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Dialight plc

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FY2018 Annual Report · Dialight plc
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8

DIALIGHT PLC 
ANNUAL REPORT AND 
ACCOUNTS 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
Dialight is the global leader in  
industrial LED technology with over  
1.8 million fixtures installed worldwide, 
providing one of the most efficient  
ways to drive down energy usage

Our next generation of lighting solutions not only reduce energy 
consumption but create a safer environment. Our products are  
specifically designed to provide superior operational performance,  
reliability and durability, reducing energy consumption and ongoing 
maintenance while achieving a rapid return on investment.

Sustainability is playing an increasingly important role in how businesses 
respond to the world. It is becoming the lens through which a business  
is judged by its consumers, workforce, society and its investors.

2018 highlights

Operational highlights

•  Underlying Group profit in line with revised expectations

•  Europe revenues up 4%, APAC up 16%, US down 5%  

(with improved Q4)

•  Profit achieved despite cost impacts of operationlal issues
•   Increase in inventory as expected, to be reversed during 2019

•   All product assembly now back in-house, full exit from former 

manufacturing partner by end of H1 2019

Strategic highlights

•  New facilities in Mexico and Malaysia

•  New market approach centred on regional technical  

and product innovation

•  Three new product launches in 2019 to significantly  

expand served market

Statutory measures

Profit/(Loss) from  

operating activities (£’m)

Profit/(Loss) for the year (£’m)

Earnings per share (p)

2018

7.6

5.3

16.4

2017 

3.3

1.7

4.8

2016 

(3.3)

(2.8)

(8.4)

Revenue (£’m)

Underlying Gross Profit (£’m)

2018

2017

2016

169.6

181.0

182.2

2018

2017

2016

60.3

66.7

69.5

Underlying operating profit (£’m)

Underlying basic EPS (p)

2018

2017

2016

17.3

17.9

26.9

2018

2017

2016

8.0

9.7

Net cash debt (£’m)

2018

(2.9)

2017

2016

8.0

13.1

12.8

Underlying performance measures are defined on pages 121 and 134.

Find more online:

www.ir.dialight.com

Governance

Financial statements

Contents

Strategic report

IFC  2018 highlights

02  Our business at a glance

04  Chairman’s letter

Governance

Financial statements

44 

46 

48 

 Chairman’s introduction to governance

88 

Independent auditor’s report

Board of Directors 

Leadership

98  Consolidated income statement

99 

 Consolidated statement 

08  Group Chief Executive’s review
12  Our market drivers

Effectiveness

54 
58  Nominations Committee report

of comprehensive income
 Consolidated statement of changes  

100 

14  Our business model

16  Our strategy at a glance

60  Accountability

in equity

62  Audit Committee report

101 

 Consolidated statement of total 

18 

Key performance indicators

66  Directors’ remuneration report

financial position

22  Sustainability

68  Directors’ remuneration policy

102 

 Consolidated statement of cash flows

32 

34 

38 

Risk management

76  Annual report on remuneration

103 

 Notes to the consolidated  

Principal risks and uncertainties

84  Other statutory information

financial statements

Financial review

87 

 Directors’ responsibility statement

135 

 Company balance sheet

136  Statement of changes in equity

137 

 Notes to the Company  

financial statements

146  Five-year summary

147 

 Directory and shareholder information

01

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportOur business at a glance

Our business

Business

LIGHTING

SIGNALS AND  
COMPONENTS

Overview

What’s 
driving  
demand?

Industries  
we work in

Performance

Dialight’s LED lighting for industrial applications is providing the 
next generation of lighting solutions that deliver reduced energy 
consumption and create a safer working environment. Our 
products are specifically designed to provide superior operational 
performance, reliability and durability, reducing energy consumption 
and ongoing maintenance and achieving a rapid return on investment. 
Competing in this segment requires significant development costs 
and regulatory certifications which create barriers to entry.

The Signals and Components division consists of the Traffic 
and Transportation and Components businesses. Traffic and 
Transportations is focused on supplying traffic lights plus niche 
lights for specialist vehicles. The Components business sells 
status indicators to electronic original equipment manufacturers 
(“OEMs”). This is a mature market with low barriers to entry.

•  Industrial LED market penetration is only single digit with 

significant opportunity for growth 

Our brand reputation and consequent repeat business help us 
maintain sales volumes in this mature and competitive market.

•  Customer sustainability targets to reduce CO2 
•  Productivity and safety benefits of better quality light 
•  Reliability of our fixtures in the harshest environments, at both 

extremes of the temperature scales 

•  Long-term cost savings of LED through lower energy use and 

reduced maintenance demands

•  Industrial Internet of Things/connectivity in the industrial environment

•  Heavy industry – steel processing, pulp and paper, automotive plants 
•  Oil and gas – upstream, midstream and downstream
•  Mining – surface and underground 
•  Chemical and pharmaceutical 
•  Power generation – from oil and coal to nuclear and wind powered 
•  Collision avoidance lighting for towers, chimneys and wind farms 
•  Food and beverage – processing, grain storage, flour milling and 

cold storage areas

•  Traffic management, typically for municipalities 
•  Vehicle manufacturing, supply of niche lights 
•  Electronic equipment manufacturing, supply of status indicators

Revenue

£125.0M

(2017: £137.5m)

Underlying operating profit

£8.5M

(2017: £11.2m)

Revenue

£44.6M

(2017: £43.5m)

Underlying operating profit

£4.5M

(2017: £3.9m)

Underlying gross profit

£47.1M

(2017: £54.3m)

Underlying gross profit

£13.2M

(2017: £12.4m)

  Read more on pages 38 to 41

  Read more on pages 38 to 41

02

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Regional emphasis to support local expansion

•  Global technology leadership 

deployed regionally

•  Dialight design rules
•  Increase speed to market

•  Regional assembly facilities

•  Global purchasing with  

local delivery

•  Fulfilment from regional hubs

•  Regional customer service

OPERATION S

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•  Outstanding customer experience

•  Global coordination for global customers

•  Regional teams

•  Globally coordinated 

•  Regionally focused

•  Regionally specified products

Operational footprint

Roxboro, US 
Injection moulding
– 79,000 sq ft
– All products

Tijuana, Mexico 
Distribution, moulding, CNC & painting
– 100,000 sq ft
– All products

Ensenada, Mexico
Final assembly
– 162,000 sq ft
– All products

Copenhagen,  
Denmark
Obstruction and  
wind systems

Europe (proposed)
New facility for final assembly, 
moulding, CNC & painting  
& distribution

Penang, Malaysia
New facility for final assembly, 
moulding, CNC & painting
– 90,000 sq ft
– All products

03

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsChairman’s letter

Wayne Edmunds
Chairman

2018 was a frustrating year for Dialight 

54% compared with the start of 2018. 

needs, we are establishing regional centres 

which led us to terminate our outsourced 

We continue to upgrade and expand our 

in EMEA and Asia. This will enable the 

manufacturing contract on 27 September 

operational footprint. We have secured 

engineering and product management 

2018. Despite our best efforts to support 
our manufacturing partner, they were 

new facilities in Tijuana, Mexico and 
Penang, Malaysia. We will look to secure 

teams to be closer to the end customer. 

unable to ramp up production to meet our 

a site in Europe during the second half of 

We are also focused on expanding our 

requirements. Our operational challenges 

2019. There is still further improvement to 

potential market in order to deliver a wider 

damaged relationships with customers, 

be made but we are confident our hybrid 

range of products to our existing customers. 

shareholders and employees. We will need 

manufacturing model where we control 

In 2019, we will launch three major products 

to work extremely hard to regain the trust 

final assembly will meet our customers’ 

which will service our expanded market.

of our stakeholders. However, as outlined 

expectations going forward.

below, we are committed to do just that.

Most importantly, we have hired strong 

Firstly, we are pleased to say all our Lighting 

The geographical regions we serve have  

and product management groups, and 

assembly is back in–house. We have seen 

a number of differences in terms of type  

restructured to provide focus in our 

a marked improvement in on-time delivery 

of fixture, voltage and installation 

technology organisation. This, coupled with 

and our level of late orders is down by 

requirements. In order to address these 

our strong global sales team, will enable 

We are improving our go to market strategy. 

professionals in our operations, engineering 

Dialight to deliver on our market opportunity.

04

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Our end markets remain strong and 

the brand is well respected despite the 

operational issues of the last two years. 

Our products are compelling and offer 

real value to customers. Our focus is on 

improving service levels to our customers 

and regaining the market share loss of the 

last two years. 

Dividend
The Board believes in balancing returns  

to shareholders with investment in the 

business to support future growth.  

The Board is not proposing any final 
dividend payment for 2018.

Board changes
We have further strengthened our Board 

by the appointment of Steve Good on 

1 June 2018. Steve’s international experience 

of manufacturing and diverse industrial 

markets will help the Group in its next  

phase of development.

People
We would like to thank all our employees  

for their hard work and efforts in 2018.  

Their resilience and commitment has 

enabled us to exit the year with Lighting 

assembly back in-house and three new 

products in the pipeline. 

Outlook
The actions we have undertaken to  

improve our operational performance  

Our investment proposition

Our value proposition continues to ensure that Dialight products 
provide the best cost of ownership to industrial customers 
with paybacks based on energy savings and maintenance cost 
avoidance, all backed by a ten-year warranty.

Positioned for growth 
Our global footprint and diverse customer 

Differentiated 
Our best-in-class designs offer superior 

base ideally position us to capture the 

performance backed by a ten-year 

potential of an industrial market which is 

warranty, low maintenance, high efficiency 

largely unpenetrated by LED and whereby 

and long life. That’s how we provide 

the majority of lighting is antiquated, 

our customers with faster payback and 

dangerous and environmentally damaging. 

a better return on investment.

LED lighting represents the future.

Intelligent
Controlled lighting solutions that seamlessly 

Trusted
Significant expertise exclusively in LED 

integrate with existing factory automation and 

and a decade of experience as a lighting 

building management systems to conveniently 

partner to many of the world’s leading 

optimise site safety and productivity. In 2019, 

organisations have helped us achieve the 

we will launch the next generation of our 

largest installed base with over 1.8 million 

have significantly reduced our late orders. 

controls offering.

industrial LED fixtures around the world.

These actions together with our strong 

focus on product development and 

expansion of the available market has 

laid the foundations to drive growth and 

recapture lost market share.

Our market proposition remains  

compelling and we are confident of the 

Group’s ability to deliver future growth.

Wayne Edmunds

Chairman

05 March 2019

Sustainable
A strategic focus on environmentally 

Scalable
Increased manufacturing capacity with 

friendly LED technology and a commitment  

our new facility in Tijuana, Mexico and 

to helping all organisations, including our 

enlarged facility in Penang, Malaysia in 

own, reach corporate sustainability goals. 

order to provide scalable production.

05

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIntelligent solutions in action

ASSEMBLY OF LIGHTING PRODUCTS COMMENCED IN PENANG TO SERVE EMEA AND APAC

06

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

New facilities

We have moved all Lighting assembly back to 
our own facilities following the termination of our 
outsourced manufacturing agreement in 2018. 
We have focused on upgrading and expanding 
our geographical footprint. Our two new facilities, 
in Mexico and Malaysia, give us the capacity to 
meet our future growth plans. In addition, we have 
plans for a new facility in Eastern Europe. Our aim 
is to provide our customers with industry leading 
on-time delivery. 

Our hybrid manufacturing model combines 
the ability to source sub-assemblies from local 
providers or to manufacture in-house. This model 
will give us the ability to respond quickly to peaks 
in customer demand.

07

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsGroup Chief Executive’s review

Martin L. Rapp
Group Chief Executive

2018 was a challenging year for Dialight,  

is centred on bringing technical and product 

achieved in our own facilities, we terminated 

but one in which we made significant 

innovation to our customers in a regionally 

our contract on 27 September 2018. Given 

progress to address the operational issues 

focused way. 

we faced at the start of the year. The most 
critical issue facing us was the continued 

Early in the year, we took several targeted 

the extent of the transfer of our operations 

to our manufacturing partner (including 
facilities and equipment), it was impossible 

inability of our manufacturing partner 

actions to improve our operational 

to take resolute actions as quickly as we 

to achieve adequate production output, 

performance and, although these actions 

would have liked and this process is ongoing. 

resulting in late product deliveries and lost 

produced significant improvements, 

orders. The primary focus during the year 

they were not adequate to restore our 

We have made significant progress in 

was improving our service levels, and I am 

performance to acceptable levels. The main 

upgrading, expanding and geographically 

happy to say that at year end all product 

action taken was transitioning production 

diversifying our current operational footprint. 

assembly was back in-house and performing 

of High Bay, our largest product line, back 

The Lighting business has moved to a hybrid 

as expected. While there is still work to be 

to our own facility, which resulted in a 

operations model with our own distribution 

done to completely disengage from our 

significant reduction in late orders on  

centres. We have secured two new facilities 

manufacturing partner and achieve targeted 

this line and service levels returning to 

in Tijuana, Mexico and Penang, Malaysia 

service levels, our fate is back in our own 

normal levels. 

hands. Our markets remain strong and 

to provide sufficient capacity to meet our 

future growth aspirations. The Group’s 

growing, the Dialight brand is well respected 

In August 2018, having seen a further 

operational performance improved markedly 

in the market, and we have developed a 

deterioration in the performance of our 

in the final months of 2018, giving us 

clear and comprehensive growth plan that 

manufacturing partner and the success 

growing confidence in our strategy.

08

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

While we have placed top priority on the 

The US Lighting business has been the 

operational challenges, we have also 

most impacted by the significant delivery 

maintained a strong focus on product 

issues and extended lead times, resulting 

development and have started establishing 

in a decline in revenue of 5% at constant 

regional development centres which 

currency. The team had deferred bidding 

will expand our capacity to develop new 

on certain large capital projects which 

products appropriate for local markets. We 

have short lead times due to the extended 

have made significant progress in better 

delivery from our former manufacturing 

understanding our core markets and looking 

partner. The US also has 40% of its revenue 

at ways to expand our available market. We 

from customers’ maintenance budgets 

are planning to launch three major products 

which are supplied from inventory at our 

in 2019 that will significantly expand the 

distribution channels. The extended lead 

Group’s served market. We have also made 

times have reduced inventory within the 

changes in the management team and 

channel and hence impacted revenue. 

structure in order to ensure that we have the 

However, this team is extremely strong 

necessary skills and experience to maximise 

and with the operational issues easing was 

the opportunities for the Group.

able to achieve good recovery in the fourth 

quarter of the year. 

Business performance
The Group achieved revenues of £170m and 

Our Obstruction business consists of 

underlying profit from operating activities of 

lighting and safety systems for the wind 

£8m for the year ended 31 December 2018. 

Our results were adversely affected by 

market in EMEA and cell phone towers 

in the US. There has been a decline of 

reduced production output from our former 

32% at constant currency across these 

manufacturing partner, significant use of 

air freight to mitigate against late orders 

and dual running costs as we kept our own 

facility partially staffed prior to the transfer 

businesses as some larger customers 

have deferred their capital projects. We 

aborted the transfer of obstruction products 

to our manufacturing partner just before 

back to in-house assembly. It is a testament 

the planned transfer date, and our on-

to the strength of the Dialight products and 

time deliveries suffered as a result of a 

the sales team that we achieved revenues 

depleted supply chain. There has also been 

marginally down on 2017 and overall 

statutory profit before tax has improved by 

147%. 

insufficient investment made in updating 

these product lines in prior years. We will 

be focused on rejuvenating this business 

during 2019.

Dialight has built up strong sales 
capabilities across our three global regions. 

The recent challenges in our Lighting 

Lighting revenue excluding obstruction was 

business have overshadowed our other 

1% down compared with 2017 at constant 

currency (see page 134). We saw the 

business – Signals and Components. This 

business continues to perform well, with 

strongest growth in our APAC region which 

3% revenue growth (6% at constant 

achieved 16% growth at constant currency. 

currency) and 15% EBIT growth (23% at 

The European Lighting business was 4% up 

constant currency) in 2018. This is a more 

on the previous year at constant currency. 

Both regions operate with a narrow product 

mature market than our industrial lighting 

business, but the strong leadership team 

range that is serviced largely from inventory, 

in Signals and Components has proven 

therefore were not as affected by the 

operational issues. 

that there are growth opportunities even 

in mature markets and that diligent efforts 

in manufacturing and sourcing can lead to 

solid margins. We will continue to explore 

ways to incrementally grow this business.

09

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Operations
In September 2018 we terminated our 

agreement with our manufacturing partner 

to retake control of our manufacturing 

operations. By year end, we had moved 

all final assembly back in-house. We are 

in the process of moving our equipment 

for machining and coating housings that 

currently resides in the facility of our former 

manufacturing partner back to our own 

facilities. By the end of the first half of 

2019 we will have completely exited our 

outsourcing agreement. The separation 

process from our manufacturing partner 
has been relatively smooth to date. We 

continue to negotiate our final exit, including 

remaining working capital balances.

There are three main actions being 

undertaken to further improve our 

operations base. First, we are continuing  

our move to a regional operations model.  

In Mexico, we have secured a new facility in 

Tijuana which is easily accessible from our 

current facility in Ensenada and close to the 

US commercial port of entry in Tijuana. This 

new building will house the CNC machines 

and paint line, owned by Dialight, which will 

be moved from our former manufacturing 

partner in the first half of 2019. In Malaysia, 

we are in the process of relocating the 

operations in our current facility in Penang 

to a new and larger nearby facility by the 

end of Q2 2019. This new facility will house 

our Signals and Components operations, 

lighting assembly, and sub-assembly 
manufacturing operations. We have not 

finalised a location for our EMEA operations 

facility but expect to secure a facility in 

Eastern Europe in the second half of 2019 

that will be operational in 2020.

Second, we are establishing distribution 

centres within our assembly plants so that 

we can provide rapid collection, packaging 

and shipping of a diverse set of lights for  

a single order, allowing us to “ship in full”  

in the shortest possible time. This will 

ensure we have market leading customer 

response time.

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsGroup Chief Executive’s review continued

Third, we are maturing the hybrid model, 

We need not only to continue to provide 

whereby we use a local supply base to 

the best products in our current niche, but 

produce the majority of our sub-assemblies 

also to offer a wider product range so that 

but establish and retain internal capacity 

we become more relevant to our customers 

and capability ensuring we have the best 

and channel partners. Dialight pioneered 

possible mix of speed of response,  

the use of LED technology in the heavy 

fixed capital investment and working  

industrial space, and was very successful 

capital usage. 

in convincing “early adopters” to make 

the leap to LED to reap the advantages 

As we returned production to our own 

of energy efficiency, significantly reduced 

facility our on-time delivery improved 

maintenance cost, and less frequent 

compared with the normal level of service 

replacement and cost in doing so. This 

we would have experienced in the past.  

led to a high market share first in the US 

Our aim is to set a new standard rather than 

then Australia, but market share growth 

just return to the levels prior to outsourcing 

elsewhere has been difficult to achieve 

our manufacturing. Our target is to have 

given the operational challenges and the 

greater than 95% on-time delivery in full, 

fact that the products had been designed 

everywhere we compete. Our on-time-

primarily to serve US market preferences.

delivery as we exited 2018 was 70%. This 

was impacted by the late orders that were 

The current product portfolio is serving an 

transferred from our former manufacturing 

approximately £500m served market size, 

is a significantly expanded market of about 

partner. The significant change in our ability 

but we must enter a larger market space 

four times the size of our current market, 

to service our customers has been in faster 

to provide adequate room to grow. The 

at c. £2bn per annum. We can offer these 

turnaround of orders. In Q4 we were able 

Dialight product range is well respected in 

products to our current customers in the 

to deliver orders with a 3-4 week lead time 

the market, and there are many applications 

same facilities where we are already selling 

as opposed to our former manufacturing 

where customers would prefer the Dialight 

our existing lights, through the same sales 

partner’s average lead time of 12-18 weeks. 

efficiency, product longevity and toughness 

channels. Importantly, from our analysis  

Strategy
An enormous amount of energy and 

resources has been consumed in the 

ultimately unsuccessful efforts to improve 

the performance of our manufacturing 

partner. Most functions in the Company 

were affected. Not only were the financial 

results impacted, but the growth of Dialight 
was stunted. Following the extended period 

of poor operational performance, we need 

to prioritise repairing the impact on our 

relationships with both our customers and 

channel partners. 

We believe that simply getting things back 

to where they were is not good enough.  

Our reputation has been diminished in  

the market, we have allowed competitors  

to sell into applications that have 

traditionally been Dialight product users 

and the market has simply moved ahead by 

two years in terms of LED acceptance and 

product sophistication.

but just cannot afford to pay the price 

we believe we will be able to drive similar 

for our current products. We have been 

gross margins from these new, lower 

selectively using price reduction and feature 

functionality products.

removal to extend our served market, but 

there are limits to this strategy as broadly 

As part of our market analysis, we also 

discounting prices of a premium product 

found that the products used for similar 

risks devaluing the product position.

applications differed to a more significant 

extent across the geographical regions. We 

We completed a comprehensive market 
analysis during 2018 in which we studied  

have concluded that we can grow market 
share of our existing products and expand 

the broader industrial lighting market.  

our product range, by offering products 

In facilities where Dialight’s current 

that are specifically designed to meet 

products are being used there is a wide 

regional and local preferences for shape, 

range of other lights with varying degrees  

performance, installation method and price. 

of environmental protection and “toughness” 

We believe that the opportunity to expand 

requirements. We believe that there is a 

our served market is significant in all regions 

significantly larger opportunity for Dialight 

if we pursue this strategy. 

in applications where the customer would 

prefer to use a light of Dialight’s quality but 

In order to provide regionalised products 

cannot afford to pay for a traditional higher 

and access an expanded market, we need 

specification Dialight product, designed  

to develop a significantly larger number of 

for use in more challenging applications.  

products more quickly than we have done 

If we specifically design products to suit 

in the past. We are doing this by improving 

these “tough but not quite as tough as  

our internal new product development 

our current products” applications, there 

processes to be faster and more efficient, 

10

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

by establishing product development 

executing will result in a full recovery and 

base of over one million products. With the 

centres in the UK and Malaysia, and by 

will result in regained confidence in Dialight.

aim of improving our quality of earnings 

using outside design firms to help with  

some aspects of the product  

development process. 

Business fundamentals
Despite the short-term challenges, we 

we have demonstrated our ability to sell 

across many industrial sectors and reduce 

our reliance on oil and gas markets. This 

must not forget that Dialight remains well 

initiative has continued despite the 

Achieving these growth and 

transformational plans requires different 

positioned in a growing market in which 

we are the market leader in terms of our 

skills and experiences and we have  

technology.

operational challenges that we have faced.

Outlook
2018 was a challenging year for Dialight 

recruited to make significant changes to  

the skill sets within the Group. In operations, 

we have a number of new managers who 

come with broad experience in larger  

global companies in areas including 

manufacturing, supply chain management, 

trade compliance and logistics. Our 

operations team is fully in place and is 

working to help us deliver the outstanding 

customer service experience and cost 

structure that we need for the future.  

We have recruited new senior leaders in 

engineering and product management.  

They have experience in managing larger 

and more complex global networks of 

product lines and design centres feeding 

multiple manufacturing plants. We have 

restructured to provide the focus in our 

technology organisation to maintain and 

Customers convert to LED lighting and 

but one in which we made considerable 

buy Dialight’s products because doing 

progress to address the operational issues 

so remains the most efficient way to drive 

we faced at the start of the year, reducing 

down energy usage and total cost of 
ownership of their lighting. We are delivering 

late orders significantly during the year. This 
improvement is primarily due to moving 

the next generation of lighting solutions that 

manufacturing under our hybrid model back 

not only reduce energy consumption further 

in-house and terminating the relationship 

but create a safer working environment. 

with our manufacturing partner. Further 

Our products are specifically designed to 

improvement in our operations remains a 

provide superior operational performance, 

priority for us.

reliability and durability, reducing energy 

consumption and ongoing maintenance  

With a strong focus on product 

and delivering attractive return on 

development and expansion of the available 

investment to our customers. Our market 

market, we have laid the foundations to 

proposition is compelling, with the 

drive growth and restore market share. We 

sustainability benefits of reduced energy 

are planning to launch three major products 

usage, lower carbon emissions, reduced 

in 2019 that will significantly expand the 

maintenance and improved safety offering 

Group’s served market. We have two new 

grow our leading technology position and 

real value to our customers.

deliver the strategy described here.

facilities, in Mexico and Malaysia, to provide 

us with sufficient capacity to meet our 

None of these actions will have an 

immediate effect on our financial 

performance, but we are now on the 

path that will lead to a larger, faster, and 

more regionally responsive and balanced 
Company. The first three of our large new 

product lines designed to allow us to serve 

a wider market will be launched in the year, 

and we also have updates and upgrades 

of our existing products planned, so 2019 

promises to be an exciting year. 

Driving awareness of the economic benefits 

growth aspirations. 

as well as the sustainability and safety 

benefits of our lighting at the corporate level 

Our market proposition remains compelling, 

can change the perception of our lighting 

with the sustainability benefits of reduced 

away from just maintenance cost savings.

energy usage, lower carbon emissions, 

In addition, Dialight products are being built 

reduced maintenance and improved safety 
offering real value to our customers. We 

with upgradeable and integrated controls. 

remain excited by the Group’s prospects 

Our customers can optimise their lighting 

over the medium to long term and are 

solution through direct lighting controls. The 

confident of delivering future growth. The 

value for customers is that they will be able 

Board’s expectations of further progress 

to take advantage of their built-in network 

in 2019 remain unchanged, again with a 

of intelligent lighting to provide access to 

second half weighting.

Dialight has been through a very challenging 

a wide array of sensors and applications in 

period – with an extended inability to 

safety and productivity.

deliver products on time when the market is 

growing and customers want our products. 

We have strained relationships – with 

The industrial LED opportunity remains 

largely untapped, as the conservative 

our customers, our channel partners, our 

customer base has sought low-risk, proven 

employees and our shareholders. I am 

confident that the plan that we are now 

solutions. Dialight’s ten years plus of 

experience have earned us a predominant 

position and we have an installed product 

11

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsOur market drivers

Industrial  
LED market

£50BN

Global LED  
Lighting market

Potential  
expanded market

£2BN

Expanded product offering  
to provide a more competitive 
product for the lighter industrial 
areas of our existing customers

Dialight  
current market

£0.5BN

Core product offering in 
hazardous environments  
of the heavy industrial space

12

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Expanded market
Within the industrial LED lighting market, 
Dialight has historically focused on 

specific niches where hazardous location 

certifications are required. Within the last 

five years, Dialight has expanded its focus to 

include applications where its products can 

withstand extreme environments such as high 

heat, high humidity, shock and vibration, dust, 

water and other challenges but hazardous 

location certifications are not essential. 

The global annual LED lighting market is 

reported to be approximately £50bn, with the 

largest share being residential at 39% and 

the industrial lighting market being £4bn.

Our recent internal analysis of the industrial 

LED market confirms that the niche currently 

served by Dialight products is in the range of 

£0.5bn and Dialight has about a 27% share 

of this market, with high market shares in 

the US and Australia and low market shares 

elsewhere. A study of price and feature 

elasticity of demand indicates that about a 

In parallel with development of our product 

£2bn market would be available to Dialight 

strategy to address this expanded served 

if additional products could be developed 

market, we are developing plans for 

that allow segmentation of the market by 

changes in the rest of the business to enable 

price, and development of products that 

and support successful delivery of more 

specifically address the regional needs 

significant growth, predominantly in our 

of customers versus continuing to have 

operational and engineering footprint.  

basically a global product line. We have 

The key theme of our expansion plans  

significant opportunities to grow in the 

is moving to a more regional structure in 

industrial lighting market by increasing  

recognition that we need the speed that 

our range of offerings to our existing 

comes with proximity to our end markets 

customer base.

and the fact that the industrial LED market 

has strong regional differences versus  

Dialight is focused on broadening its range 

being a truly global market.

of product offering to its existing customers 

in sites where we are already supplying 

lights for their hazardous locations. These 

types of applications include warehouses, 

lighter duty assembly or manufacturing 

applications, cold storage, distribution 

centres and other industrial environments. 

We have initially focused this expansion in 

geographical regions where we already have 

strong direct sales resources. 

27%

Share of existing LED market

The Led advantage 
The clear advantages of LED technology are 

revolutionising the lighting market, with an 

increasing focus on total cost of ownership: 

•  Low energy consumption: LED lighting  

is four to five times more energy efficient 

than conventional technologies.

•  Long lifetime: LED lighting lasts up to 

15 years, which is 4 times the lifespan of 

compact fluorescent lighting and 10 times 

the lifespan of incandescent lighting

•  Enhanced versatility: LED lighting is 

smaller and more durable and comes  

in more colours than traditional lighting.

15 YEARS

LED lifespan

13

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsOur business model

Hybrid  
manufacturing model

Our inputs

How it works

Financial
Strong financial performance through 
innovation, cost control and high returns  
on capital.

Sustainability
Developing products to reduce  
maintenance and improve safety  
and environmental efficiency.

Product innovation
Developing market-leading products  
at the forefront of technology within 
industrial markets. In 2018 we invested  
£7.3m in research and development  
to extend our product portfolio.

Intellectual assets
Protecting our product innovation by  
patents, trademarks and intellectual  
property licences.

Human capital
We hire and develop innovative engineers 
who, together with supporting teams and 
senior management, can develop and deploy 
Dialight’s sustainable, energy efficient and 
intelligent LED lighting solutions.

Relationships
Dialight has multiple routes to market  
through established distribution networks 
and selling directly to the end customer.  
Our sales approach targets plant managers 
as well as corporate decision makers.

EXTERNAL/INTERNAL

CABLES

CIRCUIT BOARDS

MACHINING & PAINTING

Our outputs

Revenue
Our revenue is mainly derived from the 
sale of lighting fixtures (74%). We sell via 
distribution channels and direct to the 
customer using our own sales force.  
Fixtures are installed by the customer  
or by third-party contractors.

The value we share

Shareholders
Our goal is to deliver long-term value for 
shareholders. We do this by developing 
products that are sustainable and stimulating 
demand in a market with very low penetration. 
We use our capital allocation discipline to 
balance between investment, balance sheet 
management and shareholder returns.

14

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Employees
We offer opportunities for personal 
development and competitive rewards linked 
to performance. We believe in a creative 
working environment with scope for individual 
responsibility and personal achievement.

How it works

The value we share

Our purpose

Our purpose is to improve the world we live 
in through sustainable, energy efficient and 
intelligent LED lighting technologies. We enable 
industrial customers operating in demanding 
environments to reduce their energy costs, 
maintenance costs and carbon footprint while 
maximising the safety and productivity of their 
facilities. We do this by offering the largest 

selection of rugged, cutting-edge products 
to suit virtually any industrial application. 
Additionally, our controls solutions can 
seamlessly integrate with existing factory 
automation and building management systems 
to deliver granular control and system-wide 
visibility that reduce lighting energy costs  
by as much as 60%.

60%

Potential reduction in lighting  
energy costs for our customers

INTERNAL

CUSTOMERS

FINAL ASSEMBLY AND SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGEMENT

REDUCED LEAD TIME

IMPROVED TIME ON DELIVERY COMPETITIVE PRICING

Cash flow
Revenue is turned into cash flow, with a  
very small amount of bad debt, reflecting  
the quality of the customer base. This is  
used to fund the operating costs of the 
business, working capital requirements  
and re-investment.

Re-investment
Cash generated from operations is  
re-invested in three main ways: to pay  
for research and development to keep  
our product offering up to date; to expand  
our manufacturing capacity; and, in 
accordance with our capital allocation 
methodology, the return of capital to 
shareholders via dividend.

Customers
We add value to our customers’ businesses. 
Our staff work closely with our customers  
in order to understand their requirements  
and help them achieve their objectives.

Communities
Our operations create jobs for local 
communities in 15 countries around the world. 
By supporting local supplier development, 
where possible, we drive sustainable value  
for shareholders and further economic  
benefits for local communities.

Governments
We support local economies by creating 
employment and paying local taxes.  
We stimulate local economic prosperity  
which contributes to the maintenance  
of public infrastructure and services.

15

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsOur strategy at a glance

Strategy to  
address expanded  
LED market

Our goal

Our strategy

Our goal is to deliver the most energy efficient, reliable LED  

lighting solutions available – leading the way in the energy efficient 

LED lighting revolution for industrial and hazardous applications.  

We improve safety while integrating as a key information node  

within our customers’ operations.

Our values

Our values are at the core of our business. Our culture is one of 

openness, honesty and accountability. We believe that businesses 

thrive by sharing knowledge and experiences. In order to capitalise 

on the cross fertilisation of ideas, we employ people from a diverse 

range of backgrounds and industries.

1. Commitments

5. Communication

All our actions are based on 

We communicate with  

commitments made to each 

our teams; listening 

other and our business

and partnering for faster 

and wiser business decisions

2. Accountability

We empower and are held 

6. Innovation

accountable to deliver results

We lead the market through  

our ground breaking technology

3. Respect

We are proud of what we do 

7. Excitement

and how we treat each other. 

We thrive on talent and passion. 

