Annual Report for the year ended 31 December 2017

RNS Number : 5724M

Worldsec Ld

30 April 2018

WORLDSEC LIMITED

CORPORATE INFORMATION

Board of Directors

Non-Executive Chairman

Alastair GUNN-FORBES*

Executive Directors

Henry Ying Chew CHEONG (Deputy Chairman)

Ernest Chiu Shun SHE

Non-Executive Directors

Mark Chung FONG*

Martyn Stuart WELLS*

* independent

Company Secretary

Jordans Company Secretaries Limited

First Floor, Templeback, 10 Temple Back, Bristol, BS1 6FL, United Kingdom

Registered Office Address

Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda

Registration Number

EC21466 Bermuda

Principal Bankers

The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited

1 Queen's Road, Central, Hong Kong

External Auditor

BDO Limited

25th Floor, Wing On Centre, 111 Connaught Road Central, Hong Kong

Principal Share Registrar and Transfer Office

Estera Management (Bermuda) Ltd.

Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda

International Branch Registrar

Link Market Services (Jersey) Limited

12 Castle Street, St Helier, JE2 3RT, Jersey, Channel Islands

United Kingdom Transfer Agent

Link Asset Services

The Registry, 34 Beckenham Rd, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU, United Kingdom

Investor Relations

For further information about Worldsec Limited, please contact:

Henry Ying Chew CHEONG

Executive Director

Worldsec Group

Unit 607, 6th Floor, FWD Financial Centre, 308 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong

enquiry@worldsec.com

Company's Website

http://www.worldsec.com

CONTENTS

	Page

Chairman's statement	1

Directors' report	2

Statement of directors' responsibilities	15

Independent auditor's report	16

Consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income	21

Consolidated statement of financial position	22

Consolidated statement of changes in equity	23

Consolidated statement of cash flows	24

Notes to the consolidated financial statements	25

Investment policy	59

Biographical notes of the directors	60

Chairman's Statement

RESULTS AND REVIEW

Under the persistently low interest rate environment with a plethora of liquidity that has been conducive to asset price inflation, investment opportunities with attractive returns have been few and far between. Accordingly, Worldsec Limited (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (together the "Group") had a relatively quiet period for the year ended 31 December 2017. The audited consolidated loss of the Group was US$424,000, representing a small improvement over the loss of US$514,000 in 2016. Loss per share was US0.75 cent (2016: US0.91 cent). Net asset value per share was US4.5 cents (2016: US5.2 cents). Detailed discussion of the results of the Group is set out in the directors' report on pages 2 to 16.

During the year ended 31 December 2017, the Group's investments continued to perform satisfactorily. Subsequent to the year end, two important events for the Group took place:

- ayondo Ltd. ("Ayondo*"), one of the Group's investee companies, entered into a new era having successfully obtained a listing on Catalist in Singapore in March 2018.

- With the support of shareholders, the Company successfully completed an open offer of new ordinary shares in April 2018. This has strengthened the Company's capital base to further the growth of Group in the longer term.

PROSPECTS

Markets dislike uncertainty. This is clearly reflected by the recent market volatility over concern on what could potentially become a serious trade war between the world's two largest economies. While the tariff rhetoric and threats from the United States and the retaliatory posturing from China appear increasingly likely to be no more than negotiation tactics adopted by either side, any import restrictions or protectionist measures that may materialise in the event of any miscalculations in or unfavourable outcome of the negotiations could have damaging consequences on the global economic environment. Apart from the peril associated with the trade conflict between the world's two largest economies, there is also the risk of escalation in the renewed geopolitical tension in the Middle East on top of a host of continuing uncertainty associated with other developments unfolding around the globe, including notably the normalisation of monetary policies in the advanced countries, the implementation of the withdrawal of Britain from the European Union, and the ongoing structural reforms in China. Nevertheless, uncertain times also bring investment opportunities that might otherwise not be available. With the timely completion of the Company's open offer that has strengthened its capital base, I am confident that the Group would be able to continue to expand and diversify its investment portfolio while meeting the investment objective of the Company.

NOTE OF APPRECIATION

I wish to thank my fellow directors and staff for their efforts and contributions made during the year ended 31 December 2017. I would also like to extend a note of appreciation to shareholders for their continued patience with and support of the Company.

Alastair Gunn-Forbes

Non-Executive Chairman

30 April 2018

* the entity that became the holding company of ayondo Holding AG and its subsidiaries following a pre-listing restructuring

DIRECTORS' REPORT

The directors submit the annual report of the Company and the audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2017.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES

The principal activity of the Company is investment holding. The Company and its subsidiaries are primarily engaged in investment in unlisted companies in the Greater China and South East Asian region.

RESULTS

The audited consolidated loss of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2017 was US$424,000, compared with a loss of US$514,000 in 2016. Loss per share was US0.75 cent (2016: US0.91 cent). The decrease in the loss was principally attributable to (i) reduced staff costs in the absence of non-recurrent share-based payment expenses associated with the grant of options to the directors and staff which were largely accounted for in 2016; and (ii) lower administrative expenses following the completion of the voluntary liquidation of two subsidiaries last year.

Revenue, by way of dividend income received from the Group's investment in ICBC Specialised Ship Leasing Fund, remained unchanged at US$96,000 in 2017. Other income fell to US$3,000 from US$99,000 last year during which there was a write back of provisions relating to certain legal fees over-provided previously.

As at 31 December 2017, the net assets of the Group stood at US$2.5 million (2016: US$2.9 million), equivalent to US4.5 cents (2016: US5.2 cents). Cash and cash equivalents declined to US$260,000 from US$848,000 a year ago, reflecting in part the payment of professional fees relating to the Company's fund raising exercise as discussed below. Such payment was also the main reason for the increase of US$212,000 in deposits and prepayments for the period under review and will eventually be offset against equity upon the issue of new ordinary shares under the open offer which was duly completed subsequent to the year end.

Further details of the Group's results are set out in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income on page 23 and notes to the consolidated financial statements on pages 27 to 62.

The Board does not propose to declare any dividend for the year ended 31 December 2017 (2016: nil).

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

REVIEW

In accordance with the investment policy of the Company, a copy of which is set out on page 63, the investment strategy of the Group focuses on investing in small to medium sized trading companies based mainly in the Greater China and South East Asian region with a view to building a diversified portfolio of minority investments in such companies. To spread the investment risk of the Group, none of the Group's investments at the time when made exceeded 20% of its gross assets.

Velocity Mobile Limited ("Velocity"), one of the Group's investee companies, is the holding company of a technology group that provides real-time lifestyle mobile applications focusing in the areas of restaurant, travel and hotel bookings and payment. During the year under review, the Velocity group continued to achieve increased customer engagement and spend with an improved margin on transactional value driven by economies of scale. Recently, the Velocity group has expanded geographically to the Middle East with the launch of its conversational commerce engine, Velocity Black, in the United Arab Emirates. Meantime, the board of Velocity has been further strengthened by the appointment of a number of new members, including an influential strategic advisor and branding expert and a former senior executive from the credit card industry.

Ayondo, another of the Group's investee companies, is the holding company of a financial technology group that provides social trading and brokerage services for contract-for-differences and spread betting. By combining trading and investment with elements of social media, the Ayondo group is disrupting the traditional asset management industry by offering an alternative way to trade and invest. This innovative social trading approach allows knowledge transfer and performance replication by letting traders share and follow other traders' trading and investment strategies automatically, proportionally and on a real-time basis. In March 2018, Ayondo entered into a new era having successfully obtained a listing on Catalist, the sponsor-supervised listing platform of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, by way of a public offer and a placement of a total of 80,770,000 shares at S$0.26 raising aggregate gross proceeds of S$21 million to finance the further development and growth of the Ayondo group. Since then, shares of Ayondo have traded at between S$0.275 to S$0.132.

In China, Oasis Education Consulting (Shenzhen) Company Limited (奧偉詩教育諮詢(深圳)有限公司, "Oasis Shenzhen"), a subsidiary of the 50% joint venture of the Group, Oasis Education Group Limited ("Oasis Education"), continued to record steady performance. Under the consulting and support services provided by Oasis Shenzhen, the Huizhou Kindergarten reached a milestone with its first graduation of 34 pupils in July 2017. Throughout the various academic terms during the year under review, the Huizhou Kindergarten also managed to maintain a pupil enrolment of around 200.

As noted in the chairman's statement, investment opportunities with attractive returns have been few and far between under the persistently low interest rate environment that has been conducive to asset price inflation. Accordingly, the Group did not during the year under review make any new investments, although evaluations on a number of investment proposals had been carried out. Of these new investment proposals, two remain under consideration and are subject to further due diligence works. Shareholders will be updated in due course should any decision to invest be made.

Subsequent to the year ended 31 December 2017, the Company on 13 March 2018 announced an open offer of 28,367,290 new ordinary shares at US$0.15 per share to shareholders on the basis of one new share for every two existing shares held. In addition to the open offer, the Company proposed to carry out subsequent placings of up to 100,000,000 new ordinary shares should investor demand arise. New ordinary shares may be issued under the placing programme until 12 March 2019. With the support of shareholders, the Company on 4 April 2018 successfully completed the open offer raising aggregate gross proceeds of US$4.2 million to strengthen its capital base in order to finance the further development and expansion of the Group's investment portfolio. Details relating to the fund raising exercise of the Company can be found in the Company's open offer and subsequent placings prospectus dated 13 March 2018 and its open offer result announcement dated 3 April 2018.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

PROSPECTS

Notwithstanding the gradual normalisation of interest rates in the advanced economies, the Group's investment in the ICBC Specialised Ship Leasing Fund will continue to represent a stable and attractive source of return through high yielding dividend income. The other two of its unlisted investee companies, Velocity and Oasis Education, have yet to reach a stage of development that would generate any significant contribution for the Group in the near future.

With the successful listing of Ayondo on Catalist in Singapore, the Ayondo group aims to improve the public awareness of its brand and consolidate its position as a leading player to tap the huge growth potential in the social trading space. The Ayondo group plans to expand its international operations as well as its white label partnering network, extend the spectrum of its customers through education, develop new products with innovative functionality and enhance its trading platform. The Catalist listing of Ayondo will enable the Ayondo group to accelerate its growth strategy.

On the broader perspective, there appears to be an increasingly uncertain investment climate around the globe: the differing pace of the advanced economies in pursuing the normalisation of monetary policies, the uncertainty surrounding the implementation of Britain's exit from the European Union, the ongoing structural reforms in China, and the geopolitical risks associated with various politically precarious regions in Asia and the Middle East, which is further compounded by the threat of a trade war between the United States and China that could have adverse impact on the growth of the global economy. In investment environment as such, it is challenging for the Group to seek quality deals with attractive returns while meeting the Company's investment criteria. The relatively small size of the Company also limits the availability of investment opportunities for the Group to projects that do not require a large amount of capital outlay. This in turn constricts the Group's capacity to further expand and diversify its investment portfolio. To address such bottleneck and to better position the Group for longer term growth, the Company therefore decided to strengthen its capital base by raising fresh equity capital through the fund raising exercise as discussed above. With the completion of the open offer and under the prevailing investment climate, the Group will continue to act carefully and identify and make appropriate investments to expand and diversify its investment portfolio in accordance with the Company's investment policy with a view to building shareholders' value in the longer term.

Directors

The directors during the year under review and up to the date of this report were:

Non-Executive Chairman

Alastair Gunn-Forbes^*

Executive Directors

Henry Ying Chew Cheong

Ernest Chiu Shun She

Non-Executive Directors

Mark Chung Fong^*

Martyn Stuart Wells^*

* independent

Brief biographical notes of the directors serving at the date of this report are set out on pages 64 to 66.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

Save as disclosed in this report and in note 25 to the consolidated financial statements on page 60, none of the directors had during the year under review or at the end of the year a material interest, directly or indirectly, in any contract of significance with the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

Messrs Alastair Gunn-Forbes and Mark Chung Fong have served on the Board for more than nine years. (In accordance with Provision B.7.1 of the UK Corporate Governance Code on corporate governance published in April 2016 by the Financial Reporting Council of the United Kingdom (the "Code"), both Messrs Alastair Gunn-Forbes and Mark Chung Fong retired by rotation and were re-elected to office by separate resolutions passed at the Annual General Meeting held on 28 November 2017.) During the past nine year period, however, neither of them has had any major interest in the issued share capital of the Company, has been an employee or involved in the daily management of any of the Group companies, or has had any material relationship with any of the Group companies or any of the major shareholders or managers of any such companies other than being a member of the Board. Accordingly, and in accordance with Provision B.1.1 of the Code, the Board has determined that their independence and objectivity have not been impaired and that they will therefore be able to continue to act independently in character and judgement.

