios  in Malta in recent weeks.  This should optimise the capital and operational efficiency of the division, provide enhanced regulatory access and act as a superior fully licensed vehicle to merge in, portfolio transfer and reinsure other third party legacy business in a less onerous manner than before.

 

Insurance Services Division

 

A solid performance from the core insurance services business was significantly enhanced by exceptional levels of credit write backs predominantly from certain US operations. The captive management operations now incorporated into this division also performed strongly in the year, following the recent investment and product expansion. The UK business continued to expand its range of contracted services to certain large insurance groups with the niche credit control, broker-wrap products and the provision of a full back office service to live businesses in particular gaining further traction. Our US third party business won some new consultancy contracts during 2012, whilst there has been active cost management designed to improve future operating margins.

 

Underwriting Management Division

 

The Underwriting Management Division, which we view as a significant engine for future growth, again generated an operating loss, mainly arising from the substantial closure costs of the now discontinued Canadian MGA. Certain of the Group's other coverholders also grew premium at a lower rate than anticipated, mainly through capacity related and distribution issues which have now been resolved. The year also bore substantial costs associated with Solvency II and the scaling up of the division's operations.

 

Following the significant restructuring and investment in the division, the outlook is highly encouraging. A substantial organic growth opportunity exists from Syndicate 1991, a new specialist property and liability syndicate successfully launched by the Group from 1 January 2013.  This syndicate accepts business on an exclusive basis from a highly selective number of coverholders and is headed up by an experienced underwriting team, formerly with Axis Capital. The launch of the syndicate, backed with a mixture of our own, traditional Lloyd's Names and industry capital, has given the division's Lloyd's managing agency operations both scale and prominence.

 

The turnkey market is also more active as Lloyd's appears receptive once again, following its Solvency II preparations, to support new syndicates provided they have high quality and accretive underwriting plans. This change of attitude by Lloyd's should bring further opportunities to expand out the number of syndicates managed by the Group with consequential revenue and profit growth potential.    

 

Outlook

 

We have invested very heavily in the development of the Underwriting Management Division over the last three years; 2013 should see the Division move firmly into profit.  The business is well positioned to benefit from the substantial growth opportunities offered by the expansion of newly launched Syndicate 1991 and from the management of new third party syndicates wishing to use the Lloyd's platform.

 

Furthermore, the Group has an exciting pipeline of attractive acquisition opportunities. The proceeds from the proposed placing, together with our innovation and improved infrastructure following the establishment of the EEA insurance company consolidation vehicle in Malta should ensure we are able to turn a number of these opportunities into completed transactions and continue to monetise our existing assets. 

 

The service business should benefit from the focus we have placed on improving operational efficiency and our niche offering. Expansion into the active market is also expected to compensate for the relative scarcity of traditional large run-off service opportunities.  Our captive management business is growing steadily and we remain focused on continuing to develop the platform in line with the healthy pipeline of opportunities.

 

The proposed redomicile of the Group's parent to Bermuda should greatly alleviate the regulatory uncertainties faced by the Group following the further delays in solvency legislation in Europe and assist long term planning and capital allocation. It also provides the Group with a base in a premier insurance domicile with excellent access to the US markets. The move should present new business opportunities through improved access to the Bermuda and US markets, especially in the growing Insurance Linked Securities ("ILS") market. R&Q intends to maintain the tax residency of the parent company in the UK following the move.

 

The global investment markets remain challenging with ultra low interest rates persisting and ever tightening credit spreads but we remain pro-active in ensuring that our portfolios are well diversified and optimised in terms of risk-reward.

 

Overall, we look forward to the future with confidence.

 

Chairman's Statement and Business Review

For the year ended 31 December 2012

 

DETAILED BUSINESS REVIEW

 

Further detail on the financial and operating performance of the divisions is provided below:

 

Insurance Investments Division

 

This division is engaged in the following activities:

 

•    The acquisition of solvent insurance companies, captives and insurance portfolios in run-off, typically at a discount to net asset value in the UK, US, Continental Europe, Bermuda and elsewhere;

 

•    The provision of capital ('Funds-at-Lloyd's') to both Group managed active syndicates and Reinsurance to Close (RITC) run-off syndicates in Lloyd's; and

 

•    The acquisition of insurance debt due to insurance or corporate creditors from insolvent estates ('RQLM').



Year  ended

31 December 2012

Year ended

31 December 2011



£000 

£000 

Net Earned Premium1


996

(156)

Net Investment Income1


12,550

6,239





Debt Purchase (RQLM)  Income


621

803





Other Income


460

-





Net Insurance claims released1


5,807

11,531





Operating Expenses


(19,284)

(13,335)





Goodwill on bargain purchase


1,992

1,541





Insurance Companies operating result2


3,142

6,623









Net Earned Premium (Syndicates)3


2,887

496

Syndicates' operating result3


6,781

1,694





Total Divisional Operating Result2,3


9,923

8,317

  

 

 

1 Insurance companies only (ie excludes Syndicates)

Excludes goodwill impairment

3 After deduction of Minority Interests relating to Syndicate 3330

 

The Insurance Investment Division's performance was very strong in the year, producing an operating profit of £9.9m3 (2011: £8.3m2).

 

Investment income of £12.6m for the insurance companies represented a 5.9% return (2011: £5.4m, 2.5%), which was outstanding and largely achieved by careful portfolio positioning in credit, where spreads tightened significantly. A more detailed analysis of performance and holdings is provided below.

 

RQLM's income, which is mostly related to the acquisition and management of claims against insolvent insurance companies, was £0.6m, representing our gross profit on the dividends we received on a number of our existing insurance debt positions.  As a result, the carrying value (at cost) of insurance debt at the year end was down slightly at £6.6m, after additional small claims purchases during the year.  The pipeline for new acquisitions continues to look positive both from estates where we currently hold positions and from new maturing estates.  We also expect a significant portion of the current portfolio to run-off during 2013, bringing a strong income and profit contribution to the division.

 

At 31 December 2012, the owned run-off insurance company portfolio was as follows:


Vendor

Country of Incorporation

Acquisition

Date

NAV*  £m

(31/12/12)

NAV*  £m

(31/12/11)

La Metropole SA

Travelers Group

Belgium

29 Nov 2000

0.2

0.3

Transport Insurance Company

American Financial Group

USA

30 Nov 2004

7.1

8.1

R&Q Reinsurance Company (UK) Limited

Ace Group

UK

3 July 2006

18.4

11.9

R&Q Reinsurance Company (Belgium)

Ace Group

Belgium

3 July 2006

2.8

2.9

R&Q Reinsurance Company  (US)

Ace Group

USA

3 July 2006

15.3

16.8

Chevanstell Limited

Trygg Forsikring

UK

10 Nov 2006

28.8**

30.7

R&Q Insurance (Guernsey) Limited

Deloitte LLP, Administrators for Woolworths Group plc

Guernsey

9 June 2009

2.0**

1.9

Goldstreet Insurance Company

Sequa Corporation & Columbia Insurance Company

US

14 Dec 2009

3.7

4.1 

 

La Licorne S.A.

MAAF Assurances

France

22 Apr 2010

1.1**

2.9**

 

Principle Insurance Company

PICH Ltd

UK

29 Dec 2011

5.9

5.9 

Capstan

Roger and Elizabeth Bullivant

Guernsey

1 Nov 2012

1.0**

-

LINPAC

LINPAC Finance Limited

Guernsey

21 Dec 2012

0.3**

-

Alma

Tapiola General

Finland

27 Dec 2012

4.7

-

Total




91.3

85.5

* IFRS basis

** After capital extraction during the period

 

We managed to successfully extract c.£8m of capital from the Group's owned insurance companies during the year, from Chevanstell, R&Q (Guernsey) and a number of the captives we acquired in the period.  The net assets of the 13 owned insurance companies at 31 December 2012 was £91.3m, against £85.5m as at 31 December 2011.

 

The reserve releases were the result of a combination of significant commutation activity and other reserve redundancies, primarily in the UK companies. There were further releases from a number of the smaller owned portfolios, including R&Q Insurance (Guernsey), R&Q Re (Belgium) and Goldstreet where there was commutation activity and general IBNR release. In R&Q Re (UK), the significant net claims release arose predominantly as a result of a large commutation which generated savings on held reserves in the marine, asbestosis and general books of business. The effect of this commutation was to reduce the company's reserves by c.60%.  In Chevanstell, there were continuing improvements to the incurred claims position over a number of different classes with a good overall net claims release.

 

The pick-up in asbestos related claims in the US, which we have commented on for some time, resulted in a significant gross and net reserve strengthening in R&Q Re (US). However, the net impact on the Group was mitigated by a recovery that is now triggered under the surplus maintenance reinsurance agreement with ACE. The resolution of the various disputes with the ACE group in respect of R&Q Re (US) has also eliminated an area of uncertainty for the Group.  Our active claims management in this company continued with the settlement of over $43m of gross claims during the year. We have also made good progress on the reinsurance collections following significant recent claims settlement activity. 

 

We believe that further commutation and settlement activity, particularly in our non US portfolios should produce additional releases in 2013 and that the substantial asbestos related reserve strengthening in R&Q Re (US) should prove adequate or be strongly mitigated by the company's extensive reinsurance programme and the surplus maintenance reinsurance.

 

Operating expenses rose considerably during the year as a result of: (i) the establishment of the new intermediate holding company for the division and the transfer into it of the costs of the acquisition team, including their annual bonuses and options; (ii) the substantial legal costs incurred in the US companies relating to specific claims disputes and the recent ACE settlement, (iii) the higher expenses associated with the expanded syndicate participations (s.3330) and new company and captive acquisitions; and (iv) the additional expenses relating to special claims projects in certain of the owned insurance companies.

 

There was 'goodwill on bargain purchase' of £2m during the year relating to the acquisitions of Capstan, RAB and Linpac (Guernsey captives in run-off now all amalgamated into Capstan, collapsing the operating expenses and potentially leading to further NAV releases and reserve savings), Northern Foods (a Guernsey captive in run-off now amalgamated into R&Q Insurance (Guernsey)) and Alma Insurance (a Finnish reinsurer in run-off, which we are expecting to be able to transfer to our new EEA run-off consolidation vehicle in Malta, reducing the required incremental solvency margin and effecting potential reserve redundancies). Trimac (a now wound-up Barbados captive, the business of which has been transferred to our Bermudian cell company) was also completed during the year but the small discount to net assets was treated as income due to the transaction structure. 

 

This significant number of deals is proof of our ability to convert the strong acquisition pipeline which we have been referring to for some time. In particular, our captive exit solutions have attracted much interest, especially in the Guernsey market where we have seen a significant number of new opportunities, but potentially in other domiciles such as Bermuda and the Cayman Islands. We are also pursuing opportunities to acquire insurance companies in run-off, legacy opportunities in Lloyd's including partial account reinsurances, syndicate RITCs and acquisitions or capital replacement of third party corporate members supporting open years. We are in negotiations on a number of European acquisitions and the creation of our new insurance company  consolidatior in Malta for our EEA run-off insurers will create an improved execution platform and significantly help to unlock capital. Through our proposed move to Bermuda we are exploring an opportunity to enter the Insurance Linked Securities market ("collateralised insurance contracts supported by capital markets investors") where we believe we can provide attractive exit solutions to capital market investors looking for liquidity in the event of a claim. We are currently working with a potential new ILS fund in Bermuda to offer exits/liquidity to investors in the event of a claim.

 

The overall result from our three syndicate participations (the 8.3% line on turnkey Syndicate 1897, the 20% line on RITC Syndicate 102 and the effective 55% line on RITC Syndicate 3330) was excellent with an operating profit of over £5.2m (2011: £1.7m). Our participation on run-off Syndicate 3330 (which reinsured the former open years of 1208 Syndicate) was especially strong following the partial release of the risk premium as well as specific reserve savings, especially relating to World Trade Center claims. There was also a good contribution from run-off Syndicate 102, mostly relating to recoveries on certain viatical claims which we had been pursuing through the US legal system for some time. Our share of turnkey Syndicate 1897 produced a loss as the syndicate had a small number of significant marine and energy losses and a subdued level of earned premium during the period.  Our increased syndicate participations required the Group to put up c.£11m of 'Funds-at-Lloyd's' during 2012, which increased further to over £20m for the 2013 underwriting year to support our 22.8% participation on our new active syndicate, with total capacity of £77m. Our FAL requirements are significantly lowered due to the diversity credits which we gain from partially non-correlating participations on active and run-off syndicates. As is customary under insurance annual accounting, we do not anticipate generating profits in the 2013 calendar year on this start-up syndicate participation due to the natural lag in recognition of earned premium but from 2014 and especially for 2015, we expect strong returns in line with the underwriting team's historic track record.

 

Operationally, we are pleased to have received the in principle licence to establish an insurance company consolidator in Malta, into which we intend to merge and portfolio transfer, subject to regulatory approval, certain of our EEA insurance company run-offs during the next 12 months beginning with Chevanstell through a UK Court sanctioned Part VII transfer and Alma, the recently acquired Finnish portfolio. Establishing this company will help operational and capital efficiency. Furthermore, we will have a better capitalised vehicle with on-going licences and good regulatory access to bring in future run-off portfolios from third party insurers in the EEA.

 

Investment Income

 

Investment income of £12.6m (representing a return of 5.9%) from the insurance company portfolios and 'Funds-at-Lloyd's' was an excellent result and achieved during a period when we implemented investment strategies to reduce interest rate duration significantly and increase asset diversification. We also generated £0.8m of investment income relating to our syndicate participations.

 

A substantial part of the return came from capital gains from the portfolio's debt securities, especially the structured products such as UK/Dutch Residential Mortgage Backed Securities. The high yield corporate bond and senior secured loans funds and high yielding equities also performed well. The Group further benefited from the realisation of all of its bank perpetuals at prices above the year end 2011 values.

 

The overall Group insurance company* investment allocation by asset class at 31 December 2012 was as follows: * excludes syndicates

 

Asset Class

Share of Total Portfolio

ABS (almost exclusively Residential Mortgage Backed Securities)

23%

Group Loans

18%

CLOs (US)

15%

Corporate Bonds

12%

Cash

7%

US Treasuries

6%

Equities

5%

High Yield funds

5%

US Municipals

3%

Shariah Cash Deposits

3%

Other

2%

Money Market Funds

1%

 

Invested funds totalled £212m equivalent, comprising of US$233m, £49m, €16m and Aus$5m.  The non-sterling assets matched the currencies of the net insurance liabilities.

 

The credit rating of the debt securities held by the Group at 31 December 2012 was as follows:

 


Share of Total Portfolio

AAA

17%

AA

38%

A

39%

BB

6%

 

Overall the duration of the investment portfolio is now under one year given that a significant portion of the assets are now invested in floating rate securities.

 

The Group has worked hard during the year to ensure that its investment portfolios are well positioned and optimised from a risk-reward perspective, whilst always maintaining high overall credit quality and good liquidity. Whist the portfolios and funds are managed externally by carefully selected professional investment managers, the Group Investment Committee makes frequent reviews of the asset allocations, investment strategies and guidelines with the assistance of IIA, a specialist investment consultancy. This has resulted in a much more active management strategy by the Group of its investments, which we believe is necessary in a persistently low yielding environment. 

 

The Group's running investment yield at year end was c.2.5% but subsequent portfolio repositioning has brought this back towards 3%. Whilst we have mitigated interest rate risk substantially through portfolio restructuring, we are still exposed to credit spread movements. We have however kept maturities short in the main and increased asset diversification to lessen the potential impact of this volatility. The 2013 year to date performance has been encouraging once again with capital gains adding to overall returns.

 

Insurance Services Division

 

The Insurance Services Division's activities include:

 

·     Claims management

·     Reinsurance management

·     Broker services (eg broker replacement and run-off, active back office support)

·     Premium credit control, bordereau management & broker performance monitoring

·     Captive and cell management for corporates and risk-retention groups

·     Audit & Inspection of delegated underwriting facilities (for coverholders)

·     Accounting Services

·     Compliance & company secretarial services

 

As well as providing full scale claims and reinsurance management services to the Group's owned company portfolios and managed syndicates, the Group offers a broad range of specialist insurance services to a wide range of clients in both the legacy and active insurance markets.

 



Year ended

31 December 2012

Year ended

31 December 2011



£000 

£000 

UK Claims & Reinsurance Management Services




       Internal portfolio management fees


11,887

10,415

       Third party Income


6,360

9,258

       Total Income


18,247

19,673

       Operating Profit


4,502

3,570





UK Broker Services




       Total Income


4,828

4,983

       Operating Profit


897

1,050





UK Liquidity Management




       Total Income


2,641

2,079

       Operating Profit/(loss)


23

(164)





US Services




       Internal Portfolio management fees


3,817

2,902

       Third party Income


9,630

5,611

       Total Income


13,447

8,513

Operating Profit


4,180

1,190





Captive Management




       Total Income


5,827

4,720

       Operating profit


662

105









TOTAL INCOME


44,990

39,968

TOTAL DIVISIONAL OPERATING PROFIT


10,264

5,751

 

 

The Insurance Services Division's operating profit of £10.3m (2011: £5.8m), reflected a good core performance in UK services, especially in the claims and reinsurance management area, a much improved result in captive management (previously reported as a separate division) and a satisfactory core performance in US Services, which was boosted by exceptional levels of credit write-backs during the period. 

 

Total Income increased to £45.0m (2011: £40.0m) with a reduction in third party income in the UK claims and reinsurance services and in US services being compensated for by increases in income from Liquidity Management and Captive Management as well as higher internal revenue.  

 

In UK Broker Services revenue was broadly flat as was operating profit with the back office support of active businesses a significant contributor. The broker run-offs we have acquired continue to perform well and we have scale and efficiency in this area. We are also creating new solutions to support the recent regulations on broker solvency, which should bring additional income opportunities.

 

In UK Claims and Reinsurance Management Services, revenue fell due to the absence of the substantial profit commission on the now discontinued Advent syndicate run-off contract which benefited the 2011 figures and the move of the full syndicate servicing to the Underwriting Management Division. Outside of this, success was achieved with cross-selling the Group's niche services to the larger UK based insurance groups, focused on reducing costs by outsourcing specialist work. Traditional run-off portfolio management contracts remain scarce however given the acquisition of such portfolios by specialist groups with in-house resource and the prevalence of solvent schemes. The contraction in potential run-off contracts further supports our recent diversification strategy into the active market, where our liquidity management operations increased revenues substantially. We continue to focus on subscription market business, especially Lloyd's, where our services offer a highly cost effective alternative to internal resourcing by individual syndicate managers.

 

The operating profit of £4.5m in the core UK claims and reinsurance management operations was considerably higher than 2011 (£3.5m) and represented a 25% operating margin. This showed the clear benefit of recent cost reduction measures which should continue to filter through during the current year.

 

The core US services operations suffered from the expected reduction in work on a number of significant existing third party run-off contracts, delayed new business income as well as the impact of restructuring costs. The total income and overall operating result were however boosted by an exceptional level of credit write-backs during the year. Focus continues on improving the sustainability of revenue by securing multi-year assignments and building on our expertise in workers' compensation loss mitigation and medical malpractice portfolio management.

 

Captive management, now incorporated into the Insurance Services Division, performed well during the period with a significantly higher level of operating profits of £0.7m (2011: £0.1m) on income of £5.8m (2011: £4.7m). There was a strong operating performance from the Bermuda based operations at R&Q Quest due to revenue from the growing captive exit solutions as well as new client wins. 2012 also benefited from a full year contribution from the Norwegian business, Triton, which continues to perform well.  The income from the management contracts transferred to our new US captive management business also contributed to top line growth but slower progress in our US farming co-operative initiative due to unusual weather conditions and delays in the medical related risk retention group project dampened new business income and led to a broadly break-even result. R&Q's Gibraltar operations had a broadly similar year's trading to 2011 but the pipeline of new business is improving. The Group also established a small presence in two additional key captive domiciles during the year; the Cayman Islands and the Isle of Man. This broadens the operational platform further in a cost controlled manner whilst improving the access to local captive exit opportunities. 