We have high ethical standards

We are a great place for smart 

people with a passion to work

4. Collaboration

No one person or team can do 

it alone. The Company is larger 

than any one individual

16

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

SCALABLE  
OPERATIONS

NEW PRODUCT 
DEVELOPMENT

CREATE AND  
CAPTURE VALUE

  See our KPIs on page 18

  See our Risks on page 34

  See our Market drivers on page 12

Our strategy

Our priorities

Upgrading, expanding and 

geographically diversifying our 

current operational footprint  

to provide sufficient capacity  

for our future growth aspirations.

1. 

2. 

Increase production capacity to eliminate backlog of orders.

Improve our on-time delivery to market-leading level.

3.  Mature the hybrid manufacturing model to provide flexibility. 

4.   Provide the best possible mix of speed of response to our customers.

Continue to provide the best 

products in the current niche. 

Develop products to serve a 

significantly expanded market  

of c. £2bn per annum.

1.  Expand the ability to develop new products.

2.  Reduce the development time of new products.

3.  Develop products that serve the regional differentiation requirements. 

4.  Develop regional engineering and product management teams.

Continued focus on the major  
levers for accelerating  

1.  Concentrate on strategic accounts to secure large multi-site supply 

contracts by becoming the supplier of choice for large corporates.

2.  Reduce the payback timescale on our fixtures to enhance the return  

on investment and thus allow us to target maintenance budgets.

market adoption.

3.  Lobby governments in order to influence legislative restrictions on older 

lighting technology and promote awareness of the benefits of LED.

4.  Become a trusted partner in the supply chain.

17

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsKey performance indicators

Link to strategy

   Reinforce our 

   Strengthen our 

   Create and  

foundations

capabilities

capture value

FINANCIAL

Revenue  

(£’m)

2018

2017

2016

Underlying operating profit 

Cash conversion  

(£’m)

2018

169.6

8.0

(%)

-51

181.0

2017

9.7

182.2

2016

13.1

2018

2017

2016

143

104

Description
Revenue from sales.

Description
The operating profit (EBIT)  
related to the performance  
of the underlying business.

Description
The ability to turn profits into cash.

Definition
Revenue of the business excluding 
items that are considered as 
non-recurring or not reflective  
of the underlying performance  
of the business.

Definition
Operating profit of the business 
excluding items that are 
considered as non-recurring or 
not reflective of the underlying 
performance of the business  
(see page 134).

Definition
Adjusted operating cash flow 
divided by adjusted EBITDA. 
Adjusted EBITDA is underlying 
operating profit, excluding 
depreciation and amortisation 
(see page 134).

NON-FINANCIAL

Health and safety 

(number)

5

6

2018

2017

2016

10

Description
A measure of how many serious 
accidents have occurred within 
the Group.

Definition
A recordable incident is one that 
results in a member of staff being 
incapacitated for more than  
three days.

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Revenue growth in territories and 
segments is part of capturing 
value, enabled by reinforcing  
our foundations and strengthening 
our capabilities.

The key measure of the success 
of our near-term strategic goals 
is EBIT.

In order to fund our strategic 
objectives, cash management  
is very important.

Remuneration linkage
Revenue growth is a key element 
in achieving short-term and  
long-term incentive targets.  
Due to revenue reduction year on 
year, there were no management 
bonus payments in 2018.

Remuneration linkage
EBIT is one of the main measures 
used in short-term and long-
term incentive targets. The 
target for 2018 was not achieved 
and therefore there were no 
management bonus payments.

Remuneration linkage
Cash conversion does not  
directly link to remuneration  
but is an enabler to achieving  
our EBIT target.

Ensuring a safe working 
environment for employees is 
fundamental to attracting and 
retaining good-calibre staff which 
will enable us to achieve our 
strategic goals.

Remuneration linkage
Health and safety does not 
directly link to remuneration  
but is an enabler to achieving  
our EBIT target.

Target
Year-on-year revenue growth  
(at constant currency). We did  
not achieve this in 2018 as there 
was a 3% decline.

Target
For 2018 the target was 
consensus EBIT at the start  
of the year, which was £13.3m.

Target
The target was 80% but due to the 
requirement to purchase inventory 
as part of in-sourcing assembly 
the value of inventory increased 
significantly resulting in a negative 
conversion rate.

18

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Target
Zero recordable incidents.

Target

At least 90% retention.

OPERATIONAL

Retention 

(%)

Lighting orders 

Lighting on-time delivery 

Underlying lighting  

(£’m)

(%)

gross profit (£’m)

Description

A measure of how well the  

Group can retain its staff.

Description

Orders received for  

lighting products.

Description

Description

The percentage of orders 

The gross profit related to the 

delivered on time (year-end 

performance of the underlying 

numbers are shown).

lighting business.

Definition

The number of staff at the end  

of the year divided by the total 

of the number of staff at the 

start of the year and joiners. 

This calculation excludes direct 

manufacturing staff.

Definition

Definition

Definition

Total orders received for  

The value of orders shipped in 

Gross profit of the lighting 

lighting products in the year.

the year meeting the customer 

business excluding items that are 

request date over the total value  

considered as non-recurring or 

of the orders shipped in the year.

not reflective of the underlying 

performance of the business  

(see page 110).

Retaining high-calibre staff is part 

Order growth is a lead indicator 

On-time delivery is a lead  

One of the key near-term  

of creating and capturing value.

of the financial strength of our 

indicator of the operational  

strategic goals is to build a robust 

end markets and in resolving the 

issues being resolved.

current operational issues.

and scalable operational platform. 

Lighting gross margin is a good 

indicator of the success of  

this target.

Remuneration linkage

Remuneration linkage

Remuneration linkage

Remuneration linkage

Business growth will come from 

Order growth drives revenue 

A low level of on-time delivery will 

Lighting gross profit expansion 

the intellectual property generated 

which in turn drives EBIT and 

impact revenue and hence EBIT 

is a key part in achieving short-

by our engineers and our 

knowledgeable sales teams.

EPS, both forming part of the 

and EPS. For most of the year on-

term and long-term incentive 

remuneration targets.

time delivery was poor due to the 

targets. Lighting gross margin 

performance of our manufacturing 

contraction of 200 basis points 

partner. It improved in Q4 but 

was a key contributor to reduced 

this impacted revenue and 

EBIT and the fact that there were 

EBIT therefore no management 

no management bonus payments 

bonuses were payable for 2018.

in 2018.

Target

Year-on-year order growth.  

Due to continued operational 

issues in 2018, this target was  

not achieved.

Target

80%.

Target

in 2018.

Year-on-year expansion of lighting 

gross margin. Due to operational 

issues there was a contraction  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
FINANCIAL

Revenue  

(£’m)

Underlying operating profit 

Cash conversion  

(£’m)

(%)

NON-FINANCIAL

Health and safety 

(number)

OPERATIONAL

Retention 

Lighting orders 

Lighting on-time delivery 

Underlying lighting  

(%)

2018

2017

2016

(£’m)

2018

2017

2016

92

94

93

124

(%)

2018

gross profit (£’m)

70

2018

47.1

145

2017

48

2017

151

2016

74

2016

54.3

57.4

Description

Revenue from sales.

Description

The operating profit (EBIT)  

related to the performance  

of the underlying business.

Description

Description

The ability to turn profits into cash.

A measure of how many serious 

accidents have occurred within 

Description
A measure of how well the  
Group can retain its staff.

Description
Orders received for  
lighting products.

Definition

Definition

Definition

Revenue of the business excluding 

Operating profit of the business 

Adjusted operating cash flow 

A recordable incident is one that 

items that are considered as 

excluding items that are 

divided by adjusted EBITDA. 

results in a member of staff being 

non-recurring or not reflective  

considered as non-recurring or 

Adjusted EBITDA is underlying 

incapacitated for more than  

of the underlying performance  

not reflective of the underlying 

operating profit, excluding 

three days.

of the business.

performance of the business  

depreciation and amortisation 

(see page 134).

(see page 134).

Definition
The number of staff at the end  
of the year divided by the total 
of the number of staff at the 
start of the year and joiners. 
This calculation excludes direct 
manufacturing staff.

Definition
Total orders received for  
lighting products in the year.

the Group.

Definition

Description
The percentage of orders 
delivered on time (year-end 
numbers are shown).

Description
The gross profit related to the 
performance of the underlying 
lighting business.

Definition
The value of orders shipped in 
the year meeting the customer 
request date over the total value  
of the orders shipped in the year.

Definition
Gross profit of the lighting 
business excluding items that are 
considered as non-recurring or 
not reflective of the underlying 
performance of the business  
(see page 110).

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Link to strategy 

Revenue growth in territories and 

The key measure of the success 

In order to fund our strategic 

Ensuring a safe working 

segments is part of capturing 

of our near-term strategic goals 

objectives, cash management  

Retaining high-calibre staff is part 
of creating and capturing value.

value, enabled by reinforcing  

is EBIT.

our foundations and strengthening 

our capabilities.

is very important.

environment for employees is 

fundamental to attracting and 

retaining good-calibre staff which 

will enable us to achieve our 

strategic goals.

Order growth is a lead indicator 
of the financial strength of our 
end markets and in resolving the 
current operational issues.

On-time delivery is a lead  
indicator of the operational  
issues being resolved.

One of the key near-term  
strategic goals is to build a robust 
and scalable operational platform. 
Lighting gross margin is a good 
indicator of the success of  
this target.

Remuneration linkage

Remuneration linkage

Remuneration linkage

Revenue growth is a key element 

EBIT is one of the main measures 

Cash conversion does not  

in achieving short-term and  

used in short-term and long-

directly link to remuneration  

Remuneration linkage

Health and safety does not 

directly link to remuneration  

long-term incentive targets.  

term incentive targets. The 

but is an enabler to achieving  

but is an enabler to achieving  

Due to revenue reduction year on 

target for 2018 was not achieved 

our EBIT target.

our EBIT target.

Remuneration linkage
Business growth will come from 
the intellectual property generated 
by our engineers and our 
knowledgeable sales teams.

Remuneration linkage
Order growth drives revenue 
which in turn drives EBIT and 
EPS, both forming part of the 
remuneration targets.

year, there were no management 

and therefore there were no 

bonus payments in 2018.

management bonus payments.

Remuneration linkage
A low level of on-time delivery will 
impact revenue and hence EBIT 
and EPS. For most of the year on-
time delivery was poor due to the 
performance of our manufacturing 
partner. It improved in Q4 but 
this impacted revenue and 
EBIT therefore no management 
bonuses were payable for 2018.

Remuneration linkage
Lighting gross profit expansion 
is a key part in achieving short-
term and long-term incentive 
targets. Lighting gross margin 
contraction of 200 basis points 
was a key contributor to reduced 
EBIT and the fact that there were 
no management bonus payments 
in 2018.

Target

Target

Target

Target

Year-on-year revenue growth  

For 2018 the target was 

The target was 80% but due to the 

Zero recordable incidents.

Target
At least 90% retention.

(at constant currency). We did  

consensus EBIT at the start  

requirement to purchase inventory 

not achieve this in 2018 as there 

of the year, which was £13.3m.

as part of in-sourcing assembly 

was a 3% decline.

the value of inventory increased 

significantly resulting in a negative 

conversion rate.

Target
Year-on-year order growth.  
Due to continued operational 
issues in 2018, this target was  
not achieved.

Target
80%.

Target
Year-on-year expansion of lighting 
gross margin. Due to operational 
issues there was a contraction  
in 2018.

19

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Intelligent solutions in action

2018 SAW THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INNOVATIVE NEW PRODUCT CONCEPT

Easier installation

The installation of the fixture was simplified as 
the new version is 20% lighter and has a fixture 
depth of 45% less than our previous version. 
The reduced weight allows it to be installed by 
a single person compared with a two-person 
team required for the previous version. The 
reduced depth allows it to be mounted nearer 
the ceiling and it also has an uplight capability if 
required. Additional features such as the 480 volt 
transformer can also be remotely located.

High Output High Bay 72,000 Lumen

In November 2018 we launched an innovative concept 
in the industrial Lighting market. We updated our 
existing 60,000 lumen High Bay by removing the power 
supply from the interior of the fixture and allowing 
it to be located up to 200 metres away. This has the 
following benefits:

 – Reduced requirement for heat dissipation allowing 

us to increase lumen output to 72,000 lumens

 – Increased reliability and easier maintenance
 – Installation is easier due to weight reduction  

and fixture being smaller

200M

the distance that the  
power supply can be fixed

20

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Easier to maintain and more reliable 

In addition to the normal reduction in maintenance 
costs by using our fixtures, a remote power supply 
adds the following benefits;

 – In the unlikely event of fixture failure, the power 
supply is the most likely element that will fail. 
By having this remotely located there is no 
requirement to take down the fixture if it  
needs replacing.

 – Power supplies can be located away from 
production lines in more accessible areas 
reducing any requirement to halt production  
if there is an issue with the fixture.

19%

Greater lumen 
efficiency than 
previous model

20%

Lower fixture weight

21

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsDialight’s business is built on 
providing products that enable 
our customers to improve safety, 
working environments and help 
to achieve sustainability goals 
through the use of technology. 
We continue to innovate by 
producing new products that 
further push the boundaries  
of reduced power consumption. 
Our latest High Bay, launched 
in November, has increased the 
lumen efficiency by 19%, giving 
149 lumens per watt of output. 
Our current product pipeline 
will broaden the range of our 
products and expand our 
sustainability offering to  
our customers.

Sustainability

Introduction
Dialight’s products can and will play a  

key role in helping our customers make the 

transition to a low carbon economy with  

our industry-leading, energy-efficient 

lighting solutions. 

Dialight helps our customers change  
their emission profiles and assist  

countries to reach their emission goals. 

Governments around the world have to 

update their emission reduction plans by 

2020 as part of the Paris climate change 

agreement process. 

2019 will be the year that organisations  

will need to strengthen their activities to 

tackle their carbon emissions in terms  

of target setting followed by actions and 

subsequent reporting.

Dialight is involved in the design 

and manufacture of a wide range of 

products that improve safety in industrial 

environments, many of them hazardous  

and where safety is mission critical.  

We are committed to achieving continual 

improvement in our environmental 

management system to enhance 

environmental performance, and regard 
compliance with the relevant laws, 

regulations and other obligations  

as a minimum standard.

Our key performance indicators “KPIs” 

reflect the importance that we place  

on sustainability and enable the Board  

to monitor our progress in meeting  

the objectives and responsibilities  

in these areas.

   The Group’s non-financial KPIs  

are set out on pages 18 and 19. 

22

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Areas of emphasis include health and  

safety, employee engagement and 

development, human rights, ethics and 

sustainability. The safety of our employees 

and of the products we design are critical 

to the Group. We recognise the necessity 

of safeguarding the health and safety of our 

own employees while at work and operate  

a safe and comfortable working environment 

for employees, visitors and the public. 

Our policy is to manage our activities 

to avoid causing any unnecessary or 

unacceptable risks to health and safety  

and the environment. Dialight has an 

excellent health and safety record and  

a culture of safety is deeply embedded 

within the Group. 

Our core values are respect, innovation, 

collaboration and commitment, and our 

culture is one of openness, integrity 

and accountability. We encourage our 

employees to act fairly in their dealings  

with fellow employees, customers,  

suppliers and business partners. 

We recognise that our employees  

determine our success and we continue 

to invest in, and encourage further 
development of our employees each year, 

by providing clear leadership and decisive 

action. We work with our leadership teams 

to ensure they find the best talent to fulfil  

our growth ambition.

We support the concept of sustainability 

and recognise that our business has  

an environmental impact. To that end,  

we constantly strive to reduce our  

carbon footprint.

1. Brazil
The Brazilian team planted trees 
at the Municipal Environmental 
School which is dedicated to 
the development and promotion 
of environmental research. 
The school’s focus is to train 
students and teachers to make  
a cleaner and greener future.

3. New Jersey, US 
The New Jersey office continued 
their work to combat hunger in 
their local community. This year 
they have planted a garden to 
grow fresh food to be distributed 
to local families in need.

COMMUNITIES

How we make  
a difference in  
our communities

We like to play a positive role in our local 

communities and participate in a range  

of activities and educational initiatives.  

Our local management teams decide which 

community programmes to take part in and 

which charities to donate to or sponsor.

Some of the ways we are active in our local 

communities are:

•  partnering with local schools, charities 

and other local organisations that 

promote community cohesion;

•  promoting charitable giving and active 

community volunteering among  

our employees;

•  supporting training, employment and 

education for local people on our sites 

and in our offices;

•  sourcing from local businesses wherever 

possible to encourage local economic 

prosperity; and

•  providing or funding appropriate physical 

and community infrastructures to leave  

a legacy of our involvement.

The total number of hours donated to 

volunteering activities in 2018 was 150.  

Our community participation was truly 

global, with our offices in the UK, US, 

Australia, Singapore and Brazil all  

being involved.

2. Australia and UK
The Perth and London offices 
continued their association with 
OZ Harvest and Whitechapel 
Mission. Both are dedicated  
to providing food for the needy 
and homeless respectively.

4. Vietnam 
As part of a program of 
regeneration, the Asia team in 
conjunction with a potential 
customer spent a day planting 
trees at the world’s largest 
tungsten mine in Vietnam.

23

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsSustainability continued

Innovation

We are committed to innovation and 

customer satisfaction. Creating and 

developing new products gives us a 

competitive edge. We encourage the 

sharing of knowledge and the acquisition 

of greater technological understanding 

throughout the Group. 

Through collaboration and sharing best 

practice, we continue to deliver market-

leading innovations that benefit our 

customers. Group leaders come together 

to learn from one another, identify ways 
to collaborate, share developments in our 

technology or simply learn from each other’s 

experience. We believe that empowered 

business leaders are a key part of our 

current and future success.

COLLEAGUES

Our people

Our culture reflects the collective 

capabilities of our people and is one  

of our unique strategic assets. We attract 

high achievers interested in working 
collaboratively and making a positive 

difference in the world. We facilitate this  

by minimising bureaucracy, preferring 

instead to act with speed and precision  

to maximise our impact. This encourages  

us all to imagine the future and then  

create it, working seamlessly with internal 

Talent development

ACHIEVEMENT

Our employees are highly motivated  

by the opportunity to make a difference. 

We strive each day to make products 

that protect lives and make the world  

a safer and healthier place. We invest  

a lot of time finding and developing  

the right people who have the initiative, 

knowledge and leadership qualities  

to help us do this.

To unleash their potential, we provide 
employees with:

•  the opportunity to make a difference 

– our products make the world a safer 

and healthier place;

•  an entrepreneurial business 

environment;

and external partners to ensure our  

We offer challenging personal development 

•  a portfolio of cutting-edge 

purpose is fulfilled. We view talent,  

programmes to enhance the quality of 

technologies with which to work  

culture and communications as strategic 

leadership throughout the Group. A number 

and the ability to add more;

growth enablers. 

of our senior leaders have individual 

development programmes that are reviewed 

•  in-house training for personal  

and professional development;

We have launched new communications 

regularly. Our development programmes are 

•  international career development 

efforts internally to foster more awareness 

designed to promote personal growth and 

opportunities;

of the challenges and opportunities across 

enhance leadership and relationship skills. 

•  performance-linked rewards; and

the Group, and share best practices and 

Our objective is to provide these individuals 

•  the opportunity to learn from peers.

know-how to help grow the business.  

with the tools and training they need to 

Our “people policy” reflects our 

achieve more in their existing role and to 

commitment to our employees. It outlines 

advance through the organisation if their 

the commitments we make to select and 

achievements merit it.

develop our people, and to establish  

a work environment where everyone can 
take an active part in reaching our strategic 

goals while feeling a sense of pride in  

their contribution.

Autonomy

Employee involvement

The Group places considerable value on 

the involvement of its employees, keeping 

them informed on matters affecting them 

individually and on the various factors 

affecting the performance of the Group 

We believe in empowerment. Our structure 

as a whole. We do this through formal and 

allows managers to be autonomous and 

informal meetings, internal communications 

responsible for making timely decisions 

and our Annual Report. Employee 

in the best interests of our business. 

representatives are consulted routinely on a 

We support personal and professional 

wide range of matters affecting employees’ 

development through a range of training 

current and future interests. 

programmes. These enable and prepare 

leaders to continue to grow the business. 

24

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

women in senior management

10
49%

women overall staff

Diversity and inclusion

Diversity is one of our biggest competitive 

Gender diversity: Board

We see diversity and inclusiveness  

as being essential to our productivity, 

creativity, innovation and competitive 

advantage. They are the foundation of 

a performance culture that promotes 

understanding and appreciation of, and 

respect for, all perspectives, backgrounds 

and experiences.

We believe in developing policies and 

actions which support our long-term 

aims, as well as establishing appropriate 

measurable targets. 

advantages. The diversity of our workforce 

provides stability and broadens the scope 

for growth. The diversity of our people 

helps us stay agile as the needs of our 

customers change and as business adapts. 

From a gender perspective in Dialight, 

the representation of women is strong in 

management and production roles, and 

weakest in middle management roles.  

We are committed to gender pay equality 

and we have parity by role. We operate 

in many countries and the diversity of our 

workforce can be seen in the chart below. 

2

Male
Female

6

The result is that we have significant 

diversity throughout our operations  

Applications for employment from 

disabled people and disabled employees

in 15 countries.

Applications for employment from disabled 

Gender diversity: senior management

Geographical diversity

As our business continues to expand 

people are always fully considered, bearing 

in mind the aptitudes of the applicant 

concerned. In the event of members of 

globally, it is important that the insights 

staff becoming disabled, every effort will 

10

and perspectives of local markets are 

represented on our leadership teams.  

We continue to seek ways to ensure that 

local leadership is contributing to our  

global business strategies.

Diversity and inclusion policy

We recognise that the diversity of the 

people in our business and the inclusion  

of all enriches our products and 

performance, and the lives of our 

employees. Our approach is formalised in 

the Group’s diversity and inclusion policy.

Employment diversity

be made to ensure that their employment 

with the Group continues and that any 

appropriate training is arranged. It is the 

policy of the Group that the training, career 

development and promotion of disabled 

people should, as far as possible, be 

identical to that of other employees.

24

Male
Female

Gender diversity: all employees

167

73 27

270

1,080

727

775

Malaysia
EMEA
APAC (excluding Malaysia)
North & South America (excluding Mexico)
Mexico

Male
Female

25

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsSustainability continued

CARBON AND THE ENVIRONMENT 

Reducing emissions

We are committed to raising employee 

To support the Group’s commitment to 

awareness of environmental issues and  

sustainability, our policy, which is subject 

the effects of their activities through 

Company-wide promotion and 

communication. We recognise that simple, 

to regular review, operates a cap on 
permissible CO2 emissions for all  
Company-owned vehicles and vehicles 

small measures taken in the workplace 

bought by employees who have taken a 

can have a large impact on reducing 

cash allowance in lieu of a company car.

environmental damage.

Carbon footprint

The Group has two zero-waste-to-landfill 

Waste management

The environment

We are committed to reducing our carbon 

sites: one in Australia and one in Denmark. 

footprint. The Group set a target of 

We work with our supply chain to identify 

reducing its total carbon emissions relative 

recycling opportunities. In 2018, we recycled 

to revenues by 10% over the three years 
from December 2017. Our emissions have 

over 300 tonnes of cardboard, plastic,  
wood and metals at our production facilities. 

reduced significantly but we continue to 

All administrative offices have a recycling 

focus on other energy reduction initiatives. 

policy to help reduce waste going to landfill.

The table below sets out Dialight’s 

emissions in 2018 compared with 2017 in 

accordance with the Companies Act 2006 

(Strategic Report and Directors’ Report) 

Regulation 2013. The Group does not 

operate a fleet of distribution vehicles, 

although it does own a number of cars. 

We make products that are environmentally 

friendly. We have an excellent long-term 

record and a clear strategy for addressing 
the environmental issues that affect  

our business.

Our impact

The environmental impact of our 

operations is relatively low compared with 

manufacturers in other sectors. We place a 

high level of importance on the quality of our 

products and the service levels we provide 

to our customers. We strive to make our 

operations more flexible and responsive  

to our end markets and customers. 

Environmental management  

system “EMS”

We are committed to developing and 

implementing an EMS throughout the 

Group to measure, control and reduce our 

environmental impact. We have performance 

Consumption of resources

indicators to assist local management in 

implementing the policy and, ultimately,  

in developing an EMS. All Group companies 

are certified to ISO 14001 accreditation, 

where warranted. Group companies are 

encouraged to improve energy efficiency, 

reduce waste and emissions and reduce  

the use of materials in order to minimise  

their environmental impact.

The EMS includes procedures for the 

management of waste, trade effluent, 

hazardous substances, environmental 

processes and procedure, enforcement 

actions, and compliance with regulatory 

frameworks and legislation.

Emissions from combustion of fuel  

and operation of facilities 

Emissions from purchased electricity 

Total

 2018
Resource

Electricity

Water

26

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018
Tonnes
CO2

85

5,104

5,189

2017
Tonnes
CO2

271

5,756

6,027

Variance 

186

652

838

Total 
consumption
(m’s)

9.5

15.5

Consumption 
per £  
turnover 

0.056

0.091

Unit

kWh

litre

 
CARBON EMISSIONS AND 
POWER SAVINGS

Every year, our products help  

our customers:

 – eliminate 300,000 tonnes  

of carbon emissions; and

 – reduce electricity consumption 

by 4000 GWh.

CARBON EMISSIONS AND 
POWER CONSUMED IN 
PRODUCTION

GOVERNANCE 

Our goal is to have  
no accidents

Health and safety

Dialight’s products protect and improve  

the quality of life of people working in 

industrial and hazardous environments 

around the world. Safety is critical to 

the Group and is a major priority for 

management. The Board has endorsed  

the inclusion of the Group’s accident 

frequency rate as one of its non-financial 

 – Carbon emissions: 6,000 tonnes

KPIs on page 18. 

 – Electricity: 8,100 GWh.

RECYCLING

 – We recycled over 300 tonnes 
of materials at our production 

facilities.

CERTIFICATIONS

 – Our three main production 

facilities have Environmental 

Management Systems and  

are certified under ISO 14001.

The Group manages its activities to avoid 

causing unnecessary or unacceptable  

risks to the health and safety of its 

employees in the workplace or to the  

public. Health and safety processes, 

procedures and reporting are closely 

monitored to ensure a safe working 

environment for our employees and visitors 

to our sites. Our three main production  

sites in Ensenada, Mexico, Roxboro,  

North Carolina, US and Penang, Malaysia, 

all use an occupational health and safety 

management system and are accredited  
to BS OHSAS 18001.

Health and safety performance is regularly 

reviewed throughout all levels of the Group. 

Each site must have an independent health 

and safety review every three years, with 

a view to ensuring a consistent approach 

in the quality of reporting, adherence 

to internal processes and procedures, 

adequate reporting and investigation and 

to further promote our health and safety 

culture. We thoroughly review the root  

cause of any accidents to ensure that  

we take preventative measures, including 

further training for, and education of,  

our employees. 

27

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Ethics

Dialight’s culture is one of openness, integrity 

and accountability. The Group requires 

employees to act fairly in their dealings with 

fellow employees, customers, suppliers and 

business partners. We require suppliers to 

be of high quality and to operate to accepted 

international standards. Our policy and internal 

guidance in this area are routinely reviewed 

and compliance with the policy is checked as 

part of the half year and year-end processes. 

Whistleblowing

We require our employees and business 
partners to maintain the highest standards of 

integrity and to act in good faith. Dialight has 

a Group-wide whistleblowing policy which as 

well as applying to all employees, applies to 

joint venture partners, suppliers, distributors 

and customers. Although we encourage and 

maintain an open culture in which any issues 

can be raised, we recognise that there will be 

times when it is not appropriate, or a person 

will not be comfortable, to raise a concern 

through line management. An independent 

third-party provider, Safecall, has been 

appointed to operate a confidential reporting 

service for the Group which enables 

employees to raise any concerns they may 

have in confidence. All reports are also 

treated confidentially and are provided to  

the Group Company Secretary and Chair of 

the Audit Committee for review and to ensure 

that they are appropriately investigated and 

resolved. We are committed to ensuring 

that anyone raising a concern in good faith 
is not subject to any form of victimisation or 

detrimental treatment, although a malicious 

allegation may result in disciplinary action. 

Political and charitable donations

The Group does not make political 

donations. Charitable donations are made 

only where legal and ethical according  

to local laws and practices. 

Anti-bribery and corruption

Dialight has a zero-tolerance policy as regards 

to bribery and corruption. This extends to 

all business dealings and transactions and 

includes a prohibition on offering or receiving 

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsSustainability continued

inappropriate gifts or making undue payments 

to influence the outcome of business dealings. 

Compliance with the policy is checked as  

part of the half year and year-end process.  

All employees were trained on anti-bribery  

and corruption in the year.

A responsible investment

Investing in Dialight shares meets the criteria 

of many professional and private investors 

who base their decisions on environmental, 

ethical and social considerations. The Group 

has a reputation for honesty and integrity in 

its relationships with employees, customers, 
business partners and shareholders.

Human rights

Dialight’s core requirements for human 

rights prohibit forced labour, child labour 

and discrimination, and respect freedom 

of association and the right to collective 

bargaining. We do not tolerate practices which 

contravene recognised international standards. 

Managers and supervisors must promote 

human rights alongside other business issues. 

All employees are responsible for ensuring 

that their own actions do not impair the human 

rights of others and are encouraged to bring 

forward, in confidence, any concerns they 

may have about disregard or abuse of human 

rights. Our Group Chief Executive Officer has 

overall responsibility for ensuring that human 

rights considerations are integral to existing 

operations and in how new opportunities are 

developed and managed.

Modern Slavery Act

Dialight published its first Modern Slavery 

Act statement in 2017 and has worked since 

the Act’s introduction to raise awareness of 

this important issue. We have done this by 

rolling out Modern Slavery Act training to all 

employees across the Group to ensure that 

we all understand our responsibilities and 

consider the Act in all our operations. 

Each business has performed a risk 

assessment as regards the potential for 

modern slavery and human trafficking within 

the business and its supply chain. All existing 

and new clients and suppliers are subject to 

a check on the non-compliance database.

£

CUSTOMERS

NON-FINANCIAL REPORTING 

Helping clients  
work smarter

Sustainability 
governance

Our products

For many investors, climate change 

Our products and solutions serve to protect 

poses significant financial challenges and 

our market-leading position and enhance 

opportunities. The expected transition to a 

organic growth. Our products are becoming 

lower carbon economy is estimated to require 

increasingly sophisticated – many have 

around £2.7 trillion, on average, in energy 

artificial intelligence (AI) features that allow 

sector investments a year for the foreseeable 

them to link directly to our customers’ IT 

future, generating new investment 

infrastructure, increasing customer control 

opportunities. At the same time, the risk 

while reducing total cost of ownership. 

return profile of companies exposed to 

We lead the market in low environmental 

impact LED products and have the most 

efficient power supply units in the industry. 

climate-related risks may change significantly 

because of physical impacts of climate 

change, climate policy or new technologies.

All our products benefit from temperature 

UN Sustainable Development  

compensation technology, maximising their 

Goals “SDGs”

life span and advanced optics that direct light 

precisely where it is needed. All products 

have an industry-leading ten-year warranty.

Historically, high-intensity discharge lighting 

The UN Sustainable Development Goals 

(HID) such as high pressure sodium (HPS) units 

are the blueprint for a better and more 

have dominated the industrial sector, particularly 

sustainable future for all. They address 

in the US. The major differences between our 

global challenges we all face, including 

LED and HPS units are that LED lighting:

those related to poverty, inequality, climate 
change, environmental degradation, and 

•  outputs 30–60% more light

peace and justice. The UN has set 2030  

•  uses 50% less power per day, assisted  

as the target for achievement.

by using lighting controls

•  does not use mercury (which is toxic  

We consider four of the SDGs directly 

and environmentally dangerous) 

relevant to our business:

•  has a longer lifespan (by a factor of 4) 

•  requires fewer fixtures to illuminate the 

•  Goal 5 – Gender Equality (e.g. target 

same area 

5.5, ‘Ensure women’s full and effective 

participation and equal opportunities  

We estimate that the total benefit to our 

for leadership’) 

customers from switching to Dialight LED 

The Dialight response: 48% of our total 

lighting has been a reduction in electricity 

workforce is female. The percentage falls 

consumption of some 2.5 million MWh, the 

to 29% in senior management and we 

equivalent to taking 400,000 passenger 

continue to employ based on ability and 

vehicles off the road for a year.

the availability of candidates.

28

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

•  Goal 7 – Affordable and Clean Energy 

•  Goal 13 – Climate Action (e.g. 13.3, 

The Task Force on Climate-related  

(e.g. target 7.3, ‘Double the global rate  

‘Improve education, awareness-raising 

Financial Disclosures reported in June 2017, 

of improvement in energy efficiency’). 

and capacity on climate change 

highlighting four key areas that companies 

The Dialight response: Our new products 

mitigation’). 

should report on as part of their public 

continually take energy efficiency to  

The Dialight response: Our growth 

disclosures. Compliance with these 

new levels.

strategy includes raising awareness 

recommendations is voluntary and this year 

•  Goal 12 – Responsible Consumption and 

of climate impact to educate potential 

is our first disclosure under the framework. 

