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FY2019 Annual Report · Australian Vintage
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PINPOINT-INVEST-EXIT

2019 Annual Report

About 

Avingtrans plc has a proven strategy 
of “buy and build” in highly regulated 
engineering markets, a strategy it 
has named “Pinpoint-Invest-Exit”. 
Signifi cant shareholder value 
is delivered through a clear strategy, 
a strong balance sheet and an agile 
and experienced management team.

www.avingtrans.plc.uk

About us

Delivering shareholder value through a
proven strategy of Pinpoint-Invest-Exit in
highly regulated global engineering markets

The Group has a proven track record in 
delivering shareholder value through PIE:

● Identifying and executing prudent deals with precision and speed

● Building strong brands and value from constituent parts

● Crystallising these gains with periodic sales of businesses at advantageous valuations

● Returning the proceeds to shareholders 

Purchased Moes & Placing £3.5m

2009

Purchased Sigma1

2010

8

9

Sold JenaTec; Purchased Aerotech & PFW

2011

2012

2013

15

17

Oil price Shock

Purchased Maloney

2014

Purchased RMDG

2015

Purchased Rolls Royce pipes; Sold Sigma

2016

Returned £19.4m to shareholders;
Purchase SciMag and Whiteley Read

2017

Purchased Hayward Tyler Group
and Ormandy Group assets

2018

Purchased Tecmag; 
Exited Whiteley Read

2019

32

31

45

50

43

19

67

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

1Remaining 25% of Sigma

Market Cap £m

Tender Offer £m

71

70

80

Timeline

2010 (38 GBp)

2012 (98 GBp)

2014 (148 GBp)

2016 (180 GBp)

2017 (235 GBp)

Development of the aerospace

Precision instruments

Mature growth of aerospace

The Aerospace Division, Sigma

Acquisition of the Hayward

and precision components

business, JenaTec, sold for

and the initial development of

Components, sold for £65m

Tyler Group for £29.4m and

businesses

£13.5m

energy and medical

creation of Energy and Medical

Divisions

Energy Division

Performance
critical solutions for
energy systems

Engineered Pumps and Motors (EPM) Division

The EPM division is built on one brand, Hayward Tyler. Established in 1815, Hayward Tyler designs, manufactures 
and services performance-critical electric motors and pumps to meet the most demanding of applications for the 
global energy industry, as both an OEM supplier and a trusted through life support partner.

Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment (PSRE) Division

The  PSRE  division  comprises  a  number  of  established  brands  with  expertise  across  the  global  energy  market. 
The brands specialise in the design, manufacture, integration and servicing of an extensive product and service 
off ering including steam turbines, gas compressors, pressure vessels, bespoke high-integrity doors, containers and 
skidded systems.

Medical Division

Innovative solutions
for medical systems
and research

Medical (MII)

The medical division has special expertise in the design and manufacture of innovative equipment for the medical, 
science  and  research  communities.  Including  cutting-edge  products  for  medical  diagnostic  equipment;  high 
performance  pressure,  vacuum  vessels  and  composite  materials  for  research  organisations;  superconducting 
magnets and helium-free cryogenic systems.

Financial highlights

●●  Revenue from continuing operations increased by 34% to 

£105.5m (20181: £78.9m)

●    Reflecting the full-year impact of FY18 HTG acquisition and 

11% underlying organic growth

●● Gross Margin improved to 26.7% (20181: 25.5%)

●●  Adjusted2 EBITDA from continuing operations increased by 65% 

to £9.4m (20181: £5.7m)

●●  Adjusted2 PBT £5.3m (20181: £2.4m)

●●  Adjusted2 Diluted earnings per share were boosted to  

14.9p (20181: 8.4p)

●●  Cash inflow from operating activities £9.0m (2018: £6.9m 

outflow)

●● Net Debt £2.0m (31 May 2018: £7.1m)

●●  Increased final dividend of 2.4p per share (2018: 2.3p). Full year 

3.8p (2018: 3.6p)

Operational highlights – Energy

●●  Revenues up 36% to £93.4m (2018: £68.4m) including first full 

year of HTG results

●● Ormandy acquisition made a profit in its first full year

●●  Acquisitions of Booth and Energy Steel post-period end are 

proceeding to plan

●● Sellafield 3M3 boxes now in serial production

●●  £10m nuclear life extension contract with Vattenfall for Forsmark

●● £10m steam turbine contract for floating production vessel

●●  Exited Whiteley Read and Maloney sites, to rationalise oil and 

gas assets

●●  New Hayward Tyler Chinese factory in Kunshan (China) 

fully operational

●●  Aftermarket performance continuing to improve across all 

business units

Operational highlights – Medical

●●  Revenues up to £12.1m (2018: £10.4m), transition to new 

markets continues

●●  Acquisition of Tecmag Inc, for £0.1m including costs, providing 

system capability

●●  Scientific Magnetics MRI system developments progressing 

broadly to plan

●● Siemens shipments remained steady in the UK and China

●● Composite Products had another solid year

1   2018 not restated for IFRS15.

2   Adjusted to add back amortisation of intangibles from business combinations, acquisition costs and 

exceptional items.

“

Commenting on the results,  
Roger McDowell, Chairman, said: 

“It has been a record year for the Group, in 
terms of orders, revenue and profit, 
reinforced by the deft execution of our now 
well-proven Pinpoint-Invest-Exit strategy 
(PIE). The former Hayward Tyler Group 
(HTG) businesses performed very well in 
their first full year with the Group and the 
Ormandy turnaround produced a solid, if 
modest profit in its first full year since 
acquisition in February 2018. The recent, 
tactical acquisitions of Tecmag, Texas; 
Booth, Bolton, UK; and Energy Steel, 
Michigan are all integrating well thus far. 
The Energy divisions and their management 
teams have proven themselves to be 
commercially astute and we continue to 
focus on profitable growth, to build 
valuable, enduring businesses. Our budding 
medical division continues to make slow, 
but steady progress, as it seeks to develop 
new technologies, to break through into 
new sectors.

We continue to concentrate on aftermarket 
opportunities, servicing end-user  
customers with comprehensive solutions, 
resulting in good growth and strong 
prospects. The nuclear life extension and 
decommissioning arenas are fertile ground 
for us, as demonstrated by contract wins in 
the period worldwide. Other market areas 
are also proving fruitful – such as  
renewable energy – and a more stable oil 
and gas environment has seen us win 
important contracts in that sector. Brexit 
and tariff wars are unwelcome distractions 
for the Group, but they will not cause us to 
deviate from our well-planned course. 
Despite the chill in the macroeconomic air, 
we remain quietly confident about our 
prospects in both Energy and Medical, with 
our strong Balance Sheet allowing us to be 
both agile and resilient. Recent order wins 
and our pipeline of opportunities underpin 
that outlook.”

Company Information

For the year ended 31 May 2019

Company registration number: 

01968354

Registered office: 

Chatteris Business Park
Chatteris
Cambridgeshire
PE16 6SA

Directors: 

Website: 

Secretary: 

Bankers: 

Registrars: 

Nominated advisor and broker: 

Solicitors: 

Independent Auditor: 

R S McDowell (Non-executive Chairman)
S McQuillan (Chief Executive Officer)
S M King (Chief Financial Officer)
G K Thornton (Non-executive Director)
L J Thomas (Non-executive Director)
E Lloyd-Baker (Non-executive Director resigned 30 November 2018)
J Clarke (Non-executive Director)  

Royal Bank of Scotland
2 St Philips Place
Birmingham
B3 2RB

www.avingtrans.plc.uk

S M King

HSBC Bank plc 
PO Box 68 
130 New Street 
Birmingham 
B2 4JU 

Link Asset Services
Northern House
Woodsome Park
Fenay Bridge
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire
HD8 0LA

Nplus1 Singer Advisory LLP
1 Bartholomew Lane
London
EC2N 2AX

Shakespeare Martineau LLP
No1 Colmore Square
Birmingham
B4 6AA

Grant Thornton UK LLP
Statutory Auditor
Chartered Accountants
The Colmore Building
20 Colmore Circus
Birmingham
B4 6AT

1

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Index

Chairman’s statement 

Strategic Report 

Report of the directors 

Corporate governance 

Report of the directors on remuneration 

Independent auditor’s report 

Principal accounting policies 

Consolidated income statement and statement of comprehensive income 

Consolidated balance sheet 

Company balance sheet 

Consolidated statement of changes in equity 

Company statement of changes in equity 

Consolidated statement of cash flows 

Company statement of cash flows 

Notes to the annual report 

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Page
3

4 – 15

16 – 18

19 – 23

24 – 25

26 – 31

32 – 43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51 – 80

81 – 83

2

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Chairman’s Statement

As the long-standing Chairman of Avingtrans, it is pleasing to be able to report on another record year of results for the Group. 
Orders, revenue, and profit all reached new highs and we are confident about the embedded value of the Pinpoint-Invest-Exit 
strategy (PIE), as the Group continues to hit target milestones along the path towards eventual value realisation. The former 
Hayward Tyler Group (HTG) businesses continued to improve, with further growth and cost savings achieved in HTG’s first full 
year contribution. The combined businesses continue to demonstrate the anticipated synergies. Ormandy has also integrated well, 
in its first full turnaround year within the Group. It was a year in which we drove shareholder value through Investment, but we 
also Pinpointed Tecmag Inc in Houston, acquiring it to complement our technology capabilities in MRI and NMR in the Medical 
division.

Post-period end, we acquired the assets of Booth Industries in Bolton, UK and Energy Steel in Michigan, USA. Each of these 
turnaround opportunities were acquired following agile due diligence processes. They both augment our capabilities in the nuclear 
aftermarket  and  decommissioning  sector  and  Booth  brings Avingtrans  into  the  wider  Critical  National  Infrastructure  (CNI) 
market. The acquisition of Energy Steel will broaden Hayward Tyler’s product offering - particularly in precision manufacturing 
and solutions for “orphan” OEM components for the nuclear aftermarket - and provide cross-selling opportunities. Acquiring 
Booth Industries enables the Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment (“PSRE”) division to expand its product and service 
offering and deepen its relationships with its existing customers.

The Energy divisional structures and management teams have shown themselves to be highly effective in the period, continuing 
to build upon two solid platforms displaying good global reach, product and service diversity. Their unwavering focus is now 
on growing into formidable and valuable businesses. The Group continues to carefully build its fledgling medical and industrial 
imaging division, which promises to produce a unique market offering in the longer-term. This division was reinforced in the 
period with the Tecmag acquisition, to give us the necessary electronics and software capability for full system production.

Aftermarket growth is a common strategic theme across all three divisions, to develop robust value propositions, in order to 
support OEM and end-user customers, who are either operating Group products or systems, or who have operational problems 
that the Group can solve. This improved end-user model not only provides a more predictable and repeatable pipeline, which in 
turn drives improved profitability, but also boosts product and service development and innovation. We are particularly keen to 
maximise the revenue opportunities arising from the aftermarket access afforded by recent acquisitions (eg Energy Steel) and 
partnerships (eg with ABC Compressors, Spain).

The Engineered Pumps and Motors (EPM) division bolstered its capability in India with a new motor rewind centre and officially 
opened a new 3,250 square metre facility in Kunshan, China. These enhanced units are securing end-user business in the region, 
including in the valuable aftermarket. Our facilities also act as operational hubs for the sale of original equipment, cost effective 
sourcing, engineering and tendering. Energy Steel, which manufactures components for the civil nuclear power industry, provides 
further access to the Nuclear aftermarket and is integrating into EPM well.

The  PSRE  division  is  continuing  to  refine  its  offering  to  the  UK  nuclear  market  –  especially  to  Sellafield  for  nuclear 
decommissioning  -  whilst  also  using  this  capability  to  position  for  longer  term  new  nuclear  technologies.  Ormandy  had  a 
profitable first full turnaround year with the group and the integration of Booth has been satisfactory to date.

The  Medical  and  Industrial  Imaging  (MII)  division  continues  to  develop  steadily,  with  both  the  UK  and  Chinese  businesses 
consolidating their positions in the supply chain. Scientific Magnetics and Tecmag are working with their partners to produce 
new product offerings for the NMR and MRI markets. While these developments are still at a relatively early stage, the Board 
is excited about the long-term potential of the division which, given time to bring these developments to fruition, is expected to 
yield positive returns for the Group.

For the eighth successive year, the Board has declared an increased final dividend of 2.4 pence per share, producing a full year 
total  of  3.8  pence  per  share,  underlining  our  commitment  to  long  term  shareholder  returns  and  our  positive  view  about  the 
prospects for the Group, underpinned by our prudent approach to debt and financial headroom.

Finally, since the last annual report, Ewan Lloyd-Baker resigned from the Board, having assisted Avingtrans with the transition of 
HTG and Colin Elcoate resigned from his position as CCO. The Board and I wish Ewan and Colin all the best with their future 
endeavours and thank them for their hard work whilst they were with us. I warmly welcome all of the staff in recent acquisitions 
to Avingtrans. Their commitment to reinvigorate their businesses will enrich the Group. On behalf of the shareholders, I thank 
all Avingtrans employees for their hard work and commitment to the Group during the past 12 months, as we look forward with 
enthusiasm to FY2020.

Roger McDowell
Chairman
17 September 2019

3

 
Strategic Report

Group Performance

Strategy and business summary

Group Strategy

Our  core  strategy  is  to  buy  and  build  engineering  companies  in  niche  markets,  particularly  where  we  see  turnaround  and 
consolidation prospects; a strategy we call Pinpoint-Invest-Exit (“PIE”). We have had a strong track record in returning significant 
shareholder value over the past decade and FY2019 was another successful year, cementing our turnaround of Ormandy and 
concluding the acquisition of Tecmag for the medical division. Post year end, there have been two further acquisitions, both being 
turnaround opportunities.

With an increased presence in our target markets, a focus on the aftermarket, strength in depth of the management teams and a 
lean central structure, the Group continues to grow profitably and the Board has renewed its focus on seeking additions to the 
Avingtrans value-add proposition. Conversely, we are also pragmatic when it comes to disposing of assets which become non-
core, such as the exit of Whiteley Read in the period.

All of the Group’s key financial metrics have trended positively, including the percentage of aftermarket penetration, despite a 
period of restructuring following the successful integration of HTG. 

The business is focused on the global Energy and Medical markets, both of which play into some of the world’s mega-trends, such 
as: continued urbanisation; an ageing population; and an accelerating transition towards a cleaner and healthier planet.

Divisional Strategies

Engineered Pumps and Motors (EPM, Energy): EPM continues to develop its nuclear installed base (civil and defence) – 
notably for life extension applications - and its offering to the fossil fuels market sectors. Post year end, this strategy was bolstered 
by the acquisition of Energy Steel in North America, which specialises in nuclear life extension. In addition, the EPM business 
continues to develop solutions for new nuclear technologies and other low carbon energy sources, such as concentrated solar, 
to capitalise on the global energy supply transition. In FY19 EPM secured a number of key contracts, including to provide high 
temperature molten salt, nuclear life extension equipment and spare parts to nuclear reactors. As part of the division’s global 
business strategy and to support continued growth, Avingtrans opened a new state of the art factory in Kunshan, China in January 
2019.

Process Solutions and Rotating Equipment (PSRE, Energy): The primary strategy is to develop a comprehensive offering 
to the nuclear decommissioning and reprocessing markets, building on the long-term contracts to build nuclear waste storage 
containers  and  the  installed  base  of  equipment  across  the  vast  Sellafield  site.  In  parallel,  to  continue  to  support  the  nuclear 
submarine fleet and facilities for the UK MOD and targeted opportunities in the equally highly regulated offshore Oil & Gas 
markets. Post year end, the division’s nuclear credentials were boosted by the acquisition of the assets of Booth Industries, which 
also broadened our market reach into Critical National Infrastructure (CNI). 

Medical and Industrial Imaging (MII, Medical): The focus for the medical division is to become a niche market leader in 
the production of high integrity components and systems for medical and scientific equipment manufacturers including MRI, 
proton therapy and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR). In October 2018, we acquired Tecmag Inc in Texas, to strengthen our 
NMR/MRI capabilities. This business is able to design and manufacture the electronics and software systems required for these 
markets.

The common theme we are looking to exploit across energy and medical is the continued pressure on aftermarket expenditure, 
where operational efficiency, reliability and safety are paramount and operators are looking to their supply chain partners to 
provide long term support of aging infrastructure and legacy installations.

Pinpoint-Invest-Exit

Continuing its Pinpoint-Invest-Exit strategy, Avingtrans added a number of bolt-on acquisitions in the year, including Tecmag, 
Inc. in October 2018; adding expertise in Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance systems to the Group’s 
developing Medical division. Based in Texas, Tecmag designs, manufactures, tests and installs instrumentation such as consoles, 
spectrometers and solid-state probes for primarily Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) 
systems. It has strong technology and a material installed base from over 35 years of supplying custom products to these markets. 
Tecmag  will  be  integrated  into  Scientific  Magnetics,  which  has  expertise  in  superconducting  magnets  and  cryogenics  and  is 
focused on the same end markets. This will provide a platform for further product development and investment as management 
advances its buy, build and sell strategy in Medical & Industrial Imaging.

4

 
Strategic Report (Continued)

Pinpoint-Invest-Exit (continued)

In  June  2019,  the  Company  announced  the  acquisition  of  Bolton-based  Booth  Industries  Limited,  a  leading  UK  engineering 
company, for a consideration of £1.8m, from the administrators of AIM-quoted Redhall Group plc (“Redhall”), with significant 
read-across to the Group’s Metalcraft operations.

The Group also acquired the brand name and selected assets of Jordan Manufacturing, a provider of specialist manufacturing and 
fabrication services and another division of Redhall, in August 2019, which strengthens Metalcraft’s position as a key player in 
the nuclear supply chain.

Also in June 2019, the Company acquired US-based Energy Steel & Supply Co. (Energy Steel), an established manufacturer of 
machined products and components to the civil nuclear power industry. US-based Energy Steel & Supply Co. (Energy Steel) is 
an established manufacturer of machined products and components to the civil nuclear power industry, acquired by Avingtrans 
for consideration of $0.6m. Hayward Tyler has over 600 pumps in active service in nuclear applications across the world and this 
acquisition expands the Company’s nuclear capabilities and product lines for new and existing customers.

The integrations of Booth and Energy Steel are proceeding to plan thus far.

M&A activity in energy capital goods markets remains strong and businesses like ours continue to command high valuations. 
Avingtrans remains confident about the current strategic direction and potential future opportunities across its chosen markets.

Markets – Energy

The global demand for energy continues to rise, driven primarily by population increase, continued urbanisation and improved 
prosperity. Although in the longer term, the latest estimates show that overall demand may slow, due to increased efficiency and 
decarbonisation, but for the time being the global energy compound annual growth rate (CAGR) can be assumed to be of the 
order of 2%.

End User/Aftermarket

Operators and end-users are demanding a blend of quick response through local support with an overarching requirement to drive 
improvements through equipment upgrades and modernisation. In the West, where facilities are being operated for longer than 
their intended design lives – and often in a drive for increased capacity alongside tougher regulations – there is a strong demand 
for true solution providers in the supply chain to partner with end-users for the longer term. The Avingtrans energy divisions are 
well positioned to grow in this end-user market space. With increased relevance and global reach, balanced alongside heritage and 
renowned expertise, they can find niche positions and value propositions alongside the global players and the local independents.

Nuclear

Nuclear energy as a low carbon, baseload power source remains an uncertain market with respect to future growth. Almost all 
of the 1GW+ new build opportunities are currently in Asia, with the exception of the limited UK programme. However, we are 
still enjoying buoyant market segments, including supporting the operational fleet, continued safe operation and life extensions, 
decommissioning and reprocessing. We are also working on the long-term development of the next generation of technologies – 
i.e. Small Modular (SMR), or Advanced Generation IV Reactors. In addition, these segments all have the attractive backdrop of 
a consolidating supply chain and paucity of expert knowledge, all of which play directly to the expanding Avingtrans capability.

The USA still operates the biggest civil nuclear fleet in the world, with 99 reactors generating more than 30 per cent. of the 
world’s nuclear electricity. When coupled with the heritage Westinghouse technology operating in Europe and Asia, the EPM 
division’s  long-standing  position  in  this  market  provides  fertile  ground  for  further  growth.    Obsolescence  is  a  key  issue  for 
nuclear operators worldwide and the Avingtrans Energy Divisions are well positioned to support operators in addressing this key 
operational issue; the recent acquisition of Energy Steel in the USA bolstering the Group’s capabilities in this regard.

The  UK  remains  pre-eminent  when  it  comes  to  decommissioning  and  reprocessing,  in  terms  of  innovative  technology  and 
overall spend. The Group is embedded in the future manufacture of waste containers for Sellafield and will continue to expand 
its presence in the UK and globally in the longer term. The development of new nuclear technologies is ongoing, with pockets of 
activity in the UK, Russia and South Korea and the USA and China dominating development activity. The Group views these new 
technologies as an attractive route forwards for nuclear and is well positioned to develop as a global industry partner.

5

 
Strategic Report (Continued)

Markets – Energy (continued)

Power Generation

The world continues to electrify, with an increasing amount of primary energy going to the power sector which remains a key 
focus across the Group’s energy divisions. Aside from nuclear, as discussed in the previous section, the main sub-sectors are as 
follows:

•  Coal – the Group continues to see good aftermarket from coal fired power stations even though the demand for new power 
stations is in decline.  Opportunities still exist in India, China, South East Asia, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. EPM is 
optimising its product line, to take market share and to create tomorrow’s aftermarket.

•  Gas – natural gas, primarily in the form of combined cycle gas turbine power plants is a growing market space, primarily in 
the West.  Although not yet dominated by Asian EPCs and equipment suppliers, the Group is moving into this market with 
both existing and new product lines.

•  Renewables – renewable technologies and their supporting infrastructure are a growing market globally. The Group has a 
broad range of products that can be applied directly to this market segment and also has expertise that can be used to develop 
new products for niche parts of this market such as molten salt for concentrated solar applications.  

Oil & Gas

After several years of oversupply, the industry has become relatively more stable and the price of Brent crude now trades at 
over $60 a barrel. The industry is slowly recovering from the recent years of weak prices, low capital expenditure, portfolio 
realignments and productivity efficiencies, and the effect is starting to be seen across the Oil & Gas sector.

•  Upstream – operating expenditure is now being released to secure current operations, resulting in additional capex spend 
for new projects. The Group is seeing increased bidding activity and is optimistic regarding future projects.  The ongoing 
investments in disruptive technologies – such as the subsea recovery-boosting technology from F-Subsea, where EPM is an 
exclusive partner – are now poised to move through the development phase to full deployment.

•  Midstream – the longer-term midstream trend of interest to the Group is the evolving liquefied natural gas (LNG) market, for 
which there is a growing demand and a continual import export transition developing. While market predictions for FLNG 
and FRSU vessels are bullish, real activity in the supply chain remains relatively sluggish.

•  Downstream – slower growth in the demand for liquid, combined with continued growth of LNG and biofuels continues to 
put pressure on global refining.  New refinery projects which are already planned or under construction for the next five years 
are judged to be sufficient to meet new capacity. However, the Group’s equipment is installed in critical systems on existing 
plants where continued operation is key, so aftermarket opportunities are strong.

Digitalisation & Condition Monitoring

Companies across the energy market continue to invest in digital technologies to improve productivity, efficiency and predictability 
in the field.  At the equipment level this translates to a series of devices, sensors and algorithms which can predict breakdowns 
before  they  occur  and  ensuring  equipment  is  running  at  its  optimum  performance. The  Group  successfully  launched  its  first 
monitoring product, DataHawkTM, for Boiler Circulating Pumps last year and will build on this success by adding this capability 
to both a wider set of original equipment and its aftermarket service offering. Peter Brotherhood now adds condition monitoring 
to its steam turbines as a standard part of the overall package. 

Markets – Medical

The Diagnostic (medical) and molecular imaging markets are large global sectors, dominated by a few large systems manufacturers. 
The total Diagnostic Imaging Market will be worth $34bn by 2024, according to Bloomberg and is expected to continue to grow 
at c5% per annum over the next 10 years. The largest market is the USA (25%), followed by Europe (19%) and Japan (17%). The 
fastest growing markets are China and India, which currently comprise 12% and 3% of the global market respectively.

The Avingtrans Medical division is primarily targeting the Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance 
(NMR) segments of these markets, due to the common thread requirements for superconducting magnets and cryogenics. These 
two segments account for approximately 85% of our business in the medical division. Market drivers for these segments include 
an ageing global population and the global pharmaceutical industry’s research needs. MRI is approximately 16% by value of the 
total diagnostic Imaging market and is projected to grow at 5% p.a. NMR is a smaller market, currently estimated at $800m p.a. 
by industry sources and is also growing at c5% p.a., with Bruker enjoying a current market share of over 80%.

6

 
Strategic Report (Continued)

Markets – Medical (continued)

End User/Aftermarket

The MRI market segment is dominated by a handful of manufacturers, including GE, Siemens and Philips, who account for 
circa 80% of revenue globally. These players also dominate the aftermarket, though there are a few independent MRI service 
businesses in existence. Avingtrans is not present in the MRI aftermarket at this time.

The NMR market is similar, currently dominated by Bruker (CH/DE) and Jeol (JA). Avingtrans is aligned with MR Resources 
Inc, a well-established US business, which services the NMR aftermarket. The Avingtrans Medical division is well positioned 
in  this  end-user  market  space  and  has  begun  to  win  service  contracts  with  European  NMR  users,  following  our  partnership 
agreement with MR Resources.  

MRI

As noted above, the MRI market segment is dominated by a handful of global manufacturers. For component and sub-system 
supply, Avingtrans is most aligned to the market leader, Siemens and also to Canon, which acquired the Toshiba MRI business 
in recent years. As far as full system supply is concerned, we are currently investigating a number of niche MRI applications 
(e.g. veterinary imaging) and their associated routes to market, with the intention of pinpointing the most promising of these for 
future investment.   

NMR

We  are  aligned  with  new  market  entrant  Q  One  Instruments  of Wuhan,  China  and  also  with  MR  Resources  of  the  USA,  as 
noted above. Together, we form an alliance to challenge the dominance of the existing players and to provide customers with an 
additional source for NMR products, service and support. Former NMR customers of Agilent (formerly Varian) are also being 
given much needed support. Whilst it is still early days for this initiative, we are successfully winning support contracts for end 
users and the prospect list for Q One Instruments is promising. Having acquired Tecmag Inc in Houston in October 2018, to add 
software and electronics capabilities to our NMR/MRI systems, we also acquired some assets from Acorn NMR in California, to 
transfer to Tecmag and to broaden our NMR service offering into end-user sample analysis and characterisation.