The outlook in captive management for 2013 and beyond looks positive and we are pleased that recent investment is now delivering an improving operational performance. We are assessing further opportunities to expand through widening our product offering and expanding geographically or within our existing domiciles by acquisition or people hires. The operations continue to capitalise on the successful joint marketing initiative with the Insurance Investments Division to provide captives with an array of exit solutions.

 

Overall in the Insurance Services Division, our scale and expertise in niches such as broker run-off, liquidity management, captive management, and in medical malpractice and workers' compensation claims (in the US), provide good income growth opportunities but there remains a relative scarcity of sizeable traditional third party run-off contracts. Sustaining or growing the internal service revenue and profits is also dependent on new portfolio acquisitions as the existing ones mature but there are encouraging signs emerging here as discussed in the Insurance Investments Division above. We continue moreover to focus on the consolidation and re-engineering of the division's operations and on cost control.

 

Underwriting Management Division

 

The Underwriting Management division is engaged in the following activities:

 

·     Management of the Group's own active syndicate and 'turnkey' syndicate

·     Management of RITC (run-off) syndicates

·     Delegated underwriting through a number of specialist managing general agents ('MGAs') with niche underwriting accounts

 



Year ended

31 December 2012

Year ended

31 December 2011



£000 

£000 

Lloyd's Managing Agency Operations




      Fee income


5,548

3,630

      Profit Commissions


2,077

1,032

      Operating Profit


2,378

1,746





MGAs




      Premium Income


28,133

2,402

      Income


3,645

710

      Operating Loss


(1,876)

(1,932)





Underwriting Management Holdings




      Income


297

19

      Operating Loss


(1,958)

(927)





TOTAL INCOME


11,567

5,391





TOTAL OPERATING LOSS


(1,456)

(1,113)





 

The Underwriting Management Division generated an operating loss of £1.5m on revenue of £11.6m (2011: (£1.1m), £5.4m). Adjusting for the operating losses and closure costs of the Canadian MGA, the division made a significantly reduced operating loss of £0.5m.  The financial result was nonetheless weaker than originally anticipated due to: (i) slower premium development in certain of the new coverholder operations, where capacity and distribution issues were only resolved later in the year; (ii) the costs associated with the Solvency II project; and (iii) the costs associated with the scaling up of the underwriting management operations. The division however is now well positioned for substantial growth, especially following the launch of R&Q Syndicate 1991, which is expected at least to double premiums across the 2013-2015 underwriting years. The division is therefore expected to make a positive contribution to the Group's operating result during 2013 and beyond.   

 

The Group's Lloyd's managing agency operations had a good year with strong fee income growth following the transfer of certain services previously provided to the Group's managed syndicates from the Insurance Services Division and the addition of Syndicate 3330 following the Reinsurance-to-Close ('RITC') of the open years of former Syndicate 1208. Profit commission of £2.1m was generated from the two run-off syndicates and was significantly higher than the year prior (£1.0m). These contributions resulted in an operating profit of £2.4m (2011: £1.7m). 

The MGA commission income was significantly higher than during 2011 at £3.6m (2011: £0.7m) as a result primarily of the addition of R&Q Marine Services, the new Yachts and Marine Trades MGA, which traded very well during its first year at R&Q. The acquisition of Synergy, the high net worth MGA, together with organic growth in Commercial Risk Services, the UK SME Commercial MGA, also added new revenue. After excluding Canada, there was still an operating loss in the MGA operations due primarily to significant losses at Synergy which was impacted by legacy costs and capacity issues, which were only resolved later in the year. JUST, the specialist sports, leisure and entertainment MGA has had its business transferred to the R&Q syndicate from 2013 and any non-Lloyd's business transferred to Commercial Risk Services.

2013 should see a much improved operational result in the MGA operations now that R&Q's Canada MGA operations have been discontinued and as capacity improvements, product expansion and improved distribution in the other MGAs bring further benefits. Strong competition in the high net worth market and our commitment to underwriting discipline are affecting Synergy's income, which may consequently take longer to reach break-even, reducing the overall contribution of the MGA activities during the current year. Additional underwriting hires and re-engineering initiatives should improve performance over time and we remain open to other opportunities to bring further scale to our specialist MGA operations. 

As has already been commented on, the division was impacted again by costs associated with compliance with the Lloyd's Solvency II project but much of that preparatory work has now been completed. Whilst the maintenance of the increased risk management, actuarial, operational and governance standards brings on-going costs, it is less burdensome than the initial model creation and the expected increase in our agency operations should reduce the residual costs retained by the agency.

A significant amount of energy and resource was expended in ensuring Syndicate 1991 was approved and fully operational for a 1 January 2013 start. The launch of Syndicate 1991 is an exciting development for the division's agency operations. In addition to providing scale and bringing additional cost recoveries, the syndicate offers significant organic growth prospects for fee income and profit commissions in the years to come as well as raising the profile and standing of R&Q within the active Lloyd's market. The underwriting team, previously from Axis, has an excellent track record and has a focused and specialist approach to property and liability delegated authority selection and management, with real-time data monitoring and specialist claims handling.

The syndicate attracted an excellent mix of capital support from traditional Lloyd's Names (private individuals), industry capital from Bermuda and Europe (including SCOR and XL Group) and R&Q itself (22.8%). The syndicate capacity for 2013 is £77m, with the aim of steadily growing capacity to more than two times current level by the 2015 year of account. Whilst start-up syndicates, as has been mentioned above, rarely make underwriting profits in their first calendar year of operation, due to the slow recognition of earned premium, we expect the team to deliver strong underwriting results in years to come as the book matures and grows, potentially bringing sizeable profit commissions to the division.

The turnkey market appears to be improving with an increased number of enquiries from international insurance groups looking to enter the Lloyd's market. Provided the business is accretive and the team has a strong underwriting track record, Lloyd's has been generally supportive. The Group is well placed in the turnkey market to support and manage such ventures but the lead time to launch tends to be considerable and our current pipeline is probably more likely to convert during 2014 than the current year. We remain fully committed to managing new turnkey syndicates, which should bring additional consultancy revenue, fee income, cost recovery and profit commissions over time. We are also exploring other opportunities to expand the agency by taking over the management of existing active or run-off syndicates.

 

Overall, we are excited about the prospects for the division. A much improved operating result is expected in 2013 and potentially strong contributions to the Group's profit in the future, especially from 2015.

 

Return of Cash via an L/M Share Scheme and Distribution Policy

 

The Return of Value, details of which were outlined in a circular posted to shareholders on 14 March 2013, gave shareholders the option of receiving their payment as capital or income and provided a more flexible and efficient mechanism of returning capital. The payment of 5.0p per share is expected to be made through the scheme on 3 May 2013 to those shareholders on the register at 5.00 p.m. on 2 April 2013, bringing total cash distributions to shareholders in respect of the 2012 financial year to 8.4p.

 

The return of cash to shareholders through an L/M share scheme came in a period when once again the Group successfully managed to release capital from a number of our insurance investments.

 

The Return of Value was in place of the final dividend for the 2012 year but the Group may choose to make future returns of value in addition or instead of ordinary dividend payments.

 

Further to the proposed placing and issue of new shares, the Group has decided to maintain the total distributions to shareholders at 8.4p per share in respect of the 2013 financial year, absent unforeseen circumstances. Thereafter the Group will follow a standard progressive distribution policy that reflects its financial performance and remains committed to providing strong cash returns to shareholders.

 

 

Litigation

 

During the period, we reached an agreement to resolve the legal dispute with various companies of the ACE Group ("ACE") including litigation that the Group filed against various ACE subsidiaries in May 2012 in the Supreme Court of New York. Through the resolution of this dispute, we have been able to remove a significant source of uncertainty for the Group and have now resumed normal commercial relations with ACE.

 

All other outstanding litigation is in the ordinary course of business and is claims and reinsurance related in the owned insurance companies and managed syndicates.

 

 

Staffing

 

The Group continues to seek high quality individuals to develop existing and new business areas. The Group has strength and depth in the management team across the three divisions.

 

During the past year, the staff have continued to make valuable contributions to the success of the Group and I wish to express my gratitude for this. It is of course regrettable that at the same time that we are expanding the number of staff in certain areas of the business, we have to contract in others in order to reflect business priorities and to manage our cost base. This in no way reflects on staff performance. We continue to reward staff and management primarily based on the Group's financial performance but we also offer equity incentives and profit shares to key people in certain of the new underwriting ventures to help retain and attract the best industry talent.

 

Key Performance Indicators

 

In order to focus our delivery to shareholders and facilitate analysis of our progress, we report the following key performance indicators:

 

•    Revenue growth and Operating Profit margins in the Insurance Services division

 

•    Operating profit in the:

Insurance Investments Division

Underwriting Management Division

 

•    EPS 

 

•    Distributions per share (i.e dividends and any other capital return to shareholders)

 

•    Net Tangible Asset Value per share

 

•    Total Shareholder return

 

The tables below show the results:

 

Insurance Services





Revenue Growth

Operating Profit Margin



2012

12.6%

22.8%



2011

12.3%

14.4%













Operating Profit





Insurance Investments

Underwriting Management




£m

£m



2012

                          9.91 

(1.5)



2011

8.32

(1.1)








 






 

Key per share indicators




 


Basic EPS

Distributions p/s

NTA p/s

Total Shareholder Return3

 

2012

20.4p

8.4

            114.4

+20.9p

 

2011

(0.9p)

8.1

107.34

+11.1p

 

 

1 After deduction of Minority Interests

2 Excludes goodwill impairment

3 Includes change in share price between 1 Jan and 31 Dec together with distributions per share relating to that accounting period

4 Assumed share cancellation had been completed

 

 

 

KE Randall

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

 

Report of the Directors

For the year ended 31 December 2012

 

The Directors present their report together with the audited Financial Statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2012.

 

Principal Activities

 

The Company is a holding and investment company.

 

Group companies carry on business in the UK, Continental Europe, United States, Canada and Bermuda as owners, managers and acquirers of insurance companies and captives in run off, as participators and managers of active Lloyd's syndicates, as underwriting managers for active insurers, as purchasers of insurance receivables and as consultants to the non-life insurance market.

 

The Group owns thirteen insurance companies and captives in run-off in the UK, US and Continental Europe.  The Group also owns and operates an active insurer in Bermuda which currently supports the Group's Lloyd's syndicate operations.

 

Results and Distributions

 

The results for the Group for the year ended 31 December 2012 are set out in the consolidated income statement. 

 

The Directors declared and paid distributions for the year of 8.4 pence per share on the ordinary shares amounting to £4,162,000 (2011: £4,032,000). 

 

Future distribution intentions are disclosed in the Chairman's Statement and Business Review on page 3.

 

Directors' Interests in Shares

 

As at 31 December 2012, the following Directors held ordinary shares as below.  The total ordinary shares in issue at 31 December 2012 amounted to 50,133,002.

 

K E Randall and family

21,749,515


A K Quilter

4,346,456


K P McNamara

139,106


J M Welman 

100,000


M G Smith

25,000


 

Risk Management

 

 

The Group has within it a dedicated Risk Management Function which has been focussed primarily within the Group's wholly owned Lloyd's Managing Agency in preparation for Solvency II. The Risk Management Function has continued to work with the other divisions within the group in identifying, assessing, reviewing and monitoring risks and mitigating controls, and developing the Risk Management and Reporting framework.

 

The following risks are deemed to be the principal risks facing the Group. Risks relating specifically to the Group's owned insurance entities service operations and underwriting management division are dealt with separately towards the end of this section.

 

Group Risks:

 

 

General economic climate and natural disasters

 

The markets in which the Group operates are directly affected by many national and international factors that are beyond its control. Any one of the following factors, among others, may cause a substantial decline in the financial markets in which the Group operates: legislative, legal and regulatory changes; economic and political conditions in the UK, continental Europe, the US and elsewhere in the world; changes in the supply and demand of capital, industrial disruption, concerns about terrorism and war; natural disasters; the level and volatility of equity, property and commodity markets; the level and volatility of interest rates and foreign currency exchange rates and concerns over inflation and changes in institutional and consumer confidence levels. Uncertain economic prospects or declines in investment markets for any of the foregoing reasons could adversely affect the operations, business and profitability of the Group.

 

Group Cash Flow Risk

 

The Group must actively manage its cash flow to ensure that operating cash flow requirements, debt repayments (together with interest payable) and claims payments can be met and the Group's distribution policy sustained. The Group undergoes a thorough annual budgeting process, which includes a monthly Group cash flow projection, against which actual movements are regularly monitored through, for example, the weekly circulation of the cash balances in each of the Group's entities. If cash flows are not managed, this will adversely affect the Group's ability to meet debt and claims repayments and sustain its distribution policy.

 

 

Capital Management

 

Growth within the Group may be constrained by the availability of capital. As part of the yearly budget process, the Directors work together with the finance team to consider any requirements for capital to expand the Group's existing operations and to fund the likely acquisition pipeline of legacy insurance assets or investment in further syndicate participations. This capital requirement is monitored on an ongoing basis. The visibility of pipeline acquisitions is however limited and the ability to complete transactions on the terms desired uncertain.

 

The majority of the Group's insurance entities are subject to external risk based or minimum capital requirements. The Directors have overall responsibility for managing the Group's overall capital base and for maintaining sufficient capital within the Group's insurance entities, including the Funds at Lloyd's requirement to support its syndicate participations to satisfy external regulatory requirements. The Group receives timely information regarding the levels of capital each entity is required to hold and the prevailing surpluses, which facilitates the Group's active capital management strategy. The Group is also required to meet its Group Capital Adequacy Requirement under the Insurance Group's Directive. This requires constant monitoring both of the Group's capital resources and requirements, which may vary, especially following new insurance company acquisitions. The Group has recently established more robust monitoring and forecasting processes designed to confirm compliance on a daily basis.

 

The Group has a five year credit facility with Clydesdale Bank which has over three years until expiration. There is no guarantee that the Group will be able to secure refinancing of this facility or alternative finance on comparable terms.

 

Competition

 

The Group operates in a competitive environment and faces competition from current and potential competitors. The Group may not be able to compete effectively with such competitors, particularly those with far greater capital resources.

 

Regulatory Risk

 

The insurance industry is heavily regulated in most jurisdictions. The majority of the insurance companies owned by the Group are subject to the insurance regulatory system in the jurisdictions in which they operate. These companies, and any future acquisitions by the Group, may not be able to maintain the necessary licences, permits, authorisations or accreditations in jurisdictions in which they currently engage in business or may only be able to do so only at significant cost.

 

Regulatory agencies in that operate in the Group's jurisdictions will have broad administrative power over many aspects of the Group's insurance business. These powers may influence premium rates, marketing and selling practices, advertising, licensing agents, policy forms, capital adequacy and permitted investments. At the same time, government regulators that operate in the jurisdictions will be concerned primarily with the protection of policyholders rather than shareholders or creditors.

 

In the United Kingdom, the Group is subject to the regulation of the Council of Lloyd's, the PRA and the FCA, whilst in the United States, the Group is subject to the regulations of each of the states in which it is admitted. Each of these regulatory authorities has substantial powers of intervention in relation to the companies and the markets which they regulate, with the ability to remove the authorisations and licences required by carriers and markets such as Lloyd's to conduct insurance business. Such authorisations and licences are fundamental to the Group's business.

 

In particular, the Council of Lloyd's has wide discretionary powers to regulate members' underwriting at Lloyd's. It may, for instance, vary the method by which the solvency ratio of Lloyd's and that of its members is calculated, or the investment criteria applicable to funds at Lloyd's. Either action could affect the amount of the Group's underwriting capacity and, consequently, the return on an investment in a given year of account.

 

Similarly, the PRA and the FCA have wide regulatory powers under FSMA and the Financial Services Act 2012, including the authority to grant, vary the terms of, or cancel a regulated firm's authorisation, to investigate marketing and sales practices and to require the maintenance of adequate financial resources. The PRA and the FCA have the power to take a range of investigative, disciplinary or enforcement actions, including public censure, restitution, fines or sanctions and to award compensation. The PRA and FCA may make enquiries of the companies which they regulate regarding compliance with regulations governing the operation of business and, like all UK-regulated financial service companies, the Group faces the risk that the PRA and the FCA could find that the Group has failed to comply with applicable regulations or has not undertaken corrective action as required.

 

In addition, the relevant members of the Group may not be able to comply fully with, or obtain appropriate exemptions from, any amendments to a regulatory regime. Failure to comply with or to obtain appropriate exemptions under any applicable laws could result in restrictions on the Group's ability to conduct business in one or more of the jurisdictions in which it operates and could result in the imposition of fines and other sanctions, each of which could have a material adverse effect on its reputation, financial condition and/or operating results.

 

Failure to comply with applicable regulations and solvency requirements, including the proposed Solvency II legislation, could result in an impediment of business development and/or a variety of sanctions. The Group's failure to gain and/or maintain a sufficiently high Solvency II rating for its Lloyd's managing agency could in particular impede its business development in the Underwriting Management Division. The Directors are responsible for ensuring that best practice is applied to ensure regulatory compliance.

 

The Group also faces the potential risk of an onerous Group solvency test under the proposed Solvency II legislation which may result in the Group being deemed to be insufficiently capitalised. As a result, the Group is planning to reduce this uncertainty and contain the potential consequences of these risks by establishing an insurance company consolidator in Malta and moving the Parent company to Bermuda domicile.

 

In addition, changes in the laws and regulations to which the Group's insurance operations are subject could have a material adverse effect on the Group's business and may increase the costs of complying with such laws and regulations.

 

A curtailment of certain of the licences held by Lloyd's or a deterioration in the credit rating and standing of Lloyd's could also adversely affect the Group's business and its future development, especially of its active underwriting operations.

 

Exposure to litigation

 

The extent and complexity of the legal and regulatory environment in which the Group operates and the products and services the Group offers mean that many aspects of the business involve substantial risks of liability. Any litigation brought against the Group or any companies within it in future could have a material adverse effect on the Group.

 

In addition, litigation may have a material adverse effect upon the Group's business in that legal decisions between third parties may expand the apparent scope of legal liabilities, which in turn could increase the amount of claims which have to be paid by the Group, thereby reducing profits. The Group's owned insurance companies are also exposed to potential tort claims including claims for punitive or exemplary damages that could have a materially adverse effect on profitability.

 

Distribution and third party capital support

 

The Group's active underwriting operations are dependent on maintaining strong relationships with insurance brokers and delegated authorities, who are the key source of distribution. The ability of the syndicates and Managing General Agents to maintain or grow their underwriting is also dependent on the continued support of the existing third party capital providers or the ability of the Group to secure alternative sources of capital.

 

Investment performance will affect the profitability and solvency position of the Group

 

The insurance companies in run-off owned by the Group and the syndicates (both run-off and active) on which the Group participates hold significant investments to support their liabilities and their earnings will be affected by the returns achieved on their investment portfolios. Therefore despite the Group's asset and liability management strategies, changes in credit spreads, interest rates, credit ratings, default rates and other economic variables could substantially affect the Group's profitability. The capital value of the Group's investments may fall as well as rise and the income derived from them may fluctuate. A fall in such capital values may adversely affect the Group's solvency position.

 

Industry wide developments could adversely affect the Group's business

 

The availability and price of insurance coverage and the number and nature of insurance companies entering run-off have been affected in the past by industry wide factors such as asbestos and environmental liability claims, other liability claims such as directors' and officers' liability and medical malpractice and major hurricanes. Similar or new industry wide factors in future may result in changes in market conditions or governmental intervention in the insurance markets, which may affect the ability of the Group to obtain suitable run-off reinsurance protection or potential businesses or companies for acquisition as well as impact the general insurance rating environment and demand for the Group's insurance products offered by both its active syndicates and Managing General Agents.

 

Business Growth and Integration Risk

 

The Group's operations have grown significantly in recent years both organically and through acquisition. Where growth occurs without requisite management controls in place there is an increased risk that business objectives are not aligned, new business targets not met and costs not adequately managed. The Directors seek to mitigate this risk through detailed budgeting, a regular flow of management information, including the preparation and analysis of monthly management accounts, and regular communication within the divisions.

