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CML Microsystems Plc

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FY2019 Annual Report · CML Microsystems Plc
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Semiconductors for  
a connected world

Annual Report and Accounts

FY19

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Semiconductors for a connected world

CML Microsystems Plc 
designs, manufactures and 
markets semiconductors, 
primarily for global 
communication and solid 
state storage markets.

Founded in 1968, CML operates internationally 
with subsidiaries across the UK, the US, Germany, 
China, Singapore and Taiwan.

Section 1  
Strategic report 

Financial highlights  

Operational highlights 

At a glance 

Group Chairman’s statement 

Market opportunity 

Business model 

Group Managing Director’s review 

Corporate social responsibility 

Section 2  
Directors’ report 

Directors  

Corporate governance 

Directors’ remuneration report 

Other disclosures 

01

01

02

04

06

08

10

16

18

20

22

28

Section 3  
Financial statements 

Section 4 
Other information 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities  32

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Five‑year record 

Shareholder information 

Glossary 

Advisors 

Inside back cover

80

86

87

88

Independent auditor’s report  

Consolidated income statement  

Consolidated statement of  
total comprehensive income 

Consolidated statement  
of financial position 

Consolidated and Company  
cash flow statements  

Consolidated statement  
of changes in equity 

Company statement of 
financial position 

Company statement of 
changes in equity 

Notes to the financial statements 

33

36

37

38

39

40

41

42

43

 
FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS

Revenue (£m)

Pre-tax profit (£m)

28.14 ‑11.15%

2.98 ‑34.93%

Adjusted EBITDA1 (£m)

8.76 ‑12.4%

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

21.80

22.83

27.74

2015

2016

2017

3.18

3.32

4.21

2015

2016

2017

31.67

2018

4.58

2018

6.70

6.97

8.84

10.00

28.14

2019

2.98

2019

8.76

Shareholders’ equity (£m)

Net cash (£m)

Basic earnings per share (p)

42.32 +1.32%

12.81 ‑7.31%

15.77 ‑35.69%

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

28.97

32.58

37.64

2015

2016

2017

13.19

2015

16.71

13.60

2016

18.03

12.45

2017

41.77

2018

13.82

2018

42.32

2019

12.81

2019

15.77

23.09

24.52

1.  For definition and reconciliation see Note 12.

OPERATIONAL HIGHLIGHTS

Communications

Storage

•   54% of Group revenue (2018: 51%).

•  46% of Group revenue (2018: 49%).

•  Revenue £15.14m (2018: £16.17m). 
•  Solid performance from mission 
critical and commercial mobile 
radio customers.

•  Revenue £12.87m (2018: £15.43m).
•  Sales into Cellular infrastructure 

and Industrial Automation 
markets were firmer.

•  Encouraging contribution from 

•  Shipments into Automotive 

chip‑set shipments into data‑centric 
wireless networking.

infotainment and networking 
markets weaker.

•  Post period end release of Group’s 
first 2.4GHz wireless transceiver 
solution.

•  New industrial SATA3 controller 

launched and selectively sampled.

Find out more on page 13

Find out more on page 14

01

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19AT A GLANCE 

Global reach and world-class customers

The Company has long held an outstanding reputation for the quality 
of its engineering and development teams, supported by a clear 
strategy, depth of management and a strengthened global sales team.

Our global footprint

 Group operations

This map is illustrative, but not fully definitive of our locations.  
For a full list of our locations please visit our website at cmlmicroplc.com

02

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19North Carolina, USACalifornia, USAKonstanz, GermanyWuxi, ChinaShanghai, ChinaTaipei, TaiwanSingaporeSomerset, UKEssex, UKSheffield, UKShenzen, ChinaOffices11Established19684Design  facilitiesEmployees worldwide221Engineers>45%Our growth strategy is to ensure we retain our existing customers, 
developing our product range and adding new customers to expand 
the total addressable market.

Our brands

Communications

Storage

Find out more on page 13

Find out more on page 14

2019 revenue split by region (%) 

Far East
54%

Europe
26%

Americas
19%

Others
1%

2019 revenue split by application area (%) 

Communications
54%

Storage
46%

03

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19GROUP CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Our stated strategic 
focus of investing 
strongly in R&D to deliver 
future sales growth 
remains unchanged.

Nigel Clark
Group Non‑Executive Chairman

Introduction
The Group has continued to make strong strategic progress 
during the course of the year. However, it has proved 
a frustrating year in terms of performance. The financial 
momentum that was building through previous years 
has been impeded by a number of macroeconomic 
factors outside of the Company’s control. Extended 
raw material supply chain lead times, weaker automotive 
sales, a softening of the Chinese economy and ongoing 
geopolitical issues have been some of the headwinds that 
we have had to endure. 

While this has been disappointing, the depth of our 
product portfolio, customer base and sales operation, 
have mitigated the impact to some extent, and the 
opportunity for the Company is undiminished. Our stated 
strategic focus of investing strongly in R&D to deliver future 
sales growth remains unchanged. 

Results and Dividend
Revenues for the year fell by 11% to £28.14m (2018: 
£31.67m), with profit before taxation falling by 35% and 
basic earnings per share (“EPS”) by 36%. Operating cash 
generation was strong, given the circumstances, and it is 
a credit to the financial management of the Company that 
net cash at the year end was only £1.0m lower than the 
previous year at £12.8m, despite the fall in revenues, a share 
buy‑back, dividend payments of £1.33m and increased 
investment in R&D.

In recent years the Company has operated a progressive 
dividend policy, in line with sequentially higher revenues 
and profitability. In balancing shareholder returns with 
ongoing trading patterns and the future needs of the 
business, the Board is recommending a final dividend of 
5.8p per 5p ordinary share maintaining the total for the 
year at 7.8p (2018: 7.8p). If approved, this will be paid on 
5 August 2019 to shareholders whose names appear on the 
register at close of business 5 July 2019.

04

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Employees
Despite the challenges that we have faced, our employees 
have worked tirelessly and their commitment and 
dedication have not waivered. On behalf of the Board 
I would like to thank them all.

Governance highlights
The governance report on pages 20 to 21 describes the 
Group’s approach to governance and how it supports 
the delivery of our strategy. During the year, the following 
took place:

Prospects and Outlook
The medium to long‑term prospects for the Company 
continue to strengthen and the pipeline of opportunity 
builds year on year. The Board believes that as and when 
conditions normalise, sales will recover and return to growth. 
We have invested in raw material inventory to be able 
to meet such levels of demand as they occur, however, 
trying to estimate when that might happen is difficult and 
the trading environment at the start of this new financial 
year remains challenging. Current expectations are that 
conditions should stabilise through the year and that, when 
they do, we will be ideally placed to deliver growing returns.

•  supported the Board in providing the viability 

statement;

•  monitored the Group’s systems of risk management 

and internal controls; and

•  reviewed significant judgements made by 

management in preparing the 2019 financial 
statements.

Remuneration committee
•  Reviewed the framework for executive remuneration.
•  Approved the Executive Directors’ 2019 remuneration 

and bonus payments.
Read more on pages 22 to 27

Nigel Clark
Group Non‑Executive Chairman 

21 June 2019

05

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19MARKET OPPORTUNITY

Addressing growing market sectors

The need to transmit and store ever greater amounts of data, 
more quickly and securely is driving both markets.

Key market trends

Our market application areas:

1:
Demand for data

The connected world is driving the 
insatiable appetite for data in the 
industrial arena.

2:
Speed

Communications

Incorporates Wireless and Wireline business

54%
Revenues

Application areas:

Key end markets:

Professional and industrial voice 
and/or data communications 
products

Voice‑centric mission/business 
critical communications (military, 
commercial, construction, 
transportation)

Non‑cellular wireless data 
communications; satellite M2M; 
Asset tracking; SCADA

Increasing amounts of data need to 
be retrieved, communicated and 
stored, faster and more securely.

Market growth drivers:

Need for higher data rates 

Analogue to digital migration

3:
Reliability

Extremely low field failure rates 
underpin the Group’s enviable 
reputation for quality.

IP connectivity

Find out more on page 13

Storage

Hyperstone-branded products

46%
Revenues

Application areas:

Key end markets:

Industrial flash memory cards; solid 
state drives; embedded storage

Telecoms/network infrastructure; 
industrial automation; in‑vehicle 
infotainment; IIoT

Market growth drivers:

Acceleration of HDD to SSD transition

Need for increased speed and highest reliability within “mission critical” applications

Find out more on page 14

06

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
The Group’s wide‑ranging skills, diversified technology portfolio 
and systems‑level understanding, coupled with market‑leading 
functionality and an extensive selling network are key factors in 
the Group’s long‑term success.

Our areas of expertise:

Superior performance for 
targeted application areas

Time‑to‑market 

•  Communications: high performance RF products, 

mixed‑signal baseband/modem processors.

•  Storage: class leading endurance and reliability; 
patented techniques; flash memory agnostic.

•  “Off the shelf” integrated circuits for focused niche 

application areas.

•  Integrates many engineer‑years of hardware and 

software development.

•  Reduces the development cycle for the customer.

Proprietary Intellectual 
Property (IP)

High levels of customer 
design‑in support and service

•  We have full control of the functionality and 

subsequent partitioning of silicon and software: this 
means we can deliver the optimum design mix for a 
specific target application.

•  We are viewed as a one‑stop shop for support with 
hardware, software and system expertise; often 
regarded as an extension of the customer’s own 
engineering team.

•  Through our depth of experience, we have 

•  We have the ability to provide backwards 

extensive overall “system” knowledge, irrespective 
of our “component” supplier status.

compatibility for customer‑developed legacy 
systems.

•  Proprietary silicon and software developments 

•  We have key relationships with complementary 

produce internal IP that does not attract third‑party 
royalty payments.

integrated circuit providers.

Customer  
relationships

Focus on research and 
development and scalability

•  We enjoy high levels of trust with our customers. This 
translates and promotes long‑term relationships.

•  Through repeat design wins, we have upsell 

opportunities.

•  Many of our customers are multi‑national 

“blue‑chip” companies.

•  We have extensive, established global routes to 

market.

•  Multi‑year investment in the business, along with 
normal levels of R&D refresh, has significantly 
expanded our pipeline of products and total 
addressable market.

•  Design is supported by a mixture of in‑house and 

outsourced assembly and testing.

•  Majority of manufacturing is outsourced, thus 

providing scalability for the business.

07

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19BUSINESS MODEL

Delivering long-term sustainable growth

The business model is to design, manufacture and market a range 
of semiconductors for global industrial and professional applications 
within the storage and communications market areas. It incorporates 
our objectives towards sustainable growth, namely of focused 
engineering investment, managed cost base, progressive revenues  
and consistent gross margins.

SISTENT G R O S S  M

N
O
C

R G I N S

A

FOCUSED E

N

G

I

N

E

E

R
I

N

G

I

N

V

E

S

T

M

E

N

T

T A I N ABLE GROWTH

S

U

S

N

ESIG

D

M

A

N

U

F

Technical
customer
focus

A

C

T

U
R
E

MARK E T

P

R

O

G

R

E

S

S
I

V

E 

R

E

V

E

N

UES

O ST BASE

G E D C

A

N

M A

Innovation 
Technical innovation is a fundamental 
contributor to the Group’s success. Our 
marketing and engineering personnel 
collaborate to define and deliver 
compelling, commercially attractive 
semiconductor solutions. Our extensive 
and growing silicon and software IP 
portfolio can be combined using optimal 
partitioning for a specific end‑market 
to achieve the right balance between 
performance and cost.

Quality 
Superiority and excellence are 
important definitions of quality within our 
organisation and are widely applicable 
across numerous activities. Whether it is 
product design, manufacturing, selling or 
stakeholder relationship management, we 
strive to be a quality company operating 
with the high levels of business acumen 
and ethical practices that the business 
was founded 50 years ago.

Support 
Superlative customer support is part of 
CML’s DNA. It is a key trait that customers 
associate us with; and an important factor 
in customers’ decision‑making process 
to select us as a long‑term supplier and 
partner. A thorough “system knowledge” 
of the end‑application within the 
markets that we address underpins our 
long‑standing reputation.

Our growth strategy is to be the first choice key‑component  
supplier within our chosen end‑markets.

08

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
We have a range of performance measures to monitor and manage 
the business, some of which are considered key performance 
indicators (“KPIs”).

KPIs1

Principal risks and uncertainties

Revenue (£m)

Net cash (£m)

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

21.80

22.83

27.74

2015

2016

2017

31.67

2018

13.19

13.60

12.45

13.82

28.14

2019

12.81

Gross profit (£m)

Profit from operations (£m)

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

15.47

16.25

19.82

2015

2016

2017

22.24

2018

3.11

3.39

4.31

4.55

20.25

2019

2.82

Basic EPS (p)

Adjusted EBITDA2 (£m)

2015

2016

2017

2018

16.71

18.03

23.09

2015

2016

2017

24.52

2018

6.70

6.97

8.84

10.00

2019

15.77

2019

8.76

1.  The above KPIs are of a financial nature. Management use 

financial KPIs to monitor the business performance, together 
with a combination of internally focussed financial and 
non‑financial KPIs .

2.  For definition and reconciliation please see Note 12.

These KPIs include revenue, gross 
profit, profit from operations, 
basic EPS and cash, summary 
details of which are shown above 
and discussed within the Group 
Chairman’s statement on page 
4 and the Group Managing 
Director’s review on page 10.

Key risks of a financial nature
The principal risks and uncertainties facing the Group are 
with foreign currencies and customer dependency. With the 
majority of the Group’s earnings being linked to the US Dollar, 
a decline in this currency will have a direct effect on revenue, 
although since the majority of the cost of sales are also linked 
to the US Dollar, this risk is reduced at the gross profit line. 
Furthermore, the Group has significant Euro‑denominated 
fixed costs. Additionally, though the Group has a very diverse 
customer base in certain market sectors, key customers can 
represent a significant amount of revenue. Key customer 
relationships are closely monitored; however changes in 
buying patterns of a key customer could have an adverse 
effect on the Group’s performance. 

Key risks of a non‑financial nature 
The Group is a small player operating in a highly 
competitive global market that is undergoing continual 
and geographical change. The Group’s ability to respond 
to many competitive factors including, but not limited 
to, pricing, technological innovations, product quality, 
customer service, raw material availabilities, manufacturing 
capabilities and employment of qualified personnel will 
be key in the achievement of its objectives, but its ultimate 
success will depend on the demand for its customers’ 
products since the Group is a component supplier. 

A substantial proportion of the Group’s revenue and 
earnings are derived from outside the UK and so the 
Group’s ability to achieve its financial objectives could be 
impacted by risks and uncertainties associated with local 
legal requirements (including the UK’s withdrawal from the 
European Union, or ‘Brexit’), political risk, the enforceability 
of laws and contracts, changes in the tax laws, terrorist 
activities, natural disasters or health epidemics.

Understanding of the development, performance 
or position of the Company’s business 
For financial years ending on or after 30 September 2013, 
all companies must prepare a stand‑alone strategic report 
in addition to their Directors’ report (Section 414C (7) of 
The Companies Act 2006 Strategic Report and Directors’ 
Report). The Directors do not believe that environmental 
matters (including the impact of the Company’s business 
on the environment), details of the Company’s employees 
(including gender), anti‑corruption and bribery matters and 
social, community and human rights issues are needed 
for an understanding of the development, performance 
or position of the Company’s business and accordingly 
have not included this within the strategic report but have 
added these to the other disclosures and corporate social 
responsibility sections of this Annual Report.

09

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REVIEW

With an enlarged 
customer base, more 
products ready to enter 
the ramping phase, 
expanded global sales 
coverage and a stronger 
pipeline of opportunities 
than ever before, the 
foundations are in place 
to capitalise as the 
trading environment 
improves. 

Chris Gurry
Group Managing Director 

Operational and Financial Review
Introduction 
The disappointing financial performance this year is 
a reflection of a trading environment which became 
increasingly difficult as the period progressed. At the start 
of the financial year we warned that raw material supplier 
issues had started to become a feature and that we 
therefore expected revenue and profit generation in this 
year to be weighted towards the second half. Nevertheless, 
strong financial management and a favourable product 
mix enabled the Company to report encouraging levels of 
profitability at the half year stage, but it was clear that the 
second half of the year would need to witness improved 
market conditions to achieve expectations. 

A softening of the Chinese economy, along with ongoing 
geo‑political issues further dampened demand, with some 
customers choosing to delay orders due to uncertainty 
and others remaining in an inventory correction pattern. 
This resulted in a full year performance that fell below our 
objectives. 

Measures have been taken throughout the year, including 
increasing levels of raw material inventory to mitigate the 
long lead times, which we believe are prudent in these 
circumstances. While market conditions across the year 
have not been favourable, we are confident our underlying 
strategy is working, as evidenced by the continued strong 
growth in our project pipeline and widening of our customer 
base. Previous investments into our sales and marketing 
capabilities have delivered a consistently higher level 
of design wins over the last two years, building a solid 
opportunity base for long‑term sustainable revenue growth.

10

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Financial review
Sales revenue for the year amounted to £28.14m, 
representing a decrease of 11% when compared to the 
record prior full year period (2018: £31.67m). The reduction 
was across both main market application areas although 
the drop in sales from semiconductor products targeted 
at Storage applications contributed most to the decline. 
Sales in the second half of the year were lower than the 
first six‑months as order intake was impacted further by 
a combination of industry, market sector and political 
headwinds.

Shipments into the Group’s two largest customers fell 
materially as a result of the aforementioned headwinds 
whilst pleasingly, across the broader customer base, just over 
half of the top 40 customers increased their absolute spend.

Despite a reduction in sales revenue, the product mix 
favoured solutions that are well suited to applications where 
quality, reliability and technical performance command 
a premium, leading to improved gross profit margins of 
72% (2018: 70%). Gross profit for the year was £20.25m 
(2018: £22.24m).

Distribution and administration costs fell to £18.07m for 
the year, a £0.45m reduction on the comparable period 
(2018: £18.52m). A gain on foreign exchange of £0.25m 
(2018: £0.45m loss) and a tight focus on operational spend 
more than compensated for an increase in the amortisation 
of development costs to £5.15m (2018: £4.75m) and the 
effect of accounting for pensions under International 
Accounting Standards (IAS 19), which impacted costs by 
£0.16m (2018: £0.1m credit). 

In recent years the Group has operated at an elevated 
level of research and development investment with a 
policy designed to maximise growth potential through the 
development of new products that will expand the size of 
the Group’s serviceable market. At the same time, there 
is also a need to protect existing revenue streams through 
the periodic refresh of the product portfolio to cope with 
changes in customer needs and market requirements. 
Throughout the year we committed to new developments 
to complement the underlying core roadmap programmes 
already underway. This resulted in a 20% increase in spend 
on research and development costs for the year to £8.24m 
(2018: £6.87m) with £1.07m expensed (2018: £1.19m) and 
£7.17m capitalised under the Group’s long‑standing policy 
(2018: £5.68m).

Highlights
•  Communications:

•  revenue £15.14m (2018: £16.17m); 
•  solid performance from mission critical and 

commercial mobile radio customers;

•  encouraging contribution from chip‑set shipments 

into data‑centric wireless networking; and
•  post period‑end release of Group’s first 2.4GHz 

wireless transceiver solution.

•  Storage:

•  revenue £12.87m (2018: £15.43m);
•  Sales into Cellular infrastructure and Industrial 

automation markets were firmer;

•  shipments into Automotive infotainment and 

networking markets weaker; and

•  new industrial SATA3 controller launched and 

selectively sampled.

•  Record R&D investment of £8.24m (2018: £6.87m)
•  Progress with diversifying customer base
•  Expanded sales and marketing capabilities

The Group receives other income from a combination 
of rental income (commercial rental of non‑operational 
property assets), grant income associated with specific 
engineering development activities and royalty income 
(sale of third party technology incorporated within 
semiconductor solutions). The amount recorded for the 
year was £0.64m (2018: £0.83m).

Profit from operations fell £1.74m to £2.81m (2018: £4.55m). 

During the first six‑months of the year, the Group completed 
the sale of a non‑operational property asset in Essex, 
generating a profit on disposal of £0.22m. There were 
no such transactions in the comparable year, although 
the Group’s investment properties did receive an uplift 
in valuation amounting to £0.14m. After accounting for 
share‑based payments and net finance income, a profit 
before tax of £2.98m was recorded (2018: £4.58m).

Contribution from the top two customers fell significantly 
with both of these customers operating in the Storage 
sector and themselves impacted by the market dynamics 
that remained a feature across the year. Similar to the prior 
year, only one customer contributed more than 10% of the 
Group’s revenues.

11

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REVIEW CONTINUED

Operational and Financial Review continued
Financial review continued
A higher UK tax credit associated with the Group’s research 
and development activities was the primary driver behind 
a lower than average rate of taxation, at 10% (2018: 10%), 
leading to an income tax expense of £0.29m being 
recorded (2018: £0.44m).

Profit after tax equated to £2.70m (2018: £4.14m) 
representing a reduction of 35%. Basic EPS was 15.77p (2018: 
24.52p) with a slightly higher number of shares in issue.

Cash management across the Group throughout the year 
was an important focus area. At 31 March 2019, Group net 
cash balances amounted to £12.81m, a reduction of £1.01m 
from the start of the financial year (1 April 2018: £13.82m). 
This is a particularly pleasing performance following the 
need to navigate current and potential future inventory 
issues, another record year of R&D spend (£8.24m) and 
payment of a £1.33m dividend in respect of the prior 
financial year. Included in the cash balance is a conditional 
customer prepayment of £0.70m made against future 
product purchases. 

At the beginning of the year, we communicated that the 
semiconductor industry as a whole had been experiencing 
extended lead times for raw materials. In varying forms, 
this message permeated the year and suitable measures 
were initiated to mitigate any impact where possible. 

Resulting inventory levels at 31 March 2019 were £2.88m 
(2018: £2.35m).

As reported within the prior year’s Annual Report, the deficit 
associated with the Group’s historic final salary pension 
scheme, as calculated under IAS 19, had fallen to £2.07m. 
For this financial year, whilst the assets of the scheme have 
remained fairly stable at £20.63m (2018: £20.68m), the 
assumptions used within the calculation of liabilities has 
had a significant impact. Predominantly, a movement in the 
discount rate used at the end of the financial year drove the 
net pension liability up to £3.55m. Additionally, for this year, 
an IAS19 expense of £0.16m was charged to the income 
statement in part associated with the recent mandatory 
introduction of Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) 
gender equalization rules.

Separately from the IAS19 calculation, the most recent 
triennial actuarial valuation on the scheme carried out 
by an independent professionally qualified actuary, as 
at 31 March 2017, resulted in a net pension surplus of 
£1.89m. An approximate update of the funding position 
was carried out as at 31 March 2018 which, when viewed 
as a continuing scheme, showed a net surplus of £3.17m. 
The report further stated that the scheme assets were 
sufficient to cover 118% of the benefits accrued to members, 
after allowing for future increases in these benefits. 

Revenue (£m)

Gross profit (£m)

Profit from operations (£m)

28.14 ‑11.15%

20.25 ‑8.95%

2.82 ‑38.02%

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

21.80

22.83

27.74

2015

2016

2017

15.47

16.25

19.82

2015

2016

2017

31.67

2018

22.24

2018

3.11

3.39

4.31

4.55

28.14

2019

20.25

2019

2.82

Adjusted EBITDA1 (£m)

Shareholders’ equity (£m)

Dividend (p)

8.76 ‑12.4%

42.32 +1.32%

7.80p 

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

6.70

6.97

8.84

2015

2016

2017

28.97

32.58

37.64

2015

2016

2017

10.00

2018

41.77

20182

8.76

2019

42.32

20192

6.90

7.00

7.40

7.80

7.80

1.  For definition and reconciliation see Note 12.
2.  2019 incorporates an interim dividend of 2.0p and a proposed final dividend of 5.8p, providing a total dividend of 7.8p (see Note 10).

12

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Communications

The ongoing strategy within Communications markets is to develop 
new products that enable us to grow customer share, widen the 
customer base and expand the size of the serviceable market 
through enabling new functionality and improved performance 
within the customers’ end product. 

The ongoing strategy within Communications markets is to 
develop new products that enable us to grow customer 
share, widen the customer base and expand the size of the 
serviceable market through enabling new functionality and 
improved performance within the customers’ end product. 

The Group’s Communication semiconductor portfolio now 
exceeds 70 solutions and our continued system‑level focus 
permits a single customer wireless product to contain up 
to five separate CML devices. This increases our content 
value within the end product but, importantly, with the aid 
of focused demonstration platforms and global technical 
support teams, helps our customers get to market faster and 
at a lower overall cost.

Revenue from the sale of semiconductors into the 
Communications sector amounted to £15.14m (2018: 
£16.17m), a decline of 6% over the previous full year. 
At the interim stage, an advance of 1% had been recorded 
against a particularly strong comparable period which 
serves to highlight the trading deterioration through the 
final months of the year. Shipments into both the Americas 
and Asia were lower and reflected a combination of the 
aforementioned headwinds and associated customer 
inventory level dynamics.

Application areas

Industrial

Professional and industrial voice and/or data 
communications products

Industrial

Marine
Medical

Markets served

Industrial

Medical
Marine

Satellite
Security
Military

Digital baseband processors, modem IC’s and radio 
frequency (RF) solutions contributed the bulk of shipments 
through the year with some application sectors achieving 
good results despite challenging circumstances. A solid 
performance came from a number of professional and 
commercial mobile radio customers, where the Group 
produces focussed solutions for standards such as TETRA, 
P25 and DMR along with regional derivatives, targeted at 
emergency warning applications as an example. 

An encouraging contribution was made from the use 
of CML chip sets within data‑centric proprietary wireless 
network solutions that are deployed for a variety of secure 
data control, monitoring and logging requirements on 
a fairly localised basis. Included within this are Real‑Time 
Kinematic (RTK) products for enhanced GPS positioning uses 
and narrowband wireless products for monitoring and utility 
substation automation. The sale of products specifically 
into satellite applications was softer year‑on‑year, as were 
revenues from the mature wireline telecom portfolio.

The Group released a selection of new products across the 
year supported by appropriate demonstration platforms to 
aid the design‑in process. These new products are expected 
to follow the typical multi‑year cycle from customer 
introduction through to meaningful revenue generation. 
Our ultra‑low power audio codec that was released in the 
second half of the year fits neatly into current application 
areas but, as a general purpose audio codec plus class‑D 
amplifier solution, should also serve to expand our market 
sector reach. Following the financial year end, and in 
keeping with our stated strategy to widen the serviceable 
market size, the Group released its first focussed 2.4GHz 
wireless transceiver solution, the SCT2400. Its long‑range 
low power credentials and security features make it an 
ideal solution for digital voice and data applications that 
require traditional mobile radio functionality but on globally 
accepted, license‑free radio channels.

