Annual Report • Dec 31, 2010
Annual Report
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| 2010 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|
| €000s | €000s | |
| Gross premium written | 358,385 | 357,244 |
| Net premium earned | 302,540 | 314,604 |
| Operating profit before tax | 40,666 | 28,880 |
| Loss before taxation | (3,083) | (34,644) |
| 2010 | 2009 | |
| Cent | Cent | |
| Operating earnings per 60 cent ordinary share | 106 | 75 |
| Ordinary dividend per 60 cent ordinary share | 31.5 | 30.0 |
| Net assets per 60 cent ordinary share | 547 | 576 |
| Preliminary announcement | 8 March 2011 |
|---|---|
| Annual General Meeting | 29 April 2011 |
| Final dividend payment date | 5 May 2011 |

I am very pleased to report that 2010 was another year of significant strategic and operational progress for FBD Group. The contraction of the Irish economy and the insurance industry, continued to provide a challenging business environment. The Group's underwriting business is, by its nature, defensive and its spread of business is not over-exposed to any particular sector. It benefited from the relative strength of the agricultural sector in 2010 and delivered a solid operating profit, achieving an improved combined operating ratio, despite the severe weather events.
FBD has made significant progress in its strategic initiative to increase penetration of urban markets, particularly Dublin. NoNonsense.ie and FBD.ie (our on-line offerings) continue to attract a higher proportion of customers from Dublin and other urban centres. Likewise the initiative to increase distribution via brokers has delivered increased business insurance from urban
centres. The Company's sales office network has been successful in further developing farming and business insurance during 2010, a key strategic priority for FBD.
The industry was heavily impacted by severe weather claims as a result of the freezes in both January and December 2010. In this environment, FBD's underwriting discipline and prudent reinsurance policy have served their purpose and protected the Group's trading result, its capital base and solvency.
Regaining national competitiveness is key to Irish economic prospects. Claims reforms initiated in recent years have delivered significant benefits to businesses and the consumer in the form of lower insurance premiums. The Group is encouraged by the recent introduction of a nationwide network of speed cameras. However, claims costs in Ireland remain high relative to other economies. While credit must be given for progress in reducing road fatalities and accident rates, continued reform is required. Personal injury awards must be brought into line with other jurisdictions to deliver comparable premium levels.
Market conditions for the Group's leisure and property businesses have remained challenging. Excess capacity exists in the hotel market, particularly in Ireland, and the timing of recovery is dependent on a reduction in industry capacity. FBD is supportive of the Irish Tourist Industry Confederation's recent report which recommends a 10 point plan to enable tourism to recover to become a major engine of Irish economic growth. Recovery in the hotel sector will depend on achieving sustainable rates, and this will not occur until overcapacity is resolved.
While the Group delivered a solid operating performance with an operating profit of €40.7m in 2010, the result before tax was adversely impacted by negative fluctuations in investment returns, reflecting the volatility in investment markets. The Directors have taken a conservative approach to the valuation of assets and the potential for further downside has been greatly reduced.
FBD has the people, plans, infrastructure and financial strength to continue to deliver long-term profitable growth, particularly in an environment where rates are hardening.
The Group is committed to a progressive dividend strategy while maintaining a strong balance sheet and robust solvency margins. The Board is recommending a 2010 final dividend payout of 21.0 cent per ordinary share, bringing the full 2010 dividend to 31.5 cent per ordinary share.
There were two changes in the composition of the Board during 2010. Mr. Padraig Walshe resigned as a Director in May 2010. On behalf of the Board, I would like to thank Padraig for his input and advice in the period since his appointment to the Board in 2006. We wish him every success in the future.
Mr. John Bryan was co-opted to the Board in June 2010. As President of the Irish Farmers Association, his long involvement with and insights and linkage into the farming community will be of great benefit to the Group, particularly given that one of our key strategic priorities is the further development of farming business.
During the year, in recognition of the Board's commitment to compliance with the Combined Code of Corporate Governance in every respect, the Board commenced a careful review of its composition with the support of the Nomination Committee. This review was designed to ensure that the composition of the Board included an appropriate mix of independence together with the specific skills and experience required to do its work. As a result of this review the Board has embarked on a programme of refreshment which shall be implemented during the course of 2011.
Finally, I would like to again extend my sincere thanks to the Board, the management and the staff for their combined efforts in demonstrating the Group's capacity to deliver operating profits in a difficult environment. We will continue to focus on maximising benefits for all stakeholders, and I am confident that FBD will continue to outperform its peers in delivering superior returns for shareholders.
Chairman
7 March 2011

FBD delivered another strong operational performance and made significant progress in advancing its strategic priorities in 2010, a challenging year for Ireland's economy and the insurance sector. However, the benefit of rate increases, underwriting discipline and proactive management of claims and expenses were partially masked by the impact of the severe weather conditions in both January and December 2010. In a second consecutive year of abnormal weather related claims, FBD's underwriting discipline and prudent reinsurance policy protected the Group's trading results, its capital base and solvency.
At €40.7m, operating profit before tax was up by 41% on 2009. Operating profit in our primary underwriting business increased 61% to €36.1m (2009: €22.4m) as a €14.5m turnaround in the underwriting result was offset by a reduction in investment returns.
Gross written premium of €358.4m is up 0.3% on 2009, the first increase since 2007, in a market that declined by a further 2.6% in 2010. FBD has continued its growth in market share, now standing at 11.8%, with market share gains in nine of the last ten years. At the same time as gaining market share, FBD's insurance risk exposure reduced during 2010.
Net claims incurred in 2010 reduced by 11.1% relative to 2009 due to a combination of (i) lower insurance exposure, (ii) better 2010 large claims experience, (iii) decrease in non-weather related property claims frequency, (iv) FBD's decision not to grow volume in certain segments at uneconomic rates and (v) the benefit of claims management initiatives. Recent industry weather claims experience has contributed to a hardening of insurance rates across the Irish market in 2010.
Gross underwriting management expenses reduced by 0.7% in 2010 as the benefits of cost containment exercises began to crystallise. The net expense ratio has risen to 22.0% (2009: 20.3%) because of the impact of a rise in the cost of reinsurance and lower net premium earned.
In challenging market conditions, FBD's non-underwriting operations have delivered an operating profit of €4.6m (2009: €6.5m). The Group's property and leisure businesses delivered operating profits and positive cash flows again in 2010. The key challenge facing the business in Ireland is oversupply in the market. This is further exacerbated by a reduction in the number of foreign visitors. New marketing and sales initiatives and operational cost efficiencies continue to be identified and implemented to achieve targets.
FBD's financial services businesses continued to deliver a positive performance in difficult market environments. FBD Brokers won additional new business during 2010 and FBD Financial Solutions achieved strong growth in profitability, significantly outperforming the industry. These businesses have proactively managed their cost structures to reflect the economic circumstances.
The value of the Group's property assets has reduced in line with market values in Ireland and Spain, although the pace of the market decline has slowed. Asset impairments of €50.0m (2009: €57.8m) have been charged to the consolidated income statement. Members of the Group's defined benefit pension scheme agreed to a restructuring of pension benefits and the introduction of pension contributions. As a result the Group's obligations for retirement benefits reduced by €11.1m. After charging finance costs of €3.2m (2009: €3.4m), the Group recorded a loss before tax of €3.1m (2009: €34.6m).
Operating earnings per ordinary share increased from 75 cent to 106 cent. The Group continues to have a strong capital base and balance sheet. FBD Insurance had a solvency level of 61% of net premium earned at 31 December 2010, up from 52% at 31 December 2009.
The Irish insurance market contracted by 2.6% during 2010 as the benefit of hardening rates was offset by the continuing reduction in insurable risk and values, in line with economic activity in Ireland. FBD's gross premium written increased by 0.3% to €358.4m (2009: €357.2m) as improved retention rates and higher conversion rates combined with rate increases led to growth for the first time since 2007. Net premium earned reduced to €302.5m from €314.6m because 2009 benefited from the higher level of gross premium written in 2008. Premium rates continued to harden in the Irish insurance market, particularly for home and business insurance, while motor insurance rates have been slower to increase. The flood and freeze conditions over the 2009 and 2010 winters accelerated the implementation of necessary rate increases in property insurance.
A key feature of 2010 has been the reductions in insurance risk and values reflecting the decline in economic activity in Ireland. Despite rate increases, average policy premiums have not increased significantly. The market for large insurance risks has become more competitive and FBD has chosen not to compete for business at unsustainable rates.
Net claims incurred amounted to €234.3m, an 11.1% reduction on 2009 because of a combination of lower exposure and an improved loss ratio. The loss ratio (claims incurred, net of reinsurance as a percentage of earned premiums net of reinsurance) for 2010 was 77.4% (2009: 83.8%).

We are
by ambition in a challenging business environment
FBD experienced an improvement in non-weather related property claims, particularly towards the end of the financial year. Ireland continued to experience a reduction in the number of road deaths and large claim experience improved considerably. The frequency of both (nonweather related) property claims and motor injury claims has reduced. The improvement in the loss ratio is also attributable to rate increases and underwriting and claims management initiatives.
Not unlike the previous year, 2010 was adversely affected by severe weather events with abnormal freezes in both January and December, the latter being the coldest December on record. Adding the severe flooding in November 2009 and the prolonged freezing conditions in December 2009 means that, in a fourteen month period, FBD made good the weather related losses of 14,000 of our customers amounting to over €90m. Ultimately, an insurance company's promise to its customers is that it will meet their expectations in their time of need and this objective was achieved over the fourteen month period. The Directors wish to express gratitude to the staff and suppliers who responded by providing customers with outstanding and professional service in difficult conditions. During the fourteen month period, the cost to FBD was €39m, net of reinsurance.
FBD's risk management policy determines the Group's appetite for risk and limits the exposure that FBD is prepared to accept from any event or series of events. In respect of weather related events, the objective is to limit the Group's exposure so as to protect profitability, solvency and shareholders' capital. This objective was achieved in both 2009 and 2010.
Claims reserves provided a positive run off again in 2010 demonstrating the strength of the Group's reserving position. FBD has benefited from a positive run off since 2003.
Gross underwriting management expenses reduced by 0.7% in 2010 to €77.5m (2009: €78.0m) as the benefits of cost containment exercises began to crystallise. In the last year, the Group has negotiated a comprehensive programme of changes with its employees which includes changes in pay ranges, hours of work and other productivity measures designed to underpin the Group's competitive cost advantage and provide it with the flexibility to grow premium income in a difficult economic environment. The changes agreed include a combination of salary reductions and freezes, the restructuring of employment and pension conditions and the introduction of pension contributions. The Directors acknowledge the co-operation of staff to accept these progressive changes so as to ensure the Group's future prosperity.
A rise in the cost of reinsurance and the impact of reducing net premium earned have contributed to an increase in the net expense ratio (other underwriting expenses as a percentage of earned premium, net of reinsurance) for 2010 to 22.0% (2009: 20.3%). The Group remains committed to maintaining its cost competitiveness.
The Group's combined operating ratio for 2010 was 99.4% (2009: 104.1%) resulting in an underwriting profit of €1.6m (2009: loss of €12.9m).
Longer term investment return at €34.5m was lower than the €35.3m in 2009 as a result of the slight reduction in assets available for investment and because the average asset mix through the year was more conservative. In line with insurers worldwide, FBD's investment mix has become more conservative in recent years in recognition of the volatility of investment markets and the imperative to protect the Group's solvency and asset base. The consequent reduction in investment returns discourages irrational underwriting in the market.
In response to changing customer behaviour, FBD's multichannel distribution strategy has continued to develop with progress within all channels during 2010. The Group's sales office network has been particularly successful in further developing farming and business insurance during 2010, a key strategic priority. The agricultural sector has performed very strongly during Ireland's economic decline and FBD's commitment to this sector has led to an increase in premium from agriculture and connected business.
FBD's progress in Dublin and other large urban centres has continued with 14% of total premium income now coming from Dublin representing market share of over 5%. The initiative to increase business insurance in Dublin, via intermediaries, has proved successful and further brokers have been added to our panel. As planned, NoNonsense.ie and FBD.ie (our on-line offerings) continue to attract a higher proportion of customers from Dublin and other urban centres.
Market conditions for the non-underwriting businesses in Ireland and Spain continue to be challenging. However, in this environment, non-underwriting operations generated an operating profit of €4.5m (2009: €6.5m).
The Group's leisure and property interests include La Cala and Sunset Beach Resorts in Spain and FBD Hotels in Ireland. In the difficult trading conditions these businesses delivered a solid result generating an operating profit of €1.3m (2009: €2.8m) and cash flow from operations of €1.2m. The operating profit was lower than the previous year principally because the hotels located in Ireland were impacted by market oversupply. Oversupply in the marketplace is the key challenge facing the hotel business in Ireland and market capacity needs to be reduced to match falling customer demand. Overseas visitors to Ireland reduced from 7.7m arrivals in 2007 to 5.6m in 2010, while revenue generated from the domestic leisure market has reduced due to the
economic downturn. Sunset Beach Resort continued to perform strongly and 46 properties in La Cala were sold generating cash of €13.9m, significantly ahead of both last year and expectations.
Financial services/other, includes the contributions from general insurance broking (FBD Brokers), life assurance/ pension, broking/investment advice (FBD Financial Solutions), instalment finance and holding company costs. Operating profits of €3.2m were generated (2009: €3.7m). Both FBD Brokers and FBD Financial Solutions had a strong 2010, growing profitability despite Ireland's economic decline through focus on customer service and cost efficiency.
The result before tax was adversely impacted by a negative fluctuation in investment return amounting to €30.1m (2009: €28.8m) and impairment of property, plant and equipment of €19.9m (2009: €29.0m) reflecting reducing property prices.
During 2010, as stated above, the Group agreed a variety of changes in pay and conditions with its employees. Some of these changes had an impact on the defined benefit retirement obligations recorded as a liability in the Group's statement of financial position. The reduction in the Group's liability for retirement benefits as a result of the changes agreed by management and staff is reflected as a credit of €11.1m in the consolidated income statement. In addition, the salary reductions agreed by senior management reduced the Group's retirement benefit obligations by a further €2.6m, which is credited to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
After charging finance costs of €3.2m (2009: €3.4m), the Group recorded a loss before tax of €3.1m (2009: €34.6m).
Operating earnings per 60 cent ordinary share based on longer term investment return amounted to 106 cent compared to 75 cent the previous year. The diluted loss per 60 cent ordinary share was 8 cent (2009: 92 cent).
The Board is committed to ensuring that the Group's capital position continues to be robust and its balance sheet well managed. This reflects the Board's view that it is in the long-term interest of all shareholders to maintain strong solvency and liquidity margins. The Group is committed to a progressive dividend policy and efficient capital management.
The Board is recommending a 2010 final dividend payout of 21.0 cent per 60 cent ordinary share (2009: 20.0 cent) bringing the full 2010 dividend to 31.5 cent (2009: 30.0 cent), an increase of 5% over 2009. Subject to the approval of shareholders at the Annual General Meeting to be held on 29 April 2011, this final dividend for 2010 will be paid on 5 May 2011 to the holders of shares on the register on 18 March 2011.
The dividend is subject to a withholding tax ("DWT") except for shareholders who are exempt from DWT and who have furnished a properly completed declaration of exemption to the Company's Registrar from whom further details may be obtained.
The Group's financial position remains very strong. Ordinary shareholders' funds amounted to €182.1m (2009: €191.5m) and net assets per ordinary share were 547 cent (2009: 576 cent).
FBD Insurance maintains a low risk investment strategy with 88% of its total investment portfolio invested in government gilts and cash assets at year end. Table 1 shows how the assets of the underwriting business were invested at the beginning and end of the year.
Table 1 – Underwriting Business Asset Allocation
| 31 December 2010 | 31 December 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| €m | % | €m | % | |
| Government gilts | 497 | 61% | 581 | 70% |
| Deposits & cash | 217 | 27% | 110 | 13% |
| Investment property | 42 | 5% | 43 | 5% |
| Equities & corporate bonds | 22 | 3% | 36 | 4% |
| Secured loans | 21 | 2% | 37 | 5% |
| Own land & buildings | 18 | 2% | 22 | 3% |
| 817 | 100% | 829 | 100% | |
| Reinsurers' share of technical provisions | 96 | 93 | ||
| Trade, other debtors and DAC | 91 | 101 | ||
| Plant and equipment | 17 | 17 | ||
| 1,021 | 1,040 |

In 2010, the Group as a whole booked €50.0m (2009: €57.8m) of reductions in asset values through the consolidated income statement. These adjustments are set out in Table 2 below.
Table 2 – Group Assets/Asset Value Reductions
| 31 December 2010 €m |
31 December 2009 €m |
Reductions 2010 €m |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Government gilts | 497 | 581 | (8) |
| Deposits & cash | 231 | 120 | - |
| Hotel & golf resort assets | 120 | 136 | (17) |
| Trade, other debtors and DAC | 112 | 107 | - |
| Reinsurers' share of technical provisions | 96 | 93 | - |
| Inventories | 46 | 59 | - |
| Investment property | 42 | 43 | (1) |
| Equities & corporate bonds | 25 | 40 | (2) |
| Secured loans | 21 | 37 | (19) |
| Own land & buildings | 18 | 22 | (3) |
| Plant & equipment | 18 | 18 | - |
| Assets 31 December 2010 €m |
Assets 31 December 2009 €m |
Asset Value Reductions 2010 €m |
|---|---|---|
| 1,226 | 1,256 | (50) |
The Group's portfolio of prime property assets was valued at fair value which was determined either by independent professional valuers or at a lower amount if, in the opinion of the Directors, a lower amount more accurately reflected fair value. The most significant asset write down in 2010 was in respect of the secured loans as the Directors believed that it was appropriate to eliminate any uncertainty about valuations by writing the secured loans down to the value of the underlying security on a current use market value basis. On this basis, the underlying assets are, in some cases, valued as agricultural land or car parks. As a result, additional provisions of €19.1m have been made in respect of secured loans bringing cumulative provisions to 72% of the 2007 year end value.
Investment properties are incorporated in the balance sheet at particularly high yields, with the property located in Dublin delivering an 11.4% yield at its current valuation. Subsequent to the year end, two of the Group's four investment properties located in the UK were sold and a third is in the course of being sold. Combined, the three sales will generate €20.6m in cash and a profit of €0.5m over the 2010 valuation.
The cumulative reductions in asset values over the three years 2008-2010 are summarised in the following table:
Table 3 – Cumulative asset value reductions as a percentage of December 2007 values
| % | |
|---|---|
| Decrease | |
| Hotel & golf resort assets | |
| – Sunset Beach resort | 0% |
| – La Cala Hotel and golf resort | 43% |
| – FBD Hotels | 45% |
| Own land and buildings | 45% |
| Investment property | 48% |
| Secured loans | 72% |
The Directors believe that as a result of the impairment provisions recognised over the last three years and the de-risking of the investment book, the potential for further downside from the Group's investments is limited. Within the underwriting business, such downside is negligible.
La Cala development land is included within inventories at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The independent external valuation conducted at 31 December 2010 reported a value which exceeded this by €24m. Government gilts held to maturity are included in the statement of financial position at amortised cost. If these gilts were recognised on a mark-to-market basis, a surplus of €20.8m would arise.
After asset value reductions, gearing in the property and leisure operations at end 2010 was 73% (2009: 64%). Interest is covered by operating cash flows generated by the business 4.4 times in 2010 (2009: 1.4 times).
FBD Group has a strong capital base and balance sheet. FBD Insurance had a solvency level of 61% of net premium earned at the end of 2010, up from 52% at the end of 2009.
FBD also has a conservative reserving strategy and in the same period, its reserving ratio (net technical provisions divided by net premium earned) strengthened three percentage points to 243%. This is supported by a positive run-off of prior year claims reserves of €48.6m in 2010. The Group has a long history of recording positive run off on its claims reserves.
In line with all European Insurers, the Group's underwriting business, FBD Insurance, is preparing for the introduction of the new Solvency II regulations which are to come into effect from 1 January 2013. During 2010, FBD Insurance conducted a Quantitative Impact Study (QIS 5) designed to test the adequacy of its reserves at the end of 2009 compared to QIS 5 capital requirements from 2013. The results showed that FBD Insurance met the required standard and had excess capital over the QIS 5 requirement. FBD Insurance expects to be in a position to meet all of the Solvency II requirements in advance of their introduction on 1 January 2013.
Economic uncertainty has reduced but Irish domestic demand (the best indicator of insurance market exposure) is still likely to decline further, albeit at a diminishing rate. It is likely that austerity measures will influence economic activity and underlying insurance values. On the other hand, rate increases will positively impact market premiums. Market size will depend on whether the benefit of rate increases will exceed the contraction in volume and cover. As a result, the opportunity for FBD premium income growth in 2011 will be limited. However, the Directors are confident that underwriting disciplines and cost containment will deliver improved profitability in 2011. The Group's underwriting business is, by its nature, defensive and its spread of business is not overly exposed to any one sector.
As insurance companies become more conservative in their investment mix and as international investment returns remain low, insurers become more reliant on positive underwriting results to achieve an adequate return on investment. This dependence on underwriting results and the impact of severe weather events in 2009 and 2010 are likely to lead to further rate increases in the market.
FBD Insurance will focus on profitable growth, constantly evolving its business to reflect customers' needs. The Group will continue to implement its plan to increase penetration of key urban markets, in particular Dublin, and the commercial insurance market. At the same time, the Group continues to devote considerable resources to developing its core farming account, a key strategic priority.
The environment for the non-underwriting businesses is expected to remain difficult in 2011. Oversupply in the market place is the key challenge facing the property and leisure businesses, particularly in Ireland and recovery will be dependent on a reduction in market capacity. No significant change to the oversupply is anticipated in 2011 and concerted action is required to increase the number of tourists visiting Ireland. Despite that, as a result of actions taken, we anticipate an improved contribution from FBD Hotels in 2011. Sales of properties in La Cala are expected to continue in 2011.
FBD Brokers is developing new market segments while providing enhanced customer value, and is well positioned to benefit from the buoyancy of the agri business sector. FBD Financial Solutions will continue to focus on customer needs and cost efficiency to deliver growth in profitability in 2011.
The Group will continue to outperform competitors by focusing on initiatives that will enhance revenue and/or reduce costs, so as to maintain profitable and cash generative businesses through the recessionary period.
FBD Group has a strong capital base and balance sheet and a conservative reserving strategy. The Board is satisfied that as a result of the impairment provisions recognised and the de-risking of the investment book, the potential for further downside from the Group's investment portfolio is limited. The Board is confident that FBD will continue to outperform its peers in delivering superior returns to shareholders. FBD has demonstrated its capacity to deliver operating profits in difficult market conditions and is well positioned to deliver long-term profitable growth.
Group Chief Executive
7 March 2011

Deliver
Michael Berkery (Chairman)
Andrew Langford (Group Chief Executive) Cathal O'Caoimh Adrian Taheny
John Bryan John Donnelly Sean Dorgan Philip Lynch Patrick O'Keeffe
Vincent Sheridan (Senior Independent Director)
Johan Thijs
Conor Gouldson
FBD House Bluebell Dublin 12 Ireland
Deloitte & Touche Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors Deloitte & Touche House Earlsfort Terrace Dublin 2 Ireland
Dillon Eustace 33 Sir John Rogerson's Quay Dublin 2 Ireland
Allied Irish Bank plc Anglo Irish Bank Corporation Limited Bank of Ireland Bank of Scotland plc Barclays Bank Ireland plc BNP Paribas Danske Bank A/S (trading as National Irish Bank) EBS Building Society Irish Life & Permanent plc Ulster Bank Ireland Limited
Bloxham International Financial Services Centre 2/3 Exchange Place Dublin 1 Ireland
Goodbody Stockbrokers Ballsbridge Park Ballsbridge Dublin 4 Ireland
Computershare Investor Services (Ireland) Limited Heron House Corrig Road Sandyford Industrial Estate Dublin 18 Ireland
Michael Berkery (aged 62) was elected Chairman of the Company in 1996. He was Chief Executive Officer of the Irish Farmers' Association for 25 years until his retirement in March 2009. He also served on the National Economic and Social Council and the Central Review Committee of the Government National Partnership Programme. He is a director of FBD Trust Company Limited and a number of other companies. Mr. Berkery joined the Board in October 1988.
Mr. Berkery's extensive career at leadership level in the Irish Farmers' Association brings to the Board deep insights into the Irish farming and agri-related community, which together comprise a substantial customer base for the Group's underwriting subsidiary, FBD Insurance plc. He brings to the Board and to its Committees his communication and facilitation skills, independence of mind and experience of management and motivation of people.
John Bryan (aged 53) is the 13th President of the Irish Farmers' Association. He is a director of Bord Bia, the Irish Food Board, an organisation which develops international markets for Irish food produce. He is also a director of the Agricultural Trust (publisher of the Irish Farmers Journal), and of Kilkenny Co-Operative Mart Limited.
In addition to his commercial acumen, Mr. Bryan brings to the Board a deep knowledge of Ireland's agricultural sector and as President of the Irish Farmers' Association he is at the forefront of thinking and strategy for this important sector of Ireland's economy, a sector in which the Group, through its insurance subsidiary, FBD Insurance plc, has substantial interest.