 

Failure to Deliver Strategic Objectives

 

All operations within the Group are expected to work together to meet strategic divisional and Group objectives. Where there is a lack of understanding, cooperation or potentially even conflict across divisions, there is a risk that these objectives will not be met. The Directors seek to mitigate this risk through regular reporting in the various divisional and Group committees outlined above and through a clearly communicated strategy disseminated across the Group. The group's P.R representatives also help ensure that the full breadth of the business is understood both internally and externally.

 

Key Man Dependency

 

Appropriate succession planning arrangements are considered by the Directors to ensure that business operations are not disrupted by the loss of key staff.  The Group has developed strength and depth across its management structures and believes its Human Resource policies are appropriate to retain such staff and recruit any appropriately skilled people required.  However, the Group's reputation and standing is still significantly linked to the involvement of its founding directors, Ken Randall and Alan Quilter. A significant amount of knowledge, especially with regard to the terms of acquisition and detail of certain of the insurance company subsidiaries also lies with Ken Randall especially and is not easily replaceable.

 

Reliance on Group I.T and Communications

 

The Group may be unable to operate efficiently or in a timely manner in the event of a partial or complete failure of the I.T infrastructure and/or telephone systems. This is particularly important for the Group's active underwriting operations. The Group has reviewed its IT and telephony operations and has now contracted with a third party outsourcing partner to provide resilience and performance improvements across the IT estate.  The improvements are already in place for the Group's live underwriting operation and have already undergone disaster recovery testing to demonstrate the effectiveness of the new IT model.

 

Interest rate/Credit risk

 

The Group's main exposure to fluctuation in interest rates arises in its effect on the value of funds invested in bonds. In order to mitigate this risk, the Group investment committee and insurance company boards, together with the external investment managers, attempt to anticipate any future interest rate movement and to take appropriate action to mitigate its effect on the value of investments held. The Group is also exposed to credit risk through holding collateralised loan obligations, mortgage backed securities, corporate bonds and loans, depending on actual default rate and/or changes in the perceived default rates, which may fluctuate over time. The Group is therefore exposed to absolute loss and mark to market movements in the valuations of these securities. In order to mitigate this risk the vast majority of securities held by the Group are investment grade and credit spread duration is kept low.

 

Liquidity Risk

 

Liquidity risk is the risk that cash may not be available to pay obligations when due. The cash position of each of the insurance companies is monitored on a regular basis to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet liabilities as they fall due. Funds required to meet immediate and short term needs are invested in money market funds or short term deposits. Funds in excess of those required to meet short term needs are managed by external fund managers or placed in UCITS funds or Collective Investment Schemes. The investment performance of the fund managers and pooled funds is closely monitored throughout the year by the Group investment committee and insurance company boards.

 

The management contracts within the service companies are typically structured such that fees are payable by clients quarterly or annually in advance, providing the Group's Insurance Services Division with sufficient working capital to support the obligations of all companies within the division. The cash position of each of the service companies is monitored on a regular basis to ensure that sufficient funds are available to meet liabilities as they fall due.

 

Currency fluctuations

 

The Group will have businesses with funds, assets, investments and liabilities denominated in currencies other than sterling and may, from time to time, experience losses resulting from fluctuations in the values of US dollars, Euros and other non-UK currencies, which could adversely affect its operating results. Where possible, the Group manages the impact of this risk by broadly matching the currency of assets and liabilities. The Group however holds the surplus of the US insurance companies in US dollars and there is thus an impact on the Group's consolidated net asset position as a result of any fluctuations between Sterling and the US dollar. The Group has in the past hedged this exposure at times and the cost-benefit of such protection is regularly assessed.

 

Risk Management - Insurance Companies and Syndicates

 

The activities of the Group's insurance companies expose each of them to financial and non financial risks. 

 

Other than as reported in Note 2a and Note 3, the Parent Company and its other subsidiaries bear no financial responsibility for any liabilities or obligations of individual insurance companies.  Should any of the insurance companies cease to be able to continue as a going concern, any loss to the Parent company and its other subsidiaries is restricted to the book value of their investment in that individual insurance company and any intra group balances due by them or due to them. 

 

Although the Directors strategically manage the risks within the Group, it is the responsibility of the Directors of the insurance companies to adhere to the Group's ethos in managing their company's exposure to these risks and, where possible, introduce controls and procedures that mitigate the effects of the exposure to risk.

 

Insurance Risk

 

The very nature of insurance business is that insurers are exposed to the possibility that claims will arise on business written. The risk attaching to insurance contracts is based on the fortuity that events will occur which will lead to a claim under the contract.

 

The main insurance risks which affect the insurance companies and syndicates (both run-off and active) on which the Group participates are:

 

• Pricing risk - the risk that coverage provided by the Group's insurance policies is inadequately priced, resulting in underwriting losses which in turn could lead to capital impairment.

 

• Claims risk - a series of claims in respect of a latent liability that the insurance industry is not currently aware of and/or a higher level of attritional losses and catastrophe related losses than anticipated and/or modelled on the policies underwritten in the active syndicates.

 

• Reinsurance risk - the risk that the reinsurers of the insurance companies will dispute the coverage of losses and/or inadequate or inappropriate reinsurance cover, especially of large catastrophe related losses in the active syndicates on which the Group participates.

 

• Legal risk - changes in statute or legal precedent.

 

• Reserving risk - the risk that the provisions established by the companies prove to be inadequate.

 

Receivables

 

There is a credit risk on reinsurance receivables in the owned companies and managed syndicates. Reinsurance receivables are evaluated each quarter as to credit risk and existing bad debt provisions are evaluated as to adequacy.

 

The carrying value (i.e. original acquisition cost) of the insurance debt acquired by the Group in the Insurance Investments Division may also prove to be overstated and/or may not be realisable.

 

There is also a risk that the Group is unable to realise the carrying value of certain life policies which are carried as a debtor in Syndicate 102.

 

There is a risk that structured settlements the Group has put in place with a number of life companies to settle certain of its liabilities may not pay out if the life companies were to default.

 

Currency Risk

 

The insurance companies are potentially exposed to currency risk in respect of liabilities generated through regular trading activity which are denominated in currencies other than Sterling.  The most significant foreign currencies to which the companies are exposed are the US Dollar and the Euro.  Group policy requires that the Directors seek to mitigate the risk by matching the estimated foreign currency denominated liabilities with assets denominated in the same currency. However, in certain asset classes, much better priced investment opportunities exist in Sterling and Euros rather than US Dollar denominated investments due to an aversion to non-US risk by US investors following the recent credit crisis. In certain of the Group's insurance company portfolios we have therefore put in place rolling foreign exchange hedges to mitigate any foreign exchange mismatch between the investments held and the underlying liabilities, rather than directly hold assets and liabilities in the same currency.

 

Reliance on Investment Income

 

The Group's accounting policy in its consolidated financial statements, in relation to the insurance company subsidiaries is not to discount insurance reserves and only to take a provision for future run-off operating expenses if estimated investment income is insufficient over the Group as a whole to cover future anticipated operating expenses. Each insurance company is modeled in detail to ascertain the quantum of any provision required, taking into account estimated investment returns, average funds held and operating costs over the expected life of the run-off.

 

The investments held in the insurance company subsidiaries are however subject to market risks, which include interest rate and credit risk, dealt with in detail below. Returns may not therefore meet expectations or losses may materialise. To mitigate these risks the Group has an Investment Committee, formed of the Executive Directors which advises the boards of the insurance companies on asset allocation and manager selection. The Investment Committee is also assisted by an independent investment advisor. Timely and accurate performance information is regularly made available to both the Group Investment Committee and insurance company boards to assist active management, which the Group believes is vital in this prolonged period of low interest rates and economic uncertainty.

 

The level of funds held in the insurance company subsidiaries may also decrease faster than anticipated due to accelerated claims payments and this may have an impact on the sufficiency of investment income to meet operating expenses, provided the latter does not reduce proportionately.

 

Reserving/Actuarial Risk

 

Failure to adopt the correct reserving techniques exposes the Group to reserving risk and may present liquidity issues. The Directors actively manage this risk through the appointment of both internal and external actuaries to perform all reserve calculations.

 

Risk Management - Service Companies

 

The activities of the Group's service companies expose each of them to financial and non-financial risks. 

 

Although the Directors strategically manage the risks within the Group, it is the responsibility of the Directors of the service companies to adhere to the Group's ethos in managing the companies' exposures to these risks and, where possible, introduce controls and procedures that mitigate the effects of the exposure to risk.

 

Dependence on Clients

 

The service companies derive a significant proportion of their income from management contracts, which vary in length by up to five years.  Failure to retain key clients on renewal will have an adverse impact on income. The Group enjoys a diverse client base with no single contract accounting for more than 10% of service income.  

 

 

Risk Management - Underwriting Management

 

Strategic/Capital Risk

 

The Group manages the Syndicates in return for a managing agency fee, management charges and profit commission out of which it must meet retained expenses. The Group must maintain certain regulatory solvency surpluses to maintain an adequate capital base and to this end, the Group monitors its financial position by way of quarterly management accounts and regular cash flow reports and action would be taken to maintain the regulatory solvency position where appropriate.

 

Operational risk

 

This is the risk that errors caused by people, processes, systems or external events lead to losses to the Syndicates. The Group seeks to manage this risk with detailed policies and procedures addressing each potential source of operational risk and a structured programme of testing of processes and systems by internal audit.

 

Legal and Regulatory Risk

 

The Group's approval as a Managing Agent of Lloyd's Syndicates is subject to continuing approval by Lloyd's, Prudential Regulation Authority and the Financial Conduct Authority.  The risk of this approval being removed is mitigated by monitoring and fully complying with all requirements in relation to a Lloyd's Managing Agent and the operation of its managed Syndicates.

 

Share Capital

 

Details of the changes in the Company's share capital structure, rights and obligations attaching to, and any restrictions on the transfer or voting rights of the Company's shares are given in Note 24 to the Financial Statements.

 

Charitable Donations

 

During the year the Group contributed £nil (2011: £559) for charitable purposes.

 

Employee Involvement

 

Review meetings are held with employees to discuss the financial position and prospects of the Group. Opportunity is given at these meetings for senior executives to be questioned about matters which concern the employees.

 

Employment of Disabled Persons

 

The Company and its subsidiaries have continued their policy of offering equal rights to employment training, career development and promotion to all their employees including disabled employees.

 

Creditor Payment Policy

 

It is the Group's policy to pay creditors when they fall due for payment.  Terms of payment are agreed with suppliers when negotiating each transaction and the policy is to abide by those terms, provided that the suppliers also comply with all relevant terms and conditions.

 

Events after the reporting period end

 

Events after the reporting period end are disclosed in note 33 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Purchase of own shares

 

During the year, the group completed the acquisition and cancellation of 3,959,914 of its own shares. Details of this are disclosed in note 24 to the Consolidated Financial Statements.

 

Disclosure of information to Auditors

 

The Directors who held office at the date of approval of this Report of the Directors confirm that, so far as they are individually aware:-

 

·   there is no relevant audit information of which the Company's auditors are unaware; and

·     each Director has taken all steps that he ought to have taken as a Director to make himself aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company's auditors are aware of that information.

Auditors

Littlejohn LLP has signified its willingness to continue in office as auditors and a resolution will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting.

 

The Board and the Audit Committee has approved an extension to the engagement term of the Senior Statutory Auditor responsible for the audit opinion in relation to Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings Plc . The term was extended from five to six years and was made to safeguard the quality of the audit in light of the changes made or soon to be made to the structure of the group.  The Audit Committee is satisfied that this extension does not in any way prejudice the objectivity and independence of the audit.

 

 

By order of the Board

 

Signed by

M L Glover

Company Secretary

24 April 2013

 

Statement of Directors' Responsibilities

 

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

 

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and Parent Company Financial Statements for each financial year.  Under that law the Directors have elected to prepare the Group Financial Statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") as adopted by the European Union and elected to prepare the Parent Company Financial Statements in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice.

 

Under Company law the Directors must not approve the Financial Statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and Parent Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that year.

 

In preparing these Financial Statements the Directors are required to:

 

·     select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

·     make judgements and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

·     state whether the Group Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Financial Statements;

·     state whether the Parent Company Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with UK Accounting Standards, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Parent Company Financial Statements and

·     prepare the Financial Statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.

 

The Directors confirm that they have complied with the above requirements in preparing the Financial Statements.

 

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Parent Company's transactions and which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and Parent Company and enable them to ensure that its Financial Statements comply with the Companies Act 2006.  They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and Company, and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

 

Under applicable law and regulations, the Directors are also responsible for preparing a Report of the Directors that complies with that law and those regulations.

 

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

 

Independent Auditors' Report to the Shareholders of

Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc

 

We have audited the Financial Statements of Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc for the year ended 31 December 2012 which comprise the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Parent Company Balance Sheet, together with its accompanying notes, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity and the related notes. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Group Financial Statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.  The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the Parent Company Financial Statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice).

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

 

Respective Responsibilities of Directors and Auditors

 

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

Scope of the audit of the Financial Statements

An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the Financial Statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance that the Financial Statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error.  This includes an assessment of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group's and the Parent Company's circumstances, and have been consistently applied and adequately disclosed, the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the Directors, and the overall presentation of the Financial Statements.   In addition, we read all the financial and non-financial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the audited Financial Statements.  If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Opinion on Financial Statements

In our opinion:

·     the Financial Statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group's and of the Parent Company's affairs as at 31 December 2012 and of the Group's profit for the year then ended;

·     the Group Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

·     the Parent Company Financial Statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice;

·     the Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

 

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

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

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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

 

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

·     the Parent Company Financial Statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

·     certain disclosures of Directors' remuneration specified by law are not made; or

·     we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit.

 

 

 

Carmine Papa (Senior Statutory Auditor)

For and on behalf of Littlejohn LLP

Statutory Auditor                                                                                                                                                  1 Westferry Circus

                                                                                                                                                                                               Canary Wharf

                                                                                                                                                                                                           London

                                                                                                                                                                                                          E14 4HD

24 April 2013

 

Consolidated Income Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2012




2012


2011


Note


£000   

£000  


£000   

£000  









Gross premiums written



6,162 



2,290 


Reinsurers' share of gross premiums



(696)



(1,080)


Net written premiums



5,466 



1,210 










Change in gross provision for unearned premiums


(1,583)



(871)


Change in provision for unearned premiums, reinsurers' share


 



 


Net change in provision for unearned premiums


(1,583)



(871) 


Earned premium, net of reinsurance




3,883 



339 









Net investment income

6


11,966 



6,358 


Other income

7


36,109 



30,096 


 




48,075 



36,454 

Total income




51,958 



36,793 









Gross claims paid



(79,871)



(80,777)


Reinsurers' share of gross claims paid



55,199 



51,278 


Claims paid, net of reinsurance



(24,672)



(29,499)










Movement in gross technical provisions



53,819 



94,000 


Movement in reinsurers' share of technical provisions

(13,343)



(51,135)


Net change in provisions for claims



40,476 



42,865 










Net insurance provisions released




15,804 



13,366 

Operating expenses

8



(52,916)



(42,308)

Result of operating activities before goodwill on bargain purchase




14,846 



7,851 

Goodwill on bargain purchase

31



1,992 



1,541 

Impairment of intangible assets




(120)



(13,458)

Result of operating activities




16,718 



(4,066)

Finance costs

9



(809)



(591)









Profit/(Loss) on ordinary activities before income taxes

10



15,909 



(4,657)

Income tax (charge)/credit

11



(625)



4,169 









Profit/(Loss) for the year




15,284 



(488)









Attributable to equity holders of the parent








Attributable to owners of the parent




10,103 



(488)

Non-controlling interests




5,181 







15,284 



(488)

Earnings per ordinary share for the profit/(loss) attributable to the ordinary shareholders of the Company:







Basic

12



20.4p



(0.9p)

Diluted

12



19.9p



(0.9p)









 

Consolidated Statement of Financial Position

as at 31 December 2012

Company Number 03671097

 

 

Note


2012 

 

£000  

2011 

 

£000  


Assets







Intangible assets

14


15,675 


14,510 


Property, plant and equipment

15


1,719 


1,717 


Financial instruments







  - Investment properties

16a


1,004 


1,022 


  - Investments (fair value through profit or loss)

16b


174,274 


198,012 


  - Deposits with ceding undertakings



3,589 


3,766 


Reinsurers' share of insurance liabilities

22


148,988 


166,745 


Current tax assets

19


4,365 


2,769 


Deferred tax assets

23


5,383 


5,358 


Insurance and other receivables

17


68,486 


76,198 


Cash and cash equivalents

18


52,263 


37,183 


Total assets



475,746 


507,280 









Liabilities







Insurance contract provisions

22


329,467 


362,229 


Financial liabilities







  - Amounts owed to credit institutions

21


18,939 


23,224 


  - Deposits received from reinsurers



1,674 


2,291 


Deferred tax liabilities

23


1,818 


470 


Insurance and other payables

20


39,267 


43,392 


Current tax liabilities



2,570 


601 


Pension scheme obligations

27


4,381 


2,641 


Total liabilities



398,116 


434,848 









Equity







Share capital

24


1,036 


1,118 


Shares to be issued



744 


254 


Share premium account

24


4,752 


12,096 


Capital redemption reserve



-  


1,636 


Treasury share reserve

24


(434)


(704)


Retained earnings



66,390 


58,032 


Attributable to equity holders of the parent



72,488 


72,432 


Non-controlling interest in subsidiary undertakings



5,142 



Total equity



77,630 


72,432 









Total liabilities and equity



475,746 


507,280 









The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 24 April 2013 and were signed on its behalf by:-

 

 

K E Randall                                                          T A Booth

 

Consolidated Cash Flow Statement

For the year ended 31 December 2012

 

 

 

Note


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  


Cash flows from operating activities







Profit/(loss) before income taxes



15,909 


(4,657)


Finance costs

9


809 


591 


Depreciation

15


746 


513 


Share based payments



621 


51 


Goodwill on bargain purchase

31


(1,992)


(1,541)


Impairment of intangible assets




13,458 


Amortisation of intangible assets

14


120 



Fair value (gain)/loss on financial assets



(6,466)


679 


Gain on net assets of pension schemes



(86)


(157)


Decrease/(increase) in receivables



5,024 


(20,011)


Decrease in deposits with ceding undertakings


293 


251 


(Decrease)/increase in payables



(77,083)


5,188 


Decrease in net insurance technical provisions



(40,476)


(42,865)





(102,581)


(48,500)


Sale of financial assets



101,303 


40,063 


Purchase of financial assets



(11,492)


(3,568)


Cash used in operations



(12,770)


(12,005)


Income taxes paid



(78)


(739)


Income taxes repaid



254 


-  


Net cash used in operating activities



(12,594)


(12,744)









Cash flows from investing activities







Purchase of property, plant and equipment

15


(721)


(1,405)


Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings (offset by cash acquired)


7,890 


(2,379)


Share of cash from reinsurance of Syndicate


29,912 



Cash injection by non-controlling interest in subsidiary



100 



Net cash generated from/(used in) investing activities



37,181 


(3,784)









Cash flows to financing activities







Repayment of borrowings



(3,931)


(23,362)


Proceeds from new borrowing arrangements



-  


26,940 


Equity dividends paid

13


(1,270)


(1,172)


Interest and other finance costs paid

9


(809)


(591)


Receipts from issue of shares




33 


Cancellation  of G and J  shares

13


(2,840)


(2,816)


Payment to purchase own shares

24



(6,166)


Sale of treasury shares



90 


686 


Net cash to financing activities



(8,760)


(6,448)









Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents



15,827 


(22,976)


Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year



37,183 


60,109 


Foreign exchange movement on cash and cash equivalents


(747)


50 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

18


52,263 


37,183 









Share of Syndicates' cash restricted funds



2,747 


1,547 


Unrestricted funds



49,516 


35,636 


Cash and cash equivalents at end of year



52,263 


37,183 


 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

For the year ended 31 December 2012

 