Transport

Satellite

Medical

Military
Satellite

Telecoms
Transport

Utilities

Industrial

Industrial

Industrial

Medical

Medical

Medical

Marine

Satellite

Satellite

Satellite

Military
Security

Marine

Marine

Marine

Military

Military

Military

Security

Transport

Transport

Transport

Critical
Telecoms
comms

Security

Security

Security

Telecoms

Telecoms

Telecoms

Critical
comms

Critical
comms

Critical
comms

Critical
comms

Telephony

Telephony

Telephony

Utilities

Utilities

Telephony
Utilities

POS

POS

POS

Critical
Transport
Telecoms
comms

Telephony
Utilities

POS

Telephony
Utilities

POS

POS

13

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19GROUP MANAGING DIRECTOR’S REVIEW CONTINUED

Storage

Over recent years, we have significantly expanded the Storage 
product portfolio to encompass most of the interface standards used 
within the high reliability markets that remain a strong focus for growth. 

Over recent years we have significantly expanded the 
Storage product portfolio to encompass most of the 
interface standards used within the high reliability markets 
that remain a strong focus for growth. Investment levels 
have been high but that has positioned us well to capture 
the increasing number of opportunities that a wider 
target market presents. However, from a purely financial 
performance viewpoint, the contribution this year from the 
Storage sector fell well short of management expectations.

Sales revenues were £12.87m equating to a disappointing 
17% reduction against the prior year (2018: £15.43m). It is 
particularly frustrating to report a fall of this magnitude 
given that the principal causes were either related to 
specific market dynamics or as a result of the uncertainties 
associated with ongoing geo‑political issues. Our customer 
purchasing patterns continued to be impacted by the 
hangover from pricing and supply fluctuations associated 
with NAND flash memory technology itself, which sits 
alongside our controller in the customers’ end product. 
This affected the majority of our customers to a degree, with 
some managing the situation more successfully than others. 
Sales into the automotive infotainment market were weaker 
following a globally reported weakness in that particular 
sector, but also due to the limited customer base the Group 
has in this relatively new market for us.

Further analysis of the total revenue number for Storage 
shows that the situation was mixed, with a selection of 
mature products experiencing a decline that was partially 
countered by an increased contribution from more recent 
product introductions.

Despite the broad‑based fall in Storage revenues and the 
prevailing market conditions, a number of our customers 
supplying solutions into the Telecom Infrastructure and 
Industrial Automation markets increased their spend with 
us. We received notification that storage solutions based 
upon our semiconductors passed qualification at four 
of the top five cellular infrastructure manufacturers and 
subsequent shipment volumes grew across the year as a 
whole. Additionally, and in keeping with our stated strategy 
for growth, we secured design‑wins in several new areas, 
including voting machines, cashier systems and black box 
“dataloggers” for railway applications.

In February we announced a new SATA 3 product, the 
X1, which is designed to satisfy the specific needs of the 
industrial, high reliability markets. It is the first dual‑core 
product we have produced and uses our proprietary 
processor technology offering enhanced levels of data 
security. Compatible with current and next generation 
NAND flashes, the solution offers class‑leading endurance 
at speeds up to 6.0Gb/s and is ideal for customers who have 
power and space constraints. The X1 significantly increases 
the size of the Group’s serviceable market and is expected 
to be a major growth contributor in future years. A selection 
of early stage lead customers are already evaluating the 
product whilst a number of qualification and compliance 
activities are underway ahead of mass production 
availability later in the calendar year.

Medical
Industrial

Whilst the X1 is seen as a flagship product both technically 
and in terms of future revenue generation, R&D spend 
through the period was simultaneously focussed on 
enhancements and roadmap developments for the 
Group’s HyMap controller firmware and towards refreshing 
certain existing products to ensure future compatibility with 
commercially available NAND flash technology.

Medical

Gaming
Infotainment

Gaming

Application areas

Industrial flash memory cards; solid state drives; 
embedded storage

Markets served

Automotive

Industrial
Automotive

Medical
Industrial
Automotive

Automotive

Automotive
Industrial

Industrial
Automotive
Medical

Infrastructure
Medical
Industrial

Infotainment
Infrastructure
Medical

Gaming
Infotainment
Infrastructure

Infrastructure

Infrastructure
Infotainment

Infotainment
Infrastructure
Gaming

Security
Gaming
Infotainment

Telecoms
Security
Gaming

Utilities
Telecoms
Security

Utilities
Telecoms

Utilities

Security

Security
Telecoms

Telecoms
Security
Utilities

Mobile and 
Utilities
Telecoms
POS payment

Mobile and 
Utilities
POS payment

Mobile and 
POS payment

£

£

£

£

£

£

Mobile and 

POS payment

Mobile and 
POS payment

14

Mobile and 
POS payment

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Operational and Financial Review continued
Strategy overview
The Group’s strategy today remains consistent with that 
previously communicated. Our business is focused on two 
important markets, namely industrial Communications and 
industrial Storage, where our proprietary IP along with the 
quality and reliability of our technology sets us apart from 
our peers and makes us an integral part of our customers’ 
products. We have developed a strong reputation in both 
of these markets and we continue to supply a growing world 
class customer base. This, coupled with an extensive sales 
network and expanded presence globally, will enable us 
to scale further once current market conditions ease. 

Growth in both markets is being driven by the persistent 
demand for increasing amounts of data to be delivered 
faster and stored more reliably and securely. We remain 
committed to generating a diverse revenue stream across 
a broad range of customers. We are a single‑source supplier 
to our customers, meaning that once designed in, the 
displacement of our chips would require our customers to 
undertake an element of product redesign.

R&D is a key tenet of our growth strategy. Our focus is on 
developing products which will lead to design wins with new 
and existing customers that we believe have the potential to 
develop into long‑term, significant revenue generators. 

The Company has a proven track record of successful 
acquisitions and will continue to seek further appropriate 
opportunities to complement our organic growth. 

Market developments
The underlying growth trends within our two main industrial 
application areas continue to strengthen and underpin 
confidence in our strategy. The persistent demand for 
increasing amounts of data to be transmitted and stored 
more quickly and securely remains.

The Communications market continues to exhibit a multitude 
of growth areas. Demand for inexpensive and reliable 
land mobile radios, growing significance of efficient critical 
communications operations, application of land mobile radios 
in diverse industries and the transition of communication 
devices from analogue technology to digital are some of the 
factors driving the voice‑centric market. For M2M and IIoT 
applications, internet connectivity for intelligent transportation, 
data accuracy and continuity for agricultural and 
construction sectors, control and data acquisition for Public 
Utilities and the increasing data throughput requirements 
from terrestrial and satellite communications applications all 
combine to drive growth through the years ahead.

Within the industrial data storage market, there are 
several exciting opportunities demonstrating solid growth 
characteristics. The Industrial control and factory automation 
market is growing through the increasing use of enabling 
technologies in manufacturing, rising adoption of industrial 
robots in the manufacturing sector and the connected 
supply chain. In Telecoms Infrastructure, the 5G rollout has 
commenced and is expected to start gathering pace by the 
end of the calendar year. The global enterprise Networking 
market is expected to expand significantly driven by the 
surge in connected devices that will generate a need for 
secure & real‑time communication between devices such as 
networking switches and routers. A common feature of each 
of these markets is the need for secure, localised data storage.

An overriding facet encompassing both main markets 
addressed is that security is playing an increasing role in 
the customers’ decision making process. 

For Communications systems, there are security benefits 
to using proprietary radio standards where the over‑air 
radio protocols are confidential to the OEM and the 
unauthorised interception and/or manipulation of customer 
data becomes more difficult. Within Storage applications, 
security conscious customers are increasingly reticent to 
provide detailed requirement specifications to a third‑party. 
Using our proprietary API toolkit, customers have the ability 
to purchase one of our standard off‑the‑shelf Controller 
solutions and then enhance the features themselves through 
in‑house software development, in complete confidence.

Through our continued strong focus on R&D, we have a 
relevant and growing suite of products developed to meet 
the needs of the developing market.

Operational developments
We added new customers to our already impressive list of 
leading OEMs and the diversification of our customer base 
has helped us to mitigate some of the short‑term impact on 
these results. The Group retains a strong balance sheet and 
growing product portfolio. These factors have provided us 
with the confidence to maintain our investments into the 
business, to ensure we emerge from these market conditions 
in a position of strength. 

We have expanded our Sales and Marketing capabilities in 
the year, securing additional routes to market through one 
of the leading global online distributors, Digi‑Key, additional 
regional distributors in Asia and the hiring of a VP sales for 
Storage products in the Americas. Actions are underway to 
further augment our routes to market in that region and to 
ensure that globally we maintain sales channel partners that 
fit well with the expanded product portfolio. 

Outlook
The Board is confident that the medium to long‑term 
drivers remain strong. With an enlarged customer base, 
more products ready to enter the ramping phase, 
expanded global sales coverage and a stronger pipeline of 
opportunities than ever before, the foundations are in place 
to capitalise as the trading environment improves. Whilst the 
timing of this improvement is difficult to foresee, we do not 
currently expect further deterioration. 

The strength of our balance sheet provides us with the security 
of being able to continue to invest in R&D to maximise the 
long‑term opportunities, rather than react to short‑term forces 
which would impact future growth objectives. 

We currently anticipate revenues will advance as we 
progress through the year ahead although the necessity 
for a continued high level of R&D investment is expected to 
put downward pressure on the Group’s overall profitability. 
Though the Board and senior management team will be 
working to minimise the impact of this pressure, the current 
trading year looks likely to be one of stabilisation. 

As and when conditions show a significant pattern of change 
we will update shareholders accordingly. In the meantime, 
the Board believes we continue to be well placed for future 
growth as market conditions become more favourable.

Chris Gurry
Group Managing Director

21 June 2019

15

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY

The Group’s employees are its greatest asset and ultimately are the key 
factor in determining the long‑term success of the business.

Breakdown of employees as at 31 March by gender and management
2019 

2018

Plc Board Directors  

Senior management  

Staff  

Total  

Male 

Female 

Total 

Male 

Female 

Total

6 

14 

140 

160 

— 

2 

59 

61 

6 

16 

199 

221 

6  

14 

139 

159 

—  

1 

62 

63 

6

15

201

222

Senior management is per the definition in Section 414C of the UK Companies  
Act 2006.

The Group encourages employees to participate directly in the success of the 
business through a free flow of information and ideas, along with Company share 
ownership. Options over shares in employee share plans do not hold the rights of 
the ordinary shares themselves.

Employees
The Board aims to ensure that all 
employees work in an environment 
that supports diversity and fosters 
a culture of dignity and respect. 
We are committed to supporting 
employment policies and practices 
that support equal opportunities, 
non‑discrimination, and that comply 
with relevant local legislation and 
accepted employment practice 
codes. Policies and practices of equal 
opportunities and non‑discrimination 
will ensure that an individual’s ability, 
aptitude and talent are the sole 
determinants in recruitment, training, 
career development and progression 
opportunities, rather than on the 
grounds of age, beliefs, disability, 
ethnic origin, gender, marital status, 
race, religion or sexual orientation.

16

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Environmental issues and greenhouse gas emissions
The Board recognises its responsibility as a manufacturing concern to reduce, where economically sound, the energy it 
uses and where possible take advantage of recycling opportunities, complying with local laws as a minimum standard. The 
direct impact of the Company’s own business on the environment is little more than that of a normal office environment so 
has minimal effect. This is due to the fact that the Company mainly uses a sub‑contractor model for the manufacture of its 
products. The mandatory reporting of greenhouse gas emissions pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 (Strategic Report and 
Directors’ Report) Regulations 2013 (“the Regulations”) requires we report the data shown below.

Greenhouse gas emissions in tonnes of CO2 equivalents

Tonnes of CO2e 
Scope 1 

Scope 2 

Total controlled emissions 

Source of emissions

Tonnes of CO2e 
Scope 1 

Fuel – Company owned vehicles 

Gas – heating  

Refrigerant 

Total scope 1 emissions 

Scope 2 

Electricity – office and manufacturing  

Total scope 2 emissions  

Geographical breakdown

2019 Tonnes of CO2e 
UK  

Taiwan  

Singapore 

China 

Germany 

Total emissions  

2018 Tonnes of CO2e  
UK  

Taiwan  

Singapore 

China 

Germany  

Total emissions  

Intensity of emissions 

Tonnes of CO2e/£’000 turnover 
Scope 1  

Scope 2  

Total  

2019 

112.51 

306.58 

419.09 

 % of total 
 emissions 

26.85% 

73.15% 

100.00% 

2018 

133.84 

381.93 

515.77 

% of total 
 emissions

25.95%

74.05%

100.00%

2019 

 % of total 
 emissions 

2018 

 % of total 
emissions

26.26 

86.24 

0.01 

112.51 

306.58 

306.58 

Scope 1 

99.42 

7.60 

0.00 

5.49 

0.00 

112.51 

Scope 1 

118.21 

7.58 

0.00 

8.05 

0.00 

6.27% 

20.58% 

0.00% 

26.85% 

73.15% 

73.15% 

Scope 2 

263.23 

13.77 

3.00 

9.86 

16.72 

306.58 

Scope 2 

325.64 

18.16 

3.75 

17.04 

17.34 

21.12 

112.71 

0.01 

133.84 

381.93 

381.93 

Total  

362.65 

21.37 

3.00 

15.35 

16.72 

4.10%

21.85%

0.00%

25.95%

74.05%

74.05%

% of total 
emissions

86.53%

5.10%

0.71%

3.66%

4.00%

419.09 

100.00%

Total  

443.85 

25.74 

3.75 

25.09 

17.34 

% of total 
emissions

86.06%

4.99%

0.73%

4.86%

3.36%

133.84 

381.93 

515.77 

100.00%

2019 

0.00 

0.01 

0.01 

2018

0.00

0.01

0.01

The above greenhouse gas emissions data is reported using an operational control approach to define our organisational 
boundary, which meets the definitional requirements of the Regulations in respect of those emissions for which we are 
responsible. This includes all material emission sources which we deem ourselves to be responsible for. These sources are 
within our organisational boundary and align with our own internal and financial control. We do not have responsibility for 
any emission sources outside this boundary such as commercial flights (scope 3) since they are not within our control and 
therefore are not considered to be our responsibility.

17

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS

The Board is collectively responsible for the long‑term 
success of the Company.

Chris Gurry
Group Managing Director 
Aged 55, Chris joined the Group in 
1994, was appointed to the Board 
in 2000 as Business Development 
Director and became Group 
Managing Director in October 2007. 
Prior to joining CML, he worked 
within the electronics industry and 
has over 25 years’ experience within 
communications markets. He is 
a member of the Remuneration 
Committee.

R

Nigel Clark 
Group Non‑Executive Chairman 
Aged 65, Nigel joined the Company 
in 1980. He was appointed Company 
Secretary in 1983 and Group 
Financial Director in 1985. Prior to 
joining CML, he was with Touche 
Ross & Co. (which subsequently 
merged with Deloitte in 1989) and is 
a qualified chartered accountant, 
holding an FCA. Nigel became 
Group Non‑Executive Chairman 
in January 2015. 

He holds a Mathematical Science 
degree from the University of 
London. Nigel is Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee and 
member of the Audit Committee.

R   A

Neil Pritchard 
Group Financial Director and 
Company Secretary 
Aged 47, Neil joined the Company 
in January 2015. He was previously 
Finance Director of the UK and Eire 
division of the DAX listed automotive 
products group, Continental AG. 
Prior roles include Group Financial 
Controller at multinational London 
Stock Exchange listed Delta PLC 
(acquired by US company Valmont 
Industries in 2010) and Group 
Finance Manager at FTSE 250 
multinational speciality chemicals 
group Yule Catto & Co PLC (now 
renamed Synthomer PLC). 

Neil is a qualified chartered 
accountant, holding an FCA, having 
spent six years with KPMG London 
in audit and forensic transaction 
services roles. He holds an Economics 
and Politics degree from the 
University of Bath.

Key:
R  Chairman of the Remuneration Committee
A  Chairman of the Audit Committee
R  Member of the Remuneration Committee
A  Member of the Audit Committee

18

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Hugh Rudden 
Group Sales and Marketing Director 
Aged 59, Hugh joined the Company 
in June 2014. He has over 25 years’ 
sales and marketing experience in 
the semiconductor industry. Prior to 
joining the Company, he divided his 
time between leading a VC‑backed 
photovoltaic start‑up company 
through early stage financing and 
providing business and management 
consultancy services across a 
number of sectors. 

Prior to this, he was CEO at Bede 
Plc (acquired by Jordan Valley 
Semiconductors in 2008), and also 
spent 14 years at Memec Group 
(acquired by Avnet in 2005), a global 
semiconductor distribution and 
designs services organisation where 
his roles included product marketing 
manager, regional CEO and VP 
global design services solutions. 
Hugh speaks German and holds a 
BSc in Physics from the University of 
Durham.

Jim Lindop
Non‑Executive Director 
Aged 62, Jim joined the Company 
in April 2013 and has extensive 
innovative leadership experience 
in the technology and engineering 
sectors, having spent over 30 years 
in the industry. Most recently he 
was founder and CEO of Jennic 
Ltd, a privately held semiconductor 
company established in 1996 and 
subsequently acquired by NXP 
Semiconductors in 2010. Prior to 
Jennic, he consulted to companies 
in Cambridge, UK, including 
Symbionics, building and leading 
project teams in new wireless 
technologies.

Earlier experience includes working 
at Rolls Royce designing electronic 
instrumentation for aero‑engines 
and as a Director of engineering 
at Simmons Limited. Jim holds a 
BSc and MSc in Electronics from the 
University of Nottingham.

Geoff Barnes 
Non‑Executive Director 
Aged 74, Geoff joined the Company 
in April 2017. 

He is currently a Director of Baker Tilly 
International having transitioned to 
the role in June 2016 after serving as 
its CEO and President for 16 years. 
He is also Non‑Executive Chairman 
of the Supervisory Board of Baker 
Tilly South‑East Europe Ltd, strategic 
advisor on international matters to 
a major city law firm and chairman 
of the International Advisory 
Panel of the Institute of Chartered 
Accountants in England and Wales.

In 2015, Geoff was awarded the 
prestigious life‑time achievement 
award by the International 
Accounting Bulletin for services to 
global public accounting. Previous 
roles include 18 years with Casson 
Beckman, culminating in the position 
of Executive Chairman, and 6 
years with Deloitte Haskins & Sells 
in London where he qualified as 
a chartered accountant. Geoff is 
Chairman and member of the Audit 
Committee and is a member of the 
Remuneration Committee.

A   R  

19

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19CORPORATE GOVERNANCE

The Company is 
committed to high 
standards of corporate 
governance.

Board

Audit  
Committee

Remuneration 
Committee

Geoff Barnes (Chair)

Nigel Clark (Chair)

Nigel Clark

Geoff Barnes

Chris Gurry

Statement of the application of principles in 
the UK Corporate Governance Code 2014  
(the “Code”) 
The Board acknowledges the importance of the UK 
Corporate Governance Code 2014 (the “Code”) revised 
in September 2014. Companies that have a standard 
listing on the London Stock Exchange are not required 
to comply with the Code under the Listing Rules. However 
there is a requirement to comply with certain disclosure 
and transparency rules, specifically DTR 7.2, relating to 
corporate governance statements.

The Company is committed to high standards of 
corporate governance and has sought to comply with 
those aspects of the Code that are considered by the 
Board to be practical and appropriate for an organisation 
of its size and nature and where, in the Board’s opinion, 
are of material benefit to the Company and/or its 
stakeholders. A copy of the Code is available on the 
Financial Reporting Council’s website at www.frc.org.uk/
corporate/ukcgcode.cfm.

In particular, the Company places a high degree of 
importance on corporate governance issues relating to 
internal financial control, accountability and the ability of 
its Directors to behave independently and appropriately. 
Consequently, consideration of the Code has been 
weighted towards these issues whilst also having due 
regard for the size and nature of the Group.

20

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Audit
The Audit Committee is responsible for ensuring the 
financial performance of the Group is properly measured 
and reported and for reviewing reports from auditors 
relating to the Group accounts and the Group’s internal 
control systems. The Audit Committee also reviews the 
independence and the objectivity of the auditor and 
the supply of non‑audit services. The Audit Committee 
comprises the Non‑Executive Chairman and an 
Independent Non‑Executive Director. (see Directors 
section). During the year ended 31 March 2019, two Audit 
Committee meetings were held where all Directors in post 
participated (2018: two meetings).

Relations with shareholders
The Group Managing Director and the Group Financial 
Director are the Group’s principal spokesmen with 
investors, fund managers, the press and other interested 
parties. They hold briefings with institutional and private 
client fund managers and analysts primarily following 
the announcement of half year and preliminary results 
along with other ad‑hoc meetings throughout the year. 
The Board also welcomes all shareholders at the Annual 
General Meeting (“AGM”) where they are able to 
question the full Board and meet with them afterwards. 
Details of all briefings and meetings are communicated 
to the full Board.

By order of the Board

Nigel Clark
Group Non‑Executive Chairman

21 June 2019 

Directors
The Group is led and controlled by an effective Board 
that comprises three Executive Directors and three 
Non‑Executive Directors. Details of the Directors can be 
found on pages 18 and 19. The Group Non‑Executive 
Chairman is primarily responsible for the running of the 
Board and the Group Managing Director is the Chief 
Operating Decision Maker (“CODM”) with responsibility 
for the day‑to‑day running of the Group and for 
implementing Group strategy. 

The Board meets formally a minimum of four times 
per year. During the year ended 31 March 2019, eight 
Board meetings were held where all Directors in post 
participated (2018: eight).

All Board members have full access to the Group’s 
advisors for seeking professional advice at the Company’s 
expense and the Group’s culture is to openly discuss any 
important issues. New appointments are led by the Group 
Managing Director and considered by the whole Board 
acting as the nominations committee.

The Group’s wider organisational structure has clear lines 
of responsibility. Operating and financial responsibility for 
all subsidiary companies is the responsibility of the Board. 
The CODM monitors operating performance through 
the regular review of financial reports and by holding 
regular formal discussions with senior managers and their 
respective senior personnel.

In accordance with the Articles of Association, one‑third 
of the Board excluding the Group Managing Director, 
is subject to re‑election by rotation annually.

Accountability
On pages 28 to 31 of this Annual Report and Accounts 
there are details of the Group’s internal financial 
control procedures and risk management practices. 
The Group has a long‑established framework of internal 
financial controls and the Board recognises that the 
Group operates in highly competitive markets that can 
be affected by factors and events outside its control. 
Accordingly, an annual review of the material controls, 
including financial, operational, compliance and risk 
management systems is undertaken during the year 
by the internal audit function.

In accordance with the objectives of the Code, the Board 
reviews the results of the review and takes necessary 
actions where required. The Board is satisfied there is an 
ongoing process in place for identifying, evaluating and 
managing the Group’s significant risks. Further details of 
our financial risk management policy are provided in 
note 23.

21

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT

Introduction
This report has been prepared in accordance with the regulations regarding the Directors’ remuneration report (Schedule 
8 of the Large and Medium‑sized Companies and Group (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 as amended in 2013). 
As in previous years the shareholders will be asked to approve the Directors’ remuneration report at the forthcoming AGM 
of the Company at which the financial statements will be approved. Approval sought for this will have advisory status. 
The Remuneration Committee reviewed the existing policy revised in 2014 and deemed no change necessary to the 
current arrangements. Therefore, there has been no change in remuneration policy in 2019.

Consideration of employment conditions elsewhere in the Group
In setting the policy for Directors, the Remuneration Committee is mindful of the Group’s objective to reward all 
employees fairly according to their role, experience and performance. In setting the policy for Directors’ remuneration 
the committee considers the pay and employment conditions of the other employees within the Group. No formal 
consultation has been undertaken with the Group’s employees in drawing up this policy.

The committee has not used formal comparison measures.

Remuneration Committee
The Board has established a Remuneration Committee that currently comprises Nigel Clark (committee Chairman), 
Geoff Barnes, and Chris Gurry. Chris Gurry does not participate in deciding his personal remuneration package. During 
the year ended 31 March 2019, two Remuneration Committee meetings were held where all Directors in post participated 
(2018: one meeting).

Remuneration policy
Set out in the following table is the Group policy on Directors’ remuneration. In setting the policy, the Remuneration 
Committee has taken into account:

•  the need to attract, retain and motivate individuals of a calibre who will ensure successful leadership and 

management of the Company;

•  the Group’s general aim in seeking to reward all employees fairly according to the nature of their role;
•  the need to align the interests of the shareholders as a whole with the long‑term growth of the Group;
•  the need to be flexible and adjust with operational changes throughout the term of this policy;
•  the size and nature of the business; and
•  knowledge of general pay levels within the Company’s peer group and similarly sized companies.

22

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Remuneration policy
The remuneration of the Non‑Executive Directors is determined by the Board and takes into account additional 
remuneration for services outside the scope of the ordinary duties of Non‑Executive Directors.

Executive Directors

Element

Purpose

Policy

Operation

Performance conditions

Base salary

To recognise skills, 
responsibility, 
accountability, 
experience and value.

Set at a level considered 
appropriate to attract, 
retain, motivate and 
reward the right 
individual.

Reviewed annually 
by the Remuneration 
Committee.

Contribution 
to pension

To provide competitive 
retirement benefits.

Fixed percentage of 
base salary.

Paid monthly into 
pensions or as an 
adjusted amount of 
salary in lieu.

No specific 
performance conditions, 
no maximum salary 
and no minimum or 
maximum rate of 
increase.

No specific 
performance conditions.

Benefits1

To provide a 
competitive benefits 
package.

Includes car or car 
allowance, health cover 
and death in service.

As defined in the 
employment contract.

No specific 
performance conditions.

Annual bonus

To reward and 
incentivise.

Tied to the overall profit 
and performance of the 
business as well as the 
individual in that period.

Assessed annually on 
both a financial and 
non‑financial basis.

The maximum bonus 
will not exceed 50% 
of base salary and is 
totally at the discretion 
of the Remuneration 
Committee.

Share options

To provide Executive 
Directors with a 
long‑term interest in the 
Company.

Granted under general 
Group‑wide schemes.

Offered at 
appropriate times by 
the Remuneration 
Committee.

No minimum or 
maximum levels set and 
no performance criteria 
specified.

1.  Principally a car and private medical insurance. The contracts of the Executive Directors allow the provision of a company car to be 

exchanged for a car allowance and where this is done, this allowance is added to the benefits in kind figure. Contributions to pension 
figures may include where Executive Directors elect to make payments into a personal pension plan in lieu of salary awarded.

Non‑Executive Directors

Element

Purpose

Policy

Operation

Performance conditions

Base salary

To recognise skills, 
experience and value.