John Donnelly (aged 63) is a farmer. He is a former President of the Irish Farmers' Association and was a member of the EU's Economic and Social Committee between 1994 and 2006. He is a director of FBD Trust Company Limited, Portumna Co-Op Mart Limited and a number of other companies. Mr. Donnelly joined the Board in October 1988. He was appointed to the Nomination Committee in June 2004.
Mr. Donnelly brings to the Board his substantial experience as a non-executive Director, his deep knowledge of the Group's businesses accumulated during his involvement with the Group at Board level and both his agricultural and general industry experience.
Sean Dorgan (aged 59) is currently non-executive Chairman of both Ulster Bank Limited and Tesco Ireland Limited and he is also Chairman of the Governing Body of Dublin Institute of Technology. He is a non-executive Director of Short Brothers plc and Fineos Corporation Limited. He was Chief Executive of IDA Ireland for nine years until his retirement at the end of 2007. Prior to joining IDA he was Secretary General of the Departments of Industry and Commerce and of Tourism and Trade and was Chief Executive of The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland. Mr. Dorgan joined the Board, and the Audit Committee, in January 2008.
Mr. Dorgan is a very experienced non-executive Director and brings to the Board, and to the Audit Committee, substantial experience of corporate governance, compliance, accounting and general industry experience at leadership level.
Andrew Langford (aged 41) joined FBD Holdings plc as Group Financial Accountant in 1996. In July 2003, he was appointed Executive Director – Finance of FBD Insurance plc. In December 2004, he was appointed to the Board of FBD Holdings plc as Executive Director – Finance. In May 2008, he was appointed Group Chief Executive. Prior to working in FBD, he worked in Deloitte & Touche where he qualified as a Chartered Accountant. He was appointed to the Nomination Committee in June 2010.
Philip Lynch (aged 64) is the Chief Executive Officer of One51 plc. He is a non-executive Director of C & C Group plc and OpenHydro Group Limited. Mr. Lynch joined the Board in March 1996 and was appointed to both the Nomination and Remuneration Committees in June 2004.
Mr. Lynch brings to the Board, and its Committees, his extensive general industry and agri-sector experience at executive level together with experience of corporate finance, corporate governance and executive reward principles and practice.
Cathal O'Caoimh (aged 53) joined the Group in October 2008 and was appointed to the Board as Group Finance Director. A Chartered Accountant, he joined FBD from Horizon Technology Group plc where he was Chief Financial Officer since 2001. Prior to that Mr. O'Caoimh was Group Finance Director of Hibernian Insurance Group, having previously been Group Finance Director of Norwich Union Insurance Group in Ireland. Mr. O'Caoimh is a member of the Council of Chartered Accountants Ireland.
Patrick O'Keeffe (aged 87) retired as Chairman of the Company in 1996 having served in that role since the Company's incorporation in 1988. He was Chairman of the original FBD companies, which comprise the Group, since their incorporation in the early 1970s. A former Editor and Chief Executive of the Irish Farmers' Journal, he is currently Chairman of Agricultural Trust Limited (publisher of the Irish Farmers Journal), Farmer Business Developments plc, FBD Trust Company Limited and is also a director of a number of other companies. Dr. O'Keeffe joined the Board in October 1988, the Audit Committee in November 2001 and both the Nomination and Remuneration Committees in June 2004.
Dr. O'Keeffe was one of the founding Directors of the companies which have become the FBD Group. He brings to the Board his deep knowledge of the Group, of Ireland's agricultural industry together with his entrepreneurial spirit and challenge to the Board and management to target greater performance from the Group for shareholders.
Vincent Sheridan (aged 62) retired as Chief Executive of Vhi Healthcare during 2008 after seven years in that role. Prior to that he was Group Chief Executive of the Norwich Union Insurance Group in Ireland for ten years. He is a past president of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland, the Irish Insurance Federation, the Insurance Institute of Ireland and the Irish Association of Investment Managers. He was a director of the Irish Stock Exchange for nine years to June 2004. He is also a former council member of the International Federation of Health Plans and the Financial Reporting Council in the UK. He serves as a director of Beazley plc and a number of other companies. Mr. Sheridan joined the Board, and the Audit Committee, in August 2004.
Mr. Sheridan brings to the Board and to the Audit Committee his extensive experience at a leadership level in the insurance industry, his experience as a nonexecutive Director together with his knowledge of corporate governance and compliance. Mr. Sheridan is the Audit Committee's financial expert.
Adrian Taheny (aged 54) joined FBD Holdings plc as Group Development Manager in 1997. In July 2003, he was appointed Executive Director – Marketing & Sales of FBD Insurance plc. In December 2004 he was appointed to the Board of FBD Holdings plc as Executive Director – Insurance Marketing & Sales. Prior to joining FBD, he worked with EBS Building Society, where he held the position of General Manager – Marketing.
Johan Thijs (aged 45) is a member of the executive Committee of KBC Bank and Insurance Group and is Chief Executive Officer Belgium Business Unit. He obtained a Master of Science (Applied Mathematics) degree and qualified as an Actuary at KU Leuven. He joined KBC Insurance in 1998 and held a number of executive positions prior to his appointment to his current role. Mr. Thijs joined the Board in 2004.
Mr. Thijs brings to the Board his experience at executive level in a substantial general insurance business and his detailed appreciation of the core factors which influence the success and failure of such business.
The Directors present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2010.
The Company is a holding company incorporated in Ireland. The primary business of the Group is general insurance underwriting. The Group also has nonunderwriting operations including leisure/property interests and financial services businesses.
The review of the performance of the Group including an analysis of financial information and the outlook for its future development is contained in the Chairman's Statement on pages 2 and 3 and in the Group Chief Executive's Review of Operations on pages 4 to 13. Information in respect of the significant events since the year end and a review of the key performance indicators are also included in these sections. The key performance indicators include gross premium written, operating earnings and net asset value per share.
The results for the year are shown in the consolidated income statement on page 43. The Directors propose the payment of a final dividend for the year on the 60 cent ordinary shares of 21.0 cent (2009: 20.0 cent). During the year an interim dividend of 10.5 cent was paid (2009: 10.0 cent). The total dividend for the year amounts therefore to 31.5 cent (2009: 30.0 cent). The policy of the Board in relation to dividends is outlined in the Chairman's Statement and the Group Chief Executive's Review of Operations.
The Directors consider that the following are the principal risk factors that could materially and adversely affect the Group's future operating profits or financial position.
The risk attached to any general insurance policy outstanding is the possibility that an insured event occurs and the uncertainty of the amount of the resulting claim. The frequency and severity of claims can be affected by several factors, most notably weather events, the level of awards and inflation on settling claims.
When estimating the cost of claims outstanding at year end, the principal assumption underlying the estimates is the Group's past development pattern. This includes assumptions in respect of certain historic average claims costs, claims handling costs and claims inflation factors.
Profitability of general insurance is, by its nature, cyclical and can vary because of the actions or omissions of competitors, particularly inappropriate pricing decisions by competitors.
The extent of the Group's exposure to general insurance risk is controlled within defined parameters by means of strict underwriting criteria, analysis of historical underwriting experience, formalised pricing structures and appropriate reinsurance treaties.
The Group is committed to managing its capital so as to maximise return to shareholders. The risk is that inappropriate management of the Group's capital could result in losses, erosion of capital or inadequate solvency. The Board reviews the capital structure frequently to determine the appropriate level of capital required to pursue the Group's growth plans.
Operational risk could arise as a result of inadequately controlled internal processes or systems, human error or from external events. Operational risks are regularly assessed against financial, operational and reputational criteria.
The Group has invested in quoted debt securities, quoted shares and investment properties. These investments are subject to market risk, whereby the value of the investments may fluctuate as a result of changes in market prices, changes in market interest rates or changes in the foreign exchange rates of the currency in which the investments are denominated. The extent of the exposure to market risk is mitigated by the formulation of, and adherence to, strict investment policies, as approved by the Board of Directors, employment of appropriately qualified and experienced personnel to manage the Group's investment portfolio, and the use of forward foreign exchange contracts.
The Group is exposed to daily calls on its cash resources, mainly from claims. The Board sets limits on the minimum proportion of maturing funds available to meet such calls.
At any time, the Group has fixed interest quoted debt securities and financial instruments that are exposed to fair value interest rate risk. Loans made by the Group are at floating interest rates.
All of the Group's current reinsurers have credit ratings of A- or better. The Group has assessed these credit ratings as being satisfactory in diminishing the Group's exposure to the credit risk of its reinsurance receivables.
The Group uses independent actuaries to review its liabilities to ensure that the carrying amount of the liability is adequate. Where the liabilities, net of any related deferred acquisition costs, are deemed to be inadequate, the deficiency is recognised immediately in the consolidated income statement.
The Group has provided loans that are secured on land over which the Group has first charge. There is no significant concentration of credit risk relating to these loans.
All of the foregoing risks are dealt with in further detail in note 42.
The Group has controls embedded within its systems to limit each of these potential exposures. Management and the Board regularly review, reassess and proactively limit the associated risks.
The Company's principal subsidiaries, as at 31 December 2010, are listed on page 107 (note 36).
The present Directors of the Company, together with a biography on each, are set out on pages 16 to 18. Mr. Padraig Walshe resigned as a non-executive Director on 6 May 2010. Mr. John Bryan was co-opted to the Board on 18 June 2010. Other than this there were no changes to the Board during 2010. As detailed in the
Board's Corporate Governance Report, the Board has commenced a programme of refreshment and its plans for changes are being developed by the Nomination Committee for decision, in due course, by the Board.
The Board has decided that in future, all Directors will submit for re-election at each Annual General Meeting.
The notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company which will be held at 12.00 noon on 29 April 2011 in the Irish Farm Centre, Old Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, is set out on pages 123 to 125.
A letter from the Chairman detailing the business to come before the Annual General Meeting is included at pages 120 to 122.
The interests of the Directors (together with their respective family interests) in the share capital of the Company, at 31 December 2010 and 1 January 2010, were as follows:
| Beneficial | 31 December 2010 |
1 January 2010 |
|---|---|---|
| Michael Berkery | 30,000 | 30,000 |
| John Donnelly | 24,256 | 24,256 |
| Andrew Langford | 21,500 | 21,500 |
| Philip Lynch | 20,000 | 20,000 |
| Patrick O'Keeffe | 72,770 | 72,770 |
| Vincent Sheridan | 4,150 | 4,150 |
| Adrian Taheny | 13,500 | 13,500 |
The interests of the Directors and the Company Secretary in share options and conditional awards over the share capital of the Company under the shareholder approved share schemes are detailed in the Report on Directors' Remuneration on pages 32 to 38.
For the purposes of Regulation 21 of the European Communities (Takeover Bids (Directive 2004/25/EC)) Regulations 2006, the information on the Board of Directors on pages 16 to 18, Share Option Schemes, Savings Related Share Option Schemes and the Performance Share Plan in note 39 and the Report on Directors' Remuneration on pages 32 to 38 are deemed to be incorporated in this part of the Report of the Directors.
As at 7 March 2011 the Company has been notified of the following interests of 3% or more in its share capital:
| Ordinary shares of 60 cent each | % | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Farmer Business Developments plc | 25.64% | ||
| FBD Trust Company Limited | 8.97% | ||
| Invesco Limited and subsidiary companies | 4.01% | ||
| Morgan Stanley Investment Management Limited |
3.37% | ||
| 14% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each | |||
| Farmer Business Developments plc | 100% | ||
| 8% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each | |||
| FBD Trust Company Limited | 58.38% | ||
| Farmer Business Developments plc | 41.62% |
The Company had four classes of shares in issue at the end of the year. These classes and the percentage of the total issued share capital represented by each are as follows:
| Voting Shares | Number in Issue |
% of Total |
|---|---|---|
| Ordinary shares of 60 cent each | 33,269,476* | 87.2 |
| 14% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
1,340,000 | 3.5 |
| 8% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
3,532,292 | 9.3 |
| 38,141,768 | 100.0 |
* excluding 2,191,730 shares held in treasury
The Company's ordinary shares of 60 cent each are listed on the Main Securities Market of the Irish Stock Exchange and have a premium listing on the UK Listing Authority. They are traded on both the Irish Stock Exchange and the London Stock Exchange. Neither class of preference share is traded on a regulated market.
Each of the above classes of shares enjoys the same rights to receive notice of, attend and vote at meetings of the Company.
| Non-voting shares | Number in issue |
|---|---|
| 'A' ordinary shares of 1 cent each | 13,169,428 |
The rights attaching to the 'A' ordinary shares are clearly set out in the Articles of Association of the Company. They are not transferable except only to the Company. Other than a right to a return of paid up capital of 1 cent per 'A' ordinary share in the event of a winding up, the 'A' ordinary shares have no right to participate in the capital or the profits of the Company.
The auditors, Deloitte & Touche, Chartered Accountants, will continue in office in accordance with the provisions of Section 160(2) of the Companies Act, 1963.
The Directors have taken appropriate measures to ensure compliance with Section 202 of the Companies Act 1990 – the requirement to keep proper books of account – through the employment of suitably qualified accounting personnel and the maintenance of appropriate accounting systems. The books of account are located at FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland.
The Corporate Governance Statement on pages 24 to 31 forms part of this report and in this the Board has set out how it has applied the principles set out on Section 1 of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (June 2008) which was adopted by both the Irish Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority.
The Group's business activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and financial position are set out in the Chairman's Statement and the Review of Operations as are the financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position and borrowing facilities. In addition note 42 of the financial statements includes the Group's policies and processes for risk management.
The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. As a result they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. In forming this view, the Directors have reviewed the Group's budget for 2011 and forecasts for 2012 which take account of reasonably foreseeable changes in trading performance, the key risks facing the business and the medium term plans approved by the Board in its review of the Group's corporate strategy.
The financial statements were approved by the Board on 7 March 2011.
Signed on behalf of the Board
Chairman
Group Chief Executive
7 March 2011
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This Report sets out in detail how FBD has applied the principles set out in Section 1 of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance (June 2008) (the "Combined Code" or the "Code") which was published by the Financial Reporting Council in the UK and adopted by both the Irish Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority. The Code was replaced in May 2010 by the UK Corporate Governance Code and this was further supplemented in December 2010 by the Irish Stock Exchange's Irish Corporate Governance Annex. For FBD, both the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Irish Corporate Governance Annex apply from 1 January 2011, however in drafting this Report, the Board has attempted to address the spirit of the updated requirements where possible.
The primary role of the Board is to provide leadership and strategic direction while maintaining effective control over the activities of the Group. The Board meets on a regular basis and has a formal schedule of matters reserved to it for consideration and decision. This schedule is reviewed and validated at least annually. This schedule includes the approval of the Group's objectives and strategy, approval of financial statements, dividends, appointments of Directors and the Company Secretary, approval of the annual budget including capital expenditure and the review of the Group's systems of internal control.
The Board has delegated responsibility for the management of the Group to the Group Chief Executive and, through him, to executive management. The Board has also delegated some additional responsibilities to Committees of the Board established by it whose powers, obligations and responsibilities are set out in written terms of reference.
There is a clear division of responsibilities between the Chairman and the Chief Executive. The Chairman leads the Board and is responsible for ensuring that it is effective as a unitary Board and at individual Director level. He sets the Board agenda and ensures that Directors receive accurate and timely information to enable it to fulfil its role. He is responsible for facilitating effective contributions by all Directors and ensuring constructive communications between the executive and non-executive Directors. The Chief Executive is responsible for running the Group's business within the authority limits set out by the Board. He is responsible for proposing and developing the Group's strategy and overall commercial objectives, which he does in close consultation with the Chairman and the Board and for implementing the decisions of the Board and its Committees.
| Name | Role | Considered Independent by Board |
Audit Committee |
Remuneration Committee |
Nomination Committee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| M. Berkery | Chairman | No (Chairman) | Chairman | Chairman | |
| J. Bryan | Non Executive | Yes | |||
| J. Donnelly | Non Executive | Yes | Member | ||
| S. Dorgan | Non Executive | Yes | Member | ||
| A. Langford | Chief Executive | No (Executive) | Member | ||
| P. Lynch | Non Executive | Yes | Member | Member | |
| C. O'Caoimh | Executive | No (Executive) | |||
| P. O'Keeffe | Non Executive | Yes | Member | Member | Member |
| V. Sheridan | Non Executive | Yes | Chairman | ||
| A. Taheny | Executive | No (Executive) | |||
| J. Thijs | Non Executive | Yes |
All of the Directors bring independent judgement to bear on all issues coming before the Board including strategy, performance and oversight. While the Board believes that it is the strength of character, integrity and judgement of an individual Director which determines his or her independence it is mindful that certain of its nonexecutive Directors do not meet all of the indicators of independence set out in the Code and this requires increasingly careful consideration. During the year, in recognition of the Board's commitment to compliance with the Code in every respect, the Board commenced a careful review of its composition with the support of the Nomination Committee. This review was designed to ensure that the composition of the Board included an appropriate mix of independence together with the specific skills and experience required to do its work. At the end of this review it is intended that the Board will embark on a programme of refreshment. The skills and experience identified by the Board as critical to its composition and that of its Committees at this time
include expertise in insurance, general and farming/agri industry experience, corporate finance, corporate governance, regulatory and other compliance, financial accounting and executive reward principles and practice.
The Board is comprised of three executive Directors and eight non-executive Directors, including its Chairman. Brief biographies of the Directors are set out on pages 16 to 18 as is a brief commentary on the skills and experience which each non-executive Director brings to the Board. The Board has considered and confirms that during 2010 it had the appropriate range of skills, experience and objectivity to fulfil its role effectively. It is intended that at the conclusion of the review of its composition and the implementation of any changes found to be desirable or necessary that the Board will comprise a majority of nonexecutive Directors who meet the independence criteria of the Code in every respect and who have the appropriate range of skills and experience. This process is expected to be implemented during 2011.
Directors receive a formal induction on appointment. All Directors are briefed regularly thereafter in writing and orally by the Chairman and by executive management. Papers are sent to each member of the Board in sufficient time before Board meetings. Each member of the Board may take independent professional advice at the Company's expense if deemed necessary in the furtherance of their duties. They have access to the advice and the services of the Company Secretary who has responsibility to ensure that Board procedures are followed and that applicable rules, regulations and other obligations are complied with.
The Senior Independent Director, Mr. Vincent Sheridan, is available to shareholders who have concerns which cannot be addressed through contact with the Chairman or the Chief Executive or for which such contact is inappropriate.
The Board has conducted an evaluation of its performance and that of its Committees and individual Directors. This was achieved through discussion and written evaluation submissions. The Chairman's performance was evaluated by the non-executive Directors, led by Vincent Sheridan, the Senior Independent Director, and taking into account the views of the executive Directors.
Objectivity was safeguarded in the process, in as much as possible, through confidentiality of individual written submissions and reporting comment and feedback in a nonattributable manner. The Board is satisfied that the forthright and open nature of dialogue between members of the Board at meetings, combined with the confidentiality afforded to the written performance evaluation process was sufficient to highlight any areas for improvement in its performance and that of its Committees.
The Board has established three Committees to assist in the execution of its responsibilities. These are
Each of the Committees has written terms of reference which were approved by the Board and set out the Committees' powers, responsibilities and obligations. All of these terms of reference are available on the Group's website www.fbdgroup.com. The terms of reference are reviewed at least annually by the relevant Committee and updated by the Board where necessary.
Membership of the Audit Committee is set out on page 25. There were no changes to the Committee during the year. The Board has determined that its chairman, Vincent Sheridan, Chartered Accountant, is the Audit Committee's financial expert.
The Group Chief Executive, the Group Finance Director and the Head of Internal Audit attend meetings regularly at the request of the Committee while the external auditors attend as required and have unrestricted access to the Committee chairman at all times. The Committee meets on a regular basis with the external auditors and with the Head of Internal Audit respectively without management being present. The Company Secretary is Secretary to the Committee and is responsible for recording the activities of the Committee, circulating papers in advance of its meetings and ensuring that appropriate procedures are followed.
The main roles and responsibilities for the Audit Committee are detailed in its terms of reference which are publicly available as described above. These terms of reference include all of the provisions listed in Section C.3 of the Combined Code.
During the year the Committee undertook all of its principal scheduled activities through a formal programme of work and its Chairman reported to the Board in detail at each subsequent Board meeting. In addition, the following activities undertaken during the year merit particular mention:
The Group audit engagement partner rotates every five years and the current partner assumed the engagement commencing with the audit of the 2009 financial statements. The Committee pays particular attention to ensuring the independence of the external auditors is safeguarded. While the engagement of the external auditors in the provision of non-audit services is not prohibited outright, such services are not permitted to be provided where the auditors may be required to audit their own work. The level of fees paid to the external auditors for the provision of non-audit services is closely monitored so as to ensure that both their independence and the perception of their independence is not diminished.
Membership of the Remuneration Committee is set out on page 25. There were no changes to the Committee during the year.
The role, responsibilities and powers of the Committee are set out in written terms of reference which are approved by the Board and are available on the Company's website www.fbdgroup.com. Principal amongst its responsibilities are to determine the policy for the remuneration of executive Directors and senior management and the individual remuneration packages of each executive Director, the Company Secretary and other senior managers in the Group. The grant of awards under the FBD Group Performance Share Plan and the setting of the performance conditions and the determination of whether the performance conditions have been met under any of the Group's Share Schemes are further matters reserved to the Committee.
The Remuneration Committee consults with the Group Chief Executive on the remuneration proposals for the other executive Directors and for senior management and has access, where it deems it necessary, to obtain external professional advice from compensation and benefit consultants. The Group participates in industry specific and wider remuneration and reward surveys and the Committee benchmarks the remuneration arrangements for the executive Directors and senior management against the results of these surveys. The Committee did not deem it necessary, following this review process, to consult any external benefit consultants during the year.
The Committee oversees the preparation of the Report on Directors' Remuneration which is set out on pages 32 to 38. The Board has again resolved to present this Report to shareholders at the Annual General Meeting for the purposes of a non-binding advisory vote.
Membership of the Nomination Committee is set out on page 25. Mr. Andrew Langford was appointed to the Committee during the year as the Committee and the Board believe that his input into the Committee's work in his capacity as Group Chief Executive will be of benefit to it.
The role, responsibilities and powers of the Committee are set out in written terms of reference which are approved by the Board and are available on the Company's website www.fbdgroup.com. Principal amongst its responsibilities are to review Board and Board committee composition, size and structure and to make recommendations to the Board on these matters for its approval. In formulating its recommendations on Board and Board committee composition, the Committee takes account of the skills and experience available to the Board and any identified gaps having regard to the Group's approved strategy and its business environment.
During the year the Committee made one recommendation for the appointment of a Director to the Board. Mr. John Bryan was subsequently appointed to the Board on 18 June 2010. In addition to his commercial acumen, he brings to the Board a deep knowledge of Ireland's agricultural sector and as President of the Irish
Farmers' Association he is at the forefront of thinking and strategy for this important sector of Ireland's economy, a sector in which the Group, through its insurance subsidiary, FBD Insurance plc, has substantial interest.
The Committee commenced a detailed review of the general composition of the Board and its Committees during the year and was by year end developing its recommendations for change to the Board and to its Committees for implementation during 2011. As noted elsewhere in this Corporate Governance Report, the Board is committed to ensuring that its composition and that of its Committees fully meets the requirements of the Combined Code, the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Irish Corporate Governance Annex.
During the year the Committee availed of the services of an external search consultancy as part of its work to identify potential suitable candidates for appointment to the Board.
| Board | Audit | Remuneration | Nomination | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | A | B | A | B | A | B | A | B |
| M. Berkery | 8 | 8 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| J. Bryan | 5 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| J. Donnelly | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| S. Dorgan | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| A. Langford | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | 2 | 2 |
| P. Lynch | 8 | 6 | - | - | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| C. O'Caoimh | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| P. O'Keeffe | 8 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
| V. Sheridan | 8 | 8 | 4 | 4 | - | - | - | - |
| A. Taheny | 8 | 8 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| J. Thijs | 8 | 5 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| P. Walshe | 3 | 3 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
A indicates the number of meetings held during the period the Director was a member of the Board or Committee.
B indicates the number of meetings attended during the period the Director was a member of the Board or Committee.
The Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and a statement detailing the full extent of these responsibilities is set out on page 39.
The Board gives high priority to communications with shareholders. Through its Annual Report and regulatory announcements during the year, the Group provides a review of the Group's performance and prospects. The Group's website www.fbdgroup.com provides the full text of its Annual and Half Yearly Reports, in addition to the significant regulatory announcements made which include interim management statements.
The Group Chief Executive, Group Finance Director and other senior executives meet with institutional shareholders and analysts principally at the time of the release of the annual and half yearly results. During the year the Board receives reports both from management and from the Company's appointed stockbrokers on the issues raised in the course of such meetings. The Board also regularly reviews analyst research on the Company. Throughout the year the Company responds to letters and e-mail communications received from shareholders. Shareholders have access to the Chairman and, if required, to the Senior Independent Director.
The Company holds its Annual General Meeting ("AGM") in Ireland each year. All shareholders are entitled to and encouraged to attend. At the AGM shareholders can meet with the Chairman, the Directors and senior executives and the Chairmen of the Board Committees. Notice of the AGM, together with the Annual Report and Financial Statements, is sent to shareholders at least 20 business days before the meeting. A separate resolution is proposed on each substantially separate issue including a particular resolution relating to the Directors' Report and Financial Statements, the Report on Directors' Remuneration and on the re-election of the Directors.