Production (e.g. target 12.2, ‘Achieve the 

customers to embrace LED and move 

We recognise that this will evolve and 

sustainable management and efficient  

away from older forms of lighting which 

expand over time. The Task Force issued  

use of natural resources’). 

are damaging to the environment.

an update in September 2018 that reviewed 

The Dialight response: We constantly 

strive to reduce consumption of 

resources. We design products that 

enable our customers to achieve this.

the challenges associated with measuring 

and disclosing information on risks related 

to climate change.

Recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures

Reporting requirement

Policies and standards which govern the approach

Governance: the level of governance around 
climate-related risks and opportunities

Climate-related opportunities are at the heart of the business. Our growth strategy is designed to harvest these 
opportunities as companies switch to more sustainable lighting solutions. This is a key focus at Board level.

Strategy: actual and potential impacts  
of climate-related risks and opportunities  
on an organisation’s business, strategy  
and financial planning

There are significant opportunities for the business related to purchasing decisions made on the basis of 
climate impact. This could be driven by legislative change that bans non-environmentally friendly lighting such 
as high pressure sodium or from voluntary transition to LED as a means of achieving sustainability targets.

Satisfying the above forms the basis of our business plans.

Risk management: the processes used  
to identify, assess and manage climate-
related risks

Climate related risks are identified as part of ongoing business risk assessment. The mitigation of these risks, 
Production Capacity and Market Trends & Competition, is set out in our Risks and Uncertainties section on 
pages 34 to 37.

Metrics and targets: the metrics and 
targets used to assess and manage relevant 
climate-related risks and opportunities.

We target the reduction of our carbon emissions as a proportion of revenue by 10% over the period from 
December 2017 to December 2020. The results are set out on page 26.

We aim to comply with the new Non-Financial Reporting requirements contained in sections 414CA and 414CB of the Companies Act 2006. 

The below table, and information it refers to, is intended to help stakeholders understand our position on key non-financial matters.

Non-financial information statement 

Reporting requirement

Colleagues

Policies and standards which  
govern the approach

Evidence of implementation/action  
taken to manage the issue

Due diligence

Health and safety policy

Page 24

Carbon emissions

Statement on carbon reduction/target

Page 26

Human rights

Social matters

–

Company policy and international law

Page 28

Anti-corruption and anti-bribery 

Company policy and international law

Description of principal risks  
and impact of business activity

Description of the business model

Non-financial key performance indicators

–

–

–

–

–

Pages 34–37

Page 14

Pages 18–19

29

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Safety audits conducted and 
management systems implemented

Carbon footprint data is  
monitored internally

–

–

–

–

–

–

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIntelligent solutions in action

HELPING OUR CLIENTS DELIVER ZERO EMISSIONS

Rubis Group 

French-based Rubis Group is an independent 
operator of downstream petroleum and 
chemical facilities. Its Rubis Terminal division 
operates 14 facilities around Europe with a 
combined storage capacity of 3 million cubic 
metres. For their new facility in Rotterdam they 
wanted to eliminate the problems they had 
encountered with their existing facilities:

 – Energy efficient – the target was zero 

emissions and the combination of fluorescent 
linear and flood lights was not going to  
deliver this

 – Safety – staff needed to use supplemental, 

temporary, portable lights to perform  
their work

 – Reliable illumination – with fluorescent 

lighting, workers had to build scaffolding and 
work at high elevation, in teams of two, with 
portable lighting. Vibration from equipment 
caused frequent failures, so maintenance  
was an ongoing process.

In addition, they wanted to avoid light pollution 
by having lights that were Dark Sky compliant 
for the benefit of wildlife.

60%

Energy consumption reduction

30

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The powerful combination of energy and 
maintenance savings is expected to generate a 
payback period of less than four years, creating 
a substantial ROI for Rubis at this new facility. 
The outstanding efficiency and sustainability of 
the LED fixtures also allows the company to more 
easily meet annual governmental energy audit 
requirements, and achieve its goal of operating  
a zero-emissions facility.

The project has been so successful, the company 
plans to expand the project to retrofit existing 
terminals with new, state-of-the-art Dialight  
LED fixtures.

£90K

Annual maintenance 
saving

The Dialight solution was to provide;

 – 137 SafeSite Linears
 – 23 SafeSite Area Lights
 – 19 SafeSite Wallpacks
 – 14 SafeSite High Bays
 – 22 Stainless Steel Linears
 – 57 Street Lights

The complexity of the lighting requirement was 
satisfied by utilising six different product ranges 
designed to work in different areas to provide 
the correct illumination necessary. Our SafeSite 
products were used in areas which contained 
hazardous materials and our non-SafeSite 
products were used in more general areas.

6

Product ranges utilised

31

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsRisk management

Our approach 
We believe that great risk management 

Risk management approach 
The effective understanding, acceptance 

involves people at all levels in the 

and management of risk is fundamental  

organisation being empowered to manage 

to the long-term success of the Group.  

risks and take advantage of opportunities. 

The Group has developed specialist 

Our risk awareness culture allows 

knowledge in products, services, processes 

management to make better commercial 

and regions, which allows us to understand 

decisions and helps to maximise the 
benefits of our business model.

the associated risks and accept them 
in an informed way. Our approach is 

encapsulated in the key principles of  

our new risk management process:

•  to understand the nature and extent  

of risks facing the Group;

Embedding internal controls and risk 

management further into the operations  

of the business is an ongoing process.

Key areas of the Group’s system of internal 

controls are shown on the opposite page. 

Risk appetite and culture 
The Risk Committee is responsible for 

overseeing the risk management processes 

and procedures; it reports to the Board 

through the Audit Committee on the key 

risks facing the Group. It monitors the 

mitigating actions put in place by the 

•  to accept and manage within the business 

relevant operational managers to address 

those risks which our employees have  

the skills and expertise to understand  

and leverage;

the identified risks. The Board has approved 

the acceptance of certain risks which are 

considered appropriate to achieve the 

•  to assess and transfer or avoid those  

Group’s strategic objectives. The degree of 

risks which are beyond our appetite for 

risk to be accepted within the business is 

risk; and

•  by consideration of materiality, establish 

the authority layers within the Group 

at which decisions on acceptance and 

mitigation of levels of risk are taken.

managed on a day-to-day basis through the 

Board-delegated authority levels. These are 

the framework for informed risk taking within 

the businesses and the route for escalating 

decision making up to the Board.

  See Viability statement on page 61

  See Going concern on page 61

32

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Group internal control system

Daily and weekly data on cash, sales and orders are sent  
to the Group Finance Team by regional management. 
A weekly report is issued to the Group Chief Executive  
Officer and Group Finance Director which provides an  
early warning system on potential risks and helps to direct 
mitigating actions.

Each month the Group Chief Executive Officer reports to the 
Board outlining the Group’s operations and giving analysis 
of significant risks and opportunities. The paper covers 
progress against strategic objectives and shareholder-related 
issues. The Group Finance Director also submits a separate 
financial report to the Board each month evaluating progress 
against internal targets and external expectations. Quarterly 
re-forecast papers, an annual budget paper and an annual 
strategic plan paper are also submitted to the Board.

The Group Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance 
Director report to the Audit Committee on all aspects of 
internal control. The internal audit function prepares quarterly 
reports on specific topics which are reviewed by the Audit 
Committee. The Board receives regular reports from the 
Audit Committee, and the papers and minutes of the Audit 
Committee are used as a basis for the Board’s annual review 
of internal controls.

A comprehensive financial reporting package is received  
from all operating units monthly with comparisons against 
budget, forecast and prior year performance. Each operating 
unit is required to submit a quarterly self-certification on 
compliance and controls. A thorough re-forecast is prepared 
quarterly and a budget is prepared annually. The Group 
updates its three-year strategic plan annually.

Risk management framework
The diagram below summarises our complementary approach based on utilising a top down plus a bottom up process:

Top down
 – Group risk policy and strategy

 – Group risk appetite

 – Principal risk oversight

 – Group compliance oversight

DIALIGHT PLC BOARD

OPERATIONAL

COMPLIANCE

Chief Executive

Audit Committee

RISK COMMITTEE

Bottom up
 – Business risk appetite policy

 – Assessment and mitigation  

of specific risks

 – Upward reporting of key  

residual risks

Executive Committee

Company Secretary

Senior managers

Internal audit

SENIOR FINANCE STAFF

33

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsPrincipal risks and uncertainties

Gross risk

Link to strategy

L

Low

M

Medium

H

High

   Reinforce our 

   Strengthen our 

   Create and  

foundations

capabilities

capture value

Risk

Risk Description

Gross risk

Impact on strategy

Impact on viability, reputation and health and safety

Mitigation

PRODUCTION  
CAPACITY

Production capacity needs to be sufficient to ensure 

current orders can be fulfilled in a timely manner and 

be scalable to support growth

Risks to production capacity by using a single-site 

location, for the manufacture of all Lighting products

SUPPLY CHAIN 
MANAGEMENT

The procurement planning process is dependent on 

the accuracy of sales forecasts to ensure adequacy  

of component supply

The Group needs to maintain a robust supply chain

IT SYSTEMS

The Group uses IT systems to operate and control its 

business; any disruption to this would have an adverse 

impact on the business. The Group also needs to 

ensure the protection and integrity of its data

POLITICAL  
CONDITIONS

SUCCESSION  
PLANNING AND  
STAFF CALIBRE

The Group’s main manufacturing plants are in Mexico 

and its main market is North America. Proposed 

import tariffs could impact the Group’s business 
model. The Group has operations in countries with 

unstable political climates hence there is a risk of tax 

changes. Brexit has introduced uncertainty to the level 

of tariffs on goods imported from Europe into the UK

The Group performance is dependent on attracting 

and retaining high-quality staff across all functions

H

H

M

M

M

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

 – On-time delivery

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying gross profit

 – On-time delivery

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

 – On-time delivery

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Retention

34

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 – Inability to fulfil demand due to lack of product availability

 – The Group has expanded it sub-assembly providers in Mexico

 – Loss of revenue and operating profit

 – Establish two new facilities in Mexico and Malaysia

 – Transitioning CNC and paint equipment from our former 

manufacturing partner to our own facility

 – All final assembly is in-house

 – Key hires in supply chain, logistics and trade and compliance

 – Continued focus on a dual sourcing programme is a high-priority 

issue for the coming year

 – Inability to fulfil demand due to lack of product availability

 – We continue to refine our forecasting process and review the 

 – Higher inventory obsolescence with an adverse impact  

accuracy level monthly in order to provide a continuous cycle  

on gross margin

of ownership and improvement

 – Focus on design for manufacturing

 – Variety of product offering reduced based on empirical analysis

 – Inability to supply customers

 – The Group continually reviews its IT systems to ensure that they 

 – Loss of revenue and significant business disruption

are robust and scalable in line with the expansion of the business

 – Loss of commercially sensitive information

 – There are back-ups built into all Group systems and the spread  

of systems offers good protection from individual events

 – Third-party suppliers are used to provide data protection software

 – Reduced financial performance

 – Based on current information potential tariffs on imports from 

 – Loss of market share

 – Unforeseen liabilities

Mexico to US and Canada are not a major risk

 – The Group is considering production locations within the EU  

to mitigate against Brexit

 – External tax advisers appointed in high risk areas

 – Without good-calibre staff, the Group will find it difficult  

 – The Group’s development programmes enhance the skills  

to expand and achieve its strategic goals

of executives and middle managers

 – A comprehensive recruitment process and ongoing evaluation 

assist high-quality hiring and development

 – Considerable time is spent assessing middle and senior 

management in order to identify succession plans

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Risk

Risk Description

Gross risk

Impact on strategy

Impact on viability, reputation and health and safety

Mitigation

PRODUCTION  

CAPACITY

Production capacity needs to be sufficient to ensure 

current orders can be fulfilled in a timely manner and 

be scalable to support growth

Risks to production capacity by using a single-site 

location, for the manufacture of all Lighting products

SUPPLY CHAIN 

MANAGEMENT

The procurement planning process is dependent on 

the accuracy of sales forecasts to ensure adequacy  

of component supply

The Group needs to maintain a robust supply chain

IT SYSTEMS

The Group uses IT systems to operate and control its 

business; any disruption to this would have an adverse 

impact on the business. The Group also needs to 

ensure the protection and integrity of its data

POLITICAL  

CONDITIONS

SUCCESSION  

PLANNING AND  

STAFF CALIBRE

The Group’s main manufacturing plants are in Mexico 

and its main market is North America. Proposed 

import tariffs could impact the Group’s business 

model. The Group has operations in countries with 

unstable political climates hence there is a risk of tax 

changes. Brexit has introduced uncertainty to the level 

of tariffs on goods imported from Europe into the UK

The Group performance is dependent on attracting 

and retaining high-quality staff across all functions

H

H

M

M

M

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

 – On-time delivery

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying gross profit

 – On-time delivery

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

 – On-time delivery

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Retention

 – Inability to fulfil demand due to lack of product availability

 – The Group has expanded it sub-assembly providers in Mexico

 – Loss of revenue and operating profit

 – Establish two new facilities in Mexico and Malaysia

 – Transitioning CNC and paint equipment from our former 

manufacturing partner to our own facility

 – All final assembly is in-house

 – Key hires in supply chain, logistics and trade and compliance

 – Continued focus on a dual sourcing programme is a high-priority 

issue for the coming year

 – Inability to fulfil demand due to lack of product availability

 – We continue to refine our forecasting process and review the 

 – Higher inventory obsolescence with an adverse impact  

accuracy level monthly in order to provide a continuous cycle  

on gross margin

of ownership and improvement

 – Focus on design for manufacturing

 – Variety of product offering reduced based on empirical analysis

 – Inability to supply customers

 – The Group continually reviews its IT systems to ensure that they 

 – Loss of revenue and significant business disruption

are robust and scalable in line with the expansion of the business

 – Loss of commercially sensitive information

 – There are back-ups built into all Group systems and the spread  

of systems offers good protection from individual events

 – Third-party suppliers are used to provide data protection software

 – Reduced financial performance

 – Based on current information potential tariffs on imports from 

 – Loss of market share

 – Unforeseen liabilities

Mexico to US and Canada are not a major risk

 – The Group is considering production locations within the EU  

to mitigate against Brexit

 – External tax advisers appointed in high risk areas

 – Without good-calibre staff, the Group will find it difficult  

 – The Group’s development programmes enhance the skills  

to expand and achieve its strategic goals

of executives and middle managers

 – A comprehensive recruitment process and ongoing evaluation 

assist high-quality hiring and development

 – Considerable time is spent assessing middle and senior 

management in order to identify succession plans

35

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Principal risks and uncertainties continued

Gross risk

Link to strategy

L

Low

M

Medium

H

High

   Reinforce our 

   Strengthen our 

   Create and  

foundations

capabilities

capture value

Risk

Risk Description

Gross risk

Impact on strategy

Impact on viability, reputation and health and safety

Mitigation

INTELLECTUAL 
PROPERTY

Theft or violation of intellectual property (“IP”)  

by third parties or third parties taking legal action  

for IP infringement

MARKET TRENDS  
& COMPETITION

PRODUCT 
DEVELOPMENT 
STRATEGY

To continue to lead the market, the Group must be 

able to identify where customer demand is trending 

and ensure that we have the products to match.  

Failure to deliver technologically advanced products 

or to execute sales strategy could result in loss  

of market share

Ability to deliver new products to the market  

on a timely basis

PRODUCT RECALL

The Group gives a ten year warranty on  

Lighting products

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

The Group reports in Sterling; however, the majority 
of its revenues and its cost base are in US Dollars. 

Fluctuations in exchange rates between Sterling  

and US Dollar could cause profit and balance  

sheet volatility

M

M

M

M

M

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying gross profit

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Underlying operating profit

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

 – Loss of market share

 – Loss of market share

 – Lack of order growth

 – Unforeseen liabilities

 – Proprietary technology used by competitors leading  

 – Intellectual property is protected by patents and potential 

to loss of market share and revenue

 – Unforeseen liabilities

violations are pursued through legal action

 – Process patent office screening used to avoid infringing  

existing patents

 – The Group has a robust business case process which  

incorporates feedback from customers and is evaluated  

through market intelligence 

 – Establishing new regional development centres

 – Internal and external marketing resources are used to review 

market trends and ensure that the Group’s products remain  

at the forefront of the market

 – The target market has been re-evaluated during the year and  

has been increased based on a detailed regional analysis

 – Product management and engineering will be regionally focused

 – Three major product launches targeted in 2019 

 – We maintain a reserve against potential claims

 – Closely monitor root cause of failures

 – Product quality is a key focus in the design stage and during  

the manufacturing process

will be reviewed to limit operational exposure on a selected 

 – Translational exposure is not currently hedged but the Group 

reports key financial indicators on an actual and a constant 

currency basis

currency basis

 – Volatile financial performance arising from translation  

 – The Group uses natural hedging to cover operational exposure 

of profit from overseas operations

as the majority of revenue and costs are in US Dollars. As the 

 – Most of the Group’s profit earned is not in the reporting currency

business expands geographically, the use of forward contracts  

36

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
INTELLECTUAL 

PROPERTY

Theft or violation of intellectual property (“IP”)  

by third parties or third parties taking legal action  

for IP infringement

MARKET TRENDS  

& COMPETITION

PRODUCT 

DEVELOPMENT 

STRATEGY

To continue to lead the market, the Group must be 

able to identify where customer demand is trending 

and ensure that we have the products to match.  

Failure to deliver technologically advanced products 

or to execute sales strategy could result in loss  

of market share

Ability to deliver new products to the market  

on a timely basis

PRODUCT RECALL

The Group gives a ten year warranty on  

Lighting products

FOREIGN EXCHANGE

The Group reports in Sterling; however, the majority 

of its revenues and its cost base are in US Dollars. 

Fluctuations in exchange rates between Sterling  

and US Dollar could cause profit and balance  

sheet volatility

M

M

M

M

M

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying gross profit

 – Order growth

KPIs

 – Underlying operating profit

KPIs

 – Revenue

 – Underlying operating profit

Risk

Risk Description

Gross risk

Impact on strategy

Impact on viability, reputation and health and safety

Mitigation

 – Proprietary technology used by competitors leading  

 – Intellectual property is protected by patents and potential 

to loss of market share and revenue

 – Unforeseen liabilities

violations are pursued through legal action

 – Process patent office screening used to avoid infringing  

existing patents

 – Loss of market share

 – Loss of market share

 – Lack of order growth

 – Unforeseen liabilities

 – The Group has a robust business case process which  

incorporates feedback from customers and is evaluated  

through market intelligence 

 – Establishing new regional development centres

 – Internal and external marketing resources are used to review 

market trends and ensure that the Group’s products remain  

at the forefront of the market

 – The target market has been re-evaluated during the year and  

has been increased based on a detailed regional analysis

 – Product management and engineering will be regionally focused

 – Three major product launches targeted in 2019 

 – We maintain a reserve against potential claims

 – Closely monitor root cause of failures

 – Product quality is a key focus in the design stage and during  

the manufacturing process

 – Volatile financial performance arising from translation  

of profit from overseas operations

 – The Group uses natural hedging to cover operational exposure 
as the majority of revenue and costs are in US Dollars. As the 

 – Most of the Group’s profit earned is not in the reporting currency

business expands geographically, the use of forward contracts  

will be reviewed to limit operational exposure on a selected 

currency basis

 – Translational exposure is not currently hedged but the Group 

reports key financial indicators on an actual and a constant 

currency basis

37

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial review

Fariyal Khanbabi
Group Finance Director

The Group has had a challenging year  

In August 2018, we saw a further 

as a result of operational issues that  

deterioration in the performance of our 

came to the forefront in 2017. The Group 

manufacturing partner and this led us to 

decided to outsource production of all 
lighting products in 2016, however our 

terminate the contract on 27 September 
2018. The timing of the termination was 

manufacturing partner was unable to ramp 

challenging during our busiest period of the 

up production from the inception of the 

year, as traditionally the lighting industry is 

contract. We dedicated significant internal 

heavily Q4 weighted. However, we believe 

resources to support the transition including 

that having control of our operations and 

having a team permanently based at our 

expanding our current operational footprint 

contract manufacturer. In the first half of 

will help us recover faster.

2018 we removed our largest product line, 

High Bay, moving final assembly back to  

All final assembly of our lighting products 

our plant in Ensenada. These actions 

was in house at the end of the year.  

resulted in some short-term improvements 

Our former manufacturing partner is still 

but were not adequate to restore our 

producing some sub-assemblies but with 

performance to acceptable levels.

our new alternate suppliers ramped up, this 

will also be removed by the end of H1 2019. 

38

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

LIGHTING

£125.0M

2018 revenue

SIGNALS AND  
COMPONENTS
£44.6M

2018 revenue

We have a number of CNC machines and a 

The costs associated with the transfer back 

at constant currency) compared with the 

paint line based at our former manufacturing 

to our own facilities which consisted of dual 

prior year. The production delays adversely 

partner which is also in the process of being 

running costs and the internal resources 

impacted the US region which was 5% 

removed and re-housed in our new facility in 

dedicated to the transfer have not been 

below 2017 offset by growth in EMEA  

Tijuana, Mexico.

treated as a non-underlying item in 2018. In 

and APAC. The Obstruction business 

2017 there was £6.4m of non-underlying costs 

although not significantly impacted by  

The operational issues affected the Group 

of which £4.6m related to the transfer to our 

the operational issues, had revenues 32% 

results in two ways. Firstly, the extended 

former manufacturing partner. Therefore, the 

(at constant currency) below 2017. There 

lead times impacted our Group revenue and 

results for 2018 at a statutory profit before tax 

has been a decline in this business as some 

secondly there were a number of additional 

level have increased by 147%, £7.4m for 2018 

larger customers have deferred their capital 

costs that impacted our profitability.

compared to £3.0m in 2017. 

projects. There has also been insufficient 

Group revenue was 6% behind 2017 at 

£169.6m and on a constant currency basis 

(see page 134) was 3% lower than 2017. The 

Currency impact
Dialight reports its results in Sterling.  
Our major trading currency is the US 

investment made in updating these product 

lines in prior years which has resulted in 

loss of market share. These issues are being 

addressed in 2019 with the product portfolio 

revenue was impacted due to the operational 

Dollar, which in 2018 comprised 80% of 

getting a full refresh.

issues within the Lighting segment. 

We had a number of additional costs 

which adversely affected our performance, 

reducing gross margin by 130 bps 

the Group’s revenue. The Group has both 

translational and transactional currency 

exposure. Translational exposures arise 

on the consolidation of overseas results 

into Sterling and this is the major currency 

compared to 2017. The reduced production 

exposure. Transactional exposure is where 

output from our former manufacturing 

partner resulted in significant use of air 

freight to mitigate against late orders and 

dual running costs as we kept our own 

facility staffed prior to the transfer back to 

in house assembly. These costs have not 

the currency of sales or purchases differ 

from the local functional currency. We use 

natural hedging on revenue and purchases 

to mitigate the majority of the currency risk.

The average rate for the US Dollar against 

Our order intake, i.e. the value of orders 

received in the year, was also adversely 

impacted with a year on year decline of 10% 

at constant currency. The APAC lighting 

business delivered order growth of 21% 

(at constant currency). The US lighting 

orders were significantly impacted due to 

the operational issues resulting in a decline 

of 14% (at constant currency). The EMEA 

Lighting business is project driven with little 

revenue attained from stocking distributors. 

been reported separately as non-underlying 

Sterling weakened by 3% compared to the 

We had some large capital projects in the 

items. Overall revenues were only marginally 

prior year, with the rate moving from 1.29 in 

first half however, due to supply constraints 

down on 2017 and underlying EBIT was 18% 

2017 to 1.33 in 2018. Based on the current 

we were unable to bid for many projects in 

lower than 2017 due to the margin reduction. 

mix of currencies, a 1% movement of the  

the second half resulting in a 15% decline  

During this period, we have had strong cost 

control discipline and have seen our operating 

costs (excluding non-underlying) reduce from 
£57.0m in 2017 to £52.3m in 2018.

The reduction in the Group’s underlying 

EBIT of £1.7m includes the impact of £0.7m 

of foreign exchange. The key drivers for the 

reduction in the EBIT on a constant currency 

basis were as follows:

US Dollar relative to Sterling changes 

revenue by £1.4m and EBIT by £0.1m.

Lighting segment (fig 1)
The Lighting segment represented 74% 

of the Group’s revenue and 65% of the 

Group’s underlying segmental operating 

profit. Revenues were 9% lower (6% lower 

(at constant currency) compared to 2017. 

The order intake for the Obstruction 

business was 31% down (at constant 

currency) compared to the previous year. 

Gross margin contracted by 190 bps to 

37.6%. The effects of our operational issues 

were evident in 2017 which had £2.4m of 

•  (£2.0m) gross margin impact of the 

Lighting segment (fig 1)

revenue reduction;

•  (£2.1m) reduction in gross margin 

due to dual running costs incurred for 

maintaining the Ensenada plant, additional 

freight charges partly offset by improved 

inventory management; and

•  £3.1m operational savings.

Lighting

Revenue 

Gross profit 

Gross profit % 

Overheads 

Underlying EBIT 

2018
£’m

125.0

47.1

38%

(38.6)

8.5

2017
£’m 

137.5

54.3

Variance 

(9%)

(13%)

40% (190 bps)

(43.1)

11.2

10%

(24%)

39

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsFinancial review continued

additional freight costs. The incremental 

Signals and components (fig 2)

costs over 2017 are:

•  (110 bps) reduction due to raw materials 

markup charged by our former 

manufacturing partner with no offsetting 

savings achieved in the period;

Signals and Components

Revenue 

Gross profit 

Gross profit % 

Overheads 

•  (20 bps) reduction due to continued use 

Underlying EBIT 

2018
£’m

44.6

13.2

30%

(8.7)

4.5

2017
£’m 

43.5

12.4

Variance 

3%

6%

29% 100 bps

(8.5)

3.9

(2%)

15%

of air freight to mitigate the extended 

lead times; 

•  (150 bps) reduction due to retaining our 

skilled production labour force during the 

transition from our former manufacturing 

partner: offset by

•  90 bps increase due to elimination of dual 

plant running costs as we transferred to 

our facility in Ensenada.

As the volume of in-house production 

increases and service levels return to a more 

normal level, the negative impact of these 

additional costs will be mitigated.

Operating costs reduced by £4.7m 

compared to last year. This was due to sales 

related costs flexing with the lower revenues 

and strict cost control procedures.

The result of lower revenues and contraction 

in gross margin, partially offset by lower costs, 

was that the overall underlying operating profit 

in the Lighting segment reduced by 24% to 

£8.5m (21% at constant currency).

Signals and Components (fig 2)
Signals and Components is a high-volume 
business operating within highly competitive 

markets. This business continues to perform, 

with 3% revenue growth (6% at constant 

currency) and 15% EBIT growth (23% at 

constant currency) in 2018. There remains 

The charge related to Guaranteed Minimum 

significant competition from low cost 

Pension (GMP) equalisation have been 

producers but margins have been maintained 

included as a one-off charge in the year  

through diligent efforts in manufacturing and 

(see note 18).

sourcing which mitigated any price erosion. 

Overall there was an increase in underlying 

In the prior year, non-underlying costs 

operating profit of £0.6m.

Central overheads
Central overheads comprise of costs not 

directly attributable to a segment and 

therefore not allocated to these segments. 

In 2018 they amounted to £5.0m marginally 

related to the transfer of lighting assembly to 

our former manufacturing partner. The costs 

were for set up costs, project management 

and dedicated engineering time. There are 

no further transfer costs being incurred, 

all accrued redundancy costs have been 

utilised in the period against terminations 

lower than £5.4m in 2017. 

related to the project.

Non-underlying costs (fig 3)
The Group incurs costs and earns income 

that is non-recurring in nature or that is 

otherwise considered to not be reflective 

of the underlying performance of the 

Pension costs
The company has two defined benefit 

pension schemes which are closed to new 

entrants. The scheme surplus has reduced 

by £0.6m in the year and the surplus in the 

business. In the assessment of performance 

balance sheet at 31 December 2018 is £0.4m. 

of the Group in prior periods, management 

examined underlying performance, which 

removed the impact of non-underlying 

The surplus has reduced due to changes in 

the discount rate and the impact of adding  

an additional liability of £0.4m for Guaranteed 

costs and income. The table below presents 

Minimum Pension, which is 1.8% of scheme 

the components of non-underlying profit 
or loss recorded within cost of sales and 

administrative expenses.

liabilities. This has been included as a non-
underlying item. This has had no impact on 

the scheme funding in the current year as the 

next triennial funding valuation is in 2020. 

Capital expenditure

£6M
£2.9M

Net debt

Non-underlying costs (fig 3)

Employee severance and restructuring costs 

Pension liability for GMP equalisation

Intangible asset impairment 

Tangible asset impairment and disposals

Production transfer costs 

Non-underlying costs recorded  

in administrative expenses 

40

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018
£’m

–

(0.4)

–

–

–

2017
£’m 

0.3

–

(1.2)

(0.9)

(4.6)

(0.4)

(6.4)

BREXIT

The decision of the UK to leave the EU 

creates uncertainties regarding the level 

of tariffs on goods imported to the UK 

once the UK exits the EU.

The majority of our sales in Europe are 

outside the UK and will not be impacted 

by Brexit. In the short-term goods that 

have already been imported to the UK 

prior to exit will not be impacted as 

they will not attract any further tariff. 
Any goods that are currently stored in 

the UK and destined for the EU can be 

moved to another storage location in 

the EU prior to an exit.

As part of our business plan, 

Inventory

Raw materials and 

work in progress

Finished goods

2018  
£’m

28.6

17.4

46.0

2017  
£’m

17.8

6.8

24.6

required for our own plant in Mexico and 

development cost for new products.

Banking 
The Group has its banking relationships with 

HSBC Bank plc and Wells Fargo. The Group 

has a revolving credit facility with HSBC 

Total inventory increased by £21.4m as a 

of £25m, with a further £25m “accordion” 

result of the termination of our outsourced 

feature, and a five-year term. The Group had 

manufacturing agreement. We build up raw 

net debt of £2.9m at the balance sheet date 

materials and finished goods in advance of 

and remains fully compliant with its covenant 

the transfer back to our own facilities. During 

requirements. There is sufficient headroom 

the year, inventory write backs totalled £1.3m 

within the facility which ensures significant 

(2017: write down £1.4m). The write backs are 
included in the income statement and relate 

to aged inventory fully reserved in the prior 

year which has now been sold. 

Cash flow
The Group’s net cash position decreased by 

financial flexibility. 

Capital management and dividend
The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong 

capital base in order to maintain customer, 

investor and creditor confidence and to 

sustain future development of the business. 

independent of Brexit, we are reviewing 

£15.7m in the year from net cash of £12.8m 

The Board considers consolidated total 

potential locations in eastern Europe 

at 31 December 2017 to net debt of £2.9m  

equity as capital. At 31 December 2018 this 

for a production facility to serve the EU. 

at 31 December 2018.

equated to £85.1m (2017: £76.1m). 

Any potential tariffs on goods imported 

to the UK from this facility would need 

The roll forward of net cash was as follows:

to be considered in conjunction with 

Cash flow

any tariffs from production at our 

Net cash at 31 December 2017 

Malaysia or Mexico facility, shipping 

EBITDA 

costs and lead times.

Tax
The effective tax rate for the year is 28.4% 

Net working capital  

excluding inventory

Increase in inventory

Capital expenditure

compared with 43.3% in the prior year.  

Taxes 

Non-underlying items in the current year 

have very little impact on the tax rate, 
whereas, in the prior year, the tax rate  

Provisions and other movements

Net debt at 31 December 2018

£’m

12.8

12.6

0.6

(19.6)

(6.4)

(2.1)

(0.8)

(2.9)

on the underlying business was 37.2%.  

The main driver in the reduction in cash is 

The reduction in tax rates in the US has 

an increase in inventories. As previously 

The Board is not proposing any final 

dividend payment for 2018 (2017: nil). 

The Group has a clear capital allocation 

discipline and is committed to returning 

excess funds to shareholders via future 

dividend or share repurchase.

Full year guidance for 2019
The Board’s expectations for the Group’s 

trading performance for the year ending  

31 December 2019 are unchanged, again 

with an H2 weighting. We expect some 
gross margin recovery as we return to 

more normal levels of service. We expect 

our capital expenditure to be in the region 

helped to reduce the overall tax rate in the 

announced we expected the cash position to 

of £8–10m for 2019 excluding capitalised 

current year. However, the overall tax rate  

reduce as we built up raw material inventory 

development costs. 

is higher than the US rate of 21% as the 

prior to the transfer. The termination of our 

mix of profits in the year is weighted 

manufacturing partner contract resulted in all 

The strategic report from pages 01 to 43 

more towards higher tax rate jurisdictions 

final assembly being transferred prior to the 

was approved by the board and signed on 

compared to the US.

year end. We also purchased a significant 

its behalf by:

amount of our manufacturing partner’s 

inventory which will be utilised during 2019. 