At the Annual General Meeting held on 29 September 2014, shareholders approved the inclusion of the Group's non-executive directors, including Messrs Alastair Gunn-Forbes, Mark Chung Fong and Martyn Stuart Wells, as eligible participants of the Worldsec Employee Share Option Scheme 1997 (the "Scheme"). As explained in the 2014 annual report of the Company, the reason for such inclusion was to enable the Group to reward its non-executive directors for their commitments to the Company beyond the nominal annual fees that the Group could afford to pay during its early stage of development. Accordingly, and in accordance with Provision B.1.1 of the Code, given such circumstances, the Board has determined that the participation of Messrs Alastair Gunn-Forbes, Mark Chung Fong and Martyn Stuart Wells in the Scheme will not affect their ability to act independently in character and judgement.

DIRECTORS' INTERESTS

The interests of the individuals who were directors during the year under review in the issued share capital of the Company, including the interests of persons connected with a director (within the meaning of Sections 252, 253 to 255 of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 as if the Company were incorporated in England), the existence of which was known to, or could with reasonable diligence be ascertained by, that director, whether or not held through another party, were as follows:

	At 1 January 2017	At 31 December 2017
	No. of shares	No. of shares
Alastair Gunn-Forbes	30,000	30,000
Henry Ying Chew Cheong (Note i)	3,054,873	3,054,873
Mark Chung Fong	Nil	Nil
Ernest Chiu Shun She	366,730	366,730
Martyn Stuart Wells	Nil	Nil

Notes: (i)

Mr Henry Ying Chew Cheong ("Mr Cheong") owns, in addition to the beneficial interest in 3,054,873 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company, 2 ordinary shares of US$1 each in Grand Acumen Holdings Limited ("GAH"), representing 25% of the issued share capital of GAH. GAH beneficially owned 6,450,000 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company at 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017.

In addition, HC Investment Holdings Limited ("HCIH") is wholly owned by Mr Cheong. HCIH beneficially owned 10,000,000 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company at 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

In total, Mr Cheong and his associates were the legal and beneficial owners of 19,504,873 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company, representing 34.4% of the Company's issued share capital, at 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017. The Company and Mr Cheong entered into a relationship agreement on 2 August 2013 (the "Relationship Agreement"). Pursuant to the Relationship Agreement, Mr Cheong has agreed to exercise his rights as a shareholder at all times, and to procure that his associates exercise their rights, so as to ensure that the Company is capable of carrying on its business independently of Mr Cheong or any control which Mr Cheong or his associates may otherwise be able to exercise over the Company. Moreover, Mr Cheong has undertaken to ensure, so far as he is able to, that all transactions, relationships and agreements between Mr Cheong or his associates and the Company or any of its subsidiaries are on arms' length terms on a normal commercial basis. Mr Cheong and the Company have also agreed, amongst other things, that he will not participate in the deliberations of the Board in relation to any proposal to enter into any commercial arrangements with Mr Cheong or his associates.

(ii)

In April 2018, the Company raised new equity capital through an open offer of new ordinary shares to shareholders on the basis of one new share for every two existing shares held at the open offer price of US$ 0.15 per share. As a result, the Directors' interests in the Company have changed since 4 April 2018. For details please refer to note 28 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 61 to 62.

		At 1 January 2017	At 31 December 2017
		No. of share options (Note)	No. of share options (Note)
Alastair Gunn-Forbes		500,000	500,000
Henry Ying Chew Cheong		500,000	500,000
Mark Chung Fong		500,000	500,000
Ernest Chiu Shun She		500,000	500,000
Martyn Stuart Wells		500,000	500,000

Note:	The share options entitle the holders to subscribe on a one for one basis new ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the share capital of the Company at an exercise price of US$0.122 per share. The share options vest six months from the date of grant on 1 December 2015 and are then exercisable within a period of 9.5 years.

Save as disclosed above, none of the above named directors had an interest, whether beneficial or non-beneficial, in any shares or debentures of any Group companies at the beginning or at the end of the year under review. Save as disclosed above, none of the above named directors, or members of their immediate families, held, exercised or were awarded any right to subscribe for any shares or debentures of any Group companies during the year.

The Board confirms that (i) the Company has complied with the independence provisions set out in the Relationship Agreement since it was entered into; and (ii) so far as the Company is aware, Mr Cheong and his associates have complied with the independence provisions set out in the Relationship Agreement since it was entered into and since 1 January 2017.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

DIRECTORS' REMUNERATION

The remuneration of the directors for the year ended 31 December 2017 was as follows:

	Fees	Share-based payment expenses	Other emoluments	Total
	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000

Alastair Gunn-Forbes	13.6	-	-	13.6
Henry Ying Chew Cheong	13.6	-	-	13.6
Mark Chung Fong	13.6	-	-	13.6
Ernest Chiu Shun She	13.6	-	-	13.6
Martyn Stuart Wells	13.6	-	-	13.6

	68.0	-	-	68.0

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

PROVIDENT FUND AND PENSION CONTRIBUTION FOR DIRECTORS

During the year under review, there was no provident fund and pension contribution for the directors.

LETTERS OF APPOINTMENT/ SERVICE CONTRACTS

Messrs Alastair Gunn-Forbes, Mark Chung Fong and Martyn Stuart Wells, each has entered into a letter of appointment with the Company dated 28 November 2017 to serve as non-executive director. Each of them is entitled to a fee of £10,000 per annum. The appointment may be terminated on one month notice in writing.

Messrs Henry Ying Chew Cheong and Ernest Chiu Shun She, each has entered into a letter of appointment with the Company dated 2 August 2013 to serve as executive director. Each of them is entitled to a fee of £10,000 per annum. The appointment may be terminated on not less than six month notice in writing.

All directors are eligible to participate in the Group's bonus arrangements under which bonuses may be granted at the discretion of the Remuneration Committee and the Board. No bonus was recommended for the year ended 31 December 2017.

Save as disclosed above, there are no existing or proposed letters of appointment or service contracts between any of the directors and the Company or any of its subsidiaries which cannot be determined without payment of compensation (other than any statutory compensation) within one year.

MAJOR INTERESTS IN SHARES

At 28 March 2018, the Company was aware of the following direct or indirect interests representing 5% or more of the Company's issued share capital:

	No. of shares	Percentage of issued share capital

HC Investment Holdings Limited (Note i)	10,000,000	17.6%
Grand Acumen Holdings Limited (Note i)	6,450,000	11.4%
Luis Chi Leung Tong	5,000,000	8.8%
Henry Ying Chew Cheong	3,054,873	5.4%
Lynchwood Nominees Limited (Note ii)	12,500,000	22.0%
Vidacos Nominees Limited (Note ii)	5,000,000	8.8%

Notes: (i)

Mr Henry Ying Chew Cheong is the legal and beneficial owner of the entire issued share capital of HC Investment Holdings Limited and the legal and beneficial owner of 25% of the issued share capital of Grand Acumen Holdings Limited.

(ii)

Lynchwood Nominees Limited and Vidacos Nominees Limited act as custodians for their customers, to whom they effectively pass all rights and entitlements, including voting rights.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

INTERNAL CONTROL, RISK MANAGEMENT AND FINANCIAL REPORTING

The Board is responsible for establishing and maintaining appropriate systems of internal control and risk management to safeguard the Group's interests and assets. The control measures that have been put in place cover key areas of operations, finance and compliance and aim to manage rather than eliminate risks that are inherent in the running of the business of the Group. Accordingly, the Group's systems of internal control and risk management are expected to provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatements, loss or fraud.

Amongst the control measures, the key steps that have been put in place include:

- the setting of the investment strategy and the approval of significant investment decisions of the Group by the Board to ensure consistency with the investment objective and compliance with the investment policy of the Company;

- the segregation of duties between the investment management and accounting functions of the Group;

- the adoption of written procedures in relation to the operations of the bank accounts of the Group;

- the adoption of written procedures to deal with conflicts of interests and related party transactions;

- the maintenance of proper accounting records providing with reasonable accuracy at any time information on the financial position of the Group;

- the review by the Board of the management accounts of the Group on a regular basis; and

- the engagement of external professionals to carry out company secretarial works for the Company and to assist the Group on compliance issues.

The Board considers the identification, evaluation and management of the principal risks faced by the Group under the changing environment to be an ongoing process and has kept under regular review the effectiveness of the Group's systems of internal control and risk management. The Board is satisfied that the arrangements that have been put in place represent an appropriate framework to meet the internal control and risk management requirements of the Group.

PRINCIPAL RISKS AND UNCERTAINTIES

The Board considers that the principal risks and uncertainties that are relevant to the Group include:

Target market risk

Under the investment policy of the Company, the Group focuses on investing in small to medium sized trading companies based mainly in the Greater China and South East Asian region. Consequently, a sharp or prolonged downturn in the economic environment or a heightened uncertainty in the political environment in these target markets could adversely and seriously affect the underlying investments and hence the cash flows of the Group. This is clearly a risk factor beyond the Group's control. Nevertheless, in line with the investment policy of the Company, the Board will seek to invest in and maintain a diversified portfolio in order to spread the investment risk of the Group.

Investment opportunity risk

Given the abundance of liquidity under the persistently low interest rate environment, the private equity space has been awash with investment capital and dry powder competing for quality deals. This has been driving up valuations and narrowing the spreads of investment returns, thereby limiting the availability of attractive investment opportunities for the Group. Under such circumstances, with the approval from shareholders, the Company broadened its investment policy in the latter part of 2014. This offers greater flexibility for the Group to make investment choices from a broader range of opportunities to achieve the Company's investment objective under the persistently challenging and competitive environment.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

Key person risk

As the Group does not engage any external investment manager, the Board is responsible for overseeing the Group's investment management activities with frontline management duties delegated to the executive directors. The Group is therefore heavily dependent on the executive directors' abilities to identify and evaluate investment targets, execute and implement investment decisions, monitor investment performance and execute and implement exit decisions. Both of the executive directors, Messrs Henry Ying Chew Cheong and Ernest Chiu Shun She, have entered into a letter of appointment with the Company with a termination clause of not less than six month notice. Moreover, Mr Cheong is also the deputy chairman and a major shareholder beneficially holding a substantial interest in the Company's issued share capital.

Operational risks

The Group is exposed to various operational risks that are inherent in the running of its business, including, amongst others, the failure to comply with the investment policy of the Company, the failure to prevent misstatements, loss or fraud due to inadequacies in the Group's internal operational processes, and the failure to comply with applicable rules and regulations by the Group. As mitigating measures, the Board has established and maintained systems of internal control and risk management to safeguard the Group's interests and assets, details of which are set out in the section headed "Internal Control, Risk Management and Financial Reporting" on page 9.

Financial risks

The Group is exposed to a variety of financial risks, including market risks, credit risk and liquidity risk, which arise from its operating and investment management activities. The Group's management of such risks is coordinated at the office of Worldsec Investment (Hong Kong) Limited, the principal operating subsidiary of the Group, in close cooperation with the Board. Details of the Group's approach on financial risk management are described in note 5(b) to the consolidated financial statements on page 49.

VIABILITY STATEMENT

The directors have assessed the viability of the Company for the three years to 31 December 2020.

The directors consider that, for the purpose of this viability statement, a three year period is appropriate taking into account the Group's investment horizon under its investment strategy. Besides, there should unlikely be any significant change to most if not all of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group over the timeframe selected for the assessment.

In assessing the viability of the Company and its ability to meet liabilities as they fall due, the directors have taken into consideration, amongst others:

- the investment strategy of the Group;

- the current position including the existing financial status and cost structure of the Group;

- the prospects of and the industry outlook for the Group;

- the economic and political environment of the Greater China and South East Asian region, the primary target markets in which the Group focuses its investment; and

- the potential adverse impact of the principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group and the effectiveness of the mitigating measures that have been put in place, details of which are described in the section headed "Principal Risks and Uncertainties" on pages 9 to 10.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

The directors note, in particular, that the Group:

- has a liquid amount of unrestricted cash and bank balances;

- does not have any borrowings;

- does not have any commitments other than certain operating leases with modest outstanding rental payments; and

- has low operating expenses with a small but stable team under stringent cost control.

Furthermore, subsequent to the year ended 31 December 2017, the Company has completed an open offer of new ordinary shares raising additional equity capital. Accordingly, the directors are confident that the Company will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the assessment period.

GOING CONCERN

After making enquiries, and taking into account the increase in the equity capital of the Company following the completion of an open offer of new ordinary shares on 4 April 2018, the directors have formed a judgement, at the time of approving the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2017, that there was a reasonable expectation that the Group would have adequate resources to carry out its operations for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approving the consolidated financial statements. For this reason, the directors have adopted the going concern basis in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

As a company with a premium listing on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange, its business is subject to the principles contained in the Code, a copy of which is available on the website of the Financial Reporting Council of the United Kingdom. The Board confirms that, throughout the accounting period from 1 January to 31 December 2017, the Group complied with the relevant provisions of the Code, apart from certain exceptions set out and explained below.

The Board, comprising a non-executive chairman, two non-executive directors and two executive directors, is committed to maintaining a high standard of corporate governance. All non-executive directors are considered by the Board to be independent of management and free from any business or other relationship which could materially interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement. All directors are able to take independent professional advice in furtherance of their duties, if necessary.

The Board is responsible for establishing strategic directions and setting objectives for the Company and making significant investment decisions and monitoring the performance of the Group. The management is responsible for the day to day running of the Group's operations.