Details of the proxy votes cast for and against each resolution together with any votes withheld are announced at the meeting after the result is declared on the show of hands. These details are also notified to the Stock Exchanges and are published on the Group's website www.fbdgroup.com.
All other general meetings are called Extraordinary General Meetings ("EGM"s). An EGM called for the passing of a special resolution must be called by at least 21 clear days' notice. Provided shareholders have passed a special resolution at the immediately preceding AGM and the Company continues to allow shareholders to vote by electronic means, an EGM to consider an ordinary resolution may, if the Directors deem it appropriate, be called at 14 clear days' notice. A quorum for a general meeting of the Company is constituted by 3 or more shareholders entitled to vote present in person or by proxy. The passing of resolutions at a general meeting of the Company, other than special resolutions, requires a simple majority. To be passed, a special resolution requires a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast.
All shareholders have the right to attend, speak, ask questions and vote at general meetings. In accordance with Irish company law, the Company specifies record dates for general meetings, by which date shareholders must be registered in the Register of Members of the Company to be entitled to attend. Record dates are specified in the notes to the Notice of a general meeting. Shareholders may exercise their right to vote by appointing a proxy/proxies, by electronic means or in writing, to vote some or all of their shares. The requirements for the receipt of valid proxy forms are set out in the notes to the Notice convening the meeting. A shareholder, or a group of shareholders, holding at least 5% of the issued share capital of the Company, has the right to requisition a general meeting. A shareholder, or a group of shareholders, holding at least 3% of the issued share capital of the Company, has the right to put an item on the agenda of an AGM or to table a draft resolution for inclusion in the agenda of a general meeting, subject to any contrary provision in Irish company law.
The Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association set out the principal objects and the powers of the Company. The Articles of Association detail the rights attaching to the different classes of shares, the method by which the Company's shares can be purchased by the Company and re-issued, the provisions applying to the holding of and voting at general meetings of the Company and the provisions relating to the appointment, removal, remuneration and re-election of Directors together with their duties and powers. The Company's Articles of Association can only be amended by the passing of a Special Resolution by shareholders (requiring a majority of at least 75% of the votes cast) at the annual or an extraordinary general meeting of the Company.
A Copy of the Memorandum and Articles of Association can be obtained from the Group website www.fbdgroup.com or on application to the Company Secretary.
The Financial Statements have been prepared on the going concern basis and, as required by the Combined Code, the Directors report that they have satisfied themselves that the Group is a going concern, having adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. In forming this view, the Directors have reviewed the Group's budget for 2011 and forecasts for 2012 which take account of reasonably foreseeable changes in trading performance, the key risks facing the business and the medium term plans approved by the Board in its review of the Group's corporate strategy.
The Board is responsible for the Group's system of internal control and for reviewing its effectiveness. Such a system is designed to manage rather than eliminate the risk of failure to achieve business objectives and can provide only reasonable and not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss.
In accordance with the revised FRC guidance for directors on internal control published in October 2005, "Internal Control Revised Guidance for Directors on the Combined Code", the Board confirms that there is an ongoing process for identifying, evaluating and managing any significant risks faced by the Group, that it has been in place for the year under review and up to the date of approval of the financial statements and that this process is regularly reviewed by the Board. The key risk management and internal control procedures include:
n a Risk Committee in its main subsidiary, FBD Insurance plc, comprising senior management whose main role is to establish, document and devolve throughout that company a comprehensive risk management framework which fully meets the requirements of Solvency II;
n an Internal Audit function;
The Group has a comprehensive system of financial reporting involving budgeting, monthly reporting and variance analysis. The annual budget is reviewed and approved by the Board. Financial results with comparisons against budget are reported to executive Directors on a monthly basis and are reported to the Board at each Board meeting. Forecasts are updated regularly to reflect changes in circumstances.
The Board has reviewed the effectiveness of the Group's system of internal control. This review took account of the principal risks facing the Group, the controls in place to manage those risks and the procedures in place to monitor them.
The Board has carefully considered the matter and reports that FBD has complied, throughout the year ended 31 December 2010, with the provisions set out in Section 1 of the Combined Code on Corporate Governance except for the fact that the Chairman of the Board continued, during 2010, to be Chairman of the Remuneration Committee. During the year the Board concluded that he remained the most appropriate person for the role. As already noted the Nomination Committee commenced a detailed review of the general composition of the Board and its Committees during the year and was by year end developing its recommendations for change to the Board and to its Committees for implementation during 2011. One of the expectations from this review is that the Chairman will cease to be a member of the Remuneration Committee during 2011. The Board is committed to fully meeting the requirements of the UK Corporate Governance Code and the Irish Corporate Governance Annex (which apply from 1 January 2011) during the course of 2011 through the refreshment of the membership of the Board and its Committees.
Responsibility for determining the levels of remuneration of the executive Directors has been delegated by the Board to the Remuneration Committee whose membership is set out in the Corporate Governance Statement on page 25. It is the aim of the Remuneration Committee to ensure that the remuneration policy serves to attract, retain and motivate the executive Directors and other senior members of management and aligns, as closely as possible, their individual interests with those of shareholders.
In setting remuneration levels, the Remuneration Committee attempts to ensure that the remuneration of executive Directors reflects their individual performance and market rates, taking into consideration the remuneration practices of other quoted companies in Ireland together with other large unquoted companies. The Committee also has access to independent professional advisers as it deems appropriate. While no independent professional adviser was consulted during the year under review, the Committee has in recent years obtained such professional advice.
The various elements of the remuneration package for executive Directors comprise fixed remuneration and performance related remuneration.
Base salaries and benefits: The salaries of executive Directors are set by the Remuneration Committee and are reviewed annually with effect from 1 January having regard to personal performance, Company performance and competitive market practice. No fees are payable to the executive Directors. In addition to base salaries, the remuneration packages of executive Directors include a motor allowance and a fixed percentage contribution to the healthcare insurance costs of the Director.
Pension Benefits: The Group closed its defined benefit pension scheme to new members from September 2005. The pension benefits of two of the executive Directors are funded through this scheme. The scheme provides for an accrual rate of 1/60th of pensionable salary for each year of service up to a maximum of two thirds of salary at retirement for full service. Pensionable salary is defined as basic salary as reduced by 1.5 times the state pension benefit. No elements of remuneration other than basic salary are pensionable.
One executive Director joined the Group since the closure of the defined benefit pension scheme and this Director is a member of the Group's defined contribution pension plan to which contributions are made by the Group at an agreed fixed rate.
Annual bonuses: Annual bonuses are payable to the executive Directors and to other senior Group management in respect of each financial year which are subject to the achievement of clear performance targets. These targets are reviewed and set by the Remuneration Committee annually so as to ensure as far as possible the alignment of management interests with those of shareholders. The performance targets vary by individual and are based on both company performance and individual performance and contribution, but in each case the required contribution by the individual will be targeted towards those initiatives within the individual's control and or influence which directly support the Board's strategic initiatives for growth for the Group.
For 2010 the percentage of base salary which could be earned by executive Directors through an annual bonus ranged from 45% to 70%. Between 40% and 50% of the bonus is contingent on achievement by the Group of its annual financial targets (primarily comprised in the Board's approved budget) and between 50% and 60% is contingent on the achievement of individual agreed priorities which support the Board's strategic growth initiatives.
Long Term Incentives: The executive Directors and other senior Group management are eligible for participation in the FBD Performance Share Plan ("LTIP"). The LTIP was approved by shareholders in 2007 and was designed, with the assistance of Mercer HR Consulting, to align the interests of the executive Directors and other participants with those of the Group's shareholders over the medium to long term.
Full details of the plan follow.
The Remuneration Committee undertook a review of long term incentive arrangements for executive Directors and senior management in 2006 and was advised by independent consultants, Mercer. As a consequence the FBD Performance Share Plan ("LTIP") was drafted and this was approved by shareholders in 2007.
Under the LTIP, the Remuneration Committee may, at its sole discretion, make conditional awards of shares to executive Directors and senior management. Conditional awards of shares under the LTIP are limited to 10% of the Company's issued ordinary shares of €0.60 each over a 10 year period.
The market value of the shares which are the subject of a conditional award to an individual in any financial year, may not normally exceed 100% of the participant's base salary as at the date of grant.
The period over which the performance conditions applying to a conditional award under the LTIP are measured may not be less than three years. The extent to which a conditional award may vest in the future will be determined by the Remuneration Committee by reference to the performance conditions set out below. These conditions were designed so as to ensure absolute alignment between the interests of the plan participants and those of shareholders.
Up to 50% of the shares subject to an award may vest depending on the Group's Total Shareholder Return ("TSR") over the performance period commencing on 1 January in the year the award is made compared to the TSR of a designated peer group. This peer group comprises the constituent companies of the Irish Stock Exchange ISEQ Overall Index excluding companies in the technology, pharmaceutical and exploration sectors. The extent to which an award vests will be determined according to the following table:
| Company's TSR Ranking | Proportion of Award Vesting |
|---|---|
| Below median | 0% |
| Median (50th percentile) | 20% |
| Between median and 75th percentile |
Straight line between 20% and 50% |
| 75th percentile or higher | 50% |
Up to 25% of the shares subject to an award may vest depending on the Group's adjusted operating EPS performance over the performance period. The extent to which an award vests will be determined according to the following table:
| Company's annualised adjusted operating EPS growth in excess of annualised CPI increase |
Proportion of Award Vesting |
|---|---|
| Fewer than 3 percentage points |
0% |
| 3 percentage points | 10% |
| Between 3 and 5.5 percentage points |
Straight line between 10% and 25% |
| 5.5 or more percentage points |
25% |
Up to 25% of the shares subject to an award may vest depending on the Group's combined ratio performance over the performance period in comparison to the median combined ratio of other European non-life insurance companies. The extent to which an award vests will be determined according to the following table:
| Company's Combined Ratio in comparison with median company |
Proportion of Award Vesting |
|---|---|
| Greater than median company | 0% |
| Equal to median company | 10% |
| Between median company and 4 percentage points below median company |
Straight line between 10% and 25% |
| 4 or more percentage points below the median company |
25% |
No conditional awards were made under the LTIP in 2010. Details of the conditional share awards made by the Remuneration Committee under the LTIP in 2008 to the executive Directors, and the Company Secretary, are given below. The number of shares is the maximum possible number which could vest for the individual concerned if all of the performance conditions previously described are met.
| At 1 January 2010 |
Granted during year |
At 31 December 2010 |
Performance Period | Earliest vesting date |
Market price on award € |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Directors | ||||||
| Andrew Langford | 26,453 | - | 26,453 | 1 Jan 2008 to 31 Dec 2010 | Mar 2011 | 12.90 |
| Cathal O'Caoimh | 11,627 | - | 11,627 | 1 Jan 2008 to 31 Dec 2010 | Mar 2011 | 12.90 |
| Adrian Taheny | 14,534 | - | 14,534 | 1 Jan 2008 to 31 Dec 2010 | Mar 2011 | 12.90 |
| Company Secretary | ||||||
| Conor Gouldson | 4,156 | - | 4,156 | 1 Jan 2008 to 31 Dec 2010 | Mar 2011 | 12.90 |
The total number of shares subject to conditional awards granted under the LTIP amounts to 0.3% of the Company's ordinary share capital (excluding treasury shares) at 31 December 2010.
Executive Directors and other senior management participated in the FBD Holdings plc Executive Share Option Scheme which had been approved by Shareholders in 1989. The period during which options could be granted under this Scheme expired in September 2009. Dependent on the performance condition for the exercise of options under the ESOS having been met, all outstanding options under the ESOS must be exercised no later than 5 September 2014.
The exercise of options granted under the ESOS since 18 April 2000 is conditional on growth in earnings per share of at least 2% per annum, compound, above the increase in the Consumer Price Index over a period of not less than 3 years from the date of grant. The percentage of share capital which could have been issued under the Scheme complied with the guidelines of the Irish Association of Investment Managers.
Details of options held by executive Directors and the Company Secretary under the ESOS are given below:
| At 1 January 2010 |
Exercised during year |
Granted during year |
At 31 December 2010 |
Weighted Average Exercise Price € |
Normal Exercise Period | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Directors | ||||||
| Andrew Langford | 120,000 | - | - | 120,000 | 6.21 | Oct 2006 – Sept 2014 |
| Cathal O'Caoimh | 75,000 | - | - | 75,000 | 7.45 | Aug 2012 – Sept 2014 |
| Adrian Taheny | 135,000 | - | - | 135,000 | 4.88 | Oct 2006 – Sept 2014 |
| Company Secretary | ||||||
| Conor Gouldson | 35,000 | - | - | 35,000 | 7.45 | Aug 2012 – Sept 2014 |
The SAYE Scheme was approved by shareholders in 2007. Late in 2007 options were granted under the Scheme to those eligible Group employees, including executive Directors, who joined the Scheme and entered into the necessary 3 year savings contract under the Scheme Rules. Savings commenced in January 2008. The options were granted at an option price of €19.95 per share,
which represented a discount of 20% to the then market price for the shares as permitted under the Scheme Rules. Consequent to the Return of Capital and the Special Dividend of €1.49 declared and paid in October 2008, the Option Price was reduced by €1.49 to €18.46 per share as permitted under the Scheme Rules having obtained the necessary prior approval of the Revenue Commissioners.
Details of SAYE options held by executive Directors are given below:
| At 1 January 2010 |
Exercised during year |
Granted during year |
At 31 December 2010 |
Exercise Price € |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Andrew Langford | 599 | - | - | 599 | 18.46 |
| Adrian Taheny | 599 | - | - | 599 | 18.46 |
All of the above options are exercisable from February 2011.
The remuneration of the non-executive Directors is determined by the Board, and reflects the time commitment and responsibilities of their role. In setting the level of this remuneration, the Board has full regard to the fees payable to the non-executive Directors of the other Irish publicly listed companies and also to the developments and policy for the remuneration of the management and staff in the wider Group.
The basic non-executive Director fee amounted to €39,600 per annum in 2010 – the same level as in 2009. In 2009 the Board reduced the fees of the Chairman and the non-executive Directors by 15% and 10% respectively over the levels paid in 2008.
The Chairman and Senior Independent Director, who is also Chairman of the Audit Committee, received fees of €126,225 and €80,250 respectively, inclusive of their basic fees in respect of these roles for the Group.
Non-executive Directors are not members of the Group's pension schemes and are not eligible for participation in the Group's long term incentive scheme.
No service contracts exist for any of the executive Directors which provide for a notice period of more than one year.
The following table sets out in detail the remuneration payable in respect of any Director who held office for any part of the financial year.
| Pension | 2010 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fees 1 | Salary | Bonus | Benefits 3 | Contribution | Total | |
| €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | |
| Executive Directors: | ||||||
| Andrew Langford 2 | - | 420 | 67 | 34 | 73 | 594 |
| Cathal O'Caoimh 2 | - | 260 | 50 | 26 | 49 | 385 |
| Adrian Taheny 2 | - | 325 | 50 | 26 | 57 | 458 |
| Non-executive Directors: | ||||||
| Michael Berkery (Chairman) | 126 | - | - | - | - | 126 |
| John Bryan 4 | 21 | - | - | - | - | 21 |
| John Donnelly | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Sean Dorgan | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Philip Lynch | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Patrick O'Keeffe | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Vincent Sheridan | 80 | - | - | - | - | 80 |
| Johan Thijs | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Padraig Walshe 5 | 14 | - | - | - | - | 14 |
| 441 | 1,005 | 167 | 86 | 179 | 1,878 |
The following table sets out the detail for the previous financial year:
| Fees 1 €000s |
Salary €000s |
Bonus €000s |
Benefits 3 €000s |
Pension Contribution €000s |
2009 Total €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Executive Directors: | ||||||
| Andrew Langford 2 | - | 464 | 67 | 34 | 82 | 647 |
| Cathal O'Caoimh 2 | - | 270 | 48 | 26 | 40 | 384 |
| Adrian Taheny 2 | - | 351 | 50 | 26 | 59 | 486 |
| Non-executive Directors: | ||||||
| Michael Berkery (Chairman) | 126 | - | - | - | - | 126 |
| John Donnelly | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Sean Dorgan | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Philip Lynch | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Patrick O'Keeffe | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Vincent Sheridan | 75 | - | - | - | - | 75 |
| Johan Thijs | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| Padraig Walshe | 40 | - | - | - | - | 40 |
| 441 | 1,085 | 165 | 86 | 181 | 1,958 |
The following table sets out the increase in the accrued pension benefits to which the executive Directors have become entitled during 2010 under the Group's defined benefit pension scheme, together with the transfer value of the increase in accrued benefit independently calculated in accordance with ASP PEN-11, the Actuarial Standard of Practice PEN 11 "Disclosure of Directors Pension Costs under Irish Stock Exchange Listing Rules".
| Service Costs 2010 |
Increase in accrued pension benefits during 2010 |
Total Accrued pension benefit at year end |
Transfer value of increase in accrued benefits |
||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | ||
| Andrew Langford | 146 | 11 | 153 | 46 | |
| Adrian Taheny | 132 | 6 | 213 | 30 | |
| 278 | 17 | 366 | 76 |
The transfer values do not represent sums paid or due to the individual Directors. Rather they represent the amount which would transfer to another pension scheme, in relation to the benefits accrued during 2010, in the event of the Director leaving service. The total accrued pension benefit represents the pension payable to the Director concerned from normal retirement age based on pensionable service to 31 December 2010.
The reduction in salary for the two executive Directors has also had a significant impact on the present value of their defined benefit liabilities. In particular, the year end values of accrued pension benefits as calculated under IAS 19 in respect of Mr. Langford and Mr. Taheny are €620,000 and €670,000 lower respectively than expected following the reduction in pensionable salaries. These amounts are included in the experience gain on pension liabilities set out in Note 31.
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and financial statements, in accordance with applicable law and regulations.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under such law, the Directors have prepared the Company and Group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the EU ("IFRSs") and in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2009.
The Company and Group financial statements are required by law and IFRSs to present fairly the financial position and performance of the Company and the Group. The Companies Acts, 1963 to 2009 provide in relation to such financial statements that references in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements giving a true and fair view are references to their achieving a fair presentation.
In preparing each of the Company and Group financial statements, the Directors are required to:
The Directors are responsible for keeping proper books of account which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements are free from material misstatement or error and comply with the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2009. The Directors are also responsible for taking such steps as are reasonably open to them to safeguard the assets of the Company and the Group and to prevent and detect fraud and other irregularities.
The Directors are also required by the Transparency (Directive 2004/109/EC) Regulations 2007 to include a management report containing a fair review of the business and a description of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group.
Under applicable law and the requirements of the Listing Rules issued by the Irish Stock Exchange, the Directors are also responsible for preparing a Directors' Report and reports relating to Directors' remuneration and corporate governance that comply with that law and those Rules. The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company's website. Legislation in Ireland governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.
The Directors confirm that, to the best of their knowledge and belief:
On behalf of the Board
Chairman
Group Chief Executive
7 March 2011
To The Members Of Fbd Holdings Plc
We have audited the financial statements of FBD Holdings plc for the year ended 31 December 2010 which comprise the Group Financial Statements [the Consolidated Income Statement, the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Pro-forma Reconciliation of Consolidated Operating Profit to Loss before Tax, the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows and the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity], the Parent Company Financial Statements [the Company Statement of Financial Position, the Company Statement of Cash Flows and the Company Statement of Changes in Equity] and the related notes 1 to 42. These financial statements have been prepared under the accounting policies set out therein.
This report is made solely to the Company's members, as a body, in accordance with Section 193 of the Companies Act, 1990. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Company's members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditors' report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Company and the Company's members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.
The directors are responsible, as set out in the Statement of Directors' Responsibilities, for preparing the Annual Report, including the preparation of the Group Financial Statements and the Parent Company Financial Statements in accordance with applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") as adopted by the European Union.
Our responsibility, as independent auditor, is to audit the financial statements in accordance with relevant legal and regulatory requirements and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland).
We report to you our opinion as to whether the Group Financial Statements and the Parent Company Financial Statements give a true and fair view, in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union, and are properly prepared in accordance with Irish statute comprising the Companies Acts, 1963 to 2009, and Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. We also report to you whether, in our opinion: proper books of account have been kept by the Company; whether, at the balance sheet date, there exists a financial situation requiring the convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the Company; and whether the information given in the Report of the Directors is consistent with the financial statements. In addition, we state whether we have obtained all the information and explanations necessary for the purpose of our audit and whether the Company's Statement of Financial Position is in agreement with the books of account.
We also report to you if, in our opinion, any information specified by law or the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange regarding directors' remuneration and directors' transactions is not given and, where practicable, include such information in our report.
We are required by law to report to you our opinion as to whether the description in the annual Corporate Governance Report set out in the Report of the Directors of the main features of the internal control and risk management systems in relation to the process for preparing the group financial statements is consistent with the group financial statements. In addition, we review whether the Corporate Governance Report reflects the Company's compliance with the nine provisions of the 2008 FRC Combined Code specified for our review by the Listing Rules of the Irish Stock Exchange and we report if it does not. We are not required to consider whether the Board's statements on internal control cover all risks and controls, or form an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group's corporate governance procedures or its internal controls.
We read the other information contained in the Annual Report and consider whether it is consistent with the financial statements. The other information comprises only the Report of the Directors, the Chairman's Statement, the Review of Operations and the Corporate Governance Report. Our responsibilities do not extend to other information.
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) issued by the Auditing Practices Board. An audit includes examination, on a test basis, of evidence relevant to the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements. It also includes an assessment of the significant estimates and judgements made by the directors in the preparation of the financial statements and of whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Company's and the Group's circumstances, consistently applied and adequately disclosed.
We planned and performed our audit so as to obtain all the information and explanations which we considered necessary in order to provide us with sufficient evidence to give reasonable assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or other irregularity or error. In forming our opinion we evaluated the overall adequacy of the presentation of information in the financial statements.
In our opinion:
We have obtained all the information and explanations we considered necessary for the purpose of our audit. In our opinion proper books of account have been kept by the Company. The Parent Company's Statement of Financial Position is in agreement with the books of account.
In our opinion the information given in the Report of the Directors is consistent with the financial statements and the description in the annual Corporate Governance Report of the main features of the internal control and risk management systems in relation to the process for preparing the Group financial statements is consistent with the Group financial statements.
The net assets of the Parent Company, as stated in the Parent Company Statement of Financial Position are more than half the amount of its called-up share capital and, in our opinion, on that basis there did not exist at 31 December 2010 a financial situation which, under Section 40(1) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983, would require the convening of an extraordinary general meeting of the Parent Company.
Chartered Accountants and Registered Auditors Dublin
7 March 2011
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
| 2010 | 2009 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | Notes 3(a) |
€000s 478,566 |
€000s 476,159 |
| Income | |||
| Gross premium written | 358,385 | 357,244 | |
| Reinsurance premiums | (55,172) | (54,107) | |
| Net premium written | 3(c) | 303,213 | 303,137 |
| Change in provision for unearned premiums | 3(c) | (673) | 11,467 |
| Net premium earned | 302,540 | 314,604 | |
| Net investment return | 4(a) | 4,421 | 6,515 |
| Non-underwriting income | 79,014 | 72,774 | |
| Total income | 385,975 | 393,893 | |
| Expenses | |||
| Net claims and benefits | 3(c) | (234,268) | (263,492) |
| Other underwriting expenses | 3(c) | (66,653) | (64,020) |
| Non-underwriting expenses | 3(d) | (74,481) | (66,285) |
| Impairment of property, plant and equipment | 13 | (19,868) | (29,048) |
| Retirement benefit – past service gain | 31(d) | 11,063 | - |
| Restructuring and other costs | 5 | (1,615) | (2,315) |
| Finance costs | 6 | (3,236) | (3,377) |
| Loss before tax | 7 | (3,083) | (34,644) |
| Income tax (charge)/credit | 10 | (152) | 3,714 |
| Loss for the year | (3,235) | (30,930) | |
| Attributable to: | |||
| Equity holders of the parent | (2,408) | (30,190) | |
| Non-controlling interests | 28 | (827) | (740) |
| (3,235) | (30,930) | ||
| 2010 | 2009 | ||
| Cent | Cent | ||
| Basic loss per 60 cent ordinary share | 12 | (8.08) | (91.59) |
| Diluted loss per 60 cent ordinary share | 12 | (8.08) | (91.59) |
All results derived from continuing operations. The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 7 March 2011.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Michael Berkery Andrew Langford Chairman Group Chief Executive
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
| Notes | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Loss for the year | (3,235) | (30,930) | |
| Loss on available for sale financial assets | - | (1,554) | |
| Revaluation of property, plant and equipment | 13 | - | (5,241) |
| Actuarial gain/(loss) on retirement benefit obligations | 31(e) | 4,131 | (8,556) |
| Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations | (164) | 747 | |
| Other comprehensive income/(expense) before tax | 3,967 | (14,604) | |
| Tax (charge)/credit relating to other comprehensive income/(expense) | 10 | (1,531) | 6,884 |
| Other comprehensive income/(expense) after tax | 2,436 | (7,720) | |
| Total comprehensive expense for the year | (799) | (38,650) | |
| Attributable to: | |||
| Equity holders of the parent | 28 | (37,664) | |
| Non-controlling interests | 28 | (827) | (986) |
| (799) | (38,650) |
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 7 March 2011.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Michael Berkery Andrew Langford Chairman Group Chief Executive
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
| Notes | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Underwriting | 3(a) | 36,133 | 22,391 |
| Non-underwriting | 3(a) | 4,533 | 6,489 |
| Operating profit before tax | 40,666 | 28,880 | |
| Investment return – fluctuations | 4(c) | (30,093) | (28,784) |
| Impairment of property, plant and equipment | 13 | (19,868) | (29,048) |
| Retirement benefit – past service gain | 31(d) | 11,063 | - |
| Restructuring and other costs | 5 | (1,615) | (2,315) |
| Finance costs | 6 | (3,236) | (3,377) |
| Loss before tax | (3,083) | (34,644) |
Refer to page 53 Summary of Significant Accounting Policies – Basis of Preparation for additional information on this pro-forma statement, which is supplementary to the primary statements required under International Financial Reporting Standards.