 

 

Note


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  


Other Comprehensive Income:-







Exchange losses on consolidation



(395)


(31)


Pension scheme actuarial losses



(1,807)


(2,851)


Deferred tax on pension scheme actuarial losses



416 


713 


Other comprehensive income



(1,786)


(2,169)









Profit/(loss) for the year



15,284 


(488)


Total comprehensive income for the year



13,498 


(2,657)









Attributable to:-







Equity holders of the parent



8,356 


(2,657)


Non-controlling interests



5,142 


-  


Total recognised comprehensive income for the year



13,498 


(2,657)
















 

Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 December 2012

Attributable to equity holders of the parent


Attributable to owners of the parent




Share capital

Shares to be issued

Share premium

Capital redemption reserve

Treasury shares

Retained profit

Total

Non-controlling interest

Total

Year ended 31 December 2012










At beginning of year

1,118 

254 

12,096 

1,636 

(704)

58,032 

72,432 

72,432 

Total comprehensive income for the year










Profit for the year

10,103 

10,103 

5,181 

15,284 

 

Other comprehensive income










Exchange losses on consolidation

(356)

(356)

(39) 

(395)

Pension scheme actuarial losses

(1,807)

(1,807)

(1,807)

Deferred tax on pension scheme actuarial losses

‑ 

416 

416 

416 

Total other comprehensive income for the year

(1,747)

(1,747)

(39) 

(1,786)

Total comprehensive income for the year

8,356 

8,356 

5,142 

13,498 

 

Transactions with owners










Purchase of own shares

(82)

(3,182)

(1,636)

(4,900)

(4,900)

Issue of G-K shares

4,162 

(4,162)

-  

Cancellation of G&J shares

(2,892)

52 

(2,840)

(2,840)

Cancellation of H&K shares

(1,270)

 - 

1,270 

Share based payments

514 

514 

514 

Treasury shares

(24)

218 

196 


196 

Dividends

(1,270)

(1,270)

(1,270)











At end of year

1,036 

744 

4,752 

(434)

66,390 

72,488 

5,142 

77,630 

 

Attributable to equity holders of the parent


Attributable to owners of the parent



 


Share capital

Shares to be issued

Share premium

Capital redemption reserve

Treasury shares

Retained profit

Total

Non-controlling interest

Total

Year ended 31 December 2011










At beginning of year

1,135 

250 

16,029 

1,614 

(1,334)

61,855 

79,549 

(164)

79,385 

Total comprehensive income for the year










(Loss)/Profit for the year

(488)

(488)

171 

(317)

 

Other comprehensive income










Exchange losses on consolidation

(31)

(31)

(7) 

(38)

Pension scheme actuarial losses

(2,851)

(2,851)

(2,851)

Deferred tax on pension scheme actuarial losses

‑ 

713 

713 

713 

Total other comprehensive income for the year

(2,169)

(2,169)

(7) 

(2,176)

Total comprehensive income for the year

(2,657)

(2,657)

164 

(2,493)

 

Transactions with owners










Issues of shares

(20)

99 

84 

84 

Issue of C-F shares

4,032 

(4,032)

Redemption of ordinary shares

(22)

22 

(1,266)

(1,266)

(1,266)

Cancellation of C&E shares

(2,816)

(2,816) 

(2,816)

Cancellation of D&F shares

(1,216)

 - 

1,216 

Share based payments

51 

51 

51 

Treasury shares

(27)

630 

56 

659 


659 

Dividends

(1,172)

(1,172)

(1,172)











At end of year

1,118 

254 

12,096 

1,636 

(704)

58,032 

72,432 

72,432 

 

 

1.         Corporate information

Randall & Quilter Investment Holdings plc (the "Company") is a company domiciled and incorporated in England and Wales.  Group companies carry on business in the UK, continental Europe, United States, Canada and Bermuda as owners and managers of insurance companies and captives in run off, as underwriting managers for active insurers, as participators in Lloyd's syndicates, as purchasers of insurance receivables, as managers of insurance 'captives' and as consultants to the non-life insurance market.  The Financial Statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 24 April 2013.

2.         Accounting policies

The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these consolidated Financial Statements are set out below.  These policies have been consistently applied to all the periods presented, unless otherwise stated.

a.         Basis of preparation

The consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), endorsed by the European Union ("EU"), International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS.

The Group Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention except that financial assets are stated at their fair value.

The preparation of the consolidated Financial Statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the consolidated Financial Statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the year (Note 3).  Although these estimates are based on management's best knowledge of the amount, event or actions, actual results may differ from these estimates.  The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis.  Revisions to estimates are recognised in the current and future years depending on when the revision is made and the year it affects.

The Directors have assessed the position of the Company and it is expected to generate positive cash flows.  The Directors of the subsidiary companies have confirmed that each will continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.  On this basis the Directors have reasonable expectation that the Group will be able to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.  Accordingly the Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis.

New and Amended Standards Adopted by the Group

There are no IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are effective for the first time for the financial year beginning on or after 1 January 2012 that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

 

New standards and interpretations not yet adopted

A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations are effective for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2012, and have not been applied in preparing these consolidated Financial Statements. None of these is expected to have a significant effect on the financial statements of the Group, except the following set out below:

 

Amendment to IAS 1, 'Financial statement presentation' regarding other comprehensive income. The main change resulting from these amendments is a requirement for entities to group items presented in 'other comprehensive income' (OCI) on the basis of whether they are potentially reclassifiable to profit or loss subsequently (reclassification adjustments). The amendments do not address which items are presented in OCI.

 

IFRS 13, 'Fair value measurement', aims to provide consistency and reduce complexity by providing a precise definition of fair value and a single source of fair value measurement and disclosure requirements for use across IFRSs. The requirements, which are largely aligned between IFRS and US GAAP, do not extend the use of fair value accounting but provide guidance on how it should be applied where its use is already required or permitted by other standards within IFRSs or US GAAP.

 

IAS 19, 'Employee benefits', was amended in June 2011. The impact on the Group will be as follows: to immediately recognise all past service costs; and to replace interest cost and expected return on plan assets with a net interest amount calculated by applying the discount rate to the net defined benefit liability (asset). The Group is yet to assess the full impact of the amendments.

 

IFRS 9, 'Financial instruments', addresses the classification, measurement and recognition of financial assets and financial liabilities. IFRS 9 was issued in November 2009 and October 2010. It replaces parts of IAS 39 that relate to the classification and measurement of financial instruments. IFRS 9 requires financial assets to be classified into two measurement categories: those measured at fair value and those measured at amortised cost. The determination is made at initial recognition. The classification depends on the entity's business model for managing its financial instruments and the contractual cash flow characteristics for the instrument. For financial liabilities, the standard retains most of the IAS 39 requirements. The main change is that, in cases where the fair value option is taken for financial liabilities, the part of a fair value change due to an entity's own credit risk is recorded in other comprehensive income rather than the income statement, unless this creates an accounting mismatch. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 9's full impact and intends to adopt IFRS 9 no later than the accounting period beginning on or after 1 January 2015, subject to endorsement by the EU. The Group will also consider the impact of the remaining phases of IFRS 9 when completed by the Board.

 

IFRS 10, 'Consolidated financial statements', builds on existing principles by identifying the concept of control as the determining factor in whether an entity should be included within the consolidated financial statements of the parent company. The standard provides additional guidance to assist in the determination of control where this is difficult to assess. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 10's full impact and intends to adopt IFRS 10 no later than the accounting period beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to endorsement by the EU.

 

IFRS 12, 'Disclosures of interests in other entities', includes the disclosure requirements for all forms of interests in entities, including joint arrangements, associates, special purpose vehicles and other off Statement of Financial Position vehicles. The Group is yet to assess IFRS 12's full impact and intends to adopt IFRS 12 no later than the accounting period beginning on or after 1 January 2013, subject to endorsement by the EU.

 

There are no other IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are not yet effective that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

             Significant uncertainty in technical provisions

Significant uncertainty exists as to the accuracy of the provisions for claims outstanding and the amounts due from reinsurers established in the insurance company subsidiaries and the Lloyd's Syndicates on which it participates as shown in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position.  Further details of the uncertainties inherent in estimating technical provisions are set out in Note 3.  The ultimate costs of claims and the amounts ultimately recovered from reinsurers could vary materially from the amounts established at the yearend. The consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared and consolidated on a going concern basis since the Directors are of the opinion, based on information currently available, that the Group continue in operational existence and be able to meet all their liabilities and obligations for the foreseeable future.

In the event that further information were to become available to the directors of an insurance company subsidiary which gave rise to material additional liabilities, the going concern basis might no longer be appropriate for that company and adjustments would have to be made to reduce the value of its assets to their realisable amount, and to provide for any further liabilities which might arise.  However, should this occur it will not impact on the going concern basis applicable to the Group.

The Company and its other subsidiaries bear no financial responsibility for any liabilities or obligations of any insurance company subsidiary in run-off.  Should any insurance company subsidiary cease to be able to continue as a going concern in the light of further information becoming available, any loss to the Company and its other subsidiaries would thus be restricted to the book value of their investment in and amounts due from that subsidiary and any guarantee liability that may arise.

b.         Selection of accounting policies

The Directors exercise judgement in selecting each Group accounting policy.  The accounting policies of the Group are selected by the Directors to present consolidated Financial Statements that they consider provide the most relevant information.  For certain accounting policies there are different accounting treatments that could be adopted, each of which would be in compliance with IFRS and would have a significant influence upon the basis on which the consolidated Financial Statements are presented.  The bases of selection of the accounting policies in accounting for financial assets and for the recognition of actuarial gains and losses related to pension obligations are set out below:

•          The Group accounting policy is to designate all financial assets that meet the necessary conditions as fair value through profit or loss.  This designation allows the Group to recognise investment return against the movement in insurance technical provisions.  

•          The Group accounting policy is to recognise actuarial gains and losses arising from the recognition and funding of the Group's pension obligations in equity in the year in which they arise.  This policy has been adopted as it provides the most relevant basis of recognition of such gains and losses.  The amount of any surplus recognised will be restricted as required by IAS19.

c.         Consolidation

The consolidated Financial Statements incorporate the Financial Statements of the Company, and entities controlled by the Company (its subsidiaries), for the years ended 31 December 2012 and 2011.  Control exists when the Group has the power, directly or indirectly, to govern the financial and operating policies of an entity so as to obtain benefit from its activities.  The financial results of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated Financial Statements from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases.

The Group uses the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations.  The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange.  Costs associated with acquisitions are charged to the Consolidated Income Statement in the year in which they are incurred.

The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group's share of the identifiable net assets acquired is capitalised and recorded as goodwill.  If the cost of an acquisition is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired the difference is recognised directly in the income statement.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated in preparing the consolidated Financial Statements.  Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of impairment of the asset transferred.  Non-controlling interests represent the portion of profit or loss and net assets not held by the Group and are presented separately in the Consolidated Income Statement and Statement of Comprehensive Income and within equity in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, separately from the equity attributable to the shareholders' of the parent.

Insurance broking cash, debtors and creditors held by subsidiary companies, other than the receivable for fees, commissions and interest earned on a transaction, are not included in the group's Consolidated Statement of Financial Position as the subsidiaries act as agents in placing the insurable risks of their clients with insurers and as such are not liable as principals for amounts arising from such transactions.

d.         Premiums

Premium and reinsurance premium adjustments are recognised in the year that they arise.

Unearned premiums 

Written premium is earned according to the risk profile of the policy.   Unearned premiums represent the proportion of premiums written in the year that relate to unexpired terms of policies in force at the end of the reporting period, calculated on a time apportionment basis having regard where appropriate, to the incidence of risk. 

 

e.         Claims incurred

Claims incurred comprise claims and related expenses paid in the year and changes in the provisions for outstanding claims, including provisions for claims incurred but not reported and related expenses, together with any other adjustments to claims from previous years.  Where applicable, deductions are made for salvage and other recoveries.

f.          Claims provisions and related reinsurance recoveries

Provisions are made in insurance company subsidiaries and in the Lloyd's syndicates on which the Group participates for the full estimated costs of claims notified but not settled, including claims handling costs, on the basis of the best information available, taking account of inflation and latest trends in court awards.  The Directors of the subsidiaries, with the assistance of run-off managers, independent actuaries and internal actuaries, have established such provisions on the basis of their own investigations and their best estimates of insurance payables.  Legal advice is taken where appropriate.  Deductions are made for salvage and other recoveries as appropriate.

The approach taken in establishing claims provisions is as follows:-

·  Where we have agreed the quantum they are treated as case reserves

·  Where claims are not agreed or are in dispute, an assessment will be made whether the estimate of the liabilities is to be held as case reserves or incurred but not reported ("IBNR")

The provisions for claims IBNR have been based on a number of factors including previous experience in claims and settlement patterns, the nature and amount of business written, inflation and the latest available information as regards specific and general industry experience of trends.

A reinsurance asset (reinsurers' share of insurance liabilities) is recognised to reflect the amount estimated to be recoverable under the reinsurance contracts in respect of the outstanding claims reported and IBNR under insurance liabilities.  The amount recoverable from reinsurers is initially valued on the same basis as the underlying claims provision.  The amount recoverable is reduced when there is an event arising after the initial recognition that provides objective evidence that the Group may not receive all amounts due under the contract and the event has a reliably measurable impact on the expected amount that will be recovered from the reinsurer.  Neither the outstanding claims nor the provisions for IBNR have been discounted.

The uncertainties which are inherent in the process of estimating are such that, in the normal course of events, unforeseen or unexpected future developments may cause the ultimate cost of settling the outstanding liabilities to differ materially from that presently estimated.  Any differences between provisions and subsequent settlements are dealt with in the income statement in the year which they arise.  Having regard to the significant uncertainty inherent in the business of insurance as explained in Note 3, and in the light of the information presently available, in the opinion of the Directors the provisions for outstanding claims and IBNR in the consolidated Financial Statements are fairly stated.

Unexpired risks provision

Provisions for unexpired risks are made where the costs of outstanding claims, related expense and deferred acquisition costs are expected to exceed the unearned premium provision carried forward at the end of the reporting period.  The provision for unexpired risks is calculated separately by reference to classes of business which are managed together, after taking into account relevant investment return. 

 

Closed years of account

At the end of the third year, the underwriting year of account of a Lloyd's syndicate is normally closed by way of a Reinsurance to Close into the following underwriting year of account of the same syndicate.  The amount of the Reinsurance to Close premium payable is determined by the managing agent, generally by estimating the cost of claims notified but not settled at 31 December, together with the estimated costs of administering those claims.  Any subsequent variation in the ultimate liabilities of the closed year of account is borne by the underwriting year into which it is reinsured.

 

Run-off years of account

Where an underwriting year of account of a Lloyd's syndicate is not closed at the end of the third year (a "run-off" year of account) a provision is made for the estimated cost of all known and unknown outstanding liabilities of that underwriting year of account.  The provision is determined initially by the managing agent on a similar basis to the reinsurance to close.  However, any subsequent variation in the ultimate liabilities for that year remains with the members participating therein until the relevant underwriting year of account is closed by way of a Reinsurance to Close into the successor underwriting year of account or a later underwriting year of account of another syndicate.  As a result any run-off year will continue to report movements in its results after the third year until such time as it secures a reinsurance to close.

 

 g.        Provisions for future costs

Claims handling costs

Full provision is made for anticipated costs of running off the business of the insurance company subsidiaries and syndicates to the extent that the provision exceeds the estimated future investment return expected to be earned by those subsidiaries.  Changes in the estimates of such costs and future investment return are reflected in the year in which the estimates are made.

When assessing the amount of future investment income to be recognised, the investment return and claims handling and all other costs of all the insurance company subsidiaries are considered in aggregate.

 

The uncertainty inherent in the process of estimating the period of run off and the payout pattern over that period, the anticipated run off administration costs to be incurred over that period and the level of investment return to be made are such that in the normal course of events unforeseen or unexpected future developments may cause the ultimate costs of settling the outstanding liabilities to differ from that previously estimated.

h.         Structured settlements

Certain of the US insurance company subsidiaries have entered into structured settlements whereby their liability has been settled by the purchase of annuities from third party life insurance companies in favour of the claimants.  The subsidiary retains the credit risk in the unlikely event that the life insurance company defaults on its obligations to pay the annuity amounts.  Provided that the life insurance company continues to meet the annuity obligations, no further liability will fall on the insurance company subsidiary.  The amounts payable to policyholders are recognised in liabilities.  The amount payable to claimants by the third party life insurance companies are also shown in liabilities as reducing the Groups liability to nil.

In the opinion of the Directors, this treatment reflects the substance of the transaction on the basis that any remaining liability of group companies under structured settlements will only arise upon the failure of the relevant third party life insurance companies.

Should the Directors become aware that a third party life insurance company responsible for the payment of an annuity under a structured settlement may not be in a position to meet its annuity obligations in full, provision will be made for any such failure.

Disclosure of the position in relation to structured settlements is shown in Note 20.

i.          Segmental reporting

A business segment is a component of an entity that is engaged in business combinations from which it may earn revenues and incur expenses, whose results are regularly reviewed by the entity's chief operating decision maker and for which discrete financial information is available.

j.          Foreign currency translation

(i)        Functional and presentational currency

Items included in the Financial Statements of each of the Group's entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (the "functional currency").  The consolidated Financial Statements are presented in thousands of sterling, which is the Group's functional and presentational currency.

 (ii)      Transactions and balances

Transactions in foreign currencies are initially recorded at the functional currency rate ruling at the date of the transaction.  Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the functional currency rate of exchange ruling at the end of the reporting period; the resulting foreign exchange gain or loss is recognised in the consolidated income statement. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are translated using the exchange rate as at the date of the initial transaction and are not subsequently restated.

The assets and liabilities of overseas subsidiaries, including associated goodwill, held in functional currencies other than sterling are translated from their functional currency into sterling at the exchange rate at the balance sheet date. Income and expenses are translated at average rates for the period.

Foreign exchange differences arising from retranslation of the opening net assets of each overseas subsidiary, the translation of income and expenses at the average rate, the associated goodwill of the overseas subsidiaries and the opening net assets held in currency by each UK insurance company subsidiary are recognised initially in other comprehensive income and subsequently in the income statement in the year in which the entity is disposed of.

k.         Financial instruments

Financial instruments are recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position at such time that the group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument.  A financial asset is derecognised when the contractual rights to receive cash flows from the financial assets expire, or where the financial assets have been transferred, together with substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership.  Financial liabilities are derecognised if the group's obligations specified in the contract expire, are discharged or cancelled.

 

Financial assets

 

i) Acquisition

On acquisition of a financial asset, the group is required to classify the asset into one of the following categories: financial assets at fair value through the profit and loss, loans and receivables, held to maturity and available for sale. The group does not currently make use of the held to maturity and available for sale classifications.

 

ii) Financial assets at fair value through profit and loss

All financial assets, other than cash, loans and receivables are currently designated as fair value through the profit and loss upon initial recognition because they are managed and their performance is evaluated on a fair value basis. Information about these financial assets is provided internally on a fair value basis to the group's key management. The group's investment strategy is to invest and evaluate their performance with reference to their fair values.

 

iii) Fair value measurement

When available, the group measures the fair value of an instrument using quoted prices in an active market for that instrument. 

 

If a market for a financial instrument is not active, the group establishes fair value using a valuation technique. Valuation techniques include using recent arm's length transactions between knowledgeable, willing parties (if available), reference to the current fair value of other instruments that are substantially the same or discounted cash flow analyses.

 

Assets and long positions are measured at a bid price; liabilities and short positions are measured at an asking price. Where the group has positions with offsetting risks, mid-market prices are used to measure the offsetting risk positions and a bid or asking price adjustment is applied only to the net open position as appropriate. Fair values reflect the credit risk of the instrument and include adjustments to take account of the credit risk of the group entity and counterparty where appropriate. Fair value estimates obtained from models are adjusted for any other factors, such as liquidity risk or model uncertainties, to the extent that the group believes a third-party market participant would take them into account in pricing a transaction.