Operations

Operational Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

•  Percentage of total revenue deriving from aftermarket sales (%) 

•  Customer quality – defect free deliveries (%) 

•  Customer on-time in-full deliveries (%) 

•  Annualised staff turnover including restructuring (%) 

•  Health, Safety and Environment incidents per head per annum 

2019 

43.3 

98.0 

87.2 

13.0 

0.10 

2018

42.1

97.3

84.2

17.3

0.14

We have added a new KPI this year, being aftermarket (AM) sales as a percentage of total revenue. This nudged up positively, 
as our initiatives at HT began to take effect. Note that recent acquisitions like Tecmag and Ormandy have very little AM sales at 
present, which dampens the overall figure in the mix. Other KPIs also trended positively, with customer quality and deliveries 
moving in the right direction and staff turnover reducing, as the disruptive effects of the HTG acquisition subsided, albeit that 
newer acquisitions tend to produce an initial bow wave of staff turnover, until we stabilise these businesses. It is pleasing to 
note the on-going positive trend in HSE related incidents, since we place a high priority on improving these processes at newly 
acquired businesses.

EPM Division – Energy

The EPM division, which represents the bulk of the legacy Hayward Tyler companies (excluding East Kilbride) has an enviable 
installed base across the globe and strong brand recognition. Coupled with its strong domain knowledge across the energy market 
and its core competencies in wet wound electrical motors, canned motor pumps and nuclear codes and standards, the division 
continues to expand its end-user offering.

7

 
 
Strategic Report (Continued)

EPM Division – Energy (continued)

The division finds itself in a relatively strong position, being more agile than some of its bigger competitors, having a respected 
OEM brand unlike the local independents and able to offer a strong solution-based offering for its own installed base, as well as 
other Original Equipment Manufacturers.  

With a fully developed presence in Europe and North America, the division completed the opening of its new China facility 
in January 2019 and the new motor rewind centre in India. The integration of these regional centres alongside other regional 
partners  in  key  territories  will  give  the  division  expanded  global  reach,  capability  and  the  platform  to  expand  its  end-user 
business. This activity was underpinned by winning a £10m order with Vattenfall in Sweden in February 2019, as well as further 
orders from KHNP in S Korea and US nuclear operators.

In the UK and China, EPM signed an Authorised Channel and Service Partner agreement with Baker Hughes, a GE company 
(BHGE), which has a significant installed base in the UK, but no effective local facility to service, overhaul and upgrade their 
equipment.  

In addition to the drive for improved end-user business, EPM is addressing the shift towards a low carbon energy future. Its 
experience and product knowledge allowed it to gain its first order from a Gen IV nuclear developer in the USA for molten 
salt  technology  and  also  funding  from  the  US  Department  of  Energy  to  develop  molten  salt  pump  technology  for  advanced 
concentrated solar applications.  With its new range of pumps and its optimised seal-less circulating pumps for natural gas and a 
range of renewable technologies, EPM is slowly but surely reducing its reliance on coal fired power stations.

Post year end, EPM acquired Energy Steel (ES) – a specialist in nuclear aftermarket products – from Graham Corporation. This 
acquisition allows us to cross-sell between HT and ES into the North American nuclear fleet and bolsters our credentials in that 
market segment.

PSRE Division – Energy

The acquisition of the trade and assets of Ormandy Ltd last year has integrated well and has made a satisfactory, albeit modest, 
profit  in  its  first  full  year  with  the  Group.  Ormandy  manufactures  off-site  plant,  heat  exchangers  and  other  HVAC  (heating, 
ventilation and air conditioning) products. Its success has meant that Whiteley Read (WRE) became non-core and this site was 
sold  during  the  year  to  Glacier  Energy,  recovering  the  Group’s  investment.  Post  year  end,  we  also  closed  the  small  Maloney 
site, with the remaining assets and trade from there being transferred to Ormandy and Fluid Handling, along with a few of the 
employees at Maloney.

The Fluid Handling business in East Kilbride, Scotland had an excellent year, as it expanded its capability to support the nuclear 
decommissioning and reprocessing market in the UK. This has further strengthened the division’s strategic relationship with 
Sellafield Limited and the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. 

The Energy divisions’ footprint was expanded, post year-end, when the Group acquired the assets of Booth Industries, a leading 
manufacturer of high integrity doors, used in the nuclear, oil and gas and critical national infrastructure markets. The integration 
of Booth is progressing to plan.

The Group also has a keen interest in both the UK nuclear submarine fleet and associated facilities, as well as developing new 
nuclear technologies like SMRs (Small Modular Reactors). The division has a good installed base on the UK submarine fleet, 
is the chosen manufacturing partner for the Astute steam turbines and through this experience has the right capability, nuclear 
culture and experience to support longer term nuclear technologies.

Aside from nuclear, the divisional brands also have a strong presence in the Oil and Gas market – eg through Peter Brotherhood 
(PB). This market is now improving, with PB securing an order for c£10m in the period for steam turbines for a floating production 
vessel. 

Aligned with the overall Group strategy to focus on end-user business, the division has seen an increase in end-user sales. In 
particular, PB saw further increases in aftermarket sales and won a new £5m UK government end-user contract in June 2018. 
End-user  service  arrangements  have  been  signed  to  gain  better  access  to  the  reciprocating  compressor  installed  base  and  an 
expansion of the channel partners and agents has been concluded. Overall, the ratio of aftermarket sales for the division has not 
improved in the year, but this is due to success in growing OE sales in parallel with the aftermarket.

Finally, the Crown business remains a small but positive performer in the division, although the year was quieter than anticipated, 
due to delays in the roll-out of smart motorways and also that of 5G telecoms networks.

8

Strategic Report (Continued)

Operations (continued)

MII - Medical Division

We  are  making  gradual  progress  at  Scientific  Magnetics  and  at Tecmag,  as  we  seek  to  integrate  our  various  sub-systems  to 
produce a prototype MRI demonstrator unit. We have now been able to take first images of inanimate objects in the system, 
which show that everything is working at a basic level. We are now into the next phase of image refinement, to bring the system 
up to the level expected in clinical diagnostic imaging. This next phase will take us a few months to complete and will continue 
to absorb some cash in the intervening period.

Meanwhile, concerning NMR, our service offering has been strengthened, both in the UK and the USA, so we are optimistic 
about seeing good progress over the next 12 months. We continue to work with QOne in China and Switzerland on new NMR 
systems, to challenge the market leader. QOne have been successful in selling initial systems to the market over the last year, 
albeit that the numbers are still small for this start-up business.

Following its acquisition in October 2018, Tecmag has performed relatively well initially and, with support from other Group 
resources, managed to achieve a break-even result in its first period with Avingtrans. We were pleased to find that there is a decent 
pipeline of legacy business to go for, pending our development of new products to provide additional new business opportunities. 
There is no doubt that Tecmag’s IP will become indispensable in our pursuit of the targeted niche MRI and NMR markets.

Metalcraft  UK’s  business  with  Siemens  for  MRI  components  continues  to  be  stable,  although  progress  in  China  with  other 
vacuum  vessel  customers  –  e.g. Alltech  –  remains  rather  pedestrian.  Composite  Products  (CP)  had  a  reasonable  year,  with 
deliveries to Rapiscan continuing and support from other smaller accounts at this unit.

Financial Performance

Adoption of IFRS 15 and IFRS 9

The Group has adopted IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers and IFRS 9 Financial Instruments from 1 June 2018. 
Adoption of IFRS 15 has led to a number of changes in the way the Group recognises revenue including whether to recognise 
over time or at a point in time, the splitting of contracts into multiple performance conditions which are recognised separately, the 
aggregation of a series of products into a single performance condition, reassessment of contract losses in the prior period and a 
change in the methodology for the recognition of long term service agreements. 

The  Group  has  applied  IFRS  15  and  IFRS  9  using  the  cumulative  effect  of  initially  applying  these  new  standards  with  an 
adjustment of £1.1m to the opening retained earnings at 1 June 2018. The comparative information has not been restated and 
continues to be reported under IAS11 and IAS 18. 

Key Performance Indicators

The Group uses a number of financial key performance indicators to monitor the business, as set out below.

Revenue: 34% increase with underlying growth 11% 

Overall Group revenue increased to £105.5m (2018: £78.9m), primarily driven by the effect of a full year results for the HTG 
acquisition. Underlying revenue growth, excluding acquisitions was 11.2%.

Profit margin: significant improvement in results, driven by FY18 acquisition of HTG 

Adjusted EBITDA (note 4) increased by 65% to £9.4m (2018: £5.7m) with good further progression from the acquisitions made 
in FY18. Operating profit was £3.6m (2018: loss £3.8m) mainly due to the strong progression in profit and the non-recurrence 
of significant HTG exceptional costs which were incurred in FY18 and a reduction of the non underlying costs to £1.6m for the 
amortisation of intangibles from business combinations (2018: £3.3m).

Gross margin: solid progress continues

Group gross margin improved to 26.7% (2018: 25.5%) due to the higher HTG gross margins and an increase in the proportion of 
revenue derived from aftermarket services when compared to prior year.

Tax: future profits and cash protected by available losses

The effective rate of taxation at Group level was a 20% tax charge primarily due to the US tax charge offset by a deferred tax 
credit arising from the amortisation of business intangibles. The tax position will be aided in the coming years with the now 
reduced US rate being supported by utilisation losses in the UK and China. We continue to be cautious, not recognising all of the 
trading tax losses in the UK.

9

Strategic Report (Continued)

Financial Performance (continued)

Adjusted Earnings per Share (EPS): a 77% improvement 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share and diluted earnings per share for continuing operations improved to 14.9p (2018: 8.4p) and 
8.0p (2018: loss 16.0p) respectively as higher margin aftermarket and cost savings work through.

Funding and Liquidity: Net Debt post acquisition remains low 
Net debt at 31 May 2019 was £2.0m (31 May 2018: net debt: £7.1m). Underlying strong profits enhanced by a £1.6m positive 
working capital movement, skewed by advance payments on accounts for contracts drove a cash inflow from operating activities 
of £9m (2018 outflow £6.9m), which will partly reverse in FY20. The Directors consider that the Group has sufficient financial 
resources (note 22) to deliver its short term strategic objectives and is maintaining a strong relationship with its banking partners.

Dividend: steadily improving
The Board again proposes to underpin our progressive dividend policy. We are pleased to be able to recommend an improved 
final dividend of 2.4 pence per share (2018: 2.3 pence per share). We intend to continue on this progressive path, subject to the 
outcome of acquisition activities in the coming years. The dividend will be paid on 6 December 2019, to shareholders on the 
register at 25 October 2019.

Principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group

Managing Risk
The Group is exposed to risks and uncertainties that could have a material impact on its performance and financial position. 
Identifying, assessing and managing risk is the responsibility of the Board. Our approach to risk is intended to protect the interests 
of our shareholders and other stakeholders whilst allowing the business to develop. Our risk appetite depends on the nature of an 
individual risk and it is considered in Board discussions and also as part of our risk review process in the Audit Committee. From 
time to time, we obtain advice from third party experts in a cost effective manner, to complement in-house knowledge.

The long-term success of the Group relies, in part, on managing the risks to our business. Whilst the Group has risk management 
policies and practices in place, which address and monitor risk, we seek to improve those practices each year. The Chief Financial 
Officer is responsible for risk management on behalf of the Board and the Audit Committee reviews the risk register on a regular 
basis. Ultimately our aim is to ensure that risk management is embedded within the core processes of our business units.

Risk Management Process
The Group uses a risk register to help coordinate its risk management process. The risk register identifies the key business risks 
and documents the policies and practices in place to mitigate those risks. 

Principal Risks
We classify the risks to the business into three groups, namely, strategic risk, operational risk and financial risk. The principal 
risks identified by the Directors under these groups are set out in the table below. The risks considered during the Group-wide 
risk management process cover a wider range of issues than the key risks that are listed in this table.

Risk

Potential Impact

Mitigation

Strategic Risk

A. Growth 
Strategy 

10

A  fundamental  part  of  the  Group’s 
strategy is growth from both Original 
Equipment  and  Aftermarket  sales. 
is  reliant  on  our 
The  growth 
markets. These markets demonstrate 
long-term growth, but remain highly 
competitive and can be cyclic.

Failure  to  generate  sufficient  order 
intake  and  revenue  to  cover  the 
fixed  cost  base  could  give  rise  to 
lower profit and cash generation that 
constrains the Group.

Failure to keep-up with technological 
change could give rise to the Group’s 
products,  services  and  technologies 
becoming less competitive.

The Group provides niche engineering solutions for the global 
energy and medical sectors. It has an excellent market profile 
(quality, reliability and customer relationships), which results 
in inclusion on sector bid/quote opportunities.

The  Group  has  invested,  and  is  investing,  in  key  aspects 
to  maintain  and  improve  the  Group’s  competitive  position 
including: 

■   employees (see E below);
■   supply chain (see F below);; 
■   developing and maintaining strong relationships with key 
   customers;
■   capital expenditure on plant and equipment;  
■   research and development of products and processes and 
■   aftermarket initiatives including supporting end-of-life         
   extension programmes.

 
 
Strategic Report (Continued)

Principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group (continued)

Risk

Potential Impact

Mitigation

Strategic Risk

B. PIE Strategy 
mergers, 
acquisitions 
and disposals 

regular 
The  Group  makes 
acquisitions  and  disposals  under 
its  PIE  strategy.  In  October  2018  it 
acquired  Tecmag  Inc  in  Houston, 
USA.  During 
the  period,  we 
disposed of the Whiteley Read site. 
Post  period  end,  Energy  Steel  and 
Booth  Industries  were  acquired 
and  the  Maloney  site  was  closed 
down,  with  some  assets  and  staff 
transferring elsewhere in the group.

could 

businesses 

Failure  to  re-establish  and  rebuild 
these 
(1) 
absorb  a  disproportionate  part  of 
management resource at the expense 
of  other  parts  of  the  Group  (2) 
reduce the Group’s profitability and 
(3)  delay  the  cycle  of  the    planned 
positive outcome of the PIE strategy.

C. Execution

services  highly 

The  Group  designs,  manufactures 
and 
technical 
products that are mission critical to 
the end user. 

to 

satisfy 

Failure 
contractual 
obligations  could  give 
to 
rise 
losses  (e.g.  warranty 
significant 
claims,  liquidated  damages,  etc), 
cash  constraints,  lost  future  orders 
and  adverse  impact  on  the  Group’s 
reputation. 

The Group carefully plans acquisition actions to mitigate this 
risk:

■   extensive pre-deal due diligence;
■   achieving a balance between attractive purchase prices and 
   business purchase agreement terms and conditions;
■   post-acquisition integration planning
■   rapid business restructuring as required 
■   appropriate funding of the acquisitions and on-going         
   businesses followed by de-leveraging the business; 
■   establishing senior management teams, complemented by 
   experienced executives from Avingtrans and externally, if 
   required;
■   development of incoming employees;
■   focusing on marketing and sales including growing             
   aftermarket businesses; and
■   investing in the businesses as necessary for a successful     
   outcome to the PIE strategy.

The Group continues to invest consistently in its people, 
processes and products to maintain and improve lead times 
and product innovation. These steps include: enhanced 
customer relationship management, sales and operational 
planning, process flow mapping, research and development, 
product standardisation and enhancing process capability.

The Group also seeks to minimise the impact of execution 
risk through its terms of trade such as (1) limiting the 
undertakings it gives to pay liquidated damages and (2) 
avoiding consequential damages altogether.

D. Global 
Economic 
Activity and 
political 
uncertainties 
including 
Brexit

The Group operates in global energy, 
industrial,  defence, 
infrastructure 
and medical markets. A slowdown in 
those markets including the possible 
impact from on-going economic and 
political  uncertainty  may  adversely 
impact order intake, liquidity needs, 
and terms of trade and the financial 
performance of the Group.

The Group has a diversified geographical and sector spread 
that reduces the impact of localised economic trends and 
activities. In addition, the Group is investing in research 
and development, to develop new products or adapt existing 
products for use in other applications in order to broaden its 
product offering, to reduce the risk. Increasing aftermarket 
activities also provide the Group with a partial cushion to 
defend against cyclical downturns in original equipment 
purchasing.

Political  uncertainty  such  as  the 
impact of Brexit and other overseas 
trade issues - eg US trade tariffs can 
affect decisions by our customers to 
invest  and  therefore  impact  on  our 
trading.

We continue to review and assess the potential impacts of US 
and Chinese tariffs and Brexit, as more information becomes 
available and we are engaged with trade associations, which 
are in contact with government and can thus assist our 
decision making and action plans.

The Group will be able to continue to trade with EU member 
states and will take guidance on any new trading regulations 
when the UK exits the EU. As the Group also operates in 
countries which are outside of the EU this should help lessen 
any impact of disruption caused by an exit.

11

Strategic Report (Continued)

Principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group (continued)

Risk

Potential Impact

Mitigation

Strategic Risk

E. Employees

Attracting  and  retaining  talented 
people is a Group priority to ensure 
our  continued  success.  The  Group 
has  numerous  skilled  and  highly 
trained and qualified employees who 
demonstrate  their  commitment  to 
the  Group  through  the  continuous 
improvement  of  our  products, 
processes  and  procedures  which 
impacts on the Group’s performance.

Failure  to  attract  the  right  talent, 
could  inhibit  the  rate  of  product 
and process development as well as 
impact on the Group’s performance.

Recruitment and retention of employees is a key focus for the 
Group to ensure its continued success. 

Group mitigating actions include:

■   continuing the significant investment in training and 
   development; 
■   personal development reviews; 
■   succession planning;
■   promotion from within where possible  
■   outreach to Universities, Colleges and Local Schools; 
■   monitoring pay and benchmarking; 
■   maintaining the successful graduate and apprentice 
   programmes; 
■   improving overall employee engagement;
■   utilisation of external and Group resource to offset any 
   temporary gaps in key personnel.

Operational Risk

F. Supply 
Chain

The  Group  is  reliant  on  its  supply 
chain  as  part  of  its  aim  to  improve 
throughout  and  optimise  stock-
holding.

Failure  of  that  supply  chain  can 
result  in  operational  disruption  and 
delays  to  shipments  to  customers, 
leading to potential loss of profit and 
damage to customer relationships.

Financial Risk

G. Funding

The Group is dependent on its ability 
to  service  its  debts  and  refinance 
existing  borrowings  when 
they 
fall due as well as to fund working 
capital,  capital  expenditure,  and 
research and development.

If the Group fails to generate profits 
and  cash  it  could  face  funding 
constraints that impact the business 
cycle.

Each division has its own sourcing policy. Where appropriate 
and efficient, divisions cooperate on sourcing. Mitigating 
actions include: 

■   sourcing strategies to avoid single point dependence for 
   any key commodity and standardisation to support possible 
   stock holdings;
■   identifying in-house capability (intra and inter-divisionally) 
   and focused investment in related capital expenditure; 
■   exception reporting, operational planning and review 
   processes support the early identification of risks;
■   monitoring of supplier performance;
■   an optimum number of suppliers with strategic, long-term 
   partnerships on key components;
■   strengthening of supply chain teams; and
■   supply chain benchmarking and development.

The Group manages its capital to continue as a going concern 
and maintain its liquidity. The Group continually reforecasts 
its borrowing requirements, which include: 

■   a 13-week cash flow forecast produced each month; 
■   a 12-month rolling profit and loss, balance sheet and cash 
   flow forecast each quarter
to ensure that funding is available to support its operations 
and its compliance with borrowing covenants. 

The Group maintains committed UK and US bank credit 
facilities, augmented by specific funding to support 
investment globally and a bonding facility. In addition, the 
Group maintains an active bank relationship programme and 
contacts with UK Export Finance, to safeguard its funding 
ability.

12

 
 
Strategic Report (Continued)

Principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group (continued)

Risk

Potential Impact

Mitigation

Financial Risk

H. Working
Capital

As a fundamental part of the Group’s 
strategy  is  growth  the  Group  is 
exposed  to  a  potential  increase  in 
its working capital requirement that 
absorbs  cash.  If  the  Group  fails  to 
keep  this  increase  under  control 
it  could  face  cash  constraints  that 
impact the business cycle.

I. Currency

J.  Pension 
Scheme

The  Group  operates  and  sells  in 
overseas  markets  that  may  utilise 
currencies other than those in which 
its principal costs are denominated. 
The  exposure  to  foreign  exchange 
rate  fluctuations  may,  as  a  result, 
affect  the  Group’s  cash  flow.  The 
principal risk at present is US Dollar 
income.

The  Group  maintains  a  defined 
benefit  pension  scheme  related  to 
the Hayward Tyler businesses.

The  Group  could  be  required  to 
increase  its  contributions  to  cover 
funding  shortfalls  caused  by  poor 
investment  performance  of  scheme 
assets, a deterioration in the discount 
rate  or  inflation  rate  applied  and 
life  expectancy  of 
in 
changes 
members of the scheme.

K. Customer 
Credit 
Exposure

The group may offer credit terms to 
its  customers  which  allow  payment 
of  the  debt  after  delivery  of  the 
goods  or  services.   The  group  is  at 
risk  to  the  extent  that  a  customer 
may be unable to pay the debt on the 
specified due date. 

The Group is seeking to mitigate this risk through the 
following means:

■   standard terms and conditions of manufacturing contracts 
   require customers to make stage payments to fund working 
   capital on the contract. Where stage payments cannot be 
   achieved by the Group, it may be possible to augment 
   borrowing and bonding lines through use of the short-term 
   funding schemes – eg via UK Export Finance;
■   an on-going initiative to optimise stock;
■   minimising lead times, to reduce working capital 
   requirements per unit of revenue;
■   active management of accounts receivable and accounts 
   payable; and
■   linking employee remuneration to cash.

The Group’s policy is to hedge its transaction exposures (i.e. 
cash flows) where a significant commitment has been made 
and a level of cover for non-contracted flows in the 12 to 24 
month period. As at date of signing, 52% of estimated USD 
net inflows into the UK over the following 12 months were 
hedged.

Currency hedging lines are available from two providers. 

The scheme is closed to new members and to future benefit 
improvements. The performance of the investment advisers is 
monitored closely by the Company and pension trustees and 
action taken where that is not satisfactory. The assumptions 
used to determine the pension deficit/surplus are based on 
recommendations of the actuary to the scheme, benchmarked 
against market norms by an expert 3rd party. The Directors 
discuss the pension scheme regularly and there is frequent 
contact with the pension fund trustees.

The aim is to strengthen the financial position of the 
Group, through its underlying performance, which assures 
stakeholders and helps to maintain or reduce contributions to 
cover any eventual funding shortfall.

The plan trustees have selected a liability driven investment 
strategy aimed at reducing interest and inflation rate risks 
and providing a return that matches or exceeds the growth in 
projected pension plan liabilities. 

This risk is mitigated by the strong on-going customer 
relationships.

13

Strategic Report (Continued)

People

At Board level, the only change in the period was that Ewan Lloyd Baker left the Group in November 2018. Ewan became a Non-
Executive Director following the acquisition of the Hayward Tyler Group by Avingtrans in September 2017. Having overseen the 
successful handover, Ewan wished to move on and pursue other interests. Graham Thornton has expressed his intention to retire 
from the Board after the AGM this year. Within the Group structure, post-period end, Colin Elcoate resigned from his position as 
the Chief Commercial Officer for Avingtrans, to take up a CEO role elsewhere. The Board wish Ewan and Colin all the best in 
their future chosen careers. Top level divisional management teams were largely unchanged, with the exception of the promotion 
of Alvin Sim to General Manager of Hayward Tyler China, following the departure of Colin Elcoate.

In  a  broader  sense,  the  management  teams  in  each  of  the  three  divisions  continue  to  be  strengthened,  with  a  number  of  key 
appointments being made in the year, and with emphasis on the importance of the aftermarket opportunities. Skills availability 
is always challenging, but we do not expect to be unduly constrained by shortages. Avingtrans continues to invest significant 
effort in developing skills in-house, both through structured apprenticeship programmes and graduate development plans. The 
Group continues to be recognised nationally for the strength of its apprenticeship and graduate training schemes. For example, 
Metalcraft  won  the  top  accolade  for  ‘SME  Investment  in  Skills’  at  the  SEMTA  (Scientific,  Engineering,  Manufacturing  & 
Technology Alliance) 2018 Awards and is consistently rated in the Top 100 apprenticeship schemes in the UK. 

Our  global  workforce  is  becoming  more  integrated  and  this  provides  additional  capability,  capacity  and  innovative  thinking 
around the clock, to support to our global blue-chip customer base.

Health, Safety and Environment (HSE)

The Group takes HSE matters and its related responsibilities very seriously.

As regular acquirers of businesses, we find different levels of capability and knowledge in different businesses. Often, a key 
investment need in smaller acquisitions is to spread HSE best practice from other Group businesses and bring local processes up 
to required standards. Larger acquisitions like HTG have well developed HSE practices and we seek to learn from these in other 
business units.

Health and Safety incident reporting has improved across the Group and incident trends have generally been improving over 
recent years. Near miss reporting and knowledge exchange is also positively encouraged, to facilitate learning and improvement. 
At Board level, Les Thomas has HSE oversight and he conducts inspections with local management as appropriate.

The Group’s environmental policy is to ensure that we understand and effectively manage the actual and potential environmental 
impact of our activities. Our operations are conducted such that we comply with all legal requirements relating to the environment 
in all areas where we carry out our business. 

During the period covered by this report, the Group has not incurred any significant fines or penalties, nor been investigated for 
any significant breach of HSE regulations.

Social Responsibility

It is paramount that the Group maintains the highest ethical and professional standards across all of its activities and that social 
responsibility should be embedded in operations and decision making. We understand the importance of managing the impact 
that the business can have on employees, customers, suppliers and other stakeholders. The impact is regularly reviewed to sustain 
improvements, which in turn support the long-term performance of the business.

Our focus is to embed the management of these areas into our business operations, both managing risk and delivering opportunities 
that can have a positive influence on our business.

Employees

The Group places considerable value on the involvement of its employees and has continued to keep them informed on matters 
affecting  them  directly  and  on  financial  and  broader  economic  factors  affecting  the  Group. The  Group  regularly  reviews  its 
employment policies. The Group is committed to a global policy of equality, providing a working environment that maintains 
a culture of respect and reflects the diversity of our employees. We are committed to offering equal opportunities to all people 
regardless of their sex, nationality, ethnicity, language, age, status, sexual orientation, religion or disability.

14

Strategic Report (Continued)

Social Responsibility (continued)

We believe that employees should be able to work safely in a healthy workplace, without fear of any form of discrimination, 
bullying or harassment. We have begun to roll-out “dignity and respect” training program across the Group. We believe that 
the Group should demonstrate a fair gender mix across all levels of our business, whilst recognising that the demographics of 
precision engineering and manufacturing remain predominantly male, which is largely beyond our control.