Marty Rapp

There was an improvement in debtors due  

Group Chief Executive 

to strong cash collection across the Group. 

The cash generated from earnings in the year 

Fariyal Khanbabi

was utilised to fund capital expenditure relating 

Group Finance Director

to some production and testing equipment 

05 March 2019

41

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIntelligent solutions in action

We serve diverse markets.  
Our major market segments are:

 – Oil and gas 
 – Heavy industrial
 – Obstruction (collision avoidance lighting  

for tall structures)

 – Pulp and paper
 – Food and beverage
 – Mining and power generation

We provide lighting solutions to a range of 
challenges via superior products. Our ATEX range 
is used in hazardous locations where safety is 
critical – for example, in flour mills, oil and gas 
terminals, and petrochemical locations.

OUR PRODUCTS PROVIDE A RANGE OF SOLUTIONS FOR OUR EXISTING CUSTOMERS

42

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Our high-output Lighting products are well suited 
to installation at height. They are particularly 
suitable for locations such as aircraft hangers and 
shipyards where the quality of light is beneficial 
for the general working environment and site 
safety. Clients tell us that their teams report there 
being no need to use secondary lighting at ground 
level (traditionally required to supplement poor 
overhead lighting).

We provide lighting solutions 
for rugged terrain, extremes 
of temperature and sites with 
severe and constant vibration. 
Our fixtures are specifically 
designed to work in such 
environments and are all 
guaranteed for ten years. 

Obstruction (collision avoidance)

Our FAA-approved collision avoidance lights 
are used on mobile phone towers, other 
telecom masts, chimneys and on and off shore 
wind turbines to highlight their presence to 
aircraft. All systems can be remotely managed.

43

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsChairman’s introduction to governance

Wayne Edmunds
Chairman

The Board and I take very seriously our 

Biographies for each of the Directors and  

responsibilities in setting Group strategy, 

for the Executive Board are set out on 

monitoring and reviewing progress as that 

pages 46 and 47. The progress in talent 

strategy is implemented, and in ensuring 

development and diversity can be found in 

that we manage any risks that threaten that 

the Our People section on pages 24 and 25.

strategy. In support of this responsibility, the 

Board held an in-depth strategy review with 

the Executive team in July and September 

2018 to consider and challenge the three-

year strategic plan and the proposed 

Compliance statements
Throughout the year ended 31 December 

2018, the Company has complied with  

the provisions as set out in the 2016  

organisational model to support that plan in 

Code (a copy of which is available on the 

a systematic and thorough manner. A review 

Financial Reporting Council’s website at 

of the implementation of the strategy agreed 

www.frc.org.uk). The Group’s approach  

at that meeting is included on the agenda  

to risk management and internal control  

The Board and I are committed to 

maintaining our high standards of corporate 

of all scheduled Board meetings.

is set out on pages 32 to 37.

governance. This report sets out how we 

have applied the principles and provisions 

of the UK Corporate Governance Code 

2016 (the “2016 Code”). As the Company 

is below the FTSE 350 some of the 2016 

Code’s provisions do not apply. However, 

in line with best practice, we endeavour to 

comply with the Code wherever possible. 

We are already addressing changes 

introduced with the implementation of 

the revised version of the UK Corporate 

Governance Code published in 2018 and 

supported by the Guidance on Board 

Effectiveness (the “2018 Code”) and, noting 

that the 2018 Code applies to accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 January 

2019, will report on our implementation of, 

and our level of compliance with, the 2018 

Code in our 2019 Annual Report. 

As Board members, we have a significant 

role in setting the Group’s culture and core 

values. We believe that there is a balance 

between accountability, collaboration and 

respect that enables autonomous and agile 

decision making and constructive challenge, 

and which in turn allows innovation and 

open collaboration.

As a Board, we are conscious that we are 

accountable to our shareholders and must 

have regard to other stakeholders such  

as employees, customers, suppliers and  

the environment. We maintain an active 

The Directors confirm that they consider 

the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a 

whole, is fair, balanced and understandable 

and provides the information necessary 

for shareholders to assess the Company’s 

dialogue with shareholders throughout the 

position and performance.

Board priorities
Our priorities for 2019 are to continue to 

focus on the Group’s wider strategic plans 

as well as monitoring the final steps in 

resolution of our manufacturing delivery 

issues under the operational recovery plan. 

We will continue to build on the strong 
foundations put in place over the last 

12 months through investment in talent, 

innovation and new products in order  

to build a robust operational platform  

for the long-term success of the Group  

and its stakeholders.

Wayne Edmunds

Chairman

05 March 2019

year and listen to views of representatives  

of investors and financial institutions.  

We welcome the opportunity to meet and 

answer shareholders’ questions at our 

Annual General Meeting (“AGM”).

Leadership
Our focus on improving the quality and 

performance of Dialight’s management  

team continued throughout 2018. The 

executive team is being refreshed and  

senior management appointments have 

been made in a number of key areas  

to support Dialight’s growth strategy.  

We strive to have the right balance of skills, 

experience and knowledge on our Board  

to deliver strong leadership, make clear  

and effective decisions, and to harness  

our culture to encourage our business  

to be innovative. Accordingly, the leadership 

improvement process at an executive level 

has been replicated at a Board level with  

the appointment of Steve Good as a new 

Non-Executive Director. 

44

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

How the Board supported strategy
This report aims to provide shareholders and other stakeholders with an understanding of how our Group is managed and the governance  

and control framework in which we operate. Governance at Dialight is integral to the organisation’s operating culture and the functioning  

of the Board of Directors. The Group has undergone some large-scale changes over the last 12 to 18 months as it implements the change 

strategy and the Board has been at the forefront of these changes in ensuring robust but pragmatic levels of governance and risk-management, 

focused on delivering long-term shareholder value.

Strategy

SCALABLE OPERATIONS

NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT

CREATE AND CAPTURE VALUE

The Board has monitored and is continuing 

The Board reviews the operational plans 

The Board monitors the major levers that 

to monitor the short-term operational 

for the Group regularly to evaluate 

will accelerate market adoption:

recovery plan very closely to ensure that 

progress on:

progress is being made on the key issues of:

•  enhanced product features

•  the medium-term supply chain strategy

•  reduced payback period 

•  transfer back from our outsource 

•  the new product roadmap

•  promoting benefits of LED technology

manufacturing partner

•   improving on-time delivery

•   the new technology roadmap

•  consultation with regulatory/statutory 

bodies to restrict the use of older, 

•  reducing the level of late orders

and that the timescale for deliverables 

less environmentally friendly lighting 

•  robustness of the supply chain

aligns with the business strategy.

technology

•  improving customer service levels

to ensure that the Group is meeting 

milestones.

What we have achieved
The Board approved the termination  

What we have achieved
Priorities have been re-aligned to ensure 

What we have achieved
Review of new product/technology 

of the contract with our manufacturing 

that resources are being used in the 

roadmaps to ensure that they support  

partner. It also approved the transfer back 

most effective manner based on current 

our growth targets over the medium term.

operational constraints.

of all product lines to our in-house facility, 
in addition to securing a larger facility in 

Mexico to house the equipment from our 

manufacturing partner.

It also approved securing a larger facility 

in Malaysia to expand Dialight’s regional 

operational footprint.

  Our strategy on pages 16 to 17

45

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements1

4

7

Board of Directors

2

5

8

46

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

3

6

Board committee key

A

N

R

Audit Committee

Nominations Committee

Remuneration Committee

Chair of the Committee

 
 
 
 
1. Martin L. Rapp

Group Chief Executive Officer

Appointed: Appointed as Group Chief Executive 
Officer on 8 January 2018.

Background and career: Martin was Chief 
Executive Officer of Laird Technologies, Inc.  
from 2001 until 2011, having held various 
management roles at Laird plc since joining 
in 1996. Previously, Martin held engineering, 
marketing and management positions with 
Monsanto, a chemical company, from 1981  
to 1996.

Current external appointments: None.

2. Wayne Edmunds

Chairman

Appointed: Appointed as Chairman  
on 25 January 2016 and is Chair of the 
Nominations Committee.

Background and career: Wayne was Chief 
Executive Officer of Invensys plc from 2011 
to 2014, having worked at the business since 
2008 in various roles including Chief Financial 
Officer from 2009 to 2011. He joined Invensys 
from Reuters America Inc., where he was Chief 
Financial Officer, and has held several other senior 
finance roles in the technology sector including  
17 years at Lucent Technologies. He was also 
Interim Chief Executive Officer of BAA Aviation  
plc from 1 July 2017 to 31 March 2018.

Current external appointments: Wayne is  
a Non-Executive Director of BAA Aviation plc  
and MSCI Inc. 

N

3. Fariyal Khanbabi

Group Finance Director

Appointed: Joined Dialight on 8 September 2014 
as Group Finance Director.

Background and career: From 2009 until 
joining Dialight in September 2014 Fariyal was 
Chief Financial Officer at Blue Ocean Group, an 
independent privately owned fuel trading and 
distribution business. She has over ten years’ 
experience in senior financial positions, including 
roles at NYSE and Nasdaq-listed companies. 

Current external appointments: None.

4. Stephen Bird

Senior Independent Director

Appointed: Senior Independent Director since 
February 2013. Joined Dialight as Non-Executive 
Director on 10 January 2013. 

Background and career: Stephen is currently 
Group Chief Executive of The Vitec Group plc 
and has previous Board experience as a Non-
Executive Director of Umeco plc. Prior to joining 
Vitec, Stephen was Divisional Managing Director 
of Weir Oil & Gas, part of Weir Group plc, and  
has held senior roles at Danaher Corporation, 
Black & Decker, Unipart Group, Hepworth plc  
and Technicolor Group.

Current external appointments: Group Chief 
Executive of The Vitec Group plc.

A

N

R

5. David Blood

Non-Executive Director

Appointed: Joined Dialight on 1 July 2015  
as a Non-Executive Director.

Background and career: David is co-founder 
and Senior Partner of Generation Investment 
Management. Previously, he spent 18 years at 
Goldman Sachs, including serving as CEO and 
co-CEO of Goldman Sachs Asset Management 
from 1999 to 2003. David received a BA from 
Hamilton College and an MBA from the Harvard 
Graduate School of Business.

Current external appointments: David is on  
the boards of SHINE, Social Finance UK and  
the World Resources Institute, as well as being  
a Life Trustee of Hamilton College.

N

6. David Thomas

Non-Executive Director

Appointed: Joined Dialight on 26 April 2016  
as a Non-Executive Director and Chair of the  
Audit Committee. 

Background and career: David was Chief 
Financial Officer at Invensys plc from 2011 until 
his retirement in 2014, having held senior roles 
across the business since 2002. Prior to joining 
Invensys, he was a Senior Partner in Ernst & 
Young LLP, specialising in long-term industrial 
contracting businesses, and is a former member 
of the Auditing Practices Board. David also has 
responsibility as the nominated Employees Liaison 
Non-Executive Director, introduced by the Board 
to assist in strengthening the representation of 
employees’ views and issues at a Board level.

Current external appointments: David is a  
Non-Executive Director and Audit Committee 
Chairman at Victrex plc.

A

N

R

47

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

7. Gaelle Hotellier

Non-Executive Director

Appointed: Joined Dialight on 3 October 2016 
and was appointed as Chairwoman of the 
Remuneration Committee on 1 June 2018.

Background and career: Gaelle has worked for 
the Siemens group since 2002, during which time 
she has held various senior management roles. 
Between 2013 and 2015, Gaelle was an Executive 
Board member of the EU’s Fuel Cell Hydrogen 
Joint Undertaking, a public-private partnership 
with the European Commission. She is also a 
former Chairwoman of the Supervisory Board  
of Siemens Industriegetriebe GmbH in Penig.

Current external appointments: Within Siemens 
AG Power & Gas Division, Gaelle is in charge of 
the project management for the European, Middle 
East and Africa Region. Gaelle is also a Member  
of the Advisory Board of Berthold Vollers GmbH.

A

N

R

8. Steve Good

Non-Executive Director

Appointed: Joined Dialight on 1 June 2018 as a 
Non-Executive Director. 

Background and career: Steve has international 
experience in speciality chemicals businesses, 
manufacturing and diverse industrial markets. 
Steve was Chief Executive Officer at Low &  
Bonar plc from 2009 to 2014. Prior to that role,  
he was Managing Director of its technical textiles 
division between 2006 and 2009, Director of New 
Business between 2005 and 2006, and Managing 
Director of its Plastics division between 2004 
and 2005. Prior to joining Low & Bonar Steve 
spent 10 years with BTP plc (now part of Clariant) 
in a variety of leadership positions managing 
international speciality chemicals businesses. 
Steve was also a Non-Executive Director of 
Cape plc and Chairman of its Remuneration 
Committee from July 2015 until 2017, and was a 
Non-Executive Director of Anglian Water Services 
Ltd and a member of its Audit, Nominations and 
Remuneration Committees until October 2018 

Steve holds a degree in Economics and Financial 
Management from Sheffield University and is  
a chartered accountant. 

Current external appointments: Non-Executive 
Chairman of Zotefoams plc and Chairman of the 
Nomination Committee as well as a member of the 
Remuneration Committee. He is a Non-Executive 
Director and Chairman of the Remuneration 
Committee of Elementis plc and is a member  
of its Nominations Committee.

N

R

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Leadership

Role of the Board and  
Principal Committees
The role of the Board is to provide 

entrepreneurial leadership, within a 

framework of prudent and effective 

controls, that promotes the interests of 

the Company over the long term and for 

the benefit of its stakeholders. The Board 

sets the Group’s strategic goals and has 

ultimate responsibility for its management, 

direction and performance. The Company’s 

Articles of Association set out the Board’s 

powers. The Board has adopted a formal 

schedule of matters reserved solely for its 
decision (a summary of which is set out on 

page 53) and certain decision-making and 

monitoring activities have been delegated 

to Board Committees or management, 

Further information on the activities and 

through formal terms of reference for 

composition of each Committee is detailed 

Board Committees and a clearly defined 

within the separate Committee reports.

Group delegated authority matrix. The 

Board has established three principal 

Committees: the Nominations Committee; 

Board meeting attendance
The Board has eight regular face-to-face 

the Audit Committee; and the Remuneration 

meetings scheduled each year (which 

Committee, which review and monitor  

key areas on behalf of the Board and  

make recommendations for its approval. 

Each Board Committee operates under 

written terms of reference which are 

may also be attended by telephone where 

necessary) and three scheduled Board calls, 

but will also meet, as required and on an ad 

hoc basis, to consider urgent or non-routine 

matters. Additionally, the Board meets once 

approved by the Board and made available 

a year to review the overall strategy of  

at www.dialight.com. The Chair of each 

the Group.

Committee reports to the Board on its 

activities after each meeting and minutes are 

During the year attendance by Directors  

circulated to all Board members once they 

at Board and Committee meetings was  

have been approved by the Committee. 

as follows:

Wayne Edmunds

Martin L. Rapp

Fariyal Khanbabi

Stephen Bird1,3

David Blood

David Thomas

Gaelle Hotellier2

Steve Good3

Board

12/12

12/12

12/12

10/12

12/12

12/12

12/12

5/6

Audit

Remuneration

Nominations

n/a

n/a

n/a

1/3

n/a

3/3

3/3

n/a

n/a

n/a

n/a

4/4

n/a

7/7

6/7

3/3

2/2

n/a

n/a

1/2

2/2

2/2

2/2

1/1

1  Stephen Bird was unable to attend several Board and Committee meetings due to a prior business commitment.
2  Gaelle Hotellier became a member of the Remuneration Committee on 8 January 2018, after its first meeting of the year.
3  Steve Good was appointed as a Non-Executive Director on 1 June 2018. Stephen Bird (who replaced Martin Rapp as Chair of the Remuneration Committee  

on 8 January 2018) stepped down as Chair and a member of the Remuneration Committee on 1 June 2018. Stephen was replaced as Chair by Gaelle Hotellier.

48

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Our governance structure
Dialight benefits from a robust corporate governance framework structured to maintain good oversight and control over: financial  

and management reporting; compliance and regulatory matters; risk management; and the approval of significant decisions (such as 

material agreements). The diagram below sets out the top level corporate governance framework of the Board and its interaction with  

its Committees.

BOARD

Provides strategic leadership to the Group within a framework of robust  

corporate governance and internal control, setting the culture, values and  

standards that are embedded throughout the business to deliver long-term  
sustainable growth for the benefit of our shareholders.

NOMINATIONS 
COMMITTEE

AUDIT 
COMMITTEE

REMUNERATION 
COMMITTEE

EXECUTIVE 
BOARD

 – reviews the composition 

 – monitors the integrity  

 – keeps under review the 

 – management committee 

of the Board; 

of financial statements;

 – oversees the Board’s 

 – oversees risk 

framework and policy 

on Executive Director 

chaired by the Group 

Chief Executive Officer, 

succession planning; and

management and control;

and senior management 

which reviews operational 

 – keeps under review the 

 – monitors the 

remuneration (including 

matters and business 

leadership needs of, and 

effectiveness of the 

pension arrangements); 

performance;

succession planning for, 

internal audit function; 

and

 – reinforces the operational 

the Company.

and

 – approves the design and 

and governance 

 – reviews external auditor 

targets framework for 

structures in place across 

independence and leads 

share plan awards.

the Group; and

the audit tender process.

 – acts as a forum for 

management decisions.

49

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsLeadership continued

Division of responsibilities of the Board
A summary of the business carried out by the Board during the year, the standing Board agenda items and a summary of the matters that are 

formally reserved for the Board (as set out in writing) is given on page 53.

CHAIRMAN

GOVERNANCE

STRATEGY

PEOPLE

 – Promoting high standards of corporate governance;
 – Leading, chairing and managing the Board;
 – Ensuring all Board committees are properly structured and operate with appropriate terms of reference;
 – Regularly considering the composition and succession planning of the Board and its committees;
 – Ensuring that the Board and its committees’ performance are evaluated on a regular basis;
 – Ensuring adequate time is available for all agenda items and that the Board receives accurate, clear and timely information; and
 – Ensuring that there is effective communication with shareholders.

 – Leading the Board in developing the strategy of the business and setting its objectives;
 – Promoting open and constructive debate in Board meetings;
 – Ensuring effective implementation of Board decisions with the support of the Group Chief Executive Officer;
 – Ensuring that the Board manages risk effectively; and
 – Consulting, where appropriate, with the Senior Independent Director on Board matters.

 – Chairing the Nominations Committee;
 – Identifying and meeting the induction and development needs of the Board and its committees;
 – Developing a strong working relationship with the Group Chief Executive Officer;
 – Ensuring a strong working relationship between Executive and Non-Executive Directors;
 – Setting clear expectations concerning the Company’s culture, values and behaviours; and
 – Ensuring effective relationships are maintained with all major stakeholders in the business.

GROUP CHIEF  
EXECUTIVE OFFICER

 – With the Chairman, providing coherent leadership and management of the Company;
 – Developing objectives, strategy and performance standards to be agreed by the Board;
 – Providing input to the Board’s agenda;
 – Providing effective leadership of the Executive Board to achieve the agreed strategies and objectives;
 – Securing an Executive Board of the right calibre, with specific responsibility for its composition, and ensuring that its succession 

plan is reviewed annually with the Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors;

 – Monitoring, reviewing and managing key risks and strategies with the Board;
 – Ensuring that the assets of the Group are adequately safeguarded and maintained;
 – Building and maintaining the Company’s communications and standing with shareholders, financial institutions and the public, 

and effectively communicating the Dialight investment proposition to all stakeholders; and

 – Ensuring the Board is aware of the view of employees on issues of relevance to Dialight.

EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTORS

SENIOR 
INDEPENDENT 
DIRECTOR

INDEPENDENT  
NON-EXECUTIVE 
DIRECTORS

COMPANY 
SECRETARY

 – Implementing and delivering the strategy and operational decisions agreed by the Board;
 – Making operational and financial decisions required in the day-to-day management of the Company;
 – Providing executive leadership to senior management across the business;
 – Championing the Group’s values and reinforcing the governance and control procedures; and
 – Promoting talent management, encouraging diversity and inclusion.

 – Acting as a sounding board for the Chairman;
 – Serving as a trusted intermediary for the other Directors; and
 – Providing an alternative channel for shareholders to raise concerns, independent of executive management and the Chairman.

 – Contributing independent thinking and judgement, and providing external experience and knowledge, to the Board agenda;
 – Scrutinising the performance of management in delivering the Company’s strategy and objectives;
 – Providing constructive challenge to the Executive Directors; and
 – Monitoring the reporting of performance and ensuring that the Company is operating within the governance and risk framework 

approved by the Board.

 – Acting as a sounding board for the Chairman and other Directors;
 – Ensuring clear and timely information flow to the Board and its Committees; and
 – Providing advice and support to the Board on matters of corporate governance and risk.

50

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Principal Committees of the Board
The Board has established three principal Committees: the Nominations Committee, the Audit Committee and the Remuneration Committee. 

Details of their constitution, their roles and responsibilities, and the activities of each Committee during the year are set out in their respective 

reports, which follow this corporate governance report.

Each Committee operates under its own terms of reference, which have been approved by the Board and which are reviewed annually.  

In addition, the Board has approved the establishment of an informal management committee, the Executive Board, which is chaired by the 

Group Chief Executive Officer. The Executive Board provides a forum in which the Executives, representing their sector or functional area,  

can review and take decisions on operational and financial matters that arise in day-to-day business operations. The Executive Board is also  

an effective means for implementing actions from the Dialight Board and providing oversight of operational matters.

Reporting requirement

Description of the business model and strategy.

Location

Strategic Report 
See pages 9 and 10 and 14 to 17

Description of the significant issues that the Audit Committee considered in relation to the financial 
statements and how these issues were addressed, having regard to the matters communicated to it by  
the external audit team.

Audit Committee report 
See page 62

Explanation of how the Audit Committee has assessed the effectiveness of the external audit process.

Identification of search consultancies used and any connections with the Company.

Statement that the Directors consider that the Annual Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, 
balanced and understandable and provides information necessary for shareholders to assess the 
Company’s position and performance.

Future policy table and notes, performance scenario charts, remuneration obligations in service contracts.

Audit Committee report 
See page 62

Nominations Committee report 
See page 58

Directors’ Responsibilities 
See page 87

Remuneration Committee report 
See page 68

Policy implementation, remuneration paid to service advisers, single total figure tables, Group Chief 
Executive Officer pay comparison to Company performance and relative importance of spend on pay.

Remuneration Committee report 
See page 77

Directors’ shareholdings and variable pay awarded in the year.

Remuneration Committee report 
See page 77 to 83

51

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsLeadership continued

STRATEGY,  
INVESTOR RELATIONS  
& COMMUNICATIONS

FINANCIAL  
& OPERATIONAL

BOARD 
ACTIVITIES

TALENT  
& CULTURE

GOVERNANCE,  
COMPLIANCE & ETHICS

Board activities 
 – Strategy meeting – developing  

a three-year plan to reset the business

 – Review of organisational structure

 – Strategic growth opportunities

 – Communications strategy – centered 

around resetting market expectations 

and

 – Review of regional sales strategy

Ensuring Group objectives  

are aligned with shareholders

 – Review of feedback from shareholders 

 – Review of Group strategy annually

 – Review of capital allocation decisions

 – Review of the Board evaluation

Board activities 
 – Succession planning and talent 

development for all senior roles

 – Review of implementing  

engagement surveys

 – Review of strengthening  

operations team

Ensuring health and safety 

of employees 

 – Reviewing accident frequency rates

 – Reviewing any reports of near misses

 – Ensuring safe and comfortable 

working environments

52

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Board activities 
 – Budget for 2018/19

 – Half-year results, full-year results  

and trading updates

 – Review of Group cash position  

and forecasting

 – Review of changing global  

taxation landscape

 – Approval of the Group’s tax strategy

Ensuring robustness and integrity  

of financial statements

 – Review areas of judgement within  

the financial statements

 – Review external auditor independence

 – Review investor relations materials

Board activities
 – Review and discussion of the external 

Board and Committee evaluations

 – Review of Chairman and Non-Executive 

Director fees

 – AGM business

 – Code of conduct approval

 – Review of the Annual Report

 – Review of compliance reports 

(including progress reports  
on GDPR compliance)

 – Review of cyber security 

 – Review of pension policies

 – Modern Slavery Act Statement approval

 – Review and discussion of external 

Board and Committee evaluations

Ensuring adequacy of risk  

management framework

 – Overseeing the results of the  

Risk Committee

 – Reviewing the output of internal audit

 – Reviewing any whistleblowing instances

STANDING BOARD  
AGENDA ITEMS

MATTERS RESERVED 
FOR THE BOARD

At each meeting the Board considers 

 – Setting the Group’s long-term 

the following standing items,  

objectives and commercial strategy

which include:

 – Approving annual operating and 

capital expenditure budgets

 – Review and approval of the  

 – Ceasing all or a material part of the 

previous minutes

Group’s business

 – Status update on any matters 

 – Significantly extending the Group’s 

outstanding from previous meetings

activities into new business or 

 – Updates from each Board Committee 

geographic areas

on the activities since the last  

 – Changing the share capital or 

Board meeting

 – Report from the Group  

Chief Executive

 – Report from the Group  

Finance Director

 – Investor Relations report

 – Health & Safety review

 – Risk review

corporate structure of the Company

 – Changing the Group’s management 

and control structure

 – Approving half-year and full-year 

results and reports

 – Approving dividend policy and the 

declaration of dividends

 – Approving significant changes to 

 – Corporate governance update 

Updates from the Company 

accounting policies

 – Approving key policies

Secretary on administrative matters

 – Approving risk management 

procedures and policies, including 

anti-bribery and corruption

 – Approving major investments, 

disposals, capital projects or 

contracts (including bank borrowings 

and debt facilities)

 – Approving guarantees and material 

indemnities 

 – Approving resolutions to be put to 

the AGM and documents or circulars 

to be sent to shareholders

 – Approving changes to the Board 

structure, size or its composition 

(following the recommendation  

of the Nominations Committee)

Ensuring succession planning

 – Succession plans have been 

introduced for all senior managers

 – Board succession plans have also 

been put in place 

 – Ensuring the Board interacts with 

senior managers as much as 

possible to judge the depth of the 

management team

53

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsEffectiveness
Composition of the Board

The Board comprises eight directors, who 

bring a wide variety of skills and experience 

to the Boardroom. With two Executive 

Directors and six Non-Executive Directors 

(including the Chairman) of whom four have 

been judged by the Board under Code 

B1.1 of the 2016 Code to be independent, 

there is a strong independent element 

to Dialight’s Board which encourages 

constructive challenge and ensures that 

the balance of power rests with the Non-

Executive members of the Board. The Board 
considers the current Board structure to be 

appropriate in terms of both size and the 

balance of skills.

The biographies of each Director, including 

an overview of their skills and experience, 

are set out on pages 46 and 47. The 

Board has established a formal process 

for the search and appointment of new 

Directors, details of which are set out in the 

Nomination Committee report on page 58.

Independence

The Board has reviewed the independence 

of the Chairman and each Non-Executive 

Director and considers the Chairman and 

all of the Non-Executive Directors apart 

from David Blood to be independent of 

management and free from business or 

other relationships that could interfere with 

the exercise of independent judgement. 

David Blood is not considered to be 

independent as a consequence of his 

connection with Generation Management 

LLP, which is currently the Company’s 

largest shareholder. David’s letter of 

appointment contains additional clauses 

covering confidentiality, insider dealings and 

conflicts of interest. The Board considers 

David to be independent in character and 

judgement when joining Board debates or 

discussion in which he is not conflicted. 

The Board believes that any shares in the 

Company held personally by the Chairman 

and Non-Executive Directors serve to 

align their interests with those of the 

shareholders. Notwithstanding the fact that 

Effectiveness

the Company is deemed to be a smaller 

Re-election of Directors

company under the 2016 Code, it voluntarily 

Notwithstanding the fact that the Company 

meets the requirement under Code B.1.2  

of the 2016 Code that at least half of the 

Board has been determined by the Board  

to be independent. 

Time allocation

is deemed to be a smaller company under 

the 2016 Code, it voluntarily meets the 

requirement under Code B.7.1 of the 2016 

Code that all of the current Directors will 

stand for re-election at the forthcoming 

AGM. Following the annual evaluation of  

The Board benefits from the wide variety of 

the Board and its committees, the Board has 

skills, experience and knowledge that each 

determined that all Directors standing for 

Director brings to her/his role. However, 

election or re-election at the AGM continue 

being available and committing sufficient 

to be effective, hold recent and relevant 

time to the Company is essential. Therefore 

experience and continue to demonstrate 

the number of external directorships that 
a Non-Executive Director holds is an 

commitment to the role. Biographical details 
of each Director standing for election or 

important consideration when recruiting  

re-election are set out on page 47.

and when performing the annual evaluation 

of Non-Executive Director effectiveness. 

Liability insurance

Executive Directors are permitted to accept 

directors’ and officers’ liability insurance, 

Each Director is covered by appropriate 

at the Company’s expense. In addition, the 

Directors are entitled to be indemnified by 

the Company to the extent permitted by law 

and the Company’s Articles of Association 

in respect of all losses arising out of or 

in connection with the execution of their 

powers, duties and responsibilities.

Induction of new Directors

Newly appointed Non-Executive Directors 

follow a tailored induction programme, 

which includes dedicated time with Group 

executives and visits to regional offices.

There are tailored induction materials  

which provide a comprehensive overview of: 
the Group and its legal and organisational 

structure; the governance framework; the 

role of the Non-Executive Director; key 

business contacts at the Company level; 

and details of the Board’s external advisers. 

In addition to the latest Annual Report and 

Company announcements, further materials 

such as recent broker coverage and the last 

Board evaluation are also provided. 

one external appointment, subject to the 

prior approval of the Chairman. Approval 

will only be given where the appointment 

does not create a conflict of interest 

with the Group’s activities and where the 

role is considered to be beneficial to the 

development of the individual, which will 

also benefit the Company.

In addition to the eight scheduled Board 

meetings and three Board calls, Non-

Executive Directors are expected to attend 

the AGM, the annual strategy meeting 

and certain other Company events and 

site visits throughout the year. A time 

commitment of at least 20 days per annum 
is the anticipated requirement for each Non-

Executive Director. Confirmation is obtained 

on appointment from each Non-Executive 

Director that they can allocate sufficient 

time to the role. 

The Chairman and Non-Executive  

Directors also meet twice a year without 

Executive Directors present to ensure there 

is an opportunity to discuss potentially 

sensitive matters. The Senior Independent 

Director meets with the Non-Executive 

Directors, without the Chairman present, 

at least once per year, to evaluate the 

Chairman’s performance. 

54

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Performance evaluation

The Executive members of the Board have 

business leaders working within the Group. 

The Board undertakes a formal evaluation 

of its performance, and that of each 

Director, on an annual basis. The principal 

Committees of the Board undertake an 

annual evaluation of their effectiveness, in 

accordance with their terms of reference. 

frequent contact with all executives and 

This regular interaction between the Board 

make regular visits to Group sites. The Non-

and the businesses provides a vital channel 

Executive members of the Board carry out 

of communication and a forum for open 

Company visits as part of their induction 

dialogue, which encourages the sharing  

and routinely thereafter. The Board members 

of knowledge and experience.

also engage with our current and future 

Board, Committee and Directors’ performance evaluation cycle

QUESTIONNAIRE

EVALUATION

ACTION PLAN

FEEDBACK

A comprehensive 

The Company Secretary 

The collated results are 

Individual feedback plans 

questionnaire is sent to all 

compiles the results

discussed by the Board 

are provided to Directors

and an action plan  

is formulated

Board evaluation

In 2018 the Board review was conducted 

The Board needs to ensure that any sub-

The Board evaluation is performed annually 
and, notwithstanding the fact that the 

Company is deemed to be a smaller 

internally and, based on the feedback 
received, the Board determined that the 

committees or individuals to whom specific 
ad hoc responsibilities are delegated from 

Board and its Committees continue to 

time to time are sufficiently formalised in 

company under the 2016 Code, it voluntarily 

operate effectively. However, the following 

terms of scope and protocols; and

meets the requirements under Code B.7.2 

items were noted as areas that required 

of the 2016 Code that the review of Board 

improvement:

performance is externally moderated every 

Current improvements reporting on the 

operational performance of the Group 

three years. 

 The Board and executive management need 

should be maintained and further developed.

to continually strive to maintain a culture 

within Dialight and individual relationships 

between the Board and executive 

management that encourage openness  

and collaboration;

55

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsRelations with shareholders  
and stakeholders
Shareholder engagement

The Company is committed to maintaining 

good communications with investors. 

Although overall responsibility for ensuring 

that there is an effective communication 

with shareholders lies with the Chairman, 

on a day-to-day basis the Board’s primary 

contact with shareholders is through the 

Executive Directors. The Chairman is 

generally available to shareholders and 

meets with institutional and other large 

investors; the Senior Independent Director  
is also available to shareholders as required.

The Company regularly meets with its  

large investors and institutional shareholders 

who, along with sell-side research analysts, 

are invited to presentations by the Company 

immediately after the announcement of  

the Company’s interim and full year results. 