At 31 December 2010
| 2010 | 2009 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | €000s | €000s | |
| Property, plant and equipment | 13 | 155,959 | 176,479 |
| Investment property | 14 | 42,368 | 43,267 |
| Loans | 15 | 24,618 | 43,863 |
| Deferred tax asset | 16 | 9,247 | 6,907 |
| Financial assets | |||
| Investments held to maturity | 17(a) | 496,852 | 581,096 |
| Available for sale investments | 17(a) | 7,282 | 9,476 |
| Investments held for trading | 17(a) | 17,859 | 30,000 |
| Deposits with banks | 17(a) | 195,172 | 75,462 |
| 717,165 | 696,034 | ||
| Reinsurance assets | |||
| Provision for unearned premiums | 29(e) | 24,706 | 25,503 |
| Claims outstanding | 29(e) | 70,916 | 67,686 |
| 95,622 | 93,189 | ||
| Inventories | 18 | 46,045 | 59,226 |
| Current tax asset | 19 | 6,003 | 175 |
| Deferred acquisition costs | 20 | 20,531 | 19,963 |
| Other receivables | 21 | 71,279 | 72,681 |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 22 | 36,714 | 44,036 |
| Total assets | 1,225,551 | 1,255,820 |
At 31 December 2010
| Notes | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Equity | |||
| Ordinary share capital | 23 | 21,409 | 21,409 |
| Capital reserves | 24 | 15,313 | 14,297 |
| Revaluation reserves | 25 | 742 | 742 |
| Translation reserves | (98) | 66 | |
| Retained earnings | 26 | 144,757 | 154,994 |
| Shareholders' funds – equity interests | 182,123 | 191,508 | |
| Preference share capital | 27 | 2,923 | 2,923 |
| Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent | 185,046 | 194,431 | |
| Non-controlling interests | 28 | 2,053 | 3,030 |
| Total equity | 187,099 | 197,461 | |
| Liabilities | |||
| Insurance contract liabilities | |||
| Provision for unearned premiums | 29(d) | 176,479 | 176,603 |
| Claims outstanding | 29(c) | 657,656 | 671,429 |
| 834,135 | 848,032 | ||
| Borrowings | 30 | 117,766 | 120,051 |
| Retirement benefit obligation | 31(g) | 10,859 | 23,103 |
| Deferred tax liability | 32 | 11,751 | 10,507 |
| Payables | 33 | 63,941 | 56,666 |
| Total liabilities | 1,038,452 | 1,058,359 | |
| Total equity and liabilities | 1,225,551 | 1,255,820 |
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 7 March 2011.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Michael Berkery Andrew Langford Chairman Group Chief Executive
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
| 2010 | 2009 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Notes | €000s | €000s | |
| Cash flows from operating activities Loss before tax |
(3,083) | (34,644) | |
| Adjustments for: | |||
| Profit on investments held for trading | 34(b) | (1,075) | (4,925) |
| Loss on investments held to maturity | 34(b) | 7,901 | 417 |
| Loss on investments available for sale | 34(b) | 2,076 | - |
| Provision for loans & advances | 34(b) | 16,329 | 21,000 |
| Depreciation of property, plant and equipment | 6,476 | 6,206 | |
| Share-based payment expense | 1,016 | 698 | |
| Impairment of investment property | 899 | 8,479 | |
| Impairment of property, plant and equipment | 34(b) | 19,868 | 29,048 |
| Retirement benefit – past service gain | (11,063) | - | |
| Decrease in insurance contract liabilities | (16,330) | (368) | |
| Effect of foreign exchange rate changes | (146) | - | |
| (Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment | (85) | 25 | |
| Operating cash flows before movement in working capital | 22,783 | 25,936 | |
| Decrease/(increase) in receivables and deferred acquisition costs | 834 | (5,552) | |
| Increase/(decrease) in payables | 9,943 | (24,003) | |
| Decrease in inventories | 13,181 | 3,157 | |
| Cash generated from/(used by) operations | 46,741 | (462) | |
| Income taxes (paid)/received | (8,611) | 3,779 | |
| Net cash from operating activities | 38,130 | 3,317 | |
| Cash flows from investing activities | |||
| Investments held for trading | 34(b) | 13,216 | (963) |
| Investments held to maturity | 34(b) | 76,343 | (101,887) |
| Investments available for sale | 34(b) | 118 | 21 |
| Sale of property, plant and equipment | 34 | 680 | - |
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | 13, 34(a) | (6,415) | (8,474) |
| Sale of investment property | 34 | - | 792 |
| Repayment of loans | 34(a) | 2,916 | 5,626 |
| Deposits invested with banks Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities |
34(a) | (119,710) (32,852) |
107,681 2,796 |
| Cash flows from financing activities | |||
| Ordinary dividends paid | 35 | (10,147) | (6,936) |
| Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | 28 | (150) | - |
| Increase in borrowings | 34 | - | 22,980 |
| Decrease in borrowings | 34(b) | (2,285) | (13,897) |
| Net cash (used in)/generated from financing activities | (12,582) | 2,147 | |
| Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents | (7,304) | 8,260 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | 44,036 | 35,713 | |
| Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on the balance of cash held in | |||
| foreign currencies | (18) | 63 | |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | 22 | 36,714 | 44,036 |
Included in the above statement is the following information:
Interest and similar income received during the year was €31,403,000 (2009: €24,619,000).
Interest paid during the year was €2,898,000 (2009: €3,495,000).
<-- PDF CHUNK SEPARATOR -->
For THE Year Ended 31 December 2010
| Ordinary share capital |
Capital reserves | Revaluation and other reserves |
Translation reserve | Retained earnings | Attributable to shareholders ordinary |
Preference share capital |
Non-controlling interests |
Total equity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | |
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 21,409 | 13,599 | 3,295 | (681) | 197,788 | 235,410 | 2,923 | 4,151 | 242,484 |
| Loss after taxation | - | - | - | - | (30,190) | (30,190) | - | (740) | (30,930) |
| Other comprehensive expense | - | - | (2,553) | 747 | (5,668) | (7,474) | - | (246) | (7,720) |
| 21,409 | 13,599 | 742 | 66 | 161,930 | 197,746 | 2,923 | 3,165 | 203,834 | |
| Dividends paid on ordinary and preference shares |
- | - | - | - | (6,936) | (6,936) | - | - | (6,936) |
| Dividend paid to non controlling interests |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | (135) | (135) |
| Recognition of share based payments |
- | 698 | - | - | - | 698 | - | - | 698 |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 21,409 | 14,297 | 742 | 66 | 154,994 | 191,508 | 2,923 | 3,030 | 197,461 |
| Loss after taxation | - | - | - | - | (2,408) | (2,408) | - | (827) | (3,235) |
| Other comprehensive income | - | - | - | (164) | 2,600 | 2,436 | - | - | 2,436 |
| 21,409 | 14,297 | 742 | (98) | 155,186 | 191,536 | 2,923 | 2,203 | 196,662 | |
| Dividends paid and approved on ordinary and preference shares |
- | - | - | - | (10,429) | (10,429) | - | - | (10,429) |
| Dividend paid to non controlling interests |
- | - | - | - | - | - | - | (150) | (150) |
| Recognition of share based payments |
- | 1,016 | - | - | - | 1,016 | - | - | 1,016 |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 21,409 | 15,313 | 742 | (98) | 144,757 | 182,123 | 2,923 | 2,053 | 187,099 |
At 31 December 2010
| Notes | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Assets | |||
| Investments | |||
| Interest in subsidiaries | 36 | 98,111 | 100,053 |
| Deposits with banks | 1 | 9 | |
| 98,112 | 100,062 | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 88 | 6 | |
| Receivables | 720 | 654 | |
| Total assets | 98,920 | 100,722 | |
| Equity and liabilities | |||
| Equity | |||
| Ordinary share capital | 23 | 21,409 | 21,409 |
| Capital reserves | 24(b) | 15,313 | 14,297 |
| Reserves | 58,051 | 61,782 | |
| Shareholders' funds – equity interests | 94,773 | 97,488 | |
| Preference share capital | 27 | 2,923 | 2,923 |
| Equity attributable to equity holders of the parent | 97,696 | 100,411 | |
| Payables | 33(b) | 1,224 | 311 |
| Total equity and liabilities | 98,920 | 100,722 |
The accompanying notes form an integral part of the financial statements. The financial statements were approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 7 March 2011.
They were signed on its behalf by:
Michael Berkery Andrew Langford Chairman Group Chief Executive
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Cash flows from operating activities | ||
| Profit before tax for the year | 6,323 | 49,462 |
| Decrease/(Increase) in receivables | 157 | (21,021) |
| Increase/(Decrease) in payables | 630 | (2,005) |
| Income taxes received | 151 | 231 |
| Net cash from operating activities | 7,261 | 26,667 |
| Cash flows from investment activities | ||
| Decrease/(Increase) in investments | 2,960 | (20,003) |
| Deposits withdrawn from financial institutions | 8 | 194 |
| Net cash from investing activities | 2,968 | (19,809) |
| Cash flows from financing activities | ||
| Dividends paid on ordinary and preference shares | (10,147) | (6,936) |
| Net cash used in financing activities | (10,147) | (6,936) |
| Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents | 82 | (78) |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year | 6 | 84 |
| Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year | 88 | 6 |
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
| Ordinary share capital | Capital reserves | Share option reserve | Retained earnings | Attributable to ordinary shareholders |
Preference share capital | Total equity | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s | €000s |
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 21,409 | 11,593 | - | 19,346 | 52,348 | 2,923 | 55,271 |
| Profit after taxation | - | - | - | 49,372 | 49,372 | - | 49,372 |
| Recognition of share based payments | - | - | 2,704 | - | 2,704 | - | 2,704 |
| Ordinary and preference dividends paid | - | - | - | (6,936) | (6,936) | - | (6,936) |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 21,409 | 11,593 | 2,704 | 61,782 | 97,488 | 2,923 | 100,411 |
| 2010 | |||||||
| Profit after taxation | - | - | - | 6,698 | 6,698 | - | 6,698 |
| Recognition of share based payments | - | - | 1,016 | - | 1,016 | - | 1,016 |
| Ordinary and preference dividends paid and approved |
- | - | - | (10,429) | (10,429) | - | (10,429) |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 21,409 | 11,593 | 3,720 | 58,051 | 94,773 | 2,923 | 97,696 |
Forthe Year Ended 31 December 2010
FBD Holdings plc is an Irish registered public limited company. The address of the registered office is given on page 15. The nature of the group's operations and its principal activities are set out in the Report of the Directors on pages 19 to 23 and in the Review of Operations on pages 4 to 13.
The Group and Company financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRSs") adopted by the European Union and therefore the Group financial statements comply with Article 4 of the EU IAS Regulation.
An additional statement, produced on page 45, pro-forma reconciliation of consolidated operating profit to loss before tax is supplementary to the primary statements required under International Financial Reporting Standards. It is designed to provide supplementary information to users of the financial statements including operating profit, a key performance measure monitored by the Board.
Operating profit is reported on the basis of a longer term investment return. The long-term nature of much of the Group's operations means that, for management decision-making and internal performance management, short-term realised and unrealised investment gains and losses are treated as non-operating items. The Group focuses instead on an operating profit measure that incorporates an expected return on investments. Finance costs (note 6) and the fluctuation between the longer term investment return and the actual investment return (note 4 (c)), which includes realised and unrealised gains and losses and profits or losses arising from substantial non-recurring transactions are charged or credited to the pro-forma reconciliation of consolidated operating profit to loss before tax. As a result, the operating profit is not subject to distortion from fluctuations in investment returns.
The rates of investment return underlying the calculation of the longer term investment return are set out in note 4(b) and are reviewed annually and reflect both historical experience and the Directors' current expectations for future investment returns. The longer term rate of return is applied to all investment assets held by the Group's underwriting operations including investment properties held for resale, investments held for trading, available for sale investments, investments held to maturity, loans and receivables and bank deposits. A comparison of the longer term investment return and actual returns for the last two years is set out in note 4(c) of the financial statements.
New and revised statements and interpretations have been adopted in the current period, none of which have affected presentation and disclosures reported in these financial statements.
The following new and revised Standards and Interpretations have been adopted in the current year. Their adoption has not had any significant impact on the amounts reported in these financial statements but may impact the accounting for future transactions or arrangements.
| IFRS 3 (Revised): Business Combinations |
This standard establishes principles for how the acquirer recognises, measures and discloses in its financial statements the goodwill acquired in a business combination and the identifiable assets acquired, the liabilities assumed and any non-controlling interest in the acquiree. Contingent consideration will be measured at fair value with subsequent changes recognised in the Income Statement and transaction costs, other than share and debt issue costs, will be expensed as incurred. |
|---|---|
| Amendments to IFRS 1: First-time Adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards – Additional Exemptions for First-time Adopters |
The amendments provide two exemptions when adopting IFRSs for the first time relating to oil and gas assets, and the determination as to whether an arrangement contains a lease. |
| Amendments to IFRS 2: Share-based Payment – Group Cash – settled Share-based Payment Transactions |
The amendments clarify the scope of IFRS 2, as well as the accounting for group cash-settled share-based payment transactions in the separate (or individual) financial statements of an entity receiving the goods or services when another group entity or shareholder has the obligation to settle the award. |
| Amendments to IFRS 5: Non-current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations (as part of Improvements to IFRSs issued in 2008) |
The amendments clarify that all the assets and liabilities of a subsidiary should be classified as held for sale when the Group is committed to a sale plan involving loss of control of that subsidiary, regardless of whether the Group will retain a non-controlling interest in the subsidiary after the sale. |
| Amendments to IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement – Eligible Hedged Items |
The amendments provide clarification on two aspects of hedge accounting: identifying inflation as a hedged risk or portion, and hedging with options. |
| IFRIC 17: Distributions of Non-cash Assets to Owners |
The Interpretation provides guidance on the appropriate accounting treatment when an entity distributes assets other than cash as dividends to its shareholders. |
| IFRIC 18: Transfers of Assets from Customers |
The Interpretation addresses the accounting by recipients for transfers of property, plant and equipment from 'customers' and concludes that when the item of property, plant and equipment transferred meets the definition of an asset from the perspective of the recipient, the recipient should recognise the asset at its fair value on the date of the transfer, with the credit being recognised as revenue in accordance with IAS 18 Revenue. |
| Improvements to IFRSs issued in 2009 |
The application of Improvements to IFRSs issued in 2009 has not had any material effect on amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements. |
At the date of authorisation of these financial statements, the following new Standards and Interpretations and amendments to existing Standards and Interpretations which have not been applied in the current year were in issue but not yet effective:
| Amendments to IFRS 1 | Limited Exemption from Comparative IFRS 7 Disclosures for First-time Adopters (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2010). |
|---|---|
| Amendments to IFRS 7 | Disclosures – Transfers of Financial Assets (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2011). |
| IFRS 9 (as amended in 2010) | Financial Instruments (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2013). |
| Amendments to IAS 12 | Deferred Tax: Recovery of Underlying Asset (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2012). |
| IAS 24 (revised in 2009) | Related Party Disclosures (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011). |
| Amendments to IAS 32 | Classification of Rights Issues (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 February 2010). |
| Amendments to IFRIC 14 | Prepayments of a Minimum Funding Requirement (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2011). |
| IFRIC 19 | Extinguishing Financial Liabilities with Equity Instruments (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 July 2010). |
The adoption of IFRS 9 which the Group plans to adopt for the year beginning 1 January 2013 will impact both the measurement and disclosure of Financial Instruments.
The Directors anticipate that the adoption of the other Standards and Interpretations listed above will have no material impact (other than presentation and disclosure) on the financial statements of the Group in future periods.
The principal accounting policies adopted by the Board are:
The Group and Company financial statements are prepared under the historical cost convention as modified by the revaluation of property, investments held for trading, available for sale investments and investment property, which are measured at fair value.
The consolidated financial statements include the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings, made up to 31 December. In subsidiary undertakings, control is achieved where the Company has the power to govern the financial and operating policies of an investee entity so as to obtain benefits from its activities.
All intra Group transactions, balances, income and expenses are eliminated on consolidation.
Individual subsidiary accounts are prepared under local GAAP, with relevant adjustments made during preparation of the Group financial statements to align their accounting policies with those of the Group. The results of subsidiaries acquired or disposed of during the year are included in the consolidated income statement from the effective date of acquisition or up to the effective date of disposal.
The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the purchase method. The cost of the acquisition is measured at the aggregate of the fair values, at the date of exchange, of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree, plus any costs directly attributable to the business combination. The acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the conditions for recognition under IFRS 3 are recognised at their fair value at the acquisition date, except for non-current assets (or disposal groups), that are classified as held for sale in accordance with IFRS 5, Non Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations, which are recognised and measured at fair value less costs of sale.
Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of the business combination over the Group's interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities recognised. If, after reassessment, the Group's interest in the net fair value of the acquiree's identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the excess is recognised immediately in the consolidated income statement.
Non-controlling interests in subsidiaries are identified separately from the Group's equity therein. The interests of noncontrolling shareholders may be initially measured at fair value or at the non-controlling interests' proportionate share of the fair value of the acquiree's identifiable net assets. The choice of measurement is made on an acquisition-byacquisition basis. Subsequent to acquisition, the carrying amount of non-controlling interests is the amount of those interests at initial recognition plus the non-controlling interests' share of subsequent changes in equity. Total comprehensive income is attributed to non-controlling interests even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance.
Changes in the Group's interests in subsidiaries that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as equity transactions. The carrying amount of the Group's interests and the non-controlling interests are adjusted to reflect the changes in their relative interests in the subsidiaries. Any difference between the amount by which the non-controlling interests are adjusted and the fair value of the consideration paid or received is recognised directly in equity and attributed to the owners of the company.
The Directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the financial statements. Further detail is contained in the Report of the Directors on page 22.
Revenue is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable and represents gross premiums written, broking commissions, fees, other commissions, interest and dividends receivable, rents receivable, sales of goods and services and sales by the property, hotel and leisure operations, net of discounts, levies, VAT and other sales related taxes. Sales of goods are recognised when the goods are delivered and title has passed. Sales of services are recognised when the services are delivered.
Revenue from insurance contracts is accounted for in accordance with Accounting Policy (E).
Interest income is accrued on a time basis with reference to the principal outstanding at the effective interest rate applicable.
Insurance agency commissions that do not require any further services are recognised as revenue on the effective commencement or renewal date of the related policies. If further services are to be rendered, the commission, or part of it, is deferred and recognised over the period during which the policy is in force.
Fees for liability claims handling are recognised in the year to which they relate.
Hotel revenue is recognised in line with the provision of the related service. Receipts from advance bookings are deferred and recognised as revenue at the time of use.
Dividend income from investments is recognised when the shareholders' rights to receive payment have been established.
Rental income is recognised on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease.
Premiums written relate to business incepted during the year, together with any difference between booked premiums for prior years and those previously accrued, and include estimates of premiums due. Premiums written exclude taxes and duties levied on premiums and directly related expenses e.g. commissions.
Unearned premiums are those portions of premium income written in the year that relate to insurance cover after the year end. Unearned premiums are computed on a 365th of premium written. At 31 December each year, an assessment is made of whether the provision for unearned premiums is adequate.
Deferred acquisition costs represent the proportion of net acquisition costs which are attributable to the unearned premiums. Acquisition costs comprise the direct and indirect costs of obtaining and processing new insurance business. These costs are recognised as a deferred acquisition cost asset and amortised on the same basis as the related premiums are earned, and are tested for impairment at 31 December each year.
At 31 December each year, an assessment is made of whether the provision for unearned premiums is adequate. Provision for unexpired risks is made where the expected claims, related expenses and deferred acquisition costs are expected to exceed unearned premiums, after taking account of future investment income.
Claims incurred comprise the cost of all insurance claims occurring during the year, whether reported or not, and any adjustments to claims outstanding from previous years.
Full provision, net of reinsurance recoveries, is made at the reporting date for the estimated cost of claims incurred but not settled, including claims incurred but not yet reported and expenses to be incurred after the reporting date in settling those claims. The Group takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it has appropriate information regarding notified claims and uses this information when estimating the cost of those claims.
The Group uses estimation techniques, based on statistical analysis of past experience, to calculate the estimated cost of claims outstanding at the year end. It is assumed that the development pattern of the current claims will be consistent with previous experience. Allowance is made, however, for any changes or uncertainties that may cause the cost of unsettled claims to increase or reduce. These changes or uncertainties may arise from issues such as the effects of inflation, changes in the mix of business or the legal environment.
At each reporting date, liability adequacy tests are performed to ensure the adequacy of the insurance liabilities. In performing these tests, current best estimates of future cash flows and claims handling and administration expenses are used. Any deficiency is immediately recognised in the consolidated income statement.
Provision is also made in respect of the Group's share of the estimated liability for outstanding claims of the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland ("MIBI"). This provision is based on our estimated current market share and the current outstanding claims of the MIBI.
Premiums payable in respect of reinsurance ceded, are recognised in the period in which the reinsurance contract is entered into and include estimates where the amounts are not determined at the reporting date. Premiums are expensed over the period of the reinsurance contract, calculated principally on a daily pro rata basis.
A reinsurance asset (reinsurers' share of claims outstanding and provision for unearned premium) is recognised to reflect the amount estimated to be recoverable under the reinsurance contracts in respect of the outstanding claims reported 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 recoverable from the reinsurer.
The reinsurers' share of each unexpired risk provision is recognised on the same basis.
Hotel and golf resort assets and property held for own use in the supply of services or for administrative purposes are stated at their revalued amounts, being the fair value at the date of revaluation which is determined either by professional valuers or at a lower amount if, in the opinion of the Directors, a lower amount more accurately reflects fair value. Revaluations are performed with sufficient regularity such that the carrying amount does not differ materially from that which would be determined using fair values at the reporting date. Any revaluation increase arising on the revaluation of such property is credited to the revaluation reserve except to the extent that it reverses a revaluation decrease for the same asset previously recognised. A decrease on revaluation is charged as an expense to the extent that it exceeds the balance, if any, held in the revaluation reserve relating to previous revaluation of that asset.
Property held under financing arrangements which transfer substantially all of the risks and rewards of ownership to the Group are treated as if they had been purchased outright and are included in the consolidated statement of financial position at fair value. The corresponding commitments are shown as liabilities.
It is the Group's policy and practice to maintain all Group properties in a continual state of sound repair. As a result and taking into consideration the regular revaluations undertaken, the Directors consider that the residual values of these properties are such that any depreciation is immaterial and is therefore not provided.
The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset is determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the carrying amount of the asset and is recognised in the consolidated income statement.
Plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses.
Depreciation is provided in respect of all plant and equipment, and is calculated in order to write off the cost or valuation of the assets over their expected useful lives on a straight line basis over a five to ten year period.
Investment property, which is property held to earn rentals and/or for capital appreciation, is stated at fair value at the reporting date being the value determined by qualified independent professional valuers. Gains or losses arising from changes in the fair value are included in the consolidated income statement for the period in which they arise.
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the Group's statement of financial position when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instrument.
The Group derecognises a financial asset only when the contractual rights to the cash flows of the asset expire, or when it transfers the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of the ownership of the asset to another entity. If the Group neither transfers nor retains substantially all the risk and rewards of ownership and continues to control the transferred asset, the Group recognises its retained interest in the asset and an associated liability for amounts it may have to pay. If the Group retains substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of a transferred financial asset, the Group continues to recognise the financial asset.
The Group derecognises financial liabilities when, and only when, the Group's obligations are discharged, cancelled or they expire.
Investments held for trading are stated at fair value and include quoted shares and debt securities. They are recognised on a trade date basis at fair value and are revalued at subsequent reporting dates at fair value, using the closing bid price, with gains and losses being included in the consolidated income statement in the period in which they arise.
Investments are held for trading if:
Investments other than investments held for trading may be designated as an FVTPL (fair value through profit or loss) upon initial recognition if:
They are derecognised at their carrying amount which in this case is the fair value recorded at a previous reporting date.
Investments held to maturity include debt securities where the intention is to hold them to maturity. They are recognised on a trade date basis at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost. At subsequent reporting dates, these investments plus transaction costs are measured at amortised cost taking into account any impairment using the effective interest rate method.
Available for sale investments include unquoted investments, and are stated at fair value where fair value can be reliably measured. Fair value is calculated using prices achieved in most recent transactions. They are recognised on a trade date basis at fair value, and are subsequently revalued at each reporting date to fair value, with gains and losses being included directly in other comprehensive income until the investment is disposed of or determined to be impaired, at which time the cumulative gain or loss previously recognised in other comprehensive income, is included in the consolidated income statement for the year.