BOARD MEETING

The Board held four meetings during the year under review and the table below gives the attendance record.

Director	Board Meeting

Alastair Gunn-Forbes	4/4
Henry Ying Chew Cheong	4/4
Ernest Chiu Shun She	4/4
Mark Chung Fong	4/4
Martyn Stuart Wells	4/4

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

In addition to the above board meetings, during the year under review, the directors also attended several discussion meetings to review and evaluate various investment proposals.

Although the Board notes that a Nomination Committee (as noted in Provision B.2.1 of the Code), which makes recommendations to the Board on all new board appointments, will ensure shareholders as to the suitability of a chosen director, the Board considers that, due to its size and level of activities, it is a "small" Board in the context of the Code and has therefore decided that it would not be necessary to establish such a committee. The Board as a whole will remain responsible for ensuring that a transparent, formal and rigorous process will be followed for any future board appointments. The Board is satisfied that appropriate succession planning is in place for appointments to both the Board and senior management.

Again, due to its size and level of activities, the Board has not appointed a senior independent director and did not consider an annual self-evaluation to be required during the year under review. The responsibilities normally rested with a senior independent director have been reverted to the Board as a whole. These decisions will be re-considered annually by the Board.

The Board established both an Audit Committee and a Remuneration Committee upon the re-activation of the Group's business in 2013. Details of these committees are set out below.

AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee held two meetings during the year under review and the table below gives the attendance record.

Director	Audit Committee Meeting

Mark Chung Fong	2/2
Martyn Stuart Wells	2/2

The Audit Committee is chaired by Mr Mark Chung Fong and its other current member is Mr Martyn Stuart Wells. The Audit Committee is appointed by the Board and the committee's membership is comprised wholly of non-executive directors.

The terms of reference of the Audit Committee (copies of which are available at the Company's registered office and the Company's website) generally follow, where applicable, those stated in the code provisions of the Code.

The Audit Committee meets a minimum of two times a year and may be convened at other times if required. The responsibilities of the Audit Committee include, amongst others, the examination and review of the Group's risk management, internal financial controls and financial and accounting policies and practices, as well as overseeing and reviewing the work of the Company's external auditor, their independence and the fees paid to them.

During the year under review, the activities undertaken by the Audit Committee in discharge of its duties and functions included (i) the review and recommendation to the Board of the reappointment of BDO Limited as the Company's external auditor; (ii) the review and recommendation to the Board for approval of the annual report of the Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2016; and (iii) the review and recommendation to the Board for approval of the interim report of the Company and the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the six months ended 30 June 2017. In recommending the reappointment of BDO Limited, the Audit Committee has taken into consideration, amongst others, BDO Limited's independence, objectivity and terms of engagement.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

Subsequent to the year end, the activities that have been undertaken by the Audit Committee in relation to 2017 included (i) the review and recommendation to the Board of the annual report of the Company and the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2017; (ii) the monitoring of the effectiveness of the Group's risk management and internal financial controls; and (iii) the assessment of the effectiveness of the external audit process through feedback from the management involved in the audit and through interactions with and observations and review of the level of audit service provided.

As the scale of the operations of the Group remains relatively insubstantial, the Board has decided and the Audit Committee concurs that it would not be necessary or cost-effective to set up an internal audit function.

In connection with the review of the consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2017, the Audit Committee has identified and reviewed two issues which it considered significant and details on these matters are set out in the table below.

Significant Reporting Issue

Review and Assessment

Impairment review of the Group's interests in respect of its 50% owned joint venture, Oasis Education - At 31 December 2017, the Group had an equity interest of US$136,000 in and an amount of US$257,000 due from Oasis Education. These carrying amounts were significant in the Group's context and their valuation was subject to judgments, estimates and assumptions.

The Audit Committee has (i) reviewed the operational and financial performance and the latest development of Oasis Education and its subsidiaries; and (ii) assessed the assumptions underlying the cash flow projection for Oasis Education and its subsidiary as well as the reliability of such projection by comparing relevant historic budgets with actual results.

Impairment review of the Group's available-for-sale financial assets - At 31 December 2017, the Group had equity interests carried at costs totalling US$1,784,000 in ICBC Specialised Ship Leasing Investment Fund, ayondo Holding AG and Velocity (together the "Available-for-Sale Financial Assets"). These carrying amounts were significant in the Group's context and their valuation was subject to judgments and assumptions.

The Audit Committee has (i) reviewed the operational and financial performance and the latest development of the Available-for-Sale Financial Assets; and (ii) discussed with the management and assessed any impairment indicators that might impact such assets.

BDO Limited was appointed as the external auditor of the Company in February 2015, since when audit services have not been tendered competitively. The Audit Committee has concluded that a competitive tender of audit services is not necessary at this time, but acknowledges that circumstances could arise where a competitive tender for audit services may be desirable. The performance of BDO Limited as the Company's external auditor will be kept under annual review, and if satisfactory, BDO Limited will be recommended by the Audit Committee for reappointment. There are, however, no contractual obligations that would restrict the Audit Committee's choice of external auditor for the Company.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

Any non-audit services that are to be provided by the Company's external auditor are reviewed in order to safeguard the auditor's objectivity and independence. During the year under review, the non-audit services provided by BDO Limited consisted of agreed-upon procedures in respect of the Group's interim report for the six months ended 30 June 2017. BDO Financial Services Limited, an affiliate of BDO Limited, was also engaged to act as the reporting accountant in connection with the Company's fund raising exercise, which is detailed in note 28 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 61 to 62. Taking into account the nature and fees of the work that was involved, the Board has confirmed to the Audit Committee that, during the reporting period and subsequently thereafter, there had not been any non-audit services that were considered to have impaired the objectivity and independence of the external auditor of the Company.

As advised by the Audit Committee and concurred with by the Board, the annual report of the Company and the audited consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced and understandable and provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group's position and performance, business model and strategy.

REMUNERATION COMMITTEE

In accordance with Provision D.2.1 of the Code, the Company has set up a Remuneration Committee. The Remuneration Committee held one meeting during the year under review and the table below gives the attendance record.

Director	Remuneration Committee Meeting

Martyn Stuart Wells	1/1
Mark Chung Fong	1/1
Alastair Gunn-Forbes	1/1

The Remuneration Committee is chaired by Mr Martyn Stuart Wells and its other current members are Messrs Alastair Gunn-Forbes and Mark Chung Fong. The Remuneration Committee is appointed by the Board and the committee's membership is comprised wholly of non-executive directors.

The terms of reference of the Remuneration Committee (copies of which are available at the Company's registered office and the Company's website) generally follow, where applicable, those stated in the code provisions of the Code. They provide for the Remuneration Committee to meet at least two times a year. However, as the Group has a very small and stable workforce with hardly any personnel change since 31 December 2016, the Remuneration Committee did not consider it meaningful or necessary to hold more than one meeting during the year under review.

The Remuneration Committee's responsibilities include, amongst others, the evaluation of the performance of the executive directors and senior staff, and the comparison of the Group's remuneration policy with similar organisations in the market to form the basis for the recommendations to the Board to determine the remuneration packages, which may include the grant of share options under the Scheme, for individual staff and director members.

In accordance with the Main Principle of Provision D.2 of the Code, no director should be involved in deciding his own remuneration.

During the year under review, the activities undertaken by the Remuneration Committee in discharge of its duties and functions included the review of and recommendation to the Board to retain the Group's previous remuneration arrangements.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

AD HOC COMMITTEE

In accordance with Bye-law 98 of the Company, the Board set up in February 2018 an additional committee comprising of a minimum of two directors, to whom it delegated responsibility to deal with all matters relating to the Company's fund raising exercise. For details on this activity please refer to note 28 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 61 to 62.

WORLDSEC EMPLOYEE SHARE OPTION SCHEME 1997

On 1 December 2015, the Company granted to certain eligible persons a total of 2,950,000 share options to subscribe for new ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the share capital of the Company under the Scheme. The share options vest six months from the date of grant and are then exercisable within a period of 9.5 years.

The following table discloses the movements of the outstanding share options under the Scheme during the year under review.

		Number of options
Grantee	Exercisable period	Balance at 1 January 2017	Granted during the year	Exercised during the year	Forfeited during the year	Lapsed during the year	Balance at 31 December 2017	Exercise price per share (US$)
Directors	1 June 2016 to 30 November 2025	2,500,000	-	-	-	-	2,500,000	0.122
Employees	1 June 2016 to 30 November 2025	450,000	-	-	-	-	450,000	0.122
		2,950,000	-	-	-	-	2,950,000

Further details relating to the granting of the share options during the year under review are set out in note 23 to the consolidated financial statements on pages 58 to 59.

RELATION WITH SHAREHOLDERS

Communication with shareholders is given high priority. Information about the Group's activities is provided in the annual report and the interim report of the Company which are sent to shareholders each year and are available on the website of the Company. All shareholders are encouraged to attend the Annual General Meeting at which directors are introduced and available for questions. Enquiries are dealt with in an informative and timely manner. Directors, including non-executive directors, are also available to meet with major shareholders on request.

DIRECTORS' REPORT (CONTINUED)

EXTERNAL AUDITOR

The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for the year ended 31 December 2017 have been audited by BDO Limited.

A resolution will be submitted to the next Annual General Meeting to reappoint BDO Limited as the Company's external auditor.

On behalf of the Board

Henry Ying Chew Cheong

Executive Director

30 April 2018

STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS' RESPONSIBILITIES

The directors are required under the Bermuda Companies Act 1981 to prepare consolidated financial statements for each financial year. The directors acknowledge responsibility for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2017, which give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Group as at the end of that financial year and of the financial performance of the Group for that year and which provide the necessary information for shareholders to assess the business activities and performance of the Group during that year. In preparing these consolidated financial statements, the directors are required to:

- select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

- make judgments and estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

- state whether the consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union; and

- prepare the consolidated financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.

The directors confirm that the above requirements have been met.

The directors are responsible for keeping proper accounting records which disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group. They are also responsible for the Group's system of internal financial controls, for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of frauds and other irregularities.

The directors further confirms that, to the best of their knowledge and understanding, the chairman's statements on page 1 and the directors' report on pages 2 to 16 include a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

On behalf of the Board

Henry Ying Chew Cheong

Executive Director

30 April 2018

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT

TO THE MEMBERS OF WORLDSEC LIMITED

(incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

REPORT ON THE AUDIT OF THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

OPINION

We have audited the consolidated financial statements of Worldsec Limited (the "Company") and its subsidiaries (together the "Group") set out on pages 23 to 62, which comprise the consolidated statement of financial position as at 31 December 2017, and the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income, the consolidated statement of changes in equity and the consolidated statement of cash flows for the year then ended, and notes to the consolidated financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies.

In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements give a true and fair view of the consolidated financial position of the Group as at 31 December 2017 and of its consolidated financial performance and its consolidated cash flows for the year then ended in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union.

Basis for Opinion

We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing ("ISAs"). Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the "Auditor's Responsibilities for the Audit of the Consolidated Financial Statements" section of our report. We are independent of the Group in accordance with the International Ethics Standards Board for Accountants' Code of Ethics for Professional Accountants (the "IESBA Code"), and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with the IESBA Code. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Key Audit Matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the consolidated financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

impairment review of interest in a joint venture and amount due from a joint venture

Refer to note 16 to the consolidated financial statements

The Group owns 50% in Oasis Education Group Limited ("Oasis Education"), which is accounted for using the equity method and considered for impairment if there is any indication that the investment may be impaired. The interest in the joint venture amounted to approximately US$136,000 as at 31 December 2017 and the Group's share of its losses of approximately US$4,000 for the year then ended.

Further, the Group has advanced an amount of approximately US$257,000 to Oasis Education as at 31 December 2017, which is subject to an impairment assessment.

The impairment review of investment in, and amount due from, Oasis Education is significant to our audit due to the significance of the carrying amounts subject to impairment review comparing to the Group's net loss, and judgement applied in determining if an impairment in carrying amounts is necessary.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE MEMBERS OF WORLDSEC LIMITED

(incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

Key Audit Matters (Continued)

impairment review of interest in a joint venture and amount due from a joint venture (CONTINUED)

Our response:

Our audit procedures included:

· Understanding Oasis Education's operation and latest development;

· Assessing the financial performance of Oasis Education based on information available to us;

· Evaluating management's considerations of the impairment indicators of the investment in, and the amount due from, Oasis Education;

· Assessing the appropriateness of the management's assumption concerning the future cash flow to be generated from the operation of Oasis Education; and

· Assessing reliability of the joint venture's forecast by comparing historical budget to actual performance and challenging management on any significant variances.

impairment review of available-for-sale financial assets

Refer to note 17 to the consolidated financial statements

The Group owns equity interests in ICBC Specialised Ship Leasing Investment Fund ("ICBC Shipping Fund"), ayondo Holding AG ("Ayondo AG") and Velocity Mobile Limited ("Velocity"), which are all accounted for as available-for-sale financial assets totaling approximately US$1,784,000 as at 31 December 2017 carried at cost. The available-for-sale financial assets are measured at cost less any identified impairment loss, if any. The amount of an impairment loss, if any, is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset.