Set at a level considered 
appropriate to attract, 
retain and motivate the 
individual. 

Reviewed periodically 
as needed.

No specific 
performance conditions, 
no maximum salary 
and no minimum or 
maximum rate of 
increase.

Contribution 
to pension

Benefits

None offered.

None offered.

None offered.

None offered.

Health cover when 
employed under PAYE.

Health cover where 
appropriate up to the  
age of 75.

Group organised.

No specific 
performance conditions.

Share options

None offered.

None offered. 

None offered. 

None offered. 

The Company has no long‑term incentive plans for Directors and no separate share option scheme exists solely 
for Executive Directors and they therefore only participate in share option plans that are eligible to all employees. 
The committee believes that share option schemes for all employees maximise shareholder value over time and therefore 
no specific performance conditions attach to the number of options granted to Executive Directors on an individual basis.

23

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Policy on payment for loss of office
There are no contractual provisions that could impact on a termination payment. Termination payments will be calculated 
in accordance with the existing contract of employment or service contract. It is the policy of the remuneration committee 
to issue employment contracts to Executive Directors with normal commercial terms and without extended terms of notice 
which could give rise to an extraordinary termination payment.

Single total figure of remuneration (audited)
Individual Directors’ remuneration was as follows:

2019 

Nigel Clark  

Chris Gurry  

Neil Pritchard   

Hugh Rudden  

Geoff Barnes   

Jim Lindop 

2018 

Nigel Clark  

Chris Gurry  

Neil Pritchard   

Hugh Rudden  

Geoff Barnes   

Jim Lindop 

Salary 
£’000 

69 

214 

149 

147 

25 

23 

627 

Salary 
£’000 

60 

214 

141 

147 

25 

23 

610 

Bonus 
£’000 

— 

43 

29 

30 

— 

— 

102 

Bonus 
£’000 

— 

47 

31 

32 

— 

— 

110 

Benefits 
in kind 
£’000 

Total 
excluding 
pension 
£’000 

Contribution  
to pension 
£’000 

Benefits 
total 
£’000

1 

32 

21 

9 

1 

1 

65 

70 

289 

199 

186 

26 

24 

794 

— 

25 

14 

14 

— 

— 

53 

70

314

213

200

26

24

847

Benefits 
in kind 
£’000 

Total 
excluding 
pension 
£’000 

Contribution  
to pension 
£’000 

Benefits 
total 
£’000

1 

29 

18 

14 

— 

1 

63 

61 

290 

190 

193 

25 

24 

783 

— 

25 

12 

13 

— 

— 

50 

61

315

202

206

25

24

833

See remuneration policy for types of benefits in kind. No formal performance measures are considered relevant due to 
the size and nature of the Board and therefore bonuses and share options granted are entirely at the discretion of the 
remuneration committee.

Remuneration of the Group Managing Director over the last five years:

Total remuneration 
including bonus  
£’000  

Annual bonus payout/ 
 maximum opportunity 
% 

Long‑term incentive 
vesting rates against 
maximum opportunity 
 %

Year  

2019 

2018 

2017 

2016  

2015  

Group 
Managing Director  

Chris Gurry 

Chris Gurry 

Chris Gurry 

Chris Gurry 

Chris Gurry  

314 

315 

313 

289 

287 

20.0%/50% 

22.0%/50% 

22.0%/50% 

17.5%/50% 

17.5%/50% 

Change in Group Managing Director’s remuneration:
The table below shows the Group Managing Director’s total remuneration from the two prior years to the current year 
compared to the total remuneration for the Group.

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

2017 
£’000

214

52

47

313

2019 
£’000 

214 

57 

43 

314 

2018 
£’000 

214 

54 

47 

315 

13,530 

14,118 

12,636

Basic salary  

Taxable benefits and pension  

Annual bonus  

Total remuneration of Group Managing Director  

Total remuneration of employees  

24

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Single total figure of remuneration (audited)
Share options (audited)
The following Directors had interests in options to subscribe for ordinary shares as follows:

Chris Gurry  

Neil Pritchard  

Hugh Rudden  

Number of 
options at 
1 April 2018 
’000  

Options 
exercised 
in year 
’000  

Gain on 
options 
exercised 
in year 
’000  

20 

30 

— 

20 

25 

55 

— 

20 

25 

55 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(7.5) 

— 

— 

— 

(8) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

12 

— 

— 

— 

15.4 

— 

— 

— 

Options 
granted 

Number of 
options at  
in year  31 March 2019 
’000  

’000  

Exercise 
price  

Exercise date

— 

— 

75 

— 

— 

— 

75 

— 

— 

— 

75 

20 

30 

75 

£2.20   15 June 2014 to 14 June 20211

£3.51 

25 Sept 2018 to 25 Sept 2025

£2.79 

19 Mar 2022 to 18 Mar 2029

12.5 

£3.45  

2 April 2018 to 2 April 20251

25 

55 

75 

12 

25 

55 

75 

£3.475 

25 Sept 2018 to 25 Sept 20251

£5.20 

£2.79 

28 Mar 2021 to 28 Mar 2028

19 Mar 2022 to 18 Mar 2029

£3.125   17 Sept 2017 to 17 Sept 20241

£3.475 

25 Sept 2018 to 25 Sept 20251

£5.20 

£2.79 

28 Mar 2021 to 28 Mar 2028

19 Mar 2022 to 18 Mar 2029

1.  These share options are potentially exercisable.

250 

(15.5) 

27.4 

225 

459.5 

Depending on the share option scheme, options are granted at an exercise price not less than the market price on the 
last dealing day prior to the date of grant or the average for the last three dealing days prior to date of grant, and, under 
normal circumstances, remain exercisable between the third and tenth anniversaries of the date of grant. The share option 
schemes cover all Group employees, not just the Directors. The share options have no performance conditions attached. 
Options have been granted in the year to directors over 225,000 shares with an exercise price of 279p as at the date of 
grant, the fair value of these options at the date of grant being £126,000. The directors have been granted options under 
the same conditions as other employees, and details of these grants have been disclosed in notes 29 and 30. The market 
price of the Company’s shares as at on 31 March 2019 was 279p (2018: 520p) and the range for the year was 279p to 520p.

Pensions (audited)
The Group operates several pension schemes throughout the UK and overseas in which some of the Directors are included. 
Full details of these schemes are given in note 27 to the financial statements. The number of Directors who were members 
of pension schemes operated by the Company (where a member is defined as a current member, deferred member or 
pension member) was:

Defined contributions scheme  

Defined benefit scheme  

2019 
Number  

2018 
Number

3 

— 

3

—

The Company’s defined benefit pension scheme was closed in respect of future benefit accruals on 31 March 2009. 
Life assurance cover and widows’ death‑in‑service cover was provided under a separate policy for the year ended 
31 March 2019.

Company contributions of £53,000 (2018: £50,000) were made towards the defined contribution scheme during the year in 
respect of the Executive Directors as detailed earlier in this report.

Normal retirement age for all Company pension schemes is 65 years (2018: 65 years). There are no additional benefits that 
will become receivable by a Director in the event of early retirement.

25

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
DIRECTORS’ REMUNERATION REPORT CONTINUED

Approach to recruitment remuneration
All appointments to the Board are made on merit. The components of the remuneration package (for a new Director 
recruited within the life of the approved remuneration policy) would comprise of a base salary, pension, benefits, annual 
bonus and an opportunity to be granted share options. The approach with any appointment is detailed in the policy table. 
The Company aims to attract appropriately skilled and experienced individuals offering a level of remuneration that, in the 
opinion of the remuneration committee, is not excessive but fair.

Remuneration scenarios
An indication of the possible level of remuneration that would be received by each Executive Director in the year 
commencing 1 April 2019 in accordance with the Directors’ remuneration policy and contractual terms, is shown below:

C. A. Gurry (£’000)

N. B. Pritchard (£’000)

H. F. Rudden (£’000)

Minimum

On target

Maximum

271

298

Minimum

On target

184

203

Minimum

On target

170

188

378

Maximum

259

Maximum

244

 Salary   

 Benefits in kind   

 Pension   

 Bonus

The “minimum” remuneration consists of the base salary, benefits and pension as disclosed in the remuneration table for 
2019 contained within this report. The “on target” remuneration is the minimum remuneration figure plus, as an example, 
a 12.5% bonus paid on the base salary element part of the minimum remuneration. There are no contractual targets set 
for Directors’ bonuses and in the last five years bonus levels have ranged from zero to 22.5% of the base salary element. 
The maximum remuneration assumes a 50% bonus paid on the base salary element part of the minimum remuneration.

Non-Executive Directors
The fees payable to Non‑Executive Directors are determined by the Board and designed to recognise the experience 
and responsibility whilst rewarding the expertise and ability of the individual.

Directors’ service contracts
Chris Gurry is employed by the Company under a written contract of employment that provides for termination by either 
party giving twelve months’ notice. Neil Pritchard and Hugh Rudden are employed by the Company under written service 
contracts that provide for termination by either party giving six months’ notice.

Jim Lindop has a service contract effective from 1 April 2019. Nigel Clark has a service contract effective from 
19 January 2015. Geoff Barnes has a service contract effective from 1 April 2017. All Directors are subject to 
re‑appointment at the first AGM after their appointment and thereafter, apart from the Group Managing Director, 
one‑third of the remaining Directors shall retire by rotation at the AGM.

Directors’ notice periods are set in line with market practice and of a length considered sufficient to ensure an effective 
handover of duties should a Director leave the Company.

Consideration by the Directors of matters relating to Directors’ remuneration
The Remuneration Committee considered the Executive Directors’ remuneration and the Board considered the 
Non‑Executive Directors’ remuneration in the year ended 31 March 2019. Any movements awarded to salary are shown 
on page 24 and no external advice was taken in reaching this decision.

26

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Relative importance of spend on pay
The total expenditure of the Group on remuneration to all employees (note 6) is shown below:

Employee remuneration 

Group Managing Director remuneration 

Distributions to shareholders (interim and final dividends paid)  

2019 
£’000 

13,530 

314 

1,332 

2018  
£’000 

14,118 

315 

1,581 

Movement 
£’000 

Movement 
%

(588) 

(1) 

(249) 

‑4.16

‑0.31

‑15.74

An interim dividend was initiated in the year ended 31 March 2018 and therefore cash paid out was greater in that year as 
it recognised the payment of the final dividend payment for year ending 31 March 2017 and the interim dividend payment 
for year ending 31 March 2018.

Shareholder voting
At the AGM on 1 August 2018, there was an advisory vote on the resolution to approve the remuneration report the result of 
which is detailed below:

Resolution to approve the remuneration report  

% of  
votes for 

% of  
 votes against  

% of 
votes withheld

96.03 

3.97 

0.00

Consideration of shareholder views
No shareholder views have been taken into account when formulating this policy. In accordance with the regulations, 
an ordinary resolution for approval of this policy will be put to the shareholders at the AGM in July 2019.

Company’s performance
The graph below shows the total shareholder return on a holding of shares in the Company as against the average total 
shareholder return (“TSR”) of the companies comprising the TechMark 100 Index for the last ten years. The TechMark 100 
Index was selected because in the opinion of the Board it is the most appropriate for benchmarking the Company.

CML

TechMark

1600

1200

800

400

0

Apr
2009

Apr
2010

Apr
2011

Apr
2012

Apr
2013

Apr
2014

Apr
2015

Apr
2016

Apr
2017

Apr
2018

Apr
2019

On behalf of the Board of Directors

Nigel Clark
Group Non‑Executive Chairman and  
Chairman of the Remuneration Committee

21 June 2019 

27

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
OTHER DISCLOSURES

Report of the Directors
The Directors submit their report and Group financial 
statements for the year ended 31 March 2019 in addition 
to the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 22 to 27. 

The Directors referred to on pages 18 and 19 all served 
throughout the year ended 31 March 2019.

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, performance, position 
and risks are set out in this Annual Report and Accounts. 
The financial position of the Group, its cash flows, liquidity 
position, borrowing facilities and the use of financial 
instruments and policies relating thereto are detailed 
in the appropriate sections on pages 36 to 79 and 
elsewhere in the notes to the financial statements. The 
report also includes details of the Group’s risk mitigation 
and management. The Group has considerable financial 
resources, and the Directors believe that the Group is 
well placed to manage its business risks successfully. 
After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable 
expectation that the Company and the Group have 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence 
for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, they continue to 
adopt the going concern basis in preparing the Annual 
Report and Accounts.

Principal activities
The Group designs, manufactures and markets a range of 
semiconductor products for use in communications and 
data storage industries.

Business review and future developments
The strategic report on pages 1 to 17 provides an analysis 
of the business of the Group along with the development 
and performance of the business during the year and the 
position at the year end along with future developments. 
A range of performance measures to monitor and 
manage the business are discussed within the strategic 
report on page 9.

Results
The results for the Group for the current and comparative 
periods are discussed in the Financial Review section of 
the Group Managing Director’s review within the strategic 
report. This information would have otherwise been 
required by Schedule 7 of the Large and Medium‑sized 
Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) 
Regulations 2008 to be contained in the Directors’ report.

Dividends
An interim dividend of 2.0p per 5p ordinary share was paid 
on 14 December 2018 to shareholders on the Register on 
30 November 2018. 

The Directors are proposing to pay a final dividend of 5.8p 
per 5p ordinary share taking the total dividend amount in 
respect of the year ended 31 March 2019 to 7.8p (2018: 
7.8p total dividends). 

28

Research and development
The Group actively reviews developments in its markets 
with a view to taking advantage of the opportunities 
available to maintain and improve its competitive 
position. This action involves the design and development 
of hardware and firmware for the semiconductor 
environment.

Strategic report
Carbon dioxide emissions are detailed in the 
Corporate Social Responsibility section on page 17. 
In accordance with S414C (11) of the Companies Act 
2006; included in the strategic report is the disclosure 
of future developments. This information would have 
otherwise been required by Schedule 7 of the Large 
and Medium‑sized Companies and Groups (Accounts 
and Reports) Regulations 2008 to be contained in the 
Directors’ Report.

Share capital
The Company’s authorised and issued ordinary share 
capital as at 31 March 2019 comprised a single class 
of ordinary shares. Details of movements in the issued 
share capital can be found in note 29 to the financial 
statements. Each share carries the right to one vote at 
general meetings of the Company. During the period 
63,143 ordinary shares (2018: 251,667 ordinary shares) in 
the Company were issued under the terms of the various 
share option schemes.

Restrictions on transfer of securities
There are no specific restrictions on the transfer of 
securities in the Company, which is governed by the 
Articles and prevailing legislation. Nor is the Company 
aware of any agreements between holders of securities 
that may result in restrictions on the transfer of securities or 
that may result in restrictions on voting rights.

Variation of rights
Subject to applicable statutes, rights attached to any 
class of shares may be varied with the written consent of 
the holders of at least 75% in nominal value of the issued 
shares of that class, or by a special resolution passed at a 
separate general meeting of the shareholders.

Rights and obligations attaching to shares
Subject to the provisions of the Companies Act 2006, any 
resolution passed by the Company under the Companies 
Act 2006 and other shareholder rights, shares may be 
issued with such rights and restrictions as the Company 
may by ordinary resolution decide, or (if there is no such 
resolution or so far as it does not make specific provision) 
as the Board (as defined in the Articles) may decide. 
Subject to the Articles, the Companies Act 2006 and other 
shareholder rights, unissued shares are at the disposal of 
the Board.

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Powers for the Company issuing or buying back its own shares
The Company was authorised by shareholders, at the 2018 AGM, to purchase in the market up to 2,566,803 of the 
Company’s issued share capital, as permitted under the Company’s Articles. This standard authority is renewable 
annually; the Directors will seek to maintain the authority for 2,576,274 ordinary shares of 5p at this year’s AGM.

The Directors were granted authority at the 2018 AGM to allot relevant securities up to a nominal amount of £570,343. 
That authority will apply until the conclusion of this year’s AGM. At this year’s AGM shareholders will be asked to grant an 
authority to allot relevant securities up to a nominal amount of £572,505.

Interests in voting rights
Information provided to the Company pursuant to the Financial Conduct Authority’s (“FCA”) Disclosure and Transparency 
Rules (“DTRs”) is published on a Regulatory Information Service and on the Company’s website. Directors and their 
voting rights are listed further below in this Report. As at 9 June 2019 , the Company had been notified under DTR 5 of the 
following significant holdings of voting rights in its shares.

Registered holder  

Miton Group Plc 

Schroder Investment Management Limited 

J. M. Gurry  

M. I. Gurry  

Otus Capital Management 

T. M. R. Dean  

Herald Investment Management 

Ruffer Investment Management 

Legal and General Investment Management Limited  

Slater Investments Limited 

Type of investor  

% of issued share capital

Institutional investor  

Institutional investor  

Private investor  

Private investor  

Institutional Investor 

Private investor  

Institutional investor  

Institutional investor  

Institutional investor  

Institutional investor  

15.90%

11.30%

9.18%

5.63%

5.43%

5.40%

4.98%

4.90%

3.60%

3.60%

Deadlines for exercising voting rights
Votes are exercisable at a General Meeting of the Company in respect of which the business being voted upon is being 
heard. Votes may be exercised in person, by proxy, or in relation to corporate members, or corporate representatives. 
The Articles provide a deadline for submission of proxy forms of not less than 48 hours before the time appointed for the 
holding of the meeting or adjourned meeting.

Significant agreements – change of control
There are no agreements to which the Company is party that take effect, alter or terminate upon a change of control 
of the Company following a takeover bid, other than Director share options.

Payment of payables
It is the Company’s policy to negotiate payment terms with its suppliers in all sectors and to ensure that they know the terms 
on which payment will take place when the business is agreed. It is our policy to abide by these terms. The Company is not 
a trading entity and as such has no trade payables outstanding at the end of the financial year, the Company’s practice in 
respect of the year with regard to its payment of creditors has been zero days (2018: zero days). The Group’s general policy 
is to pay all creditors in a period between 30 and 45 days.

Market value of land and buildings
Investment properties in both the Group and Company comprise freehold and leasehold land and buildings and it is from the 
operating leases on these properties that the Group’s rental income is generated. Everett Newlyn, Chartered Surveyors and 
Commercial Property Consultants professionally valued on a tri‑ennial basis the Company’s investment properties on the basis 
of open market value as at 31 March 2018, at a valuation of £3,690,000. Burghey Brook Farm has been disposed of in the year 
and this has reduced the amount stated to £3,170,000 which has been recognised as the current market valuation. 

29

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
OTHER DISCLOSURES CONTINUED

Directors and their interests
The Directors of the Company at 31 March 2019, all of whom have served throughout the year, together with their interests 
in the shares of the Company were:

Nigel Clark 

Chris Gurry1 

Neil Pritchard   

Hugh Rudden  

Geoff Barnes   

Jim Lindop 

Ordinary shares  
of 5p each

31 March 
2019 

24,600  

908,816  

— 

—  

12,000 

 —  

31 March 
2018

24,600 

908,816 

—

— 

12,000

 — 

1.  Chris Gurry’s shareholding amounts to 5.32% of the issued share capital. 

The above interests in the ordinary share capital of the Company are beneficial. Details of the Directors’ interests in 
options granted over ordinary shares are disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report. There have been no changes in 
the Directors’ interests in shares between 1 April 2019 and 10 June 2019. With the exception of Directors’ service contracts, 
there are no contracts of significance in which the Directors have an interest.

Third party indemnity provision for Directors
The Company currently has in place, and has done for the whole of the year ended 31 March 2019, Directors’ and 
officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of all Directors of the Company.

Annual General Meeting
The notice of the Annual General Meeting sets forth resolutions for the customary ordinary business resolutions 1 to 8 and 
also special business comprising one ordinary resolution, 9 and three special resolutions, 10, 11 and 12 relating to the 
following matters:

Special business ordinary resolution
•  To renew the authority for the Company to allot relevant securities.

Special business special resolutions
•  To disapply the pre‑emption provisions of the Companies Act 2006.
•  To disapply the pre‑emption provisions of the Companies Act 2006 for the purposes of financing an acquisition or 
capital investment. The Prospectus Rules were amended in July 2017 whereby a Prospectus is not required for 
additional shares being issued as part of an acquisition where those shares are below 20% of the total equity holding 
less treasury shares. Accordingly, the numbers in this resolution are revised to provide for the additional flexibility 
afforded by this amendment.

•  To renew the authority to the Company to make market purchases of its own shares.

Capital risk management
The Company only has one class of share as detailed in note 29. Although no specific basis, such as the gearing ratio 
is used to monitor the capital, the Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability to 
continue as a going concern in order to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, 
return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

Interest rate, liquidity and foreign currency management
Further information regarding these matters is provided in note 23. 

30

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Statement as to disclosure of information 
to the auditor
The Directors who were in office on the date of approval 
of these financial statements have confirmed that, as far 
as they are aware, there is no relevant audit information 
of which the auditor is unaware.

Each of the Directors have confirmed that they have 
taken all the steps that they believe they ought to have 
taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of 
any relevant audit information and to establish that it has 
been communicated to the auditor.

Auditor
A resolution to re‑appoint RSM UK Audit LLP, Chartered 
Accountants, as auditor of the Company will be put to the 
members at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting. 

By order of the Board

Neil Pritchard
Company Secretary

21 June 2019

Internal control and risk management 
systems in relation to the process of preparing 
consolidated accounts
The elements of the internal control system are aimed 
at ensuring the accuracy and reliability of consolidated 
financial reporting and guarantee that business 
transactions are recognised in full and at the proper 
time in accordance with statutory regulations and CML 
Microsystems Plc’s Articles of Association. Furthermore, 
they ensure that inventory counts are carried out correctly 
and that assets and liabilities are accurately recognised, 
measured and disclosed in the consolidated financial 
statements. The systems also ensure that the accounting 
documents provide reliable, comprehensible information.

The Group has zero tolerance towards bribery and 
corruption in its business dealings. The controlling activities 
to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the accounting 
include analytical reviews as well as the execution 
and control of important and complex transactions 
by different people. The separation of administrative, 
executive, accounting and authorisation functions and 
their performance by different individuals (dual signatures) 
reduces the risk of fraud.

Internal guidelines also govern specific formal 
requirements made of the consolidated financial 
statements. Establishing the group of consolidated 
companies is defined in detail, as are the components of 
the reports to be drawn up by the Group companies and 
their transmission to the central consolidation system. 

The formal requirements relate to the mandatory use of 
a standardised and complete set of reporting forms and 
a uniform account framework for the Group. The internal 
guidelines also include concrete instructions on presenting 
and carrying out netting procedures within the Group and 
confirming the resulting account balances.

At Group level the specific control activities to ensure 
the accuracy and reliability of consolidated financial 
reporting include the analysis and if necessary 
restatement of separate financial statements prepared 
by Group companies, taking into account the auditor’s 
report and meetings held to discuss them. 

31

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19STATEMENT OF DIRECTORS’ RESPONSIBILITIES 
in respect of the financial statements

The Directors submit their report and Group financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2019.

The Directors are responsible for preparing the Strategic Report, the Directors’ Report (which includes the Corporate 
Governance Statement, the Directors’ Remuneration Report and Other Disclosures) on pages 1 to 31 and the financial 
statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare Group and Company financial statements for each financial year. 
The Directors are required under the Listing Rules of the Financial Conduct Authority to prepare Group financial statements 
in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as adopted by the European Union (“EU”) and have 
elected under company law to prepare the Company financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU.

The financial statements are required by law and IFRS adopted by the EU to present fairly the financial position of the Group 
and the Company and the financial performance of the Group. The Companies Act 2006 provides in relation to such 
financial statements that references in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements giving a true and fair view are 
references to their achieving a fair presentation.

Under company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true 
and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period.

In preparing the Group and Company 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 they have been prepared in accordance with IFRS adopted by the EU; and
•  prepare the financial statements on a going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group and the 

Company will continue in business.

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group 
and the Company transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and 
the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements and the Directors’ remuneration report comply 
with the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also 
responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the 
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Each of the Directors, whose names and functions are listed on pages 18 and 19 confirm that, to the best of each 
person’s knowledge:

a.  the financial statements, prepared in accordance with the applicable set of accounting standards, give a true and 
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Company and the undertakings included in the 
consolidation taken as a whole; and

b.  the Strategic Report contained in the Annual Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the 

business and the position of the Company and the undertakings included in the consolidation taken as a whole, together 
with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that they face.

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on 
the CML Microsystems Plc website.

Legislation in the UK governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in 
other jurisdictions.

32

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT 
to the members of CML Microsystems Plc

Opinion 
We have audited the financial statements of CML Microsystems Plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) 
for the year ended 31 March 2019 which comprise the consolidated income statement, the consolidated statement of total 
comprehensive income, the consolidated and company statements of financial position, the consolidated and company 
cash flow statements, the consolidated and company statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial statements, 
including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the 
preparation of the group financial statements is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
adopted by the European Union 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 March 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 and, 

as regards the group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. 

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 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 public interest 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. 

Key audit matters 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the Group 
and parent company 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 which 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 group and parent company financial statements as a 
whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. 

Group key audit matters 
Goodwill risk 
The Group carries goodwill amounting to £9.2m with £5.7m arising in respect of the acquisition in the year ended 
31 March 2017. As set out in note 13 of the financial statements, the recoverability of the goodwill arising is dependent on 
the underlying businesses generating sufficient cash flows in the future. Due to the significant management judgement in 
forecasting the cash flows and selecting an appropriate discount rate there is a high level of estimation uncertainty which 
results in there being a significant risk associated with determining whether goodwill is impaired. 

Our response 
Our audit procedures included reviewing the discounted cash flow models, testing and challenging the judgements 
and assumptions used by management in their assessment of whether goodwill had been impaired and assessing 
management’s sensitivity analysis on the cash flow model. 

We have used our knowledge of comparable companies and market data to challenge the assumptions and inputs in 
determining the discount rate used to calculate the present value of projected future cash flows. We have audited the 
validity of the model and challenged the valuation model and the basis of management’s impairment considerations. 

33

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT CONTINUED
to the members of CML Microsystems Plc

Group key audit matters continued
Our response continued
We considered the historical accuracy of key assumptions by comparing the accuracy of the previous estimates of 
profitability and related cash flows to the actual amounts realised. We assessed management’s sensitivity analysis of key 
assumptions, including the revenue growth forecasts and the discount rate and considered whether the disclosures about 
the sensitivity of the outcome of the impairment assessment to reasonably possible changes in key assumptions were 
adequate and properly reflected the risks inherent in the assessment of the carrying value of goodwill. 

Key observations
We have no other key observations, other than those already considered in this audit report.

Parent company key audit matters 
No key audit matters were identified in respect of the parent company. 

