Available-for-sale financial assets include investments in cash funds, held in the Group's insurance captives, of £19.8m (2005: £12.0m) and investments in unlisted ordinary shares of £0.3m (2005: £0.2m). Investments in cash funds represent units acquired which are periodically valued based on the underlying performance of the investments held. The unlisted ordinary shares, where there is no immediately identifiable market and which have no fixed maturity date or coupon rate, are carried at cost less provision for any impairment. Details of the interest rate swaps are contained in note 24.

The Group has entered into a funding arrangement with Optima Legal Services Limited (OLSL) providing £12.5m to fund that company's acquisition of the volume legal services arm of DLA Piper. In addition, it has entered into an option agreement to acquire the shares of OLSL for £1 in the event that Law Society rules are amended to allow the Group to own the shares in this type of legal services company.