The impairment review of the investments in ICBC Shipping Fund, Ayondo AG and Velocity are significant to our audit due to the significance of the carrying amount of the investments, and judgement applied in determining if an impairment in carrying amount is necessary.

Our response:

Our audit procedures included:

· Understanding the investees' operations and latest development;

· Assessing the financial performance of the investees; and

· Evaluating management's considerations of the impairment indicators of the available-for-sale financial assets based on our knowledge of the relevant industry and business.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE MEMBERS OF WORLDSEC LIMITED

(incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

Other information in the annual report

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Company's annual report, but does not include the consolidated financial statements and our auditor's report thereon.

Our opinion on the consolidated financial statements does not cover the other information and we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

In connection with our audit of the consolidated financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the consolidated financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard.

Directors' responsibilitIES for the consolidated financial statements

The directors are responsible for the preparation of the consolidated financial statements that give a true and fair view in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union, and for such internal control as the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of consolidated financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the consolidated financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the Group's ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the directors either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.

The directors are also responsible for overseeing the Group's financial reporting process. The audit committee of the Group (the "Audit Committee") assists the directors in discharging their responsibility in this regard.

Auditor's responsibilitIES for the audit of the consolidated financial statements

Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the consolidated financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor's report that includes our opinion. This report is made solely to you, as a body, in accordance with Section 90 of the Bermuda Companies Act 1981, and for no other purpose. We do not assume responsibility towards or accept liability to any other person for the contents of this report.

Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these consolidated financial statements.

As part of an audit in accordance with ISAs, we exercise professional judgement and maintain professional skepticism throughout the audit. We also:

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE MEMBERS OF WORLDSEC LIMITED

(incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

Auditor's responsibilitIES for the audit of the consolidated financial statements (CONTINUED)

· identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the consolidated financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, and obtain audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. The risk of not detecting a material misstatement resulting from fraud is higher than for one resulting from error, as fraud may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or the override of internal control.

· obtain an understanding of internal control relevant to the audit in order to design audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Group's internal control.

· evaluate the appropriateness of accounting policies used and the reasonableness of accounting estimates and related disclosures made by the directors.

· conclude on the appropriateness of the directors' use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the Group's ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our auditor's report to the related disclosures in the consolidated financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify our opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit evidence obtained up to the date of our auditor's report. However, future events or conditions may cause the Group to cease to continue as a going concern.

· evaluate the overall presentation, structure and content of the consolidated financial statements, including the disclosures, and whether the consolidated financial statements represent the underlying transactions and events in a manner that achieves fair presentation.

· obtain sufficient appropriate audit evidence regarding the financial information of the entities or business activities within the Group to express an opinion on the consolidated financial statements. We are responsible for the direction, supervision and performance of the group audit. We remain solely responsible for our audit opinion.

We communicate with the Audit Committee regarding, among other matters, the planned scope and timing of the audit and significant audit findings, including any significant deficiencies in internal control that we identify during our audit.

We also provide the Audit Committee with a statement that we have complied with relevant ethical requirements regarding independence, and to communicate with them all relationships and other matters that may reasonably be thought to bear on our independence, and where applicable, related safeguards.

From the matters communicated with the directors, we determine those matters that were of most significance in the audit of the consolidated financial statements of the current period and are therefore the key audit matters. We describe these matters in our auditor's report unless law or regulation precludes public disclosure about the matter or when, in extremely rare circumstances, we determine that a matter should not be communicated in our report because the adverse consequences of doing so would reasonably be expected to outweigh the public interest benefits of such communication.

INDEPENDENT AUDITOR'S REPORT (CONTINUED)

TO THE MEMBERS OF WORLDSEC LIMITED

(incorporated in Bermuda with limited liability)

REPORT ON OTHER REGULATORY REQUIREMENTS

Under the listing rules of the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom (the "Listing Rules"), we are required to review the part of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company's compliance with the provisions of the UK Corporate Governance Code specified for our review in accordance with Listing Rule 9.8.10R (2). We have nothing to report arising from our review.

BDO Limited

Certiﬁed Public Accountants

Alfred Lee

Practising Certiﬁcate Number P04960

Hong Kong, 30 April 2018

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF PROFIT OR LOSS AND OTHER

COMPREHENSIVE INCOME

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

		Year ended 31 December
	Notes	2017	2016
		US$'000	US$'000

Revenue	7	96	96
Other income	9	3	99
Staff costs	10	(233)	(385)
Other expenses		(286)	(319)
Share of losses of a joint venture	16	(4)	(5)

Loss before income tax expense	11	(424)	(514)
Income tax expense	12	-	-

Loss for the year		(424)	(514)

Other comprehensive income, net of income tax
Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: Exchange differences on translating foreign operations		-	(1)
Release of foreign currency translation reserve upon dissolution of subsidiaries	24	-	12
Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of a joint venture	16	17	(9)
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of income tax		17	2

Total comprehensive loss for the year		(407)	(512)
Loss for the year attributable to:
Owners of the Company		(424)	(514)

Total comprehensive loss for the year attributable to:
Owners of the Company		(407)	(512)

		Year ended 31 December
	Notes	2017	2016
Loss per share - basic and diluted	13	US (0.75) cent	US (0.91) cent

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

	Notes	2017	2016
		US$'000	US$'000
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment	15	-	21
Interest in a joint venture	16	136	123
Available-for-sale financial assets	17	1,784	1,784
		1,920	1,928

Current assets
Other receivables		8	8
Deposits and prepayments		234	22
Amount due from a joint venture	16	257	257
Cash and cash equivalents	19	260	848
		759	1,135

Current liabilities
Other payables and accruals	20	148	125

Net current assets		611	1,010

Net assets		2,531	2,938

Capital and reserves
Share capital	21	57	57
Reserves	22	2,474	2,881

Total equity		2,531	2,938

The consolidated financial statements on pages 23 to 62 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 30 April 2018 and signed on its behalf by:

Alastair Gunn-Forbes

Director

Henry Ying Chew Cheong

Director

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF changes in equity

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

		Equity attributable to owners of the Company
						Foreign
				Contri-	Share	currency
	Share		Share	buted	option	translation	Special	Accumulated
	capital		premium	surplus	reserve	reserve	reserve	losses	Total
	US$'000		US$'000	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000
	(note 21)		(note 22)	(note 22)	(note 22)	(note 22)	(note 22)	(note 22)

Balance at 1 January 2016	57		3,837	9,646	34	(30)	625	(11,038)	3,131

Loss for the year	-		-	-	-	-	-	(514)	(514)

Other comprehensive income for the year
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations	-		-	-	-	(1)	-	-	(1)
Release of foreign currency translation reserve upon dissolution of subsidiaries (note 24)	-		-	-	-	12	-	-	12
Share of other comprehensive loss of a joint venture (note 16)	-		-	-	-	(9)	-	-	(9)
Total comprehensive loss for the year	-		-	-	-	2	-	(514)	(512)
Recognition of share-based payments (note 23)	-		-	-	172	-	-	-	172
Unclaimed dividends forfeited (note 20)	-		-	-	-	-	-	147	147
Transactions with owners	-		-	-	172	-	-	147	319

Balance at 31 December 2016 and 1 January 2017	57		3,837	9,646	206	(28)	625	(11,405)	2,938

Loss for the year	-		-	-	-	-	-	(424)	(424)

Other comprehensive income for the year
Share of other comprehensive income of a joint venture (note 16)	-		-	-	-	17	-	-	17
Total comprehensive loss for the year	-		-	-	-	17	-	(424)	(407)

Balance at 31 December 2017	57		3,837	9,646	206	(11)	625	(11,829)	2,531

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CASH FLOWS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

	Year ended 31 December
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before income tax expense	(424)	(514)
Adjustments for:
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	21	23
Share of losses of a joint venture	4	5
Share-based payment expenses	-	172
Loss on dissolution of subsidiaries	-	12
Other payables written back	-	(99)

Operating loss before working capital changes	(399)	(401)
Increase in other receivables	-	(8)
Increase in deposits and prepayments	(6)	(1)
Increase/(decrease) in other payables and accruals	23	(70)

Net cash used in operating activities	(382)	(480)

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of available-for-sale financial assets	-	(659)

Net cash used in investing activities	-	(659)

Cash flows from financing activities
Prepaid share issue expenses	(206)	-

Net cash used in financing activities	(206)	-

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(588)	(1,139)

Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year	848	1,988
Effects of exchange rate changes	-	(1)

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year	260	848

The accompanying notes form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

1. GENERAL INFORMATION

Worldsec Limited (the "Company") is a public listed company incorporated in Bermuda and its shares are listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange. The address of the registered office of the Company is Canon's Court, 22 Victoria Street, Hamilton HM12, Bermuda. Its principal place of business address is Unit 607, 6th Floor, FWD Financial Centre, 308 Des Voeux Road Central, Sheung Wan, Hong Kong.

The principal activity of the Company is investment holding. The principal activities of the Company's subsidiaries are set out in note 18 to the consolidated financial statements.

The functional currency of the Company is Hong Kong Dollars ("HK$"). The consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries (collectively referred to as the "Group") are presented in United States Dollars ("US$" or "USD").

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with all applicable International Financial Reporting Standards ("IFRS"), International Accounting Standards ("IAS") and Interpretations adopted by the European Union ("EU") (collectively referred to as the "IFRSs").

2. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRSs

2.1 New and revised IFRSs applied with no material effect on the consolidated financial statements

The following new and revised IFRSs have been applied by the Group in the current year.

Amendments to IAS 7	Disclosure Initiative
Amendments to IAS 12	Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses
Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014-2016 Cycle	Amendments to IFRS 12, Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

Amendments to IAS 7 - Disclosure Initiative

The amendments introduce an additional disclosure that will enable users of financial statements to evaluate changes in liabilities arising from financing activities.

The adoption of the amendments has had no impact on these financial statements as the Group had no changes in liabilities arising from financing activities.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRSs (CONTINUED)

2.1 New and revised IFRSs applied with no material effect on the consolidated financial statements (Continued)

Amendments to IAS 12 - Recognition of Deferred Tax Assets for Unrealised Losses

The amendments relate to the recognition of deferred tax assets and clarify some of the necessary considerations, including how to account for deferred tax assets related to debt instruments measured of fair value.

The adoption of the amendments has had no impact on these financial statements as the Group had no deferred tax assets.

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014-2016 Cycle - Amendments to IFRS 12, Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities

The amendments issued under the annual improvements process make small, non-urgent changes to standards where they are currently unclear. They include amendments to IFRS 12 "Disclosure of Interests in Other Entities" to clarify that the disclosure requirements of IFRS 12, other than the requirements to disclose summarised financial information, also apply to an entity's interests in other entities classified as held for sale or discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS 5 "Non-Current Assets Held for Sale and Discontinued Operations".

The adoption of the amendments to IFRS 12 has had no impact on these financial statements as the Group had no interests in other entities classified as held for sale or discontinued operations in accordance with IFRS 5.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRSs (CONTINUED)

2.2 New and revised IFRSs in issue but not yet effective

The Group has not applied the following new and revised IFRSs, potentially relevant to the Group's financial statements, that have been issued but are not yet effective. Certain new or revised IFRSs have yet been endorsed by the EU.

Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2014-2016 Cycle	Amendments to IAS 28, Investments in Associates and Joint Ventures¹
Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015-2017 Cycle	Amendments to IFRS 3, Business Combinations^2*
Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015-2017 Cycle	Amendments to IAS 12, Income Taxes^2*
Annual Improvements to IFRSs 2015-2017 Cycle	Amendments to IAS 23, Borrowing Costs^2*
IFRS 9	Financial instruments¹
IFRS 15	Revenue from Contracts with Customers¹
IFRS 16	Leases²
Amendments to IAS 28	Long-term Interests in Associates and Joint Ventures^2*
Amendments to IFRS 2	Classification and Measurement of Share-based Payment Transactions¹
Amendments to IFRS 9	Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation^2*
Amendments to IFRS 15	Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Clarification to IFRS 15)¹
Amendments to IFRS 10 and IAS 28	Sale or Contribution of Assets between an Investor and its Associate or Joint Venture^#
International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee ("IFRIC") 22	Foreign Currency Transactions and Advance Consideration¹
IFRIC 23	Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments^2*

¹	Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018
²	Effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019
^#	The amendments were originally intended to be effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2016. The effective date has now been deferred/removed. Early application of the amendments continues to be permitted.
^*	Not yet endorsed by the EU

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRSs (CONTINUED)

2.2 New and revised IFRSs in issue but not yet effective (Continued)

IFRS 9 - Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 introduces new requirements for the classification and measurement of financial assets. Debt instruments that are held within a business model whose objective is to hold assets in order to collect contractual cash flows (the business model test) and that have contractual terms that give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal amount outstanding (the contractual cash flow characteristics test) are generally measured at amortised cost. Debt instruments that meet the contractual cash flow characteristics test are measured at fair value through other comprehensive income if the objective of the entity's business model is both to hold and collect the contractual cash flows and to sell the financial assets. Entities may make an irrevocable election at initial recognition to measure equity instruments that are not held for trading at fair value through other comprehensive income. All other debt and equity instruments are measured at fair value through profit or loss.