Our application of materiality 
When establishing our overall audit strategy, we set certain thresholds which help us to determine the nature, timing and 
extent of our audit procedures. When evaluating whether the effects of misstatements, both individually and on the financial 
statements as a whole, could reasonably influence the economic decisions of the users we take into account the qualitative 
nature and the size of the misstatements. During planning materiality for the group statements as a whole was calculated as 
£199,000 which was not significantly changed during the course of our audit. Materiality for the parent company financial 
statements as a whole was calculated as £152,000, which was not changed significantly during the course of our audit. We 
agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all unadjusted differences in excess of £5,000, as well as 
differences below that threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. 

An overview of the scope of our audit 
Our audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its control environment, including Group‑wide 
controls, and assessing the risks of material misstatement. Based on our assessment we focused our Group audit scope on 
the businesses in the UK and Germany which were subject to a full scope statutory audit and business in China which was 
subject to a full scope group audit. This covered 78% of consolidated profit before tax and 91% of consolidated net assets. 
All other components have been covered by desktop review and analytical procedures. The parent company was subject 
to full scope statutory audit. 

Other information 
The other information comprises the information included in the annual report, other than the financial statements and our 
auditor’s report thereon. The directors are responsible for the other information. 

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 the other information, 
we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. 

Opinions on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 
In our opinion, the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with 
the Companies Act 2006. 

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

34

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19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 and the part of the directors’ remuneration report to be audited 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 
As explained more fully in the directors’ responsibilities statement set out on page 32, 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. 

As part of our audit, we will consider the susceptibility of the group and parent company to fraud and other irregularities, 
taking account of the business and control environment established and maintained by the directors, as well as the nature 
of transactions, assets and liabilities recorded in the accounting records. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there 
is an unavoidable risk that some material misstatements of the financial statements may not be detected, even though the 
audit is properly planned and performed in accordance with the ISAs. However, the principal responsibility for ensuring that 
the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error, rests with management who 
should not rely on the audit to discharge those functions. 

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

Other matters which we are required to address 
Following the recommendation of the audit committee, we were appointed by the members in 1988 to audit the financial 
statements for the year ending 31 March 1988 and subsequent financial periods. 

The period of total uninterrupted engagement is 32 years, covering the years ending 1988 to 2019. 

The non‑audit services prohibited by the FRC’s Ethical Standard were not provided to the group or the parent company 
and we remain independent of the Group and the parent company in conducting our audit. 

Our audit opinion is consistent with the additional report to the audit committee. 

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 Clark 
Senior Statutory Auditor

For and on behalf of RSM UK Audit LLP, Statutory Auditor  
Chartered Accountants  
25 Farringdon Street  
London EC4A 4AB

21 June 2019

35

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY192018 
£’000

31,674

(9,438)

22,236

28,140 

(7,887) 

20,253 

(18,074) 

(18,518)

2,179 

635 

2,814 

(117) 

2,697 

222 

— 

64 

(1) 

2,982 

(288) 

2,694 

2,694 

3,718

829

4,547

(143)

4,404

—

140

39

—

4,583

(444)

4,139

4,139

15.77p 

24.52p

15.36p 

23.95p

3  

4  

4  

5 

30 

16 

16 

8  

8 

9  

11  

11  

12  

8,754 

9,998

CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENT
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

Continuing operations

Revenue  

Cost of sales 

Gross profit    

Distribution and administration costs  

Other operating income  

Profit from operations  

Share‑based payments 

Profit after share‑based payments  

Profit on disposal of property   

Revaluation of investment properties 

Finance income  

Finance expense  

Profit before taxation  

Income tax expense  

Profit after taxation  

Profit after taxation attributable to equity owners of the parent  

Basic earnings per share 

From profit for year  

Diluted earnings per share 

From profit for year  

Adjusted EBITDA1 

Adjusted EBITDA 

1.  See Note 12 for definition and reconciliation. 

36

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF TOTAL COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Profit for the year 

Other comprehensive (expense)/income:   

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently  
to profit or loss:

Actuarial (loss)/gain on retirement benefit obligations 

Deferred tax on actuarial loss/(gain) 

Items reclassified subsequently to profit or loss  
upon derecognition:

Foreign exchange differences  

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2,694 

27 

26 

(1,317) 

224 

104 

Other comprehensive (expense)/income for the year net  
of taxation attributable to equity owners of the parent 

Total comprehensive income for the year  
attributable to the equity owners of the parent 

(989) 

1,705 

2018 
£’000 

911 

(155) 

(84) 

2018 
£’000

4,139

672

4,811

37

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31 March 2019

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

Assets

Non‑current assets

Goodwill 

Other intangible assets  

Development costs  

Property, plant and equipment 

Investment properties  

Investments 

Deferred tax assets 

Current assets

Inventories  

Trade receivables and prepayments  

Current tax assets  

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets    

Liabilities

Current liabilities

Bank loans and overdrafts 

Trade and other payables  

Current tax liabilities  

Provisions – current 

Non‑current liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities  

Retirement benefit obligation   

Provisions – non‑current 

Total liabilities  

Net assets  

Capital and reserves attributable to  
equity owners of the parent

Share capital   

Share premium  

Capital redemption reserve 

Treasury shares – own share reserve 

Share‑based payments reserve  

Foreign exchange reserve  

Accumulated profits reserve 

Total shareholders’ equity  

2,882 

3,430 

1,118 

13,471 

4,420 

3,548 

16 

13 

14  

18  

15  

16 

17 

26  

19  

20  

25  

21  

22 

24  

25 

28 

26  

27  

28 

29 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30  

9,235 

1,775 

14,495 

5,307 

3,170 

83 

908 

34,973 

20,901 

55,874 

662 

4,634 

77 

195 

5,568 

7,984 

13,552 

42,322 

859 

9,279 

9 

(342) 

507 

1,406 

30,604 

42,322 

2,351 

3,112 

675 

13,816 

3,950 

2,070 

196 

9,190

1,570

12,542

5,410

3,690

83

1,068

33,553

19,954

53,507

—

5,292

48

181

5,521

6,216

11,737

41,770

856

9,068

9

(190)

443

1,302

30,282

41,770

The financial statements on pages 36 to 79 were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 21 June 2019, and 
signed on its behalf by:

Chris Gurry  
Director   

Neil Pritchard
Director

Registered in England and Wales: 000944010

38

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes 

Group 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

Company

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

2,982 

4,583 

2,966 

(74)

CONSOLIDATED AND COMPANY CASH FLOW STATEMENTS
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Operating activities

Profit for the year before taxation  

Adjustments for:

Depreciation   

Amortisation of development costs  

Amortisation of intangibles recognised  
on acquisition and purchased 

Profit on disposal of property   

Revaluation of investment properties 

Movement in non‑cash items (pension) 

Share‑based payments 

Movement in provisions 

Finance income 

Finance expense 

400 

5,146 

172 

(222) 

— 

161 

117 

(193) 

(64) 

1 

411 

4,745 

155 

— 

(140) 

(103) 

143 

(48) 

(39) 

— 

(874) 

8,833 

309 

9,142 

(320) 

(488) 

(5,680) 

(392) 

— 

39 

— 

Movement in working capital  

33 

(1,743) 

Cash flows from/(used in) operating activities  

Income tax received 

Net cash flows from/(used in) operating activities  

Investing activities

Payment of warranty retention 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment    

Investment in development costs 

Investment in intangibles 

Proceeds from disposal of property  

Finance income  

Finance expense  

6,757 

454 

7,211 

— 

(294) 

(7,169) 

(368) 

750 

64 

(1) 

Net cash flows (used in)/from investing activities  

(7,018) 

(6,841) 

Financing activities 

Issue of ordinary shares  

Purchase of own shares for treasury  

Dividends paid to shareholders1  

Net cash flows (used in)/from financing activities  

(Decrease)/increase in cash equivalents and cash  

Movement in cash and cash equivalents: 

At start of year 

21 

(Decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents  

Effects of exchange rate changes  

214 

(152) 

(1,332) 

(1,270) 

(1,077) 

13,816 

(1,077) 

70 

762 

— 

(1,581) 

(819) 

1,482 

12,447 

1,482 

(113) 

81 

— 

16 

(222) 

— 

— 

117 

— 

(2) 

— 

(2,051) 

905 

— 

905 

— 

(22) 

— 

(235) 

750 

2 

— 

495 

214 

(152) 

(1,332) 

(1,270) 

130 

172 

130 

(8) 

294 

79

—

—

—

(140)

—

143

—

—

—

(377)

(369)

—

(369)

—

—

—

(392)

—

—

—

(392)

762

—

—

762

1

171

1

—

172

At end of year  
1.  The comparative period dividend cash outflow included the full year dividend plus initiation of an interim dividend. 

12,809 

13,816 

33 

Cash flows presented exclude sales taxes. Further cash related disclosure details are provided in Notes 21, 22, 23 and 33. 

39

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY
for the year ended 31 March 2019

Share  
capital  
£’000  

Share 
premium  
£’000  

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’000 

Treasury 
shares 
£’000 

Share‑ 
based 
payments  
£’000 

Foreign   Accumulated 
profits 
reserve  
 £’000 

exchange  
reserve  
 £’000 

At 31 March 2017 

Profit for year  

Other comprehensive income 

Foreign exchange differences  

Net actuarial gain recognised  
directly to equity on retirement  
benefit obligations 

Deferred tax on actuarial gain 

Total comprehensive income  
for year 

843 

8,319 

9 

(190) 

504 

1,386 

(84) 

26,764 

4,139 

911 

(155) 

Total  

 £’000

37,635

4,139

(84)

911

(155)

— 

843 

— 

8,319 

— 

9 

— 

(190) 

— 

504 

(84) 

1,302 

4,895 

31,659 

4,811

42,446

Transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners

Issue of ordinary shares 

13 

749 

Dividend paid  

Total transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners  

13 

749 

— 

— 

856 

9,068 

9 

(190) 

Share‑based payments  

Cancellation/transfer of  
share‑based payments 

At 31 March 2018 

Profit for year  

Other comprehensive income 

Foreign exchange differences  

Net actuarial gain recognised  
directly to equity on retirement  
benefit obligations 

Deferred tax on actuarial gain 

Total comprehensive income  
for year 

— 

143 

(204) 

443 

762

(1,581) 

(1,581)

— 

(1,581) 

204 

30,282 

2,694 

1,302 

104 

(819)

143

—

41,770

2,694

104

(1,317) 

(1,317)

224 

224

— 

856 

— 

9,068 

— 

9 

— 

(190) 

— 

443 

104 

1,601 

1,705

1,406 

31,883 

43,475

Transactions with owners in  
their capacity as owners

Issue of ordinary shares 

3 

211 

Purchase of own shares – treasury 

Dividend paid  

Total transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners  

Share‑based payments  

Cancellation/transfer of  
share‑based payments 

3 

211 

— 

(152) 

(152) 

214

(152)

(1,332) 

(1,332)

— 

117 

(53) 

507 

— 

(1,332) 

(1,270)

117

—

53 

1,406 

30,604 

42,322

At 31 March 2019 

859 

9,279 

9 

(342) 

There is considered to be no significant tax effect of foreign exchange differences in the above consolidated statement of 
changes in equity.

40

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL POSITION
as at 31 March 2019

Notes 

2019 
£’000 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

Assets 

Non‑current assets 

Intangible assets 

Property, plant and equipment  

Investment properties  

Investments  

Deferred tax assets 

Current assets 

Trade receivables and prepayments  

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets    

Liabilities 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables  

Non‑current liabilities 

Deferred tax liabilities  

Total liabilities  

Net assets  

Equity 

Share capital   

Share premium  

Capital redemption reserve 

Treasury shares – own share reserve 

Share‑based payments reserve  

Merger reserve  

Accumulated profits reserve    

Total shareholders’ equity  

14 

15  

16 

17  

26  

20  

21  

24 

26 

29  

30 

30 

30 

30 

30 

30  

1,153 

294 

611 

4,591 

3,170 

12,964 

210 

21,546 

1,447 

22,993 

654 

654 

604 

1,258 

21,735 

859 

9,279 

9 

(342) 

507 

316 

11,107 

21,735 

69 

172 

392

4,651

3,690

12,092

151

20,976

241

21,217

749

749

579

1,328

19,889

856

9,068

9

(190)

443

316

9,387

19,889

The parent company profit for the financial year attributed in the financial statements of the parent company was 
£2,999,000 (2018: £1,456,000). The financial statements on pages 36 to 79 were approved and authorised for issue by the 
Board on 21 June 2019 and signed on its behalf by:

Chris Gurry 
Director   

Neil Pritchard
Director

Registered in England and Wales: 000944010

41

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
COMPANY STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

At 31 March 2017 

Profit for year   

Share  
capital  
£’000  

 843 

Share 
premium  
£’000  

8,319 

Capital 
redemption 
reserve 
£’000 

Treasury 
shares 
£’000 

Share‑ 
based 
payments  
£’000 

Merger   Accumulated 
profits  
reserve  
 £’000 
 £’000 

9 

(190) 

504 

316 

9,308 

1,456 

Total comprehensive income  
for year  

Transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners  

— 

843  

— 

8,319 

— 

9  

— 

(190)  

— 

504  

— 

316 

1,456 

10,764 

Issue of ordinary shares  

13 

749  

Dividend paid  

Total transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners  

13 

749 

— 

— 

Total 
 £’000

19,109

1,456

1,456

20,565

762

— 

143  

(204) 

443 

(1,581) 

(1,581)

— 

(1,581) 

316 

204 

9,387 

2,999 

(819)

143

—

19,889

2,999

856 

9,068 

9 

(190) 

— 

856 

— 

9,068 

— 

9 

— 

(190) 

— 

443 

— 

316 

2,999 

2,999

12,386 

22,888

Share‑based payments  

Cancellation/transfer of  
share‑based payments  

At 31 March 2018 

Profit for year   

Total comprehensive income  
for year  

Transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners  

Issue of ordinary shares  

3 

211 

Purchase of own shares – treasury 

(152) 

Dividend paid  

Total transactions with owners  
in their capacity as owners  

Share‑based payments  

Cancellation/transfer of  
share‑based payments  

3 

211 

— 

(152) 

At 31 March 2019 

859 

9,279 

9 

(342) 

214

(152)

(1,332) 

(1,332)

— 

117 

(53) 

507 

— 

(1,332) 

(1,270)

117

—

53 

316 

11,107 

21,735

42

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1 Accounting policies
The financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards and 
interpretations issued by the IFRIC interpretations committee as endorsed by the EU (“IFRS”) and the requirements of 
the Companies Act applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The following accounting policies have been used 
consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the financial statements.

a) Basis of accounting and preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention with the exception of investment 
properties that are carried at valuation. 

The financial statements have been prepared on a going concern basis as the Directors have a reasonable expectation 
that the Group and Company have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future.

The Group’s presentational currency is Pounds Sterling since that is the currency in which the majority of the Group’s 
transactions are denominated. The Company’s functional currency is Pounds Sterling and are rounded to the nearest 
thousand pounds.

b) Basis of consolidation
These financial statements incorporate the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings using the 
acquisition method of accounting. The results of acquired subsidiary undertakings are included from the date of acquisition. 
No income statement is presented for CML Microsystems Plc as provided by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006. 

A subsidiary is defined as a company, over which the Group has control. The Group controls an entity where the Group is 
exposed to or has rights to, variable returns from its involvement with the entity and has the ability to affect those returns 
through its power over the entity. Dormant subsidiaries are not included in the consolidated financial statements on the basis 
that they are not material to the Group.

c) Segmental reporting
The Group is focused for management purposes on one primary reporting segment, being the semiconductor segment, 
with similar economic characteristics, risks and returns and the Directors therefore consider there to be one business 
segment classification. 

d) Revenue
The Group recognises revenues from semiconductor products at the point of satisfaction of its performance obligation and 
at a determined transaction price. Revenues are recognised when invoices are raised and goods have been despatched 
to the customer and it is probable that the Group will collect the consideration. Revenue is measured at the fair value of the 
consideration receivable excluding discounts, rebates, Value Added Tax and other sales taxes or duties. Other income such 
as interest earned and property income is recognised as earned. The Group recognises its revenue in any given period in 
accordance with these measures and therefore does not recognise future revenues within current revenue. Product sales 
meet the definition of a distinct service whereby the associated revenue is to be recognised at a point in time, evidenced 
by the delivery of the products to the customer, i.e. when control passes to the customer. Pricing is fixed and determinable 
pursuant to agree upon pricing lists that establish stand‑alone selling prices. There are no further performance obligations 
associated with these sales. Warranties for all product sold or any loss or damage suffered by a purchaser only extends 
to the refund of the purchase price or replacement of the product originally sold regardless of how the claim has arisen 
therefore it is only accounted for on an actual identified potential liability, in accordance with IAS 37 Provisions, Contingent 
Liabilities and Contingent Assets.

e) Intangibles
Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifiable 
assets of the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Under IFRS 1 First time Adoption of International Financial 
Reporting Standards, the Group elected to adopt the 31 March 2005 balance sheet amortised value prepared under 
UK GAAP for Hyperstone‑related goodwill relating and carry out annual impairment reviews as required under IAS 36 and 
in accordance with IAS 38. Goodwill was recognised for the Sicomm acquisition in August 2016. Goodwill is reviewed 
annually for impairment by comparing its carrying value to the value in use or net selling price of the cash generating 
unit; any resultant loss being charged through the consolidated income statement. Net selling price is determined 
using a five‑year average of projected future earnings as applied to the price earnings ratio for the technology sector. 
No impairments are reversed.

Other intangibles
Externally acquired intangible assets have been recognised in accordance with the provisions of IFRS 3 Business 
Combinations in relation to the acquisition of Sicomm. These acquired intangibles have been amortised in accordance 
with the following: 

•  brands 
•  customer relationships 
•  intellectual property 

10 years from date of acquisition
9 years from date of acquisition
10 years from date of acquisition

43

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1 Accounting policies continued
e) Intangibles continued
Software
The Group is progressively implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning system across all companies within the Group 
business functions. The purchased intangible will be amortised over its useful economic life of 15 years from its date of 
implementation. 

The Group has also purchased a license for the use of external software for vocoder purposes. This has been capitalised 
as an intangible asset and amortised over 10 years in line with acquired intellectual property rights above.

Amortisation of all the above intangible assets is recognised on consolidation and reported in distribution and administration 
costs in the consolidated income statement. 

f) Research and development
Development expenditures that satisfy the recognition criteria as set out in IAS 38 Intangible Assets are shown at historical 
cost less accumulated amortisation since they have a finite useful life. In determining the period over which the carrying 
value of the intangible fixed assets are amortised, the Group is required to consider the likely period over which the 
developed products are likely to generate economic benefits. Amortisation is calculated using the straight‑line method to 
allocate the cost of the development over a period up to four years, representing the period over which economic benefit 
is derived from developed products and is charged to administration costs in the income statement. Research and other 
development expenditures that fall outside the scope of IAS 38 are charged to the income statement when incurred. 
An internally‑generated intangible asset arising from the Group’s business development is recognised only if all of the 
following conditions are met:

•  an asset is created that can be identified;
•  it is probable that the asset created will generate future economic benefits;
•  the development cost of an asset can be measured reliably;
•  the product or process is technically and commercially feasible; and
•  sufficient resources are available to complete the development and to either sell or use the asset.

g) Property, plant and equipment and investment property
All property, plant and equipment, other than investment properties, are stated at historical cost. Depreciation is provided 
on all property, plant and equipment other than freehold land and investment properties at rates calculated to write each 
asset down to its estimated residual value over its expected useful life, as follows:

•  freehold and long leasehold premises 
•  short leasehold improvements 
•  plant and equipment  
•  motor vehicles   

2% straight line 
period of the lease 
25% straight line
25% straight line

Investment properties are stated at their fair values and are revalued annually by the Directors and every third year by an 
independent chartered surveyor on an open market basis. No depreciation is provided on freehold investment properties or 
on leasehold investment properties. In accordance with IAS 40 Investment Properties, gains and losses arising on revaluation 
of investment properties are shown in the income statement.

h) Taxation
The tax expense represents the sum of the tax currently payable, adjustments in respect of prior years and deferred tax. 
The tax currently payable is based on taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from net profit as reported in the 
income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and it 
further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The Group’s liability for current tax is calculated by using tax 
rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the year end.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amount of assets 
and liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and 
is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary 
differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available 
against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the 
temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business 
combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction that affects neither the tax profit nor the accounting profit. 
Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries except where 
the Group is able to control the reversal of the temporary differences and it is probable that the temporary difference will 
not reverse in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period 
when the asset is realised or the liability is settled based upon tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted 
by the year end. Deferred tax is charged or credited in the income statement, except when it relates to items credited or 
charged directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

44

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
i) Inventories
Inventories are valued on a first‑in, first‑out basis and are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. In respect of 
work in progress and finished goods, cost comprises direct materials, direct labour and a proportion of overhead expenses 
appropriate to the business. 

j) Foreign currencies
Assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rates of exchange ruling at the year end. 
Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rates ruling at the date of the transactions. All differences are taken 
to the income statement. The financial statements of the overseas subsidiaries are translated into Sterling at the average 
rate of exchange for the period for the income statement and at the closing rate for the statement of financial position. 
Translation differences are dealt with through the foreign exchange reserve in shareholders’ equity. The Group decided 
to deem the cumulative amount of exchange differences arising on consolidation of the net investments in subsidiaries 
at 1 April 2004 to be zero.

k) Investments
Investments are stated at cost less any provision for diminution in value.

l) Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held at call with banks, other short‑term highly liquid investments 
with original maturities of three months or less and bank overdrafts where there is a set‑off arrangement with the bank. 
Other bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities on the statement of financial position. 

m) Employee benefits – pension obligations
Group companies operate both defined benefit and defined contribution pension schemes. The schemes are funded 
through payments to funds administered separately by trustees and these are determined by periodic actuarial calculations 
in respect of the defined benefit pension schemes. The liability recognised in the statement of financial position in respect of 
the defined benefit pension schemes is the present value of the defined benefit obligation at the year end less the fair value 
of the scheme assets. Independent actuaries using the projected unit method calculate the defined benefit obligation 
annually. 

The current service cost, which is the increase in the present value of the retirement benefit obligation resulting from 
employee service in the current year, and gains and losses on settlements and curtailments, which arise on transactions 
that eliminate part or all of the benefits provided or when there are amendments to terms such that a significant element 
of future service will no longer qualify for benefits or will qualify only for reduced benefits, are included within operating 
profit in the consolidated income statement. Past service credits/costs are those service credits/costs in relation to prior 
years’ service costs as a result of changes of future benefits earned by members. Past service credits/costs are recognised 
immediately in the consolidated income statement.

Re‑measurement of the UK defined benefit scheme due to actuarial gains and losses from experience adjustments and 
changes in actuarial assumptions are immediately recognised in other comprehensive income and charged or credited 
directly to equity. For defined contribution schemes, contributions are recognised as an employee benefit expense in the 
consolidated income statement when they are due.

n) Employee benefits – share‑based payments
Share options which are equity settled are valued using the Black‑Scholes model. This fair value at the date of the grant is 
charged to the income statement over the vesting period of the share‑based payment scheme. The value of the charge 
is adjusted to reflect expected and actual levels of options vesting.

Cancelled or settled options are accounted for as an acceleration of vesting. The unrecognised grant date fair value is 
recognised in the profit or loss in the year that the options are cancelled or settled.

o) Government grants
Government grants receivable to assist the Group with costs in respect of development work are credited against 
capitalised development costs or capitalised property, plant and equipment so as to match them with the expenditure 
to which they relate. Other grants that are not of a capital nature are credited to the income statement as part of other 
operating income. Grants are only recognised when all conditions of the grant have been complied with and are matched 
to the expenditure to which they relate.

45

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1 Accounting policies continued
p) Leases
Leases of property, plant and equipment where the Group has substantially all the risk and rewards of ownership are 
classified as finance leases. Leases in which a significant number of the risks and rewards of ownership are retained by the 
lessor are classified as operating leases. Rental payments under operating leases are charged to the income statement on 
a straight‑line basis. Rental income under operating leases is credited to the income statement on a straight‑line basis and 
any contingent rents are recognised as income in the period to which they relate.

q) Dividends
Dividend distributions to the Company’s shareholders are recognised as a liability in the Group’s financial statements in the 
period in which the dividends are approved by the Company’s shareholders. 

r) Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of consolidated financial statements under IFRS requires the Group to make estimates and assumptions 
that affect the application of policies and reported amounts. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and 
are based on historical experience and other factors, including expectations of future events that are believed to be 
reasonable under the circumstances. The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting 
accounting estimates and assumptions will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual result. The amortisation period 
of development costs, the assumptions made (for example mortality, inflation and discount rates) for the UK defined benefit 
pension scheme and the impairment of goodwill are considered to be critical accounting estimates and judgements; 
details of which are referred to in this accounting policies note, sections e, f, h, m and t. Deferred tax assets are only 
recognised when there is a reasonable expectation of recovery.

•  Impairment of goodwill

An annual review is carried out (as set out in note 13) as to whether the current carrying value of goodwill is impaired. 
Detailed calculations are performed based on (i) discounting expected pre‑tax cash flows of the relevant cash 
generating units and discounting these at an appropriate discount rate; and/or (ii) the comparison of carrying value 
to the net selling price of the cash generating unit; the determination of these factors require the exercise of judgement.

•  UK defined benefit pension scheme

Actuarial assumptions are made in valuing future benefit pension obligations (as set out in note 27). The principal 
significant assumptions relate to the rate of inflation, the discount rate and life expectancy of members. Estimates are 
used for these factors in determining the pension costs and liabilities in the financial statements.

•  Research and development – measurement and amortisation

Distinguishing whether development expenditure satisfies the recognition requirements for the capitalisation of 
development costs requires the exercise of judgement. The corresponding amortisation period is derived from 
existing developed products in the markets served and therefore the assumption is that new products will provide 
economic benefit for similar periods of time. Depending on these factors judgement is exercised whether research 
and development costs are impaired.

•  Recognition of deferred tax assets

The extent to which deferred tax assets can be recognised is based on an assessment of probabilities that future taxable 
incomes in jurisdictions will be available against which the deductible temporary differences and tax loss carry‑forwards 
can be utilised in the future.

s) Financial instruments
(i) Recognition of financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the company becomes party to the contractual provisions of 
the instrument.

(ii) Financial assets
Initial and subsequent measurement of financial assets
(a) Trade, group and other receivables
Trade receivables are initially measured at their transaction price. Group and other receivables are initially measured at 
fair value plus transaction costs. Receivables are held to collect the contractual cash flows which are solely payments of 
principal and interest. Therefore, these receivables are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest 
rate method.