The contents of these presentations and 

conference calls are available on the 

Group’s website www.ir.dialight.com/

reports-presentations-and-results/resports-

and-presentations and shareholders  

can register on the website to receive  

email alerts. 

The Annual General Meeting

The Company’s AGM presents an additional 

opportunity to communicate with private 

and institutional investors. The AGM is 

attended by the Board and is open to  

all Dialight shareholders to attend. 

The Group Chief Executive Officer gives a 

presentation on operational matters before 

the Chairman deals with the formal business 

of the meeting. Each substantially separate 

issue is proposed as a separate resolution. 

Details of resolutions to be proposed, 

and shareholders’ options for voting, at 

the forthcoming AGM are to be found 

in the separate circular to shareholders. 

All shareholders present can question 

the Board during the meeting as well as 

informally afterwards. The Company’s 

forthcoming AGM will take place at  

11.30am on Wednesday, 17 April 2019.

Effectiveness continued

HOW WE ENGAGE  
WITH STAKEHOLDERS

56

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

EMPLOYEES

CUSTOMERS

COMMUNITIES

Employees are critical to the Group 
and it is essential that we engage 
with them.

Customers are an essential part  
of the business.

What we do impacts communities 
around the world.

Why we engage
Good communication with employees  

Why we engage
Understanding our customers’ requirements 

Why we engage
We employ people in many countries  

is a key requirement to support an  
agile approach to the business and 

encourage innovation. 

Methods of engagement
 – Group meetings

 – Conference calls

 – Site visits

 – Through the nominated employee 

engagement Non-Executive Director

and behaviours allows us to deliver the 
products that our customers want. 

around the world thereby impacting  
many communities.

Methods of engagement
 – Feedback on existing products

Methods of engagement
 – Community outreach programmes

 – Requests for new product designs

 – Local media

 – Requests for specific solutions

GOVERNMENT  
AND REGULATORS

The products that we produce 
must meet stringent regulatory 
requirements.

SHAREHOLDERS

As a publicly listed company,  
we need to provide fair, balanced 
and understandable information  
to instil confidence.

Why we engage
Policy and regulatory changes can provide 

Why we engage
To ensure compliance with  

opportunities for business expansion as 

regulatory requirements and to gauge 

older forms of technology are phased out.

shareholder feedback on the business  

and management performance.

Methods of engagement
 – Attending Government climate  

change conferences

Methods of engagement
 – Regulatory news announcements

 – Updates to the investor relations  

 – Providing feedback to regulators  

section of our website

on future product developments

 – Press releases

 – Annual and half year reports  

and presentations

 – AGM

57

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsNominations Committee report

Wayne Edmunds
Chair of the Nominations Committee

As I outlined in last year’s report, the Board 

 – keep under review the leadership needs of 

as a whole, through the leadership of the 

the Group in relation to both its Executive 

Nominations Committee, recognises its role 

Directors and other senior executives, 

in ensuring that a strong pipeline of future 

including any recommendations made 

senior management has been identified 

by the Group Chief Executive Officer for 

from which future Board appointments can 

changes to the executive membership  

be made. Equally importantly, talent needs 

of the Board. 

to be recognised and nurtured at executive 

and management levels.

Role of the Committee
The Committee is appointed by the 

Composition of the Committee 
The Committee currently comprises Wayne 

Edmunds (who chairs the Committee) 

and four Non-Executive Directors. Wayne 

Board and operates under written terms 

Edmunds would not chair a meeting of 

of reference, which are available on the 

the Committee which was dealing with 

Group’s website. The primary role and 

the appointment of a successor to the 

responsibilities of the Committee are to:

chairmanship. 

 – review the size, balance and composition 

The following members served on the 

(evaluating the skills, knowledge 

Committee during the year: 

and experience) of the Board and 

its committees, ensuring that they 

remain appropriate and making 

recommendations to the Board with 

regard to any changes;

 – lead the process for Board appointments;

Committee member

Member from

Wayne Edmunds

25 January 2016

Stephen Bird

10 January 2013

Martin L. Rapp

26 April 2016 to 

8 January 2018

 – oversee the succession planning 

David Thomas

26 April 2016

requirements for the Board and 

other senior Executives, including 

the identification and assessment 

of potential candidates, and making 
recommendations to the Board for  

its approval; and

David Blood

23 July 2015

Gaelle Hotellier

3 October 2016

Steve Good

1 June 2018

Allocation of time
Allocation of time

10

5

10

75

Governance and reporting
Succession planning and recruitment
Re-election of Directors
Composition of the Board

58

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Activities during the year
During the year, the Committee has 

Diversity 
The Board recognises the benefits of greater 

undertaken the following activities:

diversity on the Board and in management 

Composition of the Board

positions throughout the Group. The Board 

2

 – Reviewed succession plans for Board  

comprises of eight Directors, of whom 

and Executive Board members;

two are women (25%). The spread of 

 – Reviewed talent and development  

nationalities is: four British, three American 

at sector and company managing  

and one French. Dialight has the ambition 

director level; 

of increasing the number of Company 

 – Agreed the new Executive Board structure 

Executives based outside the US regional 

(including the appointment of Marty Rapp 

structure to better reflect the revenue 

as Group Chief Executive Officer  

generated outside those markets and to 

(Marty Rapp did not participate in this 

embrace diversity and inclusion across the 

decision-making process); 

 – Carried out the annual self-evaluation  

Group. The Board is mindful of the current 
gender imbalance of Board Directors.  

and review of Director independence  

It believes that gender is one, but not the 

in accordance with the terms of  

only, indicator of Board cognitive diversity 

Non-Executive
Executive

reference; and

and diversity of experience, and is mindful of 

 – Proposed based on the evaluation,  

the need to further strengthen such diversity 

Board gender diversity

the election and re-election of Directors.

in any future Board appointments.

Board appointments and process 
Prior to making a recommendation to the 

Board for the appointment of Steve Good 

as Non-Executive Director, the Committee 

considered all options after launching an 

Further details on diversity are set out in the 

2

Our People section on page 25. 

Priorities for the coming year 
The Committee’s priority for 2019 will be 

externally facilitated recruitment process. 

to focus on succession planning and talent 

The Committee considered Steve’s relevant 

development at executive and Board level. 

experience and his knowledge of the sector, 

and was unanimous in its recommendation 

On behalf of the Nominations Committee.

to appoint him.

Wayne Edmunds

Chair of the Nominations Committee

05 March 2019

Male
Female

Non-Executive Director tenure (number of years)

Board nationalities

6

5

4

3

2

1

0

6

3

2.75

3.5

Wayne
Edmunds

Stephen 
Bird

David 
Thomas

David 
Blood

1

3

UK
US
French

2.2

Gaelle 
Hotellier

59

0.6

Steve
Good

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

6

6

4

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAccountability

Internal control framework

1

Functional  
and front line 
controls

2

Assurance 
activities

RISK

4

Ethical and 
cultural 
environment

3

Monitoring 
and oversight 
controls

Internal control statement
The Board’s responsibilities

The Board has overall responsibility to the 

shareholders for the Group’s system of 

internal control and risk management, and 

the review of the system’s effectiveness is 
carried out with the assistance of the Audit 

Committee. Whilst not providing absolute 

assurance against material misstatements 

or loss, this system is designed to identify 

and manage those risks that could adversely 

impact the achievement of the Group’s 

objectives. The Group’s risk management 

structure and process is detailed on pages 

32 and 33.

There is a Risk Committee at a sub-Board 

level that periodically reviews strategic 

and tactical risks facing the Group and is 

comprised of members of the Executive 

Committee. This Committee is responsible 

for maintaining the Group risk register 

which is then periodically reported to, 

controls throughout the Group and will 

and reviewed by, the Board. The Group’s 

continue to keep the systems under review 

principal risks and uncertainties, extracted 

to ensure that the internal control and risk 

from the Group risk register, are detailed  

management framework remains fit  

on pages 34 to 37.

for purpose.

The Board confirms that there is an ongoing 

process for identifying, evaluating and 

managing the significant risks faced by the 

Group and for determining the nature and 

extent of the significant risks it is willing to 

take in achieving its strategic objectives. 

Review of internal control 
effectiveness
The Board regularly reviews the 

effectiveness of the Group’s risk 

management and internal control systems, 

including financial, operational and 

The Board, advised by the Audit Committee, 

compliance controls. This is principally 

regularly reviews the process, which has 

based on reviewing reports from 

been in place for the year under review and 

management to consider whether significant 

up to the date of approval of the Annual 

Report and Accounts. This process is in 

accordance with the Financial Reporting 

Council’s (“FRC”) ‘Guidance on Risk 

Management, Internal Control and Related 

Financial and Business Reporting’. The 

risks have been identified, evaluated, 

managed and controlled. The Group’s 

external auditor, KPMG LLP, has audited 

the financial statements and has reviewed 

the financial control systems to the extent 

considered necessary to support the  

Board has continued to improve and embed 

audit report.

60

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Going concern
The Group’s business activities, together 

with the main trends and factors likely to 

affect its future development, performance 

and position, and the financial position of 

the Group, its cash flows, liquidity position 

and borrowing facilities, are set out in the 

Strategic Report.

In addition, note 22 to the financial 

statements includes the Group’s objectives, 

policies and processes for managing 

its capital, its financial risk management 

objectives, details of its financial instruments 
and hedging activities, and its exposures  

to currency and liquidity risks.

The Group has a £25m three-year revolving 

credit facility, of which a significant amount 

remains undrawn at the date of this report. 

The Group has considerable financial 

resources available to it. The Group 

contracts with a diverse range of customers 

and suppliers across different geographical 

areas and industries, and no one customer 

accounts for more than 5% of Group 

turnover. As a consequence, the Directors 

believe that the Group is well placed to 

manage its business risks successfully.

After conducting a formal review of the 

Group’s financial resources, the Directors 

have a reasonable expectation that the 

Company and the Group have adequate 

resources to continue in operational 

existence for the foreseeable future. For this 
reason, they continue to adopt the going 

concern basis of accounting in preparing 

the Annual Report and Accounts.

Longer-term viability
In accordance with the UK Corporate 

Governance Code, the Board has 

considered the Company’s longer-term 

viability and sets out its Viability Statement 

in the panel on the right.

Viability statement
During the year, the Board carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks  

affecting the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future 

performance, solvency or liquidity. The principal risks and uncertainties, including an 

analysis of the potential impact and mitigating actions, are set out on pages 34 to 37  

of the Strategic Report. 

The Board has assessed the Group’s viability across a three-year period, taking into 

account the Group’s current position and the potential impact of the principal risks  

and uncertainties. Whilst the Board has no reason to believe that the Group will not be 

viable over a longer period, it has determined that three years is an appropriate period. 

In drawing its conclusion, the Board has aligned the period of viability assessment with 

the Group’s strategic planning process (similarly a three-year period). The Board believes 

that this approach also provides an appropriate alignment with annual awards under the 

share-based incentive plan.

In assessing the viability of the Group, sensitivities have been performed on the key 

assumptions below:

 – revenue growth;

 – operational issues; and

 – fluctuations in foreign exchange.

In reviewing the Company’s viability, the Board has identified the following factors which 

they believe support their assessment: 

 – the Group operates in diverse end markets with no strong customer concentration;

 – there is considerable financial capacity under current facilities that are in place until 

December 2021 and there is the ability to raise further funds; 

 – there is a strong culture of accountability within a robust governance and control 

framework; and 

 – there is an ethical approach to business throughout the business.

The Board carried out a comprehensive exercise of financial modelling and stress-tested 

the model with various scenarios. In each scenario, the effect on the Group’s borrowing 
covenants was considered. The downside sensitivities relating to the cash outflows from 

changes in key assumptions, both in isolation and in aggregate. These demonstrate that 

the Group has sufficient resources in all cases. Based on this assessment, the Board 

confirms that it has a reasonable expectation that the Company will be able to continue 

in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the three-year period to 

31 December 2021.

61

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAudit Committee report

David Thomas
Chair of the Audit Committee

We have continued to focus our efforts on 

1. Financial reporting

the Committee’s core areas of responsibility 

 – Review and challenge significant financial 

of maintaining integrity across all aspects 

of corporate reporting, internal control, 

risk management and audit quality. I am 

reporting judgements and the application 

of accounting policies, including 

compliance with the accounting standards;

committed to delivering strong leadership 

 – Ensure the integrity of the financial 

of the Committee throughout my tenure and 

to actively encouraging the Committee to 

statements and their compliance with UK 

company law and accounting regulations;

challenge management assumptions. Each 

 – Ensure the Annual Report and Accounts 

member of the Committee has a detailed 

understanding of Dialight’s strategy and 

are fair, balanced and understandable  

and recommend their approval to the 

business model and the Group’s culture and 

Board; and

core values. 

 – Monitor the integrity of announcements 

containing financial information.

Activities during the year
Activities during the year

The difficulties experienced in the business 

during the year were primarily operational in 

2. Internal controls and risk management 

10%

22%

48%

10%

10%

Financial statements and business report
Internal audit
External audit
Risk management
Other

nature rather than financial, although they 

did have financial impacts. The monitoring 

of the operational performance of the 

Group is an area of ongoing review with the 

focus on a number of key areas: the quality 

of KPIs pertaining to our manufacturing; 

production mix forecasting; and reviewing 

our production capacity.

Role and responsibilities
The Committee is appointed by the  

Board and operates under written terms  

of reference, which were updated in 

December 2016 and reviewed again in 
December 2018. These are available to view 

at www.ir.dialight.com. The Committee’s 

primary duties are listed beneath the five 

sub-headings below:

 – Monitor the adequacy and effectiveness 

of the internal financial controls, internal 

controls and risk management systems;

 – Review and approve the statements to 

be included in the Annual Report and 

Accounts concerning internal controls 

and risk management;

 – Review and provide oversight, on behalf 

of the Board, of the processes by which 

risks are managed; and

 – Review the process undertaken and  

stress testing required to approve the 

Group’s viability statement and going 

concern statement. 

3. Compliance, whistleblowing and fraud

 – Monitoring the processes in place 

throughout the Group to prevent and 

detect fraud and to enable employees  

to raise concerns in confidence;

 – Receive reports on fraud attempts  

or incidents of concern.

62

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

4. Internal audit

 – Review and approve the internal audit 

work plan and charter;

 – Regularly review reports arising from 

internal audits, monitor the status of 

actions and consider remedial action  

for overdue items;

 – Monitor the structure, composition and 

resourcing of the internal audit function;

 – Review the role and effectiveness of the 

internal audit function; and

 – Consider whether an independent third-

party review of internal audit effectiveness 

and processes is appropriate.

5. External audit

Activities during the year
The main areas of review by the Committee 

throughout the year are set out below.

The Committee’s activities  
during the year
Financial statements and reports

 – Reviewed the 2017 Annual Report and 

Accounts, the 2018 Half Year Report and 

the trading updates issued in April 2018, 

September 2018 and December 2018. 

As part of these reviews, the Committee 

received a report from the external auditor 

on the audit of the Annual Report and 

Accounts and a report on the ISRE 2410 

interim review performed on the half  

 – Manage the relationship with the Group’s 

year results;

external auditor;

 – Monitor and review the independence  

and performance of the external auditor 

and formally evaluate their effectiveness;

 – Review the policy on non-audit services 

carried out by the external auditor, taking 

account of relevant ethical guidance;

 – Negotiate and approve the external 

auditor’s fee, the scope of the audit and 

the terms of their engagement; and

 – Make recommendations to the Board  

for the appointment or reappointment  

of the external auditor.

Composition of the Committee
The committee currently comprises the  

three independent Non-Executive Directors. 

The following members served on the 

committee during the year:

 – David Thomas (26 April 2016)

 – Stephen Bird (10 January 2013) 

 – Martin L. Rapp (26 April 2016  

to 8 January 2018)

 – Gaelle Hotellier (3 October 2016)

The Chairman, Group Chief Executive 

Officer and Group Finance Director also 

attend Committee meetings, together, 

where appropriate with the Group Financial 

Controller. Representatives from the external 

auditor also attend key Committee meetings.

 – Reviewed the effectiveness of the Group’s 

risk management and internal controls 

and disclosures made in the Annual 

Report and Accounts;

 – Reviewed the process and stress testing 

undertaken to support the Group’s 

viability and going concern statements;

 – Reviewed currency exposure and the 

Group’s treasury policies following the 

UK’s decision to leave the EU; and

 – Reviewed taxation provisions.

Risk management

 – Considered the output from the Group-

wide risk review process to identify, 

evaluate and mitigate risks, the Group’s 

changing risk profile and future risk reports;

 – Reviewed the resource and requirements 

for risk management and internal control 

in the Group; and

 – Considered export controls and other 

compliance-related matters.

External auditor and non-audit work

 – Agreed the scope and methodology 

of the audit and non-audit work to be 

undertaken by the external auditor;

 – Evaluated the independence and 

objectivity of the external auditor;

 – Agreed changes to the policy on non-

audit services and independence; and

 – Agreed the terms of engagement and  

fees to be paid to the external auditor 

for the audit of the 31 December 2018 

financial statements.

63

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Internal audit

 – Evaluated the effectiveness and the scope 

of work to be undertaken by the internal 

audit function;

 – Reviewed management responses to 

audit reports issued during the year;

 – Reviewed the Group’s whistleblowing 

policy and procedures; and

 – Reviewed and strengthened the resource 

in internal audit.

Governance
The Committee meets at least three times 

per year and routinely meets with the 
external auditor without the Executive 

Directors present. It is chaired by David 

Thomas, an independent Non-Executive 

Director, who is a chartered accountant  

with recent and relevant financial 

experience. The Group Finance Director 

and Group Financial Controller work 

closely with the committee Chairman 

to facilitate open communication and 

regular information flow. Each Committee 

member brings a wealth of professional 

and practical knowledge and experience 

which is relevant to the Company’s industry. 

Such abilities ensure that the Committee 

functions with competence and credibility. 

The Committee receives regular updates on 

changes to financial accounting standards 

and reporting requirements, regulatory and 

governance changes and developments 

around risk management, fraud prevention 

and detection, and cyber security.

In its advisory capacity, the Committee 

confirmed to the Board that, based on  

its review of the Annual Report and 

Accounts and internal controls that  

support the disclosures therein, the Annual 

Report and Accounts, taken as a whole, 

are fair, balanced and understandable, 

and provide the necessary information for 

shareholders to assess the Company’s 

position and performance, its business 

model and strategy.

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAudit Committee report continued

Whistleblowing
The Committee has responsibility for 

Auditor independence
At each meeting, the Committee receives 

general audit planning and wider issues 

around the audit relationship.

ensuring that arrangements are in place for 

a summary of all fees, audit and non-audit, 

employees to raise concerns or suspicions 

payable to the external auditor. A summary 

they may have about possible wrongdoing  

of fees paid to the external auditor is set out 

in financial reporting or other matters.  

in note 9 to the financial statements.

An external organisation, Safecall, operates 

a 24-hour confidential reporting service 

The current auditor is not allowed to tender 

for the Group, which provides employees 

for non-audit services. 

with the choice of making a report via a 

multilingual telephone line or via the internet.

The external auditor confirmed its 

independence as auditor of the Company  

The service allows employees to remain 

in a letter addressed to the Directors.

anonymous (subject to local legislation) 
and also provides a case reporting number 

which ensures that there is a mechanism 

for two-way communication between the 

reporter and the Company, even if they  

have chosen to remain anonymous.

External audit effectiveness
The effectiveness of the external audit 

process is assessed by the Committee, 

which meets regularly throughout the year 

with the audit partner and senior audit 

managers. Key to the overall effectiveness 

Confidential reports from this service are 

of the process is a “no surprises” approach, 

provided to the Company Secretary, as well 

adopted by both the Group and the external 

as the Committee Chair, for investigation 

and to report any significant cases to the 

auditor, under which each party makes the 

other aware of accounting and financial 

Committee. During the year, the Committee 

reporting issues as and when they arise, 

carried out a review of the effectiveness of 

the Group’s whistleblowing arrangements.

rather than limiting this exchange to the 

period in which formal audit and review 

Engagement of the external 
auditor and tenure 
KPMG was first appointed as external 

engagements take place.

This general approach is supported by a 

formal annual survey process involving 

auditor in 2001. KPMG is required to rotate 

subsidiary and Group management as well  

the audit partner responsible for the Group 

as Audit Committee members and attendees.

every five years and the current audit 

In addition to assessing the effectiveness 

of the external auditor, the Committee 

recognises that Group management has 

an important role to play in the overall 

effectiveness of the external audit process. 

The external auditor is therefore asked to 

conduct its own survey of both subsidiary 

and head office companies with which 

KPMG interacts. This survey addresses items 

such as the timeliness, quality and reliability 

of data provided to the external auditor.

Taken together, the Committee believes  

that sufficient and appropriate information is 

obtained to form an overall judgement of the 

effectiveness of the external audit process. 

The external audit effectiveness process 

findings from last year’s review were also 

incorporated into our audit processes  

this year.

Risk management and 
internal controls
Further details of risk management and 

internal controls are set out on pages 32 and 

33. Through monitoring of the effectiveness 

of its internal controls and risk management, 

the Committee is able to maintain a good 

understanding of business performance, key 

areas of judgement and decision-making 

partner’s term ended in 2018 with a new 

Surveys are tailored and issued to three 

processes within the Group.

audit partner being responsible for the  
2018 audit. 

distinct groups of respondents:

 – subsidiary financial controllers;

Fair, balanced and understandable
One of the key governance requirements is 

During 2018, the Committee continued 

 – the Group finance team; and

for this Annual Report and Accounts to be 

to monitor legislative and best practice 

 – Audit Committee members and attendees.

fair, balanced and understandable. Ensuring 

changes in this area. Under the Statutory 

that this standard is met requires continuous 

Auditors and Third Country Auditors 

The survey completed by the first group 

assessment of the financial reporting issues 

Regulations 2016, the Company is 

is divided between questions focusing 

affecting the Group on a year-round basis, 

required to retender its external auditor by 

on audit quality and client service. As this 

in addition to a number of focused exercises 

31 December 2023. At that point, KPMG 

group is involved primarily in the execution 

that take place during the Annual Report and 

would not be able to be re-appointed. 

phase of the audit, the responses cover 

Accounts production process.

practical audit management issues as well 

Subsequent to the AGM, the Audit 

as observations made of the integrity and 

These focused exercises can be 

Committee will consider whether the Group 

quality of audit field teams. The second, and 

summarised as:

should be recommended to enter into a 

particularly the third group interact mainly 

tender process for the 2019 audit or later.

with senior audit management and the audit 

 – qualitative review of disclosures and a 

partner so that the survey covers more 

review of internal consistency throughout 

64

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

the Annual Report and Accounts. This 

 – preparation and issue to the Audit 

Directors are not able to attend meetings 

review assesses the Annual Report 

Committee of the key working papers and 

where the conflicted matter is discussed 

and Accounts against objective criteria 

results for each of the significant issues 

and decisions are made. None of the 

drawn up for each component of the 

and judgements considered by the Audit 

Directors have had or have an interest in any 

requirement (individual criteria that 

Committee in the period.

material contract relating to the business 

indicate “fairness”, “balance” and 

of the Company or any of its subsidiary 

“understandability” as well as criteria  

The Directors’ statement on a fair, balanced 

undertakings.

that overlap two or more components);

and understandable Annual Report and 

 – risk comparison review, which assesses 

Accounts is set out on page 87.

the consistency of the presentation of risks 

and significant judgements throughout the 

main areas of risk disclosure in the Annual 

Report and Accounts;

 – formal review of all Board and Committee 

meeting minutes by the Company 

Secretary to ensure that all significant 

Conflicts of interest
The Company has arrangements in place to 

Significant issues
Significant issues and accounting judgements 

are identified by the finance team, or through 

the external audit process and are reviewed 

consider and deal with Directors’ conflicts 

by the Audit Committee. The significant 

of interest. An annual review is undertaken, 
facilitated by the Company Secretary, with 

issues considered by the Committee in 
respect of the year ended 31 December 2018 

all identified conflicts recorded on a register 

are set out in the following table:

issues are appropriately reflected and given 

that is adopted by the Board. Conflicted 

due prominence in narrative reporting; and

Risk area

Significant issues and judgements

How the issues were addressed

Revenue 

recognition

Inventory

Use of judgements

 – Development costs
 – Deferred tax

Revenue is a key performance indicator for the Group.  
Whilst the Group’s revenue recognition policies are not  
complex, the Group’s customers can have different contractual 
terms for transfer of ownership. The maintenance of an effective 
control environment within the production sites is fundamental 
to ensuring appropriate revenue recognition.

The Group operates in an industry whereby technology  
is rapidly changing and the risk of obsolescence is high.  
The Group has also been undergoing a significant 
transformation programme which has resulted in a change  
in its manufacturing footprint. The current standard costing 
system has been modified to account for the hybrid 
manufacturing model of the Group. Further details are  
provided in note 14 to the financial statements.

Controls relevant to the production sites are formally 
documented within the production sites. The accounting 
policies for revenue recognition are set out in note 3 to the 
financial statements and are unchanged from previous periods. 
The Audit Committee considered existing controls over revenue 
recognition and noted no significant issues with respect to the 
operation of the controls. 

The Audit Committee has reviewed the nature of the costs 
absorbed into inventory, the level of production over which 
these costs are absorbed, the variances between standard cost 
and actual cost and the reasons for movements in inventory 
value period to period. The basis for and level of provisioning, 
including those areas that are judgemental are presented 
to the Committee by management. The Audit Committee 
has discussed and assessed the information provided by 
management and concluded that the value of Inventory and 
provisions held by the Group are appropriate. 

The use of judgements and estimates is required in a number  
of areas, primarily in assessing the amount of development 
costs capitalised and the value of the deferred tax asset.

The Audit Committee has reviewed and challenged key 
assumptions used in these areas. 

The Audit Committee requested that management prepare an 
in-depth analysis of capitalised development costs and deferred 
tax assets. Following review, the Audit Committee concluded 
that the judgements applied were appropriate in preparing the 
financial statements for the year.

When considering the financial statements, the Committee also considered the issues included in the Group’s critical accounting policies, 

which are set out in note 2 to the financial statements. Having discussed these matters with management and the external auditor, the 

Committee has satisfied itself that such risks are being appropriately managed, that the judgements made are reasonable and that they  

are being accounted for in accordance with the relevant accounting standards and principles.

David Thomas

Chair of the Audit Committee

05 March 2019

65

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsDirectors’ remuneration report

Gaelle Hotellier
Chair of the Remuneration Committee

On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to 

Remuneration Committee is mindful of the 

present the Directors’ remuneration report 

need to focus on reporting of exercises of 

for the year ended 31 December 2018 

discretion, the disclosure of CEO pay ratios, 

(Remuneration Report).

and the need for alignment of pension 

contribution rates.

Our executive remuneration framework 

operates within the wider Group governance 

The Remuneration Committee ensures that 

and control framework. The Group’s 

the Company takes a responsible approach 

strategic planning is underpinned by the 

to pay both at the senior level and across 

remuneration framework, which balances 

the wider workforce. We are also committed 

short-term incentives related to the current 

to ensuring that the Group’s remuneration 

year’s financial performance – with a longer-

structures support Dialight’s values and 

term share incentive related to earning per 

reflect the experience of our shareholders. 

share (EPS) and relative total shareholder 

The Group as a whole seeks to review 

return (TSR).

gender diversity on an on-going basis.  

We pay colleagues according to their role, 

The Remuneration Committee undertook a 

not their gender, and the Board is committed 

significant review of the remuneration policy 

to improving the representation of women  

in 2016 that led to the current remuneration 

at senior levels.

policy, which received the support of 

99% of shareholders at our 2017 Annual 

As in previous years, the Remuneration 

General Meeting. No structural changes are 

Committee’s report for 2018 is split into 

considered necessary to the Remuneration 

three sections: the annual chair’s statement; 

Policy or its implementation for the 

the Remuneration Policy; and, the annual 

forthcoming year. 

report on remuneration. 

The Remuneration Committee is mindful that 

there has been a considerable movement 

in remuneration policy across 2018 with 

the introduction of the 2018 Code and 
the expansion of remuneration reporting 

requirements. It intends to review these 

requirements within the context of the 

Group’s remuneration policy during 2019 

and will report further to shareholders on 

the implementation of these requirements in 

its 2020 report and through the draft 2020 

remuneration plan. The review is made more 

challenging, and therefore requires greater 

care and consideration, as a result of having 

a US-based CEO. In particular, but in no 

way limiting the scope of its review, the 

Key remuneration outcomes  
for 2018
The Remuneration Committee remains 

committed to ensuring that rewards received 
by our Executives reflect performance. 

Long-term incentives
Marty Rapp and Fariyal Khanbabi were each 

granted an award under the PSP during 

the year, the vesting outcome of which will 

be based on performance over the three 

financial years to 31 December 2020. These 

awards will vest to the extent that the EPS 

and TSR targets are achieved over the 

three-year period. Further details of awards 

made to Marty Rapp and Fariyal Khanbabi, 

66

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

including details of the performance targets 

linked to the Company’s strategic objectives, 

approach to remuneration is appropriate 

applying, are included on page 80. 

with a particular focus on production and  

and represents a fair balance between 

a return to sustainable growth.

shareholder and management interests, 

In respect of the long-term incentive plan 

and hope that the disclosure provided in 

awards made in 2016, both the EPS and 

In respect of the PSP awards to be 

this report provides clear insight into the 

TSR performance of Dialight over the 

made to Executive Directors in 2019, the 

Remuneration Committee’s decisions. 

three-year performance period have been 

Remuneration Committee has determined 

below the performance targets set by the 

that these will again be subject to EPS  

On behalf of all of my colleagues on the 

Remuneration Committee at the time of 

and relative TSR performance measured 

Remuneration Committee, I hope that you 

grant. As a result, all 2016 PSP awards will 

over three years. The targets applying to 

will support the resolution approving  

lapse in full in 2019.

these awards will be finalised over the 

the annual report on remuneration at the 

Annual bonus outcomes for the 
financial year
Following a review of Dialight’s performance 

coming weeks and disclosed both at the 

2019 AGM. 

time of award and in next year’s report.  

In accordance with the Policy, PSP awards 

Finally, I would like to thank Stephen Bird 

will also be subject to a two-year post-

for his leadership of the Remuneration 

Committee from January to June 2018,  

as well as to formally welcome Steve Good 

against the EBIT targets set for the Annual 

vesting holding period.

Performance Bonus Plan (APBP), the 

Remuneration Committee determined that 

Overall, the Remuneration Committee is 

to the Remuneration Committee. 

no bonuses would be payable to the Group 

satisfied that the total remuneration received 

Chief Executive Officer or to the Group 

by Executive Directors in 2018 is a fair 

Gaelle Hotellier

Finance Director.

reflection of performance over the period.

Chair of the Remuneration Committee

05 March 2019

Implementation of the Policy  
in 2019
As detailed above, there are no structural 

changes proposed to the implementation 

of the Policy for 2019. As it does every 

year, the Remuneration Committee will 

Review of Non-Executive  
Director fees
In accordance with the policy, Non-

Executive Director fees are typically 

reviewed every year. The Remuneration 

Committee will review the Chairman’s and 

undertake a review of Executive Directors’ 

the Non-Executive Directors fees with 

base salaries, taking into account a range 

of factors including individual experience, 

responsibilities and performance, as well 

increases taking effect from 1 April 2019. 

This increase will be broadly in line with 

inflation and salary adjustments applied to 

as pay and conditions for employees more 

the wider Dialight employee population. 

broadly across the Group. Following this 

review, the Remuneration Committee will 

recommend to the Board salary increases 
for the Executive Directors, to take effect 

Shareholder voting at the  
2019 AGM
As there are no proposed changes to the 

from 1 April 2019. These increases will be 

current shareholder-approved Remuneration 

in line with planned increases across the 

Policy there will be no vote at the 2019 

organisation and in line with inflation.

AGM to approve the Remuneration Policy. 

There will however be the usual advisory 

The 2019 APBP awards for Executive 

resolution to approve the annual report 

Directors will be on a similar basis to 

on remuneration, which focuses on the 

2018, with EBIT performance being the 

remuneration outcomes for the reporting 

primary measure with 15% of the Executive 

period and how the Remuneration Committee 

Directors’ bonuses being subject to the 

intends to implement the Remuneration 

achievement of certain individual goals 

Policy next year. We believe that Dialight’s 

67

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsDirectors’ remuneration policy

Directors’ remuneration policy
This section of the report details the Remuneration Policy for Executive and Non-Executive Directors. The remuneration policy was approved  

at the 2017 AGM and is effective for up to three years.

Compliance statement
This report has been prepared in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of the Large and Medium-sized 

Companies and Groups (Accounts and Reports) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 (Regulations). It also meets the requirements of the UK Listing 

Authority’s Listing Rules and the Disclosure and Transparency Rules.

The sections of the Remuneration Report that are subject to audit are marked as Audited Information. The remaining sections of the 

Remuneration Report are not subject to audit.

A breakdown of all elements of executive remuneration and their place in the Company’s Remuneration Policy can be found below:

Remuneration Policy table

Element/link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Any base salary increases are applied  
in line with the outcome of the review.

None.