IFRS 9 includes a new expected loss impairment model for all financial assets not measured at fair value through profit or loss replacing the incurred loss model in IAS 39 and new general hedge accounting requirements to allow entities to better reflect their risk management activities in financial statements.

IFRS 9 carries forward the recognition, classification and measurement requirements for financial liabilities from IAS 39, except for financial liabilities designated at fair value through profit or loss, where the amount of change in fair value attributable to change in credit risk of the liability is recognised in other comprehensive income unless that would create or enlarge an accounting mismatch. In addition, IFRS 9 retains the requirements in IAS 39 for derecognition of financial assets and financial liabilities.

The Group has performed a preliminary assessment of potential impact of the adoption of IFRS 9 on the Group. The Group's unlisted equity investments currently classiﬁed as available-for-sale financial assets measured at cost less impairment will be reclassiﬁed to ﬁnancial assets at fair value through proﬁt or loss or other comprehensive income, which is being under the process of the election. However, it is not practicable to provide a reasonable estimate of that effect until the Group performs a detailed review.

IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The new standard establishes a single revenue recognition framework. The core principle of the framework is that an entity should recognise revenue to depict the transfer of promised goods or services to customers in an amount that reflects the consideration to which the entity expects to be entitled in exchange for those goods and services. IFRS 15 supersedes existing revenue recognition guidance including IAS 18 "Revenue", IAS 11 "Construction Contracts" and related interpretations.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRSs (CONTINUED)

2.2 New and revised IFRSs in issue but not yet effective (Continued)

IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Continued)

IFRS 15 requires the application of a 5-step approach to revenue recognition:

· Step 1: Identify the contract(s) with a customer

· Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract

· Step 3: Determine the transaction price

· Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to each performance obligation

· Step 5: Recognise revenue when each performance obligation is satisfied

IFRS 15 includes specific guidance on particular revenue related topics that may change the current approach taken under IFRS. The standard also significantly enhances the qualitative and quantitative disclosures related to revenue.

The Group has performed a preliminary assessment of potential impact of the adoption of IFRS 15 on the Group. Based on the preliminary assessment, the directors anticipate that the adoption of IFRS 15 in the future is not likely to have significant impact on the amounts reported but may result in more disclosures made to the consolidated financial statements related to revenue.

Amendments to IFRS 15 - Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Clarifications to IFRS 15)

The amendments to IFRS 15 included clarifications on identification of performance obligations; application of principal versus agent; licenses of intellectual property; and transition requirements.

IFRS 16 - Leases

IFRS 16, which upon the effective date will supersede IAS 17 "Leases" and related interpretations, introduces a single lessee accounting model and requires a lessee to recognise assets and liabilities for all leases with a term of more than 12 months, unless the underlying asset is of low value. Specifically, under IFRS 16, a lessee is required to recognise a right-of-use asset representing its right to use the underlying leased asset and a lease liability representing its obligation to make lease payments. Accordingly, a lessee should recognise depreciation of the right-of-use asset and interest on the lease liability, and also classifies cash repayments of the lease liability into a principal portion and an interest portion and presents them in the statement of cash flows. Also, the right-of-use asset and the lease liability are initially measured on a present value basis. The measurement includes non-cancellable lease payments and also includes payments to be made in optional periods if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise an option to extend the lease, or not to exercise an option to terminate the lease. This accounting treatment is significantly different from the lessee accounting for leases that are classified as operating leases under the predecessor standard, IAS 17.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

2. APPLICATION OF NEW AND REVISED IFRSs (CONTINUED)

2.2 New and revised IFRSs in issue but not yet effective (Continued)

IFRS 16 - Leases (Continued)

In respect of the lessor accounting, IFRS 16 substantially carries forward the lessor accounting requirements in IAS 17. Accordingly, a lessor continues to classify its leases as operating leases or finance leases, and to account for those two types of leases differently.

The Group has performed a preliminary assessment of potential impact of the adoption of IFRS 16 on the Group. As set out in note 26 to the consolidated financial statements, the total operating lease commitment of the Group in respect of rented office premises and warehouse as at 31 December 2017 amounted to approximately US$216,000. The directors anticipate that the adoption of IFRS 16 would not result in significant impact on the Group's results but expect that the above operating lease commitments will be recognised as right-of-use assets and lease liabilities in the consolidated financial statements.

Amendments to IFRS 9 - Prepayment Features with Negative Compensation

The amendments clarify that prepayable financial assets with negative compensation can be measured at amortised cost or at fair value through other comprehensive income if specified conditions are met - instead of at fair value through profit or loss.

The directors anticipate that the adoption of other new or revised standards would not result in significant impact on amounts reported in the consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Statement of compliance

The consolidated financial statements of the Group have been prepared in accordance with all applicable IFRSs issued by the International Accounting Standards Board as adopted by the EU.

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost basis.

Basis of consolidation

The consolidated financial statements comprise the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries. Inter-company transactions and balances between group companies together with unrealised profits are eliminated in full in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of impairment on the asset transferred, in which case the loss is recognised in profit or loss.

Subsidiaries

A subsidiary is an investee over which the Company is able to exercise control. The Company controls an investee if all three of the following elements are present: (1) power over the investee, (2) exposure, or rights, to variable returns from the investee, and (3) the ability to use its power to affect those variable returns. Control is reassessed whenever facts and circumstances indicate that there may be a change in any of these elements of control.

Joint arrangements

The Group is a party to a joint arrangement where there is a contractual arrangement that confers joint control over the relevant activities of the arrangement to the Group and at least one other party. Joint control is assessed under the same principles as control over subsidiaries.

The Group classifies its interests in joint arrangements as either:

- Joint venture: where the Group has rights to only the net assets of the joint arrangement; or

- Joint operation: where the Group has both the rights to assets and obligations for the liabilities of the joint arrangement.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Joint arrangements (Continued)

In assessing the classification of interests in joint arrangements, the Group considers:

- The structure of the joint arrangement;

- The legal form of the joint arrangement structured through a separate vehicle;

- The contractual terms of the joint arrangement agreement; and

- Any other facts and circumstances (including any other contractual arrangements).

Joint ventures are accounted for using the equity method whereby they are initially recognised at cost and thereafter, their carrying amount are adjusted for the Group's share of the post-acquisition change in the joint ventures' net assets except that losses in excess of the Group's interest in the joint venture are not recognised unless there is a legal and constructive obligation to make good those losses.

Profits and losses arising on transactions between the Group and its joint ventures are recognised only to the extent of unrelated investors' interests in the joint ventures. The investors' share in a joint venture's profits and losses resulting from such transactions is eliminated against the carrying value of the joint venture.

Any premium paid for an investment in a joint venture above the fair value of the Group's share of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities acquired is capitalised and included in the carrying amount of the investment in the joint venture. Where there is objective evidence that the investment in a joint venture has been impaired, the carrying amount of the investment is tested for impairment in the same way as other non-financial assets.

The Group accounts for its interests in joint operations by recognising its share of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses in accordance with its contractually conferred rights and obligations.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Property, plant and equipment

Property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation and accumulated impairment losses. The cost of property, plant and equipment includes their purchase price and the costs directly attributable to the acquisition of the items.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset's carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only when it is probable that future economic benefits associated with the item will flow to the Group and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. All other repairs and maintenance are recognised as an expense in profit or loss during the financial period in which they are incurred.

Property, plant and equipment are depreciated so as to write off their cost net of expected residual value over their estimated useful lives on a straight-line basis. The useful lives, residual value and depreciation method are reviewed, and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each reporting period. The useful lives are as follows:

Leasehold improvements over the lease terms

An asset is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if its carrying amount is higher than the asset's estimated recoverable amount.

The gain or loss on disposal of an item of property, plant and equipment is the difference between the net sale proceeds and its carrying amount, and is recognised in profit or loss on disposal.

Leasing

Leases are classified as finance leases whenever the terms of the lease transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership to the lessee. All other leases are classified as operating leases.

The Group as lessee

The total rentals payable under the operating leases are recognised in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease incentives received are recognised as an integrated part of the total rental expense, over the term of the lease.

Revenue recognition

Dividend income is recognised when the right to receive payment is established.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Foreign currencies

Transactions entered into by the group entities in currencies other than the currency of the primary economic environment in which they operate are recorded at the rates ruling when the transactions occur. Foreign currency monetary assets and liabilities are translated at the rates ruling at the end of the reporting period. Non-monetary items that are measured in terms of historical cost in a foreign currency are not retranslated.

Exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items, and on the translation of monetary items, are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

On consolidation, income and expense items of foreign operations are translated into the presentation currency of the Group (i.e. US$) at the average exchange rates for the year, unless exchange rates fluctuate significantly during the period, in which case, the rates approximating to those ruling when the transactions took place are used. All assets and liabilities of foreign operations are translated at the rate ruling at the end of the reporting period. Exchange differences arising, if any, are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity as foreign currency translation reserve (attributed to minority interests as appropriate). Exchange differences recognised in profit or loss of group entities' separate financial statements on the translation of long-term monetary items forming part of the Group's net investment in the foreign operation concerned are reclassified to other comprehensive income and accumulated in equity as foreign currency translation reserve.

On disposal of a foreign operation, the cumulative exchange differences recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve relating to that operation up to the date of disposal are reclassified to profit or loss as part of the profit or loss on disposal.

Goodwill and fair value adjustments on identifiable assets acquired arising on an acquisition of a foreign operation on or after 1 January 2005 are treated as assets and liabilities of that foreign operation and translated at the rate of exchange prevailing at the end of the reporting period. Exchange differences arising are recognised in the foreign currency translation reserve.

Share-based payments

The Group operates equity-settled share-based compensation plans and the share options are awarded to employees and directors providing services to the Group.

All services received in exchange for the grant of any share-based compensation are measured at their fair values. These are indirectly determined by reference to the equity instruments awarded. Their value is appraised at the grant date and excludes the impact of any non-market vesting conditions.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Share-based payments (Continued)

All share-based compensation is recognised as an expense in profit or loss over the vesting period if vesting conditions apply, or recognised as an expense in full at the grant date when the equity instruments granted vest immediately unless the compensation qualifies for recognition as an asset, with a corresponding increase in the share option reserve in equity. If vesting conditions apply, the expense is recognised over the vesting period, based on the best available estimate of the number of equity instruments expected to vest. Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of equity instruments that are expected to vest. Estimates are subsequently revised, if there is any indication that the number of equity instruments expected to vest differs from previous estimates.

At the time when the share options are exercised, the amount previously recognised in share option reserve will be transferred to share premium. After the vesting date, when the vested share options are forfeited or are still not exercised at the expiry date, the amount previously recognised in share option reserve will be transferred to retained profits.

Taxation

Income tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable and deferred tax.

Current tax

The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from 'loss before income tax expense' as reported in the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income because of items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and items that are never taxable or deductible. Current tax is calculated using tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.

Deferred tax

Deferred tax is recognised on temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the consolidated financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit. Deferred tax liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences. Deferred tax assets are generally 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. Such deferred tax assets and liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from initial recognition (other than in a business combination) of assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit. In addition, deferred tax liabilities are not recognised if the temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at the end of each reporting period 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.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Taxation (Continued)

Deferred tax (Continued)

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply in the period in which the liability is settled or the asset realised, based on tax rates (and tax laws) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period.

The measurement of deferred tax liabilities and assets reflects the tax consequences that would follow from the manner in which the Group expects, at the end of the reporting period, to recover or settle the carrying amount of its assets and liabilities.

Provisions

Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation (legal or constructive) as a result of a past event, it is probable that the Group will be required to settle the obligation, and a reliable estimate can be made of the amount of the obligation.

The amount recognised as a provision is the best estimate of the consideration required to settle the present obligation at the end of the reporting period, taking into account the risks and uncertainties surrounding the obligation. When a provision is measured using the cash flows estimated to settle the present obligation, its carrying amount is the present value of those cash flows (where the effect of the time value of money is material).

When some or all of the economic benefits required to settle a provision are expected to be recovered from a third party, a receivable is recognised as an asset if it is virtually certain that reimbursement will be received and the amount of the receivable can be measured reliably.

Cash and cash equivalents

For the purposes of the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents included cash on hand and in banks.

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when a group entity becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the instruments.

Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value. Transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issue of financial assets and financial liabilities (other than financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss) are added to or deducted from the fair value of the financial assets or financial liabilities, as appropriate, on initial recognition.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Financial instruments (Continued)

Financial assets

The Group classifies its financial assets at initial recognition, depending on the purpose for which the assets were acquired. Regular way purchases or sales of financial assets are recognised and derecognised on a trade date basis. A regular way purchase or sale is a purchase or sale of a financial asset under a contract whose terms require delivery of the asset within the time frame established generally by regulation or convention in the marketplace concerned.

Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active market. Loans and receivables (including cash and bank balance) are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method, less any impairment.

Interest income is recognised by applying the effective interest rate, except for short-term receivables when the effect of discounting is immaterial.

Available-for-sale financial assets

These assets are non-derivative financial assets that are designated as available-for-sale or are not included in other categories of financial assets. When the fair value of unlisted equity securities cannot be reliably measured because (a) the variability in the range of reasonable fair value estimates is significant for that investment or (b) the probabilities of the various estimates within the range cannot be reasonably assessed and used in estimating fair value, such securities are stated at cost less any impairment losses.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Financial instruments (Continued)

Impairment of financial assets

The Group assesses, at the end of each reporting period, whether there is any objective evidence that a financial asset is impaired. A financial asset is impaired if there is objective evidence of impairment as a result of one or more events that has occurred after the initial recognition of the asset and that event has an impact on the estimated future cash flows of the financial asset that can be reliably estimated.

Evidence of impairment may include:

• significant financial difficulty of the debtor;

• a breach of contract, such as a default or delinquency in interest or principal payments;

• granting concession to a debtor because of debtor's financial difficulty; or

• it becoming probable that the debtor will enter bankruptcy or other financial reorganisation.

For loans and receivables

An impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired, and is measured as the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the present value of the estimated future cash flows discounted at the original effective interest rate. The carrying amount of a financial asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account. When any part of a financial asset is determined as uncollectible, it is written off against the allowance account for the relevant financial asset.

Impairment losses are reversed in subsequent periods when an increase in the asset's recoverable amount can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, subject to a restriction that the carrying amount of the asset at the date the impairment is reversed does not exceed what the amortised cost would have been had the impairment not been recognised.

For available-for-sale financial assets

For available-for-sale equity investments that are carried at cost, the amount of impairment loss is measured as the difference between the carrying amount of the asset and the present value of estimated future cash flows discounted at the current market rate of return for a similar financial asset. Such impairment loss shall not be reversed.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Financial instruments (Continued)

Derecognition of financial assets

Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to receive cash ﬂows from the assets expire, or the ﬁnancial assets are transferred and the Group has transferred substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of the ﬁnancial assets.

On derecognition of a ﬁnancial asset, the difference between the asset's carrying amount and the sum of the consideration received and receivable, for available-for-sale investments, and the cumulative gain or loss that had been recognised in other comprehensive income is reclassified to proﬁt or loss.

Financial liabilities and equity instruments

Classification as debt or equity

Debt and equity instruments issued by a group entity are classified as either financial liabilities or as equity in accordance with the substance of the contractual arrangements and the definitions of a financial liability and an equity instrument.

Equity instruments

An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of an entity after deducting all of its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the Company are recognised at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities (including other payables and accruals) are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

The effective interest method is a method of calculating the amortised cost of a financial liability and of allocating interest expense over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash payments (including all fees and points paid or received that form an integral part of the effective interest rate, transaction costs and other premiums or discounts) through the expected life of the financial liability, or where appropriate a shorter period, to the net carrying amount on initial recognition.

Derecognition of financial liabilities

The Group derecognises financial liabilities when, and only when, the Group's obligations are discharged, cancelled or they expire. The difference between the carrying amount of the financial liability derecognised and the consideration paid and payable is recognised in profit or loss.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Impairment of other assets

At the end of each reporting period, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of the following assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss or an impairment loss previously recognised no longer exists or may have decreased:

• property, plant and equipment; and

• interest in a joint venture

If the recoverable amount (i.e. the greater of fair value less costs to disposal and value in use) of an asset is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the asset is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset 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 in prior years.

A reversal of an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss immediately.

Value in use is based on the estimated future cash flows expected to be derived from the asset or cash generating unit, 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 or cash generating unit).

Related parties

(a) A person or a close member of that person's family is related to the Group if that person:

(i) has control or joint control over the Group;

(ii) has significant influence over the Group; or

(iii) is a member of key management personnel of the Group or the Company's parent.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

3. SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES (CONTINUED)

Related parties (Continued)

(b) An entity is related to the Group if any of the following conditions apply:

(i) The entity and the Group are members of the same group (which means that each parent, subsidiary and fellow subsidiary is related to the others);

(ii) One entity is an associate or joint venture of the other entity (or an associate or joint venture of a member of a group of which the other entity is a member);

(iii) Both entities are joint ventures of the same third party;

(iv) One entity is a joint venture of a third entity and the other entity is an associate of the third entity;

(v) The entity is a post-employment benefit plan for the benefit of the employees of the Group or an entity related to the Group;

(vi) The entity is controlled or jointly controlled by a person identified in (a); or

(vii) A person identified in (a)(i) has significant influence over the entity or is a member of key management personnel of the entity (or of a parent of the entity).

(viii) The entity, or any member of a group of which it is a part, provides key management personnel services to the Group or to the Company's parent.

Close members of the family of a person are those family members who may be expected to influence, or be influenced by, that person in their dealings with the entity and include:

(i) that person's children and spouse or domestic partner;

(ii) children of that person's spouse or domestic partner; and

(iii) dependents of that person or that person's spouse or domestic partner.

4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY

In the application of the Group's accounting policies, which are described in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements, management is required to make judgements, estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates and underlying assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to an accounting estimate 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.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

4. CRITICAL ACCOUNTING JUDGEMENTS AND KEY SOURCES OF ESTIMATION UNCERTAINTY (CONTINUED)

Key sources of estimation uncertainty

The key sources of estimation uncertainty that have a significant risk of resulting in a material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are as follows:

(i) Depreciation

The Group depreciates property, plant and equipment using the straight-line method over the estimated useful lives, starting from the date on which the assets are available for use. The estimated useful lives reflect the directors' estimate of the periods that the Group intends to derive future economic benefits from the use of the property, plant and equipment of the Group. The carrying amount of property, plant and equipment is disclosed in note 15 to the consolidated financial statements.

(ii) Impairment of receivables (including amount due from a joint venture)

The Group maintains an allowance for estimated loss arising from the inability of its debtors to make the required payments. The Group makes its estimates based on the ageing of its receivable balances, debtors' creditworthiness, and historical write-off experience. If the financial condition of its debtors was to deteriorate so that the actual impairment loss might be higher than expected, the Group would be required to revise the basis of making the allowance and its future results would be affected.

(iii) Impairment of non-financial assets (including interest in a joint venture)

The Group assesses whether there are any indications of impairment for all non-financial assets at each reporting date. Non-financial assets are tested for impairment when there are indications that the carrying amounts may not be recoverable.

(iv) Impairment of available-for-sale financial assets

The directors review available-for-sale investments at the end of each reporting period to assess whether they are impaired. The Group records impairment charges on available-for-sale equity investments when there is objective evidence that an impairment indicator exists. The determination of whether the impairment indicator exists requires judgement. In making this judgement, the Group takes into account factors such as significant changes with an adverse effect that has taken place in technological, market, economic or legal environment in which the investee operates, and that indicates that the cost of the investment in the equity instrument may not be recovered.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

5. FINANCIAL instruments

(a) Categories of financial instruments

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000
Financial assets

Loans and receivables	553	1,135
Available-for-sale financial assets	1,784	1,784
	2,337	2,919

Financial liabilities

Financial liabilities measured at amortised cost	148	125

(b) Financial risk management objectives

Management monitors and manages the financial risks relating to the operations of the Group through internal risk reports which analyse exposures by degree and magnitude of risks. These risks include market risks (including foreign currency risk, interest rate risk and price risk), credit risk and liquidity risk. The policies on how to mitigate these risks are set out below. The Group does not enter into or trade derivative financial instruments for speculative purposes.

Market risks

The Group's activities expose it primarily to the financial risks of changes in foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and price risk.

There has been no change to the Group's exposure to market risks or the manner in which these risks are managed and measured.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

5. FINANCIAL instruments (CONTINUED)

(b) Financial risk management objectives (Continued)

Market risks (Continued)

(i) Foreign currency risk

Certain financial assets and financial liabilities of the Group are denominated in foreign currencies other than the functional currency of the relevant group entities, which exposes the Group to foreign currency risk. The Group currently does not have a foreign currency hedging policy. However, management monitors foreign exchange exposure and will consider hedging significant foreign currency exposure should the need arise. Under the Linked Exchange Rate System in Hong Kong, HK$ is currently pegged to the USD within a narrow range, the directors therefore consider that there are no significant foreign exchange risk with respect to the USD.

The currencies giving rise to this risk were primarily British Pound Sterling ("GBP"). The carrying amounts of the Group's foreign currency denominated monetary assets and monetary liabilities at the end of reporting period were as follows:

	Liabilities		Assets
	2017	2016	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000	US$'000

GBP	81	73	7	-

The following table details the Group's sensitivity to a 10% (2016: 10%) increase and decrease in USD against the relevant foreign currencies. 10% is the sensitivity rate used when reporting foreign currency risk internally to key management personnel and represents management's assessment of the reasonably possible change in foreign exchange rates. The sensitivity analysis includes only outstanding foreign currency denominated monetary items and adjusts its translation as at year end for a 10% (2016: 10%) change in the relevant foreign currencies rates. A positive number below indicates a decrease in loss for the year where USD strengthens 10% (2016: 10%) against the relevant foreign currency. For a 10% (2016: 10%) weakening of USD against the relevant foreign currencies there would be an equal and opposite impact on the loss for the year.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

5. FINANCIAL instruments (CONTINUED)

(b) Financial risk management objectives (Continued)

Market risks (Continued)

(i) Foreign currency risk (Continued)

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Change in post-tax loss for the year
GBP impact	7	7

(ii) Interest rate risk

The Group's exposure to changes in interest rates is mainly attributable to its bank deposits at variable interest rates. Bank deposits at variable rates expose the Group to cash flow interest rate risk.

The directors consider that the exposure to cash flow interest rate risk was insignificant. Hence, no sensitivity analysis on the exposure to the Group's cash flow interest rate risk is presented.

(iii) Price risk

Price risk is the risk that the value of a financial instrument will fluctuate as a result of changes in market prices (other than those arising from foreign currency risk), whether caused by factors specific to an individual investment or its issuer, or factors affecting all instruments.

All of the Group's unquoted investments are held for long term strategic purposes. Their performance is assessed at least annually against performance of any similar listed entities, based on the limited information available to the Group, together with an assessment of their relevance to the Group's long term strategic plans.

The directors consider that the exposure to price risk was insignificant. Hence, no sensitivity analysis on the exposure to the Group's price risk is presented.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

5. FINANCIAL instruments (CONTINUED)

(b) Financial risk management objectives (Continued)

Credit risk

The Group's maximum exposure to credit risk which could cause a financial loss to the Group due to failure to discharge an obligation by the counterparties arises from the carrying amount of the respective recognised financial assets as stated in the consolidated statement of financial position.

The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the major counterparties are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit-rating agencies. As at 31 December 2017, approximately 94% (2016: 94%) of the bank balances were deposited with a bank with a high credit rating. Other than concentration of credit risk on liquid funds deposited with that bank, the Group does not have any other significant concentration of credit risk.

Liquidity risk

Ultimate responsibility for liquidity risk management rests with the Board of Directors, which has established an appropriate liquidity risk management framework to meet the Group's short, medium and long-term funding and liquidity management requirements. The Group manages liquidity risk by maintaining adequate reserves, by regularly monitoring forecast and actual cash flows and by matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.

Liquidity table

The following table details the Group's remaining contractual maturity for its non-derivative financial liabilities with agreed repayment periods. The table has been drawn up based on the undiscounted cash flows of financial liabilities based on the earliest date on which the Group can be required to pay.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

5. FINANCIAL instruments (CONTINUED)

(b) Financial risk management objectives (Continued)

Liquidity table (Continued)

	On demand or
	less than 1 year
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Other payables and accruals	148	125

The directors consider that the carrying amounts of loans and receivables and financial liabilities recognised in the consolidated financial statements approximated their fair values.

6. Capital risk management

The Group's objective of managing capital is to safeguard the Group's ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debts.

The capital structure of the Group consists of equity attributable to owners of the Company only, comprising share capital and reserves.

7. REVENUE

The Group's revenue represents dividend income from available-for-sale financial assets for the year. An analysis of the Group's revenue from principal activities is as follows:

	Year ended 31 December
		2017	2016
		US$'000	US$'000
Dividend income from available-for-sale
financial assets		96	96

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

8. SEGMENT Information

An operating segment is a component of the Group that is engaged in business activities from which the Group may earn revenue and incur expenses, and is identified on the basis of the internal management reporting information that is provided to and regularly reviewed by the Group's chief operating decision makers in order to allocate resources and assess performance of the segment. For the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016, the executive directors, who were the chief operating decision makers for the purpose of resource allocation and assessment of performance, have determined that the Group had only one single business component / reportable segment as the Group was only engaged in investment holding. The executive directors allocated resources and assessed performance on an aggregated basis. Accordingly, no operating segment is presented.