(iii) Financial liabilities and equity
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements 
entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the company after 
deducting all of its liabilities.

46

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19Initial and subsequent measurement of financial liabilities
(a) Trade, Group and other payables
Trade, Group and other payables are initially measured at fair value, net of direct transaction costs and subsequently 
measured at amortised cost.

 (b) Bank overdrafts 
Bank overdrafts are initially measured at fair value, net of direct transaction costs and are subsequently measured at 
amortised cost. Finance charges, including premiums payable on settlement or redemption, are recognised in profit or loss 
over the term of the loan using an effective rate of interest.

(c) Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at fair value on initial recognition net of transaction costs. 

(iv) Derecognition of financial assets (including write-offs) and financial liabilities
A financial asset (or part thereof) is derecognised when the contractual rights to cash flows expire or are settled, or when the 
contractual rights to receive the cash flows of the financial asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership are 
transferred to another party. 

When there is no reasonable expectation of recovering a financial asset it is derecognised.

The gain or loss on derecognition of financial assets measured at amortised cost is recognised in profit or loss.

A financial liability (or part thereof) is derecognised when the obligation specified in the contract is discharged, cancelled 
or expires.

Any difference between the carrying amount of a financial liability (or part thereof) that is derecognised and the 
consideration paid is recognised in profit or loss.

t) Impairment of property, plant and equipment, development costs and intangible assets other than goodwill
At each year end, the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and equipment and intangible assets to 
determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If such indications exist, the 
recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of any impairment loss. Where the asset 
does not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the 
cash generating unit to which the asset belongs. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful life is tested for impairment 
annually and whenever there is an indication that an asset may be impaired. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair 
value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their 
present value using a pre‑tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of money and risks 
specific to the asset. If the recoverable amount of an asset (or cash generating unit) is estimated to be less than its carrying 
amount, the carrying amount of the asset (or cash generating unit) is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment 
loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the 
impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease until the associated revaluation reserve is extinguished.

u) Provisions
Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation as a result of a past event which it is probable will result 
in an outflow of economic benefits that can be reliably estimated. Provisions are discounted where material to do so. 

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

Where the Company has purchased its own equity share capital, the consideration paid, including directly attributable 
incremental costs, is deducted from retained earnings until the shares are cancelled. On cancellation, the nominal value of 
the shares is deducted from share capital and the amount is transferred to the capital redemption reserve. 

w) Acquisitions
The acquisition of subsidiaries is accounted for using the acquisition method. The cost of acquisition is measured at the 
aggregate of the fair values, at the date of change of control, of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity 
instruments issued by the Group in exchange for control of the acquiree, plus any costs relating to the issue of debt or equity 
securities. Any costs directly attributable to the business combination are expensed to the consolidated income statement. 
The acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities, and contingent liabilities are recognised at their fair value at the acquisition 
date. 

Goodwill arising on acquisition is recognised as an asset and initially measured at cost, being the excess of the cost of 
the business combination over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent 
liabilities recognised. If, after reassessment, the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the acquiree’s identifiable assets, 
liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the excess is recognised immediately in 
profit or loss. 

47

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

1 Accounting policies continued
x) Adoption of International Accounting Standards
New standards, amendments to published standards and interpretations to existing standards effective in 2018, with their 
dates of adoption adopted by the Group and brief description:

1 January 2017/ 
1 January 2018

The improvements in this Amendment clarify the requirements of IFRSs 
and eliminate inconsistencies within and between Standards.

Annual Improvements 
to IFRSs 2014–2016 
Cycle 

IFRS 15 Revenue 
from Contracts with 
Customers

1 January 2018

IFRS 9 Financial 
Instruments

1 January 2018

Introduces requirements for companies to recognise revenue to depict 
the transfer of goods or services to customers in amounts that reflect the 
consideration to which the Company expects to be entitled in exchange 
for those goods or services. Also results in enhanced disclosure about 
revenue and provides or improves guidance for transactions that were 
not previously addressed comprehensively and for multiple‑element 
arrangements.

Replacement to IAS 39 and is built on a logical, single classification 
and measurement approach for financial assets which reflects both 
the business model in which they are operated and their cash flow 
characteristics. Also addresses the so‑called “own credit” issue and 
includes an improved hedge accounting model to better link the 
economics of risk management with its accounting treatment.

IFRIC 22 Foreign 
Currency 
Transactions 
and Advance 
Consideration

Amendments to IFRS 
2 Classification and 
Measurement of 
Share‑based Payment 
Transactions

1 January 2018

Provides requirements about which exchange rate to use in reporting 
foreign currency transactions (such as revenue transactions) when 
payment is made or received in advance.

1 January 2018

Amendments to provide requirements on the accounting for the effects 
of vesting and non‑vesting conditions on the measurement of cash‑settled 
share‑based payments, share‑based payment transactions with a net 
settlement feature for withholding tax obligations, and a modification to 
the terms and conditions of a share‑based payment that changes the 
classification of the transaction from cash‑settled to equity‑settled. 

The implementation of these standards did not have a material impact on the Group’s consolidated financial statements.

Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been early 
adopted by the Group:

IFRS 16 Leases

1 January 2019

IFRIC 23 Uncertainty 
over Income Tax 
Treatments

Amendments to IAS 
19 Plan Amendment, 
Curtail or Settlement

1 January 2019

1 January 2019

The new standard recognises a leased asset and a lease liability for almost 
all leases and requires them to be accounted for in a consistent manner. 
This introduces a single lessee accounting model and eliminates the 
previous distinction between an operating lease and a finance lease. 

Provides clarification on the accounting for uncertainties in income taxes 
and the interpretation to be applied to the determination of taxable profit 
(tax loss), tax bases, unused tax losses, unused tax credits and tax rates, 
when there is uncertainty over income tax treatments under ISA12 .

Amendments to provide requirements on the accounting for the effects 
of how companies determine pension expenses when changes to a 
defined benefit pension plan occur. To use updated assumptions from this 
re measurement to determine current service cost and net interest for the 
remainder of the reporting period after the change to the plan.

Annual Improvements 
to IFRSs 2015–2017 
Cycle 

1 January 2019

The improvements in this Amendment clarify the requirements of IFRSs and 
eliminate inconsistencies within and between Standards.

The Directors anticipate that the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have little or no 
material impact on the financial statements of the Group, subject to any future business combinations, and with the 
exception of IFRS 16 Leases where our review of the impact is ongoing as described overleaf.

48

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19(i) IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers 
With effect from 1 April 2018, the Group adopted a full retrospective transition approach of IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts 
with Customers which introduces a new five step approach to measuring and recognising revenue from contracts with 
customers. Revenue is recognised at an amount that reflects the consideration to which an entity expects to be entitled in 
exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. It has replaced existing revenue recognition guidance, including 
IAS 18 Revenue. 

The Group performed a review and an impact assessment of this Standard. It was concluded that the Group’s revenue 
streams are currently recognised at the point of its performance obligation and at a determined transaction price and 
therefore under IFRS 15, there was no material change in the timing and recognition of its revenue. Microchips involve both 
hardware and embedded software within a chip product, and revenues are recognised when invoices are raised and 
chip products are despatched. The Group recognises its revenue in any given period in accordance with these measures 
and therefore does not recognise future revenues within current revenue. Therefore, there is no need to restate prior year 
revenue recognised from contracts in the statement of comprehensive income.

While many of our companies have warranty arrangements with their customers, having reviewed the details of the 
warranty arrangements, these have been determined to be of an assurance nature and as such there is no material 
change in accounting required by IFRS 15. 

(ii) IFRS 9 Financial Instruments 
With effect from 1 April 2018 the Group adopted a full retrospective transition approach of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments which 
introduces new requirements for classification and measurement of financial assets and financial liabilities, impairment and 
hedge accounting. It has replaced existing standard IAS 39 ‘Financial Instruments: Recognition and Measurement’.

Following a review and further impact assessment, it was concluded that the Group’s use of financial instruments is limited 
to short‑term trading balances such as receivables and payables. The Group has no net financial borrowings and does 
not have complex financial instruments in place in relation to foreign exchange. Given the straightforward nature of the 
financial assets for the Group, there have been no material changes in any level of impairment recognised compared 
to that based on current procedures and, due to the Group’s receivable profile at the end of the reporting period in the 
current and prior year and history of bad debts, there have been no material changes arising from the adoption of the 
expected losses impairment model or loss allowance provisions made. Therefore, there is no requirement to restate prior 
year balances in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

Impairment of financial assets 
An impairment loss is recognised for the expected credit losses on financial assets when there is an increased probability that 
the counterparty will be unable to settle an instrument’s contractual cash flows on the contractual due dates, a reduction in 
the amounts expected to be recovered, or both. 

The probability of default and expected amounts recoverable are assessed using reasonable and supportable past and 
forward‑looking information that is available without undue cost or effort. The expected credit loss is a probability‑weighted 
amount determined from a range of outcomes and takes into account the time value of money.

For trade receivables, expected credit losses are measured by applying an expected loss rate to the gross carrying amount. 
The expected loss rate comprises the risk of a default occurring and the expected cash flows on default based on the 
aging of the receivable. The risk of a default occurring always takes into consideration all possible default events over the 
expected life of those receivables (“the lifetime expected credit losses”). Different provision rates and periods are used 
based on groupings of historic credit loss experience by product type, customer type and location.

(iii) IFRS 16 Leases
The Group will adopt a modified retrospective approach of IFRS 16 Leases with effect from 1 April 2019. IFRS 16 eliminates 
the classification of leases as either operating or finance leases for lessees and introduces a single accounting model which 
is similar to the current account model for finance leases under IAS 17 Leases. The half year results for the six months ended 
30 September 2019 will be the first results to be produced in accordance with IFRS 16, with the first Annual Report published 
in accordance with IFRS 16 being for the year ending 31 March 2020. 

Lessees will be required to recognise on the financial position a “right‑of‑use” assets which represent the right to use 
underlying assets during the lease term and a lease liability representing the minimum lease payment for all leases. 
Depreciation of “right‑of‑use” assets and interest on lease liabilities will be charged to the income statement, replacing the 
corresponding operating lease rentals. 

The Group has assessed the impact of the new standard. The most significant impact identified is in relation to the Group’s 
land and buildings leases which are taken up as lessees that will now be brought on to the balance sheet as assets and 
lease liabilities, along with motor vehicles and office equipment which are currently leased. The current carrying onerous 
lease provision would also be eliminated with the impact of the new standard. The aggregated discounted amount to 
be recognised as assets on the financial position is £931,000 along with a liability amount of £1,280,000. (Adjusted) EBITDA, 
as discussed above, sees rental costs being replaced by depreciation and the Group’s rental costs for the year ended 
31 March 2019 amounted to £525,000, a right‑of‑use depreciation impact of £543,000. IFRS 16 is not anticipated to have 
a material effect on the Group where it is acting in its capacity as lessor.

49

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

2 Segmental analysis
Reported segments and their results, in accordance with IFRS 8, are based on internal management reporting information 
that is regularly reviewed by the Chief Operating Decision Maker (Chris Gurry). The measurement policies the Group uses for 
segmental reporting under IFRS 8 are the same as those used in its financial statements.

The Group is focused for management purposes on one primary reporting segment, being the semiconductor segment, 
with similar economic characteristics, risks and returns and the Directors therefore consider there to be one business segment 
classification.

Information about revenue, profit/loss, assets and liabilities

2019 

2018

Semiconductor 
components 
£’000 

28,140 

Group 
£’000 

28,140 

Semiconductor 
components 
£’000 

31,674 

Group  
£’000

31,674

2,697 

2,697 

4,404 

4,404

64 

(1) 

222 

— 

(288) 

2,694 

50,678 

48,074 

50,678 

3,170 

908 

1,118 

55,874 

5,507 

4,420 

77 

3,548 

13,552 

Group 
£’000 

294 

7,169 

368 

400 

5,146 

172 

(161) 

5,669 

2018

Semiconductor 
components 
£’000 

488 

5,680 

392 

411 

4,745 

155 

103 

5,507 

2019 

Semiconductor 
components 
 £’000 

294 

7,169 

368 

400 

5,146 

172 

(161) 

39

—

—

140

(444)

4,139

48,074

3,690

1,068

675

53,507

5,669

3,950

48

2,070

11,737

Group 
£’000

488

5,680

392

411

4,745

155

103

Total segmental revenue 

Profit

Segmental result  

Finance income  

Finance expense 

Profit on disposal of property   

Revaluation of investment properties 

Income tax expense 

Profit after taxation  

Assets and liabilities

Segmental assets  

Unallocated corporate assets

Investment properties  

Deferred tax assets  

Current tax assets  

Consolidated total assets  

Segmental liabilities  

Unallocated corporate liabilities

Deferred tax liabilities 

Current tax liabilities 

Retirement benefit obligation   

Consolidated total liabilities  

Property, plant and equipment additions 

Development cost additions    

Intangible additions 

Depreciation   

Amortisation of development costs 

Amortisation of acquired and purchased intangibles 

Other non‑cash (expenditure)/income (pension) 

50

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Geographical information (by origin)

UK  
£’000 

Rest of Europe  
£’000 

Americas  
£’000 

Far East  
£’000 

Total  
£’000

Year ended 31 March 2019

Revenue to third parties – by origin 

Property, plant and equipment  

Investment properties  

Development costs  

Intangibles – software and intellectual property 

Goodwill  

Other intangible assets arising on acquisition   

7,419 

4,941 

3,170 

5,359 

611 

— 

— 

6,051 

260 

— 

9,136 

— 

3,512 

— 

Total assets  

Year ended 31 March 2018 

Revenue to third parties – by origin 

Property, plant and equipment  

Investment properties  

Development costs  

Intangibles – software and intellectual property 

Goodwill  

Other intangible assets arising on acquisition   

5,073 

5,024 

3,690 

4,424 

392 

— 

— 

7,355 

290 

— 

8,118 

— 

3,512 

— 

5,207 

9,463 

66 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

65 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

40 

— 

— 

— 

5,723 

1,164 

13,036 

31 

— 

— 

— 

5,678 

1,178 

11,454 

28,140

5,307

3,170

14,495

611

9,235

1,164

55,874

31,674

5,410

3,690

12,542

392

9,190

1,178

53,507

25,174 

16,070 

1,594 

5,848 

13,398 

Total assets  

23,915 

15,556 

2,582 

Revenue contribution from the top two customers provided a combined contribution of approximately 20% (2018: 28% of 
revenues), although only one of these customers was above the 10% threshold (2018: one customer).

3 Revenue
The geographical classification of business turnover (by destination) is as follows:

Continuing business 

Europe  

Far East  

Americas  

Others  

2019 
£’000 

7,201 

15,348 

5,251 

340 

28,140 

2018 
£’000

9,477

15,764

5,919

514

31,674

In accordance with IFRS 15, the group’s revenue of £28,140,000 is made up of revenue from customers which falls into one 
of the market application areas of communications or storage only and does not include any other significant revenue. 
Goods and services are transferred at a point in time, not over time, as detailed in the group’s revenue recognition policy 
(see note 1).

The Group does not have any contract assets at 31 March 2019 (nil at 31 March 2018) as the group does not fulfil any of 
its performance obligations in advance of invoicing to its customer. The group however does have contractual balances 
in the form of trade receivables. See note 20 for disclosure of this. The group also has contractual liabilities of £0.7m at 
31 March 2019 (£1.1m at 31 March 2018).

The Group also does not have any contractual costs capitalised at 31 March 2019 (nil at 31 March 2018) or have 
any outstanding performance obligations at 31 March 2019 (nil at 31 March 2018).

51

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

4 Profit from continuing operations

Profit from operations is stated after charging or crediting: 

Cost of sales:

Depreciation   

Amount of inventories written down  

Cost of inventories recognised as expense  

Other (stock) movements 

Distribution and administration costs:

Distribution costs (mainly staff costs)  

Administration costs: 

Amortisation of development costs 

Research and development expensed 

Amortisation of acquired and purchased intangibles 

Depreciation   

Foreign exchange (gains)/losses 

Rentals under operating leases: 

Land and buildings 

Other operating leases  

Auditor’s fees (see below) 

Other expenses (mainly staff costs)  

2019 

£’000 

£’000 

2018

£’000 

£’000

101 

20 

7,672 

94 

5,146 

1,073 

172 

299 

(255) 

435 

90 

188 

7,552 

7,887 

3,374 

14,700 

18,074 

105 

24 

9,051 

258 

4,745 

1,191 

155 

306 

445 

494 

91 

174 

7,473 

Amounts payable to RSM UK Audit LLP, Chartered Accountants in respect of both audit and non‑audit services:

Audit services: 

Statutory audit of Company’s annual accounts and Group consolidation   

Other services: 

The auditing of accounts of associates of the Company pursuant to  
legislation (including that of countries and territories outside the UK) 

This includes:   

Audit of subsidiaries where such services are provided by RSM UK Audit LLP  

Audit of associated pension schemes  

Other services supplied pursuant to such legislation  

Amounts payable to other auditors in respect of both audit and non‑audit services: 

Statutory audit services  

Tax compliance services  

Other services  

2019 
£’000 

70 

16 

15 

5 

106 

61 

20 

1 

82 

52

9,438

3,444

15,074

18,518

2018 
£’000

63

16

11

8

98

42

33

1

76

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
5 Other operating income

Rental income  

Government grants and consulting  

Other income  

2019 
£’000 

326 

55 

254 

635 

2018  
£’000

315

205

309

829

All conditions relating to the government grants have been fulfilled and there are no other contingencies. Other income 
relates to ancillary business in the Chinese subsidiary and other miscellaneous income. 

6 Employees

Staff costs, including Directors, during the year amounted to:   

Wages and salaries  

Social security costs 

Other pension and health care costs  

Share‑based payments  

The average number of employees, including Directors,  
during the year was: 

Administration  

Engineering 

Manufacturing  

Selling  

7 Directors’ emoluments

Remuneration (including fees) 

Emoluments in respect of the highest paid Director amounted to: 

Remuneration  

Group 

2019 
£’000 

11,292 

1,312 

809 

117 

13,530 

2018  
£’000 

11,482 

1,353 

1,140 

143 

14,118 

Company

2019 
£’000 

1,060 

130 

80 

40 

1,310 

2018  
£’000

1,060

132

75

29

1,296

Group 

Company

2019 
Number 

2018  
Number 

2019 
Number 

2018  

Number

54 

105 

34 

28 

221 

55 

101 

35 

29 

220 

9 

— 

— 

— 

9 

2019 
£’000 

847 

314 

9

—

—

—

9

2018  
£’000

833

315

Further details on Directors’ emoluments, including contributions to pension, can be found in the Directors’ remuneration 
report on pages 22 to 27.

8 Finance income and expense
Finance income

Bank interest receivable 

Finance expense 

Bank interest payable 

2019 
£’000 

64 

2019 
£’000 

1 

2018  
£’000

39

2018  
£’000

—

53

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

9 Income tax expense
a) Analysis of tax expense in period

Current tax 

UK corporation tax on results of the year  

Adjustment in respect of previous years  

Foreign tax on results of the year  

Foreign tax – adjustment in respect of previous years  

Total current tax  

Deferred tax   

Current year movement  

Adjustments to deferred tax charge in respect of previous years  

Total deferred tax 

Tax charge on profit on ordinary activities (note 9b)  

2019 
£’000 

(722) 

4 

(718) 

92 

4 

(622) 

913 

(3) 

910 

288 

2018  
£’000

(595)

44

(551)

626

(12)

63

387

(6)

381

444

b) Factors affecting tax expense for period
Tax assessed for the period is lower than the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK of 19% (2018: 19%). The differences 
are explained below:

Profit before tax  

Profit before tax multiplied by the standard rate of UK corporation tax of 19% (2018: 19%)  

Effects of: 

Capital allowances less than depreciation 

Expenses not deductible for tax purposes  

Share‑based payments – tax effect 

Research and development tax credits 

Reversal of recognition of deferred tax assets on losses 

Different tax rates in countries in which the Group operates 

Adjustments to current tax charge in respect of previous years  

Adjustments to deferred tax charge in respect of previous years  

Reduction in deferred tax rate  

Non‑taxable income and other 

Tax expense for period (note 9a)  

2019 
£’000 

2,982 

567 

15 

61 

(7) 

(720) 

413 

100 

8 

(3) 

(59) 

(87) 

288 

2018  
£’000

4,583

871

16

25

(12)

(711)

—

244

32

(6)

56

(71)

444

A deferred tax credit of £224,000 was recognised on an actuarial loss of £1,317,000 on a retirement benefit net obligation 
and was recognised in the year in the consolidated statement of total comprehensive income (2018: deferred tax charge 
of £155,000 on an actuarial gain of £911,000 on a retirement benefit net obligation). 

10 Dividend – proposed
During the year, a final dividend of 5.8p per ordinary share of 5p was paid in respect of the year ended 31 March 
2018. An interim dividend of 2.0p per ordinary share was paid on 14 December 2018 to shareholders on the Register on 
30 November 2018.

It is proposed to pay a final dividend of 5.8p per ordinary share of 5p, taking the total dividend amount in respect of the year 
ended 31 March 2019 to 7.8p (2018: total of 7.8p). It is proposed to pay the final dividend of 5.8p, if approved, on 5 August 
2019 to shareholders registered on 5 July 2019 (2018: 6 August 2018 to shareholders registered on 6 July 2018).

54

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11 Earnings per ordinary share

Basic earnings per share 

From profit for year  

Diluted earnings per share 

From profit for year  

2019 
p 

2018  

P

15.77 

24.52

15.36 

23.95

The calculation of basic and diluted earnings per share is based on the profit attributable to ordinary shareholders, divided 
by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year, as shown below:

2019 

Weighted  
average  
number 
of shares  
Number 

Profit  
£’000 

Profit per 
share 
p 

Profit  
£’000 

2018

Weighted  
average  
number 
of shares  
Number 

Profit per 
share 
p

2,694 

17,087,788 

15.77 

4,139 

16,876,684 

24.52

Basic earnings per share 

Basic earnings per share 
– from profit for year 

Diluted earnings per share

Basic earnings per share  

Dilutive effect of share options 

448,311 

2,694 

17,087,788 

15.77 

(0.41) 

4,139 

16,876,684 

— 

402,348 

24.52

(0.57)

Diluted earnings per share  
– from profit for year 

2,694 

17,536,099 

15.36 

4,139 

17,279,032 

23.95

On 10 June 2015, the Company purchased 50,000 ordinary shares of 5p each in the Company at a price of 376.5p per 
ordinary share. These shares are held in treasury and are excluded from the denominators listed above for the purposes 
of earnings per share calculations.

The Company issued 774,181 of its own 5p ordinary shares at a price of 340p per share as part of its acquisition on 
3 August 2016 of the Sicomm group of companies. 

On 23 December 2016, the Company purchased 179,439 of its own 5p ordinary shares at a price 370p per share for 
cancellation. These shares were cancelled on 18 January 2017 (see note 30).

On 8 December 2017, the staff exercised 233,026 staff options under the terms of the staff share option schemes at a price 
of 5p per share.

On 11 February 2019, the Company purchased 50,000 ordinary shares of 5p each in the Company at a price of 302.5p per 
ordinary share. These shares are held in treasury and are excluded from the denominators listed above for the purposes of 
earnings per share calculations.

The Company issued 703,400 share options over its own 5p ordinary shares at a price of 279p per share on 19 March 2019 
to staff and management.

During the year, the Company and staff exercised 63,143 staff share options under the terms of the staff share option 
schemes at a weighted average price of 4.82p per 5p share.

12 Adjusted EBITDA
Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (“Adjusted EBITDA”) is defined as profit from operations 
before all interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation charges and before share‑based payments. The following is a 
reconciliation of the Adjusted EBITDA for the years presented:

Profit after taxation (earnings) 

Adjustments for: 

Finance income  

Finance expense  

Income tax expense 

Depreciation   

Amortisation of development costs 

Amortisation of purchased and acquired intangibles recognised on acquisition 

Share‑based payments 

Adjusted EBITDA 

2019 
£’000 

2,694 

(64) 

1 

288 

400 

5,146 

172 

117 

8,754 

2018  
£’000

4,139

(39)

—

444

411

4,745

155

143

9,998

55

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

13 Goodwill

Cost and net book value 

At 1 April 

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 

2019 
£’000 

9,190 

45 

9,235 

2018  
£’000

9,306

(116)

9,190

The 2017 opening goodwill of £3,512,000 arose on the Hyperstone acquisition that was amortised under UK GAAP until 
31 March 2004 when the Group transitioned to IFRS. The additional goodwill in the prior year related to the acquisition of the 
Sicomm group of companies in August 2016. Goodwill arising on acquisitions after the date of transition to IFRS such as this 
Sicomm goodwill is attributable to operational synergies and earnings potential expected to be realised over the longer 
term. This Sicomm goodwill above of £5,678,000 is held in RMB upon Group consolidation and therefore is subject to foreign 
exchange fluctuations between periods.

Annual impairment testing
Goodwill is not amortised under IFRS but instead tested annually for impairment. An annual impairment review is carried out 
in accordance with the accounting policies set out in note 1, namely: the Group reviews the carrying amounts of its goodwill 
and intangible assets to determine whether there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. The 
recoverable amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of any impairment loss. Where the asset does 
not generate cash flows that are independent from other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable amount of the cash 
generating unit to which the asset belongs. The recoverable amount is the higher of fair value less costs to sell and value in 
use. Goodwill and other intangibles are allocated to cash generating units, which represent the appropriate level that those 
cash generating units are monitored for internal management purposes. In assessing value in use, the estimated future cash 
flows are discounted to their present value utilising a pre‑tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the 
time value of money and risks specific to the asset, in addition to the basis of the weighted average cost of capital for the 
Group. Projections are based on budgets for year one and cash flow projections for the following four years extrapolations 
using growth rates and terminal cash flows considered to be in line with the economic environment in which the cash 
generating unit operates, past and current local management experience. In accordance with IAS 36 Impairment of 
Assets, growth rates do not exceed the long‑term average growth rates for the industry in that jurisdiction. If the recoverable 
amount of the cash generating unit is estimated to be less than its carrying amount, the carrying amount of the cash 
generating unit is reduced to its recoverable amount. An impairment loss is recognised as an expense immediately, unless 
the relevant asset is carried at a revalued amount, in which case the impairment loss is treated as a revaluation decrease 
until the associated revaluation reserve is extinguished.