Ethical policy

The Group complies with the Bribery Act 2010. We do not tolerate bribery, corruption or other unethical behaviour on the part 
of any of our businesses or business partners in any part of the world. Employee training has been completed in all areas of the 
business to ensure that the Act is complied with.

Outlook

Avingtrans is a niche engineering market leader in the Energy and Medical sectors, with a successful profitable growth record, 
underpinned by our ‘PIE’ strategy. Recent acquisitions will provide further opportunities for the Group to build enduring value 
for investors in resilient engineering market niches. We will continue to be frugal and seek to crystallise value and return capital 
when the timing is right, as part of the PIE strategy implementation.

The Group continues to invest in its three divisions, with a focus on the global energy and medical markets, to position them for 
maximum shareholder value via eventual exits in the years to come. The HTG integration is now demonstrably complete and the 
integrations of Ormandy, Tecmag, Booth and Energy Steel are all proceeding to plan, as demonstrated by the results in the period. 
Our value creation targets continue to be accomplished as planned.

The energy divisions have a strong emphasis on the thermal power, nuclear and offshore oil & gas markets, all of which are 
showing positive signs of regeneration. The medical division continues to focus on high integrity components and systems for 
leading medical, industrial and scientific equipment manufacturers.

To  drive  profitability  and  market  engagement,  each  division  has  a  clear  strategy  to  support  end-user  aftermarket  operations, 
servicing their own equipment and that of pertinent third parties, to capitalise on the continued market demand for efficient, 
reliable and safe facilities.

We remain vigilant concerning Brexit, but we are not overly concerned, since our direct EU exposure is somewhat limited and 
we have taken appropriate evasive actions in our supply chains, with likely further such actions to follow, depending on the exact 
nature of the eventual Brexit outcome. Similarly, US and Chinese government tariff change risks have been largely mitigated by 
an agile supply chain response and we will continue to monitor this situation closely.

As  our  markets  continue  to  develop,  M&A  activity  is  still  strong  and  businesses  like  ours  can  command  high  valuations  at 
the point of exit, as exemplified by the Sigma sale previously. The Board is confident about the current strategic direction and 
potential  future  opportunities  across  our  markets. We  will  continue  to  refine  our  business  by  pinpointing  specific  additional 
acquisitions as the opportunities arise, to build businesses which can create superior shareholder value, whilst maintaining a 
prudent level of financial headroom, to enable us to endure any macroeconomic headwinds.

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board on 17 September 2019 and signed on its behalf by:

Roger McDowell 
Chairman 
17 September 2019 

Steve McQuillan 
Chief Executive Officer 
17 September 2019 

Stephen King
Chief Financial Officer
17 September 2019 

15

 
Report of the Directors

The Directors present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2019.

Matters included in the strategic report

The Directors’ consideration of likely future developments in the business, risks and KPI’s have been included in the Strategic 
Report.

Going concern

During the year the Group has managed its working capital and cash flows resulting in an operating cash inflow of £9.0m for 
the year (FY18 6.9m). At 31 May 2019 the Group has net debt of £2.0m as detailed in note 22 (2018: Net debt £7.1m) and net 
assets of £69.3m (2018: £69.1m). As discussed in more detail in the Chairman’s statement and Strategic report, looking into 
2020/21 and beyond, the Group has a number of exciting opportunities across all of its operations that should deliver growth and 
shareholder value. 

The Directors have prepared detailed cash flow forecasts for the Group for the period extending to 31 December 2020, alongside 
three year budgets which indicate that the Group expects to have adequate financial resources to continue in business and work 
within its current banking arrangements to deliver on its short term strategic objectives. Coupled with an ongoing supportive 
relationship with the Group’s principal bankers, HSBC, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the 
Annual Report and accounts. 

Results and dividends

The Group’s profit for the year before tax from continuing operations amounted to £3,144,000 (2018: loss of £4,498,000) for 
continuing operations. A final dividend of 2.4 pence is proposed for the year ended 31 May 2019 (2018: 2.3 pence), taking the 
total dividend for the year to 3.8p pence (2018: total 3.6 pence).

Substantial shareholdings

As at 17 September 2019, the following had notified the Company that they held or were beneficially interested in 3% or more of 
the Company’s issued ordinary share capital:

Nigel Wray 
Funds managed by BlackRock 
Funds managed by RBC Trustees Limited 
Funds managed by Unicorn Asset Management Limited 
Harwood Capital 
R S McDowell’s Pension Fund 
P McDowell’s Pension Fund 
Funds managed by LGT Bank 

Directors and their interests

Number of 
shares 
‘000 

Percentage
of issued
share capital
owned

3,227 
2,172 
2,008 
1,946 
1,760 
1,406 
1,213 
993 

10.3% 
6.9% 
6.4% 
6.2% 
5.6% 
4.5% 
3.9% 
3.2%

The present Directors of the Company and those that served during the year are set out on page 1. Their interests in the share 
capital of the Company are set out below.

R S McDowell 
S McQuillan  
S M King 
J Clarke 
G K Thornton 
L J Thomas 

16

Ordinary shares of 5p each 

31 May 
2019 

1,406,409 
243,500 
180,248 
- 
- 
16,000 

31 May
2018 

1,406,409
243,500
180,248
-
-
16,000

 
  
 
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
Report of the Directors (Continued)

Share options

The  Directors’  interests  with  respect  to  options  to  acquire  ordinary  shares  are  detailed  in  the  Report  of  the  Directors  on 
Remuneration.

Interests in contracts

No Director was materially interested in any contract during the year.

Financial instruments

The Group’s operations expose it to a variety of financial risks including the effects of changes in interest rates on debt, foreign 
currency exchange rates, funding, working capital, pension scheme, credit risk and liquidity risk.

The Group’s principal financial instruments comprise cash and bank deposits, bank loans and overdrafts and obligations under 
finance leases together with trade receivables and trade payables that arise directly from its operations. The Group has entered into 
derivative transactions where it has certainty of the outcome. Information about the use of financial instruments by the Group and 
the Group’s financial risk management objectives and policy disclosures is given in notes 22 and 24 to the financial statements.

Research and development

During the year £822,000 (2018: £681,000) of development costs (per note 13) were capitalised as intangible assets. This was 
predominately at Metalcraft in relation to waste storage equipment, Sci-Mag for helium free niche application designs and HTI 
condition monitoring. 

Disabled persons

The Group gives full and fair consideration to applications for employment from disabled persons, where they have the necessary 
abilities  and  skills  for  that  position,  and  wherever  possible  will  retrain  employees  who  become  disabled,  so  that  they  can 
continue their employment in another position. The Group engages, promotes, and trains staff on the basis of their capabilities, 
qualifications and experience, without discrimination, giving all employees an equal opportunity to progress.

Directors’ indemnities

The  Company  has  taken  out  directors’  and  officers’  liability  insurance  for  the  benefit  of  its  Directors  during  the  year  which 
remains in force at the date of this report.

Employee involvement

It is the policy of the Group to communicate with employees by employee representation on works and staff committees and by 
briefing meetings conducted by senior management. Career development is encouraged through suitable training Statement of 
Directors’ responsibilities for the financial statements. 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities for the financial statements

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report and the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance 
with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have 
to prepare the Parent and Group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) 
as adopted by the European Union. Under company law, the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are 
satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs and the profit or loss of the Group and Parent company for that 
period. 

In preparing these financial statements, the directors are required to:

• 

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

• 

state whether applicable IFRSs have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial 
statements;

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company and Group 

will continue in business.

17

Report of the Directors (Continued)

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities for the financial statements (continued)

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

• 

• 

so far as each of the Directors is aware there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s and Group’s auditor is 
unaware; and

the Directors have taken all steps that they ought to have taken as directors to make themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the auditor is aware of that information.

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

Auditor

Grant Thornton UK LLP (“Grant Thornton”) are willing to continue in office in accordance with section 489 of the Companies 
Act 2006, and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the Annual General Meeting.

The report of the Directors was approved by the Board on 17 September 2019 and signed on its behalf by:

S M King
Director

18

Corporate Governance

Chairman’s Introduction 

The Group is committed to maintaining high standards of corporate governance. The Board recognises the importance of good 
corporate governance under AIM Rule 50 and is accountable to the Company’s shareholders and stakeholders for its adoption 
throughout the Group. To facilitate this, we have adopted the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code 2018 
(QCA Code).

This statement describes how the Group has complied with the ten high level principles set out in the QCA code.

1. Establish a strategy and business model which promote the long-term value for shareholders

The Board has established a core strategy to buy and build engineering companies in niche markets where we see consolidation 
opportunities; a strategy we call Pinpoint-Invest-Exit (“PIE”) which seeks to promote long-term value for shareholders as set out 
within the Strategic Report page 4.

2. Seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and expectations

The Board attaches a high level of importance to maintaining good relationships with shareholders, whether they are institutions 
or private investors and all stakeholders and representing and promoting their interests, as well as being accountable to them for 
the performance and activities of the Group. The Board believes it is important to engage with its shareholders and aims to do this 
through presentations, conference calls, face-to-face meetings and the Annual General Meeting. Following the announcement of 
the Group’s half-year and year-end results, presentations are made to analysts and major shareholders to update them on progress 
and invite them to ask questions.

The Board is updated on the latest shareholder information by the receipt of shareholder register movements, analyst reports and 
feedback from the Group’s brokers, following investor road shows after half-year and year-end results.

The  Board  encourages  all  Directors  to  attend  the Annual  General  Meeting  as  an  opportunity  to  communicate  directly  with 
investors and actively encourages participative dialogue.

The Company provides contact details on its investor relations page on the Company’s corporate website:  www.avingtrans.plc.uk.

3. Take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities and their implications for long-
term success

The Board recognise that our customers, suppliers and employees are crucial to the Group’s success. The Group’s responsibilities, 
policies and controls on Health, Safety and Environment (HSE) and Social Responsibility are set in the Strategic Report pages 
14 to 15.

We have established long-term relationships with key customers and suppliers. We encourage feedback from our employees to 
improve the culture and working environment of the Company and holds regular meetings to keep them informed on matters 
affecting them directly and on financial and broader economic factors affecting the Group. There are specific information channels 
in respect of health & safety matters. The Group has a proactive approach to health, safety and the environment and is committed 
to the highest practicable standards of safety and health management and the minimisation of adverse environmental impacts.

4. Embed effective risk management, considering both opportunities and threats, throughout the 
organisation 

The Board’s approach to risk is intended to protect the interests of our shareholders and other stakeholders whilst allowing the 
business to develop. Our risk appetite depends on the nature of an individual risk and it is considered in Board discussions and 
also as part of our risk review process in the Audit Committee. From time to time, we obtain advice from third party experts, in 
a cost effective manner, to complement in-house knowledge.

The long-term success of the Group relies, in part, on managing the risks to our business. Whilst the Group has risk management 
policies and practices in place, which address and monitor risk, we seek to improve those practices each year. The Chief Financial 
Officer is responsible for risk management on behalf of the Board and the Audit Committee reviews the risk register on a regular 
basis. Ultimately, our aim is to ensure that risk management is embedded within the core processes of our business units.

The Group uses a risk register to help coordinate its risk management process. The risk register identifies the key business risks 
and documents the policies and practices in place to mitigate those risks.

We classify the principal risks to the business into three groups, namely, strategic risk, operational risk and financial risk. The 
principal  risks  identified  by  the  Directors  under  these  groups  are  set  out  in  the  Strategic  Report  pages  10  to  13. The  risks 
considered during the Group-wide risk management process cover a wider range of issues than the key risks.

19

Corporate Governance (Continued)

4. Embed effective risk management, considering both opportunities and threats, throughout the 
organisation (continued)

The Board, through the Audit Committee, reviews the operation and effectiveness of the systems of internal control throughout 
the accounting year and the period to the date of approval of the financial statements, although it should be understood that such 
systems are designed to provide reasonable, but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The Group’s system 
of controls includes:

•  A comprehensive budgeting system with annual budgets approved by the Directors. Monthly monitoring of actual results 

against budget and regular review of variances.

•  Close involvement of Directors, who approve all significant transactions.

• 

• 

Internal management rules which include financial and operating control procedures for all management of the Group.

Identification and appraisal by the Board of the major risks affecting the business and the financial controls.

•  Bank facilities and other treasury functions, which are monitored and policy changes approved by the Board.

The Board has considered the need for an internal audit function and concluded that this would not be appropriate at present due 
to the size of the Group.

5. Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the chair

The Board of Avingtrans plc comprises of a Non-executive Chairman, two Executive Directors and three Non-executive Directors 
for  the  majority  of  the  year  following  the  resignation  of  E  Lloyd-Baker  (30  November  2018). The  Board  is  chaired  by  R  S 
McDowell and assisted by the Senior Independent Non-executive Director G K Thornton, who have primary responsibility for 
running the Board.

S McQuillan, has executive responsibilities for the remaining operations, results and strategic development of the Group. S M 
King is Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary. The Board structure ensures that no individual or group dominates the 
decision making process.

The  Non-executive  Directors  are  considered  to  be  independent  of  management  and  from  any  business  relationship  which 
could  materially  interfere  with  their  independent  judgement. The  Senior  Independent  Non-executive  Director  is  available  to 
shareholders if they have concerns. 

The Board meets regularly with no less than ten such meetings held in each calendar year rotating locations around different 
business units. There is a formal schedule of matters specifically reserved to the Board for its decision to enable it to manage overall 
control of the Group’s affairs. Management has an obligation to provide the Board with appropriate and timely information to 
enable it to discharge its duties. The Chairman ensures that all Directors are properly briefed on issues arising at Board meetings.

The  Nominations  Committee  is  responsible  for  monitoring  and  reviewing  the  membership  and  composition  of  the  Board, 
including the decision to recommend the appointment, or to re-appoint a director.

The Company’s Articles of Association ensure Directors retire at the third Annual General Meeting after the Annual General 
Meeting at which they were elected and may, if eligible, offer themselves for re-election.

R  S  McDowell  chairs  the  Nominations  Committee,  L  J Thomas  chairs  the Audit  Committee  and  G  K Thornton  chairs  the 
Remuneration Committee. The Non-executive Directors including J S Clarke and the Chairman are members of all the above 
committees.

6. Ensure that between them the directors have the necessary up-to-date experience and capabilities

The  Board  reviews  its  configuration  to  ensure  it  has  the  skills  and  oversight  capability  in  key  markets  on  a  regular  basis, 
strengthening our ability to leverage shareholder value via the PIE strategy.

All new Directors receive a full, formal and tailored induction on joining the Board, including meetings with senior management 
and advisers and visits to the Group’s operational locations. Training requirements are reviewed periodically and appropriate 
refreshers scheduled.

The Board calendar is planned to ensure that Directors are briefed on a wide range of topics throughout the year and meetings 
are rotated around business units, to ensure the Non-Executive Directors have the opportunity to visit sites and discuss aspects 
of the business with employees. 

All Directors have access to the services of the Company Secretary and may take independent professional advice at the Group’s 
expense in the furtherance of their duties.

20

Corporate Governance (Continued)

7.  Evaluate  Board  performance  based  on  clear  and  relevant  objectives,  seeking  continuous 
improvement.

The Chairman reviews the Board’s annual performance and measures its effectiveness and that of its Committees. Each Board/
Committee member completes an assessment, which provides numeric scoring against specific categories. Each Board/Committee 
member also provides recommendations for improvement of the effectiveness of the Board/Committee.

The criteria for effectiveness include assessing:

•  Board/Committee composition (including succession planning);

•  Board/external reporting and information flows;

•  Board Process, Internal Control & Risk Management

•  Board Accountability

•  Executive management effectiveness;

•  Standards of Conduct 

Alongside  this  review  each  Director  receives  an  appraisal. The  Chairman  conducts  appraisals  in  respect  of  the  Group  Chief 
Executive and Non-Executive Directors; the Non-Executive Directors (following discussions with the other Directors) conducts 
the Chairman’s appraisal; and the Group Chief Executive conducts appraisals in respect of the other Executive Directors.

8. Promote a corporate culture that is based on ethical values

Culture

The Company has a strong ethical culture based upon its Code of Ethics and the Company values Integrity, Quality, Agility. The 
Company’s reputation is built on our values as a company, the values of our employees, and our collective commitment to acting 
at all times with integrity.

Part of the work of the Audit & Risk Committee involves reviewing the Group Whistle-Blowing Policy, by which employees of 
the Group may, in confidence, raise concerns about possible financial or other improprieties.

The Board’s corporate governance structures are reviewed as part of the Board and Committee effectiveness process described 
above.

Compliance with laws

The Group has systems in place designed to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and regulations and conformity with all 
relevant codes of business practice.

Compliance with the Bribery Act 2010 involves an Anti-Corruption Policy and a Group Whistle-blowing Policy. Training is given 
to all appropriate employees through the use of online tools, to ensure that there is full understanding of the Bribery Act 2010 and 
awareness of the consequences of not adhering to Group policies. 

The  Group  has  taken  the  appropriate  steps  to  comply  with  the  provisions  of  the  Market Abuse  Regulation  and  the  Modern 
Slavery Act. The Group has also taken appropriate steps to comply with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and has 
appointed a Data Protection Officer, who is responsible for managing information governance and implementing the requirements 
of GDPR.

Safety, health and environment

The Group has a proactive approach to Safety, Health and the Environment and is committed to the highest practicable standards 
of safety and health management and the minimisation of adverse environmental impacts.

The Board ensures that Health and Safety issues for employees, customers and the public are of foremost concern in all Group 
activities. The Group Chief Executive, supported by external advice, is charged with overall responsibility. The Group encourages 
both internal and external training through a formal network of full-time officers and Health and Safety nominated “champions” 
at all levels. Statistical analysis is used to highlight any areas where additional training or improved working practices would be 
beneficial, and positive action is promptly implemented. All divisions have formulated safety management systems.

Insider trading

The Board has appropriate policies and procedures in place to guard against insider trading by employees including Directors.  
Appropriate clearances are required in order that trades can be made and all applicable employees are made aware of relevant 
close periods prior to financial results being announced.

21

Corporate Governance (Continued)

9. Maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support good decision-
making by the Board

The Board

Please see details above at “5. Maintain the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the chair” and has a schedule of 
matters which are specifically reserved for its decision.

Board Committees

The Board has three Committees that assist in the discharge of its responsibilities:

•  Remuneration;

•  Audit & Risk; and

•  Nominations.

Remuneration Committee

The Remuneration Committee is responsible for making recommendations to the Board on the Group’s framework of executive 
remuneration  and  its  cost.  The  Committee  determines  the  contract  terms,  remuneration  and  other  benefits  for  each  of  the 
Executive  Directors,  including  performance-related  bonus  schemes,  pension  rights  and  compensation  payments.  The  Board 
itself determines the remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors. The Remuneration Committee comprises the Non-Executive 
Directors. Further details on the composition and work of the Remuneration Committee are set out in the Remuneration Report 
on pages 24 to 25.

Audit & Risk Committee

The Audit & Risk Committee comprises the Non-Executive Directors. The Committee meetings are also attended, by invitation, 
by the Chief Executive and Group Finance Director. The Committee meets no less than two times annually.

The Committee is responsible for reviewing a wide range of financial reporting and related matters including the annual accounts 
before their submission to the Board. The Committee is required to focus in particular on critical accounting policies and practices 
adopted by the Group, and any significant areas of judgment that materially impact reported results. It is also responsible for 
monitoring  the  internal  controls  that  are  operated  by  management  to  ensure  the  integrity  of  the  information  reported  to  the 
shareholders

The Committee provides a forum for reporting by the Group’s external auditors, and advises the Group Board on the appointment, 
independence and objectivity of the external auditors and on their remuneration both for statutory audit and non-audit work. It 
also discusses the nature, scope and timing of the statutory audit with the external auditors. 

Nominations Committee

The  Nominations  Committee  is  responsible  for  reviewing  the  structure,  size  and  composition  required  of  the  Board  when 
compared to its current position, and it makes recommendations to the Board with regard to any changes. It considers and reviews 
succession planning for Board Directors, taking into account the challenges and opportunities facing the Company. It identifies 
and nominates for Board approval suitable candidates to fill Board vacancies as and when they arise, and it keeps under review 
both the Executive and Non-Executive leadership needs of the Company to enable the Company to compete effectively in the 
marketplace and to ensure it has the skills and oversight capability in our key.

The  Nominations  Committee  also  has  responsibility  for  overseeing  the  re-election  by  shareholders  of  any  director  under  the 
‘retirement by rotation’ provisions in the Company’s articles of association.

Executive Management Committee

The Board is supported by Executives, who meet at least quarterly to review performance and governance for the Group and 
regularly perform site visits.

Evolution of governance framework

The  Board  continuously  monitors  its  composition  and  governance  framework,  taking  into  account  effectiveness  and  the 
Company’s plans for future growth.

22

Corporate Governance (Continued)

10. Communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with 
shareholders and relevant stakeholders

The corporate governance principles are set out in this statement governance above and the performance of the Company is set 
out in the Strategic Report page 4. 

The Board maintains an active dialogue with both its institutional and private investors and stakeholders through the Annual 
Report, full-year and half-year announcements, the Annual General Meeting, General Meetings and one-to-one meetings with 
larger existing, or potential new shareholders.

The  Board  encourages  all  Directors  to  attend  the Annual  General  Meeting  as  an  opportunity  to  communicate  directly  with 
investors and actively encourages participative dialogue.

The  Company  provides  a  full  range  of  corporate  information  (including  all  Company  announcements, Annual  and  half  year 
Statements  and  presentations,  contact  details)  to  shareholders,  investors  and  the  public  on  the  Company’s  corporate  website:  
www.avingtrans.plc.uk.

The  results  of  the  proxy  votes  for  the  Company’s  previous Annual  General  Meeting  on  16  November  2018  were  published 
through RNS.

Roger McDowell
Chairman
17 September 2019

23

Report of the Directors on Remuneration

Composition

The  Remuneration Committee during the period comprised G K Thornton (Chairman), R S McDowell, L J Thomas and JS 
Clarke, EW Lloyd-Baker resigned from the committee 30 November 2018.
Principal function

The  remuneration  packages,  including  contract  periods  of  Executive  Directors  and  senior  management,  are  determined  by 
the Remuneration Committee. It ensures that the remuneration packages are appropriate for their responsibilities, taking into 
consideration the overall financial and business position of the Group. The remuneration of R S McDowell is determined by the 
Non-executive Directors.

Avingtrans Remuneration Principles 

Our remuneration principles are driven by the idea that executive remuneration should be simple and straightforward. Additionally, 
it should support the delivery of the Pinpoint-Invest-Exit (PIE) strategy and pay only for results when we exit businesses at an 
enhanced shareholder value. Our remuneration structure has the following attributes:

•  The base salary, benefits and annual bonus of the executive Directors are positioned around the average for our peer group on 

AIM, relative to our scale.

•  Long-term incentives are directly aligned to shareholders’ interests, by linking remuneration specifically to the creation of 

shareholder value.

The  Group’s  PIE  strategy  is  well  known  to  our  shareholders. The  Committee  believes  that  the  strategy  should  be  linked  to 
the Directors’ Remuneration. This means that the base salary, benefits and annual bonus for the executive Directors is set at 
around average, relative to peers, but with a weighting towards long-term incentives. These incentives reward Directors only for 
significant outperformance and where shareholders also share in the resulting gains. Specifically:

•  The executive Directors and the Chairman are aligned with shareholders, as material investors in Avingtrans.

•  Management are incentivised to maximise returns for shareholders in two ways:

• 

• 

Via awards of share options, which are again pegged at around the average award level for our peer group on AIM and  
which can only be exercised on the achievement of substantial share price growth.

By  means  of  Exit  bonus  elements,  which  only  trigger  on  the  disposal  of  businesses  and  which  are  calculated  as  a  
percentage  of  the  shareholder  value  enhancement  for  that  asset  –  ie  taking  account  of  the  initial  investment  on  
acquisition,  any  additional  investment  during  the  period  that  the  business  is  owned  by Avingtrans  and  the  disposal  
proceeds, net of costs.

Base salary and benefits

The Committee sets the salary of each Executive Director by reference to the responsibility of the position held, performance of 
the individual and external market data. Salaries are reviewed annually.
Annual performance related bonus

The Company operates a bonus scheme for its Directors which enables it to attract and retain high calibre senior management 
personnel who make a major contribution to the financial performance of the Group. Bonuses paid under the scheme are accrued 
under the annual bonus plan approved by the Remuneration Committee. The plan is based on various financial metrics around 
cash and financial performance.

Divisional Long-term incentives 

The Committee has instigated long-term incentives for divisional senior management which align this cohort with shareholders, 
since they are based purely on performance and on the increase in value of the Group - ie:

•  Via awards of appropriate share options, such as using a standard “CSOP” HMRC-approved scheme.

•  By means of Exit bonuses, which trigger on the disposal of businesses and, are calculated as a percentage of the shareholder 
value enhancement – ie taking account of the initial investment on acquisition, any additional investment during the period 
that the business is owned by Avingtrans and the disposal proceeds, net of costs.

Exit  bonus  arrangements  are  intended  to  incentivise  Directors  and  senior  managers  to  create  value  for  the  Group  and  our 
shareholders. These bonus elements only pay out if a material exit has occurred and if substantial shareholder added value is the 
result. The Board has ultimate control of Exit timing, to ensure that optimum value is achieved.

Share options

The Committee is responsible for approving grants of share options to the Executive Directors. Options may be exercised between 
three and ten years from the date the option is granted but only if certain performance criteria are satisfied, as set out on page 25.

24

 
 
 
 
 
 
Report of the Directors on Remuneration (continued)

Pensions

The  Company  is  responsible  for  the  contributions  to  the  defined  contribution  schemes  selected  by  the  Executive  Directors. 
Details of contributions provided in the year are set out in note 7 to the financial statements.

Service agreements

R S McDowell, S McQuillan and S M King have service contracts which are terminable on 12 months’ notice by either party. The 
Committee consider that these contracts are in line with the market. 

Non-executive Directors

Non-executive Directors’ remuneration is reviewed by all members of the Board other than the Non-executive Director under 
review and takes the form solely of fees. G Thornton, L Thomas and J Clarke have a letter of appointment terminable on three 
months’ notice by either party.

Compensation for loss of office

There  are  no  predetermined  special  provisions  for  Executive  or  Non-executive  Directors  with  regard  to  compensation  in  the 
event of loss of office. The Remuneration Committee considers the circumstances of individual cases of early termination and 
determines compensation payments accordingly with the aim not to reward poor performance.

Directors’ emoluments

Details of the remuneration of all Directors are set out in note 7 to the financial statements. 