Loans are recognised on a trade date basis at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. When it is not possible to estimate reliably the cash flows or the expected life of a loan, the projected cash flows over the full term of the loan are used to determine fair value. Loans are stated in the consolidated statement of financial position recognising any impairment loss to reflect estimated irrecoverable amounts. Any impairment loss is recognised on a case-by-case basis after taking into account factors such as the financial condition of the borrower, security held and costs of realisation.
The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a debt instrument and of allocating interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the debt instrument, or, where appropriate, a shorter period, to the net carrying amount at initial recognition.
Amounts arising out of direct insurance operations and other debtors are measured at initial recognition at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost, after recognising any impairment loss to reflect estimated irrecoverable amounts.
From time to time, the Group enters into a variety of derivative financial instruments to manage its exposure to interest rate and foreign exchange rate risk, including foreign exchange forward contracts, interest rate swaps and foreign currency swaps.
Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value at the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently remeasured to their fair value at the end of the reporting period. The resulting gain or loss is recognised in the consolidated income statement immediately unless the derivative is designated and effective as a hedging instrument, in which event the timing of the recognition in the income statement depends on the nature of the hedge relationship. The Group designates certain derivatives as either hedges of the fair value of recognised assets or liabilities or firm commitments (fair value hedges), hedges of highly probable forecast transactions or hedges of foreign currency risk of firm commitments (cash flow hedges), or hedges of net investments in foreign operations.
A derivative with a positive fair value is recognised as a financial asset; a derivative with a negative fair value is recognised as a financial liability. A derivative is presented as a non-current asset or a non-current liability if the remaining maturity of the instrument is more than 12 months and is not expected to be realised or settled within 12 months. Other derivatives are presented as current assets or current liabilities.
Term deposits with banks comprise cash held for the purpose of investment. Demand deposits with banks are held for operating purposes and included in cash and cash equivalents.
All of the Group's leases are classified as operating leases.
Rental income from operating leases is recognised on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Initial direct costs incurred in negotiating and arranging an operating lease are added to the carrying amount of the leased asset and recognised on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Rentals payable under operating leases are charged to income on a straight-line basis over the term of the relevant lease. Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to enter into an operating lease are also spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term.
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost includes all expenditure incurred in bringing inventories to their present condition. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price less all further costs to completion and the estimated costs necessary to make the sale. In addition to work in progress, land held for development and resale is included within inventories.
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits held for the purpose of meeting shortterm cash commitments rather than for investment or other purposes.
Income tax expense or credit represents the sum of the tax currently payable or receivable and that element of deferred tax charged or credited to the consolidated income statement. Deferred tax charged or credited to equity is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
The tax currently payable or receivable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit or loss differs from profit or loss as reported in the consolidated income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group's liability for current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.
Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or form the initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit.
Deferred tax is recognised on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit or loss, and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary differences, and deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which those deductible temporary differences can be utilised.
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries except where the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that the temporary differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the asset to be recovered.
Deferred tax is measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the periods in which the temporary differences are expected to reverse based on tax rates and laws enacted or substantially enacted at the reporting date.
Deferred tax is charged or credited to the consolidated income statement, except when it relates to items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle on a net basis.
The Group provides both defined benefit and defined contribution retirement benefit schemes for the majority of its Irish-based employees.
A full actuarial valuation of the scheme is undertaken every three years and is updated annually to reflect current conditions in the intervening periods for the purposes of preparing the financial statements. Scheme assets are valued at fair value. Scheme liabilities are measured on an actuarial basis and discounted at the current rate of return on a high quality corporate bond of equivalent term and currency to the liability. The surplus or deficit on the scheme is carried in the consolidated statement of financial position as an asset or liability. Any asset resulting from this calculation is limited to past service cost, plus the present value of available refunds and reductions to future contributions to the scheme. Actuarial gains and losses are recognised immediately in equity through the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.
The current service cost and past service cost of the scheme and the expected return on assets net of the change in the present value of the scheme liabilities arising from the passage of time, are charged to profit.
Past service cost is recognised immediately to the extent that the benefits are already vested, and otherwise is amortised on a straight-line basis over the average period until the benefits become vested.
The projected unit credit method is used to calculate scheme liabilities.
Defined Contribution Schemes
Costs arising in respect of the Group's defined contribution retirement benefit schemes are charged to the consolidated income statement as an expense as they fall due.
The individual financial statements of each Group company are presented in the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates (its functional currency). For the purpose of the consolidated financial statements, the results and financial position of each Group company are expressed in euro, which is the functional currency of the Company, and the presentation currency for the consolidated financial statements.
In preparing the financial statements of the individual companies, transactions in currencies other than the entity's functional currency (foreign currencies) are recognised at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At each balance sheet date, monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates prevailing at that date. Non-monetary items carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined.
On consolidation, the assets and liabilities of the Group's non euro-zone operations are translated at exchange rates prevailing on the reporting date. Income and expense items are translated at the average exchange rates for the period unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly, in which case the exchange rates at the date of transactions are used. Exchange differences that are classified as equity are transferred to the translation reserve. Such translation differences are recognised as income or expense in the period in which the operation is disposed.
The Group operates share option schemes based on market and non-market vesting conditions. The fair value of the options is determined at the date of grant using either the Black Scholes or Monte Carlo Simulation models and expensed in the consolidated income statement over the vesting period at the conclusion of which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the options. The corresponding amount to the expense is credited to a separate reserve in the consolidated statement of financial position. At each period end, the Group reviews its estimate of the number of options that it expects to vest and any adjustment relating to current and past vesting periods brought to the consolidated income statement. Share options are all equity settled.
Where any Group company purchases the Company's equity share capital, the consideration paid is shown as a deduction from ordinary shareholders' equity. No gain or loss is recognised on the sale, issue or cancellation of treasury shares. Consideration received on the subsequent sale or issue of treasury shares is credited to ordinary shareholders' equity. Treasury shares are excluded when calculating earnings per share.
At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the asset is estimated to determine the extent of the impairment loss, if any. Where the asset does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash generating unit to which the asset belongs.
Recoverable amount is the higher of the fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.
If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash-generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease.
Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (or cash-generating unit) in prior years. A reversal of an impairment loss, other than in relation to goodwill, is recognised as income immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the reversal of the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation increase.
Financial assets, other than those at FVTPL (fair value through profit or loss), are assessed for indicators of impairment at each reporting date. Financial assets are impaired where there is objective evidence that, as a result of one or more events that occurred after the initial recognition of the financial assets, the estimated future cash flows of the investment have been impacted.
For listed and unlisted equity investments classified as Available for Sale ("AFS"), a significant or prolonged decline in the fair value of the security below its cost is considered to be objective evidence of impairment.
For all other financial assets, objective evidence of impairment could include:
For certain categories of financial asset, such as trade receivables, assets that are assessed not to be impaired individually are, in addition, assessed for impairment on a collective basis.
(ii) Impairment of financial assets (continued)
For financial assets carried at amortised cost, the amount of the impairment is the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cash flows, discounted at the financial asset's original effective interest rate.
The carrying amount of a financial asset is directly reduced by the impairment loss for all financial assets.
When an AFS financial asset is considered to be impaired, cumulative gains or losses previously recognised in other comprehensive income are reclassified to profit or loss in the period.
With the exception of AFS equity instruments, if, in a subsequent period, the amount of the impairment loss decreases and the decrease can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, the previously recognised impairment loss is reversed through profit or loss, to the extent that the carrying amount of the investment at the date the impairment is reversed does not exceed what the amortised cost would have been had the impairment not been recognised.
In respect of AFS equity securities, impairment losses previously recognised in profit or loss are not reversed through profit or loss. Any increase in fair value subsequent to an impairment loss is recognised in other comprehensive income.
Borrowing costs directly attributable to the acquisition, construction or production of qualifying assets, which are assets that necessarily take a substantial period of time to get ready for their intended use or sale, are added to the cost of those assets, until such time as the assets are substantially ready for their intended use or sale.
To the extent that variable rate borrowings are used to finance a qualifying asset and are hedged in an effective cash flow hedge of interest rate risk, the effective portion of the derivative is recognised in other comprehensive income and released to profit or loss when the qualifying asset impacts profit or loss. To the extent that fixed rate borrowings are used to finance a qualifying asset and are hedged in an effective fair value hedge of interest rate risk, the capitalised borrowing costs reflect the hedged interest rate.
Investment income earned on the temporary investment of specific borrowings pending their expenditure on qualifying assets is deducted from the borrowing costs eligible for capitalisation.
All other borrowing costs are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they are incurred.
The costs of the fundamental restructuring of the Group's operations, such as redundancy costs, provision for lease termination costs or other rationalisation costs, are charged to profit or loss when the decision to restructure is irrevocable and has been communicated to the parties involved.
The principle accounting policies adopted by the Group are set out on pages 53 to 67. In the application of these accounting policies, the Directors are required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amount of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates, assumptions and judgements are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.
The estimates, assumptions and judgements are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods.
The Directors consider that the accounting estimates, assumptions and judgements described below are the critical judgements that they have made in the process of applying the Group's accounting policies and that have the most significant effect on the amounts recognised in the financial statements.
The estimation of the cost of claims outstanding under insurance contracts written.
Actuarial techniques, based on statistical analysis of past experience, are used to calculate the estimated cost of claims outstanding at year end. Allowance is made for any changes or uncertainties that may cause the cost of unsettled claims to increase or reduce. At each reporting date liability adequacy tests are performed to ensure the adequacy of the liabilities. In determining the provision for outstanding claims, the Directors take into consideration the advice of the independent reporting actuary, PricewaterhouseCoopers.
Any deficiency is recognised in the income statement. Further details are set out in note 29 to the financial statements.
The assumptions used in estimating retirement benefit obligations.
The Group's obligations under its funded defined benefit retirement scheme are determined by an independent qualified actuarial advisor, Lane, Clark & Peacock. The valuation is updated at least annually and the net obligation amounted to €10,859,000 at 31 December 2010. The amount of this deficit is sensitive to actuarial assumptions. IAS 19 requires that the actuarial assumptions used should be best estimates, unbiased and mutually compatible. The assumptions used for calculating the obligations of the scheme under IAS 19 at 31 December 2010 have been derived consistently with those adopted by the Group in previous years. Those key assumptions include:
The scheme's liabilities are sensitive to fluctuations in the principal assumptions, details of which are set out in note 31.
The valuation of property held for own use, hotel and golf resort assets and investment properties.
Property valuations are affected by general economic and market conditions. Property held for own use, hotels and golf resort assets and investment properties are included in the Statement of Financial Position at fair value. Fair value of investment properties is determined by valuations conducted at the reporting date by independent professional valuers. Properties held for own use and hotel and golf resort assets are determined by valuations conducted at the reporting date by independent professional valuers or at a lower amount if, in the opinion of the Directors, a lower amount more accurately reflects fair value. The external professional valuers for property held for own use and Irish hotels and golf resort assets were CB Richard Ellis Valuation Surveyors while hotels and golf resort assets located outside Ireland were valued by American Appraisal Valuation Surveyors.
During 2010, the Group disposed of certain held to maturity investments in advance of their normal maturity date. The Directors are satisfied that the disposals do not call into question the Group's intention to hold other investments to maturity on the basis that the investments disposed of suffered a significant and actual deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness after the securities were acquired. The remaining financial assets have not suffered deterioration and will be held to their normal maturity date. The carrying amount of the held-to-maturity financial assets is €496,852,000 (2009: €581,096,000). Details of these assets are set out in note 17.
The Group spends substantial sums to purchase reinsurance protection from third parties and substantial claims recoveries from these reinsurers are included in the Statement of Financial Position at the reporting date. A reinsurance asset (reinsurers' share of claims outstanding and provision for unearned premium) is recognised to reflect the amount estimated to be recoverable under the reinsurance contracts in respect of the outstanding claims reported 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 recoverable from the reinsurer. To minimise default exposure, the Group's policy is that all reinsurers should have a credit rating of A- or better.
The Group's portfolio of investments includes secured loans with a net book value of €20,534,000. The secured loans are included in the Statement of Financial Position at fair value, as determined by valuations conducted on the underlying collateral at the reporting date by independent professional valuers.
For management purposes, the Group is organised in two operating segments – underwriting and non-underwriting. These two segments are the basis upon which information is reported to the chief operating decision maker, the Group Chief Executive, for the purpose of resource allocation and assessment of segmental performance. Discrete financial information is prepared and reviewed on a regular basis for these two segments. There has been no change in the Group's reportable segments during the year.
The principal activities of the Group are underwriting of general insurance business and non-underwriting operations, including leisure/property and financial services.
| 2010 | Underwriting €000s |
Non underwriting €000s |
Total €000s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 403,864 | 74,702 | 478,566 |
| Operating profit | 36,133 | 4,533 | 40,666 |
| Investment return – fluctuations | (30,093) | - | (30,093) |
| Impairment of property | (3,160) | (16,708) | (19,868) |
| Retirement benefits – past service gain | 11,063 | - | 11,063 |
| Restructuring and other costs | - | (1,615) | (1,615) |
| Finance costs | - | (3,236) | (3,236) |
| Profit/(Loss) before tax | 13,943 | (17,026) | (3,083) |
| Income tax (charge)/credit | (498) | 346 | (152) |
| Profit/(Loss) after tax | 13,445 | (16,680) | (3,235) |
| Other information | |||
| Capital additions | 5,983 | 432 | 6,415 |
| Impairment of loans and other assets | 26,263 | 16,708 | 42,971 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 6,302 | 174 | 6,476 |
| Statement of financial position | |||
| Segment assets | 1,029,576 | 195,975 | 1,225,551 |
| Segment liabilities | 882,712 | 155,740 | 1,038,452 |
Included above are non-cash items relating to property impairments, investment property impairments and loan impairments totalling €42,971,000 (2009: €58,559,000) underwriting €26,263,000 (2009: €29,639,000), non-underwriting €16,708,000 (2009: €28,920,000).
| 2009 | Underwriting €000s |
Non underwriting €000s |
Total €000s |
|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue | 403,385 | 72,774 | 476,159 |
| Operating profit | 22,391 | 6,489 | 28,880 |
| Investment return – fluctuations | (28,784) | - | (28,784) |
| Revaluation of property | (128) | (28,920) | (29,048) |
| Restructuring costs | (1,976) | (339) | (2,315) |
| Finance costs | - | (3,377) | (3,377) |
| Loss before tax | (8,497) | (26,147) | (34,644) |
| Income tax credit | 3,651 | 63 | 3,714 |
| Loss after tax | (4,846) | (26,084) | (30,930) |
| Other information | |||
| Capital additions | 7,710 | 764 | 8,474 |
| Depreciation and amortisation | 5,969 | 237 | 6,206 |
| Impairment of loans and other assets | 29,639 | 28,920 | 58,559 |
| Statement of financial position | |||
| Segment assets | 1,031,462 | 224,358 | 1,255,820 |
| Segment liabilities | 904,598 | 153,761 | 1,058,359 |
The accounting policies of the reportable segments are the same as the Group accounting policies. Segment profit represents the profit earned by each segment. Central administration costs and Directors' salaries are allocated based on actual activity. Finance costs, restructuring costs and income tax are direct costs of each segment. Segment profit is the measure reported to the chief operating decision maker, the Group Chief Executive, for the purposes of resource allocation and assessment of segmental reporting.
In monitoring segment performance and allocating resources between segments:
An analysis of the Group's revenue by product is as follows:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Direct insurance – motor | 153,427 | 159,598 |
| Direct insurance – liability | 64,850 | 65,658 |
| Direct insurance – fire and other damage to property | 134,537 | 126,025 |
| Direct insurance – other | 5,571 | 5,963 |
| Direct insurance – interest and other revenue | 45,479 | 46,141 |
| Non-underwriting revenue | 74,702 | 72,774 |
| Total | 478,566 | 476,159 |
The Group's customer base is diverse, with no reliance on any identifiable major customer. Insurance risk is not concentrated on any one area or any one line of business.
The Group's operations are located in Ireland and the rest of the European Union. The Group's underwriting operation is located in Ireland while its non-underwriting operations are located in Ireland and the rest of the European Union. The following table provides an analysis of the Group's revenue, assets and liabilities by geographical market, irrespective of the origin of the services.
| Ireland €000s |
European Union other than Ireland €000s |
Total €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | |||
| Revenue | 437,669 | 40,897 | 478,566 |
| Segment assets | 1,102,676 | 122,875 | 1,225,551 |
| Segment liabilities | 1,006,738 | 31,714 | 1,038,452 |
| 2009 | |||
| Revenue | 444,977 | 31,182 | 476,159 |
| Segment assets | 1,109,739 | 146,081 | 1,255,820 |
| Segment liabilities | 1,025,531 | 32,828 | 1,058,359 |
| 2010 €000s |
2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Earned premiums, net of reinsurance | ||||
| Gross premiums written | 358,385 | 357,244 | ||
| Outward reinsurance premiums | (55,172) | (54,107) | ||
| Net premiums written | 303,213 | 303,137 | ||
| Change in provision for unearned premiums | ||||
| Gross amount | 124 | 11,414 | ||
| Reinsurers' share | (797) | 53 | ||
| Change in net provision for unearned premiums | (673) | 11,467 | ||
| Premium earned, net of reinsurance | 302,540 | 314,604 | ||
| Claims paid, net of recoveries from reinsurers | ||||
| Claims paid | ||||
| Gross amount | (308,077) | (293,333) | ||
| Reinsurers' share | 56,806 | 40,940 | ||
| Claims paid, net of recoveries from reinsurers | (251,271) | (252,393) | ||
| Change in provision for claims | ||||
| Gross amount | 13,773 | (45,241) | ||
| Reinsurers' share | 3,230 | 34,142 | ||
| Change in insurance liabilities, net of reinsurance | 17,003 | (11,099) | ||
| Claims incurred net of reinsurance | (234,268) | (263,492) | ||
| Staff Costs | (54,141) | (54,143) | ||
| Depreciation | (6,302) | (5,968) | ||
| Other gross management expenses | (17,084) | (17,980) | ||
| (77,527) | (78,091) | |||
| Deferred acquisition costs | 568 | 2,231 | ||
| Reinsurers' share of expenses | 12,743 | 13,943 | ||
| Broker commissions payable | (2,437) | (2,103) | ||
| Net operating expenses | (66,653) | (64,020) | ||
| Underwriting result | 1,619 | (12,908) |
All reinsurance contracts are for no more than one year so have no material effect on the amount, timing and uncertainty of cash flows. There are no security arrangements for reinsurance transactions. The impact of buying reinsurance was a credit to the income statement of €16,810,000 (2009: Credit of €34,971,000).
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| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Staff costs | 29,732 | 30,751 |
| Depreciation | 174 | 237 |
| Cost of sales | 21,077 | 9,889 |
| Other | 23,498 | 25,408 |
| 74,481 | 66,285 |
Cost of sales includes cost of property sales in La Cala.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Income from investment properties | 2,852 | 2,937 |
| Interest and similar income | 29,817 | 31,413 |
| Dividend income | 335 | 348 |
| Impairment of investments | (24,397) | (19,942) |
| Realised losses on investments | (4,186) | (8,241) |
| 4,421 | 6,515 | |
| By Classification of investment | ||
| Investment properties | 1,953 | (5,574) |
| Deposits with banks | 2,110 | 3,483 |
| Investments held for trading | 1,660 | 5,348 |
| Available for sale investments | (1,769) | 281 |
| Investments held to maturity | 16,741 | 23,720 |
| Loans | (16,274) | (20,743) |
| 4,421 | 6,515 |
Interest and similar income received during the period was €31,403,000 (2009: €24,619,000).
The rates of investment return underlying the calculation of the longer term investment return are set out below. These rates are reviewed annually and reflect both historical experience and the Directors' current expectations for investment returns.
| 2010 % |
2009 % |
|
|---|---|---|
| Government gilts | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Other quoted debt securities | 6.00 | 6.00 |
| Quoted shares | 6.75 | 6.75 |
| Deposits with banks | 3.25 | 3.25 |
| Investment properties | 6.25 | 6.25 |
| Investments held to maturity | Actual | Actual |
| (c) Comparison of longer term investment return with actual return |
||
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
| Longer term investment return | 34,514 | 35,299 |
| Investment return fluctuation | (30,093) | (28,784) |
| Actual investment return | 4,421 | 6,515 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Redundancy costs | - | 2,315 |
| Provision for termination of leases | 1,615 | - |
| Total | 1,615 | 2,315 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Interest on borrowings | 3,236 | 3,377 |
Interest paid during the year was €2,898,000 (2009: €3,495,000).
No interest was capitalised during 2010 or 2009.
| Loss before tax has been stated after charging: | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|---|---|---|
| Depreciation | 6,476 | 6,206 |
| Cost of goods sold from inventory | 13,181 | 3,224 |
The remuneration of Directors is set out in detail on pages 32 to 38.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Description of service | ||
| Audit services – Group – Company |
150 25 |
189 23 |
| Other assurance services – Group – Company |
125 - |
150 - |
| Tax advisory services – Group – Company |
298 40 |
182 54 |
| Other non-audit services – Group – Company |
- - |
- - |
| Fees payable to other Deloitte firms outside of Ireland are as follows: | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
| Audit Services | 65 | 79 |
| Tax advisory services | 39 | 107 |
| 104 | 186 |
The average number of persons employed by the Group by reportable segment is as follows:
| 2010 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|
| Underwriting | 722 | 739 |
| Non-underwriting | 915 | 1,004 |
| Total | 1,637 | 1,743 |
| The aggregate employee benefit expense for these persons was as follows: | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
| Wages and salaries | 68,265 | 71,847 |
| Social welfare costs | 8,360 | 8,545 |
| Pension costs | 6,232 | 4,502 |
| Share based payments | 1,016 | 698 |
| 83,873 | 85,592 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Irish corporation tax | (3,697) | (1,420) |
| Foreign tax | (50) | (163) |
| Adjustments in respect of prior years | 989 | 523 |
| Current tax charge | (2,758) | (1,060) |
| Deferred tax credit | 2,606 | 4,774 |
| (152) | 3,714 |
The tax assessed for the year in the consolidated income statement is higher than the standard rate of corporation tax in Ireland. The differences are explained below:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Loss before tax | (3,083) | (34,644) |
| Corporation tax credit at standard rate of 12.5% (2009: 12.5%) | (385) | (4,330) |
| Effects of: | ||
| Differences between capital allowances for period and depreciation | (73) | 77 |
| Non-taxable income/unrealised gains/losses not chargeable/deductible for tax purposes |
1,538 | 944 |
| Higher rates of tax on other income | 61 | 118 |
| Adjustments in respect of prior years | (989) | (523) |
| Income tax charge/(credit) | 152 | (3,714) |
In addition to the amount charged to the income statement, the following taxation amounts have been recognised directly in other comprehensive income:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Current tax | - | - |
| Deferred tax | ||
| Revaluation of property | - | 3,802 |
| Revaluation of available for sale financial assets | - | 194 |
| Actuarial (gain)/loss on retirement benefit obligations | (1,531) | 2,888 |
| Total income tax recognised directly in other comprehensive income | (1,531) | 6,884 |
The Company's profit for the financial year determined in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union is €6,698,000 (2009: €49,372,000).
In accordance with section 148(8) of the Companies Act, 1963 and section 7(1A) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1986, the Company is availing of the exemption from presenting its individual income statement to the Annual General Meeting and from filing it with the Registrar of Companies.
The calculation of the basic and diluted loss per share attributable to the ordinary shareholders is based on the following data:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Earnings | ||
| Loss for the year | (3,235) | (30,930) |
| Non-controlling interests | 827 | 740 |
| Preference dividend | (282) | (282) |
| Loss for the purpose of basic and diluted loss per share | (2,690) | (30,472) |
| Number of shares | 2010 | 2009 |
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of basic loss per share (excludes treasury shares) |
33,269,476 | 33,269,476 |
| Effect of dilutive potential of share options outstanding | 149,089 | 159,309 |
| Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purpose of | ||
| diluted loss per share | 33,418,565 | 33,428,785 |
| Cent | Cent | |
| Basic loss per share | (8.08) | (91.59) |
| Diluted loss per share | (8.08) | (91.59) |
Options outstanding at the end of the year were excluded from the calculation of diluted loss per share because they were anti-dilutive.
The 'A' ordinary shares of 1 cent each that are in issue have no impact on the loss per share calculation.
The calculation of the operating earnings per share, which is supplementary to the requirements of International Financial Reporting Standards, is based on the following data:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Operating profit after taxation* | 35,623 | 25,299 |
| Non-controlling interests | (125) | (193) |
| Preference dividend | (282) | (282) |
| 35,216 | 24,824 | |
| Cent | Cent | |
| Operating earnings per share | 105.85 | 74.61 |
*2010 effective tax rate of 12.4% (2009: 12.4%).