Evaluation of Hyperstone goodwill and Sicomm goodwill 
The Directors consider no impairment is required for either business. The recoverable amount of Hyperstone related goodwill 
is determined using the fair value less cost of disposal and recoverable amount of Sicomm related goodwill is determined 
using the value in use methodologies. Net selling price in respect of the Hyperstone goodwill is determined using a five‑year 
average of projected future earnings as applied to the price earnings ratio prevailing for the technology sector (14‑18x) 
operating in industrial markets (2018: similar metric range). For Sicomm related goodwill, the pre‑tax discount rate used was 
16% and growth rates vary from 7% to 15% over a five year prospective period (2018: similar metric range). Management 
consider these key assumptions do not differ from past experience or external sources of information. 

Sensitivity analysis
The Group has not identified any reasonable potential changes to key assumptions that would cause the carrying value 
of the goodwill or other intangibles to exceed its recoverable amount. Fair value less cost of disposal price earnings ratio 
benchmarks are widely and publicly available in active markets. For value in use methodology in respect of the Sicomm 
impairment review, the key assumptions are growth rates and discount rate. Long‑term growth rates would have to average 
1.2% or less or pre‑tax discount rates move to 22.09% for carrying value to be impacted by any impairment. Sensitivity 
analysis of these key assumptions are built into our annual impairment testing modelling. 

56

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
14 Other intangibles 

Group  

Cost/valuation 

At 1 April 2017  

Additions  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2018 

Additions  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2019 

Amortisation  

At 1 April 2017  

Charge for the year  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2018 

Charge for the year  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

Intangible assets 
acquired in business combinations 

Intangible assets 
capitalised / purchased

Brands 
£’000 

Customer 
relationships 
£’000 

Intellectual 
property 
£’000 

Intellectual 
property 
£’000 

Software 
£’000 

Total  
£’000

96 

— 

— 

96 

— 

1 

97 

6 

10 

— 

16 

10 

— 

26 

71 

80 

940 

— 

(5) 

935 

— 

8 

943 

69 

105 

(1) 

173 

104 

2 

279 

664 

762 

405 

— 

(2) 

403 

— 

3 

406 

27 

40 

— 

67 

40 

1 

108 

298 

336 

— 

— 

— 

— 

133 

— 

133 

— 

— 

— 

— 

2 

— 

2 

131 

— 

— 

392 

— 

392 

235 

— 

627 

— 

— 

— 

— 

16 

— 

16 

611 

392 

1,441

392

(7)

1,826

368

12

2,206

102

155

(1)

256

172

3

431

1,775

1,570

The intangible assets acquired above were recognised on the acquisition of Sicomm in accordance with the provisions 
of IFRS 3 Business Combinations. There were additional intangibles purchased in the year and these have been shown in 
accordance with IAS 38 Intangible Assets.

Software 
£’000 

Total  
£’000

Company  

Cost 

At 31 March 2018 

Additions  

At 31 March 2019 

Amortisation  

At 31 March 2018 

Charge for the year  

At 31 March 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

392 

235 

627 

— 

16 

16 

611 

392 

The Group is progressively implementing an Enterprise Resource Planning system for use by all companies in the Group 
across business functions. This purchased intangible is amortised over its projected useful economic life from the dates 
of implementation. 

392

235

627

—

16

16

611

392

57

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

15 Property, plant and equipment

Freehold and 
 long leasehold  
premises  
£’000  

Short  
leasehold 
improvements  
£’000 

 Plant and  
equipment  
 £’000 

Motor  
vehicles  
 £’000 

Total  

 £’000

6,062 

— 

— 

— 

6,062 

— 

— 

— 

6,062 

1,332 

79 

— 

— 

1,411 

80 

— 

— 

1,491 

4,571 

4,651 

58 

— 

— 

(5) 

53 

— 

— 

2 

55 

54 

— 

— 

(5) 

49 

— 

— 

2 

51 

4 

4 

11,987 

178 

18,285

488 

(168) 

(19) 

12,288 

278 

(1,320) 

(8) 

11,238 

11,433 

320 

(168) 

(22) 

11,563 

313 

(1,320) 

(11) 

10,545 

693 

725 

— 

— 

(1) 

177 

16 

(11) 

— 

182 

136 

12 

— 

(1) 

147 

7 

(11) 

— 

143 

39 

30 

Equipment 
£’000 

Freehold and  
long leasehold 
premises 
£’000 

49 

21 

70 

49 

— 

49 

1 

50 

20 

— 

6,062 

— 

6,062 

1,332 

79 

1,411 

80 

1,491 

4,571 

4,651 

488

(168)

(25)

18,580

294

(1,331)

(6)

17,537

12,955

411

(168)

(28)

13,170

400

(1,331)

(9)

12,230

5,307

5,410

Total  
£’000

6,111

21

6,132

1,381

79

1,460

81

1,541

4,591

4,651

Group  

Cost 

At 1 April 2017  

Additions  

Disposals 

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2018 

Additions  

Disposals 

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2019 

Depreciation  

At 1 April 2017  

Charge for the year  

Disposals 

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2018 

Charge for the year  

Disposals 

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

Company 

Cost 

At 1 April 2017 and 31 March 2018 

Additions  

At 31 March 2019 

Depreciation  

At 1 April 2017  

Charge for the year  

At 31 March 2018 

Charge for the year  

At 31 March 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

58

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16 Investment properties

Group and Company 

Valuation 

At 1 April 2018  

Disposal 

At 31 March 2019 

Net book value 

At 31 March 2019 

At 31 March 2018 

Investment  
properties  
£’000  

3,690 

(520) 

3,170 

3,170 

3,690 

Total  

 £’000

3,690

(520)

3,170

3,170

3,690

On the 12 September 2018, the Company disposed of one its investment properties, Burghey Brook Farm, for a consideration 
of £750,000, previously held with a carrying value of £520,000 by the Company, and before incidental transaction costs.

Investment properties are measured at fair value and are revalued annually by the Directors and in every third year by 
independent Chartered Surveyors on an open market basis. No depreciation is provided on freehold investment properties 
or on leasehold investment properties. In accordance with IAS 40, gains and losses arising on revaluation of investment 
properties are shown in the income statement. During the period, the disposal of Burghey Brook Farm has accordingly 
reduced the open market valuation value of the investment properties recognised to £3,170,000 (2018: £3,690,000). 
No formal market valuation was conducted in the year.

The value of the investment properties were they to be held at historic cost would be £2,462,000 (2018: £2,792,000). 
The Group/Company does not incur significant costs not otherwise recharged to its tenants for its investment properties. 

The investment properties are measured at fair value. Valuations are based on what is determined to be the highest and 
best use. When considering the highest and best use the Directors will consider, on a property by property basis, its actual 
and potential uses which are physically, legally and financially viable. Where the highest and best use differs from the 
existing use, the valuer will consider the cost and likelihood of achieving and implementing this change in arriving at its 
valuation.

The methods of fair value measurement are classified into a hierarchy based on the reliability of the information used 
to determine the valuation, as follows:

•  level 1: valuation based on inputs on quoted market prices in active markets;
•  level 2: valuation based on inputs other than quoted prices included within level 1 that maximise the use of observable 

data directly or from market prices or indirectly derived from market prices; and

•  level 3: where one or more inputs to valuations are not based on observable market data. 

The values used below utilise a level 2 methodology:

Investment properties  

The prior year comparative values were as follows:

Investment properties  

Carrying/ 
fair value 
£’000 

Valuation 
technique 

Key 
observable 
inputs 

Income  
3,170  capitalisation  

Estimated 
rental value 

Range  
(weighted  
average)  

2019

£4 – £8 
 per sq ft

Per sq ft p.a. 

8% – 15%

 Equivalent yield 

11.1%

3,170 

Carrying/ 
fair value 
£’000 

Valuation 
technique 

Key 
observable 
inputs 

Income  
3,690  capitalisation  

Estimated 
rental value 

Range  
(weighted  
average)  

2018

£4 – £8 
 per sq ft

Per sq ft p.a. 

8% – 10%

 Equivalent yield 

7.9%

3,690 

59

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

17 Investments 

Group – investments 

Cost and net book value 

At 1 April  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March    

2019 
£’000 

83 

— 

83 

2018 
£’000

85

(2)

83

The investment represents the Group’s 14.29% equity investment measured at cost (not at valuation) in Quanzhou 
Cybercomm Wireless Communication Technologies Institute Co., Inc., a Chinese industrial institutional body, acquired with 
the acquisition of the Sicomm group of companies.

Company – investments 

Cost of investment in subsidiary undertakings: 

As at 1 April  

As at 31 March 

Advances to subsidiary undertakings 

Net book value 

As at 31 March 

2019 
£’000 

12,964 

12,964 

— 

2018 
£’000

12,964

12,964

(872)

12,964 

12,092

The Group is headed by the Company, CML Microsystems Plc. Details of the subsidiary undertakings of the Company are as 
follows:

Name 

CML Microsystems Inc  

CML Microcircuits (UK) Ltd 

CML Microcircuits (USA) Inc 

Country of 
incorporation  

Percentage  
held  

USA  

England  

USA  

CML Microcircuits (Singapore) Pte Ltd 

Singapore  

Wuxi Sicomm Technologies, Inc 

Shanghai Futiake Investment Consulting Co., Ltd  

Wuxi Shilian Communications Technologies, Inc 

Applied Technology (UK) Ltd 

Integrated Micro Systems Ltd 

Hyperstone GmbH  

Hyperstone Inc.  

Hyperstone Asia Pacific Ltd  

China 

China 

China 

England  

England 

Germany  

USA  

Taiwan  

100% 

100%  

100%  

100%  

100% 

100% 

100% 

100%  

100% 

100%  

100%  

100%  

Status 

 Trading in USA  

Trading in England 

Trading in USA  

Trading in Singapore 

Trading in China 

Holding company 

Trading in China 

Dormant  

Dormant 

Trading in Germany  

Trading in USA  

Trading in Taiwan  

Holding

Direct

Direct

Indirect

 Direct

Indirect

Direct

Indirect

Direct

 Direct

Direct

Indirect

Direct

All of the above companies where holding or trading companies are involved in the design, manufacture and marketing of 
specialised electronic devices for use in the telecommunications, radio and data communications industries, or dormant as 
stated. The above all share the same reporting date as the Company, with the exception of the three Chinese subsidiaries 
above which have, in line with Chinese laws and regulations, a 31 December year end. The Group has accordingly taken 
up the financial results and financial position of these Chinese subsidiaries up to 31 March 2019. 

60

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Company registered addresses/locations are as follows:

CML Microsystems Inc  

CML Microcircuits (UK) Ltd  

CML Microcircuits (USA) Inc  

486 N Patterson Avenue, Suite 301, Winston‑Salem, NC 27101, USA

Oval Park, Langford, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6WG England

486 N Patterson Avenue, Suite 301, Winston‑Salem, NC 27101, USA

CML Microcircuits (Singapore) Pte Ltd  

150 Kampong Ampat, 05‑03A KA Centre, Singapore 368324

Wuxi Sicomm Technologies, Inc 

Shanghai Futiake Investment  
Consulting Co., Ltd  

Wuxi Shilian Communications  
Technologies, Inc 

Applied Technology (UK) Ltd  

Integrated Micro Systems Ltd 

Hyperstone GmbH  

Hyperstone Inc.  

2/F Building B, 21 Changjiang Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China

Room B02, F16, No. 2188 Huangxing Road, Yangpu District, Shanghai, China

Room 201, Building L, 21 Changjiang Road, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China

Oval Park, Langford, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6WG England

Oval Park, Langford, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6WG England

Line‑Eid‑Strasse 3, 78467 Konstanz, Germany

486 N Patterson Avenue, Suite 301, Winston‑Salem, NC 27101, USA

Hyperstone Asia Pacific Ltd  

3F, No.501, Sec.2, Tiding Boulevard, Neihu District, Taipei City 114, Taiwan

18 Development costs

Group ‑ Developments 

Cost 

At 1 April  

Additions 

Fully amortised costs  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March    

Amortisation  

At 1 April  

Charged in the year  

Fully amortised costs  

Foreign exchange difference   

At 31 March    

Net book value 

At 31 March 

At 31 March 2017  

2019 
£’000 

31,503 

7,169 

(2,759) 

(393) 

35,520 

18,961 

5,146 

(2,759) 

(323) 

21,025 

14,495 

2018 
£’000

29,249

5,680

(3,854)

428

31,503

17,848

4,745

(3,854)

222

18,961

12,542

11,401

No government grants have been credited to the cost of development in arriving at the net book value at the year end 
(2018: £Nil).

61

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

19 Inventories

Raw materials  

Work in progress  

Finished goods  

20 Trade receivables and prepayments

Amounts falling due within one year: 

Trade receivables 

Other receivables 

Prepayments and accrued income  

Group 

2019 
£’000 

2,581 

152 

697 

3,430 

2018 
£’000 

2,540 

139 

433 

3,112 

Disclosure of credit risk and associated disclosures are provided in Note 23. 

21 Cash and cash equivalents

Group

2019 
£’000 

889 

647 

1,346 

2,882 

Company

2019 
£’000 

273 

659 

221 

1,153 

Cash on deposit  

Cash at bank   

Disclosure of foreign currency risk is provided in Note 23.

22 Bank loans and overdrafts

Bank overdraft  

Undrawn facility details are provided in Note 23.

Group 

Company

2019 
£’000 

9,895 

3,576 

2018 
£’000 

9,429 

4,387 

13,471 

13,816 

Group 

2019 
£’000 

662 

662 

2018 
£’000 

— 

— 

2019 
£’000 

103 

191 

294 

Company

2019 
£’000 

— 

— 

2018 
£’000

1,036

343

972

2,351

2018 
£’000

—

52

17

69

2018 
£’000

83

89

172

2018 
£’000

—

—

62

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23 Financial instruments
Financial instruments
The Group’s financial instruments can comprise cash balances, bank loans, overdraft facilities and items such as trade 
receivables and trade payables that arise directly from its operations. The overall objective of the Board is to reduce risks 
where possible within a competitive, dynamic and flexible trading environment. 

Capital market risk is discussed below. The risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are interest rate, liquidity risk 
and foreign currency risk. The policies for managing these risks are summarised below and have been applied throughout 
the year.  

Credit and cash flow risk
The Group has little exposure to credit and cash flow risk. It is, and has been throughout the year under review, the Group’s 
policy that no trading in financial instruments shall be undertaken. The maximum credit exposure of financial instruments 
within the scope of IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, without taking account of collateral, is represented by the carrying amount 
for trade receivables, other receivables and cash and cash equivalents included in the statement of financial position. 
Credit risk on cash and cash equivalents is managed by depositing funds with high rated banks.

Capital market risk
The Board considers capital to be the carrying amount of equity and debt. The Group presently does not have any debt. 
Its overall capital objective is, in the light of changes in economic conditions, to maintain a strong and efficient capital base 
to support the Group’s strategic growth objectives, provide progressive returns to shareholders and safeguard the Group’s 
status as a going concern. 

Interest rate and liquidity risk
Cash balances are placed so as to maximise interest earned while maintaining the liquidity requirements of the business. 
The Directors regularly review the placing of cash balances. A significant movement in LIBOR would be required to have 
a material impact on the cash flow of the Group. The gross overdraft facility provided by the Group’s principal bankers is 
£750,000 (2018: £750,000); and US$100,000 (2018: US$100,000); and is subject to renewal annually. In addition, the Group’s 
German subsidiary has, through its principal bankers, a €1m gross overdraft facility (2018: €1m), renewable on an annual 
basis. 

Foreign currency risk
The Group has overseas subsidiary operations in Germany, the US, China, Taiwan and Singapore. As a result, the Group’s 
Sterling statement of financial position could be affected by movements in the Euro, US Dollar, Chinese Renminbi, Singapore 
Dollar and Taiwan Dollar to Sterling exchange rates. At 31 March 2019, the Group had cash and cash equivalents 
denominated in foreign currencies of approximately £5.7m (2018: £6.4m), of which approximately 41% (2018: 76%) was 
denominated in US Dollars, 55% in Chinese Renminbi (2018: 21%) and 0% (2018: 2%) was denominated in Euros. As national 
currency of China, the Chinese Renminbi is subject to foreign exchange controls made by that country. The effects of 
foreign exchange recognised in the income statement amounted to a gain of £255,000 (2018: loss of £445,000).

Financial instruments recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position

Group and Company 

Non‑current financial assets

Equity investment (see note 17) 

Total 

2019 
£’000 

83 

83 

2018  
£’000

83

83

The term “Financial assets” in the following table refers to financial assets measured at amortised cost in accordance with 
IFRS 9 definitions.

Group 

Company

2019 
  Amortised cost 
£’000 

2018 

2019 
Amortised cost   Amortised cost 
£’000 

£’000 

Current financial assets 

Trade and other receivables 

Cash and cash equivalents  

Total  

Trade and other receivables are all due within six months.

2,733 

13,471 

16,204 

2,679 

13,816 

16,495 

273 

294 

567 

2018 
Amortised cost 
£’000

52

172

224

63

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

23 Financial instruments continued
Financial instruments recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position continued
The average credit period was 33 days (2018: 29 days). There were no impairment losses recognised on any financial 
assets measured at amortised cost at 31 March 2019 (2018: £Nil). Based on the profile of the Group’s trade receivables 
and history of bad debts, no loss allowance provision has been recognised on the basis this would be highly immaterial. 
At 31 March 2019, of the £2,581,000 trade receivables outstanding, the vast majority were classed as within 30‑60 days.

At 31 March 2019, £499,000 (2018: £394,000) of trade receivables were denominated in Sterling, £1,402,000 (2018: £1,724,000) 
in US Dollars, £652,000 (2018: £317,000) in Euros, and £28,000 in Chinese Renminbi (2018: £105,000). The Directors consider 
that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximate to their fair value. Cash and cash equivalents of 
£13,471,000 (2018: £13,816,000) comprise cash and short‑term deposits held by the Group treasury function. The carrying 
amount of these assets approximates to their fair values. 

Impairment of financial assets
The Company’s credit risk management practices and how they relate to the recognition and measurement of expected 
credit losses is set out below.

Definition of default
The loss allowance on all financial assets is measured by considering the probability of default.

Receivables are considered to be in default when the principal or any interest is significantly more than the associated 
credit terms past due, based on an assessment of past payment practices and the likelihood of such overdue amounts 
being recovered. 

Determination of credit‑impaired financial assets
The Company considers financial assets to be “credit‑impaired” when the following events, or combinations of several 
events, have occurred before the year end:

•  significant financial difficulty of the counterparty arising from significant downturns in operating results and/or significant 
unavoidable cash requirements when the counterparty has insufficient finance from internal working capital resources, 
external funding and/or Group support;

•  a breach of contract, including receipts being more than materially past due; or
•  it becoming probable that the counterparty will enter bankruptcy or liquidation.

Write‑off policy
Receivables are written off by the Group when there is no reasonable expectation of recovery, such as when the 
counterparty is known to be going bankrupt, or into liquidation or administration. Receivables will also be written off when 
the amount is more than materially past due.

Impairment of trade receivables
The Company calculates lifetime expected credit losses for trade receivables using a portfolio approach. Receivables are 
grouped based on the credit terms offered and the type of product sold. The probability of default is determined at the 
year end based on the aging of the receivables and historical data about default rates on the same basis. That data is 
adjusted if the Company determines that historical data is not reflective of expected future conditions due changes in the 
nature of its customers and how they are affected by external factors such as economic and market conditions.

64

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19The term “Financial liabilities” in the following table refer to financial liabilities measured at amortised cost in accordance 
with IFRS 9 definitions.

Group 

Company

Current financial liabilities

Bank loans and overdrafts 

Trade and other payables  

Accruals 

Provisions – current 

Total  

Non‑current financial liabilities 

Provisions – non‑current 

Total  

2019 
  Amortised cost 
£’000 

2018 

2019 
Amortised cost   Amortised cost 
£’000 

£’000 

2018 
Amortised cost 
£’000

662 

1,761 

1,776 

195 

4,394 

— 

2,038 

2,910 

181 

5,129 

— 

194 

359 

— 

553 

Group 

Company

—

301

325

—

626

2019 
  Amortised cost 
£’000 

2018 

2019 
Amortised cost   Amortised cost 
£’000 

£’000 

2018 
Amortised cost 
£’000

16 

16 

196 

196 

— 

— 

—

—

The maturity of the gross contractual undiscounted cash flows due on the Group’s and Company’s financial liabilities is all 
in less than six months, with the possible exception of £662,000 of the provision which is due between in less than twelve 
months and £Nil due in more than twelve months. The gross contractual cash flows for the Group total £5,104,000 and for the 
Company £553,000 respectively. 

Sensitivity analysis
Interest rate sensitivity
A sensitivity analysis has been determined based on the exposure to interest rates at the reporting date and the stipulated 
change taking place at the beginning of the financial year and held constant through the reporting period. A 100 basis 
point change has been used. At the reporting date if the interest rate had been 100 basis points:

•  higher and all other variables were constant, the Group’s profit before taxation would have increased by £79,000 

(2018: increased by £78,000); 

•  lower and all other variables were constant, the Group’s profit before taxation would have decreased by £39,000 

(2018: decreased by £39,000); 

•  higher and all other variables were constant, the Group’s other equity and reserves would have increased by £64,000 

(2018: increased by £63,000); or

•  lower and all other variables were constant, the Group’s other equity and reserves would have decreased by £31,000 

(2018: decreased by £31,000).

Foreign currency sensitivity
The following table details the Group’s sensitivity to a 10% change in exchange rates against the Sterling equivalents. 
The sensitivity analysis of the Group’s exposure to foreign exchange risk at the reporting date has been determined based 
on the change taking place at the beginning of the financial year and held constant throughout the reporting period.

10% movement in rates  
will have an impact on:

Profit before taxation  

Cash 

Equity  

US$ impact 

2019 
£’000  

1,120 

236 

1,406 

2018 
£’000  

1,529 

484 

1,741 

Euro impact 

2019 
£’000  

262 

— 

972 

2018 
£’000  

357 

14 

894 

RMB impact

2019 
£’000  

93 

315 

484 

2018 
£’000 

81

132

376

The Group closely monitors its access to bank and other credit facilities in comparison to its outstanding commitments on a 
regular basis to ensure that it has sufficient funds to meet the obligations of the Group as they fall due.

The Board receives regular forecasts that estimate the cash flows over the next twelve months, so that management can 
ensure that sufficient financing is in place as it is required. Detailed analysis of the debt facilities held and available to the 
Group are disclosed in this note above.

65

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

24 Trade and other payables

Amounts falling due within one year: 

Trade payables  

Other taxation and social security costs  

Other payables and deferred income  

Accruals 

25 Current tax liabilities/assets

Current tax liabilities  

Current tax assets  

Group 

2019 
£’000  

1,688 

387 

73 

2,486 

4,634 

Group 

2019 
£’000  

77 

1,118 

2018 
£’000  

1,525 

344 

513 

2,910 

5,292 

2018 
£’000  

48 

675 

Company

2019 
£’000  

187 

102 

6 

359 

654 

Company

2019 
£’000  

— 

— 

£721,000 (2018: £595,000) of the current tax asset is an R&D claim that by its nature is subject to HMRC approval.

26 Deferred tax

Provision for deferred taxation comprises: 

Accelerated capital allowances  

Tax losses carried forward  

Pensions  

Share‑based payments  

Research and development 

Provisions 

Intangible assets 

Other  

Deferred tax asset 

Deferred tax liability  

At 1 April  

Foreign exchange difference   

Group 

2019 
£’000  

(588) 

117 

603 

96 

2018 
£’000  

(534) 

497 

352 

84 

(3,604) 

(3,145) 

19 

(172) 

17 

(3,512) 

908 

(4,420) 

(3,512) 

(2,882) 

56 

19 

(177) 

22 

(2,882) 

1,068 

(3,950) 

(2,882) 

(2,273) 

(73) 

Deferred tax (charged)/credited in income statement for year  
(see note 9) 

Deferred tax credited/(charged) to statement of  
total comprehensive income   

At 31 March 

(910) 

(381) 

224 

(3,512) 

(155) 

(2,882) 

Company

2019 
£’000  

(603) 

113 

— 

96 

— 

— 

— 

— 

(394) 

210 

(604) 

(394) 

(428) 

— 

34 

— 

2018 
£’000

—

123

301

325

749

2018 
£’000

—

—

2018 
£’000

(579)

67

—

84

—

—

—

—

(428)

151

(579)

(428)

(465)

—

37

—

(394) 

(428)

The financial statements include a deferred tax asset of £908,000 (2018: £1,068,000) of which £99,000 (2018: £480,000) arises 
as a result of trading losses. In accordance with the requirement of IAS 12 Income Taxes, the Directors have considered 
the likely recovery of this deferred tax asset. The Directors have taken into account expected future taxable profits and 
expect an improvement in profitability and profits in future periods and that this will be sustained. Accordingly the Directors 
have satisfied themselves that it is appropriate to recognise the above deferred tax asset. The deferred credit of £224,000 
(2018: deferred tax charge of £155,000) relates to the retirement benefit obligation (see note 27). The Directors consider the 
deferred tax asset relating to the retirement benefit obligation to be recoverable on the basis that the deficit is a long‑term 
liability that will be satisfied from future profitability.

The Finance Act 2016 provides that the rate of corporation tax from 1 April 2017 will be 19% and from 1 April 2020 would be 
17%. The Directors consider it appropriate to use 19% and 17% as the rate deferred tax should be provided for depending on 
when the timing differences are expected to be reversed. 

66

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax assets recoverable/(liabilities) expected to be settled under twelve months are £136,000 and (£38,000) 
respectively (2018: £44,000 and (£37,000) respectively). Deferred tax assets recoverable/(liabilities) expected to be settled 
over twelve months are £772,000 and (£4,382,000) respectively (2018: 1,024,000 and (£3,913,000) respectively). Deferred 
tax assets/(liabilities) expected net by jurisdiction consist of the Far East (£168,000) (2018: (£79,000)), Europe (£3,413,000) 
(2018: (£2,902,000)) and the Americas £69,000 (2018: £99,000). Unprovided deferred tax includes £335,000 in respect of UK tax 
losses brought forward. 

In accordance with the requirement of IAS 12 Income Taxes the Directors have considered the likely recovery of any 
deferred tax asset as part of this process. The Directors are of the view that £1,973,000 of tax losses brought forward were 
now unlikely to be recoverable in the foreseeable future, due to the continued investment in research and development. 
Therefore, a deferred tax asset has no longer been provided for these losses. The Directors nevertheless have satisfied 
themselves that it is appropriate to recognise the remaining tax assets as they expect profitability to be sustained.

27 Retirement benefit obligations
Explanation of current pension schemes in operation worldwide – defined contribution schemes
The Group operates several pension schemes, mostly of a defined contribution nature, around the world. Today the 
majority of the Group’s employees are members of defined contribution schemes. All schemes are operated by trustees, 
independent of operation by the Company and Group. The Trustees are responsible for the operation and governance of 
the schemes. 