 

Upon initial recognition, attributable transaction costs relating to financial instruments at fair value through profit or loss are recognised in the income statement when incurred. Financial assets at fair value through the income statement are measured at fair value, and changes therein are recognised in the income statement. Net changes in the fair value of financial assets at fair value through the income statement exclude interest and dividend income, as these items are accounted for separately as set out below.

 

iv) Insurance receivables and payables

Insurance receivables and payables are recognised when due. These include amounts due to and from agents, brokers and insurance contract holders.  Insurance receivables are classified as 'loans and receivables' as they are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted on an active market.  Insurance receivables are measured at amortised cost less any provision for impairments.  Insurance payables are stated at amortised cost.

 

v) Other receivables

Other receivables principally consist of prepayments, accrued income and sundry debtors and are carried at amortised cost less any impairment losses.

 

vi) Investment income

Investment income consists of dividends, interest, realised and unrealised gains and losses and foreign exchange gains and losses on financial assets at fair value through the profit and loss.    The realised gains or losses on disposal of an investment are the difference between the proceeds and the original cost of the investment.  Unrealised investment gains and losses represent the difference between the carrying value at the reporting date, and the carrying value at the previous period end or purchase value during the period.

                      

Financial Liabilities

 

i) Borrowings

Borrowings are initially recorded at fair value less transaction costs incurred.  Subsequently borrowings are stated at amortised cost and interest is recognised in the income statement over the period of the borrowings.

 (ii) Preference shares

Preference A and B shares are classified as equity.

 

l.          Employee benefit trust

The Group makes contributions to an Employee Benefit Trust ("EBT").  The assets and liabilities of the EBT are consolidated until such time as the contributions vest unconditionally with identified beneficiaries.  The income statement expense reflects the period in which the Company benefits from the employees services.

m.       Leases

Leases in which a significant portion of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the lessor are classed as operating leases.  Payments made under operating leases (net of any incentives received from the lessor) are charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.

n.         Property, plant and equipment

All assets included within property, plant and equipment ("PPE") are carried at historical cost. Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost less estimated residual value of motor vehicles, office equipment, computer equipment and leasehold improvements by the straight line method over their expected useful lives.  The principal rates per annum used for this purpose are:

                                                                                                                                       %

Motor vehicles                                                                                           25

Office equipment                                                                                       8 - 50

IT equipment                                                                                              25 - 33.3

Leasehold improvements                                                                    Term of lease

 

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an item of PPE is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the income statement.

o.         Goodwill

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is initially measured at cost being the excess of the fair value of the consideration paid for the business combination over the Group's interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities.  Following initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses.  Goodwill is tested for impairment biannually or if events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying value may be impaired.

Assets and liabilities for insurance companies acquired are included in the Groups balance sheet in accordance with the Groups accounting policies for insurance contracts.  Any material differences that arise between the amounts included in the Groups Financial Statements and the fair value of those assets and liabilities is regarded as an intangible asset and accounted for in accordance with IFRS 4.

When assessing the amount of future investment income to be recognised, the investment returns, the claims handling and all other costs of all the insurance company subsidiaries are considered in aggregate.

p.         Other intangible assets

Intangible assets, other than goodwill, that are acquired separately are stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment.  

Intangible assets acquired on acquisitions are quantified according to a fair value exercise.  The assessment of such intangibles may include consideration of customer contracts and customer relationships.

Amortisation is charged to operating expenses in the income statement on a straight line basis as follows:-

                                                                                                                                               %

Purchased IT software                                                                                     20 - 33.3 per annum

On acquisition of insurance companies                                                    Estimated period of run-off

On acquisitions - other                                                                                     Useful life

Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.  An impairment loss is recognised in the income statement to reduce the carrying amount to the recoverable amount.

q.         Employee Benefits

The Group makes contributions to defined contribution schemes and a defined benefit scheme.

The pension cost in respect of the defined contribution schemes represents the amounts payable by the Group for the year.  The funds of the schemes are administered by trustees and are separate from the Group.  The Group's liability is limited to the amount of the contributions.

The defined benefit scheme is funded by contributions from a subsidiary company and its assets are held in a separate Trustee administered fund.  Pension scheme assets are measured at market value, and liabilities are measured using the projected unit method and discounted at the current rate of return on high quality corporate bonds of equivalent term and currency to the liability.

Current service cost, interest cost, the expected return on scheme assets and any curtailments/settlements are charged to the income statement.  Pension liabilities are recognised and disclosed separately in the statement of financial position.  Surpluses are only recognised up to the aggregate of any cumulative unrecognised net actuarial gains and past service costs, and the present value of any economic benefits available in the form of any refunds or reductions in future contributions.

Subject to the restrictions relating to the recognition of a pension surplus, all actuarial gains and losses are recognised in full in other comprehensive income in the period in which they occur.

r.          Cash and cash equivalents

For the purposes of the consolidated cash flow statement, cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank and other short-term highly liquid investments with a maturity of three months or less from the date of acquisition, and bank overdrafts.

s.         Finance costs

Finance costs comprise interest payable and fees paid for the arrangement of the debt.  Finance costs are recognised in the income statement on an accruals basis.  Arrangement fees in relation to loan facilities are deducted from the relevant financial liability and amortised over the period of the facility.

t.          Operating expenses, pre-contract costs and onerous contracts

Operating expenses are accounted for on an accruals basis.

Directly attributable pre-contract costs are recognised as an asset when it is virtually certain that a contract will be obtained and the contract is expected to result in future net cash inflows in excess of any amounts recognised as an asset.

Pre-contract costs are charged to the income statement over the shorter of the life of the contract or five years.

Onerous contract provisions are provided for in circumstances where a legal commitment exists to provide services for which we will receive no management fee income.  The costs of administrating such contracts are projected based on management assessment.  Investment income on associated funds is taken into account when calculating the level of provision required.

u.         Other income

Other income includes the value of management and consultancy fees receivable, profit commission on managed Lloyd's syndicates, the value of debt collection fees receivable and the proceeds of the sale or recovery of purchased reinsurance receivables and is stated excluding any applicable value added tax.

Management and Consultancy Fees

Management and consultancy fees are from non Group customers and are recognised when the right to such fees is established through a contract and to the extent that the services concerned have been performed.

Debt collection fees

Debt collection fees are recognised when the right to such fees is established through a contract and either the debt has been collected or the services concerned have been performed at the balance sheet date and the Group has received confirmation that the fee will be paid.

Purchased reinsurance receivables

Purchased reinsurance receivables are generally purchased at a discount to their principal amount.   They are initially recorded at cost.  

When receivables are purchased in bulk, the Directors allocate the cost to individual or groups of receivables based on the characteristics and quality of the respective elements.

When purchased reinsurance receivables are realised, the book value of such receivables is charged to the income statement.  When interim distributions are received from liquidations, a proportion of the original cost is matched against the receipt.  The proportion allocated is based on the estimate of the probable ultimate dividends to be received.

Proceeds arising from the sale or recovery of purchased reinsurance receivables are recognised when received.

Profit commission on managed Lloyd's syndicate

Profit commission from managed syndicates is recognised when earned as the related underwriting profits from the managed syndicates are recognised.

 

Profit commission receivable on open underwriting years may be subject to further adjustment (up or down) as the results are reported prior to closure of the account in accordance with Lloyd's reinsurance to close arrangements.  Adjustments to profit commission as a result of such movements are recognised when a reliable estimate of any adjustments can be made.

Distribution of profits and collection of losses

Lloyd's operates a detailed set of regulations regarding solvency and the distribution of profits and payment of losses between syndicates and their members.  Lloyd's continues to require membership of syndicates to be on an underwriting year of account basis and profits and losses belong to members according to their membership of a year of account.  Normally profits and losses are transferred between the syndicate and members after results for a year of account are finalised after 36 months.  This period may be extended if a year of account goes into run-off.  The syndicate may make earlier on account distributions or cash calls according to the cash flow of a particular year of account and subject to Lloyd's requirements.

 

Insurance commissions and fees

Revenues from commissions and fees are recognised at the inception date of the policy, or the date of contractual entitlement, if later.  Alterations in commission arising from premium adjustments are taken into account as and when such adjustments are notified.  To the extent that the Group is contractually obliged to provide services after this date, a suitable proportion of income is deferred and recognised over the life of the relevant contracts to ensure that revenue appropriately reflects the cost of fulfilling those obligations. Profit commission is recognised when the right to such profit commission is established through a contract but only to the extent that a reliable estimate of the amount due can be made. Such estimates are made on a prudent basis that reflects the level of uncertainty involved.

 

v.         Share based payments

The Group issues equity settled based payments to certain of its employees.

 

The cost of equity settled transactions with employees is measured by reference to the fair value at the date at which they are granted and is recognised as an expense on a straight line basis over the vesting period.  The fair value is measured using the binomial option pricing method, taking into account the terms and conditions on which the awards were granted.

w.        Current and deferred income tax

Tax on the profit or loss for the year comprises current and deferred tax.

Tax is recognised in the income statement except to the extent that it relates to items recognised in other comprehensive income, in which case it is recognised respectively in other comprehensive income.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the end of the reporting period in the countries where the company's subsidiaries and associates operate and generate taxable income. Deferred tax liabilities are provided in full, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in the consolidated Financial Statements.  However, if the deferred tax arises from initial recognition of an asset or liability in a transaction other than a business combination and which, at the time of the transaction, affects neither accounting nor taxable profit or loss, it is not provided for.

Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which these temporary differences can be utilised.  Deferred tax assets and liabilities are not discounted.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when the deferred income taxes assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority on either the taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are determined using tax rates that have been enacted by the balance sheet date or substantively enacted and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realised or the deferred tax liability is settled.

x.         Share Capital

 

Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds.     

 

y.         Distributions

 

Distributions payable to the Company's shareholders are recognised as a liability in the Company's Financial Statements in the period in which the distributions are declared and appropriately approved.

 

3.         Estimation techniques, uncertainties and contingencies

 

Estimates and judgments are continually evaluated, and are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances.

 

Claims provisions

 

The Group participates on a number of syndicates and owns a number of insurance companies in run-off.  The consolidated Financial Statements include provisions for all outstanding claims and IBNR, for related reinsurance recoveries and for all costs expected to be incurred to run-off its liabilities.

The provision for claims outstanding and IBNR is based upon actuarial and other studies of the ultimate cost of liabilities including exposure based and statistical estimation techniques.  There are significant uncertainties inherent in the estimation of each insurance company subsidiary's insurance liabilities and reinsurance recoveries.  There are many assumptions and estimation techniques that may be applied in assessing the amount of those provisions which individually could have a material impact on the amounts of liabilities, related reinsurance assets and reported shareholders' equity funds disclosed in the consolidated Financial Statements.  Actual experience will often vary from these assumptions, and any consequential adjustments to amounts previously reported will be reflected in the results of the year in which they are identified.  Potential adjustments arising in the future could, if adverse in the aggregate, exceed the amount of shareholders' equity funds of an insurance company subsidiary.

The Group also contracts with independent external actuaries to provide a range of acceptable estimates for the Lloyd's syndicates it participates on and its larger run-off insurance companies.  The Group sets its reserves to lie within this acceptable range.

The business written by the insurance company subsidiaries consists in part of long tail liabilities, including asbestos, pollution, health hazard and other US liability insurance.  The claims for this type of business are typically not settled until several years after policies have been written.  Furthermore, much of the business written by these companies is re-insurance and retrocession of other insurance companies, which lengthens the settlement period.

Significant delays occur in the notification and settlement of certain claims and a substantial measure of experience and judgement is involved in making the assumptions necessary for assessing outstanding liabilities, the ultimate cost of which cannot be known with certainty at the balance sheet date.  The gross provisions for claims outstanding and related reinsurance recoveries are estimated on the basis of information currently available. Provisions are calculated gross of any reinsurance recoveries.  A separate estimate is made of the amounts that will be recoverable from reinsurers based upon the gross provisions and having due regard to collectability.

The provision for claims outstanding includes significant amounts in respect of notified and potential IBNR claims for long tail liabilities.  The settlement of most of these claims is not expected to occur for many years, and there is significant uncertainty as to the timing of such settlements and the amounts at which they will be settled.

While many claims are clearly covered and are paid quickly, many other claims are subject to significant disputes, for example over the terms of a policy and the amount of the claim.  The provisions for disputed claims are based on the view of the directors of each insurance company subsidiary as to the expected outcomes of such disputes.  If the outcome differs substantially from expectation there could be a material impact on the Group's liabilities.  Claim types impacted by such disputes include asbestos, pollution and certain health hazards and retrocessional reinsurance claims.

Uncertainty is further increased because of the potential for unforeseen changes in the legal, judicial, technological or social environment, which may increase or decrease the cost, frequency or reporting of claims, and because of the potential for new sources or types of claim to emerge.

Asbestos, pollution and health hazard claims

The estimation of the provisions for the ultimate cost of claims for asbestos, pollution and health hazard is subject to a range of uncertainties that is generally greater than those encountered for other classes of insurance business.  As a result it is not possible to determine the future development of asbestos, pollution and health hazard claims with the same degree of reliability as with other types of claims.  Consequently, traditional techniques for estimating claims provisions cannot wholly be relied upon.  The Group employs further techniques which utilise, where possible the exposure to these losses by contract to determine the claims provisions.

Insurance run-off expenses

The provision for the cost of handling and settling outstanding claims to extinction and all other costs of managing the run off is based on an analysis of the expected costs to be incurred in run-off activities, incorporating expected savings from the reduction of transaction volumes over time.

The period of the run off may be between 5 and 50 years depending upon the nature of the liabilities within each insurance company subsidiary.  Ultimately, the period of run-off is dependent on the timing and settlement of claims and the collection of reinsurance recoveries; consequently similar uncertainties apply to the assessment of the provision for such costs.

Reinsurance recoveries

Reinsurance recoveries are included in respect of claims outstanding (including IBNR claims) and claims paid after making provision for irrecoverable amounts.

The reinsurance recoveries on IBNR claims are estimated based on the recovery rate experienced on notified and paid claims for each class of business.

The insurance company subsidiaries are exposed to disputes on contracts with their reinsurers and the possibility of default by reinsurers.  In establishing the provision for non-recovery of reinsurance balances the directors of each insurance company subsidiary consider the financial strength of each reinsurer, its ability to settle their liabilities as they fall due, the history of past settlements with the reinsurer, and the Group's own reserving standards and have regard to legal advice regarding the merits of any dispute.

Defined benefit pension scheme

The pension assets and pension and post retirement liabilities are calculated in accordance with International Accounting Standard 19 ("IAS 19").  The assets, liabilities and income statement charge or credit, calculated in accordance with IAS 19, are sensitive to the assumptions made, including inflation, interest rate, investment return and mortality.  IAS 19 compares, at a given date, the current market value of a pension fund's assets with its long term liabilities, which are calculated using a discount rate in line with yields on 'AA' rated bonds of suitable duration and currency.  As such, the financial position of a pension fund on this basis is highly sensitive to changes in bond rates and equity markets.

Litigation, mediation and arbitration

The Group, in common with the insurance industry in general, is subject to litigation, mediation and arbitration, and regulatory, governmental and other sectorial inquiries in the normal course of its business.  The Directors do not believe that, any current mediation, arbitration, regulatory, governmental or sectorial inquiries and pending or threatened litigation or dispute could have a material adverse effect on the Group's financial position, although there can be no assurance that losses resulting from any current mediation, arbitration, regulatory, governmental or sectorial inquiries and pending or threatened litigation or dispute will not materially affect the Group's financial position or cash flows for any period.

Changes in foreign exchange rates

The Group's consolidated Financial Statements are prepared in pounds sterling.  Therefore, fluctuations in exchange rates used to translate other currencies, particularly the Euro and the US dollar, into pounds sterling will impact the reported consolidated financial position, results of operations and cash flows from year to year.  These fluctuations in exchange rates will also impact the pound sterling value of our investments and the return on our investments.  Income and expenses for each income statement item are translated at average exchange rates.  Statement of financial position assets and liabilities are translated at the closing exchange rates at the balance sheet date.

4.      Risk management

The Group's activities expose it to a variety of financial and non-financial risks.  The Board is responsible for managing the Group's exposure to these risks and, where possible, for introducing controls and procedures that mitigate the effects of the exposure to risk.  A full detail of how the Group manages risks is detailed in the Report of the Directors, including how the Group manages its capital risk.

The following describes the Group's exposure to the more significant risks and the steps management have taken to mitigate their impact from a quantitative and qualitative perspective.

a.         Investment risks (including market risk and interest rate risk)

The investment of the Group's financial assets, except certain deposits with ceding undertakings, is managed by external investment managers.  The Group investment committee set the policy followed by the investment managers.  The investment strategy strives to mitigate the impact of interest rate fluctuation and credit risks and to provide appropriate liquidity.

The main objective of the investment policy is to maximise return whilst maintaining and protecting the principal value of funds under management.

The investment allocation (including surplus cash) at the year end is shown below:-

 

 


2012 

£m  


2011 

£m  








Government and government agencies


18.7


62.2


Corporate bonds


111.7


112.0


Equities


12.4


7.2


Cash based investment funds


31.6


16.6


Cash and cash equivalents


52.2


37.2




226.6


235.2










%


%


Government and government agencies


8.3


26.4


Corporate bonds


49.3


47.6


Equities


5.5


3.1


Cash based investment funds


13.9


7.1


Cash and cash equivalents


23.0


15.8




100.0


100.0








Corporate bonds include asset backed mortgage obligations totalling £105.0m (2011: £29.5m)

Based on invested assets at external managers of £174.3m as at 31 December 2012 (2011: £198.0m) a 1 percentage increase/decrease in market price would result in an increase/decrease in the profit before income taxes for the year to 31 December 2012 of £1.7m (2011: £2.0m).

In excess of 98% (2011: 97%) of all Group investments are valued based on quoted prices in active markets, which are classified as level 1 under IFRS 7, there is no requirement to analyse them further in this regard.

The following shows the Group's securities maturity dates and interest rate ranges:-

As at 31 December 2012











Maturity date or contractual re-pricing date










Total

Less than one year

After one

 year but

 less than

two years

After two years but

 less than

three years

After three years but

 less than

five years

More than five years


£m


£m


£m


£m


£m


£m













Fixed rate

162.0


53.5


10.6


22.8


41.8


33.3












Interest rate ranges (coupon-rates)











Less than one year

After one

 year but

 less than

two years

After two years but

 less than

three years

After three years but

 less than

five years

More than five years




%


%


%


%


%











Fixed rate



0.5-6.5

0.451-6.95

0.464-9.875

0.304-6.25

0.304-5.75

 

As at 31 December 2011











Maturity date or contractual re-pricing date









Total

Less than one year

After one

 year but

 less than

two years

After two years but

 less than

three years

After three years but

 less than

five years

More than

five years


£m


£m


£m


£m


£m


£m













Fixed rate

190.8


24.1


9.8


23.1


78.4


55.4













Interest rate ranges (coupon-rates)











Less than one year

After one

 year but

 less than

two years

After two years but

 less than

three years

After three years but

 less than

five years

More than

five years




%


%


%


%


%













Fixed rate


0.5-7

1.375-6.5

1-8.5

0.273-9.875

0.594-9.85

 

b.         Credit risk

Credit risk arises where counterparties fail to meet their financial obligations as they fall due.  The most significant area where it arises is where reinsurers fail to meet their obligations in full as they fall due.  In addition, the Group is exposed to the risk of disputes on individual claims presented to its reinsurers or in relation to the contracts entered into with its reinsurers.

The ratings used in the below analysis are based upon the published rating of Standard & Poor's or other recognised ratings agency.