Share options

Details of the share options of all Directors are as follows:   

Executive: 
S McQuillan 

S M King 

Date of  At 31 May 
2018 

grant 

22/11/2013 
10/12/2014 
21/12/2016 
15/12/2017 
15/11/2018 

95,000 
100,000 
450,000 
140,000 
– 

Granted 

– 
– 
– 
– 
115,000 

785,000 

115,000 

25/09/2010 
22/11/2013 
10/12/2014 
21/12/2016 
15/12/2017 
15/11/2018 

39,733 
84,000 
75,000 
330,000 
110,000 
– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
100,000 

638,733 

100,000 

  Weighted
average
exercise
price
£

Exercised 

  At 31 May 
2019 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

– 
– 
– 
– 
– 
– 

– 

95,000 
100,000 
450,000 
140,000 
115,000 

900,000 

39,733 
84,000 
75,000 
330,000 
110,000 
100,000 

738,733 

1.760
1.110
1.930
1.815
2.200

1.838

0.395
1.760
1.110
1.930
1.815
2.200

1.764

The share options are exercisable between three and ten years from the date of grant if the growth in adjusted basic earnings per 
share of Avingtrans plc during the three years between grant date and vesting date is at least equal to the increase in the Retail 
Price Index during the same period.

G K Thornton
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
17 September 2019

25

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                     
                     
                     
                     
                    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Avingtrans plc

Opinion

Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified

We have audited the financial statements of Avingtrans Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the 
year ended 31 May 2019 which comprise the Consolidated income statement, the Consolidated statement of comprehensive 
income, the Consolidated and Company balance sheets, the Consolidated and Company statements of changes in equity, the 
Consolidated and Company statements of cash flows, a summary of significant accounting policies and notes to the financial 
statements. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International 
Financial  Reporting  Standards  (IFRSs)  as  adopted  by  the  European  Union  and,  as  regards  the  parent  company  financial 
statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

In our opinion:

• 

 the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the parent company’s affairs as at 31 May 
2019 and of the group’s profit for the year then ended;

• 

the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

the  parent  company  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as  adopted  by  the 

• 
  European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and

• 

the  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the  Companies  Act  2006. 

Basis for opinion

We  conducted  our  audit  in  accordance  with  International  Standards  on Auditing  (UK)  (ISAs  (UK))  and  applicable  law.  Our 
responsibilities  under  those  standards  are  further  described  in  the  ‘Auditor’s  responsibilities  for  the  audit  of  the  financial 
statements’  section  of  our  report.  We  are  independent  of  the  group  and  the  parent  company  in  accordance  with  the  ethical 
requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied 
to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that 
the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.

Conclusions relating to going concern

We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:

the directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate; or

the directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt  
about the group’s or the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of  
at least twelve months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.

Overview of our audit approach

•  Overall materiality: £1,000,000, which represents approximately 1% of the group’s  

revenues; 

•  Key audit matters were identified as contract accounting, the revenue cycle includes  

fraudulent transactions and valuation of defined benefit pension scheme; 

•  We performed full scope audit procedures on the financial statements of all group  
entities in the United Kingdom and Hayward Tyler Inc a company registered in the 
United States. We performed analytical procedures over the non-significant 
components in India and China.

• 

• 

26

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Avingtrans plc (Continued)

Key audit matters

Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to 
fraud) that we identified. These matters included those that had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation 
of resources in the audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our 
audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on 
these matters.

Key Audit Matter – Group 

Risk 1 – Contract accounting

Revenue is recognised throughout the group as the fair value 
of consideration receivable in respect of the performance of 
contracts and the sale of goods. 

Determining the amount of revenue to be recognised from 
the  performance  of  contracts  requires  management  to 
make  significant  judgements  and  estimates  as  to  the  stage 
of completion, the costs to complete and the impact of any 
changes in scope of work.

The  Directors  are  also  required  to  make  an  assessment  to 
determine whether onerous contract provisions are required 
for loss making contracts. 

Due  to  the  significant  financial  statement  impact  of  the 
revenue  derived  from  performance  of  contracts,  as  well 
as the high level of estimation required in determining the 
appropriate  accounting  treatment,  we  identified  contract 
accounting as a significant risk, which was one of the most 
significant assessed risks of material misstatement.

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

documenting  our  understanding  of  management’s  process 
for  evaluating  revenue  recognition  and  assessing  the  design 
effectiveness of related key controls;

judgmentally selecting contracts by reference to materiality and 
other risk factors including loss making contracts and contracts 
with significant aged work in progress and receivables balances;

for  the  selected  items  and  samples,  assessing  whether  the 
revenue and profit recognised are in accordance with the group’s 
accounting  policies  and  IFRS  15  by  verifying    revenue  is 
recognised in line with the 5-step model; 

agreeing inputs to contract terms, re-performing management’s 
calculations  and  challenging  management’s  assumptions  and 
assertions  underpinning  their  forecast  for  contracts’  future 
performance  by  reference  to  supporting  documentation,  such 
as contracts KPIs, historical performance against forecasts and 
discussions with key contract accounting personnel; and

examining those contracts identified as being at risk of incurring 
future  losses  during  the  remaining  life  of  the  contract,  and 
challenging  management’s  assumptions  and  assertions  relating 
to the future results of those contracts by reference to supporting 
evidence, such as forecast models and post balance sheet contract 
performance

The  group’s  accounting  policy  on  long  term  contracts  is  shown 
on  page  34  of  the  financial  statements  and  related  disclosures  are 
included in note 2. The associated key judgements are shown on page 
43.

Key observations

Based  on  our  audit  work,  we  found  that  the  assumptions  and 
judgements  used  in  accounting  for  contracts  were  reasonable.  We 
found no significant errors in the underlying calculations.

27

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Avingtrans plc (Continued)

Key Audit Matter – Group 

How the matter was addressed in the audit – Group

Risk  2  –  The  revenue  cycle  includes  fraudulent 
transactions

Revenue is recognised throughout the group as the fair value 
of consideration receivable in respect of the performance of 
contracts and the sale of goods. 

Revenue  is  a  key  driver  of  the  business  and  is  also  a 
significant amount in the financial statements. We therefore 
identified  revenue  recognition  (focusing  on  occurrence)  as 
a  significant  risk,  which  was  one  of  the  most  significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement.

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

• 

• 

• 

reviewing  and  testing  revenue  recognition  policies  to  ensure 
these are reasonable and applied correctly and consistently;

performing analytical procedures comparing revenue on a month 
by  month  basis  to  prior  years  to  ensure  that  revenue  is  in  line 
with expectations; 

discussing  any  significant  fluctuations  with  management  to 
ensure  explanations  regarding  specific  projects  and  the  related 
revenue are reasonable and corroborating these explanations to 
supporting documentation where necessary; 

•  For  certain  entities,  Testing  the  operating  effectiveness  of  key 
controls in the revenue recognition process, verifying a sample 
of  revenue  transactions  from  each  material  revenue  stream  to 
supporting documentation including proof of delivery; and

•  Where  the  operating  effectiveness  of  key  controls  is  not  relied 
upon,  performing  testing  on  a  sample  of  material  revenue 
streams,  verifying  sales  transactions  throughout  the  year  to 
supporting documentation including proof of delivery.

The group’s accounting policy on revenue recognition is shown on 
page 34.

Key observations

Our testing did not identify any material misstatements in the revenue 
recognised  during  the  year  in  accordance  with  stated  accounting 
policies.

Risk 3 – Valuation of defined benefit pension scheme

Our audit work included, but was not restricted to: 

At  31  May  2019  the  defined  benefit  pension  scheme’s  net 
surplus was £1.3million. The gross value of pension scheme 
assets  and  liabilities  which  form  the  net  asset  amount  to 
£14.2 million and £12.9 million respectively. 

The  valuation  of  the  pension  liabilities  and  assets  in 
accordance  with  IAS  19  ‘Employee  benefits’  involves 
significant  judgement  and  is  subject  to  complex  actuarial 
assumptions. Small variations in those actuarial assumptions 
can  lead  to  a  materially  different  defined  benefit  pension 
scheme asset or liability being recognised within the group 
financial statements. 

We therefore identified valuation of defined benefit scheme 
as a significant risk, which was one of the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement.

28

•  Checking  managements policy for compliance with IAS19;

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

documenting  our  understanding  of  management’s  process  for 
evaluating the defined benefit pension scheme and assessing the 
design effectiveness of related key controls;

using our internal actuarial specialist to challenge the assumptions 
used, including discount rates, growth rates, mortality rates and 
the  calculation  methods  employed  in  the  calculation  of  the 
pension liability; 

testing  the  accuracy  of  underlying  membership  data  used  by 
the  group’s  actuary  for  the  purpose  of  calculating  the  scheme 
liabilities  by  selecting  a  sample  of  employees  and  agreeing 
key member data to source records and by testing a sample of 
movements in the pension scheme membership; 

directly confirming the existence of pension scheme assets with 
the entity pension scheme’s external asset managers; and

confirming  management’s  conclusion  that  it  is  appropriate  to 
recognise  a  pension  surplus  within  the  provisions  of  IFRIC 
14  IAS 19—The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum 
Funding Requirements and their Interaction.

The group’s accounting policy on the defined benefit pension scheme 
is shown on page 41 and related disclosures are included in note 28.

Key observations

Based  on  our  audit  work,  we  found  the  valuation  methodologies 
including  the  inherent  actuarial  assumptions  to  be  balanced  and 
consistent  with  the  expectation  of  our  actuarial  specialists.  We 
consider that the group’s disclosures in note 28 are appropriate. We 
found no errors in calculations.

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Avingtrans plc (Continued)

Our application of materiality

We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that makes it probable that the economic 
decisions of a reasonably knowledgeable person would be changed or influenced. We use materiality in determining the nature, 
timing and extent of our audit work and in evaluating the results of that work. 

Materiality was determined as follows:

Materiality Measure

Group

Parent

Financial statements 
as a whole

£1,000,000,  which  represents  approximately 
1% of the group’s revenues. This benchmark 
is  considered  the  most  appropriate  because 
this  is  a  key  performance  measure  used  by 
the  Board  of  Directors  to  report  to  investors 
on  the  financial  performance  of  the  group. 
Revenue 
is  also  a  consistent  basis  for 
determining  materiality  compared  with  the 
previous periods.

Materiality for the current year is lower than 
the  level  that  we  determined  for  the  year 
ended 31 May 2018 as a result of a reduction 
in  the  bench  mark  percentage  applied  in  the 
current year.

£360,000,  which  represents  approximately 
0.5% of the parent company total assets. The 
benchmark is considered the most appropriate 
as  it  most  accurately  reflects  the  parent 
company’s  status  as  a  non-trading  holding 
company.

Total  assets  is  also  a  consistent  basis  for 
determining  materiality  compared  with  the 
previous periods.

Materiality for the current year is higher than 
the  level  that  we  determined  for  the  period 
ended  31  May  2018  to  reflect  the  parent 
company’s increased total assets in the current 
year.

Performance 
materiality used to 
drive the extent of our 
testing

Based  on  our  risk  assessment,  including 
the  group’s  overall  control  environment,  we 
determined a performance materiality of 75% 
of the financial statement materiality. 

Based  on  our  risk  assessment,  including  the 
company’s  overall  control  environment,  we 
determined a performance materiality of 75% 
of the financial statement materiality.

Specific materiality

We  determined  a  lower  level  of  materiality 
for  directors’  remuneration  and  related  party 
transactions.

We  determined  a  lower  level  of  materiality 
for  directors’  remuneration  and  related  party 
transactions.

Communication of 
misstatements to the 
audit committee

£50,000  and  misstatements  below 
that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

£18,000  and  misstatements  below 
that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant reporting 
on qualitative grounds.

An overview of the scope of our audit

Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a thorough understanding of the group’s business, its environment and 
risk profile. The group audit team evaluated the identified components of the group to assess the significance of that component 
and to determine the planned audit response based on a measure of materiality. Significance was determined by considering each 
as a percentage of the group’s total assets, revenues and profit before taxation.

A full scope audit approach for all significant components was determined based on their relative materiality to the group and our 
assessment of the audit risk. For significant components requiring a full scope approach, we evaluated the processes and controls 
over the financial reporting system identified as part of our risk assessment, reviewed the financial statement production process 
and addressed critical accounting matters such as those related to the key audit matters as identified above. We then undertook 
substantive testing on significant transactions and material account balances.

In order to respond to the audit risks identified in our risk assessment, we performed a full scope audit of the financial statements 
of the parent company, Avingtrans plc (in the United Kingdom), and of all other component entities in the United Kingdom as 
well as Hayward Tyler Inc, a company registered in the United States. The significant components represented 92.6 percent of 
consolidated revenues and 97.2 percent of total assets. Statutory audits of subsidiaries, where required by local legislation, were 
performed to a lower materiality where applicable.

The non-significant group components in India and China were subject to analytical procedures.

29

 
Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Avingtrans plc (Continued)

Other information

The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the annual 
report, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover 
the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance 
conclusion thereon. 

In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, 
consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in 
the  audit  or  otherwise  appears  to  be  materially  misstated.  If  we  identify  such  material  inconsistencies  or  apparent  material 
misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material 
misstatement of the other information. 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.

Our opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 is unmodified

In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit:

• 

the  information  given  in  the  strategic  report  and  the  directors’  report  for  the  financial  year  for  which  the  financial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and

• 

the strategic report and the directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements.

Matters on which we are required to report under the Companies Act 2006

In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course 
of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the directors’ report. 

Matters on which we are required to report by exception

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

• 

adequate accounting records have not  been  kept  by  the parent company, or  returns adequate for our audit  have  not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or
the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or
• 
• 
certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or
•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

Responsibilities of directors for the financial statements

As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on pages 17 to 18, the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as 
the directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, 
whether due to fraud or error.

In preparing the financial statements, the directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent company’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 the parent company or to cease operations, or have no 
realistic alternative but to do so.

Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements

Our  objectives  are  to  obtain  reasonable  assurance  about  whether  the  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. Reasonable assurance is a 
high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) 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 financial 
statements.

A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s 
website at: www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.

30

Independent Auditor’s Report to the 
Members of Avingtrans plc (Continued)

Use of our report

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

David White
Senior Statutory Auditor
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants
Birmingham
17 September 2019 

31

Principal Accounting Policies

Basis of preparation

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) 
as adopted by the European Union and those parts of the Companies Act 2006 that are relevant to companies which apply IFRS. 
The Company has elected to prepare its Parent Company financial statements in accordance with IFRS also, these are presented 
alongside the Group Disclosures throughout the accounts. 

The consolidated financial statements are presented in sterling and all values are rounded the nearest thousand (£’000) except 
where otherwise indicated.

The following Standards and Interpretations, which are relevant to the Group but have not been applied during the year, were in 
issue but not yet effective:

Framework  Pronouncement

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS 17

IFRS 16

Insurance contracts

Not yet EU-adopted

Effective date 

EU

Leases

IFRS

IFRIC Interpretation 22

Foreign currency transactions and 
advance considerations

IFRS 14

Regulatory Deferral Accounts

Financial periods commencing on/
after 1 January 2019

Not yet EU-adopted

Deferred until final standard 
released

IFRIC Interpretation 23 

Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments Not yet EU-adopted

Annual Improvements to IFRS 
Standards 2015-2017 Cycle

Amendments to IAS 19

Plan Amendment, Curtailment or 
Settlement

Not yet EU-adopted

Not yet EU-adopted

Amendments to IFRS 9

Amendments to IAS 28

Prepayment features with negative 
compensation (issued 12 October 2017)

Financial periods commencing on/
after 1 January 2019

Long-term Interests in Associates and 
Joint Ventures (issued 12 October 2017)

Financial periods commencing on/
after 1 January 2019

Amendments to References to 
the Conceptual Framework in 
IFRS Standards

Financial periods commencing on/
after 1 January 2020

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

IFRS

Changes in accounting policies

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments

IFRS 9 Financial Instruments was adopted on 1 June 2018, replacing IAS 39 Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement. 
IFRS 9 includes requirements for the classification and measurement of financial instruments, impairment of financial assets and 
hedge accounting. 

The application of IFRS 9 has led to an increase of £9,000 in the levels of bad debt provision across the group as we move from 
an “incurred loss” model under IAS 39 to an “expected credit loss”. 

Comparative financial information has not been restated under IFRS 9, and the impact on the income statement for the 12 months 
ended 31 May 2019 is a credit of £10,000.

Further information on the adoption of IFRS 9 is provided on note 22 financial instruments.

32

Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers

The Group adopted IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers using the modified retrospective approach on 1 June 2019. 
Comparative information has not been restated.

IFRS  15  establishes  a  single  five-step  model  for  recognising  revenue  from  contracts  with  customers  and  supersedes  IAS  18 
(Revenue) and IAS 11 (Construction Contracts).

IFRS  15  introduces  principles  to  allocate  the  transaction  price  to  performance  obligations  and  recognise  revenue  as  those 
performance obligations are satisfied and control of the goods or services are transferred to the customer.

The impact of adoption of IFRS 15 on these Financial Statements is:

•   At 1 June 2018 a reduction in opening retained earnings of £1.1million;

•   For the 12 months ending 31 May 2019 an increase in revenue of £3.1 million and an increase in profit before tax of £0.4  

million.

•   At 31 May 2019 an increase in contract assets of £0.9 million and a reduction in inventories of £0.3 million.

IFRS 16 Leases

IFRS 16 is effective from 1 January 2019 and replaces IAS 17 Leases and related interpretations. It will result in almost all leases 
being recognised on the balance sheet by lessees, as the distinction between operating and finance leases is removed. Under the 
new standard, a right-of-use asset and a financial liability for future lease payments are recognised.

The Group expect to adopt the exceptions not to recognise low value leases (less than £5,000) and short term leases (less than 1 
year).

The Group will apply the Standard from 1 June 2018. The Group expects to apply the modified retrospective transition approach 
and will not restate comparative amounts for the year ended 31 May 2019. In the majority of cases the Group has elected to 
measure right-of-use assets at the amount of the lease liability on adoption. 

The Group expects to adopt the following practical expedients on transition:

•  

not to capitalise a right-of-use lease asset or related lease liability where the lease expires before 31 May 2019;

• 

• 

• 

• 

not to reassess contracts to determine if the contract contains a lease and not to separate lease and non-lease elements;

to use hindsight in determining the lease term;

to exclude initial direct costs from the measurement of the right-of-use asset; and

to apply the portfolio approach where a group of leases has similar characteristics. 

The adoption of IFRS 16 is expected to have a material impact on the Group’s financial statements. At 31 May 2019 the Group 
had operating lease commitments of £9.1 million. On adoption of IFRS 16, the Group expects to recognise a lease liability and 
right of use asset of between £7.0 million and £9.0 million.

Significant accounting policies

Basis of consolidation

The Group financial statements consolidate those of the Company and all of its subsidiary undertakings drawn up to 31 May 
2019. Subsidiaries are entities over which the Group has the rights to variable returns from its involvement with the investee 
and has the ability to affect those returns through its power over the investee. The Group obtains and exercises control of its 
subsidiaries through voting rights. Employee Benefit Trusts (“EBT”) are consolidated on the basis that the parent has control as 
it bears the risks and rewards of having established the trust, thus the assets and liabilities of the EBT are included on the Group 
balance sheet and shares held by the EBT in the Company are presented as a deduction from equity.

All intra-group transactions have been eliminated on consolidation. Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its 
subsidiaries are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the transaction provides evidence of an impairment of 
the asset transferred. 

33

 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Business combinations 

Business combinations are accounted for by using the acquisition method. The acquisition method involves the recognition at 
fair value of all identifiable assets and liabilities, including contingent liabilities of the acquired business, at the acquisition date, 
regardless of whether or not they were recorded in the financial statements prior to acquisition. On initial recognition, the assets 
and liabilities are included in the consolidated balance sheet at their fair values, which are also used as the basis for subsequent 
measurement in accordance with the Group accounting policies.  

Goodwill recognised on business combinations is stated after separate recognition of identifiable intangible assets. It is calculated 
as the excess of the sum of a) fair value of consideration transferred, b) the recognised amount of any non-controlling interest in 
the acquiree and c) acquisition-date fair value of any existing equity interest in the acquiree, over the acquisition-date fair values 
of identifiable net assets. If the fair values of identifiable net assets exceed the sum calculated above, the excess amount (ie gain 
on a bargain purchase) is recognised in profit or loss immediately.

Acquisition costs are expensed through the income statement as incurred.

An  intangible  asset  acquired  in  a  business  combination  is  deemed  to  have  a  cost  to  the  Group  equal  to  its  fair  value  at  the 
acquisition date. The fair value of the intangible asset reflects market expectations about the probability that the future economic 
benefits embodied in the asset will flow to the Group.  

Where an intangible asset might be separable, but only together with a related tangible or intangible asset, the group of assets is 
recognised as a single asset separately from goodwill where the individual fair values of the assets in the group are not reliably 
measurable. Where the individual fair value of the complementary assets are reliably measurable, the Group recognises them as 
single assets provided the individual assets have similar useful lives. 

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the future economic benefits arising from business combinations that are not individually identified and 
separately recognised. Goodwill is capitalised and reviewed annually for impairment. Goodwill is carried at cost less accumulated 
impairment losses.

There is no re instatement of goodwill that was amortised prior to transition to IFRS. Goodwill previously written off to reserves 
is not written back to the income statement on subsequent disposal.

Revenue

The Group adopted IFRS 15 (Revenue from Contracts with Customers) using the modified retrospective approach on 1 June 
2018.  Revenue is recognised when control of the goods or services transfers to the customer. The Group applies the following 
five step framework when recognising revenue. 

Step 1: Identify the contracts with customers 

Step 2: Identify the performance obligations in the contract 

Step 3: Determine the transaction price 

Step 4: Allocate the transaction price to the performance obligations in the contract 

Step 5: Recognise revenue

At the inception of the contract, the Group assesses the goods or services that have been promised to the customer, and identify 
as a performance obligation: 

• 

• 

a good or service (or bundle of goods or services) that is distinct; 

or a series of distinct goods or services that are substantially the same and that have the same pattern of transfer to the  
customer.

Contracts often contain a bundle of goods and services (i.e. a motor with an installation). We determine if a good or service is 
distinct where both of the following criteria are met:

the customer can benefit from the good or service on its own or in conjunction with other readily available resources; and 

the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separately identifiable from other promises in the  
contract.

• 

• 

34

 
 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Revenue (continued)

The criteria the Group uses to identify the performance obligations within a contract are:

• 

• 

the customer must be able to benefit from the goods or services either on its own or in combination with other resources  
available to the customer; and 

the entity’s promise to transfer the good or service to the customer is separable from other promises in the contract.

The transaction price is the value that the Group expects to be entitled to from the customer and includes discounts, rebates, 
credits, price concessions, incentives, performance bonuses, penalties and liquidated damages, but is not reduced for bad debts. 
It is net of any Value Added Tax (VAT) and other sales related taxes. Variable consideration that is dependent on certain events 
is included in the transaction price when it is “highly probable” that the variable consideration will occur. Revenue is recognised 
over time as the product is being manufactured or a service being provided if any of the following criteria are met: 

• 

• 

• 

The Group is creating a bespoke item which doesn’t have an alternative use to the Group and the entity has a right to payment  
for work completed to date including a reasonable profit. 

The customer controls the asset that is being created or enhanced during the manufacturing process i.e. the customer has the  
right to significantly modify and dictate how the product is built during construction. 

Services  provided  where  the  customer  simultaneously  receives  and  consumes  the  benefits  provided  by  the  Group’s  
performance as the Group performs.

Judgement is made when determining if a product is bespoke and the value of revenue to recognise over time as products are 
being manufactured. To calculate the amount of revenue to be recognised the Group apply a percentage of completion method. 
This method calculates revenue by multiplying the contract revenue by the percentage of costs incurred relative to total estimated 
costs.

If the criteria to recognise revenue over time is not met then revenue is recognised at a point in time when the customer obtains 
control of the asset and the performance obligation is satisfied. The customer obtains control of the asset when the customer can 
direct the use of the asset and obtain the benefits from the asset. The majority of revenue across all our operating segments is 
recognised over time as costs are incurred.

Factors the Group considers when determining the point in time when control of the asset has passed to the customer and revenue 
recognised include:

1.  The Group has a right to payment; 

2.  Legal title is transferred to the customer; 

3.  Physical possession of the asset has been transferred to the customer; 

4.  The customer has the significant risks and rewards of ownership; and 

5.  The customer has accepted the asset.

Control normally passes and revenue recognised when the goods are either despatched or delivered to the customer (in accordance 
with the terms and conditions of the sale) or the installation and testing is completed.

Dilapidations

When  there  is  reasonable  certainty  of  the  cash  outflow  in  respect  of  dilapidations  this  is  provided  for  within  accruals  in  the 
financial statements. Where there is significant uncertainty in respect of the amount or timing of the payment of dilapidations, 
this is included within provisions.

Dividends

Dividends are recognised when the shareholders right to receive payment is established. Dividend distributions payable to equity 
shareholders are included in “other short term financial liabilities” when the dividends are approved in general meeting prior to 
the balance sheet date. Interim dividends are recognised when paid.

Exceptional items

Operating costs which are material by virtue of their size or incidence and are not expected to be recurring are disclosed as 
exceptional items. Exceptional costs comprise acquisition and restructuring costs as set out in note 4.

Non-underlying items

Non-underlying costs for the year include amortisation of acquired intangibles, share based payment charge and finance charges 
as set out in note 4. 

35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Property, plant and equipment  

Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Assets held under finance 
leases are depreciated over their expected useful lives on the same basis as owned assets or, where shorter, over the term of the 
relevant lease.

Disposal of assets

The gain or loss arising on the disposal of an asset is determined as the difference between the disposal proceeds and the carrying 
amount of the asset and is recognised in the income statement. The gain or loss arising from the sale is included in administrative 
expenses in the income statement

Depreciation 

Depreciation is calculated to write down the cost less estimated residual value of all property, plant and equipment other than 
freehold land by equal annual instalments over their estimated useful economic lives. The rates/periods generally applicable are:

Freehold buildings   

2%

Leasehold improvements 

Period of lease

Plant and machinery 

6.7 - 20%

Equipment and motor vehicles 

12.5% - 33%

Material residual value estimates are updated as required, but at least annually.

Impairment testing of goodwill, other intangible assets and property, plant and equipment

For  the  purposes  of  assessing  impairment,  assets  are  grouped  at  the  lowest  levels  for  which  there  are  separately  identifiable 
cash flows (cash-generating units). As a result, some assets are tested individually for impairment and some are tested at cash-
generating  unit  level.  Goodwill  is  allocated  to  those  cash-generating  units  that  are  expected  to  benefit  from  synergies  of  the 
related business combination and represent the lowest level within the Group at which management monitors the related cash 
flows.

Goodwill, other individual assets or cash-generating units that include goodwill and those intangible assets not yet available 
for use are tested for impairment at least annually. All other individual assets or cash-generating units are tested for impairment 
whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable.