Defined contribution pension schemes pay fixed contributions from Group companies (where applicable) to employees’ 
individual investment funds. There is therefore no further liability on the Group balance sheet relating to defined contribution 
pension schemes. For the defined contribution schemes operated throughout the Group the employer contributions are 
generally up to 6% of eligible salary but are subject to minimum employee contributions. 

The total contributions to the schemes over the year were:

Pension contributions

UK defined benefit pension scheme (discussed further below)  

Defined contribution pension schemes (UK and overseas) 

2019 
 £’000 

— 

547 

547 

2018 
 £’000

151

521

672

In relation to the UK defined contribution scheme, the Group had outstanding contributions of £56,000 (2018: £59,000). 
Contributions to the UK defined benefit pension scheme for administrative expenses are discussed further below in this note. 

Explanation of UK defined benefit pension scheme (closed to new members on 1 April 2002)
Details from this point to the end of this note relate to the UK defined benefit scheme only. 
This part of the note therefore details the financial and demographic assumptions made in estimating the defined benefit 
obligation, together with an analysis of the components of the pension liability. The consolidated balance sheet therefore 
includes a retirement benefit liability which is the expected future cash flows to be paid out by the UK defined benefit 
scheme, offset by assets held by that scheme to meet those liabilities. 

Historically, the majority of the Group’s employees in the UK were members of a defined benefit scheme (which is governed 
by the UK Pensions Regulator) that was closed to new members on 1 April 2002 and with effect from 31 March 2009 future 
pension accrual ceased for the remaining active members. Under the UK defined benefit pension scheme’s trust deed the 
Company has the authority to appoint up to two‑thirds of the Trustees. Currently there are two member‑appointed Trustees 
and two Company‑appointed Trustees. The Trustees of this defined benefit pension scheme are also responsible for the 
scheme’s investment strategy, as well as the operation and governance of that scheme.

67

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

27 Retirement benefit obligations continued
Triennial actuarial funding valuation and IAS 19 Employee Benefits accounting valuation
The pension scheme is subject to a full actuarial valuation every three years using assumptions agreed between the Trustees 
and the Company. The latest available triennial actuarial funding valuation of the defined benefit scheme in the UK was 
prepared as at 31 March 2017. The purpose of this valuation is to design a funding plan to ensure that the pension scheme 
has sufficient funds available to meet future defined benefit payments. This most recent triennial actuarial valuation carried 
out by an independent professionally qualified actuary, as at 31 March 2017, resulted in a net pension surplus of £1,890,000 
(1 April 2014: net pension deficit of £1,544,000). The market value of the assets of the scheme as at 31 March 2017 was 
£19,490,000 (1 April 2014: £15,727,000) and the actuarial valuation showed that these assets were sufficient to cover 111% 
(1 April 2014: 91%) of the benefits which accrued to members, after allowing for expected future increases in these benefits. 

The main actuarial assumptions used were: allowance for future investment returns; i.e. the discount rate, of 4.8% p.a. both 
before and after retirement; pensions accrued prior to 6 April 1997 and after April 2005 will increase in payment at 3% p.a. 
compound; pension accrued between 6 April 1997 and 6 April 2005 will increase in payment at 3.7% p.a.; i.e. in line with RPI 
capped at 5% p.a., minimum 3% p.a. and early leaver revaluations will be at 2.85% p.a.

The valuation calculated under the funding valuation basis of £1,890,000 pension surplus above is different to the 
accounting valuation presented in the Group consolidated balance sheet of a net pension liability of £3,548,000. Differences 
arise between the funding valuation and accounting valuation, mainly due to the use of different assumptions to value the 
liabilities to be in accordance with the accounting standard IAS 19 Retirement Benefits, together with any changes in market 
conditions between the two valuation dates of 31 March 2017 and 31 March 2019. Therefore for funding valuation purposes 
the liabilities are determined based on assumptions set by the Trustee following consultation with the Company and scheme 
actuaries. For example, the discount rate used for the most recent funding valuation is based on a 4.8% discount rate. 
Whereas, in the financial statements the liabilities are determined in accordance with IAS 19 and this accounting valuation 
uses a discount rate predicated on high quality (AA) corporate bond yields of an appropriate term equating to 2.4%. 

Funding of the defined benefit scheme is agreed with the Trustees following each triennial actuarial valuation and the 
following funding agreement has been put in place from 1 April 2018 until the earlier of any revised settlement arising from 
the next triennial valuation or by 31 January 2023 (“future revised date”); all administration expenses of running the Scheme 
are met directly by the Employer and all PPF levies (and any minor Scheme expenses e.g. Pensions Regulator levies) will be 
paid from the Scheme and will not be reimbursed by the Employer. The next triennial actuarial funding valuation will take 
place as at 31 March 2020.

The net pension liability recognised in these consolidated financial statements has been calculated reflecting the most 
recent accounting valuation under IAS 19 to reflect the assets and liabilities of the scheme as at 31 March 2019, using 
assumptions further in this note. 

Risk management
The cost of the UK defined benefit pension scheme depends on a number of assumptions of future events. Future 
contribution requirements may emerge in future if those estimated assumptions are not borne out in practice or if different 
assumptions are agreed in future. Specific risks mitigated by the Trustees where possible in the investment strategy include: 
any changes in future expectations of price inflation, including reducing real rates of return; changes in the discount rate 
used to value the pension liabilities; interest rate risk on pension asset matching liabilities held; the return on assets being 
different to that assumed; concentration of plan assets in equities versus liquidity risk of holding assets which may be difficult 
to sell; counterparty credit risk including, but not limited to, fund manager risk; currency risks where investments are held in 
overseas markets via pooled investment vehicles; impact of bond rate on liabilities held; any movements in asset values not 
matched by similar movements in the value of liabilities, perhaps caused by pricing risks; and any unanticipated changes 
in life expectancy which may have a bearing on the size of the scheme liabilities. The investment strategy for the defined 
benefit pension scheme is discussed further in this note. 

68

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19GMP equalisation
On 26 October 2018, the High Court ruled in the Lloyds Banking Group case that the trustees are under a duty to make 
sure that equal benefits are paid, including where these benefits are in the form of Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) 
payments. As a result, all schemes with GMP rights will have to act to allow for equalisation of benefits for the effect of 
unequal GMPs. This is known as GMP equalisation.

As a result of the judgement, companies now need to make an allowance for the increase in the defined benefit obligation 
that they expect as a result of GMP equalisation. For this first reporting results since the judgement, the GMP equalisation 
allowance has been estimated by making allowance for scheme specifics such as benefit structure and liability profile. 
This results in a GMP equalisation allowance of 0.3% of the defined benefit obligation, which equates to £68,000 as at the 
date of the judgement. This increase in the defined benefit obligation has been recognised as a past service cost in the 
P&L account. Any future adjustments in respect of GMP equalisation, will be adjusted for within the consolidated statement 
of total comprehensive income. 

Financial and demographic assumptions
Principal actuarial assumptions at the balance sheet date (expressed as weighted averages), the discount rate of liabilities 
applied being the most significant:

a) Financial assumptions

Discount rate   

Future salary increases  

Expected duration of liabilities (years) 

Pension revaluation in deferment (Consumer Prices Index – max. 5.0%) 

Pension escalation in payment  
(Retail Prices Index – max. 5.0%, min. 3.0% from 6 April 1997 to 5 April 2005)  

Proportion of employees opting for early retirement  

Inflation assumption  

2019 

2.4% 

n/a 

15 

2.2% 

3.2% 

0% 

3.2% 

2018

2.8%

n/a

14

2.1%

3.1%

0%

3.1%

The difference between the expected investment returns on the Scheme’s assets and the actual investment loss was 
£205,000 (2018:gain £823,000). 

b) Demographic assumptions

Assumed life expectancy in years, on retirement at 65 

Retiring today  

Males  

Females  

Retiring in 20 years 

Males  

Females  

2019 

2018

21.5 

23.4 

22.8 

24.9 

21.9

23.8

23.3

25.4

69

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

27 Retirement benefit obligations continued
On the basis of the above assumptions, the amounts that have been charged to administration expenses within the 
income statement and the statement of total comprehensive income for the year to 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2018 
are as follows:

Amounts recognised in the consolidated income statement are as follows:

Administration expenses (see details above) 

Past service cost – GMP equalisation 

Net interest on deficit  

Total  

Amounts recognised in the consolidated statement of total comprehensive income:

Actual (loss)/return on assets less return implied by net interest income 

Experience (loss)/gain on liabilities 

Change in assumptions:  

Discount rate   

Inflation rate    

Demographic assumptions 

Net actuarial (loss)/gain recognised in equity 

2019 
 £’000 

(43) 

(68) 

(60) 

(171) 

(205) 

(47) 

(1,342) 

(202) 

479 

(1,317) 

2019 
 £’000 

2018 
 £’000

(50)

—

(87)

(137)

823

145

(358)

556

(255)

911

2018 
 £’000

Amounts recognised in the consolidated statement of financial position:  

Present value of funded obligations 

Fair value of plan assets 

Deficit under IAS 19 as reported by the actuary 

(24,176) 

20,628 

(3,548) 

(22,747)

20,677

(2,070)

The main reason for the increased deficit in the IAS 19 accounting position relates to the changes in assumptions in using a 
lower discount rate due to the fall in corporate bond yields at the period end, the Scheme’s investments return was lower 
than the requirement in the IAS 19 mandated increase in the obligation over the year, along with the additional liability for 
the GMP equalisation. The pension plan assets do not include ordinary shares issued by the sponsoring employer nor do they 
include property occupied by the sponsoring employer.

Sensitivity to significant assumptions

Significant assumptions 

Discount rate   

RPI 

Assumed life expectancy 

 Change in 
assumption 
% 

Change in  
defined benefit 
obligation  

%

+/‑ 0.5% p.a. 

‑ 6.9%/+ 7.7%

+/‑ 0.5% p.a.  + 3.5%/‑ 3.2%

+ 1 year 

+ 3.3% 

These sensitivities have been derived by the actuary using similar methodologies consistent with the rest of the disclosure. 

Analysis of changes in the funded status of the scheme over the period:

Funded status at start of period  

Amount charged to income statement 

Employer contributions 

Amount recognised in other comprehensive income  

Funded status at end of period 

2019 
 £’000 

(2,070) 

(171) 

10 

(1,317) 

(3,548) 

2018 
 £’000

(3,084)

(137)

240

911

(2,070)

The weighted average duration of scheme liabilities at the end of the year is 15 years (2018: 14 years). 

70

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Present value of the defined benefit obligation
Changes in the present value of the defined benefit obligation are as follows:

Opening defined benefit obligation  

Expenses incurred (including GMP equalisation) 

Interest cost 

Actuarial loss/(gain) 

Benefits paid (including expenses) 

Closing defined benefit obligation 

Comprising: 

Deferred members 

Pension members 

Fair value of defined benefit plan assets
Changes in the fair value of the plan assets are as follows:

Opening fair value of plan assets  

Interest income on assets 

Actuarial (loss)/ gain on assets 

Contributions by employer 

Benefits paid   

Expenses paid  

Closing fair value of plan assets 

2019 
 £’000 

22,747 

111 

633 

1,102 

(417) 

24,176 

17,429 

6,747 

2019 
 £’000 

20,677 

573 

(205) 

10 

(384) 

(43) 

2018 
 £’000

22,547

50

649

(88)

(411)

22,747

15,966

6,781

2018 
 £’000

19,463

562

823

240

(361)

(50)

20,628 

20,677

The actuarial gain due to the change in demographic assumptions was £479,000 (2018: actuarial loss of £255,000) and the 
actuarial loss due to the change in financial assumptions was £1,544,000 (2018: actuarial gain of £198,000). 

The return on plan assets excluding net interest was £368,000 (2018: £1,385,000). The interest income on plan assets is 
calculated using the assets, market conditions and the long‑term expected rate of interest set at the start of the accounting 
period. The Company expects to contribute £Nil (2018: £Nil) as contributions to the CML Microsystems Plc Retirement Benefits 
Scheme in the next accounting year. 

71

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

27 Retirement benefit obligations continued
Fair value of defined benefit plan assets continued
The following is a breakdown of Plan assets held at each respective balance sheet date:

Asset class 

Equities (all quoted) 

Cash 

Diversified growth funds 

Diversified credit funds 

Liability driven investments 

Other  

Year ended 31 March 2019 

Year ended 31 March 2018

Market value 
£’000 

% of total 
assets 

Market value 
 £’000 

% of total 
assets

9,425 

603 

6,808 

1,406 

1,900 

486 

46% 

3% 

33% 

7% 

9% 

2% 

9,663 

1,216 

6,678 

1,209 

1,911 

— 

47%

6%

32%

6%

9%

—

Closing fair value of plan assets 

20,628 

100% 

20,677 

100%

Note: all assets listed above have a quoted market price in an active market and are valued using their bid values in accordance with IAS 19. 
The pension scheme no longer invests in bonds or property following a change in investment strategy. 

The Trustees’ investment strategy has the objectives to generate an appropriate level of investment returns to improve the 
financial position of the Scheme (thereby improving security for its members); to manage cash flow requirements to ensure 
there are sufficient assets and cash flows available (to pay for member benefits as they arise); and, to protect the financial 
position (in so doing limiting the scope for adverse investment experience impacting on members). The Trustees’ strategic 
asset allocation is determined after considering written advice from the investment advisor and is designed to strike the 
appropriate balance between these objectives. Liability matching assets are selected by the Trustees having regard to 
the nature of the Scheme’s liability profile and are expected to react to changes in market conditions in a similar way to 
liabilities. Growth assets are expected to deliver long‑term returns in excess of liability growth. Current allocations are 15% of 
liability matching assets and 85% growth assets but this is monitored and rebalanced at the discretion of the Trustees and, 
moreover, on a day‑to‑day basis management of the assets delegated to the investment managers who have knowledge 
and experience for managing the investments. The Trustees, in conjunction with the investment advisor, regularly review 
each of the investment managers to ensure that the managers remain competent and assets continue to be managed in 
accordance with the managers’ mandates (the Scheme objectives being implemented within an acceptable level of risk). 

Assets are held predominantly on regulated markets, as so defined in legislation. Any investments that do not trade on 
regulated markets are kept to a prudent level. To ensure the safekeeping of assets, ownership and day‑to‑day control of 
the assets is undertaken by custodian organisations which are independent of the sponsoring employer and the investment 
managers. Where pooled investment vehicles are used, the custodians will typically be appointed by the investment manager. 

Five year comparison 
Amounts for the current and previous four periods are as follows:

Defined benefit obligation  

Plan assets 

Deficit  

Experience adjustments on plan liabilities 

Actuarial (loss)/gain on plan assets 

2019  
IAS 19  
£’000 

24,176 

20,628 

(3,548) 

(47) 

(205) 

2018  
IAS 19  
£’000 

22,747 

20,677 

(2,070) 

145 

823 

2017 
IAS 19 
£’000 

22,547 

19,463 

(3,084) 

1,361 

2,007 

2016 
IAS 19 
£’000 

19,111 

17,044 

(2,067) 

460 

475 

2015 
IAS 19 
£’000

19,976

16,352

(3,624)

472

507

72

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28 Provisions

At 31 March 2017 

Utilisation 

Foreign exchange  

At 31 March 2018 

Utilisation 

Foreign exchange  

At 31 March 2019 

Analysed as:  

Current liabilities  

Non‑current liabilities 

At 31 March 2019 

£’000

474

(48)

(49)

377

(193)

27

211

195

16

211

The above provision relates to onerous lease and property obligations held by Group subsidiaries. The provision has not been 
discounted on the grounds of materiality. The majority of cash outflows to settle the above provision are expected to be 
over the next year (2018: two years).

29 Share capital and share options

Authorised 

2019 
 £’000 

2018 
 £’000

25,000,000 ordinary shares of 5p each (2018: 25,000,000 ordinary shares of 5p each)  

1,250 

1,250

Issued and fully paid 

At 1 April 

17,112,023 ordinary shares of 5p each 

Issued in year: 63,143 ordinary shares (2018: 251,667) of 5p were  
issued in the year as a result of employees exercising their options  

At 31 March   

17,175,166 ordinary shares of 5p  

856 

3 

859 

843

13

856

The Company has only one class of ordinary share with no special rights, preferences or restrictions attached to them, 
including on the distribution of dividends or the repayment of capital. 

73

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

29 Share capital and share options continued
Share options
The Company has a number of approved and unapproved share option schemes in place for the benefit of its employees. 
On 2 August 2000 the Company approved at the AGM a scheme, which was UK Revenue & Customs Approved. This 
scheme was amended and reapproved at the Extraordinary General Meeting held on 10 February 2004. At the 2008 AGM 
a new Enterprise Management Incentive share option plan was approved. On 18 November 2011 a further scheme was 
approved which is UK Revenue & Customs Approved and has an addendum for issuing unapproved options. The Company 
has the authority to grant options up to a limit, at any time, such that no more than 10% of the issued share capital is 
available under option.

The number of shares over which options remained in force at the year end along with a reconciliation of option 
movements and their exercise period and price is shown below:

 Ordinary shares of 5p each

2018 
Number 

Granted 
Number 

Exercised 
Number 

Forfeited 
Number 

2019 
Number

From 15 June 2014 to 14 June 2021  
at £2.20 

From 15 June 2014 to 14 June 2021  
at £2.30  

From 2 September 2015 to 1 September 2022   
at £2.84  

From 2 October 2015 to 1 October 2022  
at £3.22  

From 2 October 2015 to 1 October 2022  
at £3.34  

From 1 May 2016 to 1 May 2023  
at £3.84  

From 17 September 2017 to 17 September 2024  
at £3.125  

From 2 April 2018 to 2 April 2025  
at £3.45 

From 25 September 2018 to 25 September 2025  
at £3.51 

From 25 September 2018 to 25 September 2025  
at £3.475 

From 22 December 2019 to 22 December 2026 
at £3.70 

From 1 August 2020 to 1 August 2027  
at £4.58 

From 28 March 2021 to 28 March 2028  
at £5.20 

From 19 March 2022 to 18 March 2025  
at £2.79 

From 19 March 2022 to 18 March 2025  
at £2.79 

57,165 

12,500 

20,000 

26,872 

5,000 

28,720 

20,000 

20,000 

400,131 

100,000 

20,000 

84,521 

110,000 

— 

— 

904,909 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

156,673 

546,727 

703,400 

(2,819) 

— 

— 

(2,917) 

— 

(4,427) 

(8,000) 

(7,500) 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

54,346

12,500

20,000

23,955

5,000

24,293

12,000

12,500

(9,080) 

(11,968) 

379,083

(28,400) 

— 

—  

— 

— 

— 

— 

— 

71,600

20,000

(14,052) 

70,469

— 

— 

— 

110,000

156,673

546,727

(63,143) 

(26,020) 

1,519,146

There were 904,909 share options outstanding at the beginning of the year and 1,519,146 share options at the end of the 
year. Of the total outstanding at the end of the year, 617,071 were potentially exercisable at the prices detailed in the 
table above (2018: 170,257 share options). 63,143 options were exercised in the year (2018: 251,667 options). The weighted 
average market price of the share options exercised in the year was 494.0p (2018: 497.0p). The weighted average exercise 
price of options exercised in the year was 338.9p (2018: 302.6p). Options are forfeited due to the employees concerned 
leaving employment with the Group. The weighted average share option price of the share options forfeited in the year 
was 405.8p (2018: 369.5p). The weighted average exercise price of options granted in the year was 279.0p (2018: 491.0p). 
The weighted average exercise price of all options exercisable is £3.28 (2018: £3.69) and the weighted average expected 
remaining contractual life is three years (2018: three years). 

74

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30 Other equity reserves

Share premium

At 1 April 

Issued in year: 63,143 ordinary shares (2018: 251,667) of 5p were  
issued in the year as a result of employees exercising their options  

At 31 March 

Group 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

Company

2019 
£’000 

9,068 

8,319 

9,068 

211 

9,279 

749 

9,068 

211 

9,279 

This reserve is a result of the premium being paid for the issue of shares over their par value.

Capital redemption reserve  

At 1 April  

At 31 March 

Group 

2019 
£’000 

9 

9 

2018 
£’000 

9 

9 

Company

2019 
£’000 

9 

9 

2018 
£’000

8,319

749

9,068

2018 
£’000

9

9

The capital redemption reserve represents the nominal value of own shares purchased by the Company. On 23 December 
2016, the Company purchased 179,439 of its own 5p ordinary shares at a price of £3.70 per share for cancellation. These 
shares were cancelled on 18 January 2017. An amount equal to the nominal value of the cancelled shares was transferred 
to a capital redemption reserve.

Treasury shares – own share reserve 

At 1 April  

Purchased in the year  

At 31 March    

Group 

2019 
£’000 

(190) 

(152) 

(342) 

2018 
£’000 

(190) 

— 

(190) 

Company

2019 
£’000 

(190) 

(152) 

(342) 

2018 
£’000

(190)

—

(190)

The Company purchased on 10 June 2015 50,000 ordinary shares of 5p each at a price of 376.5p per ordinary share plus 
associated transaction costs. On 11 February 2019, the Company purchased 50,000 ordinary shares of 5p each in the 
Company at a price of 302.5p per ordinary share. The shares are to be held in treasury for the benefit of various employee 
share plans.

Share‑based payments reserve 

At 1 April  

Options exercised or released  

Charged in year  

At 31 March 

Group 

2019 
£’000 

443 

(53) 

117 

507 

2018 
£’000 

504 

(204) 

143 

443 

Company

2019 
£’000 

443 

(53) 

117 

507 

2018 
£’000

504

(204)

143

443

Options are granted with a fixed exercise price equal to the market price of the shares under option at the date of the 
grant. The contractual life of an option is ten years. Awards under the share option scheme are typically for all employees 
throughout the Group. Options granted under the share option scheme become exercisable on the third anniversary of 
the grant date. Options were valued using the Black‑Scholes model. The share option charge for the year was £117,000 
(2018: £143,000). 

75

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

30 Other equity reserves continued
The fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the calculation are as follows:

Grant date 

19/03/19 

28/03/18 

01/08/17 

22/12/16 

25/09/15 

25/09/15 

02/04/15

Share price at grant date (£) 

Exercise price (£) 

Number of employees 

Shares under option 

Vesting period (years) 

Expected volatility 

Option life (years) 

Expected life (years) 

Risk‑free rate 

Expected dividend yield 

Possibility of ceasing 

employment before vesting 

Fair value per option (£) 

2.79 

2.79 

203 

5.20 

5.20 

2 

4.58 

4.58 

47 

3.70 

3.70 

1 

3.475 

3.475 

4 

3.475 

3.51 

158 

3.45

3.45

1

703,400 

110,000 

84,521 

20,000 

100,000 

400,131 

20,000

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3 

3

31.63% 

23.31% 

19.37% 

16.02% 

33.20% 

33.20% 

38.00%

10 

3 

1.19% 

1.67% 

4.5% 

0.56 

10 

3 

1.37% 

1.40% 

4.5% 

0.80 

10 

3 

1.10% 

1.84% 

4.5% 

0.54 

10 

3 

1.15% 

1.86% 

4.5% 

0.35 

10 

3 

1.83% 

1.92% 

4.5% 

0.74 

10 

3 

1.83% 

1.92% 

4.5% 

0.73 

10

3

2.09%

1.57%

4.5%

0.87 

Grant date 

17/09/14 

01/05/13  

01/10/12  

01/10/12 

01/09/12  

15/06/11  

15/06/11 

Share price at grant date (£) 

Exercise price (£) 

Number of employees  

Shares under option  

Vesting period (years)  

Expected volatility  

Option life (years)  

Expected life (years)  

Risk‑free rate  

Expected dividend yield 

Possibility of ceasing  

employment before vesting 

Fair value per option (£) 

3.125 

3.125 

1 

3.88 

3.84 

7 

3.34  

3.34 

1  

3.34  

 3.22  

124  

2.84  

2.84 

1  

2.30  

 2.20  

1  

2.20 

2.20 

22 

20,000 

28,720 

5,000  

26,872  

20,000  

12,500  

57,165 

3 

3 

3  

3 

 3  

3  

3 

26.84% 

43.30% 

29.36%  

29.36%  

29.36%  

35.70%  

35.70% 

10 

3 

2.43% 

1.26% 

4.5% 

0.60 

10 

 3 

3.60% 

1.20% 

4.5% 

0.71 

10  

3  

3.09%  

1.49%  

10  

3  

3.09%  

1.49%  

10  

3  

3.09%  

1.49%  

10  

3 

4.28%  

1.50%  

4.5%  

0.67 

4.5%  

0.67  

4.5%  

0.67  

4.5% 

0.58 

The expected volatility is based on 90 days’ trading prior to the grant date. The expected life is the average expected 
period to exercise. The risk‑free rate of return is the yield to redemption on UK gilt strips with four‑year maturity.

Company only 

Merger reserve

At 1 April and 31 March  

2019 
£’000 

316 

This reserve relates to the acquisition in 1995 of Integrated Micro Systems Limited. In accordance with the provisions of 
Section 612 of the Companies Act 2006, the Company transferred to merger reserve the premium arising on shares issued as 
part of the acquisition. 

Group 

Foreign exchange reserve

At 1 April  

Retranslation of overseas subsidiaries  

At 31 March    

2019  
£’000 

1,302 

104 

1,406 

2018 
£’000

1,386

(84)

1,302

This reserve represents the foreign exchange differences arising from the retranslation of financial statements of foreign 
subsidiaries.

76

10 

 3

4.28% 

1.50% 

4.5%

0.58

2018 
£’000

316

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated profits reserve  

At 1 April 

Profit for the year  

Dividend paid  

Cancellation/transfer of share‑based payments  

Net actuarial (loss)/gain 

Deferred tax gain/(loss) on actuarial (loss)/gain 

At 31 March 

Group 

2019 
£’000 

30,282 

2,694 

(1,332) 

53 

(1,317) 

224 

30,604 

2018 
£’000 

26,764 

4,139 

(1,581) 

204 

911 

(155) 

Company

2019 
£’000 

9,387 

2,999 

(1,332) 

53 

— 

— 

30,282 

11,107 

2018 
£’000

9,308

1,456

(1,581)

204

—

—

9,387

31 Capital commitments
Capital commitments which have been authorised by the balance sheet date, represent a three‑year purchasing 
commitment with a supplier for £1,269,311 (2018: £1,368,000), and £Nil (2018: £201,000) in relation to intangible assets. 
No provision has been made in these financial statements for these capital commitments.