In respect of existing Executive 
Directors, it is anticipated that salary 
increases will generally be in line with 
the broader employee population. In 
exceptional circumstances (including, 
but not limited to, a material increase in 
role size or complexity), the Committee 
has discretion to make appropriate 
adjustments to salary levels to ensure 
that they remain market competitive.  
It is not envisaged that this will be  
a frequent occurrence.

Detail of current salaries for the 
Executive Directors can be found  
on page 77.

Base salary

To ensure that fixed pay 
represents a fair return 
for employment.

The Remuneration Committee sets base 
salary with reference to relevant market 
data and an individual’s experience, 
responsibilities and performance.

Base salary is considered by the 
Remuneration Committee on an 
individual’s appointment and then 
reviewed once a year or when an 
individual changes position or 
responsibilities. 

When making a determination as to 
the appropriate level of remuneration, 
the Remuneration Committee firstly 
considers pay and conditions for 
employees across the Group, the 
general performance of the Company 
and the wider economic environment 
and, where considered relevant, the 
Remuneration Committee benchmarks 
remuneration against a bespoke group 
of comparator companies incorporated 
in both the US and the UK (size adjusted 
on the basis of market capitalisation 
and revenue).

Benchmarking is not the only driver  
in salary reviews.

68

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Element/link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Executive Directors receive benefits 
which consist primarily of the provision 
of a car allowance, life insurance and 
medical insurance, although they may 
include such benefits as the Committee 
deems appropriate.

Benefits

The approach of the 
Remuneration Committee is 
that other benefits payable 
remain in line with market 
practice to ensure that 
Dialight retains its ability to 
be competitive and remain 
attractive to prospective 
candidates.

Pension

The Company provides 
this benefits package in 
order to be competitive in 
the relevant market and to 
ensure its ability to recruit 
and retain Executives.

Sharesave Plan

To provide a mechanism by 
which employees can save 
up to purchase shares at a 
discount to the prevailing 
market price on an annual 
basis, encouraging 
employee retention and 
engagement with the 
Company.

The Company operates a 401(k) and 
Supplemental Executive Retirement Plan 
(SERP) in the US, with both employee 
and employer contributions made to the 
relevant schemes.

Executive Directors in the UK are 
entitled to join the existing defined 
contribution scheme offering employer 
contributions of up to 15% or to receive 
an equivalent cash payment in lieu.

Executive Directors in the US are 
entitled to participate in the 401(k)  
and the SERP. In relation to the SERP,  
a participant is entitled to receive a 
cash equivalent payment in lieu of 
employer contribution.

Salary is the only element of 
remuneration that is pensionable.

The Sharesave Plan currently operates 
in the UK, the US and Mexico but may 
be introduced in other parts of the 
world at a future date.

The Sharesave Plan has typically  
been operated on an annual basis 
and is open to all eligible employees, 
including Executive Directors.

Benefits vary by role and individual 
circumstances; eligibility and cost  
are reviewed periodically.

None.

The Remuneration Committee retains 
the discretion to approve a higher 
total benefit cost in exceptional 
circumstances (e.g. relocation) or in 
circumstances where factors outside 
the Company’s control have changed 
materially (e.g. increases in life 
insurance premiums).

The value of benefits awarded to the 
Executive Directors can be found in  
the table on page 77.

None.

The Group Chief Executive Officer does 
not currently participate in the SERP 
and instead receives a cash payment 
in lieu of employer contribution. The 
Group Chief Executive Officer does 
participate in the 401(k) scheme and 
receives an employer contribution of up 
to 3% of base salary in accordance with 
the plan rules.

It is not anticipated that pension 
contributions (as a percentage  
of salary) will exceed the levels  
currently provided.

Further details of what has been paid 
during 2018 can be found on page 77.

Employees will be able to save up to the 
maximum of the limits approved by HM 
Revenue & Customs from time to time 
(or local currency equivalent) for a total 
period of three years.

None.

At the beginning of each savings 
period, employees will be granted 
options over shares in Dialight plc up 
to a maximum discount of 20% of the 
prevailing market price. The employees’ 
savings are then used to purchase and 
exercise these options at the end of 
three years.

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Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsDirectors’ remuneration policy continued

Element/link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Annual Performance 

Bonus Plan

The APBP rewards 
performance against our 
annual goals, and directly 
supports the achievement of 
EBIT, one of the key financial 
KPIs of the Company.

APBP measures, weightings and targets 
are set by the Remuneration Committee 
at the beginning of each financial year 
following the finalisation of the budget 
for that year.

Bonuses up to target are paid in cash, 
with payouts above target delivered in 
Dialight shares. Where the executive 
receives Dialight shares, half of these 
vest after two years with the balance 
vesting after three years, subject to 
continued employment with the Group.

Dividends are accrued on these 
deferred shares and are paid to the 
participant on release of shares that  
are subject to the award.

The rules of the APBP allow for the 
clawback of deferred share awards 
prior to their vesting should the 
Committee take the decision that to 
allow such awards to vest would be 
contrary to the best interests of the 
Company’s shareholders.

Performance  

Share Plan

The PSP provides direct 
alignment between the 
interests of shareholders 
and those of the Executive 
Directors by linking 
vesting of awards to the 
Company’s long-term 
financial and share price 
performance.

PSP awards may be structured as 
conditional shares or nil-cost options 
with a two-year exercise window from 
the date of vesting.

The release of awards may, at the 
discretion of the Committee, be 
deferred in whole or in part following 
the end of a three-year vesting period. 
All vested awards will be subject to a 
two-year post-vesting holding period.

The Remuneration Committee has the 
power to authorise the payment of 
dividends or dividend equivalents under 
the rules of the PSP.

The PSP rules contain provisions that 
allow for clawback and malus in respect 
of both vested and unvested awards in 
exceptional circumstances.

The maximum bonus opportunity  
is 175% of salary.

Threshold performance will deliver 
payouts of up to 20% of maximum, 
while payouts for target performance 
will be up to 60% of maximum.

Performance is assessed on an annual 
basis, as measured against specific 
objectives set at the start of each year.

The primary measure is Company EBIT, 
although other financial measures may 
be rewarded, as may additional specific 
objectives, which can be triggered 
following satisfactory achievement  
of the primary EBIT targets.

Further details of the measures, 
weightings and targets applicable  
for 2019 can be found on page 81.

The maximum PSP award is 150%  
of salary per annum, although the 
Remuneration Committee has 
historically made awards of between 
25% and 125% of salary.

Vesting of PSP awards is subject to 
continued employment and performance 
measures. The performance measures 
relating to grants are weighted  
as follows:

Threshold vesting delivers up to 25%  
of maximum.

 – Between 25% and 75% on three-year 

“EPS” growth.

 – Between 25% and 75% on TSR 

relative to a relevant peer group  
or index.

The Remuneration Committee will 
review the performance measures, 
weightings and targets prior to each 
grant to ensure that they continue to 
be well aligned with the delivery of 
Company strategy.

Further details of the measures, 
weightings and targets applicable  
for 2019 can be found on page 81.

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Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Element/link to strategy

Operation

Opportunity

Performance metrics

Non-Executive 

Director fees

The Company sets fee 
levels to attract and retain 
Non-Executive Directors 
with the necessary 
experience and expertise 
to advise and assist with 
establishing and monitoring 
the strategic objectives  
of the Company.

Fee levels are typically considered 
every year, taking into account fees 
paid for equivalent roles at companies 
of similar size, time commitment  
and complexity.

The fees paid to the Chairman are 
determined by the Remuneration 
Committee, while fees for Non-
Executive Directors are determined  
by the Board.

Additional fees are payable for acting 
as Senior Independent Director and as 
Chair of any of the Board’s committees.

Non-Executive Directors do not receive 
any bonus, do not participate in awards 
under the Company’s share plans and 
are not eligible to join the Company’s 
pension scheme.

None.

The Company’s policy in relation to fees 
is to reflect the time commitment and 
responsibilities of the roles, normally 
by paying up to median level fees, 
compared to market, depending on 
the experience and background of the 
Non-Executive Directors. The Company 
also reimburses the Non-Executive 
Directors for expenses reasonably and 
properly incurred in the performance of 
their duties.

In normal circumstances, increases  
to fees will be broadly in line with price 
inflation, subject to cases of material 
misalignment with the market or a 
change in the complexity, responsibility 
or time commitment required to fulfil  
a Non-Executive Director role.

It remains important for the Board to 
have the necessary flexibility to step 
outside this general policy should the 
requirement be clear that a certain type 
of individual is required to conform  
with new governance requirements  
or legislation.

Aggregate fees for all Non-Executive 
Directors will be within the limits set by 
the Company’s Articles of Association.

Details of current Non-Executive 
Director fees can be found on page 77.

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Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsDirectors’ remuneration policy continued

Notes to the remuneration policy table 
Explanatory detail for future remuneration policy table

Executive Directors are eligible to receive payment from any award made prior to the approval and implementation of the remuneration policy 

detailed in this Report. 

Performance measures and targets

For the APBP, EBIT has been selected as the primary measure to provide a direct link to one of our KPIs and ensure that the bonus is self-

financing. Any other measures will be agreed on an annual basis to ensure alignment with the Company’s strategy for the coming year.  

Targets are set on an annual basis taking into account the Company’s budget as well as external expectations for Dialight and the sector.

For the PSP, the Remuneration Committee considers that TSR provides clear alignment between Executive Directors’ interests and those  

of shareholders and provides an objective measure of the Company’s success over time, while EPS provides good line of sight and helps to 

focus participants on the Company’s financial performance. EPS targets will be reviewed and confirmed prior to each grant, taking account  

of the Company’s strategic plan, analyst estimates, historical performance and EPS performance ranges used at other FTSE companies.  

Other performance measures may be adopted for future awards, should the Remuneration Committee consider that these would be beneficial 

in aligning remuneration with Company strategy.

If an event occurs which causes the Remuneration Committee to consider that an outstanding PSP award or bonus would not achieve its 

original purpose without alteration, the Remuneration Committee has discretion to amend the targets, provided the new conditions are 

materially no less challenging than was intended when originally imposed. Such discretion could be used to appropriately adjust for the impact 

of material acquisitions or disposals, or for exceptional and unforeseen events outside the control of the management team.

Difference between the Directors’ remuneration policy and that for other employees

All employees receive salaries and benefits which are consistent with local market practice, with any review of fixed pay taking into account 

experience, responsibility, individual performance and salary levels at comparable companies.

Senior management is typically eligible to participate in the APBP, with opportunities and performance measures reflecting organisational level 

and business area, as appropriate. PSP awards at senior management level and to other key employees now take the form of restricted share 

units with vesting subject only to continued employment over a number of years. This change provides participants below Executive Director 

level greater flexibility and helps Dialight remain competitive in the main talent markets in which it operates, while also continuing to align plan 

participants with the interests of shareholders in growing the value of the Company over the longer term. Share awards (whether subject to 

performance conditions or not) to participants below Executive Director level are not subject to a holding period.

Shareholding guidelines

Executive Directors are required to accumulate and maintain a holding of Dialight shares equivalent in value to their last annual PSP award. 
Executives have five years from their date of joining to build their shareholdings to the required level. Current shareholding levels are included 

on page 83. 

Pay-for-performance

The following charts provide an estimate of the potential future rewards for executive directors, and the potential split between different 

elements of pay, under three different performance scenarios: ‘Fixed’, ‘On-target’ and ‘Maximum’. The policy of the Remuneration Committee 

is to align Executive Directors’ interests with those of shareholders and to give the Executive Directors an incentive to perform at the highest 

levels. To achieve this, it seeks to ensure that a significant proportion of the remuneration package varies with the financial performance of the 

Group and that targets are aligned with the Group’s stated business objectives.

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Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Remuneration scenarios

Group Chief Executive – Martin L. Rapp

100%

48.80%

28.43%

Minimum

On-target

Maximum

$750k

40.96%

41.75%

10.24%

$1,537k

29.82%

$2,638k

Fixed

Short-term incentive

Long-term incentive

Minimum performance

Fixed elements of remuneration only, including employer pension contributions, life insurrance, healthcare and car allowance.

On-target performance

Fixed elements of remuneration plus:

 – 100% of salary paid in bonus (57% of maximum opportunity); and

 – 25% of PSP award (31% of salary)

Maximum performance

Fixed elements of remuneration plus the full payout of both short and long-term incentives.

Group Finance Director – Fariyal Khanbabi

100%

53.65%

33.97%

Minimum

On-target

Maximum

Minimum performance

Short-term incentive

Fixed

£328k

33.76%

36.69%

Long-term incentive

12.59%

£611k

29.35%

£966k

Fixed elements of remuneration only.

On-target performance

Fixed elements of remuneration plus:

 – 75% of salary paid in bonus (60% of maximum opportunity); and

 – 25% of PSP award (25% of salary)

Maximum performance

Fixed elements of remuneration plus the full payout of both short and long-term incentives.

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Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsDirectors’ remuneration policy continued

Recruitment policy

In cases of appointing a new Executive Director from outside the Company, the Remuneration Committee may make use of all the existing 

components of remuneration as follows:

Component

Approach

Salary

Executive Directors will receive a base salary which will be determined by reference to relevant market data, experience and skills of the 
individual, internal relativities and their current basic salary. 

Where new appointees have initial basic salaries set below market, any shortfall may be managed with phased increases over a period  
of two to three years subject to the individual’s development in the role.

Benefits

New appointees will be eligible to receive benefits in line with the current policy, as well as expatriation allowances and any necessary 
expenses relating to an executive’s relocation on appointment. 

Pension

APBP

PSP

New appointees will be eligible to participate in the Company’s defined contribution, or receive a cash supplement or local equivalent. 

The scheme as described in the policy table will apply to new appointees. The maximum level of variable pay (excluding any buy-outs) offered 
to any new Executive Directors on appointment would be 325% of salary (comprising 175% of salary in the APBP and 150% in the PSP).

New appointees will be granted performance awards under the ESP on the same terms as other Executives, as described in the policy table.

The approach to the recruitment of internal candidates would be similar but the Remuneration Committee would continue to honour existing 

contractual commitments prior to any promotion.

For Non-Executive Directors, the Remuneration Committee and the Company would seek to pay fees in line with the Company’s existing Policy. 

A base fee in line with the prevailing fee schedule would be payable for Board membership, with additional fees payable for acting as Senior 

Independent Director and/or as Chair of a Board committee.

Service contracts

Executive Directors’ service contracts, including arrangements for early termination, are carefully considered by the Remuneration Committee. 

Executive Directors’ service contracts contain provisions that require up to 12 months’ notice of termination on either side. Such contracts 

do not contain any provisions for payments outside the scope of those contained in the contract. Executive Director service contracts are 

available to view at the Company’s registered office.

Non-Executive Directors have specific terms of engagement provided in formal letters of appointment, which contain three-month notice 

periods that are mutual. The Non-Executive Directors are appointed for a three-year term, subject to annual re-election by the shareholders  

at the Company’s AGM.

Notice periods

Executive Directors’ service contracts require up to 12 months’ notice to be given by Dialight in the event of termination. Both can be terminated 

with and without cause and require up to 12 months’ notice from either party.

Subject to his compliance with those restrictive covenants in the contract, the Group Chief Executive is entitled to a severance payment 

equivalent to a full year’s salary, continuing healthcare under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1985 benefits for the same 

period and an amount equal to the current annual cost of life insurance to Dialight if his employment is terminated without cause. This does not 

apply should he resign or be terminated with cause.

The Group Finance Director’s contract provides for pay in lieu of notice but does not contain any additional compensation provisions. None of 

the current Executive Directors’ contracts contain liquidated damages clauses.

If a contract is to be terminated, the Remuneration Committee will determine such mitigation as it considers fair and reasonable in each case.  

In determining any compensation, it will take into account the best practice provisions of the 2016 Code and published guidance from 

74

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

recognised institutional investor bodies, and will take legal advice on the Company’s liability to pay compensation and the appropriate amount. 

The Remuneration Committee periodically considers what compensation commitments the Executive Directors’ contracts would entail in the 

event of early termination. There are no contractual arrangements that would guarantee a pension with limited or no abatement on severance  

or early retirement.

The Remuneration Committee will exercise discretion in making appropriate payments in the context of outplacement, settling legal claims  

or potential legal claims by a departing Executive Director, including any other amounts reasonably due to the Executive Director, for example, 

to meet the legal fees incurred in connection with the termination of employment, where the Company wishes to enter into a settlement 

agreement and the individual must seek independent legal advice.

Treatment of outstanding variable incentives will be as follows: 

APBP

In the event of an Executive Director leaving Dialight before the end of a bonus year or prior to the payment of a bonus, the Remuneration 
Committee has discretion to allow them to be paid a portion of bonus relative to their point of leaving. This will be highly contingent on the 

manner of the Executive Director’s departure and whether they are classified as a ‘good leaver’ pursuant to the rules of the APBP.

PSP

The PSP would operate in a similar way to the APBP. Assuming the Executive Director is classed as a ‘good leaver’, outstanding PSP shares 

would typically be pro-rated for the proportion of the performance period served and released, subject to applicable performance conditions, 

at the normal vesting date. The Remuneration Committee has flexibility to allow awards to vest earlier than above when an individual leaves; 

however, the default position will be for awards not to be released early. 

The treatment of shares subject to deferral or holding periods will be subject to the Remuneration Committee’s discretion and will take into 

account the circumstances at the time.

For the purpose of the above, “good leaver” is defined as a participant ceasing to be employed by the Group by reason of death, disability, 

ill health, redundancy, retirement with agreement of the Company or any other reason that the Remuneration Committee determines in its 

absolute discretion. Should the Executive Director leave the Company in any other circumstances, outstanding awards would typically lapse.

The Remuneration Committee also retains discretion in the event of a change of control to release awards under the PSP. It is usual in this 

situation that awards would be pro-rated for time and performance subject to the discretion of the committee. In relation to the APBP, the 

scheme rules allow the Remuneration Committee to determine that all deferred share elements of the bonus awards will vest on a change  

of control and may be exercised within such period as the Remuneration Committee shall specify.

External appointments

It is the Company’s policy that, except in extraordinary circumstances, Executive Directors should only accept one appointment with a third 

party as a Non-Executive Director. Any such appointment is subject to prior Board approval and consideration will be given to potential 

conflicts of interest with Dialight and the time demands of the external appointment. The Executive Director concerned is entitled to retain  

any fees from such a non-executive directorship.

Employment conditions elsewhere in the Company

The Remuneration Committee takes into account what the general rise in employee salaries was across the Company at the review date when 

considering changes to the remuneration of the Executive Directors. The Company did not expressly seek the views of employees when 

drawing up the remuneration policy but does carry out an annual review of salaries across the Group.

Shareholder views

The Remuneration Committee maintains a regular dialogue with its major shareholders and will continue to monitor trends and developments  

in corporate governance and market practice to ensure that the structure of executive remuneration remains appropriate.

75

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAnnual report on remuneration

The following section provides details of how the Policy was implemented during the financial year ending 31 December 2018, and how it will  

be implemented in 2019.

Roles and responsibilities 
The primary responsibilities of the Remuneration Committee are to:

 – set the remuneration policy for all Executive Directors, the Company’s Chairman and the Company Secretary including, where appropriate, 

bonuses, incentive payments, share-based incentive schemes and post-retirement benefits;

 – determine the remuneration packages for the Executive Directors, the Company’s Chairman and the Company Secretary, within the terms  

of the Policy; 

 – recommend and monitor the structure of the remuneration of the senior management group as defined by the Board;

 – approve the design of, and determine targets for, any performance-related incentive schemes operated by the Company and approve the total 

annual payments made under such schemes (in accordance with the provisions of Schedule A of the UK Corporate Governance Code); and

 – review the design of all share incentive plans requiring approval by the Board and shareholders. For any such plans, the Committee shall 

determine each year, taking into account the recommendations of the Group Chief Executive Officer, whether awards will be made and, if so, 

the amount of such awards to the Executive Directors, Company Secretary, members of the Executive Committee and other senior Group 

employees from time to time nominated by the Group Chief Executive Officer, and any performance targets to be used.

A copy of the terms of reference for the Remuneration Committee is available on the Company’s website or on request from the Company 

Secretary at the registered office.

Other decisions
The Remuneration Committee’s other principal activities and key decisions during the year included:

 – On 7 January 2018: approving the heads of terms and settlement agreement for Michael Sutsko, Dialight’s former Group Chief Executive Officer;

 – On 22 February 2018: setting the 2018 salary increases for Executive Directors;

 – On 22 February 2018: reviewing of cash bonuses in respect of the 2017 financial year;

 – On 22 February 2018: reviewing the performance targets outcome in relation to the 2015 PSP award;

 – On 22 February 2018: setting APBP objectives for 2018; 

 – On 20 March 2018: approving the 2018 PSP awards and setting the associated PSP performance targets;

 – On 26 July 2018: reviewing the Company’s all-employee Sharesave plan; 

 – On 22 August 2018: considering the Company’s pay-ratio disclosures and shareholder engagement; and

 – On 10 December 2018: reviewing and approving the Remuneration Committee’s terms of reference. 

Committee members
The names of those who served on the Remuneration Committee during the year can be found in the table below:

Committee member 

Member from/until

Gaelle Hotellier (Committee Chair)

from 8 January 2018 (Chair from 1 June 2018)

David Thomas

Steve Good

Stephen Bird

Marty Rapp

from 26 April 2016

from 1 June 2018

until 1 June 2018

until 8 January 2018 

All members of the Remuneration Committee are considered independent within the definition set out in the 2016 Code. None of the 

Remuneration Committee has any personal financial interest in Dialight (other than as shareholders), conflicts of interests arising from cross 

directorships or day-to-day involvement in running the business.

During the year, the Remuneration Committee met face-to-face four times and held additional meetings by conference call to deal with the 

review and approval of specific matters falling outside of the scheduled meetings. Attendance by individual members of the Remuneration 

Committee is disclosed in the Corporate Governance report on page 48.

76

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Only members of the Remuneration Committee have the right to attend Remuneration Committee meetings. The Group Chief Executive Officer, 

the Group Finance Director, the Company Secretary and the Group HR Director attend the Remuneration Committee’s meetings by invitation, but 

are not present when their own remuneration is discussed. The Remuneration Committee also takes independent professional advice as required.

External advice
The Remuneration Committee has access to the advice of the Group Chief Executive Officer and the Company Secretary as well as external 

advisers as required. During the year ended 31 December 2018, the Remuneration Committee consulted:

 – Kepler Associates, a part of the Mercer Group, which provided independent advice on: long-term incentive measures and targets; updates 

on the external remuneration environment; performance testing for long-term incentive plan; and, Directors’ remuneration report drafting 

support for a fee of £21,000; and

 – Clifford Chance, which advised on the operation of the Company’s share and other incentive plans during the year, including on the vest  

of the 2015 Sharesave Plan, and which gave ad hoc advice on other remuneration issues for a fee of £15,000.

In addition, Slaughter and May was engaged at the start of 2018 to provide advice on Michael Sutsko’s compensation arrangements on leaving. 

The Remuneration Committee retains the responsibility for the appointment of remuneration advisers and their associated fees and undertakes 

due diligence periodically to ensure that its advisers remain independent and that the advice provided is impartial and objective.

Statement of shareholder voting
The following table shows the results of the voting at the 2017 (policy) and 2018 (report) annual general meetings.

Directors’ Remuneration report (2018)

Remuneration policy (2017)

2018 outcomes
Single figure of total remuneration (audited information)

% of votes 
for 

% of votes 
against

Votes 
withheld

96.10

99.42

3.90 7,352,766

0.58

3,911

The following tables provide details of the Directors’ remuneration for the 2018 financial year, together with their remuneration for the 2017 

financial year, in each case before deductions for income tax and national insurance contributions (where relevant):

2018 (all figures in 000s)

Executive Directors

Marty Rapp

Fariyal Khanbabi

Non-Executive Directors

Wayne Edmunds

Stephen Bird

David Blood

Gaelle Hotellier

David Thomas

Steve Good2

Past Director

Michael Sutsko3

Salary/Fee
2018

Benefits
2018

Pension
2018

Sub-total
fixed
2018

Bonus
2018

PSP
2018

Sub-total 
variable
2018

Total 
remuneration
2018

$599

£275

$28

 £22

$123

£31

$1971

£491

£421

€601

£471

£25

–

–

–

–

–

 –

–

–

–

–

–

 –

$750

£328

$197

£49

£42

€60

£47

£25 

$14

$1

$4

$19

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 –

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

 –

–

$750

£328

$197

£49

£42

€60

£47

£25

$19

1  The Chairman’s and the Non-Executive Directors’ fees were reviewed at the end of 2017 and a decision was made to increase these by 3% with effect from 1 January 2018. 

The enhancements for chairing a Board committee and acting as Senior Independent Director (‘‘SID’’) were also increased by 3%.

2  Steve Good was appointed on 1 June 2018 and received a pro-rated amount of his annual fee of £42,000.
3   Michael Sutsko resigned as a Director on 8 January 2018.

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Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAnnual report on remuneration continued

2017 (all figures in 000s)

Executive Directors

Michael Sutsko

Fariyal Khanbabi

Non-Executive Directors

Wayne Edmunds

Stephen Bird

David Blood

Gaelle Hotellier

Marty Rapp

David Thomas

Salary/Fee
2017

Benefits
2017

Pension
2017

Sub-total
fixed
2017

Bonus
2017

PSP
2017

Sub-total 
variable
2017

Total 
remuneration
2017

$593

£267

$1921

£46

£41

€551

$671

£46

$53

£13

$100

£40

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

$746

£320

$192

£46

£41

€55

$67

£46

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

$746

£320

$192

£46

£41

€55

$67

£46

1   Wayne Edmunds, Gaelle Hotellier and Marty Rapp received “local” currency fees with effect from 1 January 2017.

Additional disclosures (audited information)
Executive Directors’ benefits

Executive Directors receive benefits comprising life insurance, healthcare and car allowances. In addition, Marty Rapp is entitled to reimbursement 

of his costs of travel and accommodation in travelling from his home to the Farmingdale office in New Jersey. In addition, the figure for Fariyal 

Khanbabi includes a one-off payment of £18,700 in lieu of holiday. This payment was calculated on a consistent basis to other payments 

made to a small number of other finance and operations staff who were required to deploy for extended periods of time at short notice to the 

outsourced manufacturing partner located in central Mexico to address urgent operational problems facing the Group. The Committee view the 

circumstances leading to the payment of cash in lieu as exceptional and do not anticipate any requirement for similar payments in the future 

Pensions

The figure includes the amount of Company contributions to Fariyal Khanbabi’s and Marty Rapp’s pensions during the year. Fariyal Khanbabi received 

Company contributions of 15% of base salary and mid-year elected to receive a cash payment in lieu. Marty Rapp received employer contributions 

under a US 401(k) plan. Marty Rapp did not participate in the SERP and instead received a cash payment in lieu of employer contribution. 

APBP 

The APBP operates on the basis that is set out in the remuneration policy report on page 70. Maximum bonus potential, paid in a mixture of 

cash and, in respect of performance above target, deferred shares, is 175% of salary for the Group Chief Executive Officer and 125% for the 

Group Finance Director.

2017 APBP

As discussed in the 2017 Remuneration Committee report, in light of the EBIT outturn for 2017 being below the objective target set, no bonuses 

became payable under the APBP 2017

2018 APBP The 2018 APBP was based primarily on EBIT performance with up to 15% of the Executive Directors’ target bonus being subject  

to the achievement of certain individual goals linked to Dialight’s key strategic goals. The performance range in respect of 2018 EBIT was  

as follows:

EBIT (after provision for bonus)

Threshold

Target

Maximum

Actual

£10.9m

£13.3m

£15.6m

£8.0m

No bonus is payable under either element for below threshold EBIT.

Actual EBIT performance for 2018 was £8m and as a result no bonuses were payable in respect of the 2018 financial year.

78

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

PSP 

Awards made in 2015

Awards made under the PSP in 2015 lapsed in 2018 due to the fact that the related performance conditions were not achieved.

Awards made in 2016

Awards made under the PSP in 2016 have lapsed as the related performance conditions were not achieved during the three-year performance 

period to 31 December 2018.

Percentage change in the remuneration of the Group Chief Executive Officer 
The following table sets out the change in remuneration paid to the Group Chief Executive Officer from 2017 to 2018 compared with the 

average percentage change for employees as a whole:

Salary

Bonus

Benefits

% change 2017–2018

Group Chief 
Executive 
Officer

Group 
employees

3%

0%

0%

3%

0%

0%

Due to operational performance, no bonus was payable in relation to 2018 or 2017. The main benefits provided include healthcare, life insurance 

and car allowance. There has been no change in the level of benefits provided to Group employees.

Relative importance of spend on pay 
The table below shows the total amount paid by the Company to its employees (excluding severance costs) for 2018 and 2017. Details of the 

total amount of distributions for the same two years can also be seen.

Spend on pay

2018

2017

£31.9m

£34.4m

Distributions

2018

2017

£0m

£0m

Performance graph and table
The graph below demonstrates the Company’s TSR performance over the past nine years relative to the FTSE 250 Mid Index (excluding 

investment trusts), the FTSE SmallCap Index (excluding investment trusts) and the FTSE All-Share Electronic and Electrical Equipment Index, 

indices of which Dialight has been a constituent over the period. 

600

500

400

300

200

100

0

Dec 09

Dec 10

Dec 11

Dec 12

Dec 13

Dec 14

Dec 15

Dec 16

Dec 17

Dec 18

Dialight

FTSE 250

FTSE Small Cap

FTSE All Share Electronic & Electrical Equipment

Source: Datastream

79

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAnnual report on remuneration continued

The table below sets out the “single figure” of total remuneration of the Group Chief Executive Officer over the same nine-year period:

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

R Burton

R Burton

R Burton

R Burton

R Burton

Total remuneration ($’000)

$2,845

 $4,170

$3,843

$1,564

$1,153

Bonus outcome (% of max)

100

100

66.6

0

29

PSP vesting outcome (% of max)

100

100

100

100

0

M Sutsko M Sutsko  M Rapp 

$1,466

$746

$750

74

0

0

n/a

n/a

n/a

R Burton 
(to Feb)
R Stuckes
(Mar to Jun)
M Sutsko
(from Jul)

$112
£185
$523

0
n/a
0

0
n/a
n/a 

PSP awards made in 2018
Awards granted in 2018 are measured against EPS and TSR on the following basis:

EPS 

EPS is used in respect of 75% of awards. For awards made in 2018, no part of the award that is subject to the EPS condition will vest if the 

Company’s 2020 EPS over the three-year vesting period is below 45 pence, 25% of the award that is subject to the EPS condition will vest 

if the Company’s 2020 EPS equals 45 pence; rising on a straight-line basis to 100% vesting if the Company’s 2020 EPS exceeds 60 pence. 

The Remuneration Committee will review the performance targets prior to the grant of any future awards to ensure that they are appropriately 

stretching, but achievable.

TSR

TSR is used in respect of the remaining 25% of awards in order to maintain strong shareholder alignment. No part of the awards made in 2018 

that are subject to the TSR condition will vest if the percentage increase in the Company’s TSR over the three-year vesting period is below the 

percentage increase in the TSR of the comparator index; 25% of the awards that are subject to the TSR condition will vest if the percentage 

increase in the Company’s TSR is equal to the percentage increase in the TSR of the comparator index; rising on a straight-line basis to 100% 

vesting if the percentage increase in the Company’s TSR is equal to the increase in the TSR of the comparator index plus 10% per annum.  

The comparator index for these purposes is the FTSE SmallCap Index, excluding investment trusts.

Holding period

A mandatory two-year post-vesting holding period will apply to any shares received by executive directors on the vesting or exercise of the 

2018 PSP awards.

The 2018 awards made to the Executive Directors are set out below:

Director

Plan

awarded Nature of interest

% of salary 

Fariyal Khanbabi

PSP

100%

Nil-cost
option

Marty Rapp

PSP

125% Conditional
share award

1  Based on five-day average share price on date of award of £5.2520.

Exercise 
price per 
share

Number 
of shares 
subject to  
an award

Face
value of
an award1

Performance 
conditions

Date
of grant
of award

Date of
end of 
performance 
period

n/a

50,862

£267,131

TSR/EPS

15.03.18

31.12.20

n/a

104,280

£547,678

TSR/EPS

15.03.18

31.12.20

80

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Payments to past Directors or for loss of office (audited information)
Exit payments

Following the end of the 2017 financial year, Michael Sutsko stepped down as Group Chief Executive Officer of Dialight. The key elements of 

the remuneration package payable on leaving, which would continue to be paid during his 12-month garden leave, were fully disclosed in the 

2017 Annual Report and Accounts. Michael Sutsko then notified the Company on 23 August 2018 that he wished to bring forward the date of 

termination of his employment with the Company to 30 September 2018. As a result of this notice his outstanding deferred shares awarded as 

conditional shares as part of his 2017 bonus under the APBP vested on 30 September 2018. In relation to Michael Sutsko’s outstanding PSP 

awards, the Remuneration Committee had already exercised its discretion under the rules of the PSP to determine that these will vest on their 

normal vesting dates (subject to the satisfaction of the applicable performance conditions) and have already been pro-rated to reflect Michael’s 

revised leaving date of 30 September 2018. These PSP awards would not be subject to the usual mandatory two-year post-vesting holding period.