An  impairment  loss  is  recognised  for  the  amount  by  which  the  asset’s  or  cash-generating  unit’s  carrying  amount  exceeds  its 
recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value, reflecting market conditions less costs to sell, and value 
in use based on an internal discounted cash flow evaluation. Impairment losses recognised for cash-generating units, to which 
goodwill has been allocated, are credited initially to the carrying amount of goodwill. Any remaining impairment loss is charged 
pro rata to the other assets in the cash generating unit. With the exception of goodwill, all assets are subsequently reassessed 
for indications that an impairment loss previously recognised may no longer exist. Discount factors are determined individually 
for each cash generating unit and reflect current market assessments at the time value of money and asset-specific risk factors. 

If the impairment is subsequently reversed, the carrying amount, except for goodwill, is increased to the revised estimate of its 
recoverable amount, but limited to the carrying amount that would have been determined had no impairment been recognised.  
Impairment losses in respect of goodwill are not reversed.

Leased assets 

In applying the classification of leases in IAS 17, management considers its leases of equipment as finance lease arrangements. 
In some cases, the lease transaction is not always conclusive and management uses judgement in determining whether the lease 
is a finance lease arrangement that transfers substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership.

Property leases are spilt between land and the building to assess whether they are operating or finance leases. Land is almost 
always an operating lease due to its long life but judgment is required to assess the classification between operating and finance 
lease for buildings which are assessed individually against the criteria in IAS 17.10.

The economic ownership of a leased asset is transferred to the lessee if the lessee bears substantially all the risks and rewards 
related to the ownership of the leased asset. The related asset is recognised at the time of inception of the lease at the fair value of 
the leased asset or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments plus incidental payments, if any, to be borne by the 
lessee. A corresponding amount is recognised as a finance leasing liability. Leases of land and buildings are classified separately 
and are split into a land and a building element, in accordance with the relative fair values of the leasehold interests at the date 
the asset is recognised initially.

36

 
 
 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Leased assets (continued)

The interest element of leasing payments represents a constant proportion of the capital balance outstanding and is charged to the 
income statement as a finance cost over the period of the lease.  

All other leases are regarded as operating leases and the payments made under them are charged to the income statement on a 
straight-line basis over the lease term. Lease incentives are spread over the term of the lease.

Investments

Investments in subsidiary undertakings and participating interests are stated at cost less provision for impairment where necessary 
to reduce book value to recoverable amount. Publicly traded investments are stated at cost less any provision to arrive at market 
value. Cost is purchase price including acquisition expenses, but excluding any payment for accrued interest or fixed dividend 
entitlement.  

Investment income is recognised on a received basis.

Inventories

Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Costs of ordinarily interchangeable items are assigned using the 
first in, first out cost formula. Cost includes materials, direct labour and an attributable proportion of manufacturing overheads 
based on normal levels of activity. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business less any 
applicable selling expenses.

Interest income 

Interest is recognised using the effective interest method, which calculates the amortised cost of a financial asset and allocates the 
interest income over the relevant period. The effective interest rate is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts 
through the expected life of the financial asset to the net carrying amount of the financial asset.

Taxation

Current tax is the tax currently payable based on taxable profit for the year.

Tax expense recognised in profit or loss comprises the sum of deferred tax and current tax not recognised in other comprehensive 
income or directly in equity.

Calculation of current tax is based on tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the end of the reporting 
period.

Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method on temporary differences. Deferred tax is generally provided on 
the difference between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities and their tax bases. However, deferred tax is not provided on 
the initial recognition of goodwill, nor on the initial recognition of an asset or liability unless the related transaction is a business 
combination or affects tax or accounting profit. Deferred tax on temporary differences associated with shares in subsidiaries is 
not provided if the reversal of these temporary differences can be controlled by the Group and it is probable that reversal will not 
occur in the foreseeable future. In addition, tax losses available to be carried forward as well as other income tax credits to the 
Group are assessed for recognition as deferred tax assets.

Deferred tax liabilities are provided in full, with no discounting. The assessment of the probability of future taxable income in 
which deferred tax assets can be utilised is based on the Group’s latest approved budget forecast, which is adjusted for significant 
non-taxable income and expenses and specific limits to the use of any unused tax loss or credit. 

The tax rules in the numerous jurisdictions in which the Group operates are also carefully taken into consideration. If a positive 
forecast of taxable income indicates the probable use of a deferred tax asset, especially when it can be utilised without a time 
limit, that deferred tax asset is usually recognised in full. The recognition of deferred tax assets that are subject to certain legal 
or economic limits or uncertainties is assessed individually by management based on the specific facts and circumstances. All 
unused tax losses and credits have been recognised in the year as management believes that use of the deferred tax asset created 
is probable.

Changes in deferred tax assets or liabilities are recognised as a component of tax expense in the consolidated income statement, 
except where they relate to items that are charged or credited to other comprehensive income or directly to equity in which case 
the related deferred tax is also charged or credited directly to other comprehensive income or equity.

The group has accounted for research and development expenditure tax credit above operating profit.

37

Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Intangible assets

i)   Order book and customer relationships
  Customer lists acquired in a business combination that qualify for separate recognition are recognised as intangible assets at 

their fair values.

The useful lives for these intangible assets are finite.

These intangible assets are amortised on a straight-line basis over the following periods:

•  Order book 
•  Customer relationships 

Period of order cover

- 
-  Up to 10 years

The amortisation charge is shown within amortisation of intangibles in the income statement.

ii)   Software
  Acquired computer software licences are capitalised on the basis of the costs incurred to acquire and install the specific 

software.

The useful lives for these intangible assets are finite.

Software is amortised over three years and the amortisation charge is shown within administrative expenses in the income 
statement.

iii)  Intellectual property

Intellectual  property  is  amortised  over  a  period  of  20  years  and  the  amortisation  charge  is  shown  within  administrative 
expenses in the income statement. The useful lives for these intangible assets are finite.

iv)  Internally generated development costs

Expenditure on research (or the research phase of an internal project) is recognised as an expense in the period in which it is 
incurred.

  Other  intangible  assets  include  capitalised  development  costs  incurred  in  the  development  of  new  products  and  process 
development. They are accounted for using the cost model whereby capitalised costs are amortised on a straight-line basis 
over their estimated useful life. Management assess the useful life of group intangible assets to be in the range of five to ten 
years. 

To distinguish any research-type project phase from the development phase, it is the Group’s accounting policy to require a 
detailed forecast of sales or cost savings expected to be generated by the intangible asset. The forecast is incorporated into 
the  Group’s  overall  budget  forecast  as  the  capitalisation  of  development  costs  commences. This  ensures  that  managerial 
accounting, impairment testing procedures and accounting for internally-generated intangible assets is based on the same 
data.

The Group’s management also monitors whether the recognition requirements for development costs continue to be met and 
an assessment made of its recoverability. This is necessary as the economic success of any product development is uncertain 
and may be subject to future technical problems after the time of recognition.

  Costs that are directly attributable to the development phase of technology are recognised as an intangible asset, provided 

they meet the following recognition requirements:

• 

• 

• 

• 

• 

completion of the intangible asset is technically feasible so that it will be available for use or sale

the Group intends to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it

the Group has the ability to use or sell the intangible asset

the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits.  Among other things, this requires that there is a 
market for the output from the intangible asset or for the intangible asset itself, or, if it is to be used internally, the asset 
will be used in generating such benefits

there are adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible 
asset, and

• 

the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development can be measured reliably.

For a project meeting these criteria, subsequent costs incurred will be capitalised until the product or process is available for use, 
at which point amortisation commences on a straight line basis over the product’s estimated useful life, generally 3 – 8 years. 
The useful lives for these intangible assets are finite. Where businesses are in start up or have a specific contract covering the 
amortisation then a period longer than 8 years could be used. Amortisation costs are shown within administrative expenses.

Development costs not meeting the criteria for capitalisation are expensed as incurred.

The cost of an internally generated development costs comprises all directly attributable costs necessary to create, produce, and 
prepare the asset to be capable of operating in the manner intended by management. Directly attributable costs include employee 
costs incurred on project development along with an appropriate portion of relevant overheads.

38

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Borrowing costs

Borrowing  costs  primarily  comprise  interest  on  the  Group’s  borrowings.  Borrowing  costs  that  are  directly  attributable  to  the 
acquisition, construction or production of a qualifying asset, are capitalised as part of the cost of that asset when it is probable 
that they will result in future economic benefits and the costs can be measured reliably. All other borrowing costs are expensed 
in the period in which they are incurred and reported within “finance costs”.

Equity

Share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been issued.

When the Company purchases its own shares, the consideration is deducted from equity (attributable to the Company’s equity 
holders until the shares are either cancelled or issued) as an investment in own shares reserve. Such shares are held at cost. 

Share premium includes any premiums received on issue of share capital. Any transaction costs associated with the issuing of 
shares are deducted from share premium, net of any related income tax benefits.

Capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of shares cancelled.

Foreign currency translation differences arising on the translation of the Group’s foreign entities are included in the translation 
reserve.

Merger reserve was created on the acquisition of Hayward Tyler Group PLC.

Other reserves were created on redemption of preference shares.

Retained earnings include all current and prior period retained profits. It also includes charges related to share-based employee 
remuneration.

All transactions with owners of the parent are recorded separately within equity.

Financial assets and liabilities

Recognition and derecognition

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Group becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the 
financial instrument.

Financial  assets  are  derecognised  when  the  contractual  rights  to  the  cash  flows  from  the  financial  asset  expire,  or  when  the 
financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards are transferred.

A financial liability is derecognised when it is extinguished, discharged, cancelled or expires.

Classification and initial measurement of financial assets

Except for those trade receivables that do not contain a significant financing component and are measured at the transaction 
price in accordance with IFRS 15, all financial assets are initially measured at fair value adjusted for transaction costs (where 
applicable). 

Financial assets, other than those designated and effective as hedging instruments, are classified into the following categories: 

• 

• 

• 

amortised cost 

fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL) 

fair value through other comprehensive income (FVOCI).

In the periods presented the Group does not have any financial assets categorised as FVOCI. The classification is determined by 
both:

• 

• 

the entity’s business model for managing the financial asset 

the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset.

All income and expenses relating to financial assets that are recognised in profit or loss are presented within finance costs, finance 
income or other financial items, except for impairment of trade receivables which is presented within cost of sales.

39

 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Financial assets and liabilities (continued) 

Subsequent measurement of financial assets

Financial assets at amortised cost

Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if the assets meet the following conditions (and are not designated as FVTPL):

• 

• 

they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold the financial assets and collect its contractual cash flows 

the contractual terms of the financial assets give rise to cash flows that are solely payments of principal and interest on the 
principal amount outstanding

After initial recognition, these are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Discounting is omitted where the effect of discounting is immaterial. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents, trade and most other 
receivables fall into this category.

Financial assets at fair value through profit or loss (FVTPL)

Financial  assets  that  are  held  within  a  different  business  model  other  than  ‘hold  to  collect’  or  ‘hold  to  collect  and  sell’  are 
categorised at fair value through profit and loss. Further, irrespective of business model, financial assets whose contractual cash 
flows are not solely payments of principal and interest are accounted for at FVTPL. All derivative financial instruments fall into 
this category.

Impairment of financial assets
IFRS 9 impairment requirements use more forward-looking information to recognise expected credit losses – the ‘expected credit 
loss (ECL) model’. This replaced the ‘incurred loss model’ in IAS 39. Instruments within the scope of the new requirements 
included loans and other debt-type financial assets measured at amortised cost and FVOCI, trade receivables, contract assets 
recognised and measured under IFRS 15 and loan commitments and some financial guarantee contracts (for the issuer) that are 
not measured at fair value through profit or loss.

Recognition of credit losses is no longer dependent on the Group first identifying a credit loss event. Instead the Group considers 
a broader range of information when assessing credit risk and measuring expected credit losses, including past events, current 
conditions, reasonable and supportable forecasts that affect the expected collectability of the future cash flows of the instrument.

In applying this forward-looking approach, a distinction is made between:

• 

• 

financial instruments that have not deteriorated significantly in credit quality since initial recognition or that have low credit  
risk (‘Stage 1’) and 

financial instruments that have deteriorated significantly in credit quality since initial recognition and whose credit risk is not  
low (‘Stage 2’).

‘Stage 3’ would cover financial assets that have objective evidence of impairment at the reporting date. 

‘12-month expected credit losses’ are recognised for the first category while ‘lifetime expected credit losses’ are recognised for 
the second category.

Measurement of the expected credit losses is determined by a probability-weighted estimate of credit losses over the expected 
life of the financial instrument.

Trade and other receivables and contract assets

The Group makes use of a simplified approach in accounting for trade and other receivables as well as contract assets and records 
the loss allowance as lifetime expected credit losses. These are the expected shortfalls in contractual cash flows, considering 
the  potential  for  default  at  any  point  during  the  life  of  the  financial  instrument.  In  calculating,  the  Group  uses  its  historical 
experience, external indicators and forward-looking information to calculate the expected credit losses using a provision matrix. 

The Group assess impairment of trade receivables on a collective basis as they possess shared credit risk characteristics they have 
been grouped based on the days past due. Refer to Note 22 Financial Instruments for a detailed analysis of how the impairment 
requirements of IFRS 9 are applied.

Classification and measurement of financial liabilities
The  Group’s  financial  liabilities  include  trade  payables,  borrowings  and  lease  liabilities. The  Group  has  derivative  financial 
instruments which can be either an asset or liability depending on the value of the underlying asset.

Financial liabilities are initially measured at fair value, and, where applicable, adjusted for transaction costs unless the Group 
designated a financial liability at fair value through profit or loss.

Subsequently, financial liabilities are measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method except for derivatives and 
financial liabilities designated at FVTPL, which are carried subsequently at fair value with gains or losses recognised in profit or 
loss (other than derivative financial instruments that are designated and effective as hedging instruments).

All interest-related charges and, if applicable, changes in an instrument’s fair value that are reported in profit or loss are included 
within finance costs or finance income.

40

 
 
 
Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Cash and cash equivalents

Cash  and  cash  equivalents  comprise  cash  in  hand,  deposits  held  on  call  with  banks  and  bank  overdrafts,  and  ring  fenced 
cash obtained from EU grants. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the balance sheet. Cash 
equivalents are short term, highly liquid investments that are readily convertible to known amounts of cash and which are subject 
to an insignificant risk of changes in value. 

Defined contribution pension scheme

The pension costs charged against profits are the contributions payable to the scheme in respect of the accounting period. 

Post-employment benefits, short-term employee benefits and share-based employee remuneration

Post employment benefits

The Group provides post-employment benefits through defined benefit plans as well as various defined contribution plans.

A defined contribution plan is a pension plan under which the Group pays fixed contributions into an independent entity. The 
Group  has  no  legal  or  constructive  obligations  to  pay  further  contributions  after  its  payment  of  the  fixed  contribution. The 
contributions are recognised as an employee benefit expense when they are due.

Plans that do not meet the definition of a defined contribution plan are defined benefit plans. Under the Group’s defined benefit 
plans, the amount of pension benefit that an employee will receive on retirement is defined by reference to the employee’s length 
of service and final salary. The legal obligation for any benefits remains with the Group, even if plan assets for funding the defined 
benefit plan have been set aside. Plan assets may include assets specifically designated to a long-term benefit fund as well as 
qualifying insurance policies. 

The asset recognised in the statement of financial position for defined benefit plans is the present value of the fair value of plan 
assets less the defined benefit obligation (DBO) at the reporting date. The net surplus at the end of the year is £1.3 million (2018: 
£1.6 million).

Management estimates the DBO annually with the assistance of independent actuaries. This is based on standard rates of inflation, 
salary growth rate and mortality. Discount factors are determined close to each year-end by reference to high quality corporate 
bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits will be paid and that have terms to maturity approximating the 
terms of the related pension liability. 

Service cost on the Group’s defined benefit plan is included in employee benefits expense. Employee contributions, all of which 
are independent of the number of years of service, are treated as a reduction of service cost. Net interest expense on the net 
defined benefit liability is included in finance costs. Gains and losses resulting from remeasurements of the net defined benefit 
liability are included in other comprehensive income.

Short-term benefits 

Short-term  employee  benefits,  including  holiday  entitlement,  are  current  liabilities  included  in  pension  and  other  employee 
obligations, measured at the undiscounted amount that the Group expects to pay as a result of the unused entitlement.

Share-based employee remuneration

The Group operates equity-settled share-based remuneration plans for its key management personnel. None of the Group’s plans 
are cash-settled.

All goods and services received in exchange for the grant of any share-based payment are measured at their fair values.

Where employees are rewarded using share-based payments, the fair value of employees’ services is determined indirectly by 
reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted. This fair value is appraised at the grant date and excludes the impact 
of non-market vesting conditions.

All share-based remuneration is ultimately recognised as an expense in the income statement with a corresponding credit to 
share-based payment reserve. If vesting periods or other vesting conditions apply, the expense is allocated over the vesting period, 
based on the best available estimate of the number of share options expected to vest.

Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the number of options that are expected to become exercisable. 
Estimates  are  subsequently  revised  if  there  is  any  indication  that  the  number  of  share  options  expected  to  vest  differs  from 
previous estimates. Any adjustment to cumulative share-based compensation resulting from a revision is recognised in the current 
period. 

The number of vested options ultimately exercised by holders does not impact the expense recorded in any period.

Upon exercise of share options, the proceeds received, net of any directly attributable transaction costs, are allocated to share 
capital up to the nominal (or par) value of the shares issued with any excess being recorded as share premium.

41

Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Foreign currencies

The individual Financial Statements of each Group entity are presented in the currency in the primary economic environment 
of which the entity operates (its functional currency). For the purposes of the consolidated financial statements, the results and 
financial position are presented in sterling (£). Transactions in foreign currencies are translated at the exchange rate ruling at 
the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at 
the balance sheet date. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the remeasurement of monetary items denominated in 
foreign currency at year-end exchange rates are recognised in profit or loss. Non-monetary items that are measured at historical 
cost in a foreign currency are translated at the exchange rate at the date of the transaction. 

Any exchange differences arising on the settlement of monetary items or on translating monetary items at rates different from 
those at which they were initially recorded are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.  Exchange differences 
on non-monetary items are recognised in other comprehensive income to the extent that they relate to a gain or loss on that 
non-monetary item recognised in other comprehensive income, otherwise such gains and losses are recognised in profit or loss.

The  assets  and  liabilities  in  the  financial  statements  of  foreign  subsidiaries  and  related  goodwill  are  translated  at  the  rate  of 
exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Income and expenses are translated at a rate which is considered to be approximate 
to the rate prevailing at the date of the transaction. The exchange differences arising from the retranslation of the opening net 
investment in subsidiaries are recognised in other comprehensive income and accumulated in the “translation reserve” in equity. 
On disposal of a foreign operation the cumulative translation differences are reclassified from equity to profit or loss when the 
gain or loss is recognised.

Segmental reporting
A segment is a distinguishable component of the Group that is engaged in business activities from which it may earn revenues and 
incur expenses whose operating results are regularly reviewed by the Chief Executive, who is considered to be the chief operating 
decision  maker.  The  Chief  Executive  focuses  on  information  by  operating  division  and  the  Group  has  therefore  identified 
reportable operating segments currently are Energy-EPM, Energy-PRSE and Medical-MII.

The Chief Executive also reviews information by geographical area and whilst this is considered supplementary to the operating 
information, it is disclosed in the financial statements to provide additional information. 

Government grants

A government grant is recognised only when there is reasonable assurance that (a) the Group will comply with any conditions 
attached to the grant and (b) the grant will be received.

Government grants in respect of capital expenditure are credited to a deferred income account and are released to the income 
statement  by  equal  annual  instalments  over  the  expected  useful  lives  of  the  relevant  assets.  Government  grants  in  respect  of 
assistance of a revenue nature are credited to the income statement in the same period as the related expenditure.

Hayward Tyler Limited (“HTL”), based in Luton, UK, was awarded a £3.5 million grant from the Regional Growth Fund (“RGF”) 
pre-acquisition by AVG. The deferred income liability is reduced by grant income that is recognised in the consolidated income 
statement. This grant income is included in operating charges as a deduction from related research, development and training 
expenses.

Provisions and contingent liabilities 
Provisions  are  recognised  when  present  obligations  as  a  result  of  a  past  event  will  probably  lead  to  an  outflow  of  economic 
resources from the Group and amounts can be estimated reliably. A present obligation arises from the presence of a legal or 
constructive commitment that has resulted from past events. Restructuring provisions are recognised only if a detailed formal 
plan for the restructuring has been developed and implemented, or management has announced the plan’s main features to those 
affected by it.

Provisions are measured at the estimated expenditure required to settle the present obligation, based on the most reliable evidence 
available at the reporting date, including the risks and uncertainties associated with the present obligation. Where there are a 
number of similar obligations, the likelihood that an outflow will be required in settlement is determined by considering the class 
of obligations as a whole.

In those cases where the possible outflow of economic resources as a result of present obligations is considered improbable or 
remote, no liability is recognised, unless it was assumed in the course of a business combination.

The amount recognised for restoration is a management estimate in relation to the estimated cost to restore the property to the 
agreed condition set out in the lease rental agreement for Peter Brotherhood’s Peterborough property. 

42

Principal Accounting Policies (Continued)

Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
When  preparing  the  financial  statements,  management  makes  a  number  of  judgements,  estimates  and  assumptions  about  the 
recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses. 

Significant management judgements 
The following are the judgements made by management in applying the accounting policies of the Group that have the most 
significant effect on the financial statements.

Revenue and margin on contracts
For sales of goods where we judge revenue should be recognised over time, the Group applies the percentage of completion 
method. This method calculates revenue by multiplying the contract revenue by the percentage of costs incurred relative to total 
estimated costs. Total expected revenue and cost on a contract reflect management’s current best estimate of the probable future 
benefits and obligations associated with the contract. Assumptions to calculate present and future obligations take into account 
current technology as well as the commercial and contractual positions, assessed on a contract-by-contract basis.

Deferred tax assets
Management have recognised a deferred tax asset based on expected losses expected to be utilised over the next 5 year period. 
The assessment of this utilisation is based on the Group’s latest approved budget forecast, which is adjusted for significant non-
taxable income and expenses and specific limits to the use of any unused tax loss or credit. Further details relating to deferred 
tax assets are in note 25.

Estimation uncertainty
Information about estimates and assumptions that may have the most significant effect on recognition and measurement of assets, 
liabilities, income and expenses is provided below. Actual results may be substantially different. 

Impairment of goodwill 
Determining whether goodwill is impaired requires an estimation of the value in use of the cash-generating units to which the 
goodwill has been allocated. The value in use calculation requires the entity to estimate the future cash flows expected to arise 
from  the  cash-generating  unit  and  to  apply  a  suitable  discount  rate  in  order  to  calculate  present  value. The  assumptions  and 
sensitivities applied by management in determining whether there is any impairment of goodwill are set out in note 12. 

Recoverability of contract assets and trade receivables
Management estimate the recoverable amount of balances relating to ongoing contracts that are incomplete at the date of approval 
of the financial statements. In particular in relation to claims the Directors prepare a best estimate of the amount expected to 
be recovered at the balance sheet date by reference to ongoing negotiations the customers. Management periodically revisit the 
claim and their assessment of the amount expected to be recovered. Contract assets and trade receivables and are detailed in note 
17.The value of contract assets at 31 May 2019 was £10.6m.

Warranties 
The amount recognised for warranties for which customers are covered for the cost of repairs is estimated based on management’s 
past experience, current knowledge and future expectation that defects may arise. The value of warranty provisions at 31 May 
2019 was £1.5 million (note 19).

Dilapidations
The amount recognised for the dilapidation provision is managements estimate in relation to the estimated cost to restore the 
property to the agreed condition set out in the lease rental agreement for Peter Brotherhood’s Peterborough property. The estimate 
has then been discounted to its present value based on a pre-tax discount rate that reflects the current market assessments of the 
time value of money and the risks specific to the liability (note 19).

Defined benefit pension liability 
Management estimates the defined benefit pension liability annually with the assistance of independent actuaries; however, the 
actual outcome may vary due to estimation uncertainties. The estimate of its defined benefit pension gross liability of £12.9 
million (2018: £12.6 million) is based on standard rates of inflation and mortality. The estimate does not include anticipation of 
future salary increases as there are no members with benefits related to future salary progression. Discount factors are determined 
close to each period end by reference to high quality corporate bonds that are denominated in the currency in which the benefits 
will be paid and that have terms to maturity approximating to the terms of the related pension liability. Estimation uncertainties 
exist particularly with regard to medical cost trends, which may vary significantly in future appraisals of the Group’s defined 
benefit pension obligations. The value of the defined benefit pension asset at 31 May 2019 was £1.3 million (2018: £1.6million). 
Further details of the pension scheme are in note 28.

43

Consolidated Income Statement

For the year ended 31 May 2019

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profit 

Distribution costs 

Other administrative expenses 

Operating profit before amortisation of acquired intangibles, other  
non-underlying items and exceptional items 

Amortisation of acquired intangibles 
Other non-underlying items 
Exceptional items 

Operating profit/(loss) 
Finance income 
Finance costs 

Profit/(loss) before taxation 
Taxation 

Note 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

2 

105,516 

78,864

(77,314) 

(58,787)

28,202 

20,077

(4,722) 

(4,050)

(19,852) 

(19,869)

5,805 

2,796

(1,595) 
(98) 
(484) 

3,628 
132 
(616) 

3,144 
(633) 

(3,303)
(69)
(3,266)

(3,842)
36
(692)

(4,498)
12

4 
4 
4 

2 
5 
6 

9 

Profit/(loss) for the financial year attributable to equity shareholders 

2,511 

(4,486)

Earnings/(loss) per share: 
From continuing operations 
- Basic 
- Diluted 

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Profit/(loss) for the year 
Items that will not be subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss   
Remeasurement of net defined benefit liability 
Income tax relating to items not reclassified 
Items that may/will subsequently be reclassified to profit or loss  
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 

11 
11 

8.0p 
8.0p 

(16.0)p
(16.0)p

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

2,511 

(4,486)

(581) 
99 

445 

71
(14)

(137)

Total comprehensive income for the year attributable to equity shareholders 

2,474 

(4,566)

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements.