Non-controlling interests exclude non-operating movements.
| Property held for own use €000s |
Hotels and golf resort assets €000s |
Total property €000s |
Plant and equipment €000s |
Total property plant and equipment €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost or valuation | |||||
| At 1 January 2009 | 24,335 | 167,088 | 191,423 | 59,708 | 251,131 |
| Additions | - | 728 | 728 | 7,746 | 8,474 |
| Disposals | - | (134) | (134) | (270) | (404) |
| Impairment | (2,367) | (2,874) | (5,241) | - | (5,241) |
| At 1 January 2010 | 21,968 | 164,808 | 186,776 | 67,184 | 253,960 |
| Additions | - | 366 | 366 | 6,049 | 6,415 |
| Disposals | (565) | - | (565) | (183) | (748) |
| At 31 December 2010 | 21,403 | 165,174 | 186,577 | 73,050 | 259,627 |
| Comprising: | |||||
| At cost | - | 137 | 137 | 73,050 | 73,187 |
| At valuation | 21,403 | 165,037 | 186,440 | - | 186,440 |
| At 31 December 2010 | 21,403 | 165,174 | 186,577 | 73,050 | 259,627 |
| Property held for own use €000s |
Hotels and golf resort assets €000s |
Total property €000s |
Plant and equipment €000s |
Total property plant and equipment €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Accumulated depreciation & impairment | |||||
| At 1 January 2009 | - | - | - | 42,472 | 42,472 |
| Depreciation charge for the year | - | - | - | 6,206 | 6,206 |
| Elimination on disposals | - | - | - | (245) | (245) |
| Impairments | 128 | 28,462 | 28,590 | 458 | 29,048 |
| At 1 January 2010 | 128 | 28,462 | 28,590 | 48,891 | 77,481 |
| Depreciation charge for the year | - | - | - | 6,476 | 6,476 |
| Elimination on disposals | - | - | - | (157) | (157) |
| Impairments | 3,160 | 16,708 | 19,868 | - | 19,868 |
| At 31 December 2010 | 3,288 | 45,170 | 48,458 | 55,210 | 103,668 |
| Carrying amount | |||||
| At 31 December 2010 | 18,115 | 120,004 | 138,119 | 17,840 | 155,959 |
| At 31 December 2009 | 21,840 | 136,346 | 158,186 | 18,293 | 176,479 |
Property held for own use and hotels and golf resort assets at 31 December 2009 and 2010 were valued at fair value which is determined either by independent professional valuers or at a lower amount if, in the opinion of the Directors, a lower amount more accurately reflected fair value. The external professional valuers for property held for own use and Irish hotels and golf resort assets were CB Richard Ellis, Valuation Surveyors while hotels and golf resort assets located outside Ireland were valued by American Appraisal, Valuation Surveyors. In forming their opinion on fair values, the Directors took into account the report of the professional valuers and, in relation to certain specific properties, took more prudent assumptions on the underlying profit projections and/or timing of underlying cash flows.
The valuation statement received from the external professional valuers states that "Market value is defined as the estimated amount for which the property could exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing wherein parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion".
In their report, the external professional valuers state that there has been a lack of transactional evidence and, as a result, other valuation techniques were used. These techniques made various assumptions as to tenure, letting, town planning, condition and repair as well as achievable and maintainable rental income.
At each reporting date, the Group reviews the carrying value of its property to determine if there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. The Group made impairment provisions in 2010 of €19,868,000 (2009: €34,289,000).
Included in hotels and golf resort assets are assets valued at €13,000,000 (2009: €14,500,000) on which the Group has obligations under property financing arrangements which are included in borrowings, see note 30. Hotel and golf resort assets have been used as security for bank loans totalling €38,866,000 (2009: €40,185,000).
Had the property been carried at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses, their carrying amount would have been as follows:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Property held for own use | 18,115 | 21,840 |
| Hotels & golf resort assets | 119,271 | 135,521 |
| Total | 137,386 | 157,361 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Fair value of investment property | ||
| At beginning of year | 43,267 | 52,538 |
| Impairment during the year | (899) | (8,479) |
| Sale of investment property | - | (792) |
| At end of year | 42,368 | 43,267 |
Investment properties held for rental were valued at fair value at 31 December 2009 and 2010 by independent external professional valuers, Savills, Valuation Surveyors. The valuation statement received from the external professional valuers states that "Market value is defined as the estimated amount for which the property could exchange on the date of valuation between a willing buyer and a willing seller in an arm's-length transaction after proper marketing wherein parties had each acted knowledgeably, prudently and without compulsion".
In their report, the external professional valuers state that there has been a lack of transactional evidence and, as a result, other valuation techniques were used. These techniques made various assumptions as to tenure, letting, town planning, condition and repair as well as achievable and maintainable rental income.
The Group made impairment provisions in 2010 of €899,000 (2009: €8,479,000).
The rental income earned by the Group from its investment properties amounted to €2,852,000 (2009: €2,937,000). Direct operating costs associated with investment properties amounted to €138,000 (2009: €402,000).
All properties in the portfolio generated rental income during both 2009 and 2010. Investment properties are leased to tenants on long-term full repair leases varying in term from one to ninety eight years. No contingent rents were recognised as income in the period.
Subsequent to the year end, two of the Group's investment properties located in the UK were sold and a third is in the course of being sold. Combined, the three sales will generate €20,600,000 in cash and a profit of €500,000 over the December 2010 valuation.
The historical cost of investment property is as follows:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Historical cost at 1 January | 78,782 | 80,023 |
| Sale of investment property | - | (1,241) |
| Historical cost at 31 December | 78,782 | 78,782 |
| Non-cancellable operating lease receivables | ||
| Not longer than 1 year | 2,391 | 3,449 |
| Longer than 1 year and not longer than 5 years | 6,607 | 10,546 |
| Longer than 5 years | 882 | 5,171 |
| 9,880 | 19,166 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Secured loans | ||
| At 1 January | 36,863 | 57,863 |
| Accrued interest | 2,748 | 3,495 |
| Origination of loans | - | - |
| Repayment of loans | - | - |
| Less loan impairment | (19,077) | (24,495) |
| At 31 December | 20,534 | 36,863 |
| Other Loans | 4,084 | 7,000 |
| Total Loans | 24,618 | 43,863 |
The Group has extended loans with a gross maximum credit risk exposure of €81,133,000 (2009: €84,049,000). Net of impairment provisions the net maximum credit risk exposed is €24,618,000 (2009: €43,863,000). Of these net exposures, €20,534,000 (2009: €36,863,000) are secured on land over which the Group has collateral of first charges. The remaining loans outstanding are unsecured.
The secured loans were provided for the purchase of sites, located in prime areas of London, Manchester and the Isle of Man, over which the Group has collateral of first charges. The secured loans are repayable before commencement of construction, with reviews at regular intervals. The weighted average interest rate applicable to these secured loans is 4.62%. The fair value of the collateral held is approximately equal to the fair value of the secured loans, which is the carrying value. The development sites held as collateral were valued at fair value at 31 December 2010 by independent external professional valuers on an existing use basis. There are no conditions associated with the use of the Group's collateral and the Group has an obligation to return the security when the loans are fully discharged.
The credit quality of the loans is assessed at each reporting date and in 2010 the Directors made an additional impairment provision of €19,077,000 bringing the cumulative principal impairment provision to €56,515,000 in recognition that the value of the land provided by the borrowers as security for the loans had diminished. At 31 December 2010 one loan with a gross balance outstanding of €29,245,000 before provisions which was due to be repaid during 2010 remains outstanding. Given the impairment provisions, the Directors are satisfied that the amounts at which the loans are being carried at 31 December 2010 are recoverable and consider the carrying amount of the loans to be their fair value.
| Retirement benefit obligation €000s |
Tax losses €000s |
Unrealised losses on investment & loans €000s |
Accelerated capital allowances €000s |
Total €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 January 2009 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Credited to other comprehensive income | 2,888 | - | - | - | 2,888 |
| Credited to income statement | - | 4,019 | - | - | 4,019 |
| At 31 December 2009 | 2,888 | 4,019 | - | - | 6,907 |
| Re-classified from deferred tax liability | - | - | 790 | 568 | 1,358 |
| Debited to other comprehensive income | (1,531) | - | - | - | (1,531) |
| Credited to income statement | - | (2,495) | 4,935 | 73 | 2,513 |
| At 31 December 2010 | 1,357 | 1,524 | 5,725 | 641 | 9,247 |
A deferred tax asset of €1,357,000 has been recognised in respect of the retirement benefit obligation of €10,859,000. A further deferred tax asset of €1,524,000 has been recognised in respect of losses forward to the extent that it is probable, based on management projections, that taxable profits will be available against which the losses can be utilised in the future.
Deferred tax assets not recognised at the reporting date:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Tax losses | 23,453 | 21,710 |
| Unused tax credits | 1,808 | 2,503 |
| 25,261 | 24,213 |
Of the unused tax losses, €4,167,000 (2009: €5,667,000) will expire by 2021 and a further €16,593,000 (2009: €14,112,000) will expire in 2025. The remaining losses/credits may be carried forward indefinitely.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| (i) At amortised cost | ||
| Investments held to maturity | 496,852 | 581,096 |
| (ii) At fair value | ||
| Available for sale investments – unquoted investments | 7,282 | 9,476 |
| Investments held for trading – quoted shares | 14,050 | 26,191 |
| Investments held for trading – unquoted debt securities | 3,809 | 3,809 |
| (iii) At cost | ||
| Cash and cash equivalents | 36,714 | 44,036 |
| Deposits with banks | 195,172 | 75,462 |
The fair value of investments held to maturity at closing bid prices was €517,690,000 (2009: €611,835,000).
During 2010, the Group disposed of certain held to maturity investments in advance of their normal maturity date. The Directors are satisfied that the disposals do not call into question the Group's intention to hold other investments to maturity on the basis that the investments disposed of suffered a significant and actual deterioration in the issuer's creditworthiness after the securities were acquired.
Deposits with banks have increased by €119,710,000 mainly as a result of the disposal of the held to maturity investments during 2010.
The following tables provide an analysis of financial instruments that are measured subsequent to initial recognition at fair value, grouped into Levels 1 to 3 based on the degree to which the fair value is observable.
| 2010 | Level 1 €000s |
Level 2 €000s |
Level 3 €000s |
Total €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investments held for trading | ||||
| Quoted shares | 14,050 | - | - | 14,050 |
| Unquoted debt securities | - | 3,809 | - | 3,809 |
| AFS investments | ||||
| Unquoted investments | - | - | 7,282 | 7,282 |
| 14,050 | 3,809 | 7,282 | 25,141 |
| 2009 Investments held for trading |
Level 1 €000s |
Level 2 €000s |
Level 3 €000s |
Total €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quoted shares | 26,191 | - | - | 26,191 |
| Unquoted debt securities | - | 3,809 | - | 3,809 |
| AFS investments | ||||
| Unquoted investments | - | - | 9,476 | 9,476 |
| 26,191 | 3,809 | 9,476 | 39,476 |
A reconciliation of Level 3 fair value measurement of financial assets is shown in the table below.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Level 3 financial assets at 1 January | 9,476 | 11,051 |
| Total losses recognised in Income Statement | (2,000) | - |
| Revaluation decrease | - | (1,554) |
| Disposals | (194) | (21) |
| Level 3 financial assets at 31 December | 7,282 | 9,476 |
Available for sale investments comprise unquoted securities and consist of a number of small investments. The values attributable to these investments are derived from a number of valuation techniques including cost, net asset or net book value or the net present value of future cash flows based on conservative operating projections.
Financial liabilities at amortised cost consist of borrowings which at the year end amounted to €117,766,000 (2009: €120,051,000).
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Work in progress | 18,008 | 28,756 |
| Development land held for resale | 28,037 | 30,470 |
| 46,045 | 59,226 |
Inventories at a carrying value of €11,200,000 are expected to be recovered within 1 year (2009: €4,357,770). The amount of inventory charged as a cost of sale relating to sale of properties in La Cala is €13,181,000 (2009: €3,224,000).
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Income tax receivable | 6,003 | 175 |
The movements in deferred acquisition costs during the year were:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Gross carrying amount at 1 January | 19,963 | 17,733 |
| Net acquisition costs deferred during the year | 568 | 2,230 |
| Gross carrying amount at 31 December | 20,531 | 19,963 |
All deferred acquisition costs are expected to be recovered within one year from 31 December 2010.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Policyholders | 36,168 | 34,415 |
| Intermediaries | 2,473 | 1,987 |
| Due from reinsurers | 1 | 1 |
| Other debtors | 20,674 | 20,798 |
| Accrued interest and rent | 525 | 913 |
| Prepayments and accrued income | 11,438 | 14,567 |
| 71,279 | 72,681 |
Receivables arising out of direct insurance operations are considered by the Directors to have low credit risk and therefore no provision for bad or doubtful debts has been made. There is no significant concentration of risk in receivables arising out of direct insurance operations or any other activities.
The Directors consider that the carrying amount of receivables approximates to their fair value. All other receivables are due within one year and none are past due.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Demand deposits | 28,586 | 43,376 |
| Cash in hand | 8,128 | 660 |
| 36,714 | 44,036 |
There are no restrictions on the use of demand deposits.
| Number | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|---|---|---|
| (i) Ordinary shares of 60 cent each | ||
| Authorised: | ||
| At the beginning and the end of the year 51,326,000 |
30,796 | 30,796 |
| Issued and fully paid: | ||
| At the beginning and the end of the year 35,461,206 |
21,277 | 21,277 |
| (ii) 'A' Ordinary shares of 1 cent each | ||
| Authorised: | ||
| At the beginning and the end of the year 120,000,000 |
1,200 | 1,200 |
| Issued and fully paid: | ||
| At the beginning and the end of the year 13,169,428 |
132 | 132 |
| 21,409 | 21,409 |
The 'A' ordinary shares of 1 cent each are non-voting. They are non-transferable except only to the Company. Other than a right to a return of paid up capital of 1 cent per 'A' ordinary share in the event of a winding up, the 'A' ordinary shares have no right to participate in the capital or the profits of the Company.
The holders of the two classes of non-cumulative preference shares rank ahead of the two classes of ordinary shares in the event of a winding up (see note 27). Before any dividend can be declared on the ordinary shares of 60 cent each, the dividend on the non-cumulative preference shares must firstly be declared or paid.
The number of ordinary shares of 60 cent each held as treasury shares at the beginning and end of the year (and the maximum number held during the year) was 2,191,730. This represented 6.18% of the shares of this class in issue and had a nominal value of €1.315m. There were no movements during the year in the Company's holding of treasury shares.
The weighted average number of ordinary shares of 60 cent each in the earnings per share calculation has been reduced by the number of such shares held in treasury.
At 31 December 2010, the total number of ordinary shares of 60 cent each under option amounted to 1,161,864 (2009: 1,199,422). The related options had been granted under the FBD Holdings plc Executive Share Option Scheme ("ESOS") and the FBD Group Save as You Earn (SAYE) Scheme (the "SAYE Scheme"). 249,825 (2009: 249,825) of the options outstanding under the ESOS may be exercised prior to October 2013 at a subscription price of €2.50 per share. 875,000 (2009: 905,000) of the options outstanding under the ESOS may be exercised between August 2012 and September 2014 at a subscription price of €7.45 per share conditional on certain performance conditions being met. The 37,039 (2009: 44,597) options outstanding under the SAYE Scheme may be exercised after February 2011 at a subscription price of €18.46 per share.
All issued shares have been fully paid.
| Share premium €000s |
Capital conversion reserve €000s |
Capital redemption reserve €000s |
Share option reserve €000s |
Total Group €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 5,540 | 1,627 | 4,426 | 2,006 | 13,599 |
| Recognition of share-based payments | - | - | - | 698 | 698 |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 5,540 | 1,627 | 4,426 | 2,704 | 14,297 |
| Recognition of share-based payments | - | - | - | 1,016 | 1,016 |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 5,540 | 1,627 | 4,426 | 3,720 | 15,313 |
| Share premium €000s |
Capital conversion reserve €000s |
Capital redemption reserve €000s |
Share option reserve €000s |
Total Company €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 5,540 | 1,627 | 4,426 | - | 11,593 |
| Recognition of share-based payments | - | - | - | 2,704 | 2,704 |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 5,540 | 1,627 | 4,426 | 2,704 | 14,297 |
| Recognition of share-based payments | - | - | - | 1,016 | 1,016 |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 5,540 | 1,627 | 4,426 | 3,720 | 15,313 |
Capital conversion reserve arose on the redenomination of ordinary, 14% and 8% non-cumulative preference shares from IR50p into ordinary or non-cumulative preference shares of 63.4869 cent. Each such share was then renominalised to an ordinary or a non-cumulative preference share of 60 cent, an amount equal to the reduction in the issued share capital was transferred to the capital conversion reserve fund.
Capital redemption reserve arose on the buyback and cancellation of issued share capital.
Share option reserve arose on the recognition of share-based payments.
| Property, plant and equipment €000s |
Available for sale investments €000s |
Total €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 1,926 | 1,369 | 3,295 |
| Revaluation of property, plant and equipment | (5,241) | - | (5,241) |
| Deferred tax on revaluation of property, plant and equipment | 3,802 | - | 3,802 |
| Non-controlling interests share of revaluation of property, plant and equipment |
246 | - | 246 |
| Revaluation of AFS investments | - | (1,554) | (1,554) |
| Deferred tax on revaluation of AFS investments | - | 194 | 194 |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 733 | 9 | 742 |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 733 | 9 | 742 |
There has been no movement on revaluation reserves in 2010.
The revaluation reserve arises on the revaluation of property and available for sale investments. When such assets are sold, the portion of the revaluation reserve which relates to that asset, and which is effectively realised, is transferred directly to retained earnings.
Distributions from the revaluation reserve can be made where they are in accordance with the requirements of the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association and the Companies Acts and relevant case law. The Directors do not currently intend to make any distributions from the revaluation reserve. The deferred tax liability in respect of the revaluation reserve is set out in note 32.
| €000s | |
|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 197,788 |
| Dividends paid | (6,936) |
| Net loss for the year | (35,858) |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 154,994 |
| Dividends paid and approved | (10,429) |
| Net profit for the year | 192 |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 144,757 |
| Authorised: At the beginning and the end of the year |
Number | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|---|---|---|---|
| 14% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each | 1,340,000 | 804 | 804 |
| 8% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each | 12,750,000 | 7,650 | 7,650 |
| 8,454 | 8,454 | ||
| Issued and fully paid: | |||
| At the beginning and the end of the year | |||
| 14% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each | 1,340,000 | 804 | 804 |
| 8% Non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each | 3,532,292 | 2,119 | 2,119 |
| 2,923 | 2,923 |
The rights attaching to each class of share capital are set out in the Company's Articles of Association. In the event of the Company being wound up, the holders of the 14% non-cumulative preference shares rank ahead of the holders of the 8% non-cumulative preference shares, who in turn, rank ahead of the holders of both the 'A' ordinary shares of 1 cent each and the holders of the ordinary shares of 60 cent each.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January | 3,030 | 4,151 |
| Share of profit for year | 125 | 193 |
| Share of impairment of property, plant and equipment | (952) | (1,179) |
| Dividends paid to non-controlling interests | (150) | (135) |
| Balance at 31 December | 2,053 | 3,030 |
| 29 | TSTA U O MS AI CL |
G N DI N |
|||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (a) | ms Outstanding 2010 Gross Clai |
||||||||||||
| Prior years €000s |
€000s 2001 |
€000s 2002 |
2003 €000s |
2004 €000s |
€000s 2005 |
2006 €000s |
€000s 2007 |
2008 €000s |
2009 €000s |
2010 €000s |
Total €000s |
||
| ms: mulative clai mate of Esti cu |
|||||||||||||
| writing year At end of under |
- | 204,550 | 269,756 | 262,132 | 329,087 | 329,501 | 393,944 | 340,460 | 383,918 | 378,839 | 352,635 | - | |
| One year later | - | 200,668 | 222,441 | 225,267 | 277,415 | 278,281 | 306,441 | 316,394 | 373,373 | 342,548 | - | - | |
| Two years later | - | 198,406 | 209,284 | 206,220 | 255,510 | 243,243 | 299,096 | 308,665 | 373,203 | - | - | - | |
| Three years later | - | 182,112 | 198,551 | 185,363 | 223,571 | 229,877 | 297,147 | 303,432 | - | - | - | - | |
| Four years later | - | 168,013 | 174,132 | 165,686 | 215,480 | 224,576 | 291,218 | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Five years later | - | 162,933 | 165,741 | 156,734 | 207,644 | 218,926 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Six years later | - | 158,137 | 158,403 | 151,625 | 208,007 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Seven years later | - | 155,619 | 157,472 | 150,762 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Eight years later | - | 154,184 | 156,795 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| Nine years later | - | 151,849 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| ms mulative clai mate of Esti cu |
- | 151,849 | 156,795 | 150,762 | 208,007 | 218,926 | 291,218 | 303,432 | 373,203 | 342,548 | 352,635 | - | |
| mulative payments Cu |
- | (147,469) (152,020) (143,112) (191,044) (191,696) (247,540) (228,729) (267,752) (215,350) (115,672) | - | ||||||||||
| ms outstanding Clai |
|||||||||||||
| mber At 31 Dece 2010: |
8,665 | 4,380 | 4,775 | 7,650 | 16,963 | 27,230 | 43,678 | 74,703 | 105,451 | 127,198 | 236,963 | 657,656 | |
| mber At 31 Dece 2009: |
14,099 | 10,642 | 7,284 | 11,559 | 26,100 | 44,932 | 69,034 | 99,886 | 146,700 | 241,193 | - | 671,429 | |
| ment during Move 2010: |
(5,434) | (6,262) | (2,509) | (3,909) | (9,137) | (17,702) | (25,356) | (25,183) | (41,249) (113,995) | 236,963 | (13,773) | ||
| Prior years €000s |
€000s 2001 |
2002 €000s |
€000s 2003 |
2004 €000s |
2005 €000s |
2006 €000s |
2007 €000s |
2008 €000s |
2009 €000s |
2010 €000s |
€000s Total |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ms: mulative clai mate of Esti cu |
||||||||||||
| writing year At end of under |
- | 187,573 | 211,714 | 221,439 | 265,069 | 290,028 | 297,864 | 307,269 | 338,162 | 308,494 | 282,830 | - |
| One year later | - | 184,898 | 195,516 | 203,161 | 227,657 | 286,600 | 257,379 | 281,264 | 319,002 | 286,115 | - | - |
| Two years later | - | 185,859 | 187,346 | 182,746 | 213,828 | 221,359 | 254,396 | 277,391 | 318,124 | - | - | - |
| Three years later | - | 173,695 | 170,686 | 167,233 | 183,663 | 210,457 | 251,077 | 273,128 | - | - | - | - |
| Four years later | - | 157,573 | 147,562 | 148,354 | 176,006 | 205,132 | 246,832 | - | - | - | - | - |
| Five years later | - | 151,206 | 142,054 | 141,356 | 171,196 | 200,640 | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Six years later | - | 145,668 | 138,321 | 136,829 | 168,266 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Seven years later | - | 144,435 | 136,028 | 135,158 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Eight years later | - | 142,108 | 134,827 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Nine years later | - | 138,991 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| ms mulative clai mate of Esti cu |
- | 138,991 | 134,827 | 135,158 | 168,266 | 200,640 | 246,832 | 273,128 | 318,124 | 286,115 | 282,830 | - |
| mulative payments Cu |
- | (134,620) (130,068) (127,546) (151,316) (173,507) (203,499) (199,010) (219,079) (172,323) | (93,962) | - | ||||||||
| ms outstanding Clai |
- | |||||||||||
| mber At 31 Dece 2010: |
6,759 | 4,371 | 4,759 | 7,612 | 16,950 | 27,133 | 43,333 | 74,118 | 99,045 | 113,792 | 188,868 | 586,740 |
| mber At 31 Dece 2009: |
13,242 | 10,091 | 7,772 | 12,271 | 29,365 | 43,400 | 65,966 | 97,162 | 130,310 | 194,164 | - | 603,743 |
| ment during Move 2010: |
(6,483) | (5,720) | (3,013) | (4,659) | (12,415) ( 16,267) | (22,633) | (23,044) | (31,265) | (80,372) | 188,868 | (17,003) | |
Full provision, net of reinsurance recoveries, is made at the reporting date for the estimated cost of claims incurred but not settled, including claims incurred but not yet reported and expenses to be incurred after the reporting date in settling those claims. The Group takes all reasonable steps to ensure that it has appropriate information regarding notified claims and uses this information when estimating the cost of those claims.
The Group uses estimation techniques, based on statistical analysis of past experience, to calculate the estimated cost of claims outstanding at the year end. It is assumed that the development pattern of the current claims will be consistent with previous experience. Allowance is made, however, for any changes or uncertainties that may cause the cost of unsettled claims to increase or reduce. These changes or uncertainties may arise from issues such as the effects of inflation, changes in the mix of business or the legal environment.
At each reporting date, liability adequacy tests are performed to ensure the adequacy of the insurance liabilities. In performing these tests, current best estimates of future cash flows and claims handling and administration expenses are used. Any deficiency is immediately recognised in the consolidated income statement.