As at 31 December 2012



A rated


B rated

Less than  B 

Other *

Exposures

of less than £0.2m

Total


£000


£000


£000 


£000


£000

£000

Deposits with ceding undertakings

1,062


451


-


-


2,076

3,589












Reinsurers' share of insurance liabilities

111,439


4,476


331


10,580


22,162

148,988












Receivables arising out of reinsurance contracts

25,275


542


-


4,030


13,193

43,040












* Other includes reinsurers who currently have no credit rating

 

The reinsurers' share of insurance liabilities is based upon a best estimate given the profile of the insurance provisions outstanding and the related IBNR.

          The average credit period of receivables arising out of reinsurance contracts are as follows:-

 


0-6 months


6-12 months


12-24 months


> 24 months



%


%


%


%











Percentage of receivables

35.2


21.2


18.6


25.0


 

A substantial section of the Group's business consists of acquiring debts or, companies with debts, which are normally past due.  Any further analysis of these debts is not meaningful. The Directors monitor these debts closely and make appropriate provision for impairment.

 

The Directors believe the amounts past due but not impaired, after allowing for any provision made, are recoverable in full.

 

As at 31 December 2011



A rated


B rated

Less

than B

Other *

Exposures

of less than £0.2m

Total


£000


£000


£000


£000


£000

£000

Deposits with ceding undertakings

824


-


-


253


2,689

3,766












Reinsurers' share of insurance liabilities

94,106


7,634


399


43,205


21,401

166,745












Receivables arising out of reinsurance contracts

16,228


1,763


-


13,541


13,730

45,262












* Other includes reinsurers who currently have no credit rating

The reinsurers share of insurance liabilities is based upon a best estimate given the profile of the insurance provisions outstanding and the related IBNR.

 

The average credit period of receivables arising out of reinsurance contracts are as follows:-


0-6 months


6-12 months


12-24 months


> 24 months



%


%


%


%











Percentage of receivables

51.9


15.6


11.4


21.1


 

A substantial section of the Group's business consists of acquiring debts or, companies with debts, which are normally past due.  Any further analysis of these debts is not meaningful. The Directors monitor these debts closely and make appropriate provision for impairment.

 

The Directors believe the amounts past due but not impaired, after allowing for any provision made, are recoverable in full.

 

c.         Currency risk

Currency risk is the risk that the fair value of future cash flows of a financial instrument will fluctuate because of changes in foreign exchange rates.

 

The Group's principal transactions are carried out in UK sterling and its exposure to foreign exchange risk arise primarily with respect to US dollar and Euros.

 

The Group's financial assets are primarily denominated in the same currencies as its insurance and investment contract liabilities.  This mitigates the foreign currency exchange rate risk for the overseas operations.  Thus, the main foreign exchange risk arises from recognised assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than those in which insurance and investment contract liabilities are expected to be settled. The currency risk is effectively managed by the Group through derivative financial instruments.  Forward currency contracts are in place to eliminate the currency exposure on individual foreign transactions.  The Group will not enter into these forward contracts until a firm commitment is in place.

 

The significant exchange rates as at the 31 December were USD 1.61 (2011: 1.54) and EUR 1.22 (2011: 1.19).

 

The table below summarises the Group's principal assets and liabilities by major currencies:

 

31 December 2012

STG 

£'000 

US Dollar 

£'000 

Euro 

£'000 

Other 

£'000 

Total 

£'000 

Intangible assets

10,346 

5,329 

-  

‑ 

15,675 

Reinsurance assets

8,879 

139,859 

250 

148,988 

Financial investments

28,657 

133,090 

16,517 

603

178,867 

Insurance receivables

4,957 

40,839 

816 

46,612 

Cash and cash equivalents

38,117 

4,900 

8,827 

419 

52,263 

Insurance liabilities including provisions

(65,827)

(274,258)

(15,616)

-  

(355,701)

Other provisions

(5,997)

(167)

-  

-  

(6,164)

Trade and other (payables)/receivables

19,847 

(22,189)

(4,764)

(946)

(8,052)


31 December 2011

STG 

£'000 

US Dollar 

£'000 

Euro 

£'000 

Other 

£'000 

Total 

£'000 

Intangible assets

8,982 

5,528 

-  

‑ 

14,510 

Reinsurance assets

(4,404)

171,000 

149 

166,745 

Financial investments

36,568 

148,999 

16,743 

490

202,800 

Insurance receivables

8,898 

36,808 

1,051 

46,757 

Cash and cash equivalents

16,369 

14,630 

5,617 

567 

37,183 

Insurance liabilities including provisions

(32,836)

(338,915)

(15,590)

-  

(387,341)

Other provisions

(2,794)

(317)

-  

-  

(3,111)

Trade and other (payables)/receivables

15,470 

(11,082)

(12,028)

(2,371)

(10,011)







 

The Group has no significant concentration of currency risk.

 

The analysis that follows is performed for reasonably possible movements in key variables with all other variables held constant, showing the impact on profit before tax and equity due to changes in the fair value of currency sensitive monetary assets and liabilities including insurance contract claim liabilities.  The correlation of variables will have a significant effect in determining the ultimate impact on market risk, but to demonstrate the impact due to changes in variables, variables had to be changed on an individual basis.  It should be noted that movements in these variables are non-linear.

 



31 December 2012

31 December 2011

Currency

Changes in variables

Impact on profit

Impact on equity*

Impact on profit

Impact on equity



£'000 

£'000 

£'000 

£'000 

Euro

+10%

(661)

(888)

369 

USD

+10%

(19)

(2,680)

89 

(2,209)


Euro

-10%

804 

1,084 

(2)

(451)

USD

-10%

21 

3,275 

(110)

2,700 

 

* Impact on equity reflects adjustments for tax, when applicable.

 

d.         Insurance risk

The Group participates on Syndicates summarised below:-

 

Syndicate

Year of account

Syndicate Capacity

Group capacity

Status



£

£


1991

2013

76,934,431

12,403,312

Active

1897

2013

70,000,000

5,833,333

Active

1897

2012

60,000,000

5,000,000

Active

1897

2011

60,000,000

5,000,000

Active

102

2011

3,500,000

700,000

Active*

3330

2012

3,000,000

3,000,000

Active*

 

* Syndicates 102 and 3330 underwrite the Reinsurance to Close of other Lloyd's Syndicates.

 

None of the Group's insurance company subsidiaries are writing new business and all are in run-off; the date at which each entity went into run off together with the date that each was acquired by the Group is summarised below:-

                                                                                        Date business                      Date acquired

Subsidiary                                                                   entered run off                   by the Group

La Metropole SA                                                              1995                                  29 November 2000           

Transport Insurance Company                                   1996                                  30 November 2004

R&Q Reinsurance Company                                        1994                                  3 July 2006

R&Q Reinsurance (Belgium) Limited                      1994                                  3 July 2006

R&Q Reinsurance (UK) Limited                                 1990                                  3 July 2006

Chevanstell Limited                                                       2003                                  10 November 2006

R&Q Insurance Guernsey Limited (formerly

Woolworths Insurance Guernsey Limited)          2009                                  9 June 2009

Goldstreet Insurance Company                                1987                                  14 December 2009

La Licorne Compagnie de Reassurances SA          1991                                  22 April 2010

Principle Insurance Company Limited                   2009                                  29 December 2011

Capstan Insurance Company Limited                     2010                                  31 October 2012

LINPAC Insurance Company Limited                       2006                                  20 December 2012

Alma Vakuutus OY                                                          1989                                  27 December 2012

 

Claims development information is disclosed in order to illustrate the effect of the uncertainty in the estimation of future claims settlements by the Group.  The tables compare the ultimate claims estimates with the payments made to date.  Details are only presented on an aggregate basis and look at the movements on a gross and net basis, and separately identify the effect of the various acquisitions made by the Group since 1 January 2009.

Analysis of claims development - gross (including claims handling expenses)


Group 

 entities at 

1 January 

2009 

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2009 

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2010

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2011

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2012



£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 

Gross provisions at:-











1 January 2009/acquisition


571,190 


8,411 


6,655 


16,598 


33,154 

First year movement


(97,588)


(1,397)


(806)


(4,319)


(15,701)

Second year movement


(43,270)


(3,100)


(3,273)


(1,457)


-  

Third year movement


(85,486)


(1,386)


(335)


-  


-  

Fourth year movement


(47,730)


(693)


-  


-  


-  












 Gross position at 31 December 2012

297,116 


1,835 


2,241 


10,822 


17,453 












Estimated gross ultimate claims at:-











1 January 2009/acquisition


571,190 


8,411 


6,655 


16,598 


33,154 

Foreign exchange


(41,858)


236 


(99)


2,138 


(2,169)

Payments


(245,623)


(4,280)


(3,062)


(5,534)


(3,204)

Gross position at 31 December 2012

(297,116)


(1,835)


(2,241)


(10,822)


(17,453)

(Deficit)/surplus to date


(13,407)


2,532 


1,253 


2,380 


10,328 












 

Analysis of claims development - net


Group 

 entities at 

1 January 

2009 

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2009 

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2010

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2011

Entities 

acquired by 

the Group 

during 2012



£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 

Net provisions at:-











1 January 2009/acquisition


273,541 


8,256 


6,436  


12,497 


30,407 

First year movement


(47,233)


(1,403)


(786)


(2,659)


(15,510)

Second year movement


(12,217)


(3,105)


(3,074)


(590)


-  

Third year movement


(33,381)


(1,387)


(335)


-  


-  

Fourth year movement


(28,292)


(686)


-  


-  


-  

Net position at 31 December 2012

152,418 


1,675 


2,241 


9,248 


14,897 












Estimated net ultimate claims at:-











1 January 2009/acquisition


273,541 


8,256 


6,436 


12,497 


30,407 

Foreign exchange


(16,474)


232 


(106)


2,219 


(2,124)

Payments


(80,459)


(3,927)


(2,989)


(4,012)


(2,760)

Net position at 31 December 2012

(152,418)


(1,675)


(2,241)


(9,248)


(14,897)

Surplus to date


24,190 


2,886 


1,100 


1,456 


10,626 












The above figures include the Groups Lloyd's Syndicates.

5.         Segmental information

The Group's segments represent the level at which financial information is reported to the Board, being the chief operating decision maker as defined in IFRS 8.  The reportable segments have been identified as follows:-

•           Insurance Investments, which acquires legacy portfolios and insurance debt and provides capital support to the Group's managed Lloyd's Syndicates

•           Insurance Services, which provides insurance related services (including captive management) to both internal and external clients in the insurance market

•           Underwriting Management, which provides management to Lloyd's syndicates and operates other underwriting entities

•           Other corporate activities, which primarily includes the Group holding company and other minor subsidiaries which fall outside of the segments above

Segment result for the year ended 31 December 2012

Insurance

Investments


Insurance Services

Underwriting Management

Other corporate

Consolidation adjustments


Total

 



£000 


£000 


£000  


£000 


£000 


£000 

 













 

Earned premium net of reinsurance

3,883 






3,883 

 

Net investment income

13,379 


1,497 


197 


1,155 


(4,262)


11,966 

 

External income

621 


27,448 


7,999 


41 



36,109 

 

Internal income

460 


16,045 


3,371 



(19,876)


 

Total income

18,343 


44,990 


11,567 


1,196


(24,138)


51,958

 













 

Claims paid, net of reinsurance

(24,672)






(24,672)

 

Net change in provision for claims

40,476 






40,476 

 













 

Net insurance claims released

15,804 






15,804 

 













 

Operating expenses

(21,152)


(34,671)


(12,958)


(4,011)


19,876 


(52,916)

 













 

Result of operating activities before goodwill on bargain purchase

12,995 


10,319 


(1,391)


(2,815)


(4,262)


14,846 

 

Goodwill on bargain purchase

1,992 






1,992 

 

Amortisation of intangible assets


(55)


(65)




(120)

 













 

Result of operating activities

14,987 


10,264 


(1,456)


(2,815)


(4,262)


16,718 

 

Finance costs

(1,143)


(1,778)


(325)


(1,825)


4,262 


(809)

 

Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before income taxes

13,844 


8,486 


(1,781)


(4,640)



15,909 

 

Income tax credit/(charge)

72 


(1,245)


75 


473 



(625) 

 

Profit/(loss) for the year

13,916 


7,241 


(1,706)


(4,167)



15,284 

 

 

Non controlling interest

(5,064)



(117)




(5,181)

 













 

Attributable to owners of parent

8,852 


7,241 


(1,823)


(4,167)



10,102 

 

 

 












 

Segment assets

524,469 


105,628 


15,743 


(6,117)


(163,977)


475,746 

 













 

Segment liabilities

410,425 


82,667 


18,642 


62,845 


(176,463)


398,116 

 













 

 

Internal income includes fees payable by the insurance companies to the Insurance Services Division in the period, which are contractually committed on an arm's length basis.

 

No income from any one client included within the external income generated more than 10% of the total external income.

Segment result for the year ended 31 December 2011

Insurance

Investments


Insurance Services

Underwriting Management

Other corporate

Consolidation adjustments

Total

 


£000 


£000 



£000  


£000 


£000 


£000 














Earned premium net of reinsurance

339 







339 

Net investment income

6,306 


1,080 



34 


621


(1,683)


6,358 

External income

803 


24,894 



4,399 




30,096 

Internal income


13,994 



958 



(14,952)


Total income

7,448 


39,968 



5,391 


621


(16,635)


36,793














Claims paid, net of reinsurance

(29,499)







(29,499)

Net change in provision for claims

42,865 







42,865 














Net insurance claims released

13,366 







13,366 














Operating expenses

(14,038)


(34,045)



(6,504)


(2,673)


14,952 


(42,308)














Result of operating activities before goodwill on bargain purchase

6,776 


5,923 



(1,113)


(2,052)


(1,683)


7,851 

Goodwill on bargain purchase

1,541 







1,541 

Impairment of intangible assets

(13,286)


(172)






(13,458)














Result of operating activities

(4,969)


5,751 



(1,113)


(2,052)


(1,683)


(4,066)

Finance costs

(262)


(411)



(56)


(1,545)


1,683 


(591)

Management charges


(1,547)




1,547 




(Loss)/Profit on ordinary activities before income taxes

(5,231)


3,793 



(1,169)


(2,050)



(4,657)

Income tax credit/(charge)

3,666 


(158)



(23)


684 



4,169 

(Loss)/Profit for the year

(1,565)


3,635 



(1,192)


(1,366)



(488)

 

 













Segment assets

503,902 


108,423 



7,675 


(4,617)


(108,103)


507,280 














Segment liabilities

408,061 


88,926 



8,707 


48,096 


(118,942)


434,848 














 

Internal income includes fees payable by the insurance companies to the Insurance Services Division in the period, which are contractually committed on an arm's length basis.

 

No income from any one client included within the external income generated more than 10% of the total external income.

 

Geographical analysis

As at 31 December 2012






UK 

North 

America 

Europe

Total 



£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 

Gross assets


294,581 


334,120 


23,505 


652,206 

Intercompany eliminations


(140,845)


(26,150)


(9,465)


(176,460)

Segment assets


153,736 


307,970 


14,040 


475,746 










Gross liabilities


255,809 


304,467 


14,755 


575,031 

Intercompany eliminations


(141,745)


(34,638)


(532)


(176,915)

Segment liabilities


114,064 


269,829 


14,223 


398,116 










Segment income


32,777 


17,817 


1,364 


51,958 

 

As at 31 December 2011






UK  

North

America

Europe 

Total 



£000  


£000  


£000  


£000 

Gross assets


254,944 


350,413 


20,865 


626,222 

Intercompany eliminations


(74,913)


(32,545)


(11,484)


(118,942)

Segment assets


180,031 


317,868 


9,381 


507,280 










Gross liabilities


215,591 


323,341 


14,839 


553,771 

Intercompany eliminations


(84,615)


(33,850)


(458)


(118,923)

Segment liabilities


130,976 


289,491 


14,381 


434,848 










Segment income


23,392 


12,767 


634 


36,793 

 

Other information

As at 31 December 2012

 

Insurance

 companies

 in run-off

Insurance services

Other

corporate

services

Eliminations

Total

 


£000


£000

£000


£000


£000



















Capital expenditure

-


721

-


-


721 










Depreciation

-


746

-


-


746 

 

As at 31 December 2011

 

Insurance

 companies

 in run-off

Insurance services

Other

corporate

services

Eliminations

Total

 


£000


£000

£000


£000


£000



















Capital expenditure

-


1,405

-


-


1,405 










Depreciation

-


513

-


-


513 

 

6.         Net investment income

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Investment income


5,992 


7,442 


Realised gains on financial assets


816 


690 


Unrealised gains/(losses) on financial assets


5,775 


(1,369)


Investment management expenses


(617)


(405)




11,966 


6,358 








7.         Other income

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Administration of third party insurance clients


35,465 


28,878 


Expected return on pension scheme assets


1,334 


1,576 


Interest cost on pension scheme liabilities


(1,267)


(1,366)


Purchased reinsurance receivables

        (including debt collection fees)


577 


1,008 




36,109 


30,096 


 

Included within other external income in ISD is £4,796,000 which represents amounts previously classified as liabilities which no longer meets the definition of liabilities under IFRS.

 

8.         Operating expenses

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Costs of insurance company subsidiaries


7,171 


5,186 


Other operating expenses


45,745 


37,122 




52,916 


42,308 








The costs of insurance company subsidiaries exclude group charges.

9.         Finance costs

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Bank loan, overdraft interest and arrangement fees


809 


591 








10.       Profit on ordinary activities before income taxes

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities before taxation is stated

       after charging/(crediting):-






Employee benefits (Note 26)


32,179 


25,475 








Depreciation of fixed assets


746 


513 


Acquisition costs (including aborted)


142 


93 


Amortisation of pre contract costs


95 


110 


Impairment of goodwill


120 


13,458 


Operating lease rental expenditure


1,537 


900 


Operating lease rental income


(41)


(40)








Auditor Remuneration






Fees payable to the Company's auditor for the audit of the annual accounts


110  


105 


Fees payable to the Company's auditor and its associates for other services provided to the Company and its subsidiaries:-






The audit of the Company' subsidiaries under legislative requirements:-






                The Company's auditor


466 


318 


                Other auditors


123 


190 




589 


508 








Other services under legislative requirements


138 


103 


Services relating to corporate finance transactions






                Pre-acquisition due diligence and advice



48 








All other services






                Advice on financial and accountancy matters


30 



 

11.       Income tax


 

 

2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  

a.

Analysis of charge in the year





Current tax - continuing operations





Current year

 - 


85 


Adjustments in respect of previous years

(1,229)


(524)


Foreign tax

115 


(1,422)



(1,114)


(1,861)


Deferred tax

1,739 


(2,308)


Income tax charge/(credit)

625 


(4,169)






b.         Factors affecting tax charge for the year

The tax assessed differs from the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom. The differences are explained below:-


 

 

2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  







Profit/(loss)  on ordinary activities before taxation

15,909 


(4,657)







Profit/(loss) on ordinary activities at the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 24.5% (2011: 26.49%)

3,897 


(1,234)


Permanent differences

(895)


(1,439)


Depreciation in excess of capital allowances


(32)


Utilisation of tax losses

(2,390)


(2,326)


Timing differences - pension schemes

(16)


(56)


Other timing differences

1,570 


1,876 


Unrelieved losses

299 


52 


Foreign tax rate differences

(615)


(486)


Adjustments to the tax charge in respect of prior years

(1,229)


(524)


Income tax charge/(credit) for the year

625 


(4,169)

 

 c.        Factors that may affect future tax charges

In addition to the recognised deferred tax asset, the Group has other trading losses of approximately £83.3m (2011: £81.8m) in various group companies available to be carried forward against future trading profits of those companies. The recovery of these losses is uncertain and no deferred tax asset has been provided in respect of these losses.  Should it become possible to offset these losses against taxable profits in future years the Group tax charge in those years will be reduced accordingly.

12.       Earnings/(loss) and net assets per share

a.         Basic earning per share

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

Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of shares used in the calculations are set out below. 

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  


Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to ordinary shareholders


10,103 


(488)




 

No.

000's


 

No.