No bonus was paid in respect of 2017 performance as the 2017 EBIT targets were not met. He was not entitled to a bonus in respect of the 2018 

financial year. Up until his termination on 30 September 2018 he was entitled to a payment equivalent to the cost to the Company of continuing 

healthcare benefits under the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act 1985 for him and his qualified beneficiaries and the cost to The 
Company of his benefits under the Company’s group life insurance plan.

He will continue to be covered by his current tax equalisation programme, and the Company will continue to pay the reasonable cost of foreign 

tax advice, in relation to any year in which tax advice is required on earnings related to his employment by the Company.

The costs of Michael Sutsko’s compensation on leaving fell into the 2018 accounting period. The total costs (in thousands) paid in the year 

were $544 salary, $50 benefits, $91 pension and $30 for outplacement fees.

Implementation of the remuneration policy for 2019
Executive Director salaries

The Remuneration Committee will review the salary for the Group Chief Executive Officer and Group Finance Director with effect from 1 April 2019.

Pensions

The Group Chief Executive Officer does not currently participate in the SERP and will receive a cash payment in lieu of employer contribution of 

15% of base salary. The Group Chief Executive Officer does, however, participate in the 401(k) scheme and will receive an employer contribution 

of 3% of base salary in accordance with the plan rules.

The Group Finance Director will receive either a contribution of 15% of base salary into a defined contribution pension scheme or a cash payment 

in lieu.

APBP

The 2019 APBP will be based on targets linked primarily to EBIT performance with a small element based on personal objectives, as in 2018.  

The maximum annual bonus achievable will remain as 175% of salary in respect of Marty Rapp and 125% of salary in respect of Fariyal Khanbabi. 

Target bonuses will remain 100% of salary and 75% of salary respectively with any bonus earned above target being payable in the form of 

deferred shares, 50% of which vest after two years and 50% of which vest after three years.

It is the Remuneration Committee’s view that detailed disclosure of the performance targets in advance for the future financial year is  

commercially sensitive. The targets are based on profit projections for the year ahead which would provide the Company’s competitors with 

a potential commercial advantage and would also be price sensitive. The Remuneration Committee will, however, provide full retrospective 

disclosure of the performance conditions and targets at the end of the relevant financial year.

PSP 

PSP awards to Executive Directors for 2018 will be made in March or April this year, subject to EPS and TSR performance targets. The weighting on 

EPS was increased from 50% to 75% in 2017, with a commensurate reduction in the weighting on relative TSR from 50% to 25%. The Remuneration 

Committee is of the view that this rebalancing focuses participants on Dialight’s financial performance over the three-year vesting period of these 

awards, whilst also recognising the strong shareholder alignment and objectivity offered by TSR. Awards made to the Executive Directors continue 

to be subject to a two-year post-vesting holding period. At the time of the production of this Remuneration Report, the targets

81

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsAnnual report on remuneration continued

applying to the 2019 awards had not formally been approved by the Remuneration Committee. We will be finalising targets over the coming weeks, 

taking into account a range of internal and external reference points, and will provide full disclosure both at the time of award, and in next year’s 

Annual Report and Accounts.

Outstanding awards under the PSP and APBP (audited information)

Type of 
award

Award
date

Number at 
1 January 
2018

Awarded
in year

Vested
in year

Exercised
in year

Lapsed
in year

31 December
2018

Exercise 
price

Number at  

Earliest 
vesting/
exercise 
date

Expiry
date

Fariyal Khanbabi

PSP

PSP

APBP1

PSP

PSP

Total

NCO 07.04.15

32,325

NCO 16.03.16

49,240

NCO 09.03.17

2,384

NCO 24.03.17

26,588

–

–

–

–

NCO 16.03.18

–

50,862

–

–

(1,192)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(32,325)

–

–

–

–

–

49,240

1,192

26,588

50,862

110,537

50,862

(1,192)

– 

(32,325)

127,882

–

–

–

–

–

–

07.04.18

07.04.20

16.03.19

16.03.21

31.01.19

10.03.22

24.03.20

24.03.22

16.03.21

16.03.23

–

–

1   Of the 2,384 deferred share options originally awarded to Fariyal Khanbabi, 1,192 had vested on 31 January 2018 and the balance on 31 January 2019.

Type of 
award

Award
date

Number at 
1 January 
2018

Awarded
in year

Vested
in year

Exercised
in year

Lapsed
in year

31 December
2018

Exercise 
price

Number at  

Earliest 
vesting/
exercise 
date

Marty Rapp

PSP

Total

CSA

16.03.18

–

–

104,280

104,280

–

–

–

–

–

–

104,280

 104,280

–

–

16.03.21

–

Expiry
date

n/a

–

Notes:
CSA denotes conditional share awards. These are subject to performance conditions set out on page 70.
NCO denotes nil-cost options. These are subject to performance conditions set out on page 70.
The average closing market price of a share over the five trading days of 9–15 March 2018, which was used for the purpose of calculating award values on 16 March 2018,  
the date of the awards recorded in the tables above made during the year, was 525.2 pence.
Options under the PSP granted from 2015 are exercisable for two years from the date of vesting. Awards granted since 2018 are subject to a mandatory two-year post-vesting 
holding period.
Options under the APBP are exercisable for five years from the date of grant. 
Under the APBP scheme, awards vest 50% on or after 31 January in the second year after grant with the remaining 50% vesting on or after 31 January in the third year after grant.
During the year, the range of share prices was 295 pence to 650 pence, with the price on 31 December 2018 being 395 pence.

Executive directors’ shareholding guidelines
Executive Directors are currently required to accumulate and maintain a holding of Dialight shares equivalent in value to their last annual 

PSP award (i.e. currently 125% of salary for the Group Chief Executive and 100% for the Group Finance Director). In accordance with the 

guidelines, Executive Directors have five years from joining Dialight to acquire the requisite holding. All Dialight shares, whether purchased 

on the open market or received through vestings and/or exercises under the various Dialight share plans, shall be included to satisfy the 

requirements. The Dialight share price used to value a holding for the purposes of the guidelines will be the higher of: (i) the prevailing price  

on the date that the holding is valued; and (ii) the acquisition price (i.e. the price on the date on which the awards were acquired).

Whilst the Group Chief Executive Officer has over four years to accumulate the requirement holding, the Group Finance Director has until 

September 2019 to meet the required holding. Fariyal Khanbabi’s shareholding position reflects the fact that none of her PSP awards have 

vested in recent years. The Remuneration Committee is aware of the significance of Executive Directors having a personal holding of shares 

in Dialight as that creates an alignment of management’s interests with those of the shareholders. Although the Committee recognises the 

forthcoming deadline for Fariyal Khanbabi, the Remuneration Committee acknowledges the mitigating circumstances surrounding this issue.

82

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

The table below shows the holdings of ordinary shares in the Company as at 31 December 2018 by Executive Directors and their compliance 

with the guidelines:

Executive Director

Fariyal Khanbabi

Marty Rapp

Total shareholding of directors (audited information)

Marty Rapp

Fariyal Khanbabi

Wayne Edmunds

Stephen Bird

David Blood

David Thomas

Gaelle Hotellier

Steve Good

Shares held at 
1 January  

2018

5,483

13,500

Shares held at
31 December 
2018

6,675

46,000

Beneficially held shares1

Shares under incentive plans

Ordinary  
shares at  
1 January
2018 

Ordinary  
shares at 
31 December 

20182,

Unvested and/or  
subject to 
performance
conditions4

Subject to
deferral3

Shareholding 
guidelines  
met 

 13,500

 5,483

 –

 28,000

 –

 1,294

 882

 –

 46,000

 6,675 

 12,000

 41,728

 –

 5,994

 882 

7,500

 –

 104,280

1,192

 126,690

 –

 –

 –

–

–

–

 –

– 

 –

–

–

–

 No

 No

 –

 –

 –

–

–

–

1   Some of these shares are held through nominees.
2   50% of Fariyal Khanbabi’s 2016 APBP of 2,384 award became exercisable on 31 January 2019. 
3   Relates to deferred shares held under the APBP scheme.
4   Relates to outstanding awards under the PSP.

Directors’ service agreements and letters of appointment
The dates on which Directors’ initial service agreements/letters of appointment commenced and the expiry dates as at 31 December 2018  

are as follows:

Chairman and Executive Directors

Wayne Edmunds

Marty Rapp

Fariyal Khanbabi

Non-Executive Directors

Commencement date

Expiry date of current employment/service agreement or letter of appointment

25 January 2016

Letter of appointment was for an initial term of three years. 

8 January 2018

The agreement is terminable by the Company or by the Director on 12 months’ notice.

8 September 2014 The agreement is terminable by the Company or by the Director on six months’ notice.

Stephen Bird

10 January 2013

Letter of appointment was for an initial term of three years. During 2016, this was 

extended for a further three-year period. During 2019, this was extended for a further 

three-year period.

David Blood

1 July 2015

Letter of appointment was for an initial term of three years. During 2018, this was 

extended for a further three-year period.

David Thomas

Gaelle Hotellier

Steve Good

26 April 2016

Letter of appointment was for an initial term of three years. 

3 October 2016

Letter of appointment was for an initial term of three years. 

1 June 2018

Letter of appointment was for an initial term of three years.

83

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsOther statutory information

Activities
Dialight plc is a holding company. A list of its 

subsidiary companies, including its overseas 

Rights and obligations  
of ordinary shares
Holders of ordinary shares are entitled 

Restrictions on transfer of shares
There are no specific restrictions on the 

transfer of the Company’s shares, although 

branches, is set out on pages 132 and 133. 

to attend and speak at general meetings 

the Articles contain provisions whereby 

Our businesses by sector and their activities 

of the Company and to appoint one or 

Directors may refuse to register a transfer  

are set out on page 02.

more proxies or, if the holder of shares 

of a certificated share which is not fully paid.

Ordinary dividends
The Board is not proposing any final 

dividend payment for 2018 (2017: nil). 

The Group has a clear capital allocation 

discipline and is committed to returning 

future excess funds via future dividend  

or share repurchases.

Share capital and capital 
structure
Details of the share capital, together with 

details of the movements in the share capital 

during the year, are shown in note 16 to the 

financial statements. The Company has 

one class of ordinary share which carries 

no right to fixed income. Each share carries 

the right to one vote at general meetings of 

the Company. There are no other classes 

of share capital. There are no specific 

restrictions on the size of a holding nor on 

the transfer of shares, with both governed 

by the general provisions of the Articles of 

Association (the “Articles”) and prevailing 

legislation. No person has any special 

rights of control over the Company’s share 

capital and all issued shares are fully paid. 

No purchases by the Company of its 

own shares were made in 2018 under the 

authority granted at the 2018 AGM.

is a corporation, one or more corporate 

representatives. On a show of hands, each 

There are no other restrictions on the 

holder of ordinary shares who (being an 

transfer of ordinary shares in the Company 

individual) is present in person or (being a 

except certain restrictions which may 

corporation) is present by a duly appointed 

from time to time be imposed by laws 

corporate representative, not themselves 

and regulations (for example, insider 

being a member, shall have one vote, as 

trading laws). The Directors are not aware 

shall proxies (unless they are appointed 
by more than one holder, in which case 

of any agreements between holders of 
the Company’s shares that may result in 

they may vote both for and against the 

restrictions on the transfer of securities  

resolution in accordance with the holders’ 

or on voting rights.

instructions). On a poll, every holder of 

ordinary shares present in person or by 

proxy shall have one vote for every share 

of which they are the holder. Electronic 

and paper proxy appointments and voting 

Employee share plans
Details of employee share plans are set out 

in note 18 to the accounts.

instructions must be received not later than 

The Company currently operates three 

48 hours before the meeting. A holder of 

share plans: the Performance Share Plan 

ordinary shares can lose the entitlement to 

(PSP), the Annual Performance Bonus Plan 

vote at general meetings where that holder 

(APBP) and, an all-employee Sharesave 

has been served with a disclosure notice 

and has failed to provide the Company 

with information concerning interests held 

in those shares. Except as set out above 

Plan. Further details of these share plans are 

provided in the report of the Remuneration 

Committee on pages 69 and 70. The rules 

of the PSP provide that, in the event of a 

and as permitted under applicable statutes, 

change of control through a general offer 

there are no limitations on voting rights  

of holders of a given percentage, number  

of votes or deadlines for exercising  

voting rights. 

84

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

or scheme of arrangement, shares subject 

to awards under the PSP could be released 

within one month of the date of notification 

of the likely change of control. The rules of 

the Sharesave Plan have special provisions 
which also allow for early exercise in the 

event of a change of control, reconstruction 

or winding up of the Company. Internal 

reorganisations do not automatically trigger 

the early exercise of options. The Company 

has established the Dialight Employees’ 

Share Ownership Plan Trust (“ESOT”) 

in respect of which all employees of the 

Group, including Executive Directors, are 

potential beneficiaries. The ESOT held no 

shares as at 31 December 2018 (2017: Nil). 

The Trustees of the ESOT retain the voting 

rights over the shares held in the ESOT and 

may exercise these rights independent of 

the interests of the Company.

Appointment and replacement  
of Directors
With regard to the appointment and 

Powers of Directors
The powers of Directors are described in 

Allotment authority
Under the Companies Act 2006, the 

the Articles and in the Matters Reserved 

Directors may only allot shares if authorised 

replacement of Directors, the Company 

for the Board, copies of which are available 

by shareholders to do so. At the Annual 

is governed by its Articles of Association, 

on request from the Company Secretary, 

General Meeting, an ordinary resolution will 

the UK Corporate Governance Code, the 

and are summarised in the Corporate 

be proposed which, if passed, will authorise 

Companies Act and related legislation. 

Governance Report on page 53.

the Directors to allot and issue new shares 

Directors can be appointed by the Company 

by ordinary resolution at a general meeting 

or by the Board. If a Director is appointed 

by the Board, such Director will hold office 

until the next annual general meeting and 

shall then be eligible subject to Board 

recommendation, for election at that 
meeting. Notwithstanding the fact that 

Essential contracts and change 
of control
The Directors are not aware of there being 

any significant agreements that contain 

any material change of control provisions 

to which the Company is a party, other 
than in respect of the five-year unsecured 

up to an aggregate nominal value that is in 

line with Investment Association guidelines 

In accordance with the Directors’ stated 

intention to seek annual renewal, the 

authority will expire at the conclusion 

of the annual general meeting of the 

Company in 2020. Passing this resolution 
will give the Directors flexibility to act in 

the Company is deemed to be a smaller 

£25m multi-currency revolving credit facility 

the best interests of shareholders, when 

company under the 2016 Code, it voluntary 

with HSBC Bank plc (“HSBC”) which was 

opportunities arise, by issuing new shares.

meets the requirement under Code B.7.1 of 

originally entered into in 2014 and which was 

the 2016 Code that each of the Directors, 

extended in December 2016 on substantially 

The Companies Act 2006 also requires that, 

being eligible, will offer themselves for 

the same terms for a duration of five years 

if the Company issues new shares for cash 

election or re-election at this year’s Annual 

expiring on December 2021, approved 

or sells any treasury shares, it must first offer 

General Meeting. The Company can remove 

for renewal at the December 2016 Board 

them to existing shareholders in proportion 

a Director from office, either by passing a 

special resolution or by notice being given 

meeting. Under the terms of that facility, 

and in the event of a change of control of 

to their current holdings. At the Annual 

General Meeting, a special resolution will be 

by all the other Directors. The Articles 

the Company, HSBC can withdraw funding 

proposed which, if passed, will authorise the 

themselves may be amended by special 

and all outstanding loans, accrued interests 

Directors to issue a limited number of shares 

resolution of the shareholders.

and other amounts due and owing become 

for cash and/or sell treasury shares without 

payable within 30 days of the change.

offering them to shareholders first. The 

Substantial interests in shares
As at 1 February 2019, the Company had been notified, in accordance with chapter 5  

of the Disclosure and Transparency Rules, of the following voting rights as a shareholder  

of the Company.

Shareholder

Generation Investment Management

Schroder Investment Management

Impax Asset Management

Sterling Strategic Valuation Fund

Aberforth Partners

Financiere de l’Echiquier

GVQ Investment Management

AXA Investment Management

Blackmoor Investment Partners

Holding

6,532,248

3,744,131

2,910,646

2,286,175

2,250,306

1,922,321

1,215,550

1,109,079

1,073,752

%

Voting  
rights

20.08

11.51

8.95

7.03

6.92

5.91

3.74

3.41

3.40

authority is for an aggregate nominal amount 

of up to 10% of the issued share capital of 

the Company as at Annual General Meeting, 

of which 5% of the issued share capital can 

only be issued for the purposes of financing 

an acquisition or other capital investment. 

The Company’s Annual General Meeting  
will be held on 17 April 2019. The Notice  

of Meeting, together with an explanation  

of the proposed resolutions, is enclosed 

with this Annual Report and Accounts and  

is also available on the Company’s website  

at www.ir.dialight.com. 

85

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsOther statutory information continued

Auditor
Each of the persons who is a Director at the 

date of approval of this Annual Report and 

There have been no significant events since 

the balance sheet date. An indication of the 

likely future developments in the business 

Accounts confirms that:

 – so far as the Director is aware, there is 

no relevant audit information of which the 

Company’s Auditor is unaware; and

 – the Director has taken all the steps that 

he/she ought to have taken as a Director 

in order to make himself/herself aware 

of any relevant audit information and to 

establish that the Company’s Auditor is 

aware of that information.

This confirmation is given and should 

be interpreted in accordance with the 

provisions of Section 418 of the Companies 

Act 2006.

of the Company and details of research 

and development activities are included 

in the Strategic Report on pages 12 to 17. 

Details related to employee matters are 

in the Our people section on pages 24 

and 25. Environmental matters, including 

greenhouse gas emissions reporting, are 

included within the Sustainability Report  

on pages 26 and 27.

Information about the use of financial 

instruments by the Company and its 

subsidiaries is given in note 12 to the 

financial statements.

Information on the Company’s political and 

charitable contributions during the year is 

The Board is recommending to shareholders 

set out on page 23.

the re-appointment of KPMG as auditor of 

the Company and a resolution authorising 

the Directors to set its remuneration will 

be proposed at the forthcoming Annual 

General Meeting.

Scope of the reporting in this 
Annual Report and Accounts
The Directors present their Annual Report 

on the affairs of the Group, together with the 

financial statements and Auditor’s Report, 

for the year ended 31 December 2018. The 

Corporate governance report set out on 

pages 44 to 87, which includes details of the 

Directors who served during the year, forms 
part of this report.

For the purposes of compliance with  

DTR 4.1.5 R(2) and DTR 4.1.8 R, the required 

content of the management report can  

be found in the Strategic Report and  

these regulatory disclosures, including  

the sections of the Annual Report and 

Accounts incorporated by reference.

By order of the Board.

Ronan Sheehy

Group Financial Controller 

05 March 2019

86

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Directors’ responsibility statement

The Directors are responsible for preparing 

The Directors are responsible for keeping 

the Annual Report and the Group and parent 

adequate accounting records that are 

company financial statements in accordance 

sufficient to show and explain the parent 

with applicable law and regulations.

company’s transactions and disclose 

Responsibility statement of the 
Directors in respect of the annual 
financial report
We confirm that to the best of our 

with reasonable accuracy at any time the 

knowledge:

 – 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 or loss of the 

Company and the undertakings included 

in consolidation taken as a whole; and

 – the Directors’ and Corporate governance 

reports include a fair review of the 

development and performance of the 

business and the position of the issuer 

and the undertakings included in the 

consolidation taken as a whole, together 

with a description of the principal risks 

and uncertainties that they face.

We consider the annual report and 

accounts, taken as a whole, is fair, balanced 

and understandable and provides the 

information necessary for shareholders 

to assess the Group’s position and 

performance, business model and strategy.

For and on the behalf of the Board  

of Dialight plc.

Martin L. Rapp

Group Chief 

Executive

Fariyal Khanbabi

Group Finance 

Director

05 March 2019

05 March 2019

Company law requires the Directors 

financial position of the parent company 

to prepare Group and parent company 

and enable them to ensure that its financial 

financial statements for each financial 

statements comply with the Companies Act 

year. Under that law they are required to 

2006. They are responsible for such internal 

prepare the Group financial statements 

control as they determine is necessary 

in accordance with the International 

to enable the preparation of financial 

Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”) as 

statements that are free from material 

adopted by the European Union (“EU”) and 

misstatement, whether due to fraud or  

applicable law and have elected to prepare 

error, and have general responsibility for 

the parent company financial statements in 

taking such steps as are reasonably open  

accordance with UK Accounting Standards, 

to them to safeguard the assets of the 

including FRS 102 the financial reporting 

Group and to prevent and detect fraud  

standard applicable in the UK and Republic 

and other irregularities.

of Ireland.

Under applicable law and regulation, 

Under company law, the Directors must not 

the Directors are also responsible for 

approve the financial statements unless they 

preparing a Strategic report, Directors’ 

are satisfied that they give a true and fair 

report, Directors’ remuneration report and 

view of the state of affairs of the Group and 

Corporate governance statement that 

parent company and of their profit or loss for 

comply with that law and those regulations.

that period. In preparing each of the Group 

and parent company financial statements, 

The Directors are responsible for the 

the Directors are required to:

maintenance and integrity of the corporate 

and financial information included on the 

 – select suitable accounting policies and 

Company’s website. Legislation in the UK 

then apply them consistently;

governing the preparation and dissemination 

 – make judgements and estimates that are 

of financial statements may differ from 

reasonable, relevant, reliable and prudent;

legislation in other jurisdictions.

 – for the Group financial statements, state 

whether they have been prepared in 

accordance with IFRS as adopted by  
the EU;

 – for the parent company financial 

statements, state whether applicable 

UK Accounting Standards have been 

followed, subject to any material 

departures disclosed and explained in the 

parent company financial statements; and

 – assess the Group and parent Company 

ability to continue as a going concern, 

disclosing, as applicable, matters related 

to going concern; and

 – use the going concern basis of 

accounting unless they either intend 

to liquidate the Group or the parent 

Company or to cease operations, or have 

no realistic alternative but to do so.

87

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIndependent auditor’s report to the members of Dialight plc

1. Our opinion is unmodified
We have audited the financial statements of Dialight plc (“the Company”) for the year ended 31 December 2018 which comprise the 

Consolidated income statement, Consolidated statement of comprehensive income, Consolidated statement of changes in equity, 

Consolidated statement of total financial position, Consolidated statement of cash flows, Company balance sheet, Company statement of 

changes in equity and the related notes, including the accounting policies in note 3 and note 30.

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 December 2018 and 

of the Group’s profit for the year then ended;

 – the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by 

the European Union;

 – the parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK accounting standards, including FRS 102 The 

Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland; 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 are 

described below. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is a sufficient and appropriate basis for our opinion. Our audit opinion is 

consistent with our report to the audit committee.

We were first appointed as auditor by the directors in 2001.  The period of total uninterrupted engagement is for the 18 financial years ended 

31 December 2018. We have fulfilled our ethical responsibilities under, and we remain independent of the Group in accordance with, UK ethical 

requirements including the FRC Ethical Standard as applied to listed public interest entities. No non-audit services prohibited by that standard 

were provided.

Overview

Materiality: Group financial statements as a whole

£0.37m (2017:£0.45m) 4.75% (2017: 4.75%) of normalised profit before tax

Coverage

95% (2017:95%) of normalised group profit before tax

Key audit matters vs 2017

New risks

Recurring risks

New: The impact of uncertainties due to the UK exiting the European Union on our audit

New: Going concern

New: Recoverability of deferred tax assets

  Inventory valuation

Revenue recognition

Valuation of capitalised development costs

Carrying amount of investments in subsidiaries (Company only)

2. Key audit matters: including our assessment of risks of material misstatement
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgment, were of most significance in the audit of the financial statements and 
include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) identified by us, including 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. We 

summarise below the key audit matters, in arriving at our audit opinion above, together with our key audit procedures to address those matters 

and, as required for public interest entities, our results from those procedures.  These matters were addressed, and our results are based on 

88

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

procedures undertaken, in the context of, and solely for the purpose of, our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our 

opinion thereon, and consequently are incidental to that opinion, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.

The impact of 

Unprecedented levels of 

Our response 

The risk

Our response

uncertainties due to 

uncertainty

We developed a standardised firm-wide approach to the consideration of 

the UK exiting the 

All audits assess and challenge the 

the uncertainties arising from Brexit in planning and performing our audits. 

European Union on our 

reasonableness of estimates, in 

Our procedures included:

audit

particular as described in valuation 

Refer to page 34 

(principal risks),  

page 61 (viability 
statement), page 62 

(Audit Committee 

Report).

of inventory, recoverability of 

 – Our Brexit knowledge – We considered the directors’ assessment of 

capitalised development costs, 

Brexit-related sources of risk for the group’s business and financial 

recoverability of deferred tax assets 

resources compared with our own understanding of the risks. We 

and carrying value of investments 

considered the directors’ plans to take action to mitigate the risks.

in subsidiaries below, and related 

disclosures and the appropriateness 

Sensitivity analysis

of the going concern basis of 

preparation of the financial 

statements (see below). All of these 

depend on assessments of the 

future economic environment and 

the group’s future prospects and 

performance.

 – When addressing recoverability of capitalised development costs, 

recoverability of deferred tax assets, carrying value of investments in 

subsidiaries, going concern and other areas that depend on forecasts, 

we compared the directors’ analysis to our assessment of the full range 

of reasonably possible scenarios resulting from Brexit uncertainty and, 

where forecast cash flows are required to be discounted, considered 

adjustments to discount rates for the level of remaining uncertainty.

In addition, we are required to 

consider the other information 

presented in the Annual Report 

including the principal risks 

 – As well as assessing individual disclosures as part of our procedures 

on valuation of inventory, recoverability of deferred tax assets and 

recoverability of capitalised development costs we considered all of the 

Brexit related disclosures together, including those in the strategic report, 

comparing the overall picture against our understanding of the risks.

disclosure and the viability statement 

and to consider the directors’ 

Our results 

As reported under valuation of inventory, recoverability of capitalised 

development costs, recoverability of deferred tax assets, and carrying value 

of investments in subsidiaries, we found the resulting estimates and related 

disclosures of the above and disclosures in relation to going concern 

to be acceptable. However, no audit should be expected to predict the 

unknowable factors or all possible future implications for a company and 

this is particularly the case in relation to Brexit.

statement that the annual report and 

financial statements taken as a whole 

is fair, balanced and understandable 

and provides the information 

necessary for shareholders to 

assess the Group’s position and 

performance, business model and 

strategy.

Brexit is one of the most significant 

economic events for the UK and at 

the date of this report its effects are 

subject to unprecedented levels of 

uncertainty of outcomes, with the full 

range of possible effects unknown.

89

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIndependent auditor’s report continued

Going concern

Disclosure quality

Our procedures included:

The risk

Our response

The financial statements explain how 

the Board has formed a judgement 

that it is appropriate to adopt the 

going concern basis of preparation 

for the group and parent company.

That judgement is based on an 

evaluation of the inherent risks to the 

Group’s and Company’s business 

model and how those risks might 

affect the Group’s and Company’s 

financial resources or ability to 

continue operations over a period 

of at least a year from the date of 

approval of the financial statements.

The risks most likely to adversely 

affect the Group’s and Company’s 

available financial resources over this 

period were:

 – Significant loss of customers;

 – The impact of a significant 

Funding assessment: 

We assessed the financing facility arrangement and tested the relevant 

covenants.

Historical comparisons: 

We assessed the directors’ track record of forecasts vs actual cash flows 

achieved in the year and previously.

Sensitivity analysis: 

We considered sensitivities over the level of available financial resources 
indicated by the Group’s financial forecasts taking account of reasonably 

possible adverse effects that could arise from these risks individually and 

collectively.

We reviewed and challenged management’s sensitivity analysis in relation to 

key assumptions which are revenue growth, cost savings and gross margin.  

Assessing transparency:

We assessed the completeness and accuracy of the matters covered in the 

going concern disclosure.

Our results: 

We found the going concern disclosure without any material uncertainty to 

business continuity issue affecting 

be acceptable.

the Group’s manufacturing facilities 

or those of its suppliers;

There are also less predictable but 

realistic second order impacts, such 

as the impact of erosion of customer 

or supplier confidence, which could 

result in a rapid reduction of available 

financial resources.The risk for our 

audit was whether or not those 

risks were such that they amounted 

to a material uncertainty that may 

have cast significant doubt about 

the ability to continue as a going 

concern. Had they been such, then 

that fact would have been required 

to have been disclosed.  In the event 

where there is no material uncertainty 

that may have cast significant doubt 

about the ability to continue as a 

going concern, we consider whether 

the going concern disclosure is 

appropriate. 

90

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Inventory valuation 
(£46.0 million;  

2017: £24.6 million)

The risk

Our response

Subjective estimate

Our procedures included:

The Group operates in an industry 

Tests of detail:

whereby developments in product 

technology may result in inventory 

Recalculating (using Data & Analytics ‘D&A’) the provision in line with 

Group’s policy. We tested the integrity of the ageing and usage data by 

Refer to page 65 (Audit 

becoming slow moving or obsolete. 

selecting a sample of transactions to vouch to source information.

Committee Report), 

page 103 (accounting 

policy) and page 115 

(financial disclosures).

These factors, in turn, may mean that 

inventory cannot be sold or sales 

Personnel interview

prices are discounted to less than the 

inventory carrying value. 

We enquired with management about discontinued products lines and 

then assessed, if appropriate, whether a provision has been recognised in 

The termination of the Sanmina 

outsourcing agreement in the 

current year resulted in the Company 

purchasing back large quantities of 

inventory.  As a result the Group has 

undergone operational changes as 

such there is increased estimation 

and so inherent risk associated with 

the method of costing inventory in 

the US and Malaysia components 

relating to sub-assemblies and 

finished goods.   

The effect of these matters is that, 

as part of our risk assessment, 

we determined that the valuation 

of inventory has a high degree 

of estimation uncertainty, with 

a potential range of reasonable 

outcomes greater than our materiality 

for the financial statements as a 

whole.

relation to those products. 

Our sector experience:

We formed our own expectation of the stock provision based on stock 

usage and ageing and compared this to management’s provision and 

challenged management where differences arose. 

Historical comparisons:

We performed a retrospective review of the historical accuracy of provisions 

previously recognised against actual inventory write off in the year.

Tests of detail:

We tested the carrying value of inventory by comparing the carrying value to 

average sales margin for each product to assess whether those items were 

held at the lower of cost or net realisable value.

Tests of detail:

In the US and Malaysia components, we tested the accuracy of inventory by 

recalculating the inventory costing in accordance with the Group’s inventory 

accounting policy. We assessed the level of overheads and labour absorbed 

in the inventory costing. Our work included assessing the appropriateness 

of the costing policy in accordance with IAS2.

Assessing transparency:

We assessed the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures of the critical 

accounting estimates, judgements and assumptions and accounting policy 

and whether they properly reflect the judgements and estimates inherent in 

valuing inventory. 

Our results:

We found the resulting estimate of the recoverable amount of inventory to 

be acceptable (2017: acceptable)..

91

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIndependent auditor’s report continued

The risk

Our response

Revenue recognition 
(£169.6 million; 

Accounting application
There is a risk that transactions 

Our procedures included:

Accounting analysis:

2017: £181.0 million)

completed just before or after the 

We reviewed specific commercial terms applied by the various businesses 

year end could be recorded in the 

within the group and made our own independent assessment of the 

Refer to page 65 (Audit 

incorrect period due to the high 

appropriate point in time to recognise revenue having regard to the 

Committee Report), 

volume of transactions close to the 

requirements of the relevant accounting standards. 

page 104 (accounting 

year-end reporting deadline.

policy) and page 106 

Tests of detail:

(financial disclosures).

The Group also has a number of 

customers who have different 

contractual terms meaning that the 

transfer of control of the goods 

occurs at different timings (such 

as on dispatch, on receipt at port 

of destination and on receipt by 

customer) with the result that there is 

an increased risk that revenue may not 

be recognised in the correct period for 

such sales occurring near to year end.

We challenged the recognition of revenue for a sample of items from either 

side of the financial year end by reference to the identified trigger event 

for revenue recognition from the contractual agreement and checked that 

performance obligations have been satisfied, and traced back to third party 

carrier documentation to confirm revenue was recognised in the correct 

period.

Our results:
We found the resulting recognition of revenue to be acceptable (2017: 

acceptable).

Recoverability 

of capitalised 

development costs  
(£6.3 million;  

2017: £4.1 million)

Forecast-based valuation

Our procedures included:

The group has significant intangible 

Historical comparisons:

assets from capitalised development 

For closed projects, we performed an impairment review for a sample of 

costs. Judgement is required 

around the ongoing viability of the 

development projects by challenging the carrying value through forecast 

sales data and referencing to actual sales and gross margin achieved during 

Refer to page 65 (Audit 

the resulting intangible assets are at 

capitalised development projects and 

the year.

Committee Report), 

page 106 (accounting 

policy) and page 113 

(financial disclosures).

risk of impairment. 