Provision is also made in respect of the Group's share of the estimated liability for outstanding claims of the Motor Insurers' Bureau of Ireland ("MIBI"). This provision is based on our estimated current market share and the current outstanding claims of the MIBI.
| Gross €000s |
Net €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 626,188 | 592,644 |
| Change in provision for claims | 45,241 | 11,099 |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 671,429 | 603,743 |
| Change in provision for claims | (13,773) | (17,003) |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 657,656 | 586,740 |
The following changes have occurred in the provision for unearned premium during the year.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January | 176,603 | 188,017 |
| Net premium written | 303,213 | 303,137 |
| Net premium earned | (302,540) | (314,604) |
| Changes in provision for unearned premium – reinsurers' share | (797) | 53 |
| Provision for unearned premium at 31 December | 176,479 | 176,603 |
| Claims outstanding €000s |
Unearned premium reserve €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Balance at 1 January 2009 | 33,544 | 25,450 |
| Movement during year | 34,142 | 53 |
| Balance at 31 December 2009 | 67,686 | 25,503 |
| Movement during year | 3,230 | (797) |
| Balance at 31 December 2010 | 70,916 | 24,706 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Bank loans | 39,249 | 40,734 |
| Other loans from related parties | 60,000 | 60,800 |
| Obligation under property financing arrangements | 18,517 | 18,517 |
| Total borrowings | 117,766 | 120,051 |
Hotel and golf resort assets to the value of €50,000,000 have been used as security for bank loans totalling €38,866,000 (2009: €40,185,000).
Liabilities in respect of the obligations under property financing arrangements fall due for settlement in 2012 and relate to a loan which is guaranteed by the Group as described in note 40.
The maturity profile of the Group's bank and other loans are analysed as follows:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Bank and other loans | 99,249 | 101,534 |
| The borrowings are repayable as follows: | ||
| On demand or within one year | 1,831 | 2,516 |
| In the second year | 65,539 | 62,162 |
| In the third year | 31,879 | 12,964 |
| In the fourth year | - | 1,382 |
| In the fifth year | - | 1,382 |
| After five years | - | 21,128 |
| 99,249 | 101,534 |
All borrowings at 31 December 2010 and 2009 are denominated in euro and are at floating interest rates, exposing the Group to cash flow interest rate risk.
| 2010 | 2009 | |
|---|---|---|
| The average interest rates were as follows: | 2.74% | 2.94% |
All interest on the borrowings was charged to the income statement.
The Group operates a funded defined benefit retirement benefit scheme for qualifying employees of its Irish based staff. Under the defined benefit plan, employees are entitled to retirement benefits of 1/60th of final salary for each year of service on attainment of a retirement age of 65. A full actuarial valuation was carried out on 1 July 2010, using the projected unit credit method, and updated to 31 December 2010 by the schemes' independent and qualified actuary. The long-term investment objective of the Trustees and the Group is to limit the risk of the assets failing to meet the liabilities of the scheme over the long term, and to maximise returns consistent with an acceptable level of risk so as to control the long-term costs of the scheme. To meet these objectives, the scheme's assets are invested in a diversified portfolio, consisting primarily of equity and debt securities. These reflect the current long-term asset allocation ranges, having regard to the structure of liabilities within the scheme. The major assumptions used by the actuary were:
| 2010 % |
2009 % |
|
|---|---|---|
| Inflation rate increase | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Salary rate increase | 3.00 | 3.00 |
| Pension payment increase: | ||
| – past service average | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| – future service | 0.00 | 2.00 |
| Discount rate | 5.00 | 5.25 |
| 2010 % |
2009 % |
|
|---|---|---|
| Quoted shares | 6.75 | 6.75 |
| Government gilts | 4.00 | 4.00 |
| Investment properties | 6.25 | 6.25 |
<-- PDF CHUNK SEPARATOR -->
| 2010 Years |
2009 Years |
|
|---|---|---|
| The average life expectancy of current and future retirees used in the scheme at age 65 is as follows: |
||
| Male | 21.6 | 24.1 |
| Female | 23.3 | 27.8 |
The basis used to determine the expected return on plan assets is the money weighted rate of return achieved on the asset values used for the purpose of calculating the long-term funding rate. The actual return on the scheme assets for the year was €6,881,000 (2009: €11,210,000).
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Charged to consolidated income statement: | ||
| Current service cost | 3,993 | 3,289 |
| Past service gain | (11,063) | - |
| Death in service cost | - | 24 |
| (7,070) | 3,313 | |
| Interest on scheme liabilities | (6,335) | (5,630) |
| Expected return on scheme assets | 5,478 | 4,686 |
| (857) | (944) | |
| (Credit)/charge to income statement | (6,213) | 4,257 |
As the reduction in the Group's liability for retirement benefits as a result of changes in pay and conditions agreed by management and staff vested immediately it is reflected as a credit of €11,063,000 in the consolidated income statement. Other charges to the consolidated income statement have been included in other underwriting and non-underwriting expenses.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Expected return on scheme assets excess of actuarial return | 5,478 | 4,686 |
| Actual return on scheme assets | 6,881 | 11,210 |
| Actual return less expected return on scheme assets | 1,403 | 6,524 |
| Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities | 2,270 | (1,315) |
| Changes in demographic and financial assumptions | 458 | (13,765) |
| Actuarial gain/(loss) | 4,131 | (8,556) |
| Deferred tax (charge)/credit | (1,531) | 2,888 |
| Actuarial gain/(loss) net of deferred tax | 2,600 | (5,668) |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
2008 €000s |
2007 €000s |
2006 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Present value of defined benefit obligations | 114,367 | 120,755 | 98,956 | 115,871 | 112,706 |
| Fair value of plan assets | 103,508 | 97,652 | 82,844 | 109,630 | 109,119 |
| Deficit | 10,859 | 23,103 | 16,112 | 6,241 | 3,587 |
| Difference between expected and actual return on assets |
1,403 | 6,524 | (37,076) | (9,735) | 7,114 |
| Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities |
2,270 | (1,315) | 2,889 | (2,300) | (5,000) |
| Actuarial gain/(loss) | 4,131 | (8,556) | (10,174) | (4,677) | (3,869) |
The cumulative charge to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income is €61,883,000 (2009: €66,014,000).
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Equities | 49,607 | 42,158 |
| Bonds | 26,550 | 36,019 |
| Property | 4,554 | 4,565 |
| Managed funds | 13,777 | 12,472 |
| Cash deposits and other | 9,020 | 2,438 |
| 103,508 | 97,652 | |
| Actuarial value of liabilities | (114,367) | (120,755) |
| Net pension liability | (10,859) | (23,103) |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Net deficit in scheme at 1 January | (23,103) | (16,112) |
| Current service cost | (3,993) | (3,289) |
| Past service gain | 11,063 | - |
| Employer contributions | 1,900 | 5,798 |
| Interest on scheme liabilities | (6,335) | (5,630) |
| Expected return on scheme assets | 5,478 | 4,686 |
| Actuarial gain/(loss) | 4,131 | (8,556) |
| Net deficit at 31 December | (10,859) | (23,103) |
| Assets | 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|---|---|---|
| Assets in scheme at 1 January | 97,652 | 82,844 |
| Actual return less expected return on scheme assets | 1,403 | 6,524 |
| Contributions | 1,900 | 5,798 |
| Employee contributions | 160 | 261 |
| Expected return on scheme assets | 5,478 | 4,686 |
| Benefits paid | (3,085) | (2,461) |
| Assets in scheme at 31 December | 103,508 | 97,652 |
| Liabilities | ||
| Liabilities in scheme at 1 January | 120,755 | 98,956 |
| Experience gains and losses on scheme liabilities | (2,270) | 1,315 |
| Changes in demographic and financial assumptions | (458) | 13,765 |
| Current service cost | 3,993 | 3,289 |
| Past service gain | (11,063) | - |
| Employee contributions | 160 | 261 |
| Interest on scheme liabilities | 6,335 | 5,630 |
| Benefits paid | (3,085) | (2,461) |
| Liabilities in scheme at 31 December | 114,367 | 120,755 |
The sensitivities regarding the principal assumptions used to measure the scheme liabilities are as follows:
The Group also operates defined contribution retirement benefit plans for qualifying employees who opt to join. The assets of the plans are held separately from those of the Group in funds under the control of Trustees. The Group recognised an expense of €1,534,000 (2009: €1,097,000) relating to these pension schemes.
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities recognised by the Group, and the movements thereon, during the current and prior reporting years.
| Revaluation of property, plant and equipment €000s |
Revaluation of investment property €000s |
Revaluation of financial investments €000s |
Insurance contracts €000s |
Pension contribution prepayment €000s |
Other timing differences €000s |
Total €000s |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 January 2009 | 6,109 | 788 | (335) | 7,024 | 1,707 | (231) | 15,062 |
| Credited to other comprehensive income |
(3,802) | - | (194) | - | - | - | (3,996) |
| (Credited)/debited to income statement |
(2,215) | (788) | 530 | 3,326 | (1,707) | 295 | (559) |
| At 31 December 2009 | 92 | - | 1 | 10,350 | - | 64 | 10,507 |
| Reclassed to deferred tax asset |
- | - | - | 1,358 | - | - | 1,358 |
| Reclassed to current tax |
- | - | - | (19) | - | - | (19) |
| Credited to income statement |
- | - | - | (95) | - | - | (95) |
| At 31 December 2010 | 92 | - | 1 | 11,594 | - | 64 | 11,751 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Payables arising out of direct insurance operations | 8,744 | 11,752 |
| Amounts falling due within one year: | ||
| Payables and accruals | 52,282 | 42,878 |
| PAYE/PRSI | 2,464 | 1,867 |
| Proposed dividends on preference shares | 451 | 169 |
| 55,197 | 44,914 | |
| 63,941 | 56,666 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Amounts falling due within one year: | ||
| Payables and accruals | 773 | 142 |
| Proposed dividends on preference shares | 451 | 169 |
| 1,224 | 311 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Investment activities | ||
| Purchase of investments held for trading | (7,440) | (21,131) |
| Sale of investments held for trading | 20,656 | 20,168 |
| Purchase of investments held to maturity | (14,893) | (115,887) |
| Sale of investments held to maturity | 91,236 | 14,000 |
| Sale of available for sale investments | 118 | 21 |
| Purchase of property, plant and equipment | (6,415) | (8,474) |
| Sale of property, plant and equipment | 680 | - |
| Sale of investment property | - | 792 |
| (Increase)/decrease in deposits with banks | (119,710) | 107,681 |
| Decrease in loans | 2,916 | 5,626 |
| (32,852) | 2,796 |
| 2010 | 1 January 2010 €000s |
Cash flow €000s |
Changes to market value €000s |
31 December 2010 €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 44,036 | (7,322) | - | 36,714 |
| Investments held for trading | 30,000 | (13,216) | 1,075 | 17,859 |
| Investments held to maturity | 581,096 | (76,343) | (7,901) | 496,852 |
| Investments available for sale | 9,476 | (118) | (2,076) | 7,282 |
| Deposits with banks | 75,462 | 119,710 | - | 195,172 |
| Loans | 43,863 | (2,916) | (16,329) | 24,618 |
| Property | 158,186 | (199) | (19,868) | 138,119 |
| Inventory | 59,226 | (13,181) | - | 46,045 |
| Investment property | 43,267 | - | (899) | 42,368 |
| Borrowings | (101,534) | 2,285 | - | (99,249) |
| 943,078 | 8,700 | (45,998) | 905,780 |
| 2009 | 1 January 2009 €000s |
Cash flow €000s |
Changes to market value €000s |
31 December 2009 €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cash | 35,713 | 8,323 | - | 44,036 |
| Investments held for trading | 24,112 | 963 | 4,925 | 30,000 |
| Investments held to maturity | 479,626 | 101,887 | (417) | 581,096 |
| Investments available for sale | 11,051 | (21) | (1,554) | 9,476 |
| Deposits with banks | 183,143 | (107,681) | - | 75,462 |
| Loans | 70,489 | (5,626) | (21,000) | 43,863 |
| Property | 191,423 | 728 | (33,965) | 158,186 |
| Inventory | 62,383 | (3,157) | - | 59,226 |
| Investment property | 52,538 | (792) | (8,479) | 43,267 |
| Borrowings | (92,451) | (9,083) | - | (101,534) |
| 1,018,027 | (14,459) | (60,490) | 943,078 |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Paid during year: | ||
| Dividend of Nil cent (2009: 4.8 cent) per share on 8% non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
- | 169 |
| Dividend of Nil cent (2009: 8.4 cent) per share on 14% non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
- | 113 |
| 2009 Final dividend of 20.0 cent (2008: 10.0 cent) per share on ordinary shares of 60 cent each |
6,654 | 3,327 |
| 2010 Interim dividend of 10.5 cent (2009: 10.0 cent) | ||
| per share on ordinary shares of 60 cent each | 3,493 | 3,327 |
| 10,147 | 6,936 | |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
| Approved but not paid: | ||
| Dividend of 4.8 cent (2009: Nil cent) per share on 8% non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
169 | - |
| Dividend of 8.4 cent (2009: Nil cent) per share on 14% non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
113 | - |
| 282 | - | |
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
| Proposed: | ||
| Dividend of 4.8 cent (2009: 4.8 cent) per share on 8% non-cumulative preference shares of 60 cent each |
169 | 169 |
| Final dividend of 21.0 cent (2009: 20.0 cent) per share on ordinary shares of 60 cent each |
6,987 | 6,654 |
| 7,156 | 6,823 |
The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not been included as a liability in these financial statements.
| Subsidiaries | Nature of Operations | % Owned |
|---|---|---|
| FBD Insurance plc | General insurance underwriter | 100 |
| FBD Insurance Brokers Limited | General insurance brokers | 100 |
| FBD Life & Pensions Limited | Investment services, pensions and life brokers | 100 |
| FBD Property & Leisure Limited | Property investment and marketing | 100 |
| La Cala Golf Club S.L. | Golf resort | 75 |
| Ranchos Reunidos S.A. | Property | 100 |
| Sunset Beach Club S.A. | Hoteliers | 100 |
| FBD Hotels (Ireland) Limited | Hoteliers | 100 |
The Registered Office of each of the above subsidiaries is at FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, with the exception of Ranchos Reunidos S.A. and La Cala Golf Club S.L. which are at La Cala Resort, La Cala de Mijas, 29649 Mijas-Costa, Malaga, Spain and Sunset Beach Club S.A. which is at Avenida Del Sol No. 5, 29630 Benalmadena-Costa, Malaga, Spain.
All shareholdings are in the form of ordinary shares.
The financial year end for the Group's principal subsidiaries is 31 December.
FBD Holdings plc is an Irish registered public limited company. The Company's ordinary shares of 60 cent each are listed on the Irish Stock Exchange and the UK Listing Authority and are traded on both the Irish Stock Exchange and London Stock Exchange.
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Capital commitments at 31 December authorised by the Directors but not provided for in the financial statements: |
||
| Contracted for | - | 559 |
| Not contracted for | 184 | - |
There were no contingent liabilities or contingent assets at either 31 December 2010 or 31 December 2009.
In September 1989, the Group established an equity settled executive share option scheme, the FBD Holdings plc Executive Share Option Scheme ("ESOS") under which options to purchase ordinary shares of 60 cent each ("ordinary shares") in the Company were granted to certain executive Directors and senior management during the life of the scheme. Under the terms of the ESOS the options are exercisable at the market price prevailing at the date of the grant of the option (the "option price"). Under the terms of an amendment to the ESOS approved by shareholders in April 2006, the option price may be reduced by the amount of any special dividends paid to shareholders. Options were granted under the ESOS in September 1989, September 1995, May 2000, October 2003 and August 2009. The exercise of options granted since 18 April 2000 is conditional on growth in earnings per share of at least 2% per annum, compound, over the increase in the consumer price index over not less than three years from the date of grant.
A summary of the options outstanding under the ESOS during the year is as follows:
| 2010 Weighted Average exercise price in € per share |
2010 Options |
2009 Weighted Average exercise price in € per share |
2009 Options |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| At 1 January | 6.38 | 1,154,825 | 2.50 | 249,825 |
| Granted | - | - | 7.45 | 905,000 |
| Exercised | - | - | - | - |
| Lapsed | 7.45 | 30,000 | - | - |
| At 31 December | 6.35 | 1,124,825 | 6.38 | 1,154,825 |
| Total exercisable at 31 December | 2.50 | 249,825 | 2.50 | 249,825 |
The fair values of the options granted under the ESOS in October 2003 and August 2009 were calculated at €12.03 and €1.62 respectively. These fair values were independently calculated using the assumptions overleaf.
No further options can be granted under the ESOS.
In May 2007, shareholders approved the establishment of the FBD Group Save as You Earn (SAYE) Scheme (the "SAYE Scheme"). Under the SAYE Scheme, eligible Group employees can be granted options to subscribe for ordinary shares in the Company at a discount of up to 25% to the prevailing market price of the Company's ordinary shares, as provided for under the SAYE Scheme Rules which are Revenue Commissioner approved. The option price can be reduced, in accordance with the SAYE Scheme Rules, by the amount of any special dividends paid to shareholders provided that any such reduction has the approval of the Revenue Commissioners.
The only grant of options under the plan to date was made in October 2007 and was aligned to three year savings contracts which commenced in January 2008. Options were granted over a total of 164,573 ordinary shares at an option price of €19.95 which represented a discount of 20% to the prevailing market price at the time of grant. As a consequence of the payment of a special dividend of €1.49 per share during 2008 the option price was reduced, by agreement with the Revenue Commissioners, to €18.46. Options over 7,558 shares lapsed during the year (2009: 103,055). No options under the SAYE Scheme were exercised during the year. Options remain outstanding over a total of 37,039 ordinary shares at 31 December 2010 (2009: 44,597), none of which are exercisable at that date.
The fair value of the options under the SAYE Scheme has been independently calculated at €5.84 using the assumptions detailed below.
The FBD Group Performance Share Plan (the "LTIP") was approved by shareholders in May 2007. Conditional awards of ordinary shares under the LTIP are dependent on the Group meeting onerous performance targets in terms of EPS growth, total shareholder returns and maintenance of the combined operating ratio ahead of peer companies in the European general insurance sector. These targets are described in more detail in the Report on Directors Remuneration. The extent to which these conditions have been met and any award (or part of an award) has therefore vested will be determined in due course by the Remuneration Committee. Only one conditional award has been made under the LTIP to date, in August 2008. This award was over a total of 98,149 ordinary shares. The fair value of the award has been independently calculated to be €6.04 per share using the assumptions detailed below.
The fair values of the options and conditional share awards noted above have been calculated using the following assumptions:
| ESOS grant October 2003 |
SAYE grant October 2007 |
LTIP award August 2008 |
ESOS grant August 2009 |
|
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Share price at grant | €10.59 | €24.42 | €12.90 | €7.40 |
| Initial option/award price | €10.59 | €19.95 | €12.90 | €7.45 |
| Expected volatility | 20% | 20% | 35% | 35% |
| Expected life in years | 3 | 3 | 2.58 | 3 |
| Risk free interest rate | 2.98% | 4.1% | 4.0% | 2.5% |
| Expected dividend yield % | 2% | 3% | n/a | 4.5% |
| Fair value | €12.03 | €5.84 | €6.04 | €1.62 |
Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Group's share price over the previous four to five years preceding the date of grant.
| Grant Date | Vesting Period (Years) |
Number of Options Granted |
Number outstanding at 31 December 2010 |
Grant Price € |
Market Value at Grant Date € |
Fair Value at Grant Date € |
2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26.10.07 SAYE | 3.00 | 164,573 | 37,039 | * 18.46 | 24.94 | 5.84 | 299 | 299 |
| 27.08.08 LTIP | 2.58 | 98,149 | 95,251 | - | 12.90 | 6.04 | 229 | 229 |
| 26.08.09 ESOS | 3.00 | 905,000 | 875,000 | 7.45 | 7.40 | 1.62 | 488 | 170 |
| Total | 1,016 | 698 |
* adjusted for special dividends paid since grant date.
The Company has provided five guarantees as follows:
The guarantees are deemed to have a fair value of nil because there is no residual liability applying to the Group as the obligations have already been included in full in the Consolidated Statement of Financial Position and the associated finance charges are included in the Consolidated Income Statement.
Farmer Business Developments plc has a substantial shareholding in the Group at 31 December 2010 details of which are set out in the Report of the Directors.
Included in the financial statements is an unsecured loan of €60,000,000 (2009: €60,000,000) from Farmer Business Developments plc to FBD Property & Leisure Limited, a 100% owned subsidiary of the Group. This loan is guaranteed by the Company. The loan is due to be repaid in full in July 2012. Interest is charged at market rate which is defined under the terms of the loan agreement as the 3 month Euribor rate plus a margin capped at 225 basis points. Total interest expensed in the Consolidated Income Statement for 2010 relating to this loan was €1,834,405 and interest payable at 31 December 2010 was €489,440.
Included in the financial statements at the year end is €671,227 (2009: €331,601) due from Farmer Business Developments plc. This balance is made up of recharges for services provided, recoverable costs and interest. Interest is charged on this balance at the market rate. The amount due is repayable on demand.
During 2010 a number of non trading subsidiary companies were voluntarily struck-off the Companies Register.
For the purposes of the disclosure requirements of IAS 24, the term "key management personnel" (i.e. those persons having authority and responsibility for planning, directing and controlling the activities of the Company) comprises the Board of Directors which manages the business and affairs of the Company. Full disclosure in relation to the 2010 and 2009 compensation entitlements of the Board of Directors is provided in the Report on Directors' Remuneration. In common with all shareholders, Directors received payments/distributions related to their holdings of shares in the Company during the year, amounting in total to €56,904 (2009: €35,090). Details of Directors' share options are outlined in the Report on Directors' Remuneration on pages 32 to 38. The share based payment charge to profit or loss relating to the Executive Directors during the year was €248,990 (2009: €168,007).
The objective of the risk management process is to provide a systematic, effective and efficient way for managing risk in the organisation and to ensure it is consistent with the overall business strategy and the risk appetite of the Company.
Risk Appetite is a measure of the amount and type of risks the Group is willing to accept or not accept over a defined period of time in pursuit of its objectives. The Group's risk appetite seeks to encourage measured and appropriate risk taking to ensure that risks are aligned to business strategy and objectives.
The risk appetite in the Group's underwriting subsidiary is driven by an overarching desire to protect the solvency of the company at all times. Through the proactive management of risk the company ensures that it does not have or will not take on an individual risk or combination of risks that could threaten the solvency of the company. This ensures that the company has and will have in the future sufficient capital to pay its policyholders and all other creditors in full as liabilities fall due.
The Group recognises the critical importance of efficient and effective risk management. Risk is categorised as follows:
Through its interest in its subsidiaries, the Company is exposed to the same risks as the Group.
The risk attached to any insurance policy written is the possibility that an insured event occurs and the uncertainty of the amount of the resulting claim.
The Group has developed its insurance underwriting strategy to diversify the type of insurance risks written and within each of the types of risk, to achieve a sufficiently large population of risks to reduce the variability of the expected outcome. The principal risks covered include motor, employers' and public liability and property. All risks underwritten are located in the Republic of Ireland, with no significant concentration in any one area.
The frequency and severity of claims can be affected by several factors, most notably the level of awards and inflation on settling claims. The history of claims development is set out, both gross and net of reinsurance in note 29, claims outstanding.
The Group manages these risks through its underwriting strategy, proactive claims handling and its reinsurance arrangements. The only significant concentration of insurance risk is that all of the Group's underwriting business is conducted in Ireland.
The Group's underwriting strategy is incorporated in the overall corporate strategy which is approved by the Board of Directors and includes the employment of appropriately qualified underwriting personnel; the targeting of certain types of business; constant review of the Group's pricing policy using up-to-date statistical analysis and claims experience; and the surveying of risks carried out by experienced personnel. All risks underwritten are within the terms of the Group's reinsurance treaties.
For its motor, employers' liability and public liability business, the Group has in place excess of loss reinsurance treaties and, for its property business, quota share and catastrophe reinsurance treaties operate. The Group's retention on all reinsurance treaties is approved by the Board of Directors on an annual basis.
The Group uses independent actuaries to review its liabilities to ensure that the carrying amount of the liabilities is adequate. Where the liabilities net of any related deferred acquisition costs are deemed to be inadequate, the deficiency is recognised immediately in the Consolidated Income Statement.
The Group is committed to managing its capital so as to maximise returns to shareholders. The capital of the Group comprises of issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as detailed in notes 23 to 27. The Board of Directors reviews the capital structure frequently to determine the appropriate level of capital required to pursue the Group's growth plans. The Group's overall strategy remains unchanged from 2009.
The Group's principal subsidiary, FBD Insurance plc, must maintain an adequate regulatory solvency position and must satisfy the Central Bank of Ireland that it has done so. The capital position of FBD Insurance plc is reviewed frequently by its Board of Directors. To provide protection against material events or shocks, the Group ensures that its insurance subsidiary holds sufficient capital to maintain significant regulatory surpluses.
As at 31 December 2010, FBD Insurance plc had admissible assets to cover the required solvency margin of €183,800,000 (2009: €162,085,000). The required solvency margin is €63,681,000 (2009: €64,475,000) and is calculated with reference to the European Communities (Non-Life Insurance) Framework (Amendment) Regulations 2004. The Company maintained its robust capital position and complied with all regulatory solvency margin requirements throughout the year under review and the prior year.
The Group has an investment committee and an internal control group and the insurance subsidiary has a pricing committee and a Solvency II project group, all of which assist the Board in the identification and management of exposures and capital.
The Group uses a number of sensitivity based risk-analysis tools as part of its decision making and planning processes to understand and manage the volatility of earnings and capital requirements more efficiently. The Group measures key performance indicators, including compliance with minimum statutory solvency requirements, under a number of economic and operating scenarios so as to identify and quantify the risks to which the business and its capital are exposed.