The major operations and the revenue of the Group arise from Hong Kong. The Board of Directors considers that most of the non-current assets (other than the financial instruments) of the Group are located in Hong Kong.

9. OTHER INCOME

	Year ended 31 December
		2017	2016
		US$'000	US$'000

Other payables written back		-	99
Sundry income		3	-
		3	99

10. STAFF COSTS

The aggregate staff costs (including directors' remuneration) of the Group were as follows:

	Year ended 31 December
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000
Wages and salaries	228	208
Contributions to pension and provident fund	5	5
Share-based payment expenses (note 23)	-	172
	233	385

Compensation of key management personnel was as follows:
	Year ended 31 December
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000
Directors' fees	68	62
Share-based payment expenses	-	152
Other remuneration including
contributions to pension and provident fund	-	-
	68	214

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

11. LOSS BEFORE INCOME TAX EXPENSE

Loss before income tax expense has been arrived at after charging:

	Year ended 31 December
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000
Auditor's remuneration	42	40
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment	21	23
Foreign exchange loss	5	-
Loss on dissolution of subsidiaries (note 24)	-	12
Operating lease rental expenses in respect of office premises and warehouse	68	58

12. INCOME TAX EXPENSE

No provision for taxation has been made as the Group did not generate any assessable profits for United Kingdom Corporation Tax, Hong Kong Profits Tax and tax in other jurisdictions.

The tax charge for 2017 and 2016 can be reconciled to the loss before income tax expense per the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income as follows:

	Year ended 31 December
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000
Loss before income tax expense	(424)	(514)

Loss before tax calculated at 16.5% (2016: 16.5%)	(70)	(85)
Tax effect of non-deductible expenses	82	113
Tax effect of non-taxable income	(16)	(32)
Tax effect of deductible temporary differences	3	3
Tax effect of share of losses of a joint venture	1	1

Tax charge for the year	-	-

No deferred tax asset has been recognised in relation to the deductible temporary differences of approximately US$58,000 (2016: US$39,000) as it is not probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences can be utilised. The deductible temporary differences can be carried forward indefinitely.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

13. LOSS PER SHARE

The loss and weighted average number of ordinary shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted loss per share were as follows.

	Year ended 31 December
	2017	2016
Loss for the year attributable to owners of the Company (US$'000)	(424)	(514)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares for the purposes of basic and diluted loss per share	56,734,580	56,734,580

Loss per share - basic and diluted (US)	(0.75) cent	(0.91) cent

Diluted loss per share was the same as basic loss per share for the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016 as the impact of the potential dilutive ordinary shares outstanding had an anti-dilutive effect on the basic loss per share presented for the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016.

14. DIVIDENDS

No dividend was paid or proposed during the year, nor has any dividend been proposed since the end of the reporting period (2016: nil).

15. PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

			Leasehold improvements
			US$'000
Cost
At 1 January 2016			69
Additions			-
At 31 December 2016 and 1 January 2017			69
Additions			-
At 31 December 2017			69

Accumulated depreciation
At 1 January 2016			25
Depreciation			23
At 31 December 2016 and 1 January 2017			48
Depreciation			21
At 31 December 2017			69

Carrying amount
At 31 December 2016			21
At 31 December 2017			-

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

16. INTEREST IN A JOINT VENTURE

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Unlisted investment, at cost	257	257
Share of post-acquisition losses	(110)	(106)
Share of post-acquisition other comprehensive loss	(11)	(28)
Share of net assets	136	123

Amount due from a joint venture

257

The amount due from a joint venture was unsecured, interest-free and repayable on demand.

Details of the joint venture at 31 December 2017 were as follows:

Name	Country of incorporation and operation	Proportion of ownership interest		Paid-up registered capital	Principal activities
		Direct	Indirect
Oasis Education Group Limited 奧偉詩教育集團有限公司 ("Oasis Education")	Hong Kong	50%	-	HK$4,000,000	Investment holding

奧偉詩教育咨詢(深圳)有限公司	The People's Republic of China (the "PRC")	-	50%	HK$5,000,000	Provision of education consulting and support services to kindergartens in the PRC

The contractual arrangement provides the Group with only the rights to the net assets of the joint arrangement, with the rights to the assets and obligation for the liabilities of the joint arrangement resting primarily with Oasis Education. Under IFRS 11, this joint arrangement is classified as a joint venture and has been included in the consolidated financial statements using the equity method.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

16. INTEREST IN A JOINT VENTURE (CONTINUED)

The aggregate amounts relating to the joint venture that have been included in the consolidated financial statements of the Group as extracted from relating financial statements of the joint venture, adjusted to reflect adjustments made by the Group when applying the equity method of accounting are set out below:

	2017	2016
Results of the joint venture for the year	US$'000	US$'000

Revenue	-	-
Other income	20	42
Expenses	(28)	(52)
Loss for the year	(8)	(10)
Other comprehensive income/(loss) for the year	34	(18)
Total comprehensive income/(loss) for the year	26	(28)


Share of losses of the joint venture for the year	(4)	(5)

Share of other comprehensive income/(loss) of the joint venture for the year	17	(9)

Accumulated share of results of the joint venture	(110)	(106)

Assets and liabilities of the joint venture at 31 December
	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Non-current assets	-	-
Current assets	872	844
Non-current liabilities	-	-
Current liabilities	(601)	(599)
Net assets	271	245

Included in the above amounts were:
Cash and cash equivalents	51	60
Depreciation and amortisation	-	-
Interest income	-	-
Interest expense	-	-
Current financial liabilities (excluding trade and other payables)	-	-

Percentage of equity interest attributable to the Group	50%		50%
Share of net assets of the joint venture	136		123

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

17. AVAILABLE-FOR-SALE FINANCIAL ASSETS

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Unlisted equity investments, - at cost	1,784	1,784

During the year ended 31 December 2015, the Group acquired equity interest in ayondo Holding AG ("Ayondo AG") for a total cash consideration of CHF320,000 (equivalent to approximately US$325,000). During the year ended 31 December 2016, the Group acquired additional equity interest in Ayondo AG for a total cash consideration of CHF160,050 (equivalent to approximately US$163,000). In connection with the listing in March 2018 of ayondo Ltd. ("Ayondo"), the holding company of Ayondo AG, on Catalist, the sponsor-supervised listing platform of the Singapore Exchange Securities Trading Limited, the Group exchanged its equity interest in Ayondo AG into the equity interest in Ayondo under a pre-listing restructuring. Ayondo is a company incorporated in Singapore and is involved in social trading and broking services for contract-for-differences and spread betting.

During the year ended 31 December 2016, the Group acquired equity interest in Velocity Mobile Limited ("Velocity") for a total cash consideration of GBP337,120 (equivalent to approximately US$496,000). Velocity is a company incorporated in England and Wales and provides real-time lifestyle mobile applications focusing in the areas of restaurant, travel and hotel bookings and payment.

As at 31 December 2017 and 2016, the Group also owned equity interest in ICBC Specialised Ship Leasing Investment Fund in an amount of US$800,000.

These investments were designated as available-for-sale financial assets. The investments are measured at cost less impairment at each reporting date because the investments do not have quoted market prices in an active market*, the variability in the range of reasonable fair value estimates for the investments is significant and therefore their fair value cannot be reliably measured. The directors had no intention to dispose of the available-for-sale financial assets at the end of the reporting period.

The directors have assessed the impact on the recoverable amount of the financial assets and concluded that no impairment loss needed to be made.

* Subsequent to the year ended 31 December 2017, the holding company of Ayondo AG, Ayondo, became listed on Catalist in Singapore.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

18. SUBSIDIARIES

Details of the subsidiaries of the Company at 31 December 2017 were as follows:

Name	Country of incorporation and operation	Proportion of ownership interest	Proportion of voting power held	Principal activities

Worldsec Financial Services Limited	British Virgin Islands	100%	100%	Investment holding
Worldsec Corporate Finance Limited	British Virgin Islands	100%*	100%*	Inactive
Worldsec International NV	Netherlands Antilles	100%*	100%*	Inactive
Worldsec Investment (Hong Kong) Limited Worldsec Investment (China) Limited	Hong Kong British Virgin Islands	100%* 100%*	100%* 100%*	Investment holding Investment holding

* Indirectly held subsidiaries

19. CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the reporting period as shown in the consolidated statement of financial position were as follows:

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Bank balances	259	847
Cash balances	1	1

	260	848

Bank balances bore interest at the then prevailing market rates ranging from 0.001% to 0.01% (2016: 0.001% to 0.01%) per annum and had original maturities of three months or less.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

20. OTHER PAYABLES AND ACCRUALS

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000

Other payables and accruals (note)	148	125

Note:

During the year ended 31 December 2016, dividends declared by the Company which were included in other payables and accruals as at 31 December 2015 and which were unclaimed over a period of twelve years from the date of declaration totalling approximately US$147,000 were forfeited and transferred to accumulated losses in accordance with the Bye-Laws of the Company.

21. SHARE CAPITAL


	Number of shares	Total value US$'000

Authorised:
Ordinary shares of US$0.001 each
At 1 January 2016, 31 December 2016, 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017	60,000,000,000	60,000

Called up, issued and fully paid:
Ordinary shares of US$0.001 each
At 1 January 2016, 31 December 2016, 1 January 2017 and 31 December 2017	56,734,580	57

22. RESERVES

(a) The share premium account represents the premium arising from the issue of shares of the Company at a premium.

(b) The contributed surplus represents the amount arising from the reduction in the nominal value of the authorised and issued shares of the Company and the reduction in the share premium account pursuant to an ordinary resolution passed on 23 July 2003.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

22. RESERVES (CONTINUED)

(c) Share option reserve comprises the fair value of the Company's share options granted which have yet to be exercised, as further explained in the accounting policy for share-based payment transactions in note 3 to the consolidated financial statements. The amount will either be transferred to the issued capital account and the share premium account when the related options are exercised, or be transferred to accumulated losses should the related options expire or be forfeited.

(d) Exchange differences relating to the translation of the net assets of the Group's foreign operations (including a joint venture) from their functional currencies to the Group's presentation currency were recognised directly in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the foreign currency translation reserve. Such exchange differences accumulated in the foreign currency translation reserve will be reclassified to profit or loss on the disposal of the foreign operations.

(e) The special reserve represents the amount arising from the difference between the nominal value of the issued share capital of each subsidiary and the nominal value of the issued share capital of the Company along with the surplus arising in a subsidiary on group reorganisation completed on 26 February 2007.

(f) Accumulated losses represent accumulated net gains and losses recognised in the profit or loss of the Group.

23. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS

The Company operates an equity-settled share-based remuneration scheme for the employees and directors.

On 1 December 2015, the Company granted to certain eligible persons a total of 2,950,000 share options to subscribe for new ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the share capital of the Company under the Worldsec Employee Share Option Scheme 1997 (the "Scheme") which was revised on 24 September 2014. The options vest six months from the date of grant and are then exercisable within a period of 9.5 years.

The following table discloses the movements of the outstanding share options under the Scheme during the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

23. SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS (CONTINUED)

		Number of options
Grantee	Exercisable period	Balance at 1 January 2017	Granted during the year	Exercised during the year	Forfeited during the year	Lapsed during the year	Balance at 31 December 2017	Exercise price per share (US$)
Directors	1 June 2016 to 30 November 2025	2,500,000	-	-	-	-	2,500,000	0.122
Employees	1 June 2016 to 30 November 2025	450,000	-	-	-	-	450,000	0.122
		2,950,000	-	-	-	-	2,950,000

		Number of options
Grantee	Exercisable period	Balance at 1 January 2016	Granted during the year	Exercised during the year	Forfeited during the year	Lapsed during the year	Balance at 31 December 2016	Exercise price per share (US$)
Directors	1 June 2016 to 30 November 2025	2,500,000	-	-	-	-	2,500,000	0.122
Employees	1 June 2016 to 30 November 2025	450,000	-	-	-	-	450,000	0.122
		2,950,000	-	-	-	-	2,950,000

No share-based payment expenses were charged to the profit or loss during the year ended 31 December 2017 (2016: US$172,000).

The options outstanding as at 31 December 2017 had a weighted average remaining contractual life of 7.5 years (2016: 8.5 years) and a weighted average exercise price of US$0.122 (2016: US$0.122).

Of the total number of options outstanding at the end of the year, all (2016: all) had vested and were exercisable at the end of the year.

No option was exercised during the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

24. DISSOLUTION OF SUBSIDIARIES

On 7 December 2016, Worldsec International (Netherlands) B.V. and Worldsec International (PH) B.V., the then subsidiaries of the Company, were dissolved. The net assets of these then subsidiaries at the date of dissolution were as follows:

				2016
				US$'000
Net assets of the subsidiaries under dissolution				-
Foreign currency translation reserve released				12
Loss on dissolution of subsidiaries				(12)
				-

Net inflow of cash and cash equivalents in respect of the dissolution of subsidiaries				-

25. RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Other than the compensation of key management personnel and the underwriting of certain open offer shares as disclosed below, the Group did not have any related party transactions during the years ended 31 December 2017 and 2016.