44

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
                                                                                                                                                   
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
   
Consolidated Balance Sheet at 31 May 2019

Non current assets 
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Deferred tax 
Pension and other employee obligations 

Current assets 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables : amounts falling due within one year 
Current tax asset 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Obligations under finance leases 
Borrowings 
Current tax liabilities 
Provisions 
Derivatives 

Total current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings 
Obligations under finance leases 
Deferred tax 
Contingent consideration 
Other creditors 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Equity 
Share capital 
Share premium account 
Capital redemption reserve 
Translation reserve 
Merger reserve 
Other reserves 
Investment in own shares 
Retained earnings 

Note 

12 
13 
14 
25 
28 

16 
17 
9 
18 

20 
23 
22 
9 
19 

22 
23 
25 

21 

26 

34 

2019  
£’000  

23,369 
14,483 
26,576 
1,423 
1,299 

2018
£’000

23,369
15,612
27,595
1,454
1,590

67,150 

69,620

14,441 
31,549 
234 
8,909 

10,341
34,606
608
6,574

55,133 
122,283 

52,129
121,749

(31,405) 
(750) 
(4,945) 
(69) 
(5,340) 
(44) 

(26,179)
(1,179)
(6,719)
(15)
(6,135)
(127)

(42,553) 

(40,354)

(3,817) 
(1,420) 
(2,073) 
(256) 
(2,870) 

(4,435)
(1,375)
(2,914)
(256)
(3,339)

(10,436) 

(12,319)

(52,989) 

(52,673)

69,294 

69,076

1,568 
14,018 
1,299 
 310 
28,949 
180 
(3,435) 
26,405 

1,553
13,385
1,299
(135)
28,949
180
(2,835)
26,680

Total equity attributable to equity holders of the parent 

69,294 

69,076

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements. 

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 17 September 2019 and signed
on its behalf by:

S M King
Director 
Company number: 1968354 

45

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
Company Balance Sheet at 31 May 2019

Non current assets 
Investments 

Current assets 
Trade and other receivables : amounts falling due within one year 
Current tax asset 
Cash at bank and in hand 

Total assets 

Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings 

Total current liabilities 

Non-current liabilities 
Borrowings 
Contingent consideration 

Total non-current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Net assets 

Capital and reserves 
Called up share capital 
Share premium account 
Capital redemption reserve 
Merger reserve 
Other reserves 
Profit and loss account 

Equity shareholders’ funds 

Note 

2019  
£’000  

2018
£’000

15 

36,029 

35,977

17 

18 

20 
22 

22 

26 

36,029 

35,977

34,298 
– 
60 

32,814
123
2,065

34,358 

35,002

70,387 

70,979

(542) 
(180) 

(328)
(180)

(722) 

(508)

(536) 
(256) 

(716)
(256)

(792) 

(972)

(1,514) 

(1,480)

68,873 

69,499

1,568 
14,018 
1,299 
28,949 
180 
22,859 

1,553
13,385
1,299
28,949
180
24,133

68,873 

69,499

The parent company has taken the exemption conferred by S.408 Companies Act 2006 not to publish the profit and loss account 
of the parent company with these consolidated accounts. The loss dealt with in the parent company’s financial statements was 
£254k loss (2018: loss of £1,835k).

The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 17 September 2019 and signed on
its behalf by:

S M King
Director 
Company number: 1968354

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements.

46

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
   
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 May 2019

  Capital
Share  redemp 

Share  premium 
capital   account  
£’000 
£’000 

-tion  Merger 
reserve 
£’000 

 reserve 
£’000 

958 
595 
- 

- 
- 

595 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

12,771 
614 
- 

1,299 
- 
- 

- 
28,949 
- 

- 
- 

614 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

28,949 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

 Investment

Trans 
-lation  Other 
 reserve  reserves 
£’000 

£’000 

in own  Retained
shares  earnings 
£’000 
£’000 

Total
£’000

2 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
(137) 

(137) 

180 
- 
- 

(2,250) 
- 
- 

31,946 
- 
(906) 

44,906
30,158
(906)

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

(585) 
- 

- 
69 

(585)
69 

(585) 
- 

(837) 
(4,486) 

28,736
(4,486)

- 

- 
- 

- 

71 

71

(14) 
- 

(14)
(137)

(4,429) 

(4,566)

1,553 

13,385 

1,299 

28,949 

(135) 

180 

(2,835) 

26,680 

69,076 

1,553 

13,385 

1,299 

28,949 

(135) 

180 

(2,835) 

26,680 

69,076

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

1,553 
15 
- 
- 
- 

15 
- 

13,385 
633 
- 
- 
- 

633 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

1,299 
- 
- 
- 
- 

28,949 
- 
- 
- 
- 

(135) 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
445 

445 

- 

180 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

(1,284) 

(1,284)

(2,835) 
- 
- 
(600) 
- 

25,396 
- 
(1,118) 
- 
98 

67,792
648
(1,118)
(600)
98

(600) 
- 

(1,020) 
2,511 

(972)
2,511

- 

- 
- 

- 

(581) 

(581)

99 
- 

99
445 

2,029 

2,474 

1,568 

14,018 

1,299 

28,949 

310 

180 

(3,435) 

26,405 

69,294 

At 1 June 2017 
Ordinary shares issued 
Dividends paid 
Investment in  
own shares 
Share-based payments 

Transactions  
with owners 
Loss for the year 
Other comprehensive  
income 
Actuarial gain for the  
year on pension scheme 
Deferred tax on actuarial  
movement on pension  
scheme 
Exchange loss 

Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Balance at 
31 May 2018 

At 1 June 2018 
Adjustment of 
transitioning to IFRS 15 
and 9 
Adjusted equity as  
at 1 June 2018 
Ordinary shares issued 
Dividends paid 
Investment in own shares 
Share-based payments 

Transactions with owners 
Profit for the year 
Other comprehensive 
income
Actuarial loss 
for the year on pension 
scheme 
Deferred tax on actuarial 
movement on pension 
scheme 
Exchange profit 

Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Balance at 
31 May 2019 

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements.

47

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Changes in Equity

For the year ended 31 May 2019

Share 
capital  
£’000 

958 

595 

- 

(485) 

- 

Share 
premium 
account  
£’000 

12,771 

614 

- 

- 

- 

At 1 June 2017 

Ordinary shares issued 

Dividends paid 

Transfer on disposal 

Share-based payments 

Transactions with owners 

595 

614 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Balance at 

31 May 2018 

Ordinary shares issued 

Dividends paid 

Share-based payments 

Transactions with owners 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive  
income for the year 

Balance at 

31 May 2019 

- 

- 

- 

- 

13,385 

633 

- 

- 

633 

- 

- 

15 

- 

- 

15 

- 

- 

Capital
redemp 
-tion 
 reserve 
£’000 

1,299 

- 

- 

485 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Merger 
reserve 
£’000 

- 

28,949 

- 

- 

- 

28,949 

- 

- 

Other 
 reserves 
£’000 

Retained
earnings 
£’000 

180 

26,805 

Total
£’000

42,013

30,158

(906)

- 

(906) 

(19,383) 

(19,383)

69 

69 

(837) 

29,321

(1,835) 

(1,835) 

(1,835) 

(1,835) 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

(1,118) 

98 

69,499

648

(1,118)

98 

(1,020) 

(372)

(254) 

(254) 

(254) 

(254) 

1,553 

13,385 

1,299 

28,949 

180 

24,133 

69,499 

At 1 June 2018 

1,553 

1,299 

28,949 

180 

24,133 

1,568 

14,018 

1,299 

28,949 

180 

22,859 

68,873 

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements. 

48

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
    
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Note 

29 

35 

Consolidated Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 May 2019

Operating activities 
Cash flows from operating activities 
Finance costs paid 
Income tax repaid  
Contributions to defined benefit plan  

Net cash outflow from operating activities 

Investing activities 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings, net of cash acquired 
Finance income 
Purchase of intangible assets 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Financing activities 
Equity dividends paid 
Repayments of bank loans 
Repayments of obligations under finance leases 
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares 
Proceeds from borrowings 

Net cash (outflow)/inflow from financing activities 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 
Effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

18 

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements. 

2019 
£’000 

10,468 
(608) 
(569) 
(243) 

2018
£’000

(6,142)
(363)
(212)
(175)

9,028 

(6,892)

(132) 
131 
(848) 
(2,344) 
248 

(11,896)
13
(712)
(2,654)
-

(2,945) 

(15,249)

(1,118) 
(3,278) 
(1,033) 
48 
597 

(4,784) 

1,299 
6,565 
189 

8,053 

(906)
(3,483)
(1,025)
47
6,289

922

(21,219)
27,703
81

6,565

49

 
            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
Company Statement of Cash Flows

For the year ended 31 May 2019

Operating activities 
Cash flows from operating activities 
Finance costs paid 
Income tax repaid  

Net cash outflow from operating activities 

Investing activities 
Loan to subsidiary undertakings 
Finance income 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Financing activities 
Equity dividends paid 
Repayments of bank loans 
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares 

Net cash outflows from financing activities 

Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

Note 

30 

2019 
£’000 

(1,216) 
(18) 
(13) 

2018
£’000

(10,649)
(19)
-

(1,247) 

(10,668)

(850) 
744 

(12,500)
565

(106) 

(11,935)

(1,118) 
(182) 
648 

(652) 

(2,005) 
2,065 

(906)
(182)
632

(456)

(23,059)
25,124

60 

2,065

The principal accounting policies and notes on pages 32 to 80 form part of these financial statements. 

50

 
            
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes To The Annual Report

For the year ended 31 May 2019

1

Corporate information 

The consolidated financial statements of Avingtrans plc and its subsidiaries (collectively the Group) for the year ended 31 May 
2019 were authorised for issue in accordance with a resolution of the directors on 17 September 2019. Avingtrans plc (the parent) 
is a limited company incorporated in England & Wales, whose shares are publicly traded on AIM. The registered office is located 
at Chatteris Business Park, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6SA. The Group is principally engaged in the provision of highly 
engineered components, systems and services to the energy, medical and infrastructure industries worldwide.   

2

Segmental analysis

For management purposes, the Group is currently organised into three main segments Energy-EPM, Energy-PSRE and Medical-
MII. The basis on which the Group reports to the Chief Executive. 

The principal activities are as follows:

•  Energy - EPM, built around Hayward Tyler which designs, manufactures and services performance-critical electric motors 

and pumps for the global energy industry, as both an OEM supplier and a trusted through life support partner. 

•  Energy  -  PSRE,  is  the  design,  manufacture,  integration  and  servicing  of  an  extensive  product  offering  including  steam 
turbines, gas compressors, pressure vessels, blast doors, containers and skidded systems. Plus, design and manufacture of 
fabricated poles and cabinets for roadside safety cameras and rail track signalling.

•  Medical – MII, is the design and manufacture of innovative equipment for the medical, science and research communities. 
Including cutting-edge products for medical diagnostic equipment; high performance pressure, vacuum vessels and composite 
materials  for  research  organisations;  superconducting  magnets  and  helium-free  cryogenic  systems  in  magnetic  resonance 
imaging (MRI), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR).

Segment performance is evaluated based on profit or loss and is measured consistently with profit or loss in the consolidated 
financial statements as presented below:

Year ended 31 May 2019 

Original Equipment 
After Market 

Revenue 

Operating profit/(loss) 
Net finance costs 
Taxation 

Profit after tax from continuing operations 

Energy 
EPM 
£’000 

13,888 
35,069 

Energy 
PSRE 
£’000 

31,527 
12,884 

Medical 
MII 
£’000 

Unallocated
central items 
 £’000 

12,048 
100 

48,957 

44,411 

12,148 

- 
- 

- 

2,874 

1,939 

(204) 

(981) 

Total
£’000

57,463
48,053

105,516

3,628
(484)
(633)

2,511

Segment non-current assets 
Segment current assets 

44,285 
20,756 

17,903 
28,051 

4,962 
5,036 

- 
1,290 

67,150
55,133

Segment liabilities 

(27,563) 

(21,040) 

(1,417) 

(2,969) 

(52,989)

Net assets 

37,478 

24,914 

8,581 

(1,679) 

69,294

Non-current asset additions 
Intangible assets 
Tangible assets 

171 
1,258 

1,428 

378 
826 

1,204 

299 
261 

560 

- 
- 

- 

848
2,344

3,192

Unallocated assets/ (liabilities) consist primarily of interest bearing assets and liabilities and income tax assets and liabilities. 
Medical MII results include the acquisition of Tecmag which contributed £772,000 Group revenue and £13,000 profit after tax 
respectively (note 35).

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

2

Segmental analysis (continued)

Year ended 31 May 2018 

Original Equipment 
After Market 

Revenue 

Operating profit/(loss) 
Net finance costs 
Taxation 

Energy 
EPM 
£’000 

15,194 
21,581 

Energy 
PSRE 
£’000 

20,096 
11,583 

Medical 
MII 
£’000 

Unallocated
central items 
 £’000 

10,410 
- 

36,775 

31,679 

10,410 

- 
- 

- 

(1,532) 

425 

(109) 

(2,626) 

Loss after tax from continuing operations 

Segment non-current assets 
Segment current assets 

37,636 
23,484 

27,174 
22,322 

4,810 
3,645 

- 
2,678 

Total
£’000

45,700
33,164

78,864

(3,842)
(656)
12

(4,486)

69,620
52,129

Segment liabilities 

(28,632) 

(15,933) 

(2,572) 

(5,536) 

(52,673)

Net assets 

32,488 

33,563 

5,883 

(2,858) 

69,076

Non-current asset additions 
Intangible assets 
Tangible assets 

10 
1,438 

1,448 

255 
854 

1,109 

447 
362 

809 

- 
- 

- 

712
2,654

3,366

Unallocated assets/ (liabilities) consist primarily of interest bearing assets and liabilities and income tax assets and liabilities.

Geographical 

The  following  tables  provides  an  analysis  of  the  Group’s  revenue  by  destination  and  the  location  of  non-current  assets  by 
geographical market:

United Kingdom 
Europe (excl. UK) 
United States of America 
Africa & Middle East 
Americas & Caribbean (excl. USA) 
China 
Asia Pacific (excl. China) 
Rest of World 

2019 

Revenue 
£’000 

38,592 
11,057 
14,045 
3,867 
3,228 
10,240 
24,487 
- 

2018 

Revenue 
£’000 

2019 

2018
  Non-current  Non-current 
Assets
£’000

Assets 
£’000 

31,970 
7,197 
14,210 
2,766 
1,190 
5,286 
16,117 
128 

50,660 
- 
14,455 
- 
- 
2,018 
17 
- 

49,981
-
17,792
-
-
1,841
6
-

The Group had Energy - EPM revenue of £12,336,000 (2018: £6,987,000) with a single external customer which represented 
more than 10% of the Group’s revenue. 

105,516 

78,864 

67,150 

69,620

52

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

2

Segmental analysis (continued)  
Contract assets and contract liabilities 

Contract assets: 
Energy – EPM 
Energy – PSRE 

Contract liabilities: 
Energy – EPM 
Energy – PSRE 

31 May 2019   1 June 2018
£’000

£’000 

4,965 
5,679 

10,644 

4,397
4,986

9,383

(4,260) 
(6,762) 

(3,068)
(2,121)

(11,022) 

(5,189)

Contract assets and contract liabilities in the current and prior period have been presented on an IFRS 15 basis.

3

Profit before taxation - continuing 
Profit before taxation is stated after charging/(crediting): 

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation of internally generated intangible assets 
Cost of inventories recognised as an expense 
Loss on foreign exchange transactions  
Staff costs (note 8) 
Operating lease rentals: 
- Land and buildings 
- Machinery 
Charitable donations 
Research and development expenditure 

Auditor’s remuneration 

2019 
£’000 

3,240 
(13) 
393 
61,378 
263 
36,503 

1,008 
388 
13 
308 

2018
£’000

2,532
-
374
32,358
136
27,331

841
392
5
204

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the financial statements 
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services: 
- Audit of the financial statements of the Company’s subsidiaries and
  associates pursuant to legislation 
- Tax compliance services  
- Corporate finance transaction services 
- Tax advisory fee 

58 

141 
- 
- 
- 

61

156
20
188
6

53

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

4

Adjusted Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation 

Profit/(loss) before tax from continuing operations 
Share based payment expense 
Acquisition costs 
Restructuring costs 
(Gain)/loss on derivatives 
Unwinding of discounting on dilapidation provision  
Amortisation of intangibles from business combinations 

Adjusted profit before tax 

Finance income 
Finance cost 
Loss on derivatives/unwinding of discounting on dilapidation provision 

Adjusted profit before interest, tax and amortisation from business combinations (‘EBITA’) 

Depreciation 
Amortisation of other intangible assets 

Adjusted Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (‘EBITDA’) 

2019 
£’000 
3,144 
98 
89 
395 
(83) 
85 
1,595 

5,323 

(132) 
616 
(2) 

5,805 

3,240 
393 

9,438 

2018 
£’000
(4,498)
69
1,567
1,699
172
62
3,303

2,374

(36)
692
(234)

2,796

2,532
375

5,703

The Directors believe that the above and adjusted earnings are a more appropriate reflection of the Group performance.

5

Finance income   

Bank balances and deposits 
Other interest 
Interest from defined benefit pension scheme 
Gain arising on the fair value of derivative contracts 

6

Finance costs 

Re-banking related finance charges 
Finance charges related to the unwinding of provisions 
Losses arising on the fair value of derivative contracts 
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts wholly repayable within five years 
Interest on bank loans and overdrafts wholly repayable after five years 
Interest on finance lease agreements 

54

  Group

2019 
£’000 

  2018
  £’000

4 
- 
45 
83 

132 

5
7
24
-

36

  Group

2019 
£’000 

  2018
  £’000

28 
85 
- 
375 
18 
110 

616 

19
62
172
302
19
118

692

 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

7

Directors’ emoluments
Particulars of directors’ emoluments are as follows: 

Salary and 
Fees 
£’000 

Benefits 
£’000 

Long Term 
Incentive 
£’000 

Total 
2019 
£’000 

Total 
2018 
£’000 

Pension 
Total 
2019 
£’000 

Pension
Total
2018
£’000

Non-executive: 
R S McDowell 
J Clarke 
EW Lloyd-Baker* 
LJ Thomas 
GK Thornton 
Executive: 
S McQuillan 
S M King 

Total emoluments 

72 
33 
24 
35 
44 

406 
329 

943 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

1 
- 

1 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

17 
15 

32 

72 
33 
24 
35 
44 

424 
344 

976 

71 
11 
18 
34 
34 

357 
288 

813 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

-
-
-
-
-

-
- 

- 

The fees of JS Clarke, JJ Hamer, EW Lloyd-Baker, LJ Thomas and GK Thornton were paid to JS Clarke Consulting Ltd, Fin Dec 
Limited, Lloyd-Baker  & Associates LLP. Heriot Resources Ltd and RG Associates respectively. 

* EW Lloyd-Baker resigned from the Board on 30 November 2018.

The non-cash benefits comprise the provision of private health insurance for S McQuillan. The number of Directors who are 
accruing benefits under money purchase schemes is nil (2018: nil). 

The long term incentive represents the initial interest in the Joint Ownership Scheme (see note 34).

Employers National Insurance Contributions made relating to directors’ emoluments were £128,000 (2018: £99,000).

During 2019 and 2018 S McQuillan and S M King exercised nil options as set out on page 25.

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

8

Employees 

Particulars of employees, including Executive Directors:

Wages and salaries 
Social security costs 
Other pension costs 
Share-based payment expense 

The average monthly number of employees (including Executive Directors) during the year was:

Production 
Selling and distribution 
Administration 

2019 
£’000 

32,139 
3,034 
1,232 
98 

2018
£’000

24,176
2,179
907
69 

36,503 

27,331

2019 
Number 

2018
Number

462 
130 
174 

766 

437
43
176 

656

The remuneration of the Directors and Senior Management, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below 
in aggregate for each of the categories specified in IAS 24 ‘Related Party Disclosures’.

Short term employee benefits (including NIC) 
Post-employment benefits 
Share-based payments 

9

Taxation

Current tax 
Corporation tax – current year 
Corporation tax – prior year 
Overseas tax 

Total current tax 
Deferred tax (note 25) 
Deferred tax – current year 
Deferred tax – prior year 
Deferred tax - rate 
Total deferred tax 

Total tax charge/(credit) 

2019 
£’000 

1,379 
10 
42 

1,431 

2019 
£’000 

- 
369 
975 

1,344 

(625) 
(86) 
- 
(711) 

2018
£’000

1,191
4
43 

1,238

2018
£’000

-
3
1,153 

1,156

(815)
(209)
(144)
(1,168) 

633 

(12)

UK corporation tax is calculated at 19% (2018: 19.00%) of the estimated assessable profit/loss for the year. Taxation for other 
jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.

56

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

9

Taxation (continued) 

The charge for the year can be reconciled to the profit per the income statement as follows:

Profit/(loss) before taxation 

 Theoretical tax at UK corporation tax rate of 19% (2018: 19.00%) 
Effects of: 

Expenditure that is/is not tax deductible 
Un-provided deferred tax differences 
Adjustments in respect of prior years 
Recognition of previously unrecognised losses 
Rate differential on timing differences 
Change in deferred tax rate 
Differential in overseas tax rate 

Total tax charge/(credit) 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

3,144 

(4,498)

598 

(855)

(69) 
122 
283 
(459) 
(46) 
- 
204 

633 

553
218
(207)
-
2
(144)
421 

(12)

The  Group  has  tax  losses  carried  forward  of  approximately  £35.4  million  at  31  May  2019  (2018:  £34.8million)  that  may  be 
relievable against future profits. Further details are detailed in note 25.

The Group’s corporation tax assets and liabilities can be summarised as follows:

Current tax assets 
Corporation tax 

Current tax liabilities 
Corporation tax 

2019 
£’000 

234 

234 

(69) 

165 

2018
£’000

608 

608

(15) 

(593)

Factors that may affect future tax charges

The substantively enacted UK corporation tax rate at 31 May 2019 and 2018 was 19%. A reduction to 17% (effective from 1 April 
2020) was substantively enacted on 6 September 2016. This will reduce the Company’s future current tax charge accordingly. The 
deferred tax asset at 31 May 2019 has been calculated based on these rates.

10

Dividends

Interim dividend paid of 1.3p per ordinary share (2018: 1.2p) 
Final dividend paid of 2.3p per ordinary share (2018: 2.2p) 

2019 
£’000 

404 
714 

1,118 

The interim dividend declared in the half year statement of 1.4p per ordinary share was paid on 14 June 2019.

2018
£’000

230
676 

906

57

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

11

Earnings per ordinary share 

Basic and diluted earnings/(loss) per share have been calculated in accordance with IAS 33 which requires that earnings should 
be based on the net profit or loss attributable to ordinary shareholders and the weighted average number of ordinary shares in 
issue during the year.

For  diluted  earnings/(loss)  per  share  the  weighted  average  number  of  ordinary  shares  is  adjusted  to  assume  conversion  of  all 
dilutive potential ordinary shares, being the EMI, CSOP and ExSOP share options.

Weighted average number of shares – basic 
Share option adjustment 

Weighted average number of shares – diluted 

Profit/(loss) from continuing operations 
Share based payment expense 
Acquisition costs 
Restructuring costs 
(Gain)/loss on derivatives 
Unwinding of discounting on dilapidation provision  
Amortisation of intangibles from business combinations 

Adjusted earnings from continuing operations 

From continuing operations: 
Basic earnings/(loss) per share 
Adjusted basic earnings per share 
Diluted earnings/(loss) per share 
Adjusted diluted earnings per share 

2019 
Number 

2018
Number

31,225,440 
340,920 

27,952,066
360,448

31,566,360 

28,312,514

2019 
£’000 

2,511 
98 
89 
395 
(83) 
85 
1,595 

4,690 

8.0p 
15.0p 
8.0p 
14.9p 

2018
£’000

(4,486)
69
1,567
1,699
172
62
3,303

2,386

(16.0)p
8.5p
(16.0)p
8.4p

The  Directors  believe  that  the  above  adjusted  earnings  per  share  calculation  for  continuing  operations  is  a  more  appropriate 
reflection of the Group’s underlying performance.

There are 490,000 share options at 31 May 2019 (2018: nil) that are not included within diluted earnings per share because they 
are anti-dilutive.

58

 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

12

Goodwill 

Cost 
At 1 June 2017 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings  

1 June 2018 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertaking 

At 31 May 2019 

Accumulated impairment losses 
At 1 June 2017 and 1 June 2018 
Impairment charge 

At 31 May 2019 

Net book value 
At 31 May 2019 

At 31 May 2018 

Total
£’000

6,048
18,171

24,219
-

24,219

850
-

850

23,369

23,369

Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, at acquisition, to the cash generating units (CGUs) that are expected to 
benefit from that business combination. The carrying amount of goodwill has been allocated as follows:

Energy-EPM 
Energy-PSRE 
Medical-MII 

2019 
£’000 

15,107 
6,753 
1,509 

2018
£’000

15,107
6,753
1,509

23,369 

23,369

The Group tests goodwill annually for impairment, or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired. 

The recoverable amounts of the CGUs are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use 
calculations are those regarding the revenue growth rates, expected changes to selling prices and direct costs during the period 
and discount rates.

The Group prepares cash flow forecasts derived from the most recent financial budgets approved by management for the next 
three years and derives cash flows for the following two years based on estimated growth rates for the specific markets in which 
each CGU operates. The Group uses its past experience in compiling the cashflow forecasts. The estimated growth rate does not 
exceed the average long-term growth rate for the relevant markets. A rate of between 0% and 5% has been used for Energy-EPM, 
Energy-PSRE and Medical-MII CGUs respectively. Recent changes to management and improvements to the contract negotiation 
and costing processes are expected to increase margins whilst Medical is developing into new markets and service. 

Changes in selling prices and direct costs are based on past practices and expectations of future changes in the market. 

The rate used to discount the forecast cash flows is 11.7% which is considered appropriate based on the Group’s borrowings 
adjusted for the aggregate risk in the respective markets. 

Management have sensitised these key assumptions for each CGU within what is considered a reasonably possible range for the 
market in which the Group operates and have concluded that a 0% growth in revenue and discount rate of 13% would not result 
in the carrying amount of goodwill exceeding the recoverable amount.

Whilst a five year horizon is shorter than the expected remaining life of the relevant CGUs, the directors consider this a suitable 
period to apply in performing impairment reviews due to the inherent uncertainty in further extrapolating three year forecasts.