000's







Shares in issue throughout the year


50,133 


54,923 


Weighted average number of shares through buy-back


(2,465)


Weighted average number of shares issued in the year


476 


Weighted average number of Treasury shares held


(624)


(1,409)


Weighted average number of ordinary shares


49,509 


51,525 








Basic earnings/(loss)  per ordinary share


20.4p


(0.9)p 








b.         Diluted earnings/(loss) per share

Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares for conversion of all potentially dilutive ordinary shares.  The Group's earnings per share is diluted by the effects of outstanding share options.

Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of shares used in the calculations are set out below.



2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  







Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to ordinary shareholders


10,103 


(488)








 

 

Weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue in the year


No. 

000's 

 

49,509 


No. 

000's 

 

51,525 


Options


1,236 


1,015 




50,745 


52,540 








Diluted earnings/(loss) per ordinary share


19.9p


(0.9p)


c.         Net asset value per share



2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  





Net assets attributable to equity shareholders as at 31 December


72,488 


67,532 






 

 

Ordinary shares in issue as at 31 December

*Reduction due to shares held in treasury

 


No.

000's

*49,645 


No.

000's

*49,420 

Net asset value per ordinary share


146.0p 


136.7p 

13.       Distributions

The amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the year are:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Refund of waived dividend



(44)








Dividend to H/D shareholders


726 


714 


Dividend to K/F shareholders


544 


502 




1,270 

 


1,172 

 






Distribution on cancellation of G/C shares


1,697 


1,737 


Distribution on cancellation of J/E shares


1,143 


1,079 


Distributions to shareholders


4,110 


3,988 


14.       Intangible assets


Patents 


Arising on acquisition

Goodwill 

Software 

Total 



£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 












As at 1 January 2011




26,694 


10 


26,705 

Exchange adjustments



(14)


(34)



(48)

Additions



178 


1,133 



1,311 

Impairment




(13,458)



(13,458)

As at 31 December 2011



164 


14,335 


10 


14,510 












Exchange adjustments




(128)



(124)

Additions



323 


1,086 



1,409 

Amortisation



(120)




(120)

As at 31 December 2012



371 


15,293 


10 


15,675 

 

When testing for impairment of goodwill the recoverable amount of each relevant cash generating unit is determined based on cash flow projections. These cash flow projections are based on the financial budgets approved by management covering a five year period. Management also consider the current net asset value and earnings of each cash generating unit

 

Goodwill acquired through business combinations has been allocated to  cash generating units, (which are also operating and reportable segments) for impairment testing as shown in the table below, including the carrying amount for each unit.

 

The Group considers the relationship between its market capitalisation and its book value, among other factors, when reviewing for indicators of impairment.

 

Cash Generating Units

 

 

2012

£000

2011

£000




Insurance Investments ("IID")

474 

474 




Insurance Services ("ISD")

13,948 

13,861 




 

Underwriting Management ("UMD")

 

871 

 




 

Total

 

15,293 

 

14,335 

 

 

 

Management consider the ISD units to represent a significant part of the goodwill balance. 

 

 

Cash-generating units

 

The recoverable amount of these cash-generating units is also determined based on a value in use calculation using cash flow projections from financial budgets approved by senior management.  As a result of the analysis, no impairment was required for these cash-generating units.

 

Key assumptions used in value in use calculations

 

The calculation of value in use for the units is most sensitive to the following assumptions:-

 

·      Discount rates, which represent the current market assessment of the risks specific to each cash generating unit, regarding the time value of money and individual risks of the underlying assets which have not been incorporated in the cash flow estimates. The pre-tax discount rate applied to the cash flow projections is 10.0% (2011: 10.0%).  The discount rate calculation is based on the specific circumstances of the Group and its operating segments and derived from its weighted average cost of capital (WACC) with an uplift for expected increases in interest rates. The WACC takes into account both debt and equity. The cost of equity is derived from the expected investment return, which is fundamental to the IID cash flows. 

·      Reduction in operating expenses, which are linked to management expectation of the run off of the insurance business managed by ISD.

·      Growth rate used to extrapolate cash flows beyond the budget period, based on published industry standards.  Cash flows beyond the four-year period are extrapolated using a 10.0% growth rate (2011: 10.0%).

Sensitivity to changes in assumptions

 

With regard to the assessment of value in use of the cash-generating units, management believes that no foreseeable change in any of the above key assumptions would require an impairment of the carrying value of goodwill.

 

15.       Property, plant and equipment


Computer

equipment 

Motor 

vehicles 

Office 

equipment 

Leasehold improvements

Total 

 


£000 


£000 

£000 


£000 


£000 

Cost









As at 1 January 2011

1,029 


11 

1,076 


239 


2,355 

Exchange adjustments




Acquisition of subsidiaries




Additions

384 


1,021 



1,405 

Disposals

(175)


(299)



(474)

As at 31 December 2011

1,248 


11 

1,798 


241 


3,298 










Exchange adjustments

(15)


(9)


(31)


(55)

Acquisition of subsidiaries



25 



34 

Additions

558 


161 



721 

Disposals

(66)


(89)


(70)


(225)

As at 31 December 2012

1,734 


11 

1,886 


142 


3,773 










Depreciation









As at 1 January 2011

726 


715 


96 


1,538 

Exchange adjustments




Charge for the year

192 


285 


33 


513 

Disposals

(175)


(299)



(474)

As at 31 December 2011

744 


702 


131 


1,581 










Exchange adjustments

(13)


(7)


(28)


(48)

Charge for the year

303 


354 


86 


746 

Disposals

(66)


(89)


(70)


(225)

As at 31 December 2012

968 


960 


119 


2,054 










Net book value









As at 31 December 2012

766 


926 


23 


1,719 










As at 31 December 2011

504 


1,096 


110 


1,717 

 

As at 31 December 2012, the Group had no significant capital commitments (2011: none).  The depreciation charge for the year is included in operating expenses.

 

16.       Financial assets and Investment Properties

                a.

Investment properties


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  










As at 31 December


1,004 


1,022 









             The reduction in the valuation of these properties is due to foreign exchange movements of £18,000 (2011: £20,000); the change in market value was nil (2011: nil).

 

b.         Financial investment assets at fair value through profit or loss (designated at initial recognition)

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Equities


12,384 


7,241 


Debt securities - fixed interest rate


161,890 


190,771 




174,274 


198,012 








In the normal course of business insurance company subsidiaries have deposited investments in 2012 of £0.1m (2011: £0.1m) in respect of certain contracts in escrow which can only be released or withdrawn with the approval of the appropriate regulatory authority.

Included in the Debt securities - fixed interest rate, is £11.0m (2011 - £5.5m) pledged as Funds at Lloyd's to support the Groups' underwriting activities in 2013.  Lloyd's has the right to apply these monies in the event the corporate member fails to meet its obligations.  These monies are not available to meet the Group's own working capital requirements and can only be released with Lloyd's express permission.

c.          Shares in subsidiary undertakings and other investments

The Company has interests in the following subsidiaries at 31 December 2012:-

 

 
 
% of ordinary shares held by: 
Overall effective % of share capital held
 
Principal activity and name of subsidiaries
Country of incorporation
/registration  
The Company
Subsidiary undertakings
 
Insurance Investments Division
 
 
 
 
 
 
Randall & Quilter II Holdings Limited
England
 
100
 
-
100
Chevanstell Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Goldstreet Insurance Company
USA
 
-
 
100
100
La Metropole Compagnie Belge d’Assurance SA
Belgium
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Insurance (Guernsey) Ltd
Guernsey
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Reinsurance Company
USA
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Reinsurance Company (Belgium)
Belgium
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Reinsurance Company (UK) Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Transport Insurance Company
USA
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Liquidity Management Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Capital No 1 Ltd
England
 
-
 
90.01
90.01
R&Q Capital No 2 Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
La Licorne Compagnie de Reassurances SA
France
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Re (Bermuda) Ltd
Bermuda
 
-
 
100
100
Chevanstell Management Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Principle Insurance Company Limited
England
 
100
 
-
100
Capstan Insurance Company Limited
Guernsey
 
-
 
100
100
LINPAC Insurance Company Limited
Guernsey
 
-
 
100
100
Alma Vakuutus OY
Finland
 
-
 
100
100
 
Insurance Services Division
 
 
 
 
 
 
Randall & Quilter IS Holdings Limited
England
 
100
 
-
100
R&Q Insurance Services Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q KMS Management Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Audit & Inspection Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Archive Services Limited
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Broking Services Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
JMD Specialist Insurance Services Group Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
JMD Specialist Insurance Services Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q CG Limited
England
 
-
 
100
100
Callidus Secretaries Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Callidus Solutions Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Consultants Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
ReQuiem Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Reinsurance Solutions Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Randall & Quilter America Holdings Inc
USA
 
100
 
-
100
R&Q Services Holding Inc
USA
 
-
 
100
100
ReQuiem America Inc
USA
 
-
 
100
100
Syndicated Services Company Inc
USA
 
-
 
100
100
John Heath & Company Inc
USA
 
-
 
100
100
Excess and Treaty Management Corp
USA
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Solutions LLC
USA
 
-
 
100
100
RSI Solutions International Inc
USA
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Quest Management Services USA LLC
USA
 
-
 
100
100
Randall & Quilter Canada Holdings Ltd
Canada
 
100
 
-
100
A. M. Associates Insurance Services Ltd
Canada
 
-
 
100
100
 
 
 
 
% of ordinary shares held by: 
 
Principal activity and name of subsidiaries
Country of incorporation
/registration  
The Company
Subsidiary undertakings
Overall effective % of share capital held
 
Insurance Services Division (continued)
 
 
 
 
 
 
Randall & Quilter Captive Holdings Limited
England
 
100
 
-
100
Randall & Quilter Bermuda Holdings Ltd
Bermuda
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Quest Management Services Ltd
Bermuda
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Quest (SAC) Ltd
Bermuda
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Intermediaries (Bermuda) Ltd
Bermuda
 
-
 
100
100
Randall & Quilter Nordic Holdings APS
Denmark
 
-
 
100
100
Triton Insurance Management AS
Denmark
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Triton AS
Norway
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Triton Claims AS
Norway
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Caledonian Insurance Management Services Ltd
Gibraltar
 
 
 
100
100
Caledonian Insurance Brokers Ltd
Gibraltar
 
-
 
75
75
R&Q Quest Insurance Management (IOM) Ltd
Isle of Man
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Jersey PCC
Jersey
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Quest PCC LLC
USA
 
-
 
100
100
 
Underwriting Management
 
 
 
 
 
 
Randall & Quilter Underwriting Management Holdings Limited
England
 
100
 
-
100
R&Q Managing Agency Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q MGA Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Risk Services Canada Limited
Canada
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Commercial Risk Services Limited
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Just Underwriting Group Limited
England
 
-
 
100
100
Altus Management Partners LLP
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Marine Services Limited
England
 
-
 
75
75
KMS Insurance Services Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
KMS Employment Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
Synergy Insurance Services (UK) Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Others
 
 
 
 
 
 
R&Q (EC3) Ltd
England
 
100
 
-
100
R&Q Secretaries Ltd
England
 
100
 
-
100
Ken Randall Associates Ltd
England
 
100
 
-
100
R&Q No. 1 Ltd
England
 
100
 
-
100
Malling Investments Ltd
England
 
-
 
100
100
R&Q Oast Ltd
England
 
100
 
-
100
R&Q Ludgate No. 1 Ltd
England
 
100
 
-
100
  

17.       Insurance and other receivables

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Debtors arising from direct insurance operations


3,571 


1,494 


Debtors arising from reinsurance operations


43,040 


45,262 


Insurance receivables


46,611 


46,756 








Trade debtors


2,521 


2,693 


Other debtors/receivables


3,912 


9,519 


Purchased reinsurance receivables


6,598 


8,144 


Prepayments and accrued income


8,844 


9,086 




21,875 


29,442 










68,486 


76,198 








Due within 12 months


68,486 


76,198 


Due after 12 months






68,486 


76,198 


 

 

Included in other debtors/receivables is an amount of £800,000 (2011: £600,000) is held in escrow in respect of the defined benefit scheme.

 

The carrying values disclosed above reasonably approximate their fair values at the balance sheet date.

 

18.       Cash and cash equivalents

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Cash at bank and in hand


52,263 


37,183 








Included in cash and cash equivalents is £464,713 (2011: £471,550) being funds held in escrow accounts in respect of guarantees provided to the Institute of London Underwriters ("ILU").  The decrease is due to exchange movements. 

In the normal course of business insurance company subsidiaries will have deposited funds in respect of certain contracts which can only be released with the approval of the appropriate regulatory authority.  The carrying values disclosed above reasonably approximate their fair values at the balance sheet date.

Insurance broking fiduciary funds of £17,026,690 (2011: £10,369,000), which are used to pay premiums to underwriters and settle claims to policy holders, are not included in the above cash balances.

19.       Current income tax

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Current tax assets


4,365 


2,769 








20.       Insurance and other payables

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Structured liabilities


350,117 


370,340 


Structured settlements


(350,117)


(370,340)










Creditors arising from reinsurance operations


23,866 


18,469 


Creditors arising from direct insurance operations


695 


4,351 


Insurance payables


24,561 


22,820 








Trade creditors


1,034 


2,489 


Other taxation and social security


776 


738 


Other creditors


8,639 


13,775 


Accruals and deferred income


4,257 


3,570 


Due within 12 months


39,267 


43,392 








The carrying values disclosed above reasonably approximate their fair values at the statement of financial position date.

Structured Settlements

No new structured settlement arrangements have been entered into during the year.  The movement in these structured liabilities during the period is primarily due to exchange movements.  The Group has paid for annuities from third party life insurance companies for the benefit of certain claimants. In the event that any of these life insurance companies were unable to meet their obligations to these annuitants, any remaining liability would fall upon the respective insurance company subsidiaries. The subsidiary company retains the credit risk in the unlikely event that the life insurance company defaults on its obligations to pay the annuity amounts.  The Directors believe that, having regard to the quality of the security of the life insurance companies, the possibility of a material liability arising in this way is very unlikely. The life companies will settle the liability directly with the claimants and no cash will flow through the group. These annuities have been shown as reducing the insurance companies liabilities to reflect the substance of the transactions and to ensure that the disclosure of the balances does not detract from the users' ability to understand the Group's future cash flows.

Quest - Segregated Cells

R&Q Quest (SAC) Limited is a segregated cell company in which assets and liabilities are held  separately in segregated cells.  The assets and liabilities of the segregated cells and the profits and losses of each cell are not available for use by Quest, nor the Group, and as such these balances are not included in the consolidated statement of financial position.  The amounts held on behalf of the segregated cells as at 31 December 2012 amount to £58,594,000 (2011: £59,097,000).

21.       Financial liabilities

               

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Amounts owed to credit institutions


18,939


23,224








Amounts due to credit institutions are payable as follows:-






2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Less than one year


2,328


2,000


Between one to five years


16,611


21,224




18,939


23,224


 

As outlined in Note 32 the amounts owed to credit institutions are secured by debentures over the assets of the Company and various of its subsidiaries.

22.       Insurance contract provisions and reinsurance balances

 

Gross


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Claims outstanding at 1 January


362,229 


440,095 


Claims paid


(79,871)


(80,777)


Increase in provisions arising from the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings and syndicate participations


33,416 


16,599 


Strengthening/(release) of provisions


26,052 


(13,223)


Net exchange differences


(12,359)


(465)


As at 31 December


329,467 


362,229 


 

 

Reinsurance


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Reinsurers share of claims outstanding at 1 January


166,745 


216,607 


Reinsurers share of gross claims paid


(55,199)


(51,278)


Increase in provisions arising from the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings and syndicate participations


2,747 


4,102 


Strengthening of provisions


41,855 


143 


Net exchange differences


(7,160)


(2,829)


As at 31 December


148,988 


166,745 


 

 

Net


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Net claims outstanding at 1 January


195,484 


223,488 


Net claims paid


(24,672)


(29,499)


Increase in provisions arising from the acquisition of subsidiary undertakings


30,669 


12,497 


Release of provisions


(15,803)


(13,366)


Net exchange differences


(5,199)


2,364 


As at 31 December


180,479 


195,484 








The carrying values disclosed above reasonably approximate their fair values at the balance sheet date.

 

Assumptions, changes in assumptions and sensitivity

The assumptions used in the estimation of provisions relating to insurance contracts are intended to result in provisions which are sufficient to settle the net liabilities from insurance contracts.

Provision is made at the balance sheet date for the estimated ultimate cost of settling all claims incurred in respect of events and developments up to that date, whether reported or not. The source of data used as inputs for the assumptions is primarily internal.

As detailed in Note 3 significant uncertainty exists as to the likely outcome of any particular claim and the ultimate costs of completing the run off of the Group's insurance operations.

The provisions carried by the Group for its insurance liabilities are calculated using a variety of actuarial techniques. The provisions are calculated and reviewed by the Group's internal actuarial team; in addition the Group periodically commissions independent external actuarial reviews. The use of external advisors provides management with additional comfort that the Groups internally produced statistics and trends are consistent with observable market information and other published data.

As detailed in Note 2 (f) when preparing these consolidated Financial Statements full provision is made for all costs of running off the business of the insurance subsidiaries to the extent that the provision exceeds the estimated future investment return expected to be earned by those subsidiaries. The quantum of the costs of running off the business and the future investment income has been determined through the preparation of cash flow forecasts over the anticipated period of the run offs using internally prepared budgets and forecasts of expenditure, investment income and actuarially assessed settlement patterns for the gross provisions. The gross costs of running off the business are estimated to be fully covered by investment income.  Full provision is also made to run-off the underwriting years for those syndicates on which the Group participates.

Provisions for outstanding claims and IBNR are initially estimated at a gross level and a separate calculation is carried out to estimate the size of reinsurance recoveries. Insurance companies within the Group are covered by a variety of treaty, excess of loss and stop loss reinsurance programmes.

The provisions disclosed in the consolidated Financial Statements are sensitive to a variety of factors including:

•          Settlement and commutation activity of third party lead reinsurers

•          Development in the status of settlement and commutation negotiations being entered into by the Group

•          The financial strength of the Group's reinsurers and the risk that these entities could, in time, become insolvent or could otherwise default on payments

•          Future cost inflation of legal and other advisors who assist the Group with the settlement of claims

•          Changes in statute and legal precedent which could particularly impact provisions for asbestos, pollution and other latent exposures

•          Arbitration awards and other legal precedents which could particularly impact upon the presentation of both inwards and outwards claims on the Group's exposure to major catastrophe losses

 

A 1 per cent reduction in the net technical provisions would increase net assets by £1.8m (2011: £2.0m).

23.       Deferred tax

Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using tax rates of 23%  for the UK (2011: 25%) and 34% for the US (2011: 35%).

Deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets have been recognised in respect of all tax losses and other temporary differences giving rise to deferred tax assets where it is probable that these assets will be recovered.

The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year are shown below.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are only offset where there is a legally enforceable right of offset and there is an intention to settle the balances net.



Deferred tax 

assets 

Deferred tax 

liabilities 

Total 





£000 

£000 


£000 









As at 1 January 2011




2,707 

(840)


1,867 

Movement for the year



2,651 

370 


3,021 

As at 31 December 2011




5,358 

(470)


4,888 

Movement for the year



25 

(1,348)


(1,323)

As at 31 December 2012




5,383 

(1,818)


3,565 









 

The above deferred tax assets arise mainly from timing difference and losses arising on the Group's US insurance companies in run-off.  Under local tax regulations these losses and other timing differences are available to offset against the US subsidiaries future taxable profits in the Group's US Insurance Services Division as well as any future taxable results that may arise in the US run-off insurance companies.

 

The Directors believe that it is probable that the deferred tax timing differences will reverse against the future budgeted taxable profits in the US element of the Insurance Services Division within the next 10 years. 

 

             The deferred tax assets are not wholly recoverable within 12 months.