Compensation of key management personnel

Key management personnel are the directors only. The remuneration of directors is set out on the consolidated statement of profit or loss and other comprehensive income and with additional disclosure in note 10 to the consolidated financial statements.

Underwriting of open offer

Subsequent to the year ended 31 December 2017, the Company completed an open offer of 28,367,290 new ordinary shares at US$0.15 per share. Of these, 18,416,489 open offer shares were underwritten by Mr Henry Ying Chew Cheong ("Mr Cheong"), an executive director of the Company, in his personal capacity. As there was no underwriting consideration involved, the underwriting was not subject to the rules contained in Chapter 11 of the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority in the United Kingdom. Details relating to the open offer can be found in note 28 to the consolidated financial statements.

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

26. OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS

Operating leases - lessee

At the reporting date, the Group had future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases in respect of office premises and warehouse as follows:

	2017	2016
	US$'000	US$'000
Not later than one year	79	44
Later than one year and not later than five years	137	-

	216	44

The leases run for an initial period of 2 to 3 years (2016: 2 to 3 years), with an option to renew the office premises lease upon expiry when all terms are renegotiated.

27. CONTINGENT LIABILITIES

The Group had no material contingent liabilities at 31 December 2017 (2016: nil).

28. EVENT AFTER THE REPORTING DATE

Subsequent to the year ended 31 December 2017, the Company on 13 March 2018 announced an open offer of 28,367,290 new ordinary shares at US$0.15 per share to shareholders on the basis of one new share for every two existing shares held. In addition to the open offer, the Company proposed to carry out subsequent placings of up to 100,000,000 new ordinary shares should investor demand arise. New ordinary shares may be issued under the placing programme until 12 March 2019. The Company received valid acceptances under the open offer for 18,645,729 new ordinary shares. Mr Cheong took up his open offer entitlements in full and, in his personal capacity as the underwriter, subscribed for another 9,721,561 new ordinary shares not taken up in the open offer. On 3 April 2018, the Company announced the result of the open offer that raised aggregate gross proceeds of US$4.2 million. Details relating to the fund raising exercise of the Company can be found in the Company's open offer and subsequent placings prospectus dated 13 March 2018 and its open offer result announcement dated 3 April 2018.

Following the completion of open offer, the interests of the individuals who were directors as at 4 April 2018 in the issued share capital of the Company, including the interests of persons connected with a director (within the meaning of Sections 252, 253 to 255 of the United Kingdom Companies Act 2006 as if the Company were incorporated in England), the existence of which was known to, or could with reasonable diligence be ascertained by, that director, whether or not held through another party, were as follows:

NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 DECEMBER 2017

28. EVENT AFTER THE REPORTING DATE (CONTINUED)

	At 4 April 2018
	No. of shares
Alastair Gunn-Forbes	45,000
Mr Cheong (Note)	9,303,870
Mark Chung Fong	Nil
Ernest Chiu Shun She	550,095
Martyn Stuart Wells	Nil

Note:

Mr Cheong owns, in addition to the beneficial interest in 9,303,870 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company, 2 ordinary shares of US$1 each in Grand Acumen Holdings Limited ("GAH"), representing 25% of the issued share capital of GAH. GAH beneficially owned 9,675,000 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company at 4 April 2018.

In addition, HC Investment Holdings Limited ("HCIH") is wholly owned by Mr Cheong. HCIH beneficially owned 20,000,000 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company at 4 April 2018.

In total, Mr Cheong and his associates were the legal and beneficial owners of 38,978,870 ordinary shares of US$0.001 each in the Company, representing 45.8% of the Company's enlarged issued share capital, at 4 April 2018.

As at 4 April 2018, the Company was aware of the following direct or indirect interests representing 5 % or more of the Company's issued share capital:

	No. of shares	Percentage of enlarged issued share capital

HC Investment Holdings Limited (Note i)	20,000,000	23.5%
Grand Acumen Holdings Limited (Note i)	9,675,000	11.4%
Mr Cheong	9,303,870	10.9%
Luis Chi Leung Tong	5,000,000	5.9%
Lynchwood Nominees Limited (Note ii)	18,750,000	22.0%
Vidacos Nominees Limited (Note ii)	5,500,000	6.5%

Notes: (i)

Mr Cheong is the legal and beneficial owner of the entire issued share capital of HC Investment Holdings Limited and the legal and beneficial owner of 25% of the issued share capital of Grand Acumen Holdings Limited.

(ii)

Lynchwood Nominees Limited and Vidacos Nominees Limited act as custodians for their customers, to whom they effectively pass all rights and entitlements, including voting rights.

INVESTMENT POLICY

The Company will invest in small to medium sized trading companies, being companies, both start-up/early stage growth and established, with a turnover typically up to US$20 million, based mainly in the Greater China and South East Asian region, and thereby create a portfolio of minority investments in such companies.

The Company's investment objective is to achieve attractive investment returns through capital appreciation on a medium to long term horizon. The Directors consider between 2 to 4 years to be medium term and long term to be over 4 years. The Directors intend to build an investment portfolio of small to medium sized companies based mainly in the Greater China and South East Asian regions. The Company may also take advantage of opportunities to invest in companies in other jurisdictions, such as the United Kingdom, which have close trading links with Greater China and South East Asia. Investments will normally be in equity or preferred equity but if appropriate convertible loans or preference shares may be utilised.

The Company has no intention to employ gearing, but reserves the right to gear the Company to a maximum level of 25 per cent. of the last published Net Asset Value of the Group should circumstances arise where, in the opinion of the Directors, the use of debt would be to the advantage of the Company and the Shareholders as a whole.

The investment portfolio will consist primarily of unlisted companies but the Directors will also consider investing in undervalued listed companies, if and when such an opportunity arises. Where suitable opportunities are identified, investment in companies considering a stock market listing at the pre-initial public offering stage will be considered.

No more than 20 per cent. of the gross assets of the Group will be invested in any single investment. The Directors consider that opportunities will arise to invest in investee companies by the issue of new Ordinary Shares at a discount of no more than 10 per cent. of the mid market price at the time of agreement of their issue in exchange for new equity, preferred equity or convertible instrument in the investee company. Target sectors are financial services, consumer retail distribution, natural resources and infrastructure but the Company will seek to take advantage of opportunities in other sectors if these arise.

The Company's portfolio in due course will comprise at least five different investee companies, thereby reducing the potential impact of poor performance by any individual investment.

The Company does not intend to take majority interests in any investee company, save in circumstances where the Company exercises any rights granted under legal agreements governing its investment. Each investment by the Company will be made on terms individually negotiated with each investee company, and the Company will seek to be able to exercise control over the affairs of any investee company in the event of a default by the investee company or its management of their respective obligations under the legal agreements governing each investment. Where appropriate, the Company will seek representation on the board of companies in which it invests. Where board representation is secured in an investee company, remuneration for such appointment will be paid to the benefit of the Company thereby enhancing returns on the investment. There will be no intention to be involved in the day to day management of the investee company but the skills and connections of the board representative will be applied in assisting the development of the investee company, with the intention of enhancing shareholder value. The Company will arrange no cross funding between investee companies and neither will any common treasury function operate for any investee company; each investee company will operate independently of each other investee company.

Where the Company has cash awaiting investment, it will seek to maximise the return on such sums through investment in floating rate notes or similar instruments with banks or other financial institutions with an investment grade rating or investment in equity securities issued by companies which have paid dividends for each of the previous three years.

Any material change to the Investment Policy may only be made with the prior approval of the Shareholders.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF THE DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors has ultimate responsibility for the Group's affairs.

Brief biographical notes of the directors are set out below:

Alastair Gunn-Forbes - Non-Executive Chairman - aged 73

Mr Gunn-Forbes has been associated with Asian regional stock markets since 1973 when he was a fund manager at Brown Shipley Ltd. Subsequently, he was a director of W I Carr, Sons & Co. (Overseas) Ltd until 1985, since when he held directorships with other Asian securities firms in the United Kingdom prior to joining the Group in 1993. Mr Gunn-Forbes is the Chairman of Opera Holdings Limited, a recruitment company and also the Chairman of Future Biogas Limited, a green energy company.

Henry Ying Chew Cheong - Executive Director and Deputy Chairman - aged 70

Mr Cheong holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) degree from Chelsea College, University of London and a Master of Science (Operational Research and Management) degree from Imperial College, University of London.

Mr Cheong has over 40 years of experience in the securities industry. Mr Cheong and The Mitsubishi Bank in Japan (now known as The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd) founded the Worldsec Group in 1991. In late 2002, Worldsec Group sold certain securities businesses to UOB Kay Hian Holdings Limited and following that Mr Cheong became the Chief Executive Officer of UOB Asia (Hong Kong) Ltd until early 2005. Prior to the formation of the Worldsec Group, Mr Cheong was a director of James Capel (Far East) Ltd for five years with overall responsibility for Far East Sales. His earlier professional experience includes 11 years with Vickers da Costa Limited in Hong Kong, latterly as Managing Director.

Mr Cheong was a member of the Securities and Futures Appeals Tribunal and a member of the Advisory Committee of the Securities and Futures Commission in Hong Kong ("SFC")(from 2009-2015). Mr Cheong was previously a member of Disciplinary Panel A of Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants (from 2005-2011). He was a member of the Corporate Advisory Council of the Hong Kong Securities Institute (from 2002-2009), a member of the Advisory Committee to the SFC (from 1993-1999), a member of the board of directors of the Hong Kong Future Exchange Limited (from 1994-2000), a member of GEM Listing Committee and Main Board Listing Committee of Hong Kong Exchange and Clearing Limited ("HKEX") (from May 2002-May 2006), a member of Derivatives Market Consultative Panel of HKEX (from April 2000-May 2006), a member of the Process Review Panel for the SFC (from November 2000-October 2006) and a member of the Committee on Real Estate Investment Trust of the SFC (from September 2003-August 2006).

Mr Cheong is an Independent Non-Executive Director of CK Asset Holdings Limited, CK Infrastructure Holdings Limited, CNNC International Limited, Greenland Hong Kong Holdings Limited, Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited, New World Department Store China Limited, Skyworth Digital Holdings Limited and TOM Group Limited, all being listed companies in Hong Kong. Mr Cheong is also an Independent Director of BTS Group Holdings Public Company Limited, being listed in Thailand.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTES OF THE DIRECTORS (CONTINUED)

Ernest Chiu Shun She - Executive Director - aged 57

Mr She is an investment banker with extensive experience in the field of corporate finance having covered a broad and diverse range of financial advisory and fund raising activities in the Asian regional equity markets and having held executive management positions and directorships at various investment banks and financial institutions including, among others, Worldsec Corporate Finance Limited and UOB Asia (Hong Kong) Limited.

Since rejoining the Group to assist in the reactivation of its business operations in 2013, Mr She has been an Executive Director of the Company working on private equity investments.

Mr She has a deep-rooted and long-standing connection with the Worldsec group of companies being one of the co-founding team members at the time when the entities were established in the early 1990s. For more than a decade that followed and until the disposal by the Group of certain securities businesses to UOB Kay Hian Holdings Limited in 2002, Mr She held senior management positions at Worldsec Corporate Finance Limited and Worldsec International Limited with the main responsibility of developing and overseeing the Group's corporate finance activities.

Prior to his tenure at the Worldsec group of companies, Mr She was an Investment Analyst and an Associate Director at James Capel (Far East) Limited where he was primarily responsible for equity research in the real estate sector.

Mr She graduated from the University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Industrial Engineering and obtained from the Imperial College of Science and Technology a Master of Science degree in Management Science specialising in Operational Research. Mr She is a Chartered Financial Analyst.

From 2004 to 2010, Mr She served as an Independent Non-Executive Director and the Chairman of the Audit Committee of New Island Printing Holdings Limited, a company listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited.

Mark Chung Fong - Non-Executive Director - aged 66

Mr Fong was an Executive Director for China development of Grant Thornton International Ltd, a corporation incorporated in England and had retired from Grant Thornton effective from 1 January 2014. He has more than 40 years' experience in the accounting profession. Mr Fong obtained a bachelor's degree in science from the University College, London in August 1972 and a Master's degree in science from the University of Surrey in December 1973. He has been a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales since January 1983 and a Fellow of the Hong Kong Institute of Certified Public Accountants ("HKICPA") since March 1986. He was the President of the HKICPA in 2007. He has been appointed as the Chairman of the Audit Committee of HKICPA and has also served on the Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales since 2016.

Martyn Stuart Wells - Non-Executive Director - aged 73

Mr Wells was formerly an Executive Director of Citicorp International Limited and has over 30 years' experience in the securities industry. In 1969 he joined Vickers da Costa, international stockbrokers. He was involved in the fund management industry for 20 years and participated in the launch of several country funds investing in the Asian region, serving as a director or as a member of the investment advisory councils of several of those funds. He lived in Hong Kong for almost 28 years and since 2000 has resided in England.

This information is provided by RNS

The company news service from the London Stock Exchange

END

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