59

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

13

Other intangible assets – group

Customer 
Relationships 
£’000 

Order book 
£’000 

  Development
costs 
£’000 

Brand 
£’000 

Software 
£’000 

Cost 
- 
At 1 June 2017 
Additions 
- 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings  10,532 
- 
Reclassification from PPE 
- 
Exchange adjustments 

At 1 June 2018 
Additions 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings
(note 35) 
Disposals 
Exchange adjustments 

10,532 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
3,096 
- 
- 

3,096 
- 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
2,504 
- 
- 

2,504 
- 

- 
- 
- 

2,953 
681 
783 
- 
(5) 

4,412 
822 

- 
- 
13 

297 
31 
54 
171 
- 

553 
26 

- 
(1) 
(1) 

Total
£’000

3,250
712
16,969
171
(5) 

21,097
848

-
(1)
12 

At 31 May 2019 

10,532 

3,096 

2,504 

5,247 

577 

21,956 

Accumulated amortisation 
At 1 June 2017 
Charge for the year 

At 1 June 2018 
Charge for the year 

At 31 May 2019 

Net book value at 31 May 2019 

Net book value at 31 May 2018 

- 
633 

633 
845 

1,478 

9,054 

9,899 

- 
2,529 

2,529 
567 

3,096 

- 

567 

- 
141 

141 
194 

335 

2,169 

2,363 

1,539 
305 

1,844 
318 

2,162 

3,085 

2,568 

269 
69 

338 
65 

403 

174 

215 

1,808
3,677 

5,485
1,988 

7,473 

14,483 

15,612 

60

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

14

Property, plant and equipment – group 

Cost 
At 1 June 2017 
Additions 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings 
Transfer to other intangible assets 
Assets written off 
Exchange adjustments 

At 1 June 2018 
Additions 
Transfers 
Assets written off 
Exchange adjustments 

At 31 May 2019 

Depreciation 
At 1 June 2017 
Charge in the year 
Assets written off 
Exchange adjustments 

At 1 June 2018 
Charge in the year 
Assets written off 
Exchange adjustments 

At 31 May 2019 

Freehold  Leasehold 
 improve- 
 land and 
buildings 
£’000 

Plant and 
ments  Machinery 
£’000 
£’000 

  Equipment
and motor
vehicles 
£’000 

2,167 
1,028 
11,211 
- 
- 
(18) 

14,388 
229 
136 
(2) 
33 

115 
- 
1,892 
- 
- 
- 

2,007 
- 
- 
- 
- 

4,645 
1,328 
8,662 
- 
(858) 
(7) 

13,770 
1,282 
7 
(514) 
55 

1,006 
298 
1,091 
(171) 
(34) 
(16) 

2,174 
833 
(143) 
(119) 
59 

Total
£’000

7,933
2,654
22,856
(171)
(892)
(41) 

32,339
2,344
-
(635)
147 

14,784 

2,007 

14,600 

2,804 

34,195 

295 
534 
- 
2 

831 
725 
- 
12 

1,568 

51 
121 
- 
- 

172 
149 
- 
- 

321 

2,253 
1,398 
(858) 
13 

2,806 
1,805 
(293) 
7 

4,325 

484 
479 
(34) 
6 

935 
561 
(107) 
16 

1,405 

3,083
2,532
(892)
21 

4,744
3,240
(400)
35 

7,619 

Net book value at 31 May 2019 

13,216 

1,686 

10,275 

1,399 

26,576 

Net book value at 31 May 2018 

13,557 

1,835 

10,964 

1,239 

27,595 

Leased assets
The net book value of assets held under finance leases are as follows:

Net book value  
At 31 May 2019 

At 31 May 2018 

Plant and 
  machinery 
£’000 

  Equipment
and motor
vehicles 
£’000 

1,496 

440 

256 

48 

Depreciation charged on assets held under finance leases was £726,000 (2018: £489,000).

Total
£’000

1,755 

488 

61

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

15

Investments

Total
£’000

10,843
29,558

40,401
52

40,453

4,424

36,029

35,977

Unlisted 

Capital
investments  Undertakings  Contributions 
£’000 

Group 

£’000 

£’000 

Cost 
At 1 June 2017 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings 

At 1 June 2018 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings 

At 31 May 2019 

Provision 
At 1 June 17, 1 June 2018 and 31 May 2019 

Net book value at 31 May 2019 

Net book value at 31 May 2018 

- 
- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

10,758 
29,526 

40,284 
- 

40,284 

4,424 

35,860 

35,860 

85 
32 

117 
52 

169 

- 

169 

117 

The Company has the following investments in Ordinary shares in subsidiaries:    

Name 
Crown UK Limited 
Stainless Metalcraft (Chatteris) Limited 
Metalcraft (Chengdu) Limited * 
Metalcraft (Sichuan) Limited * 
Maloney Metalcraft Limited  
Composite Products Limited  
Space Cryomagnetics Limited 
(trading as Scientific Magnetics Limited) 
Hayward Tyler Limited * 
Hayward Tyler Inc * 
Hayward Tyler Pumps (Kunshan) Co Limited * 
Hayward Tyler India PTE Limited * 
Hayward Tyler Fluid Handling Limited * 
Peter Brotherhood Limited  * 
Tecmag Inc  * 
Hayward Tyler Group plc 
Southbank UK Limited * 
Hayward Tyler Group Limited * 
Hayward Tyler Holdings Limited * 
Hayward Tyler Holding Inc * 
Nviro Cleantech Limited * 
Nviro Cleantech Inc * 
Vertus Technologies Limited * 
Nviro Cleantech Limited * 
Redglade Associates Limited * 
Redglade Investments Limited * 
Hayward Tyler Pension Plan Trustees Limited * 
Hayward Tyler (UK) Limited * 
Appleton & Howard Limited * 
Credit Montague Limited * 
Mullins Limited * 

* -Indirectly owned subsidiary.

62

Country of incorporation 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 
China 
China 
England and Wales 
England and Wales 

England and Wales 
England & Wales 
USA 
China 
India 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
USA 
Isle of Man 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
USA 
England & Wales 
USA 
Cayman Islands 
Cayman Islands 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 
England & Wales 

Principal activity
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading

Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Trading
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Holding company
Property
Property
Manages pension scheme
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

16

Inventories 
                                                                                                                                                                                    Group

Raw materials and consumables 
Work in progress 
Finished goods  

2019 
£’000 

6,646 
5,220 
2,575 

2018
£’000

4,406
3,727
2,208

14,441 

10,341

The replacement cost of the above stocks would not be significantly different from the values stated. During the period there was 
an impairment charge of £384,000 (2018: £132,000). 

17

Trade and other receivables 
                                                                                                                                      Group                                    Company

Amounts falling due within one year 
Trade receivables 
Allowance for doubtful debts 

Other receivables 
Amounts owed by group undertakings 
Prepayments 
Contract assets 

2019 
£’000 

17,058 
(497) 

2018 
£’000 

16,718 
(529) 

16,561 

16,189 

1,061 
- 
3,283 
10,644 

743 
- 
4,606 
13,068 

3,435 
30,829 
34 
- 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

- 
- 

- 

-
-

-

2,835
29,933
46
-

31,549 

34,606 

34,298 

32,814

The average credit period taken on sales of goods is 41 days (2018: 58 days) in respect of the Group. No interest is generally 
charged on the receivables until legal action is taken. Thereafter, interest is charged at 8% above bank base rate on the outstanding 
balance.

 The Group has impaired all trade receivables to the present value of estimated future cash receipts where it considers the collection 
of the receivable is doubtful.

 The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk is limited to trade receivables net of allowance for doubtful debts.

An explanation of credit risk relating to trade receivables is provided on note 24 financial instruments.

63

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

18

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents included in the following components:

   Group                                         Company

At 
31 May 
2019 
£’000  

At 
31 May 
2018 
£’000 

At 
31 May 
2019 
£’000 

At
31 May
2018
£’000

Cash at bank and in hand: 
GBP 
USD 
EUR 
Other 
Total cash at bank and in hand 
Overdraft (GBP): 

Total cash and cash equivalents 

1,852 
4,834 
1,078 
1,145 
8,909 
(856) 

8,053 

5,129 
1,060 
136 
249 
6,574 
(9) 

6,565 

60 
- 
- 
- 
60 
- 

60 

19

Provisions
The carrying amounts and the movements in the provision account are as follows:

Carrying amount 
1 June 2017 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings  
Additional provisions 
Amounts utilised 
Reversals 
Exchange Adjustments  
1 June 2018 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings  
IFRS 15 adjustments 
Additional provisions 
Amounts utilised 
Reversals 
Exchange Adjustments  

31 May 2019 

Warranty  Loss Making 
£’000 

£’000 

Group
Other  Dilapidations 
£’000 
£’000 

- 
1,616 
1,014 
(479) 
(259) 
(36) 
1,856 
8 
(75) 
816 
(679) 
(462) 
55 

1,519 

- 
2,985 
821 
(1,618) 
(413) 
- 
1,775 
- 
600 
1,058 
(1,753) 
(355) 
- 

1,325 

- 
374 
294 
(402) 
(24) 
- 
242 
- 
- 
334 
(449) 
- 
- 

127 

- 
2,200 
62 
- 
- 
- 
2,262 
24 
- 
83 
- 
- 
- 

2,369 

2,065
-
-
-
2,065
-

2,065

Total
£’000

-
7,175
2,191
(2,499)
(696)
(36)
6,135
32
525
2,291
(2,881)
(817)
55

5,340

Warranty provision: Provisions for warranty work represent the estimated cost of work provided under the terms of the contracts 
with customers with reference to the length and unexpired portion of the terms provided.

Loss  making  contracts:  Provisions  for  loss  making  contracts  are  the  estimated  total  costs  that  exceed  the  total  revenues  from 
contracts that are in progress at the reporting date.

Other provisions: The balance to carry forward in other provisions relates to liquidated damages. Provisions for liquidated damages 
are the liabilities estimated to arise on the expected delay in shipment of contracts that have been shipped prior to 31 May 2019. There 
were minor expected delays in the year.

Dilapidations: Provision for dilapidation mainly represents the estimated cost to restore the property to the agreed condition set out 
in the lease rental agreement for Peter Brotherhood Limited’s Peterborough property, which resulted from the sale and leaseback of 
the property.

64

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

20

Trade and other payables

Trade payables 
Other tax and social security 
Other payables 
Contract liabilities 
Accruals   

21

Other creditors 

Non-current 
Deferred income 

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

11,694 
1,334 
1,143 
11,022 
6,212 

2018 
£’000 

12,459 
1,138 
734 
5,041 
6,807 

31,405 

26,179 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

65 
28 
143 
- 
306 

542 

97
51
29
-
151

328

   Group                                         Company

At  
31 May 
2019 
£’000 

At 
31 May 
2018 
£’000 

At  
31 May 
2019 
£’000 

At
31 May
2018
£’000 

2,870 

3,339 

- 

-

22

Financial assets and liabilities
The carrying amounts of financial assets and financial liabilities in each category are as follows:  

Financial assets at amortised cost: 
Trade and other receivables 
Contract assets 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Financial assets measured at FVTPL: 
Derivative financial instruments 

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

2018 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

16,561 
10,644 
8,909 

16,189 
13,068 
6,574 

30,737 
- 
60 

2018
£’000

29,933
-
2,065

36,114 

35,831 

30,797 

31,998

- 

127 

- 

-

Total financial assets 

36,114 

35,958 

30,797 

31,998

Financial liabilities at amortised cost: 
Trade payables 
Borrowings 
Lease obligations 

Financial liabilities measured at FVTPL: 
Contingent consideration 

11,694 
8,762 
2,170 

12,459 
11,154 
2,554 

22,626 

26,167 

256 

256 

65 
716 
- 

781 

256 

97
896
-

993

256

Total financial liabilities 

22,882 

26,423 

1,037 

1,249

A description of the Group’s financial instrument risks is included in note 24.

65

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

22

Financial assets and liabilities (continued)
All of the Group’s derivative financial instruments in the current and prior year relate to USD forward contracts. All derivative 
financial instruments in the current and prior period have a maturity within 12 months of their respective balance sheet date.

Borrowings comprise of:

Secured borrowings 

Bank overdrafts and short term borrowings 
Bank loans 

Total borrowings 

Amount due for settlement within 12 months 

Amount due for settlement after 12 months 

Bank loans due within one to two years 
Bank loans due within two to five years 
Bank loans due after five years 

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

856 
7,906 

2018 
£’000 

6,099 
5,055 

8,762 

11,154 

4,945 

3,817 

6,719 

4,435 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

- 
716 

716 

180 

536 

-
896

896

180

716

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

612 
3,205 
- 

3,817 

2018 
£’000 

619 
3,816 
- 

4,435 

2019 
£’000 

180 
356 
- 

536 

2018
£’000

180
536
-

716

Bank loans, overdrafts and short term borrowings of £8,762,000 (2018: £11,154,000) are secured on certain assets of the Group.

At 31 May 2019 the Group had £10,255,000 (2018: £7,068,000) of undrawn committed borrowing facilities expiring within one 
year which the Directors expect to be renewed. All borrowings were at variable rates relative to local base rates. 

Short term borrowings and Bank loans were based on variable LIBOR rates at margins of between 2.75% - 3.0% and 1.5% - 2.5% 
respectively.

23

Obligations under finance leases 

Amounts due within one year 
Amounts due in two to five years 
Amounts due after five years 

Total obligations under finance leases 
Less future finance charges 

Present value of lease obligations 

Minimum 
lease payments 

2019 
£’000 

1,092 
1,325 
1,338 

3,755 
(1,585) 

2,170 

2018 
£’000 

1,282 
1,385 
86 

2,753 
(199) 

2,554 

Present value of minimum
lease payments
2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

750 
862 
558 

2,170 
- 

2,170 

1,179
1,290
85

2,554
-

2,554

Finance lease liabilities are secured on the related assets. All finance lease liabilities were at variable rates relative to local base rates.

66

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

24

Financial instruments 

The Group is exposed to various risks in relation to financial instruments. The Group’s financial assets and liabilities by category are 
summarised in Note 22. The main types of risks are capital risk, market risk, foreign currency risk, interest risk, price risk, credit 
risk, and liquidity risk.

Capital risk management 
The Group manages its capital to ensure that entities in the Group will be able to continue as going concerns while maximising the 
return to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and equity balance. The capital structure of the Group consists of debt, 
which includes the borrowings disclosed in notes 22 and 23 cash and cash equivalents and equity attributable to equity holders of the 
parent, comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the statement of changes in equity.

The Board closely monitor current and forecast cash balances at monthly Board meetings to allow the Group to maximise return 
to shareholders by way of dividends, whilst maintaining suitable amounts of liquid funds and facilities to allow acquisitions to be 
funded as opportunities arise and continued investment in property, plant and equipment and research and development. The level of 
dividends are set by the Board to meet the expectations of the shareholders based on cash generated by the Group.

The gearing ratio at the year-end is as follows:

Debt 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Net (debt)/cash 

Equity 

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

2018 
£’000 

(10,932) 
8,909 

(13,708) 
6,565 

(2,023) 

(7,143) 

2019 
£’000 

(716) 
60 

(656) 

2018
£’000

(896)
2,065

1,169

69,294 

69,076 

68,873 

69,416

Net debt to equity ratio 

2.9% 

10.3% 

1.0% 

1.68%

Debt is defined as long and short-term borrowings, as detailed in note 22. Equity includes all capital and reserves of the Group 
attributable to equity holders of the parent. The Group is not subject to externally imposed capital requirements.

Market risk
The Group’s activities  expose it primarily to the financial risks of changes in interest  rates  and  foreign  currency  exchange rates 
particularly in US dollars and the Euro.   

Foreign currency risk management
The Group enters into forward foreign currency contracts to eliminate exposures on certain material sales or purchases denominated 
in foreign currency once a significant commitment has been made.

Derivative  contracts  are  measured  at  fair  value  in  the  statement  of  financial  position  with  movements  in  that  fair  value  being 
recognised in profit or loss.

The  Group  presently  has  £0.8  million  (2018:  £5.0  million)  to  manage  the  transactional  currency  exposure  on  certain  contracts 
outstanding as at 31 May 2019. 

The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% increase and decrease in Sterling against the relevant foreign currencies 
on overseas assets. These changes are considered to be reasonably possible based on observation of current market conditions.

Euro currency impact 
2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

US $ currency impact 
2018 
2019 
£’000 
£’000 

RmB currency impact
2018
£’000

2019 
£’000 

Impact (+/-) on 
Profit for the financial year/equity 

(38) 

31 

332 

65 

- 

- 

67

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

24

Financial instruments (continued)

Interest rate risk management 

The Group finances its operations where necessary through bank loans, overdrafts and finance lease facilities. The bank loans and 
overdrafts are at floating rates principally at negotiated margins using pooling of the Group’s requirements to achieve this. The 
finance lease facilities are held at both fixed and floating rates.

If interest rates on floating rate borrowings (i.e. cash and cash equivalents and bank overdrafts attracting interest at floating rates) 
were to change by + or – 0.5% the impact on the results in the income statement and equity would be an increase/decrease of 
£23,000. These charges are considered to be reasonably possible based on observation of current market conditions.

Price risk management

Where possible the Group enters into long term contracts with suppliers to mitigate any significant exposure to materials and utilities 
price risk.

Credit risk management

The Group’s principal financial assets are bank balances, cash, and trade receivables. The credit risk is managed on a group basis 
based on the Group’s credit risk management policies and procedures. 

The Group’s principal credit risk is attributable to its trade receivables. Credit risk is managed by monitoring the aggregate amount 
and duration of exposure to any one customer depending upon their credit rating. The amounts presented in the balance sheet are 
net of allowances for doubtful debts, estimated by the Group’s management based on prior experience and their assessment of the 
current economic environment. 

The credit risk on liquid funds is limited because the counterparties are banks with high credit-ratings assigned by international 
credit-rating agencies.

The Group has no major customer which representing more than 10% (2018: one major customer’s which represents 11.4%) of 
trade receivables, the Group has no other significant concentration of receivables. The bad debt provision and ageing has increased 
during the year predominately due to the impact of one particular customer at an acquired subsidiary undertaking and rebuilding 
their relationships with key customers at acquisitions. 

The Group applies the IFRS 9 simplified model of recognising lifetime expected credit losses for all trade receivables as these items 
do not have a significant financing component.

In measuring the expected credit losses, the trade receivables have been assessed on a collective basis as they possess shared credit 
risk characteristics. They have been grouped based on the days from invoice date.

The expected loss rates are based a review of historical customer payment profiles as well as the corresponding historical credit 
losses during that period. The historical rates are adjusted to reflect current and forwarding looking macroeconomic factors affecting 
the customer’s ability to settle the amount outstanding.

Trade receivables are written off (ie derecognised) when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Usually this occurs when the 
customer goes into administration or ceases trading.

68

 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

24

Financial instruments (continued) 
The  closing  balance  of  the  of  the  trade  receivables  loss  allowance  as  at  31  May  2019  reconciles  with  the  trade  receivables  loss 
allowance opening balance as follows:

Provision for doubtful debts at brought forward under IAS 39 
Additional loss allowance under IFRS 9 on 1 June 2018 
Reduction in loss allowance due to IFRS 15 on 1 June 2018 

Impairment losses recognised 
Amounts written off as uncollectible 
Amounts recovered during the year 
On acquisition of subsidiaries 

Balance carried forward 

Ageing of past due but not impaired trade debtors is as follows:

60 - 90 days 
90 - 120 days 
120+ days 

Total 

Ageing of trade debtors provided for: 

60 - 30 days 
30 - 60 days 
60 - 90 days 
90 - 120 days 
120+ days 

Total 

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

2018 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

529 
159 
(150) 

538 
284 
(213) 
(112) 
- 

497 

181 
- 
- 

181 
249 
(74) 
(34) 
207 

529 

- 
- 
- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

  - 

-
-
-

-
-
-
-
-

-

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

342 
220 
835 

1,397 

2018 
£’000 

1,195 
346 
1,099 

2,640 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

- 
- 
- 

- 

-
-
-

-

   Group                                         Company

2019 
£’000  

2018 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2018
£’000

68 
44 
19 
19 
347 

497 

- 
- 
13 
- 
516 

529 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

-
-
-
-
-

-

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to fair value.

The average credit period taken on sales of goods is 41 days (2018: 58 days) in respect of the Group. No interest is generally charged 
on the receivables until legal action is taken. Thereafter, interest is charged at 8% above bank base rate on the outstanding balance.

69

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

24

Financial instruments (continued)
Liquidity risk management

The Group funds acquisitions through a mixture of cash, equity and long term debt.  Short term financing needs are met by working 
capital facilities.

The Group manages its liquidity needs by carefully monitoring scheduled debt servicing payments for long term financial liabilities 
as well as cash-outflows due in day-to-day business. Liquidity needs are monitored in various time bands, on a day-to-day and week-
to-week basis, as well as on the basis of a monthly 13 week projection. Long-term liquidity needs for up to a two year period are 
projected monthly and reviewed quarterly. The Group maintains cash and working capital facilities to meet its liquidity requirements 
for up to 30-day periods. Funding in regards to long-term liquidity needs is additionally secured by an adequate amount of committed 
credit facilities. 

Details about the maturity of financial liabilities can be found in Note 22 Financial assets and liabilities.

All facilities are secured on the assets of the Group.

25

Deferred tax
The following are the major deferred tax liabilities and assets recognised by the Group and movements thereon during the current 
and prior reporting period.

Accelerated 
tax 
depreciation 
£’000 

Intangibles 
£’000 

Other
temporary
differences 
£’000 

Tax losses 
£’000 

At 1 June 2017 
On business combination 
Arising on the fair value adjustments on business
Combinations 
Credit to income – continuing operations 
Charge/credit to other comprehensive income 

At 1 June 2018 
Credit to income – continuing operations 
Charge/credit to other comprehensive income 

At 31 May 2019 

195 
(67) 

- 
16 
(2) 

142 
(474) 
- 

(332) 

- 
- 

2,850 
(627) 
- 

2,223 
(303) 
- 

1,920 

- 
1,010 

- 
(438) 
(23) 

549 
35 
(99) 

485 

- 
(1,335) 

- 
(119) 
- 

(1,454) 
31 
- 

(1,423) 

Total
£’000

195
(392)

2,850
(1,168)
(25)

1,460
(711)
(99)

650

Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset where the relevant criteria are met. The following is the analysis of the 
deferred tax balances (after offset) for financial reporting purposes:

Deferred tax liabilities 
Deferred tax assets 

2019 
£’000 

2,073 
(1,423) 

2018
£’000

2,914
(1,454)

650 

1,460

At the balance sheet date the Group has unused tax losses of £35.4 million (2018: £28.7 million) available for offset against future 
profits. A deferred tax asset has been recognised in respect of £8.4 million (2018: £8.6 million) of such losses.

Deferred  tax  assets  are  recognised  to  the  extent  that  it  is  probable  that  taxable  profits  will  be  available  in  future  against  which 
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. This is assessed based on the Group’s forecast of future operating results and the 
future projected profitability of the Group. In addition the Group has an unrecognised deferred tax asset of £28k (2018: £21k) in 
respect of share based payments. 

70

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

25

Deferred tax (continued) 
At the balance sheet date the aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with undistributed earnings of subsidiaries for 
which deferred tax liabilities have not been recognised was £nil (2018: £nil). No liability has been recognised in respect of these 
differences because the Group is in a position to control the timing of the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that 
such differences will not reverse in the foreseeable future.

26

Called up share capital 
                                                                                                                                          2019                                            2018

Allotted, issued and fully paid 
Ordinary shares of 5p each 

No. 

£’000 

No. 

31,362,053 

1,568 

31,061,636 

Reconciliation of movement in allotted, issued and fully paid share capital

At 1 June 2018 and 31 May 18 
Shares issued in period to ExSOP  (note 34) 
Shares issued on exercise of share options (note 27) 

At 31 May 2019 

No. 

31,061,636 
285,000 
15,417 

31,362,053 

£’000

1,553

£’000

1,553
14
1

1,568

The Company has a share option scheme under which options to subscribe for the Company’s shares have been awarded to certain 
directors and employees. During the year 15,417 options were exercised, 10,000 and 5,417 at 109.0p and 193.0p respectively. The 
market price on the day of exercise was 216.0p and 218.5p. Further details of the scheme are given in note 27.

The market price of the Company’s shares at the end of the year was 215p (2018: 209.5p). The highest and lowest market prices 
during the year were 235.0p and 172.5p (2018: 256.5p and 173p respectively).

27

Share-based payments
 The Group has recognised a portion of the fair value of these options in calculating the profit for the current and prior year.    

Outstanding at the start of the year 
Lapsed during the year 
Issued during the year 
Exercised during the year 

2019 

2018

Weighted 
Average 
Exercise 
price (p) 

175.74 
191.26 
219.37 
138.51 

Options 
(No. ‘000) 

231.7 
- 
477.0 
27.0 

Weighted
Average
Exercise
price (p)

152.6
-
182.07
121.41

Options 
(No. ‘000) 

2,147.7 
44.6 
490.0 
15.4 

Outstanding at the end of the year 

2,577.7 

183.99 

2,147.7 

175.74

Exercisable at the end of the year 

480.7 

130.27 

490.7 

129.84

The options outstanding at 31 May 2019 had exercise prices in the range 39.5p to 220.0p and a weighted average remaining contractual 
life of 7.6 years (2018: 8.1 years). The average market share price of options at date of exercise was 217p (2018: 221p).

71

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

27

Share-based payments (continued)
The terms of these options are as follows: 

Date of grant  

23/09/2010 

22/11/2013 

09/12/2014 

10/12/2014 

Options 
outstanding at 
31 May 2017 

39,733 

187,000 

24,000 

230,000 

21/12/2016 

1,135,500 

15/12/2017 

15/12/2017 

15/11/2018 

15/11/2018 

142,000 

330,000 

205,000 

285,000 

Vesting 
period 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

3 years 

Market value at
date of grant 
 (p) 

Exercise 
price (p) 

39.50 

176.00 

109.00 

111.00 

193.00 

177.50 

181.50 

218,50 

220.00 

39.50 

176.00 

109.00 

111.00 

193.00 

177.50 

181.50 

218.50 

220.00 

Exercise period

24/9/2013 to
23/9/2020
23/12/2016 to
22/12/2023
10/12/2017 to
9/12/2024
11/12/2017 to
10/12/2024
22/12/2019 to
21/12/2026
16/12/2020 to
15/12/2027
16/12/2020 to
15/11/2027
16/11/2021 to
15/11/2028
16/11/2021 to
15/11/2028

The performance condition for each of these options is that the increase in adjusted EPS must be at least equal to the increase in RPI 
over the vesting period.

All share options are equity settled. The adjusted EPS is the basic earnings per share published in the Preliminary Announcement 
of Results with adjustments made for amortisation of acquisition related intangibles costs of share based payments, and exceptional 
items agreed by the Remuneration Committee.  Further adjustments to the above performance conditions may be approved by the 
Remuneration Committee to reflect future changes in accounting standards.

The fair value of the options was calculated by external consultants, Pegg, Franklin & Co and Pinsent Masons.

Options granted with performance conditions are valued using the Black-Scholes model.

For all awards, recipients are required to remain in employment with the Group over the vesting period.

Future volatility at the date of grant has been estimated by reference to the historical volatility at that time.

The expected life used in the models has been adjusted, based on management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, 
exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

Total charge to the income statement in respect of share-based payments

In respect of: 
Equity settled share options 

2019 
£’000 

98 

2018
£’000

69

There  are  no  share  based  payment  transactions  that  were  expensed  immediately. A  deferred  tax  credit  of  £nil  (2018:  £nil)  was 
recognised during the year in respect of share based payments.