In preparation for the Board's annual review of the internal control system, senior management carry out a self assessment, in compliance with the Turnbull Process, of the significant risks, including capital risks, facing the organisation and the controls in place to mitigate or manage such exposures.
The Group regularly benchmarks each of its operating businesses relative to its peers. In this process the Group focuses on its capital requirement and efficiency as well as profitability, cost structures and market position.
The Group also devotes considerable resources to managing its relationships with the providers of capital within the capital markets, for example, existing and potential shareholders, financial institutions, stockbrokers, corporate finance houses, etc.
Operational risk could arise as a result of inadequately controlled internal processes or systems, human error, or from external events.
This definition is intended to include all risks to which the Group is exposed and strategic and Group risks that are considered elsewhere. Hence, operational risks include for example, information technology, information security, human resources, project management, outsourcing, tax, legal, fraud and compliance risks.
In accordance with Group policies, business unit management has primary responsibility for the effective identification, management, monitoring and reporting of risks. There is an annual review by executive management of all major risks. The audit committee review executive management's risk assessment to ensure that all risks are identified and evaluated. Each operational risk is assessed by considering the potential impact and the probability of the event occurring. Impact assessments are made against financial, operational and reputational criteria.
The Group is exposed to daily calls on its cash resources, mainly for claims payments. The Group manages liquidity risk by continuously monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.
The following tables provide an analysis of assets and liabilities into their relevant maturity groups based on the remaining period at the balance sheet date to their contractual maturities.
| Assets – 2010 | Carrying value total €000s |
Contracted value €000s |
Cashflow within 1 year €000s |
Cashflow 1-5 years €000s |
Cashflow after 5 years €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment property | 42,368 | 42,368 | 42,368 | - | - |
| Inventories | 46,045 | 46,045 | 11,200 | 34,845 | - |
| Financial assets | 717,165 | 747,215 | 396,272 | 350,943 | - |
| Reinsurance assets | 95,622 | 95,622 | 60,372 | 31,795 | 3,455 |
| Loans and receivables | 95,897 | 95,897 | 71,279 | 24,618 | - |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 36,714 | 36,714 | 36,714 | - | - |
| 1,033,811 | 1,063,861 | 618,205 | 442,201 | 3,455 | |
| Liabilities – 2010 | Carrying value total €000s |
Contracted value €000s |
Cashflow within 1 year €000s |
Cashflow 1-5 years €000s |
Cashflow after 5 years €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance contract liabilities | 834,135 | 834,135 | 333,885 | 407,018 | 93,232 |
| Borrowings | 117,766 | 124,876 | 4,943 | 119,933 | - |
| Payables | 63,941 | 63,941 | 63,941 | - | - |
| 1,015,842 | 1,022,952 | 402,769 | 526,951 | 93,232 |
| Assets – 2009 | Carrying value total €000s |
Contracted value €000s |
Cashflow within 1 year €000s |
Cashflow 1-5 years €000s |
Cashflow after 5 years €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment property | 43,267 | 43,267 | - | 43,267 | - |
| Inventories | 59,226 | 59,226 | 4,357 | 54,869 | - |
| Financial assets | 696,034 | 763,412 | 135,766 | 573,124 | 54,522 |
| Reinsurance assets | 93,189 | 93,189 | 71,508 | 16,870 | 4,811 |
| Loans and receivables | 116,544 | 116,544 | 72,681 | 43,863 | - |
| Cash and cash equivalents | 44,036 | 44,036 | 44,036 | - | - |
| 1,052,296 | 1,119,674 | 328,348 | 731,993 | 59,333 |
| Liabilities – 2009 | Carrying value total €000s |
Contracted value €000s |
Cashflow within 1 year €000s |
Cashflow 1-5 years €000s |
Cashflow after 5 years €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Insurance contract liabilities | 848,032 | 848,032 | 301,196 | 357,714 | 189,122 |
| Borrowings | 120,051 | 138,593 | 4,934 | 104,403 | 29,256 |
| Payables | 56,666 | 56,666 | 56,666 | - | - |
| 1,024,749 | 1,043,291 | 362,796 | 462,117 | 218,378 |
The Group has invested in quoted debt securities, investment property and quoted and unquoted shares. These investments are subject to market risk, whereby the value of the investments may fluctuate as a result of changes in market prices, changes in market interest rates or changes in the foreign exchange rates of the currency in which the investments are denominated. The extent of the exposure to market risk is managed by the formulation of, and adherence to, an investment policy incorporating clearly defined investment guidelines, as approved annually by the Board of Directors and employment of appropriately qualified and experienced personnel to manage the Group's investment portfolio. The overriding philosophy of the investment policy is to protect and safeguard the Company's assets and to ensure that the Company's capacity to underwrite is not put at risk.
Interest rate risk arises primarily from the Group's investments in quoted debt securities, deposits and borrowings. The Investment Committee regularly reviews the appropriate level of exposure to interest rate risk from trading. Factors taken into consideration are yield volatility and historical returns.
At 31 December 2010, the Group held the following deposits and unquoted debt securities:
| 2010 | 2009 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weighted market value €000s |
Weighted average interest rate % |
Weighted Market value €000s |
Weighted Average interest rate % |
|
| Time to maturity | ||||
| In one year or less | 195,172 | 1.89 | 75,462 | 3.07 |
| In more than one year, but not more than two years | - | - | ||
| In more than two years, but not more than three years | - | - | ||
| In more than three years, but not more than four years | 3,809 | 6.85 | - | |
| In more than four years, but not more than five years | - | 3,809 | 6.85 | |
| More than five years | - | - | ||
| 198,981 | 79,271 |
These financial instruments are exposed to fair value interest rate risk. Loans and deposits made by the Group are at floating interest rates. All borrowings are also at floating interest rates.
The Group is subject to equity price risk due to daily changes in the market values of its holdings of quoted shares. Equity price risk is actively managed by the Investment Committee using the framework set out in the Group's investment policy which is approved annually by the Board of Directors. The Investment Committee places limits on the type of shares held, liquidity of shares, size of share-holding and exposure to any one sector. In addition local asset admissibility solvency regulations require the Group to hold a diversified portfolio of assets thereby reducing exposure to individual sectors. The amounts exposed to equity price risk are set out in note 17(a).
The Group holds investment assets and equities in foreign currencies hence exposure to exchange rate fluctuations arise. The Group is primarily exposed to Sterling and US dollars. Derivative instruments are used for the purposes of protecting the Euro value of assets denominated in non Euro currencies in circumstances where the cost of the hedge is deemed commercial having regard to the potential foreign currency risk.
The Group did not hold any derivative instruments at 31 December 2010 or 31 December 2009.
The carrying amount of the Group's foreign currency denominated monetary assets at the reporting date is as follows:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| GBP | 2,862 | 2,474 |
| USD | - | - |
| Other | - | - |
Credit risk is the risk of loss in the value of financial assets due to counterparties failing to meet all or part of their obligations.
Financial assets are graded according to current credit ratings issued. AAA is the highest possible rating. Investment grade financial assets are classified within the range of AAA to BBB ratings. Financial assets which fall outside this range are classified as speculative grade. All of the Group's bank deposits are either with financial institutions which have a minimum A rating or have a sovereign guarantee. Quoted debt securities comprise €496,852,000 government gilts which carry AAA rating and €3,809,000 corporate bonds which are unrated.
All of the Group's current reinsurers have credit ratings of A- or better. The Group has assessed these credit ratings as being satisfactory in diminishing the Group's exposure to the credit risk of its reinsurance receivables. The maximum balance owed to the Group by an individual reinsurer at 31 December 2010 was €7,806,000.
The carrying amount of financial assets recorded in the financial statements, net of any allowances for losses, represents the Group's maximum exposure to credit risk. There are no financial assets past due but not impaired.
Receivables arising out of direct insurance operations are considered by the Directors to have low credit risk and therefore no provision for bad or doubtful debts has been made. All other receivables are due within one year and none are past due.
Concentration risk is the risk of loss due to overdependence on a singular entity or category of business. The only concentration risks to which the Group is exposed are as follows:
The resultant concentration risk from adverse weather events, i.e. floods, storms or freezes in Ireland, are mitigated by an appropriate reinsurance strategy as outlined in note 42(a).
Receivables arising out of direct insurance operations are a low credit risk and there is no significant concentration of risk. As such, the Group has not made provision for bad or doubtful debts. There is no significant concentration of risk in other receivables.
The table below identifies the Group's key sensitivity factors. For each sensitivity test the impact of a change in a single factor is shown, with other assumptions left unchanged.
| Sensitivity Factor | Description of sensitivity factor applied |
|---|---|
| Interest rate and investment return | The impact of a change in the ECB benchmark reference interest rate by an increase of 1% or a decrease of 0.25%. |
| (e.g. if a current interest rate is 5%, the impact of an immediate change to 6% and 4.75%). |
|
| Exchange rates movement | The impact of a change in foreign exchange rates by ± 10%. |
| Equity market values | The impact of a change in equity market values by ±10% |
| Property market values | The impact of a change in property market values by ±10% |
| Net loss ratios | The impact of an increase in net loss ratios for general insurance business by 5%. |
The above sensitivity factors are applied using actuarial and statistical models, with the following pre-tax impacts on profit and shareholders' equity at 31 December 2010 and at 31 December 2009:
| 2010 €000s |
2009 €000s |
|
|---|---|---|
| Interest rates | 1.0% 637 |
865 |
| Interest rates (0.25%) |
(159) | (216) |
| FX rates | 10% 286 |
247 |
| FX rates | (10%) (286) |
(247) |
| Equity | 10% 1,405 |
2,619 |
| Equity | (10%) (1,405) |
(2,619) |
| Investment Property | 10% 4,237 |
4,327 |
| Investment Property | (10%) (4,237) |
(4,327) |
| Net loss ratio | 5% (15,125) |
(16,376) |
In addition the impact of changes in the assumptions used to calculate general insurance liabilities and sensitivities are indicated in the table below:
| 31 December 2010 | Change in assumptions |
Increase in gross technical reserves €000s |
Increase in net technical reserves €000s |
Impact on profit before tax €000s |
Reduction in shareholders' equity €000s |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Injury claims IBNR | +10% | 2,218 | 2,218 | (2,218) | 1,905 |
| Property claims IBNR | +10% | 773 | 561 | (561) | 491 |
| Legal fees revert to pre PIAB levels | 11,397 | 10,257 | (10,257) | (8,975) | |
| 31 December 2009 | Change in assumptions |
Increase in gross technical reserves €000s |
Increase in net technical reserves €000s |
Impact on profit before tax €000s |
Reduction in shareholders' equity €000s |
| Injury claims IBNR | +10% | 2,635 | 2,635 | (2,635) | 2,306 |
| Property claims IBNR | +10% | 884 | 598 | (598) | (523) |
The above tables demonstrate the effect of a change in a key assumption while other assumptions remain unchanged. In reality, there is a correlation between the assumptions and other factors. It should also be noted that these sensitivities are non-linear, and larger or smaller impacts should not be interpolated or extrapolated from these results. The sensitivity analyses do not take into consideration that the Group's assets and liabilities are actively managed. Additionally, the financial position of the Group may vary at the time that any actual market movement occurs.
Legal fees revert to pre PIAB levels 10,806 9,732 (9,732) (8,516)
Other limitations in the above sensitivity analysis include the use of hypothetical market movements to demonstrate potential risk that only represent the Group's view of possible near-term market changes that cannot be predicted with any certainty and the assumption that all interest rates move in an identical fashion.

FBD House Bluebell Dublin 12 Ireland
T: +353 1 409 3200 F: +353 1 455 4303 www.fbdgroup.com
Dear Shareholder,
The Notice of the Annual General Meeting of the Company which will be held at 12.00 noon on 29 April 2011 in the Irish Farm Centre, Old Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12 follows this letter.
I want to set out in this letter details of the business to come before this meeting.
Resolution 1 deals with the consideration of the financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2010.
Resolution 2 deals with the declaration of a dividend on the 8% non-cumulative preference shares. A dividend cannot be declared on the ordinary shares unless and until the dividend on the 8% preference shares has been declared.
Resolution 3 deals with the declaration of a final dividend of 21.0 cent per ordinary share for the year ended 31 December 2010.
Resolution 4 deals with the approval of the Report on Directors' Remuneration. This Report is set out on pages 32 to 38 of the Annual Report and it has been the practice of the Board since 2010 to put the Report on Directors' Remuneration to a shareholder vote. Shareholders should note that there is no legal obligation on the Company to put such a resolution to Shareholders. While it is therefore an "advisory" resolution and not binding on the Company, the Board recognises that the tabling of such a resolution is best practice in this area and is an acknowledgement of shareholders' rights to have a "say on pay".
Resolution 5 deals with the proposed re-election of all of the Directors. For the first time in 2011 the Board has adopted the practice that all Directors will submit to re-election at each Annual General Meeting.
Resolution 6 is a standard resolution which authorises the Directors to fix the remuneration of the Auditors. During the year ended 31 December 2010 the Audit Committee put the provision of independent audit services out to tender and supervised the tender process. As a result of a recommendation from the Audit Committee, the Board appointed Deloitte & Touche to the office of statutory auditor.
Resolutions 7 to 9 are the usual annual resolutions which relate to the share capital of the Company and propose to renew authorities previously approved by Shareholders. The Board will only exercise these authorities if it considers it to be in the best interests of Shareholders generally at that time.
Resolution 10 deals with the fixing of the notice period for the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company.
Resolution 11 deals with a proposed amendment to the Articles of Association of the Company.
Each of these resolutions is described for you in more detail below.
Resolution 7 will be proposed as a Special Resolution to renew the Directors' authority to issue shares for cash other than strictly pro rata to existing shareholdings. The proposed authority is limited to the allotment of shares in specific circumstances relating to rights issues and other issues up to an aggregate of 5% of the Company's issued ordinary share capital.
This authority will, if renewed, expire on the earlier of the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or 29 July 2012.
Resolution 8 will be proposed as a Special Resolution to renew the authority of the Company, or any subsidiary of the Company, to make market purchases of the Company's ordinary shares up to 10% of the aggregate nominal value of the Company's total issued share capital. The text of the resolution sets out the minimum and maximum prices which may be paid for ordinary shares purchased in this manner.
The total number of options to subscribe for ordinary shares in the Company outstanding on 30 March 2011 is 1,217,076 representing 3.19% of the total issued share capital. If the Directors were to exercise the authority being renewed by this resolution up to the maximum allowed and to cancel such shares and all other shares held in treasury, these options would represent 3.57% of the total issued share capital.
This authority will, if renewed, expire on the earlier of the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or 29 July 2012.
Resolution 9 will be proposed as a Special Resolution to set the price ranges at which the Company may reissue treasury shares off-market.
This authority will, if renewed, expire on the earlier of the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or 29 July 2012.
Resolution 10 will be proposed as a Special Resolution to maintain the existing authority in the Company's Articles of Association which permits the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company on 14 day's notice where the purpose of the meeting is to consider an Ordinary Resolution.
Resolution 11 will be proposed as a Special Resolution to amend the Company's Articles of Association primarily to give the Company flexibility regarding payment methods for dividends and to provide that amounts due to shareholders who provide no, or invalid, bank account details may be held in a non-interest bearing account in the Company's name until such shareholder nominates a valid account. In order to improve the security of dividend payments to shareholders and to reduce costs, the Company intends to commence paying dividend payments on its shares by direct credit transfer into a bank or building society account nominated by the shareholder. The Company will write to shareholders in advance of implementing this change and does not intend to implement it until the payment of any final dividend for 2011, in May 2012, at the earliest.
A copy of the Articles of Association of the Company showing the amendments which would be incorporated into same if Resolution 11 is passed is available at the Company's website, www.fbdgroup.com and may also be inspected during usual business hours at the Registered Office of the Company up to and including the date of the Annual General Meeting and at the Annual General Meeting itself.
Those shareholders unable to attend the Meeting may appoint a proxy. Your proxy may be submitted by post by completing the enclosed Form of Proxy and returning it to the Company's Registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Ireland) Limited, PO Box 954, Heron House, Corrig Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18, Ireland. Your proxy may also be submitted through the internet. Instructions on how to do this are set out on the Form of Proxy. CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies via the CREST electronic proxy appointment service should refer to footnote 5 on page 8 of that document.
All proxy votes must be received by the Company's Registrar not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the Meeting or any adjournment of the Meeting. The submission of a proxy will not prevent you attending and voting at the Meeting should you wish to do so.
The Directors are satisfied that the resolutions set out in the Notice of the Annual General Meeting are in the best interests of the Company and its shareholders. Accordingly the Directors unanimously recommend that you vote in favour of each of the resolutions set out in the Notice of Annual General Meeting, as they intend to do in respect of all of the ordinary shares which they own or control in the capital of the Company.
Yours faithfully,
Michael Berkery
Chairman
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting of the Company will be held in the Irish Farm Centre, Old Naas Road, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland on Friday 29 April 2011, at 12 noon for the following purposes:
7 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Special Resolution:
"In accordance with the provisions of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983, the Directors be and are hereby empowered to allot "equity securities" (as defined in Section 23 (13) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983) pursuant to the authority conferred on them by the Ordinary Resolution of the Company passed on 29 April 2009 as if Section 23 (1) of the Companies (Amendment) Act, 1983 did not apply to any allotment made pursuant to the said authority provided that this power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities up to but not exceeding an aggregate nominal value of 5 per cent of the issued ordinary share capital as at the date of this Resolution and that the authority hereby conferred shall expire at the close of business on the earlier of the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or a date 15 months from the date of passing hereof and that the Directors be entitled to make at any time prior to the expiry of the power hereby conferred, any offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after the expiry of such power. Provided that such power shall, subject as aforesaid, cease to have effect when the said authority is revoked or would, if renewed, expire but if the authority is renewed the said power may also be renewed, for a period not longer than that for which the authority is renewed, by a further Special Resolution of the Company passed in General Meeting"
and
"that the expiry date noted in Article 8 (c) be amended to read "29 July 2012", being fifteen months after the date of this Annual General Meeting in accordance with the foregoing."
<-- PDF CHUNK SEPARATOR -->
The authority hereby conferred will expire at the close of business on the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or the date which is fifteen months after the date on which this resolution is passed or deemed to have been passed whichever is the earlier, unless previously varied, revoked or renewed in accordance with the provisions of Section 215 of the Companies Act, 1990. The Company or any such subsidiary may before such expiry enter into a contract for the purchase of Shares which would or might be wholly or partly executed after such expiry and may complete any such contract as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired."
(b) subject to paragraph (c) hereof, the minimum price shall be:
(c) "Appropriate Price" means the average of the five amounts resulting from determining whichever of the following ((i), (ii) or (iii) specified below) in relation to shares of the class of which such treasury shares to be re-issued shall be appropriate in respect of each of the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the treasury share is re-issued, as determined from information published in the Irish Stock Exchange Daily Official List reporting the business done on each of those five business days;
The authority hereby conferred shall expire at the close of business on the date of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company, or the date which is fifteen months after the date on which this resolution is passed or deemed to have been passed whichever is the earlier, unless previously varied or renewed in accordance with the provisions of Section 209 of the Companies Act, 1990".
10 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Special Resolution:
"That it is hereby resolved that the provision in Article 50 (a) of the Company's Articles of Association allowing for the convening of an Extraordinary General Meeting by at least fourteen clear days' notice (where such meeting is not convened for the purposes of the passing of a special resolution) shall continue to be effective."
11 To consider and, if thought fit, pass the following Special Resolution:
"That the Articles of Association of the Company be and are hereby substituted with the proposed new Articles of Association of the Company which have been signed by the Chairman of the Company for identification purposes and which have been available for inspection at the Registered Office of the Company since the date of this Notice."
By order of the Board
Company Secretary
FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland
30 March 2011
The following information is provided to Shareholders in accordance with the provisions of the Shareholders' Rights (Directive 2007/36/EC) Regulations 2009:
Every shareholder, irrespective of how many FBD Holdings plc shares he/she holds, has the right to attend, speak, ask questions and vote at the AGM. Completion of a form of proxy will not affect your right to attend, speak, ask questions and/ or vote at the meeting in person. The right to participate in the AGM is subject to the registration of the shares prior to the record date for the meeting (the "Record Date") – see note 3 following.
If you cannot attend the AGM in person, you may appoint a proxy (or proxies) to attend, speak, ask questions and vote on your behalf. For this purpose a Form of Proxy has been sent to all registered shareholders. A proxy need not be a member of the Company. You may appoint the Chairman of the Company or another individual as your proxy. You may appoint a proxy by completing the Form of Proxy, making sure to sign and date the form at the bottom and return it in the pre-paid envelope provided to the Company's Registrar, Computershare Investor Services (Ireland) Limited, P.O. Box 954, Heron House, Corrig Road, Sandyford Industrial Estate, Dublin 18, Ireland to be received no later than 12.00 noon on 27 April 2011. If you are appointing someone other than the Chairman as your proxy, then you must fill in the details of that person in the box located underneath the wording "I/We hereby appoint the Chairman of the Meeting OR the following person" on the Form of Proxy.
Alternatively, you may appoint a proxy via CREST, if you hold your shares in CREST, or you may do so electronically, by visiting the website of the Company's Registrar at www.eproxyappointment.com. You will need your shareholder reference number, control number and your PIN number, which can be found on the Form of Proxy.
If you appoint the Chairman or another person as a proxy to vote on your behalf, please make sure to indicate how you wish your votes to be cast by ticking the relevant boxes on the Form of Proxy.
Completing and returning a Form of Proxy will not preclude you from attending and voting at the meeting should you so wish.
Pursuant to Section 134A of the Companies Act, 1963 and pursuant to Regulation 14 of the Companies Act, 1990 (Uncertificated Securities) Regulations, 1996, the Company has specified that only those Shareholders registered in the Register of Members of the Company as at 6 p.m. on the day which is two days before the date of the meeting shall be entitled to attend or vote at the Annual General Meeting in respect of the number of shares registered in their name at that time. Changes in the Register after that time will be disregarded in determining the right of any person to attend and/or vote at the meeting or the number of votes any Shareholder may have in the case of a poll vote.
As a Shareholder, you have several ways to exercise your right to vote:
In the case of joint holders, the vote of the senior who tenders a vote, whether in person or by proxy, will be accepted to the exclusion of the votes of the other registered holder(s) and, for this purpose, seniority will be determined by the order in which the names stand in the register of members.
If you or a group of Shareholders hold 1,143,054 or more ordinary or preference shares of 60 cent each in FBD Holdings plc (i.e. at least 3% of the issued share capital of the Company carrying voting rights), you or the group of Shareholders acting together have the right to put an item on the agenda for the AGM. In order to exercise this right, written details of the item you wish to have included on the agenda for the AGM together with a written explanation setting out why you wish to have the item included on the agenda, and evidence of the shareholding, must have been received by the Company Secretary at FBD Holdings plc, FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland or by email to [email protected] no later than 12.00 noon on Friday 18 March 2011 (i.e. 42 days before the time scheduled for the holding of the AGM). An item cannot be included on the agenda for the AGM unless the foregoing conditions are satisfied and it is received by the stated deadline.
If you or a group of Shareholders hold 1,143,054 or more ordinary or preference shares of 60 cent each in FBD Holdings plc (i.e. at least 3% of the issued share capital of the Company carrying voting rights), you or the group of Shareholders acting together have the right to table a draft resolution for inclusion on the agenda for the AGM subject to any contrary provision in company law.
In order to exercise this right, the text of the draft resolution and evidence of shareholding must have been received by post by the Company Secretary at FBD Holdings plc, FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland or by email to company.secretary@ fbd.ie no later than 12.00 noon on Friday 18 March 2011 (i.e. 42 days before the time scheduled for the holding of the AGM). A resolution cannot be included on the agenda for the AGM unless it is received in either of the foregoing manners by the stated deadline. Furthermore, Shareholders are reminded that there are provisions in company law, and otherwise, which impose other conditions on the right of shareholders to propose resolutions at a general meeting of a company.
Pursuant to section 134C of the Companies Act 1963, shareholders have a right to ask questions related to items on the AGM agenda and to have such questions answered by the Company subject to any reasonable measures the Company may take to ensure the identification of shareholders.
The annual Financial Statements, Report of the Auditors and the Report of the Remuneration Committee are contained in the Company's Annual Report which was dispatched to shareholders on 30 March 2011. The Annual Report is also available on the Company's website www.fbdgroup.com.
Should you not receive a Form of Proxy, or should you wish to be sent copies of any documents relating to the meeting, you may request these by telephoning the Company's Registrar on +353 1 4475 101 or by writing to the Company Secretary either by post at FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland or by e-mail to [email protected].
The Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company together with a copy of the proposed Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company showing the amendments that would be made if all of the Resolutions on the agenda for the AGM are approved, are available on the Company's website www.fbdgroup.com and may also be inspected during usual business hours on any weekday (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays excepted) at the Company's Registered Office at FBD House, Bluebell, Dublin 12, Ireland up to and including the date of the Annual General Meeting and at the Annual General Meeting itself.
This AGM notice, details of the total number of shares and voting rights at the date of giving this notice, the documents to be submitted to the meeting, copies of any draft resolutions and a copy of the Form of Proxy are available on the Company's website at www.fbdgroup.com.
FBD House Bluebell Dublin 12
T: +353 1 409 3200 W: www.fbdgroup.com

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