The movement on the deferred tax account is shown below:-

Accelerated 

capital 

  allowances 

Trading 

losses 

Pension 

scheme 

deficit 

Other 

 timing 

differences 

Total 

 


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 











As at 1 January 2011

120 




1,747 


1,867 

Movement in year

(28)


273 


661 


2,115 


3,021 

As at 31 December 2011

92 


273 


661 


3,862 


4,888 











Movement in year

10 


(207)


347 


(1,473)


(1,323)

As at 31 December 2012

102 


66 


1,008 


2,389 


3,565 











 

Movements in the provisions for deferred taxation are disclosed in the Financial Statements as follows:-

 

On acquisition 

of subsidiary 

Exchange  adjustment 

Deferred tax 

 in income  statement 

Deferred tax   

 in statement of 

  comprehensive  

income  

Total


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 


£000 











Movement in 2011



2,308 


713 


3,021 

Movement in 2012



(1,739) 


416 


(1,323) 

 

24.       Share capital

 


Number of shares

Ordinary shares

Share premium

Treasury shares

Total



£000

£000

£000

£000

At 1 January 2011

54,923,002 

1,135 

16,029 

(1,334)

15,830 

Issue of shares

210,000 

99 

104 

Issue of C-F shares


4,032 

(4,032)

Redemption/Cancellation of shares

(1,040,086)

(4,054)

(4,054)

Sale treasury shares

630 

630 







At 31 December 2011

54,092,916 

1,118 

12,096 

(704)

12,510 







Issue of G-K shares

100,266,004 

4,162 

(4,162)

Redemption/Cancellation of G-K shares

(100,266,004)

(4,162)

(4,162)

Sale treasury shares

270 

270 

Redemption/Cancellation of shares

(3,959,914)

(82)

(3,182)

(3,264)

At 31 December 2012

50,133,002 

1,036 

4,752 

(434)

5,354 

 


2012 

£  

2011 

£  

Allotted, called up and fully paid



50,133,002 Ordinary Shares of 2 6/91p each

    (2011: 54,092,916 Ordinary Shares of 2 6/91P each)

1,035,717 

1,117,524 

1 Preference A Share of £1

1 Preference B Share of £1


1,035,719 

1,117,526 

Included in:

 

2012 

£  

 

2011 

£  

Equity



50,133,002 Ordinary Shares of 2 6/91p each

    (2011: 54,092,916 Ordinary Shares of 2 6/91p each)

1,035,717 

1,117,524 

1 Preference A Share of £1

1 Preference B Share of £1


1,035,719 

1,117,526 

 

Cumulative Redeemable Preference Shares

Preference A and B Shares have rights, inter alia, to receive distributions in priority to Ordinary shareholders of distributable profits of the Company derived from certain subsidiaries:-

•          Preference A Share, one half of all distributions arising from the Company's investment in R&Q Reinsurance Company up to a maximum of $5m.

•          Preference B Share, one half of all distributions arising from the Company's investment in R&Q Reinsurance Company (UK) Ltd up to a maximum of $10m.

The Preference A and Preference B Shares have been classified as equity on the basis that redemption dates are not prescribed in the Memorandum and Articles of Association and as such there is no contractual obligation to deliver cash.  No distributions have been made to date by either R&Q Reinsurance Company or R&Q Reinsurance Company (UK) Limited.

 Shares issued

During the year the Group issued H, I, J and K shares (with an aggregate value of £4,162,000) (2011: C, D, E and F shares (with an aggregate value of £4,032,000)) which were all cancelled.

 

Share Options

Share options were granted to directors of subsidiaries and selected employees.  The options are exercisable three years from the date of grant and lapse on the tenth anniversary of the date of grant or the holder ceasing to be an employee of the Group.  Neither the Company nor the Group has any legal or constructive obligation to settle or repurchase the options in cash.

Movements on number of share options and their related exercise price are as follows:-

 

Weighted

average

exercise price

 2012

pence


Number of options 2012


Weighted average exercise price

 2011

pence

Number of options 2011

















Outstanding at 1 January

48.1


1,020,000 


34.2


1,735,000 

Exercised/Lapsed

40.5


(300,000)


16.9


(765,000)

Granted

14.4


520,000 


53.5


50,000 









At 31 December

35.8


1,240,000 


48.1


1,020,000 

 

The total number of options in issue during the year have given rise to a charge to the income statement of £545,226 (2011: £74,598) based on the fair values at the time the options were granted.

 

The fair value of the share options was determined using the Binomial option pricing method.  The parameters used are detailed below.  The volatility measured at the standard deviation of continuously compounded share returns is based on statistical analysis of the daily share price over a 100 day period.

 


      2012 options


    2011 options

Weighted average fair value

56.9 pence


56.9 pence

Weighted average share price

103 pence


105 pence

Exercise price

35.8 pence


48.1 pence

Expiry date

10 years after granting


10 years after granting

Vesting period

3 years


3 years

Volatility

  21.0%


  30%

Dividend yield

                               8.5%


                               5.3%

Expected option life

3 years


3 years

Annual risk free interest rate

0.91%


2.98%

 

The options outstanding at 31 December 2012 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 7.6 (2011: 6.2) years.

 

25.       Employee Benefit Trust

 

The EBT has purchased no Ordinary shares and released 225,000 Ordinary shares deemed to be held in Treasury during the year to give a holding at the year end of 488,338 (2011: 713,338).The value at the year end was £517,638 (2011: £677,671).  These are available to be used to meet the future exercise of employee options or such other purpose as the Trustee in its discretion allows pursuant to the Trust Deed.

 

26.       Employees and Directors

Employee benefit expense for the Group during the year

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Wages and salaries


27,010 


21,365


Social security costs


2,783 


2,294


Pension costs


1,841 


1,765


Share based payment charge


545 


51




32,179 


25,475








Pension costs are recognised in operating expenses in the income statement and include £1,841,000 (2011: £1,719,000) in respect of payments to defined contribution schemes and £nil (2011: £46,000) in respect of closed defined benefit schemes.

 

Average number of employees


2012 

Number  


2011 

Number  








Group investment activities


10


10


Captives


28


32


Insurance services


324


318




362


360








Remuneration of the Directors and key management

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Aggregate Director emoluments


1,389


1,159


Aggregate key management emoluments


899


778


Share based payments - Directors


404


-


Share based payments - key management


6


6


Director pension contributions


88


124


Key management pension contributions


71


99




2,857


2,166


Highest paid Director






Aggregate emoluments


544


416








 

Name

Salary

Pension

Bonus

Benefits

Total

K E Randall

312,000

-

-

2,434

314,434

A K Quilter

217,000

50,000

100,000

1,062

368,062

T A Booth

256,000

37,500

250,000

793

544,293

M G Smith

150,000

-

-

-

150,000

J M P Welman

50,000

-

-

-

50,000

K P McNamara

50,000

-

-

-

50,000

 

Two Directors have retirement benefits accruing under money purchase pension schemes (2011: Two).  In the year, one Director was granted share options in respect of qualifying services under a long term incentive plan relating to 2011 and 2012 totalling 450,000 with fair value of £404k which has been charged to the income statement.

27.       Pension commitments

 

The defined benefit scheme's assets are held in separate trustee administered funds. The pension cost was assessed by an independent qualified actuary. In his valuation the actuary used the projected unit method as the scheme is closed to new employees. A full valuation of the scheme was carried out as at 1 January 2012 by a qualified independent actuary. 

On 2 December 2003 the scheme was closed to future accrual although the scheme continues to remain in full force and effect for members at that date.

The amounts recognised in the Group's balance sheet in respect of the defined benefit scheme on an IAS19 valuation basis are as follows:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Total market value of scheme assets


25,549 


24,508 


Present value of defined benefit obligations


(29,930)


(27,149)


Deficit in the scheme


(4,381)


(2,641)


Surplus not recognised




Deficit included in the balance sheet


(4,381)


(2,641)








The scheme has no unfunded past service costs. No decision has been made regarding contributions after the end of the reporting period.

All actuarial losses are recognised in full in the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income in the period in which they occur.

The main financial assumptions used to calculate the scheme assets and liabilities are:-



2012 


2011 








Inflation rate


3.1% 


3.2% 


Projected return on assets


5.0% 


5.5% 


Pension increase


3.1% 


3.2% 


Deferred pension increases


2.3% 


2.7% 


Discount rate


4.1% 


4.7% 


Mortality table used:-






                Pre-retirement mortality


55% of AFC00/AMC00 


PA92(C=2020)-4 


                Post retirement mortality


PCFA00/PCMA00 +2%* 


PA92(C=2020)-2 


 

* In accordance with mortality tables PCMA00 for males and PCFA00 for females, using the CMI projection model with a long term rate of improvement of 2%. 

 

             The amounts recognised in the income statement in respect of the defined benefit scheme are as follows:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Current service cost (operating expense)


-  


(46)


Interest cost (other income)


(1,267)


(1,366)


Expected return on plan assets (other income)


1,334 


1,576 




67 


164 








The expected return on plan assets is calculated using the assets, market conditions and long term expected rate of interest at the start of the accounting period. This amount is then adjusted to take account of interest on contributions paid in or benefits paid out over the accounting period.

          The amounts (charged)/credited directly to other comprehensive income are:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Actual return less expected return on assets


597 


(1,990)


Experience losses arising on obligations


474 


(6)


Changes in assumptions


(2,878)


(897)


Amount not recognised due to restriction on recovery (as required by IAS19)



42 


Total actuarial losses charged to other comprehensive income


(1,807)


(2,851)








Movements in the present value of the defined benefit obligation are as follows:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








(Deficit)/surplus in the scheme as at 1 January


(2,641)


42 


Current service costs



(46)


Contributions by employer



46 


Actuarial loss


(1,807)


(2,893)


Other financial income


67 


210 


Deficit in the scheme as at 31 December


(4,381)


(2,641)








Movements in the fair value of the pension plan assets:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Fair value of plan assets as at 1 January


24,508 


26,152 


Expected return


1,334 


1,576 


Actuarial gains/(losses)


597 


(1,990)


Contributions by employer


-  


46 


Benefits paid


(890)


(1,276)








Fair value of plan assets as at 31 December


25,549 


24,508 








The major categories of assets as a percentage of the total plan assets are as follows:-



2012 


2011 








Equity securities


41.4% 


39.8% 


Debt securities


41.6% 


36.4% 


Property


8.2% 


9.6% 


Cash


8.8% 


14.2% 




100.0% 


100.0% 


 

Fair value of the pension plan obligations:-

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  








Fair value of plan obligations as at 1 January


27,149 


26,110 


Current service cost



46 


Interest cost


1,267 


1,366 


Actuarial losses


2,404 


903 


Benefits paid


(890)


(1,276)








Fair value of plan obligations as at 31 December


29,930 


27,149 








28.          Related party transactions

 

The following Officers and connected parties received distributions during the year as follows:- 

 

 
2012 
2011 
 
£ 
£ 
K E Randall and family
1,829,710
1,774,634
A K Quilter
360,756
348,691
K P McNamara
11,546
10,642
M G Smith
2,075
1,913
J M P Welman and family
11,546
1,301
 
 
 
                 

 

·     Mr and Mrs K E Randall received £18,750 (2011: £25,000) for rent for property used by the Group.

·     During the year the Group recharged expenses totalling £7,960,135 (2011: £5,319,122) to Lloyd's Syndicates 102, 3330 and 1897, which are managed by the Group.

 

29.       Operating lease commitments

 

The Group leases a number of premises under operating leases. The Group has entered into a number of sublease arrangements with third parties. Sublease arrangements in force as at 31 December 2012 are due to expire within one to five years of the balance sheet date.  It is anticipated that sublease income of £91,000 (2011: £136,000) will be earned over the lease term.

 

The total future minimum lease payments payable over the remaining terms of non-cancellable operating leases are:

 

 


2012 

£000  


2011 

£000  


Land and buildings






No later than one year


38 


19 


Later the one year no later than five years


4,268 


700 


Later than five years


491 


6,461 








 

30.       Contingent liabilities

 

In connection with certain acquisitions the terms are subject to potential amendment which could give rise to an additional payment of up to £4.8m.

 

31.       Business Combinations

 

Synergy Insurance Services (UK) Limited

 

On 21 January 2012 the Group purchased the entire issued share capital of Synergy Insurance Services (UK) Limited, a company incorporated in England and Wales.  The goodwill represents the Group's investment in the Directors' and employees' knowledge of the insurance market and their ability to generate future profits.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net liabilities acquired was £549k.  Goodwill of £549k arose.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.







Fair value







£'000









Tangible assets





24 


Other debtors





 793 


Cash





 445 


Other creditors





(1,811)


Net liabilities acquired





(549)









Satisfied by







Cash paid













Goodwill





549 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

 

Post acquisition loss before tax amounted to (£1,210k).  This would also have been the contribution the company would have made for the year.

 

Post acquisition income amounted to £402k, this is also the income for the full year.

 

Costs of £66k were incurred in relation this acquisition and have been expensed in the year.

 

R&Q Marine Services Limited

 

On 1 January 2012 the Group purchased the assets and liabilities of the Yacht and Marine Trades  Portfolio from Underwriting Risk Services Ltd (URSL), a subsidiary of Talbot Underwriting Holdings Limited.  The goodwill represents the Group's investment in the Underwriter's and employees' knowledge of the insurance market and their ability to generate future profits.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net liabilities acquired was £322k.  Goodwill of £322k arose.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.







Fair value







£'000









Intangible assets





322 


Other creditors





(644)


Net liabilities acquired





(322)









Satisfied by







Cash paid













Goodwill





322 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

The intangible assets of £322k relates to the fair value attributed to the client list and binding authorities acquired. 

 

Post acquisition profit before tax amounted to £473k.  This would also have been the contribution the company would have made for the year.  

 

Post acquisition income amounted to £2,531k, this is also the income for the full year.

 

Costs of £54k were incurred in relation this acquisition and have been expensed in the year.

 

Northern Foods Insurance Company Limited

 

On 27 March 2012 the Group purchased the entire issued share capital of Northern Foods Insurance Limited a company incorporated in Guernsey.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net assets acquired was £1,004k.  Goodwill on bargain purchase of (£298k) arose. This goodwill on bargain purchase arises because insurance companies in run-off normally cause significant problems for former owners such as tying up capital and lack of specialist staff. As a specialist service provider and manager, the Group is more efficient at managing such entities.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.

 







Fair value







£000









Other debtors





103 


Cash





1,166 


Technical provisions





(261)


Other creditors





(4)


Net assets acquired





1,004 









Satisfied by







Cash paid





706 









Goodwill on bargain purchase





(298)

 

The carrying value of the insurance liabilities is materially similar to their fair value and therefore no intangible asset is needed to be recognised in accordance with the accounting policy for goodwill.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

As the company was amalgamated into another Group entity (R&Q Insurance (Guernsey) Limited) soon after acquisition, its post acquisition results are included within that entity.

 

No external costs have been incurred in relation to the acquisition.

 

RAB Insurance Company Limited

 

On 3 October 2012 the Group purchased the entire issued share capital of RAB Insurance Company Limited a company incorporated in Guernsey.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net assets acquired was £817k.  Goodwill on bargain purchase of (£467k) arose. This goodwill on bargain purchase arises because insurance companies in run-off normally cause significant problems for former owners such as tying up capital and lack of specialist staff. As a specialist service provider and manager, the Group is more efficient at managing such entities.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.

 







Fair value







£000









Other debtors






Cash





2,360 


Technical provisions





(1,511)


Other creditors





(37)


Net assets acquired





817 









Satisfied by







Cash paid





350 









Goodwill on bargain purchase





(467)

 

The carrying value of the insurance liabilities is materially similar to their fair value and therefore no intangible asset is needed to be recognised in accordance with the accounting policy for goodwill.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

As the company was amalgamated into another Group entity (Capstan Insurance Company Limited) entity soon after acquisition, its post acquisition results are included within that entity.

 

Costs of £2k have been incurred in relation to the acquisition.

 

Capstan Insurance Company Limited

 

On 31 October 2012 the Group purchased the entire issued share capital of Capstan Insurance Company Limited a company incorporated in Guernsey.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net assets acquired was £5,604k.  Goodwill on bargain purchase of £562k arose. This goodwill on bargain purchase arises because insurance companies in run-off normally cause significant problems for former owners such as tying up capital and lack of specialist staff. As a specialist service provider and manager, the Group is more efficient at managing such entities.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.

 







Fair value







£000









Other debtors





4,264 


Cash





1,858 


Technical provisions





(514)


Other creditors





(4)


Net assets acquired





5,604 









Satisfied by







Cash paid

Cancellation of loan





822 

4,220 









Goodwill on bargain purchase





(562)

 

The carrying value of the insurance liabilities is materially similar to their fair value and therefore no intangible asset is needed to be recognised in accordance with the accounting policy for goodwill.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Post acquisition profit before tax amounted to £100k.  If the Group had purchased the company at the start of the year its contribution to the Group would have been a profit of £206k

 

Costs of £4k have been incurred in relation to the acquisition.

 

LINPAC Insurance Company Limited

 

On 20 December 2012 the Group purchased the entire issued share capital of LINPAC Insurance Company Limited a company incorporated in Guernsey.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net assets acquired was £842k.  Goodwill on bargain purchase of (£392k) arose. This goodwill on bargain purchase arises because insurance companies in run-off normally cause significant problems for former owners such as tying up capital and lack of specialist staff. As a specialist service provider and manager, the Group is more efficient at managing such entities.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.

 







Fair value







£000









Other debtors






Cash





1,063 


Technical provisions





(149)


Other creditors





(75)


Net assets acquired





842 









Satisfied by







Cash paid

 





450 

 









Goodwill on bargain purchase





(392)

 

The carrying value of the insurance liabilities is materially similar to their fair value and therefore no intangible asset is needed to be recognised in accordance with the accounting policy for goodwill.

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Post acquisition profit before tax amounted to £nil, if the Group had purchased the company at the start of the year its contribution to the Group would have been a loss of £20k

 

Costs of £7k have been incurred in relation to the acquisition.

 

Alma Insurance Company Limited

 

On 27 December 2012 the Group purchased the entire issued share capital of Alma Insurance Company Limited a company incorporated in Finland.

 

The acquisition has been accounted for using the acquisition method of accounting.  The fair values of the assets and liabilities are provisional pending the final valuations of these assets and liabilities as required by IFRS 3.  After the alignment of accounting policies and other adjustments to the valuation of assets and liabilities to reflect their fair value at acquisition, the fair value of net assets acquired was £4,741k.  Goodwill on bargain purchase of (£273k) arose. This goodwill on bargain purchase arises because insurance companies in run-off normally cause significant problems for former owners such as tying up capital and lack of specialist staff.  As a specialist service provider and manager, the Group is more efficient at managing such entities.

 

The following table shows the fair value of assets and liabilities included in the consolidated Financial Statements at the date of acquisition.

 







Fair value







£000









Tangible assets






Other debtors





251 


Cash





7,770 


Technical provisions





(1,703)


Other creditors





(1,577)


Net assets acquired





4,741 









Satisfied by







Cash paid

 





4,468 

 









Goodwill on bargain purchase





(273)

 

                                                                                                                                                                                                     

Post acquisition loss before tax amounted to £nil, if the Group had purchased the company at the start of the year its contribution to the Group would have been a profit of £518k

 

Costs of £30k have been incurred in relation to the acquisition.

 

Goodwill totals

 

The totals in the year of goodwill and goodwill on bargain purchase are as follows:-

 

Total goodwill on all acquisitions during the year

871 

 

Total goodwill on bargain purchase on all acquisitions during the year

 

1,992



32.       Inter-company guarantee and debenture

 

The Company has entered into a guarantee agreement and debenture arrangement with its bankers, along with various of its subsidiaries in respect of the Group term loan facilities. The total liability to the bank at 31 December 2012 is £18,939,000 (2011: £23,224,000).

 

The Company has counter-guaranteed the obligations of its subsidiary, R&Q Reinsurance Company (UK) Limited ('RQUK') in respect of the provision of a guarantee by RQUK to R&Q Managing Agency Limited ('RQMA') in the amount of £600,000 to allow RQMA to meet its Lloyd's solvency. 

 

33.       Ultimate Controlling Party

 

The Directors consider that the Group has no ultimate controlling party.


This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
 
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