72

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

28

Pensions and other employee obligations

Within the UK the Group operates a defined benefit plan with benefits linked to final salary and a defined contribution plan. 

The defined benefit pension arrangement, called the Hayward Tyler Pension Plan (the “Plan”), and provides benefits based on final 
salary and length of service on retirement, leaving service or death. With effect from 1 June 2003 the Plan was closed to new UK 
employees and to future service accrued for existing members who are offered membership of the defined contribution plan. The 
majority  of  UK  employees  are  members  of  one  of  these  arrangements. The  method  used  in  assessing  the  Plan  liabilities  is  the 
projected unit method. A full valuation of the Plan is produced every three years (the last one being as at 1 January 2017) and updated 
annually to 31 May 2019 by independent qualified actuaries.

The Plan is subject to the Statutory Funding Objective under the Pensions Act 2004. A valuation of the Plan is carried out at least 
once every three years to determine whether the Statutory Funding Objective is being met. As part of the process the Company must 
agree with the trustees of the Plan the contributions to be paid to address any shortfall against the Statutory Funding Objective. The 
Statutory Funding Objective does not currently impact on the recognition of the Plan in these accounts.

The Plan is managed by a board of trustees appointed in part by the Company and in part from elections by members of the Plan. 
The board of trustees includes a professional trustee (Independent Trustee Services Limited). The trustees have responsibility for 
obtaining valuations of the fund, administering benefit payments and investing the Plan’s assets. The trustees delegate some of these 
functions to their professional advisers where appropriate.

The Plan exposes the Company to a number of risks:

• 

• 

Investment risk
The  Plan  holds  investments  in  asset  classes,  such  as  equities,  which  have  volatile  market  values  and,  while  these  assets  are 
expected to provide the real returns over the long-term, the short-term volatility can cause additional funding to be required if a 
deficit emerges;

Interest rate risk 
The Plan’s liabilities are assessed using market yields on high quality corporate bonds to discount the liabilities. As the Plan holds 
assets such as equities the value of the assets and liabilities may not move in the same way;

Inflation risk 

• 
  A significant proportion of the benefits under the Plan are linked to inflation. Although the Plan’s assets are expected to provide 

a good hedge against inflation over the long-term, movements over the short-term could lead to deficits emerging;

•  Mortality risk  

In the event that members live longer than assumed a deficit will emerge in the Plan; and

•  Concentration risk 
  A significant proportion of the Plan’s liabilities are in respect of a single pensioner member. The development of the liabilities 

over time will therefore depend heavily on the actual experience in respect of this member.

There were no plan amendments, curtailments or settlements during the period. The Group’s defined benefit obligations and plan 
assets may be reconciled to the amounts presented on the face of the statement of financial position for each of the reporting periods 
under review as follows:

Group 

Defined benefit obligation 
Fair value of plan assets 

Net defined benefit asset 

At 31 May 
2019 
£’000 
(12,930) 
14,229 

At 31 May  
2018 
£’000
(12,559)
14,149

1,299 

1,590

73

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

28

Pensions and other employee obligations (continued)
Scheme liabilities

The defined benefit obligations for the reporting periods under review are as follows:

Group 

Defined benefit obligation at start of period 
Interest cost 

Changes to demographic assumptions 
Changes to financial assumptions 
Experience (gain)/loss on defined benefit obligation 
Benefits paid 

At 31 May 
2019 
£’000 

At 31 May  
2018 
£’000

12,559 
323 

- 
833 
- 
(785) 

13,515
250

(99)
(492)
26
(641)

Defined benefits obligation at end of year 

12,930 

12,559

For determination of the pension obligation, the following actuarial assumptions were used:

Group 

Discount rate 
Expected rate of pension increases 
Inflation assumption 
Mortality assumption 

At 31 May 
2019 
£’000 

At 31 May  
2018 
£’000

   2.25% 
2.35% 
3.35% 

2.65%
2.20%
3.20%
S2PXA CMI  S2PXA CMI

S2PXA CMI – for males and females projected on a year of birth basis using CMI (2016) projections with a long-term rate of 
improvement of 1.25% per annum with a plus 2 year age rating. The mortality assumptions imply the following life expectancies:

•  Life expectancy at age 65 of male aged 45 
•  Life expectancy at age 65 of male aged 65 
•  Life expectancy at age 65 of female aged 45 
•  Life expectancy at age 65 of female aged 65 

21.9
20.5
23.8
22.3

These  assumptions  were  developed  by  management  under  consideration  of  expert  advice  provided  by  Barnett  Waddingham, 
independent actuarial appraisers. These assumptions have led to the amounts determined as the Group’s defined benefit obligations 
for the reporting periods under review and should be regarded as management’s best estimate. However, the actual outcome may vary. 

No assumption is made with regard to the expected rate of salary increases as there are no members with benefits related to future 
salary progression.

74

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

28

Pensions and other employee obligations (continued)
Scheme assets

The assets held by the pension fund can be reconciled from the opening balance to the reporting date as follows:

Fair value of plan assets at start of period 
Interest income 
Return on plan assets (excluding amounts included in net interest) 
Contributions by the Group 
Benefits paid 

Fair value of plan assets at end of period 

Actual return on plan assets 

The remeasurement recorded in other comprehensive income is as follows:

Group 

(Gain)/loss on scheme assets in excess of interest 
Experience losses 
Gain from changes to demographic assumptions 
Loss/(gain) from changes to financial assumptions 

Total (gain) recognised in other comprehensive income 

Sensitivity of the value placed on the liabilities

Reduce discount rate by 0.1% p.a. 
Increase inflation and related assumption by 0.1% p.a. 
Increase a long-term rate of longevity improvement by 0.25% p.a. 
Apply a 90% loading to the mortality base table (reduces probability of death by 10% at each age) 

At 
31 May 
2019 
£’000 

14,149 
367 
252 
245 
(785) 

  Group

At
31 May 
2018
£’000

14,835
274
(494)
175
(641)

14,229 

14,149

620 

(45)

At 31 May 
2019 
£’000 

At 31 May  
2018 
£’000

(252) 
- 
-  
833 

581 

494
26
(99)
(492)

(71)

  Approximate
effect on
liabilities

£177,000
£119,000
£108,000
£596,000

Note that the above sensitivities are approximate and only show the likely effect of an assumption being adjusted whilst all other 
assumptions remain the same.

Risk mitigation strategies

The trustees invest the Plan’s assets in combination of Liability-Sensitive assets and Return-Generating assets. The Liability-Sensitive 
assets are invested in a variety of LDI (Liability-Driven Investment) Funds. These funds invest in a combination of interest rate and 
inflation rate swaps in order to mimic the movement in expected cashflows of the Plan caused by changes in interest and inflation 
rates.

75

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

28

Pensions and other employee obligations (continued)

Effect of the Plan on Group’s future cashflows

The Group is required to agree a Schedule of Contributions with the Trustees of the Plan following a valuation which must be carried 
out at least once every three years. The next valuation of the Plan is due at 1 January 2020. In the event that the valuation reveals a 
larger deficit than expected the Company may be required to increase contributions above those set out in the existing schedule of 
contributions. Conversely, if the position is better than expected contributions may be reduced.

The Group expects to pay contributions of £258,000 in the year to 31 May 2020.

The weighted average duration of the defined benefit obligation is around 14 years.

29

Notes to the consolidated cash flow statement

Cash flows from operating activities:

Continuing operations
Profit/(loss) before income tax from continuing operations 
Adjustments for: 
Depreciation 
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Amortisation of intangibles from business combinations 
Gain on disposal of property, plant and equipment 
Finance income 
Finance expenses 
Share based payment charge 

Changes in working capital 
(Increase)/decrease in inventories 
Decrease/(increase) in trade and other receivables 
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables 
Decrease in provisions 
Other non cash changes 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

3,144 

(4,498)

3,240 
393 
1,595 
(13) 
(132) 
616 
98 

(2,213) 
1,158 
4,150 
(1,458) 
(110) 

2,532
374
3,303
-
(36)
692
69

4,144
(8,618)
(3,088)
(1,039)
23

Cashflows from operating activities 

10,468 

(6,142)

2019 
£’000 

8,909 
(856) 

8,053 

2018 
£’000

6,574
(9)

6,565

Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash  
Overdrafts 

76

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

30

Notes to the company cash flow statement

Continuing operations 
Loss before income tax from continuing operations 
Adjustments for: 
Finance income 
Finance expenses 
Share based payment charge 

Changes in working capital 
Increase in trade and other receivables 
Increase in trade and other payables 
Other non cash changes 

Cash flow from operating activities 

31

Reconciliation of liabilities arising from finance activities

2019 
£’000 

(241) 

(744) 
18 
46 

(511) 
214 
2 

2018
£’000

(1,919)

(565)
19
37

(8,397)
173
3

(1,216) 

(10,649)

Group 

At 1 June 2017 
Cash flows: 
Repayments 
Proceeds 
Non-cash: 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings 
Amortisation of finance fees 
Exchange adjustments 
Reclassification 

At 1 June 2018 
Cash flows: 
Repayments 
Proceeds 
Non-cash: 
Acquisition of subsidiary undertakings (note 35) 
Amortisation of finance fees 
Exchange adjustments 
Reclassification 

At 31 May 2019 

Company 

At 1 June 2017 
Cash flows: 
Repayments 
Non-cash: 
Amortisation of finance fees 
Reclassification 

At 1 June 2018 
Cash flows: 
Repayments 
Non-cash: 
Amortisation of finance fees 
Reclassification 

At 31 May 2019 

Long-term 
borrowings  
£’000 

Short-term 
borrowings 
£’000 

Lease
liabilities 
£’000 

Overdraft 
£’000 

896 

- 
7 

4,145 
- 
- 
(613) 

4,435 

(6) 
- 

- 
9 
- 
(621) 

3,817 

179 

179 

(3,484) 
6,156 

(1,025) 
127 

3,212 
23 
11 
613 

6,710 

3,307 
- 
(34) 
- 

2,554 

(3,780) 
500 

(1,033) 
597 

- 
19 
19 
621 

- 
- 
52 
- 

4,089 

2,170 

- 

- 
9 

- 
- 
- 
- 

9 

(9) 
681 

175 
- 
- 
- 

856 

Long-term 
borrowings  
£’000 

Short-term 
borrowings 
£’000 

Lease
liabilities 
£’000 

Overdraft 
£’000 

896 

- 

- 
(180) 

716 

- 

- 
(180) 

536 

179 

(182) 

3 
180 

180 

(182) 

2 
180 

180 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

- 

- 
- 

- 

Total
£’000

1,254

(4,509)
6,299

10,664
23
(23)
-

13,708

(4,828)
1,778

175
28
71
-

10,932

Total
£’000

1,075

(182)

3
-

896

(182)

2
-

716

77

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

32

Related party transactions

Company
The Directors benefited from dividends paid in the year (note 10) on their shareholdings as set out in the Directors report page 16.

Group
The Group have an agreement with Sustinere Solutions Ltd (“Sustinere”) to maintain a Combined Heat & Power unit on the Group’s 
premises but not owned by the Group. Sustinere is 21.54% owned by Tristan Lloyd-Baker (brother of Ewan Lloyd-Baker) and 1.76% 
owned by Ewan Lloyd-Baker and his wife. During the year the Group invoiced Sustinere £16,000 and received £3,000. 

At one site in the Group generators were leased from Powr Capital Ltd, a company 50% owned by Tristan Lloyd-Baker (brother of 
Ewan Lloyd Baker) under an ongoing lease. The lease on the generators runs to November 2025 and the Group recognised an expense 
of £29,700 in the accounts (2018: £23,000) and paid Powr Capital Ltd £35,640 (2018: £26,000). At the balance sheet date future 
minimum lease payments total £193,050 (2018: £230,000).

33

Financial commitments

a) Capital commitments

Commitments for capital expenditure were as follows:

Contracted for, but not provided in the accounts 

2019 
£’000 

511 

2018
£’000

1,346

b) Operating lease commitments

At the balance sheet date the Group had outstanding commitments for minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating 
leases which fall due as follows:

Land and buildings lease obligations falling due: 
Within one year 
In the second to fifth years inclusive 
Over 5 years 

Other asset lease obligations falling due: 
Within one year 
In the second to fifth years inclusive 

2019 
£’000 

1,279 
3,939 
3,881 

9,099 

212 
232 

444 

2018
£’000

1,293
2,559
4,722

8,574

272
288

560

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for certain of its office properties, motor vehicles and items of plant 
and equipment. Property leases are negotiated for an average term of 10 years and rentals are fixed for an average of five years with 
an option to extend for a further five years at the then prevailing market rate.

78

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

34

Investment in own shares

On 22 June 2011 the Company approved, adopted and established the Avingtrans Employees’ Share Trust (‘the ExSOP Trust).  A 
summary of the Trust Deed is as follows:

It has been established that the original trustee is RBC CEES Trustee Limited

• 
•  The primary objective of the ExSOP Trust is to hold the capital and income of the Trust for the beneficiaries
•  The beneficiaries and the Trustee jointly subscribe for an initial interest in the shares purchased by the Trust 
• 

If the performance condition as set out in note 27 is achieved the option can be exercised by the beneficiaries  

During the year 285,000 (2018: 330,000) shares were purchased at a cost of £627,000 (2018: £598,950) by the Trust and beneficiaries, 
an interest in which was allocated to the Executive Directors as beneficiaries (as shown in note 27). All shares held by the trust are 
under option to Directors. Costs are charged to profit and loss as incurred. 

The above holdings are held at a cost of £3,435,000 (2018: £2,835,000) and shown as a deduction from equity in the statement of 
changes in shareholders’ equity.

35

Acquisitions

Business combination – Tecmag Inc.

On 22 October 2018 the Group acquired 100 percent of the issued share capital of Tecmag Inc. for $1. The acquisition was made to 
enhance the Group’s position in the Medical division. The net assets at the date of acquisition were as follows:

Fair value of assets and liabilities acquired 

Property, plant and equipment 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Trade and other payables 
Borrowings 
Provisions 

Net Assets 

Intangibles assets identified 
Goodwill & IP 

Fair value of consideration transferred: 
Cash 

Consideration 

Acquisition costs charged to expenses 

Net cash paid relating to the acquisition 

£’000

-
151
105
40
(95)
(170)
(31)

-

-
-

- 

132

132

89

221 

Management did not identify any further intangible assets on acquisition of this business due to its distressed state.

Acquisition  costs  arising  from  this  transaction  of  £89,000  have  been  included  in  administration  expenses  included  in  overheads 
before operating profit. 

79

 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the Annual Report (Continued)

For the year ended 31 May 2019

35

Acquisitions (continued)

Business combination – Tecmag Inc. (continued)

The impact of the Tecmag acquisition on the Consolidated income statement is as follows: 

Revenue  

Gross profit  
Overheads  

Operating profit 
Finance income & costs 

Loss before taxation 
Taxation   

Overall effect on the Consolidated income statement 

Since acquisition Tecmag contributed the following to the Group’s cashflows: 

Operating cashflows 
Investing activities 
Financing activities 

36

Events after the balance sheet date

Booth Industries

£’000

772

423
(403)   

20
(7)   

13
-   

13

2019
£’000

(95)
(72)
77

On 10 June 2019 the Group acquired the trade and certain assets of Booth Industries Limited for total consideration of £1.8 million. In 
the 7 months to April 2019 Booth Industries had turnover of £4,537,000 and a trading loss before tax of £752,000 before exceptional 
costs of £358,000. 

Business combination - Energy Steel

On 24 June 2019 the Group acquired 100 percent of the issued share capital of Energy Steel & Supply Co. for $0.6m with no debt 
assumed and $70k of associated transaction costs incurred. In its previous financial year Energy Steel & Supply Co. had turnover of 
$8.3m and a trading loss before tax of $1.6m.

Management are assessing assets and liabilities purchased and are unable to confirm the value, given that they are currently in the 
process of reviewing the records of the business. 

80

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting

Notice is hereby given that the Annual General Meeting of Avingtrans Plc will be held at Shakespeare Martineau LLP, No1 Colmore Square, 
Birmingham, B4 6AA on 14 November 2019 at 11:00am for the following purposes:

To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions numbered 1 to 5 as ordinary resolutions

1.  To receive and adopt the reports of the Directors and the auditor and the financial statements for the year ended 31 May 2019.

2.  To declare a final dividend of 2.4p per ordinary share payable on 6 December 2019 payable to shareholders on the register of members 

on 25 October 2019.

3.  To re-elect Roger McDowell as a Director.

4.  To re-elect Les Thomas as a Director.

5.  To reappoint Grant Thornton UK LLP as auditor of the Company to hold office until the conclusion of the next general meeting at which 

accounts are laid before the Company and that their remuneration to be fixed by the Directors.

To transact any other ordinary business of an Annual General Meeting and as special business to consider the following Resolutions, 
Resolutions 6 and 7 being proposed as Ordinary Resolutions and Resolution 8 as a Special Resolutions.

6.  That the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised to exercise all the powers of the Company to allot relevant securities 
as  defined  in  Section  551  of  the  Companies Act  2006  (the  “Act”)  up  to  an  aggregate  nominal  value  of  £517,474  provided  that  this 
authority shall expire in whichever is the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or the date 
falling 15 months from the date of the passing of this Resolution, except that the Company may before such expiry make an offer or 
agreement which would or might require relevant securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement as if the authority conferred by 
this Resolution had not expired, and that this authority shall be in substitution for all previous authorities conferred upon the Directors 
pursuant to section 551 of the Act. 

7.  That the Company be generally and unconditionally authorised, in accordance with Article 9 of its Articles of Association and Section 
701 of the Act to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693 of the Act) of ordinary shares of 5p each of the Company 
on such terms and in such manner as the Directors may from time to time determine provided that:

a. 

the maximum number of ordinary shares authorised to be purchased is 3,136,205;

b. 

c. 

 the minimum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is 5p (exclusive of expenses and advance corporation tax, if any, payable 
by the Company); 

the maximum price which may be paid for an ordinary share is an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market 
quotations for an ordinary share of the Company derived from the London Stock Exchange for the five business days immediately 
preceding the day on which the ordinary share is purchased (exclusive of expenses and advance corporation tax, if any, payable by 
the Company); and  

d. 

the authority conferred shall expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company except that the Company 
may, prior to such expiry, make a contract to purchase its own shares which will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly 
after such expiry.  

8.  That the Directors be empowered pursuant to Section 571 of the Act to allot equity securities (as defined in Section 560(1) of the Act) 
for cash pursuant to the authority conferred upon them by Resolution 7 as if Section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment 
provided that such power shall be limited:

a. 

b. 

 to the allotment of equity securities in connection with a rights issue or other offer in favour of holders of ordinary shares where 
the equity securities respectively attributable to the interests of all the ordinary shareholders are proportionate (as nearly as may 
be) to the respective number of ordinary shares held by them subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors 
may consider appropriate to deal with fractional entitlements or legal or practical difficulties under the laws of any territory or the 
requirements of a regulatory body; and

to the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph (a) above) of equity securities up to an aggregate nominal amount of 
£156,810 and shall expire on whichever is the earlier of the conclusion of the next Annual General Meeting of the Company or the 
date falling 15 months from the date of the passing of this Resolution, except that the Company may, before such expiry, make an 
offer or agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such expiry and the Directors may allot equity 
securities in pursuance of such offer or agreement as if the power conferred by this Resolution had not expired. 

By order of the Board

S M King 

Registered office 
Chatteris Business Park 
Chatteris 
Cambridgeshire 
PE16 6SA

Dated: 

17 September 2019

81

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting (Continued)

Notes:

Entitlement to attend and vote

1. 

 Only those members registered on the Company’s register of members at close of business on 12 November 2019; or if this 
Meeting is adjourned, at close of business on the day two days prior to the adjourned meeting shall be entitled to attend and 
vote at the Meeting.  

Attending in person

2.  If you wish to attend the Meeting in person, please bring photographic identification with you to the meeting.

Appointment of proxies

3.   If you are a member of the Company at the time set out in note 1 above, you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all 
or any of your rights to attend, speak and vote at the Meeting and you should have received a proxy form with this notice of 
meeting. You can only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the proxy form.

4.   If you are not a member of the Company but you have been nominated by a member of the Company to enjoy information 
rights, you do not have a right to appoint any proxies under the procedures set out in this “Appointment of proxies” section. 

5.   A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company but must attend the Meeting to represent you. Details of how to 
appoint the Chairman of the Meeting or another person as your proxy using the proxy form are set out in the notes to the 
proxy form.  

6.   You may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares. You 

may not appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to any one share. 

7.   A vote withheld is not a vote in law, which means that the vote will not be counted in the calculation of votes for or against 
the resolution. If no voting indication is given, your proxy will vote or abstain from voting at his or her discretion. Your proxy 
will vote (or abstain from voting) as he or she thinks fit in relation to any other matter which is put before the Meeting.

Appointment of proxy using hard copy proxy form

8.   The notes to the proxy form explain how to direct your proxy how to vote on each resolution or withhold their vote. To 
appoint a proxy using the proxy form, the form must be completed and signed and sent or delivered to Link Asset Services of 
PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU; and received by Link Asset Services of PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, 
Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU no later than 11:00am on 12 November 2019.

In the case of a member which is a company, the proxy form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf 
by an officer of the company or an attorney for the company.

  Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the proxy form is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or 

authority) must be included with the proxy form.

Appointment of proxy by joint members

9.  In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment 
submitted by the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint 
holders appear in the Company’s register of members in respect of the joint holding (the first-named being the most senior).

Changing proxy instructions

10.  To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. Note that the 
cut-off time for receipt of proxy appointments (see above) also apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy 
appointment received after the relevant cut-off time will be disregarded.

  Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the instructions using another 
hard-copy proxy form, please contact Link Asset Services of PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU.

82

 
Notice of Annual General Meeting (Continued)

If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time for the receipt of 
proxies will take precedence.

Termination of proxy appointments

11.  In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company using one of the following methods:

•  By sending a signed hard copy notice clearly stating your intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Link Asset  

Services of PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent, BR3 4TU.

• 

 In the case of a member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed under its common seal or signed  
on its behalf by an officer of the company or an attorney for the company. Any power of attorney or any other   authority 
under which the revocation notice is signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be   included with 
the revocation notice.

In either case, the revocation notice must be received by the Link Asset Services of PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, 
Kent, BR3 4TU no later than 12 November 2019 at 11.00am.

  Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the Meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a 

proxy and attend the Meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.

Issued shares and total voting rights

12. As at 11:00 am on 17 September 2019, the Company’s issued share capital comprised 31,362,053 ordinary shares of 5p each. 
Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of the Company and, therefore, the total number of 
voting rights in the Company as at 11.00am on 17 September 2019 is 31,362,053.

Documents on display

13  The following documents will be available for inspection at Chatteris Business Park, Chatteris, Cambridgeshire PE16 6SA 
from 25 October 2019 until the time of the Meeting and for at least 15 minutes prior to the Meeting and during the Meeting:

•  Copies of the letters of appointment of the directors of the Company.

83

 
 
 
84

 The Strategy 
in action
Pinpoint-Invest-Exit

  Pinpoint

Strengthening the energy market portfolio

Booth Industries

Avingtrans successfully acquires Booth Industries on 11 June 2019 for £1.8 million. 

Booth designs and manufacturers blast doors, 
prefabricated fire and blast wall systems, fire doors 
(integrity and insulated), radiation shielding doors, 
acoustic doors, security doors, multi-performance and 
large bespoke doors. Their products are sold into a 
range of markets, including offshore oil and gas, 

marine, rail and infrastructure, security and nuclear. 
The acquisition of Booth Industries enables the Process 
Solutions and Rotating Equipment (“PSRE”) division to 
expand its product and service offering as well as 
deepen its relationships with its existing customers.

Energy Steel

Avingtrans successfully acquires Energy Steel on 24 June 2019 for $0.6 million.

Energy Steel & Supply Co. (Energy Steel) are an 
established manufacturer of machined products and 
components to the US civil nuclear power industry. 
Energy Steel will be integrated with Avingtrans’ Hayward 

Tyler businesses, expanding its product offering, 
particularly in precision manufacturing and solutions 
for “orphan” OEM components for nuclear aftermarket.

 
 
Invest
Establishing world class capability

Energy

Energy

Production ramp-up on the Sellafield 3M3 

intermediate level waste boxes contract at Metalcraft. 

Continued investment has been made in the Chatteris 
site ready to go to full production in FY20. Metalcraft’s 
approach to this project won them the Best Supply 
Chain Collaboration Award at the Nuclear 
Decommissioning Authority’s annual awards.

In January 2019, Hayward Tyler formally 
opened its new, state of the art, 3,250m2 factory 
in Kunshan, Peoples Republic of China.

The new factory will provide existing Chinese customers 
with an enhanced local service capability as well as 
manufacturing a wider range of Hayward Tyler’s highly 
engineered products for the power generation, oil and 
gas and chemical industries, both in China and for the 
rest of the world.

  Exit

Returning share-holder value

“

Avingtrans is quietly confident 
about the current strategic 
direction and potential future 
Exit opportunities

Avingtrans is now fully into the Pinpoint-Invest 
phases of its two energy divisions and its medical 
division since the successful Exit of the aerospace 
group, Sigma Components, at an enterprise value 
of £65m back in 2016.

Avingtrans is committed to medium and longer term 
development plans, with the focus on exiting businesses 
at advantageous valuations, at which point proceeds can 
be considered for return to shareholders, or redeployed 
for continued growth in shareholder value. 

As the energy markets continue to recover, M&A activity 
remains strong and flow control businesses command 
high valuations. Avingtrans is quietly confident about 
the current strategic direction and potential future 
Exit opportunities.

 
 
 
  Performance

5 YEAR PERFORMANCE

Revenue

n
o

i
l
l
i

M
£

n
o

i
l
l
i

M
£

n
o

i
l
l
i

M
£

n
o

i
l
l
i

M
£

Net Assets

EBITDA
(adjusted)

EPS – Diluted
(adjusted)

2014 – 2015 adjusted to exclude 
results for Aerospace division sold 
May 16. The results above are under 
IAS (International Accounting 
Standards). Adjusted for share based 
payments, impairment of good will, 
amortisation/ impairment of 
intangibles and exceptionals. 
Historical results have not been 
restated for IFRS 15.

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

10

8

6

4

2

0

15

12

9

6

3

0

-3

105.5

78.9

22.6

21.2

22.7

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

64.8

69.1

69.3

44.9

34.2

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

9.4

5.7

0.3

0.4

0.7

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

14.9

8.4

1.0

1.1

-0.4

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

 
 
 
 
 
www.avingtrans.plc.uk