32 Operating lease arrangements
The Group as a lessee

Land and buildings

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised 
in income statement as an expense for the year 

2019  
£’000 

2018 
 £’000

435 

494

At the year end, the Group had future minimum lease payments under non‑cancellable operating leases, which fall due as 
follows:

Within one year  

In the second to fifth year inclusive  

After five years  

2019 
 £’000 

507 

359 

67 

933 

2018 
 £’000

517

593

146

1,256

Operating lease payments represent rentals payable by the Group for some of its office properties. Leases are normally 
negotiated for an initial term of three years and rentals are fixed for that period. 

Other

Minimum lease payments under operating leases recognised 
in income statement as an expense for the year 

2019 
 £’000 

2018 
 £’000

90 

91

At the year end, the Group had future minimum lease payments under non‑cancellable operating leases, which fall due as 
follows:

Within one year  

In the second to fifth year inclusive  

2019 
£’000 

57 

48 

105 

2018 
£’000

69

24

93

77

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES TO THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS CONTINUED 
for the year ended 31 March 2019

32 Operating lease arrangements continued
The Group and Company as a lessor 
Property rental income earned during the year was £304,947 (2018: £290,000). Current commercial market conditions 
have improved and the Group now has all properties let albeit with fairly short leases. It is impractical to estimate what the 
estimated yields will be in the longer term but over the shorter term yields are expected to be typical 6‑7% levels. 

At the year end, the Group had contracted with tenants for the following future minimum lease payments:

2019 
£’000 

308 

549 

— 

857 

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000

227

306

4

537

2018 
£’000

(701) 

(877) 

(165) 

(1,743) 

(227)

(1,087)

440

(874)

Exchange 
movement  
 £’000  

Net cash at  
31 March 2019 
£’000

70 

70 

2019 
 £’000 

(872) 

(1,084) 

(95) 

(2,051) 

— 

(2,051) 

12,809

12,809

2018 
 £’000

(124)

(3)

(250)

(377)

—

(377)

Net cash at 
1 April 2018 
£’000 

13,816 

13,816 

Cash flow  
£’000 

(1,077) 

(1,077) 

Net cash at 
1 April 2018 
£’000 

172 

172 

Cash flow  
£’000 

130 

130 

Exchange 
movement  
 £’000  

Net cash at  
31 March 2019 
£’000

(8) 

(8) 

294

294

Within one year  

In the second to fifth year inclusive 

After five years  

33 Notes to the cash flow statement

Group

Movement in working capital: 

(Increase) in inventories  

(Increase) in receivables  

(Decrease)/increase in payables 

Analysis of changes in net cash – Group:

Cash and cash equivalents 

Company

Movement in working capital: 

(Increase) in advance to subsidiary undertaking  

(Increase) in receivables  

(Decrease) in payables 

Movement in investments and dividends 

Analysis of changes in net cash – Company:

Cash and cash equivalents  

78

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34 Related party transactions
Transactions and balances with operating companies that were eliminated in the consolidation consist of:

Company 

Management fees charged to subsidiary undertakings by parent:

CML Microcircuits (UK) Ltd  

CML Microcircuits (USA) Inc 

Hyperstone GmbH 

Dividends paid to parent:

Received from CML Microcircuits (UK) Ltd 

Received from CML Microcircuits (USA) Inc 

Received from Hyperstone GmbH 

Received from CML Microcircuits (Singapore) Pte Ltd  

2019 
 £’000 

1,000 

153 

220 

1,373 

1,332 

493 

879 

278 

2,982 

2018 
 £’000

1,000

151

220

1,371

—

—

1,244

251

1,495

Contributions to the Group’s pension schemes 
Contributions to the Group’s defined contribution pension schemes by the Group as employer consisted of £547,000 in the 
year (2018: £672,000). Contributions to the closed UK defined benefit scheme was £Nil (2018: £151,000).

Group and Company
Key management personnel consist of the Board of Directors and transactions during the year (included within remuneration 
disclosed in notes 6 and 7) were as follows:

Group and Company 

Employee benefits  

Pension contributions 

Share‑based payments  

2019 
 £’000 

887 

53 

35 

975 

2018 
 £’000

879

50

22

951

35 Listings
CML Microsystems Plc’s ordinary shares are traded on the Official List of the London Stock Exchange and the Company is 
incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The Company’s registered address is: Oval Park, Langford, Maldon, Essex, CM9 6WG, 
England. 

36 Approval of financial statements
These financial statements were formally approved by the Board of Directors on 21 June 2019.

79

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

Notice is hereby given that the AGM of CML Microsystems Plc (the “Company”) will be held at Pontlands Park Hotel, West 
Hanningfield Road, Great Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8HR on 31 July 2019 at 11am to transact the following business:

Ordinary business
Ordinary resolutions
To consider, and, if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions as ordinary resolutions:

1.  To receive and adopt the Group’s consolidated financial statements and the reports of the Directors and auditor for the 

year ended 31 March 2019.

2.  To receive and approve the Directors’ remuneration report for the year ended 31 March 2019.

3.  To declare a final dividend of 5.8p per 5p ordinary share for the year ended 31 March 2019 to be paid on 5 August 2019 

to shareholders whose names appear on the register at the close of business on 5 July 2019.

4.  To re‑appoint Hugh Rudden, who retires by rotation, as a Director of the Company.

5.  To re‑appoint Nigel Clark who retires by rotation, as a Director of the Company.

6.  To send or supply all documents or information relating to the Company to members by making them available on a 

website.

7.  To re‑appoint RSM UK Audit LLP as auditor of the Company.

8.  To authorise the Directors to determine the remuneration of the auditor.

Special business
Ordinary resolution
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolution as an ordinary resolution:

9.  That pursuant to Section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), the Directors be and are generally and 

unconditionally authorised to exercise all powers of the Company to allot Relevant Securities:

a) comprising equity securities (as defined in Section 560(1) of the Act) up to an aggregate nominal amount of 

£572,505 (such amount to be reduced by the aggregate nominal amount of Relevant Securities allotted pursuant to 
paragraph b) of this resolution) in connection with a rights issue:

i.  to holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the 

respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them; and

ii.  to holders of other equity securities in the capital of the Company, as required by the rights of those securities 
or, subject to such rights, as the Directors otherwise consider necessary, but subject to such exclusions or other 
arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation to treasury shares, fractional 
entitlements, record dates or any legal or practical problems under the laws of any territory or the requirements of 
any regulatory body or stock exchange; and

b) otherwise than pursuant to paragraph a) of this resolution, up to an aggregate nominal amount of £286,252 (such 

amount to be reduced by the aggregate nominal amount of Relevant Securities allotted pursuant to paragraph a) of 
this resolution in excess of £286,252, provided that (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) these authorities shall 
expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on the date which is 15 
months after the date of the AGM at which this resolution is passed (whichever is the earlier), save that, in each case, 
the Company may make an offer or agreement before the authority expires which would or might require Relevant 
Securities to be allotted after the authority expires and the Directors may allot Relevant Securities pursuant to any such 
offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired. These authorities are in substitution for all existing authorities 
under Section 551 of the Act (which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate 
effect).

In this resolution, “Relevant Securities” means shares in the Company or rights to subscribe for or to convert any security 
into shares in the Company; a reference to the allotment of Relevant Securities includes the grant of such a right; and 
a reference to the nominal amount of a Relevant Security which is a right to subscribe for or to convert any security into 
shares in the Company is to the nominal amount of the shares which may be allotted pursuant to that right. 

80

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
Special resolutions
To consider, and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions as special resolutions:

10. That, subject to the passing of resolution 9 and pursuant to Sections 570 and 573 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), 
the Directors be and are generally empowered to allot equity securities (within the meaning of Section 560 of the Act) 
for cash pursuant to the authorities granted by resolution 9 and to sell ordinary shares held by the Company as treasury 
shares for cash as if Section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any such allotment or sale, provided that this power shall 
be limited to:

a) the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares in connection with an offer of equity securities (whether 
by way of a rights issue, open offer or otherwise, but, in the case of an allotment pursuant to the authority granted 
by paragraph a) of resolution 9, such power shall be limited to the allotment of equity securities in connection with 
a rights issue):

i.  to holders of ordinary shares in the capital of the Company in proportion (as nearly as practicable) to the 

respective numbers of ordinary shares held by them; and

ii.  to holders of other equity securities in the capital of the Company, as required by the rights of those securities or, 

subject to such rights, as the Directors otherwise consider necessary;

iii.  but subject to such exclusions or other arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient in relation 
to treasury shares, fractional entitlements, record dates or any legal or practical problems under the laws of any 
territory or the requirements of any regulatory body or stock exchange; and 

b) the allotment of equity securities pursuant to the authority granted by paragraph b) of resolution 9 or sale of treasury 

shares (in each case, otherwise than pursuant to paragraph a) of this resolution) up to an aggregate nominal amount 
of £42,937 and (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next 
AGM of the Company after the passing of this resolution or on the date which is 15 months after the date of the AGM 
at which this resolution is passed (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may make an offer or agreement 
before this power expires which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold for 
cash after this power expires and the Directors may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares for cash pursuant to 
any such offer or agreement as if this power had not expired. This power is in substitution for all existing powers under 
Sections 570 and 573 of the Act (which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate 
effect).

11. That, subject to resolution 9 being passed, and in addition to any authority granted under Resolution 10 to allot equity 
securities pursuant to the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”) for cash under the authority given by that resolution, the 
Directors be and are generally empowered to allot equity securities (pursuant to Sections 570 and 573 of the Act) for cash 
under the authority given by resolution 9 and/or to sell treasury shares as if Section 561(1) of the Act did not apply to any 
such allotment or sale, provided that this power shall be:

a) limited, in the case of the authority granted under paragraph b) of resolution 9 and/or in the case of any sale of 
treasury shares, to the allotment of equity securities or sale of treasury shares up to a nominal amount of £128,727 
(being 14.99% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital, excluding treasury shares); and

b) used only for the purposes of financing (or refinancing, if the authority is to be used within six months after the original 
transaction) a transaction which the Directors determine to be an acquisition or other capital investment of a kind 
contemplated by the Statement of Principles on Disapplying Pre‑Emption Rights most recently published by the 
Pre‑Emption Group prior to the date of this notice, 

  and (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this power shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the 

Company after the passing of this resolution or on the date which is 15 months after the date of the AGM at which this 
resolution is passed (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may make an offer or agreement before this 
power expires which would or might require equity securities to be allotted or treasury shares to be sold for cash after this 
power expires and the Directors may allot equity securities or sell treasury shares for cash pursuant to any such offer or 
agreement as if this power had not expired. This power is in substitution for all existing powers under Sections 570 and 573 
of the Act (which, to the extent unused at the date of this resolution, are revoked with immediate effect).

81

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CONTINUED

Special business continued
Special resolutions continued
12. That, pursuant to Section 701 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), the Company be and is generally and 

unconditionally authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of Section 693(4) of the Act) of ordinary shares 
of 5p each in the capital of the Company (“Shares”), provided that:

a) the maximum aggregate number of Shares which may be purchased is 2,576,274;

b) the minimum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for a Share is 5p (being the nominal amount of a Share):

c)  the maximum price (excluding expenses) which may be paid for a Share is the higher of:

i.  an amount equal to 105% of the average of the middle market quotations for a Share as derived from the Daily 

Official List of the London Stock Exchange plc for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which 
the purchase is made; and

ii.  an amount equal to the higher of the price of the last independent trade of a Share and the highest current 

independent bid for a Share on the trading venue where the purchase is carried out;

d) an ordinary share so purchased shall be cancelled or, if the Directors so determine and subject to the provisions of 

applicable laws or regulations of the UK Listing Authority, held as a treasury share, and

e)  (unless previously revoked, varied or renewed) this authority shall expire at the conclusion of the next AGM of the 

Company after the passing of this resolution or on the date which is 15 months after the date of the AGM at which this 
resolution is passed (whichever is the earlier), save that the Company may enter into a contract to purchase Shares 
before this authority expires under which such purchase will or may be completed or executed wholly or partly after 
this authority expires and may make a purchase of Shares pursuant to any such contract as if this authority had not 
expired.

By order of the Board

Neil Pritchard
Company Secretary

21 June 2019

Registered office
Oval Park  
Langford  
Maldon  
Essex CM9 6WG

Registered in England and Wales: 000944010

82

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY191 Attending the AGM in person
If you wish to attend the AGM in person, you should arrive at the venue for the AGM in good time to allow your attendance 
to be registered. You must bring some form of identification as evidence of your identity prior to the Company’s 
representatives allowing your admittance to the AGM.

2 Appointment of proxies
Members who are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM are entitled to appoint one or more proxies to exercise all or any 
of their rights to attend, speak and vote at the AGM. A proxy need not be a member of the Company but must attend the 
AGM to represent a member. To be validly appointed, a proxy must be appointed using the procedures set out in these 
notes and in the notes to the accompanying proxy form.

If a member wishes a proxy to speak on their behalf at the meeting, the member will need to appoint their own choice of 
proxy (not the Chairman of the AGM) and give their instructions directly to them. Such an appointment can be made using 
the proxy form accompanying this notice of AGM or through CREST.

Members can only appoint more than one proxy where each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different 
shares. Members cannot appoint more than one proxy to exercise the rights attached to the same share(s). If a member 
wishes to appoint more than one proxy, they should contact Neville Registrars Limited, by writing to Neville House, Steelpark 
Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8HD.

A member may instruct their proxy to abstain from voting on a particular resolution to be considered at the meeting by 
marking the “Withheld” option in relation to that particular resolution when appointing their proxy. It should be noted that 
an abstention is not a vote in law and will not be counted in the calculation of the proportion of votes “for” or “against” the 
resolution.

The appointment of a proxy will not prevent a member from attending the AGM and voting in person if he or she wishes.

A person who is not a member of the Company but who has been nominated by a member to enjoy information rights does 
not have a right to appoint any proxies under the procedures set out in these notes and should read note 8 below.

To be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM (and for the purpose of determining the number of votes a member may 
cast), members must be entered on the Register of Members of the Company at 6pm on 29 July 2019.

Under Section 337(3) of the Act members may circulate and move a resolution at the AGM if members representing at least 
5% of the total voting rights request it, of if at least 100 members request it, if those members hold shares in the Company in 
holdings on which an average of £100 per member has been paid up. 

3 Appointment of a proxy using a proxy form
A proxy form for use in connection with the AGM is enclosed. To be valid any proxy form or other instrument appointing 
a proxy, together with any power of attorney or other authority under which it is signed or a certified copy thereof, must 
be received by post using the postal address on the form of proxy to the Company’s Registrars, Neville Registrars Limited, 
Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands B62 8HD, or by hand by the Company at its registered office at 
CML Microsystems Plc, Oval Park, Langford, Maldon, Essex CM9 6WG, not later than 11am on 29 July 2019 or if the AGM is 
adjourned, at least 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting.

If you do not have a proxy form and believe that you should have one, or you require additional proxy forms, please 
contact the Company’s Registrars, Neville Registrars Limited, Neville House, Steelpark Road, Halesowen, West Midlands 
B62 8HD.

4 Appointment of a proxy through CREST
CREST members who wish to appoint a proxy or proxies through the CREST electronic proxy appointment service may do 
so by using the procedures described in the CREST Manual and by logging on to the following website: www.euroclear.
com/CREST. CREST personal members or other CREST sponsored members, and those CREST members who have appointed 
a voting service provider(s), should refer to their CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) who will be able to take the 
appropriate action on their behalf.

In order for a proxy appointment or instruction made using the CREST service to be valid, the appropriate CREST message 
(a “CREST Proxy Instruction”) must be properly authenticated in accordance with Euroclear UK & Ireland Limited’s 
specifications, and must contain the information required for such instruction, as described in the CREST Manual. The 
message, regardless of whether it constitutes the appointment of a proxy or is an amendment to the instruction given to 
a previously appointed proxy, must in order to be valid, be transmitted so as to be received by the registrar (ID 7RA11) not 
later than 11am on 29 July 2019 or if the AGM is adjourned at least 48 hours before the time of the adjourned meeting. For 
this purpose, the time of receipt will be taken to be the time (as determined by the timestamp applied to the message 
by the CREST Application Host) from which the Registrar is able to retrieve the message by enquiry to CREST in the 
manner prescribed by CREST. After this time any change of instructions to proxies appointed through CREST should be 
communicated to the appointee through other means.

83

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING CONTINUED

4 Appointment of a proxy through CREST continued
CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting service provider(s) should note that Euroclear UK & 
Ireland Limited does not make available special procedures in CREST for any particular message. Normal system timings and 
limitations will, therefore, apply in relation to the input of CREST Proxy Instructions. It is the responsibility of the CREST member 
concerned to take (or, if the CREST member is a CREST personal member, or sponsored member, or has appointed a voting 
service provider(s), to procure that his CREST sponsor or voting service provider(s) take(s)) such action as shall be necessary 
to ensure that a message is transmitted by means of the CREST system by any particular time.

In this connection, CREST members and, where applicable, their CREST sponsors or voting system providers are referred, in 
particular, to those sections of the CREST Manual concerning practical limitations of the CREST system and timings.

The Company may treat as invalid a CREST Proxy Instruction in the circumstances set out in Regulation 35(5)(a) of the 
Uncertificated Securities Regulations 2001.

5 Appointment of proxy by joint holders
In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint one or more proxies, only the 
purported 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).

6 Corporate representatives
Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives. Members can only appoint 
more than one corporate representative where each corporate representative is appointed to exercise rights attached to 
different shares. Members cannot appoint more than one corporate representative to exercise the rights attached to the 
same share(s).

7 Entitlement to attend and vote
To be entitled to attend and vote at the AGM (and for the purpose of determining the votes they may cast), members must 
be registered in the Company’s register of members at 6pm on 29 July 2019 (or, if the AGM is adjourned, at 6pm on the day 
two days prior to the adjourned meeting). Changes to the Company’s register of members after the relevant deadline will 
be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the AGM.

8 Nominated persons
Any person to whom this notice is sent who is a person nominated under Section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “2006 
Act”) to enjoy information rights (a “Nominated Person”) may, under an agreement between him/her and the member by 
whom he/she was nominated, have a right to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy for the AGM. 
If a Nominated Person has no such proxy appointment right or does not wish to exercise it, he/she may, under any such 
agreement, have a right to give instructions to the member as to the exercise of voting rights.

9 Website giving information regarding the AGM
Information regarding the AGM, including information required by Section 311A of the 2006 Act, is available from the 
Company’s website www.cmlmicroplc.com.

84

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY1910 Audit concerns
Members should note that it is possible that, pursuant to requests made by members of the Company under Section 527 of 
the 2006 Act, the Company may be required to publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: a) the 
audit of the Company’s accounts (including the auditor’s report and the conduct of the audit) that are to be laid before 
the AGM; or b) any circumstance connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous 
meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with Section 437 of the 2006 Act. The Company 
may not require the members requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with Sections 527 or 
528 of the 2006 Act. Where the Company is required to place a statement on a website under Section 527 of the 2006 Act, it 
must forward the statement to the Company’s auditor not later than the time when it makes the statement available on the 
website. The business which may be dealt with at the AGM includes any statement that the Company has been required 
under Section 527 of the 2006 Act to publish on a website. In order to be able to exercise the members rights to require the 
Company to publish audit concerns the relevant request must be made by (a) a member or members having a right to 
vote at the meeting and holding at least 5% of the voting rights of the Company or (b) at least 100 members having a right 
to vote at the meeting and holding, on average, at least £100 of paid up share capital. For information on voting rights, 
including the total number of voting rights, see note 11 and the website referred to in note 9. Where a member or members 
wishes to request the Company to publish audit concerns such request must be made in accordance with one of the 
following ways (a) by hard copy request which is signed by a member, states their full name and address and is sent to CML 
Microsystems Plc, Oval Park, Langford, Maldon, Essex CM9 6WG or (b) a request which states the member’s full name and 
address, and is sent to group@cmlmicroplc.com. Please state “AGM” in the subject line of the email.

11 Voting rights
As at 19 June 2019 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this notice) the Company’s issued share 
capital consisted of 17,175,166 ordinary shares, carrying one vote each. The Company holds 100,000 shares in treasury 
meaning the total voting rights in the Company as at 19 June 2019 were 17,075,166 votes.

12 Payment of dividend
It is proposed to pay the dividend, if approved, on 5 August 2019 to shareholders registered on 5 July 2019. 

13 Notification of shareholdings
Any person holding 3% or more of the total voting rights of the Company who appoints a person other than the Chairman 
of the AGM as his proxy will need to ensure that both he, and his proxy, comply with their respective disclosure obligations 
under the UK Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

14 Further questions and communication
Under Section 319A of the 2006 Act, the Company must cause to be answered any question relating to the business being 
dealt with at the AGM put by a member attending the meeting unless answering the question would interfere unduly with 
the preparation for the meeting or involve the disclosure of confidential information, or the answer has already been given 
on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or it is undesirable in the interests of the Company or the good order of 
the meeting that the question be answered. Members who have any general queries about the AGM should contact the 
Company Secretary.

Members may not use any electronic address provided in this notice or in any related documents (including the 
accompanying document and proxy form) to communicate with the Company for any purpose other than those expressly 
stated.

15 Documents available for inspection
A copy of each of the Directors’ service contracts or letter of appointment will be available for inspection at the registered 
office of the Company during normal business hours on each business day (Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays 
excepted) from the date of this notice and on the date of the AGM at Pontlands Park Hotel, West Hanningfield Road, Great 
Baddow, Chelmsford, Essex CM2 8HR from 10.30am until the conclusion thereof.

85

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19FIVE‑YEAR RECORD

2019 
£’000 

2018 
£’000 

2017 
£’000 

2016 
£’000 

2015 
£’000

Income statement

Revenue (continuing operations)  

28,140 

31,674 

Revenue (acquisition) 

Revenue (discontinued operations)  

Total revenue1  

Gross profit1 

Gross profit percentage1 

Profit before taxation1 

Adjusted EBITDA2 

EPS1

Basic  

Diluted 

Statement of financial position

Shareholders’ equity1 

Dividends per ordinary share

— 

— 

28,140 

20,253 

71.97% 

2,982 

8,754 

15.77p 

15.36p 

— 

— 

31,674 

22,236 

70.20% 

4,583 

9,998 

24.52p 

23.95p 

26,076 

1,661 

— 

27,737 

19,815 

71.44% 

4,208 

8,840 

23.09p 

22.84p 

22,833 

21,804

— 

— 

22,833 

16,253 

71.18% 

3,324 

6,970 

18.03p 

17.94p 

—

—

21,804

15,465

70.93%

3,178

6,698

16.71p

16.51p

42,322 

41,770 

37,635 

32,576 

28,971

Dividends proposed/paid per 5p ordinary share1 

7.80p 

7.80p 

7.40p 

7.00p 

6.90p

1.  As reported in the years’ Annual Report.
2.  Adjusted EBITDA is defined as profit from operations before all interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation charges and before share‑based 

payments.

Issued 5p ordinary shares 
(including treasury shares) 

Number 
of shares 

Number 
of shares 

Number  
of shares 

Number  
of shares 

Number  
of shares

17,175,166 

17,112,023 

16,860,356 

16,256,537 

16,256,537

86

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
SHAREHOLDER INFORMATION

CML Microsystems Plc share price – for the year ended 31 March 2019

£6.00

£5.00

£4.00

£3.00

£2.00

Apr
2018

Techmark 100 Index – for the year ended 31 March 2019

5,000

4,750

4,500

4,250

4,000

Apr
2018

FTSE 100 Index – for the year ended 31 March 2019

8,000

7,600

7,200

6,800

6,400

Apr
2018

Financial calendar

2019
31 July  

AGM

30 September  

Half year end

20 November 

Anticipated date for half year results

2020
31 March  

9 June  

Year end

Anticipated date for preliminary announcement of year‑end 2020 results

Apr
2019

Apr
2019

Apr
2019

87

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19 
 
GLOSSARY

5G 

API 

Fifth Generation Cellular Network Technology

Application Programmers Interface

ASIC   Application‑Specific Integrated Circuit

DMR  

Digital Mobile Radio

DTR 

Disclosure and Transparency Rules

EBITDA  Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation

EU  

FRC 

European Union

Financial Reporting Council

GAAP   Generally Accepted Accounting Practice

GMP 

GPS 

HDD  

IAS  

IASB  

IC  

Guaranteed Minimum Pension

Global Positioning System

Hard Disk Drive

International Accounting Standard

International Accounting Standards Board

Integrated Circuit

IFRIC  

International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee

IFRS  

IIoT  

IoT  

IP   

ISA  

International Financial Reporting Standards

Industrial Internet of Things

Internet of Things

Intellectual Property

International Standard on Auditing

M2M   Machine‑to‑Machine

NAND   Not And

OEM   Original Equipment Manufacturer

P25 

POS  

R&D 

RF  

RTK 

Project 25 digital mobile radio public safety standard

Point‑of‑Sale

Research and Development

Radio Frequency

Real‑Time Kinematic

SATA  

Serial ATA Interface

SCADA   Supervisory Control And Data Acquisition

SSD  

Solid State Drives

TETRA 

Terrestrial Trunked Radio

TSR  

VP  

Total Shareholder Return

Vice‑President

88

CML Microsystems Plc | Annual Report and Accounts FY19ADVISORS

Registered office
CML Microsystems Plc
Oval Park  
Langford  
Maldon  
Essex CM9 6WG

Registrars
Neville Registrars Limited 
Neville House  
Steelpark Road  
Halesowen 
West Midlands B62 8HD

Joint Stockbrokers
Shore Capital Stockbrokers Ltd 
Bond Street House 
14 Clifford Street 
London W1S 4JU

S P Angel 
Prince Frederick House  
35‑39 Maddox Street  
London W1S 2PP

Auditor
RSM UK Audit LLP 
25 Farringdon Street  
London EC4A 4AB

Financial Public Relations
Alma PR 
71‑73 Carter Lane 
London EC4V 5EQ

The paper used in this report is produced using virgin wood fibre from well‑managed forests with 
FSC® certification. All pulps used are elemental chlorine free and manufactured at a mill that 
has been awarded the ISO 14001 and EMAS certificates for environmental management. 
The use of the FSC® logo identifies products which contain wood from well‑managed forests 
certified in accordance with the rules of the Forest Stewardship Council.

Printed by Pureprint Group Limited, a CarbonNeutral Company. Pureprint Group Limited is 
FSC® certified and ISO 14001 certified showing that it is committed to all round excellence 
and improving environmental performance is an important part of this strategy. We aim to 
reduce at source the effect our operations have on the environment, and are committed 
to continual improvement, prevention of pollution and compliance with any legislation or 
industry standards.

Designed and produced by

www.lyonsbennett.com

Visit us online at
cmlmicroplc.com

CML Microsystems Plc
Oval Park, Langford
Maldon, Essex
CM9 6WG

T: +44 (0)1621 875500
F: +44 (0)1621 875606

group@cmlmicroplc.com