Our sector experience:

The effect of these matters is that, 

as part of our risk assessment, we 

determined that the recoverable 

amount of capitalised development 

costs has a high degree of estimation 

uncertainty, with a potential range 

of reasonable outcomes greater 

than our materiality for the financial 

statements as a whole.

We challenged the assessment of the viability of a sample of projects through 

discussion with finance and engineering management. 

Benchmarking assumptions:

We challenged the sales forecasts by considering external evidence (if any) 
from third party sources.

Accessing transparency:

We assessed the adequacy of the Group’s disclosures about the judgement 

used in determining the carrying value of the capitalised development costs.

Personnel interview

We enquired with management about specific projects to understand 

their status.  For closed projects we enquired whether they were revenue 

generative or included within the forecasts to be revenue generative. For 

open projects we enquired with management about the feasibility of those 

projects.

Our results:

We found the valuation of capitalised development costs to be acceptable 

(2017: acceptable).

92

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

 
Recoverability of 

Forecast based valuation

Our procedures included:

The risk

Our response

deferred tax assets  
(£4.9 million;  

2017: £4.6 million)

Refer to page 65 (Audit 

Committee Report), 

page 104 (accounting 

policy) and page 115 

(financial disclosures).

The group has significant deferred 
tax assets in respect of tax losses in 
Dialight Europe Limited and Dialight 
GmbH. There is inherent uncertainty 
involved in forecasting future taxable 
profits, which determines the extent 
to which deferred tax assets are or 
are not recognised. 

The effect of these matters is that, 
as part of our risk assessment, we 
determined that the recoverable 
amount of deferred tax assets 
has a high degree of estimation 
uncertainty, with a potential range 
of reasonable outcomes greater 
than our materiality for the financial 
statements as a whole.

Assessing forecasts:

We assessed forecasts and challenged assumptions used, in particular 
those relating to forecast revenue growth and profit margins in Dialight 
Europe Limited and Dialight GmbH.

Our tax expertise:

We used our own tax specialists to assist us in assessing the recoverability 
of the tax losses against the forecast future taxable profits, taking into 
account the group’s tax position, the timing of forecast taxable profits, and 
our knowledge and experience of the application of relevant tax legislation.

Assessing transparency:

We also assessed the adequacy of the group’s disclosures about the 
recognition of deferred tax assets and the key assumptions.

Our results:

We found the recoverability of deferred tax assets to be acceptable.

Recoverability of 

Low risk, high value

Our procedures included:

parent company’s 

The carrying amount of the 

Tests of detail:

investment 

in subsidiaries

(£16.3 million;  

2017: £17.9 million)

parent company’s investments in 

subsidiaries represents 25.8% (2017: 

30.4%) of the company’s total assets. 

Their recoverability is not at a high 

risk of significant misstatement or 

We compared the carrying amount of 100% of the investment balance with 
the relevant subsidiaries’ balance sheets to identify whether their net assets, 
being an approximation of their minimum recoverable amount, were in 
excess of their carrying amount.

subject to significant judgement. 

Assessing subsidiary audits:

Refer to page 65 (Audit 

However, due to their materiality in 

Committee Report), 

page 132 (accounting 

policy) and page 135 

(financial disclosures).

the context of the parent company 

financial statements, this is 

considered to be the area that had 

We assessed the work performed by the subsidiary audit teams on all 
of those subsidiaries and considered the results of that work, on those 
subsidiaries’ profits and net assets.

the greatest effect on our overall 

Our results 

parent company audit.

We found the Group’s assessment of the recoverability of parent company 
investments in subsidiaries to be acceptable. (2017: acceptable).

3. Our application of materiality and an overview of the scope of our audit 
Materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole was set at £0.37 million (2017: £0.45m), determined with reference to a benchmark 
of group profit before tax, normalised to exclude this year’s non-underlying items as disclosed in note 5 of £0.4 million (of which it represents 
4.75% (2017: 4.75%)).

Materiality for the parent company financial statements as a whole was set at £0.24m (2017: £0.3m), determined with reference to a benchmark 
of gross assets, of which it represents 0.4% (2017: 0.5%).

We agreed to report to the Audit Committee any corrected or uncorrected identified misstatements exceeding £18,000, in addition to other 
identified misstatements that warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.

Of the Group’s nine (2017: nine) reporting components, we subjected five (2017: four) to full scope audits for group purposes and one (2017: 
two) to specified risk- focused audit procedures. The latter were not individually financially significant enough to require a full scope audit for 
group purposes, and did present specific individual risks that needed to be addressed. The group team performed procedures on the items 
excluded from normalised group profit before tax.

93

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIndependent auditor’s report continued

The components within the scope of our work accounted for the percentages illustrated opposite. For the residual components we performed 

analysis at an aggregated group level to re-examine our assessment that there were no significant risks of material misstatement within these.

The Group team instructed component auditors as to the significant areas to be covered, including the relevant risks detailed above and the 

information to be reported back. The Group team approved each component materiality, at £0.24 million, having regard to the mix of size and 

risk profile of the Group across components. The work on two of the nine components (2017: three of the nine components) was performed by 

component auditors and the rest, including the audit of the parent company, was performed by the Group team.

Telephone conference meetings were held with two component auditor and the other component sites were not physically visited. At these 

meetings, the findings reported to the Group team were discussed in more detail, and any further work required by the Group team was  then 

performed by the component auditor.

Normalised profit before tax
£7.8m (2017: £9.4m)

Group materiality
£0.37m (2017: £0.45m)

£0.37m
Whole financial statements materiality (2017: £0.45m)

Normalised profit before tax
Group materiality

Group revenue

Group profit before tax

£0.24m
Materiality at 7 components £0.24m (2017: £0.19m to £0.35m)

£0.018m
Misstatements reported to the audit committee
(2017: £0.023m)

6%

3%

9%

88%

92%

98%

(2017: 97%)

6%

9%

26%

95%

(2017: 91%)

65%

89%

Group total assets

Group profit before non-underlying items and tax

3%

4%

6%

94%

91%

95%

(2017: 97%)

5%

5%

5%

18%

95%

(2017: 95%)

77%

90%

94

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Full scope for Group audit purposes 2018
Specified risk-focused audit procedures 2018
Residual components 2018
Full scope for Group audit purposes 2017
Specified risk-focused audit procedures 2017
Residual components 2017

4. We have nothing to report on going concern 
The Directors have prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis as they do not intend to liquidate the Company or the Group 

or to cease their operations, and as they have concluded that the Company’s and the Group’s financial position means that this is realistic. 

They have also concluded that there are no material uncertainties that could have cast significant doubt over their ability to continue as a going 

concern for at least a year from the date of approval of the financial statements (“the going concern period”).

Our responsibility is to conclude on the appropriateness of the Directors’ conclusions and, had there been a material uncertainty related to 

going concern, to make reference to that in this audit report. However, as we cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent 

events may result in outcomes that are inconsistent with judgements that were reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of 

reference to a material uncertainty in this auditor’s report is not a guarantee that the Group and the Company will continue in operation.

We identified going concern as a key audit matter (see section 2 of this report). Based on the work described in our response to that key audit 

matter, we are required to report to you if:

•  we have anything material to add or draw attention to in relation to the directors’ statement in Note 2 to the financial statements on the use of 

the going concern basis of accounting with no material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt over the Group and Company’s use of 

that basis for a period of at least twelve months from the date of approval of the financial statements; or

•  the related statement under the Listing Rules set out on page 61 is materially inconsistent with our audit knowledge.

We have nothing to report in these respects.

5. We have nothing to report on the other information in the Annual Report
The directors are responsible for the other information presented in the Annual Report together with the financial statements. Our opinion 

on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, accordingly, we do not express an audit opinion or, except as explicitly 

stated below, any form of assurance conclusion thereon.

Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether, based on our financial statements audit work, the 

information therein is materially misstated or inconsistent with the financial statements or our audit knowledge. Based solely on that work we 

have not identified material misstatements in the other information.

Strategic report and directors’ report 

Based solely on our work on the other information:

 – we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report and the directors’ report;
 – in our opinion the information given in those reports for the financial year is consistent with the financial statements; and

 – in our opinion those reports have been prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Directors’ remuneration report 

In our opinion the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the Companies Act 2006.

Disclosures of principal risks and longer-term viability 

Based on the knowledge we acquired during our financial statements audit, we have nothing material to add or draw attention to in relation to:

 – the directors’ confirmation within the Viability statement on page 61 that they have carried out a robust assessment of the principal risks 

facing the Group, including those that would threaten its business model, future performance, solvency and liquidity;

 – the Principal Risks disclosures describing these risks and explaining how they are being managed and mitigated; and

 – the directors’ explanation in the Viability statement of how they have assessed the prospects of the Group, over what period they have done 

so and why they considered that period to be appropriate, and their statement as to whether they have a reasonable expectation that the 

Group will be able to continue in operation and meet its liabilities as they fall due over the period of their assessment, including any related 

disclosures drawing attention to any necessary qualifications or assumptions.

95

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsIndependent auditor’s report continued

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review the Viability statement. We have nothing to report in this respect.

Our work is limited to assessing these matters in the context of only the knowledge acquired during our financial statements audit. As we 

cannot predict all future events or conditions and as subsequent events may result in outcomes that are inconsistent with judgments that 

were reasonable at the time they were made, the absence of anything to report on these statements is not a guarantee as to the Group’s and 

Company’s longer-term viability.

Corporate governance disclosures 

We are required to report to you if: 

 – we have identified material inconsistencies between the knowledge we acquired during our financial statements audit and the directors’ 

statement that they consider that the annual report and financial statements taken as a whole is fair, balanced and understandable and 

provides the information necessary for shareholders to assess the Group’s position and performance, business model and strategy; or

 – the section of the annual report describing the work of the Audit Committee does not appropriately address matters communicated by us to 

the Audit Committee

We are required to report to you if the Corporate Governance Statement does not properly disclose a departure from the eleven provisions of 

the UK Corporate Governance Code specified by the Listing Rules for our review.

We have nothing to report in these respects.

6. We have nothing to report on the other matters on which we are required to report by exception 
Under the Companies Act 2006, we are required 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. 

We have nothing to report in these respects. 

7. Respective responsibilities 
Directors’ responsibilities 

As explained more fully in their statement set out on page 87, the directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements 

including being satisfied that they give a true and fair view; such internal control as they determine is necessary to enable the preparation of 

financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error; assessing the Group and 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 they 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 

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 other irregularities (see below), or error, and to issue our opinion in an auditor’s report. Reasonable assurance is a high 
level of assurance, but does not guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement 
when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud, other irregularities or error and are considered material if, individually or in aggregate, they 
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements.

A fuller description of our responsibilities is provided on the FRC’s website at www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities.

96

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Irregularities – ability to detect

We identified areas of laws and regulations that could reasonably be expected to have a material effect on the financial statements from our 

general commercial and sector experience, through discussion with the directors and other management (as required by auditing standards), 

and from inspection of the group’s regulatory and legal correspondence and discussed with the directors and other management the policies 

and procedures regarding compliance with laws and regulations. We communicated identified laws and regulations throughout our team and 

remained alert to any indications of non-compliance throughout the audit. This included communication from the group to component audit 

teams of relevant laws and regulations identified at group level.

The potential effect of these laws and regulations on the financial statements varies considerably.

Firstly, the group is subject to laws and regulations that directly affect the financial statements including financial reporting legislation (including 

related companies legislation), taxation legislation and distributable profits legislation and we assessed the extent of compliance with these 

laws and regulations as part of our procedures on the related financial statement items.

Secondly, the group is subject to many other laws and regulations where the consequences of non-compliance could have a material effect 

on amounts or disclosures in the financial statements, for instance through the imposition of fines or litigation or the loss of the group’s 

licence to operate. We identified the following areas as those most likely to have such an effect: health and safety, anti-bribery, employment 

law, regulatory capital and liquidity and certain aspects of company legislation recognising the financial and regulated nature of the group’s 

activities.

Auditing standards limit the required audit procedures to identify non-compliance with these laws and regulations to enquiry of the directors 

and other management and inspection of regulatory and legal correspondence, if any. These limited procedures did not identify actual or 

suspected non-compliance.

Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable risk that we may not have detected some material misstatements in the 

financial statements, even though we have properly planned and performed our audit in accordance with auditing standards. For example, 

the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations (irregularities) is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial 

statements, the less likely the inherently limited procedures required by auditing standards would identify it. In addition, as with any audit, there 

remained a higher risk of non-detection of irregularities, as these may involve collusion, forgery, intentional omissions, misrepresentations, or 

the override of internal controls. We are not responsible for preventing non-compliance and cannot be expected to detect non-compliance with 

all laws and regulations.

8. The purpose of our audit work and to whom we owe our responsibilities 
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 Neale (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of KPMG LLP, Statutory Auditor 

Chartered Accountants 

15 Canada Square, London E14 5GL

05 March 2019

97

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsConsolidated income statement
for the year ended 31 December 2018

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit 

Distribution costs

Administrative expenses

Profit/(loss) from operating activities

Financial income 

Financial expense

Net financing expense

Profit/(loss) before income tax

Income tax (expense)/credit

Profit/(loss) for the year

Profit for the year attributable to:

Equity owners of the Company

Non-controlling interests

Profit for the year

Earnings per share

Basic

Diluted 

Twelve months ended  
31 December 2018

Twelve months ended  
31 December 2017

Underlying  

underlying  

Non-

£’m

181.0

(114.3)

66.7

(34.0)

(23.0)

9.7

–

(0.3)

(0.3)

9.4

(3.5)

5.9

£’m

–

–

–

–

(6.4)

(6.4)

–

–

–

(6.4)

2.2

(4.2)

Underlying 
£’m

Non-

underlying  

£’m

169.6

(109.3)

60.3

(30.4)

(21.9)

8.0

–

(0.2)

(0.2)

7.8

(2.2)

5.6

–

–

–

–

(0.4)

(0.4)

–

–

–

(0.4)

0.1

(0.3)

Note

4

4

7

4

8

9

17

17

Total  
£’m

169.6

(109.3)

60.3

(30.4)

(22.3)

7.6

–

(0.2)

(0.2)

7.4

(2.1)

5.3

5.2

0.1

5.3

16.4p

16.1p

Total  
£’m

181.0

(114.3)

66.7

(34.0)

(29.4)

3.3

–

(0.3)

(0.3)

3.0

(1.3)

1.7

1.3

0.4

1.7

4.8p

4.8p

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

98

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 December 2018

Other comprehensive income

Items that may be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

Exchange difference on translation of foreign operations

Income tax on exchange difference on translation of foreign operations

Items that will not be reclassified subsequently to profit and loss

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension liability

Income tax on remeasurement of defined benefit pension liability

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Profit for the year

Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year

Attributable to:

Owners of the parent

Non-controlling interests 

Total comprehensive income/(expense) for the year

Note

2018 
£’m

2017 
£’m

18

18

4.2

(0.3)

3.9

(0.6)

0.1

(0.5)

3.4

5.3

8.7

8.6

0.1

8.7

(5.6)

0.6

(5.0)

1.9

(0.4)

1.5

(3.5)

1.7

(1.8)

(2.2)

0.4

(1.8)

99

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsConsolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2018

Note

Share  
capital  
£’m

0.6

–

Merger 
reserve  

£’m

1.4

–

Translation 
reserve 
 £’m

10.4

–

Capital 
redemption 
reserve  

£’m

2.2

–

Retained 
earnings  

£’m

61.2

5.2

Total  
£’m

75.8

5.2

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3.9

–

3.9

3.9

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

3.9

(0.5)

(0.5)

(0.5)

4.7

3.4

8.6

0.3

0.3

0.3

66.2

0.3

84.7

Balance at 1 January 2018

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive  
(expense)/income

Foreign exchange translation 

differences, net of tax 

Remeasurement of defined benefit 

pension liability, net of tax 

18

Total other comprehensive  

(expense)/income

Total comprehensive 
income for the year 

Transactions with owners, 

recorded directly in equity

Share-based payments, net of tax

6, 8

Total contributions by and 
distributions to owners

Balance at 1 January 2017

Profit for the year

Other comprehensive  
(expense)/income

Foreign exchange translation 

differences, net of tax 

Remeasurement of defined benefit 

pension liability, net of tax 

18

Total other comprehensive  

(expense)/income

Total comprehensive  

(expense)/income for the year 

Transactions with owners, 

recorded directly in equity

Share-based payments, net of tax

6, 8

Total contributions by and 
distributions to owners

Balance at 31 December 2018

0.6

1.4

14.3

2.2

Note

Share  
capital  
£’m

0.6

–

Merger 
reserve  

£’m

1.4

–

Translation 
reserve 
 £’m

15.4

–

Capital 
redemption 
reserve  

£’m

2.2

–

Retained 
earnings  

£’m

57.6

1.3

Non-
controlling 
interests  

£’m

(0.1)

0.4

Total  
£’m

77.2

1.3

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5.0)

–

(5.0)

(5.0)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(5.0)

1.5

(3.5)

1.5

1.5

2.8

–

–

–

(2.2)

0.4

(1.8)

0.8

0.8

0.8

61.2

0.8

75.8

–

–

0.3

0.8

0.8

76.1

Balance at 31 December 2017

0.6

1.4

10.4

2.2

At 31 December 2018, the number of shares held by the Group through the Dialight Employees’ Share Ownership Plan Trust (“ESOT”)  

was nil (2017: nil). The market value of these shares at 31 December 2018 was £nil (2017: £nil).

100

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Non-
controlling 
interests  

£’m

0.3

0.1

–

–

–

0.1

–

–

0.4

Total  
equity  
£’m

76.1

5.3

3.9

(0.5)

3.4

8.7

0.3

0.3

85.1

Total  
equity  
£’m

77.1

1.7

(5.0)

1.5

(3.5)

Consolidated statement of total financial position
at 31 December 2018

Assets

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets 

Deferred tax assets

Employee benefits

Other receivables

Total non-current assets

Inventories

Trade and other receivables

Income tax recoverable

Cash and cash equivalents

Total current assets

Total assets

Liabilities

Trade and other payables

Provisions

Tax liabilities

Borrowings

Total current liabilities

Employee benefits

Provisions

Total non-current liabilities

Total liabilities

Net assets 

Equity

Issued share capital

Merger reserve

Other reserves

Retained earnings

Non-controlling interests

Total equity

Note

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

10

11

13

18

28

14

15

21

20

19

12

18

19

16

16

14.7

16.5

5.3

0.4

0.2

37.1

46.0

36.8

1.2

2.2

86.2

123.3

13.9

13.9

5.3

1.0

0.2

34.3

24.6

33.6

0.7

12.8

71.7

106.0

(30.0)

(26.9)

(1.0)

(1.6)

(5.1)

(1.4)

(0.7)

–

(37.7)

(29.0)

–

(0.5)

(0.5)

(38.2)

85.1

0.6

1.4

16.5

66.2

84.7

0.4

85.1

–

(0.9)

(0.9)

(29.9)

76.1

0.6

1.4

12.6

61.2

75.8

0.3

76.1

The accompanying notes form part of the financial statements. These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors  

on 05 March 2019 and were signed on its behalf by:

Martin L. Rapp

Fariyal Khanbabi

Group Chief Executive

Group Finance Director

Company number: 2486024

101

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsConsolidated statement of cash flows
for the year ended 31 December 2018

Operating activities

Profit for the year

Adjustments for:

Financial expense 

Income tax charge

Share-based payments

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment

Amortisation of intangible assets

Pension charge for GMP equalisation

Impairment losses on intangible assets and goodwill

Impairment losses on tangible assets

Operating cash flow before movements in working capital

(Increase)/decrease in inventories

(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables

Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

Decrease in provisions

Pension contributions in excess of the income statement

Cash (used in)/from operations

Income taxes paid

Interest paid

Net cash used in operating activities 

Investing activities

Capital expenditure

Sale of fixed assets

Capitalised expenditure on development

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities

Proceeds from issue of shares

Drawdown of bank facility

Net cash generated from financing activities 

Net increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year

Effect of exchange rates on cash held

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

102

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Note

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

5.3

0.2

2.1

0.3

3.1

1.5

0.4

–

–

12.9

(19.6)

(1.2)

1.8

(0.8)

(0.5)

(7.4)

(1.7)

(0.2)

(9.3)

(3.1)

–

(3.3)

(6.4)

–

5.1

5.1

(10.6)

12.8

–

2.2

1.7

0.3

1.3

0.8

2.4

1.5

–

1.2

0.9

10.1

5.1

3.4

(2.6)

(2.4)

(0.5)

13.1

(4.3)

(0.3)

8.5

(2.6)

2.0

(2.3)

(2.9)

0.1

–

0.1

5.7

8.0

(0.9)

12.8

7

8

10

11

18

11

10

19

18

7

10

10

11

12

21

 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2018

1. Reporting entity
Dialight plc is a company domiciled in England. The address of the Company’s Registered Office is Leaf C, Level 36, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad 

Street, London EC2N 1HQ. The consolidated financial statements of the Company for the year ended 31 December 2018 comprise the 

Company and its subsidiaries (together referred to as the “Group”).

2. Basis of preparation
(a) Statement of compliance

The consolidated financial statements have been prepared and approved by the Directors in accordance with International Financial Reporting 

Standards as adopted by the EU (“IFRSs”). The Company has elected to present its parent company financial statements in accordance with 

FRS 102 “The Financial Reporting Standard applicable in the UK and Republic of Ireland”.

(b) Consolidated basis of preparation

The financial statements have been prepared on the historical cost basis except for certain financial instruments which are carried at fair value.

The Directors have reviewed short-term and medium-term strategic forecasts including consideration of the principal risks faced by the Group, 

as detailed on pages 34 to 37. Following this review, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has sufficient resources 

to continue to operate and meet their liabilities as they fall due for a period no shorter than 12 months from the date of this report. Thus, they 

continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the annual financial statements.

(c) Use of estimates, judgements and assumptions

In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has made a number of judgements. The process of preparing 

the Group’s financial statements inevitably requires the Group to make estimates and assumptions concerning the future and the resulting 

accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. The estimates and judgements that have the most significant 

effect on the amounts included in these consolidated financial statements are as follows:

Significant judgements

Inventory (see note 14)

The valuation of inventory, detailed in note 12, requires the use of judgement in the identification of directly attributable costs to be absorbed 

into inventory valuation, and the level of production over which these costs are absorbed. The estimation of production considers current 

year actual when concluding on the appropriate level over which to absorb production costs. Similarly, judgement is used in determining 

which costs are considered to be directly attributable to the production of inventory based on inventory turns and using a countback method. 

Management use their detailed experience in this process in forming their view on the adjustment required to record inventory at cost. The 

value of directly attributable costs over which judgement was exercised was £6.4m, which represents 13% of inventory.

Development and patent costs (see note 11)

The Group capitalises development costs and patent costs provided they meet all criteria set out in the respective accounting policy.  

Costs are only capitalised where management are satisfied as to the ultimate commercial viability of the projects concerned based on available 

information. The capitalised costs are amortised over the useful economic life, which is determined based on the reasonable commercial 

prospects for the resultant product. The Group has £6.5m of development costs that relate to the current product portfolio and new product 

expected to launch in 2019. Management have reviewed all of these for impairment by using our market intelligence and are satisfied that there 

is no evidence of impairment.

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Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements2. Basis of preparation continued
Deferred Tax (see note 13)

Deferred tax is recognised on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the 

corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax 

liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable 

that taxable profits will be available against which temporary differences can be utilised. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed 

at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all  

or part of the assets to be recovered. There are £4.9m of deferred tax assets relating to losses in Dialight Europe Ltd and Dialight GmBh.  

We expect to recover this over 5 years as we use these entities to expand our European market. Recovery is based on the 3 year board 

approved strategy extrapolated for years 4 and 5 based on zero growth.

Significant estimates

Manufacturing partner

The decision to terminate the agreement with our manufacturing partner during the year requires the Group to consider all estimates regarding 

potential liabilities at the balance sheet date. Management have assessed the risks and have concluded that only a low level risk of liability 

exists, as disclosed in note 25, and no provision has been made for this.

Inventory provision (see note 14)

The Group operates in an environment of technological change, presenting the risk of obsolete inventory. Inventory is reviewed by operational 

and financial management on a regular basis, product by product, and the level of provision required is assessed against historical and forecast 

use for that product. The impact of the significant increase in inventory value year on year was assessed for any potential obsolescence.  

The inventory ageing profile shows that a significant amount of this inventory was built up in the second half of the year and consequently no 

additional provision for inventory was required. The inventory provision at the balance sheet date was £4.7m, which represents 10% of inventory 

(2017: £7.3m 30% of inventory).

Warranty (see note 19)

The Group offers performance warranties on many of its products which apply over a period of 5 to 10 years. Products with a 10 year warranty were 

introduced from 2014 onwards. A provision is made for the expected costs of future warranty claims relating to past product sales. This provision 

is estimated based on historical trends for returns, product specific warranty term, internal knowledge of product performance characteristics and 

the expected costs of remedying warranty-returned products. Actual returns may be materially higher or lower than these estimates, which may have  

a material impact on the adequacy of the provision for warranty claims. The warranty provision at the balance sheet date was £1.5m which is under  

1% of revenue for the year. A 10% increase in the warranty provision would result in an increase of £0.2m.

3. Significant accounting policies
The accounting policies set out below have been applied consistently to all periods presented in these consolidated financial statements and 

have been applied consistently by Group entities.

(a) Basis of consolidation

Business combinations are accounted for using the acquisition method as at the acquisition date, which is the date on which control is 

transferred to the Group. In assessing control, the Group takes into consideration potential voting rights that are currently exercisable.

Acquisitions on or after 1 January 2010

For acquisitions on or after 1 January 2010, the Group measures goodwill at the acquisition date as:

 – the fair value of the consideration transferred; plus

 – the recognised amount of any non-controlling interests in the acquiree; less

 – the net recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed.

When the excess is negative, a bargain purchase gain is recognised immediately in profit or loss. Costs related to the acquisition, other than those 

associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Group incurs in connection with a business combination are expensed as incurred.

104

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Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 20183. Significant accounting policies continued
Acquisitions between 1 January 2004 and 1 January 2010

For acquisitions between 1 January 2004 and 1 January 2010, goodwill represents the excess of the cost of the acquisition over the Group’s 

interest in the recognised amount (generally fair value) of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the acquiree.

Transaction costs, other than those associated with the issue of debt or equity securities, that the Group incurred in connection with business 

combinations were capitalised as part of the acquisition.

Acquisitions prior to 1 January 2004 (date of transition to IFRSs)

As part of its transition to IFRSs, the Group elected to restate only those business combinations that occurred on or after 1 January 2003.  

In respect of acquisitions prior to 1 January 2003, goodwill represents the amount recognised under the Group’s previous accounting 

framework, UK GAAP.

Subsidiaries are entities controlled by the Group. The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated financial statements 

from the date that control commences until the date that control ceases. Intra-group balances, and any unrealised income and expenses arising 

from intra-group transactions, are eliminated in preparing the consolidated financial statements.

(b) Foreign currency translation

For the purpose of presenting consolidated financial statements, the assets and liabilities of the Group’s overseas operations, including 

goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on consolidation, are translated using exchange rates prevailing on the balance sheet date.

Income and expense items of overseas operations are translated at average exchange rates for the period.

Since the transition date, resulting exchange differences are recognised as a separate component of equity within the Group’s translation 

reserve. Such translation differences are recognised in the income statement in the period in which the foreign operation is disposed of. 

Foreign currency transactions are accounted for at the exchange rate prevailing at the date of the transaction.

Gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation of monetary and non-monetary assets and 

liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the income statement.

(c) Derivative financial instruments

Derivative financial instruments are recorded initially at cost and are remeasured to fair value at subsequent reporting dates. The gain or loss  

on remeasurement to fair value is recognised immediately in the income statement.

(d) Property, plant and equipment

Items of property, plant and equipment are stated at cost less accumulated depreciation.

(e) Other intangible assets

Other intangible assets that are acquired by the Group and have finite useful lives are measured at cost less accumulated amortisation  

and accumulated impairment losses.

(f) Depreciation and amortisation

Depreciation

Depreciation is charged to the income statement on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of each part of an item of property, 

plant and equipment. Land is not depreciated.

The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Plant, equipment and vehicles  

3–10 years

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Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements3. Significant accounting policies continued
Amortisation

Amortisation is recognised in profit and loss on a straight-line basis over the estimated useful lives of intangible assets, other than goodwill, 

from the date that they are available for use.

The estimated useful lives are as follows:

Patents and trademarks  

Development costs  

4 years

3–5 years

(g) Goodwill

Goodwill that arises upon acquisition of subsidiaries is included in intangible assets. For the measurement of goodwill at initial recognition,  
see note 3(a).

Subsequent measurement

After initial recognition, goodwill is measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses until disposal or termination of the previously 

acquired business when the profit or loss on disposal or termination will be calculated after charging the gross amount at current exchange 

rates of any such goodwill through the income statement. Goodwill is allocated to the CGUs and is tested at least annually for impairment.  

An impairment loss recognised for goodwill is not reversed in a subsequent period.

(h) Research and development costs

Expenditure on research activities undertaken with the prospect of gaining new scientific or technical knowledge and understanding is 

recognised in the income statement as an expense as incurred.

Development expenditure is capitalised only if the expenditure can be measured reliably, the product and process is technically and 

commercially viable, future economic benefits are probable and the Group intends and has sufficient resources to complete the development 

and to use or sell the asset. The expenditure capitalised includes direct cost of material, direct labour and directly attributable overheads.  

Other development expenditure is recognised in the income statement as an expense as incurred. Capitalised development expenditure  

is stated at cost less accumulated amortisation and impairment losses.

(i) Impairment

The carrying amounts of the Group’s non-financial assets, other than inventories and deferred tax assets, are reviewed at each reporting date to 

determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists then the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated. For goodwill 

and intangible assets that have indefinite lives or that are not yet available for use, the recoverable amount is estimated at each reporting date.

An impairment loss is recognised if the carrying amount of an asset or its CGU exceeds its recoverable amount. A CGU is the smallest 

identifiable asset group that generates cash flows that are largely independent from other assets and groups. Impairment losses are 

recognised in profit and loss. Impairment losses recognised in respect of CGUs are allocated first to reduce the carrying amount of any 

goodwill allocated to the units and then to reduce the carrying amount of the other assets in the unit (group of units) on a pro-rata basis.

The recoverable amount of an asset or CGU is the greater of its value in use and its fair value less costs to sell. In assessing value in use,  

the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments  

of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset.

Any impairment loss in respect of goodwill is not reversed. In respect of other assets, impairment losses recognised in prior periods are 

assessed at each reporting date for any indications that the loss has decreased or no longer exists. An impairment loss is reversed if there has 

been a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount. An impairment loss is reversed only to the extent that the asset’s 

carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have been determined, net of depreciation or amortisation, if no impairment 

loss had been recognised.

106

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 20183. Significant accounting policies continued
A financial asset, in particular the carrying value of trade receivables, is considered to be impaired if objective evidence indicates that one  

or more events have had a negative effect on the estimated future cash flows of that asset. Any impairment losses are recognised through  

the income statement.

(j) Inventories

Inventories are measured at the lower of cost and net realisable value. The cost of inventories comprises all costs of purchase, costs of 

conversion and other costs incurred in bringing the inventories to their location and condition at the balance sheet date. Items are valued using 

the first in, first out method. When inventories are used, the carrying amount of those inventories is recognised as an expense in the period in 

which the related revenue is recognised. Provision for write-down to net realisable value and losses of inventories is recognised as an expense 

in the period in which the write-down or loss occurs.

(k) Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash balances and call deposits. 

(l) Share capital

(i)  Dividends are recognised in the period in which they are approved by the Company’s shareholders, or in the case of an interim dividend, 

when the dividend is paid.

(ii)  When share capital recognised as equity is repurchased by the ESOT, the amount of the consideration paid is recognised as a deduction 

from equity.

(iii) Under the terms of the PSP and deferred bonus scheme, dividends accrue on shares not yet vested; however, in the event that the shares 

lapse or are forfeited then the dividends will not be paid and the accrual is reversed.

(m) Employee benefits

(i) Defined contribution pension plans

Obligations for contributions to defined contribution pension plans are recognised as an expense in the income statement when they are due.

(ii) Defined benefit pension plans

The Group’s net obligation in respect of defined benefit pension plans is calculated separately for each plan by estimating the amount of future 

benefit that employees have earned for their service in the current and prior periods, discounting that amount and deducting the fair value of 

any plan assets.

The calculation is performed by an independent qualified actuary using the projected unit credit method. In accordance with IFRIC 14 – IAS 

19 ‘The Limit on a Defined Benefit Asset, Minimum Funding Requirements and their Interaction’, the pension surplus can be recognised as an 

asset on the balance sheet. The recognised asset is limited to the present value of economic benefits available in the form of any future refunds 

from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. To calculate the present value of economic benefits, consideration is given to any 

applicable minimum funding requirements.

Remeasurements of the net defined benefit liability, which comprise actuarial gains and losses, the return on plan assets (excluding interest) 

and the effect of the asset ceiling (if any, excluding interest) are recognised immediately in other comprehensive income. The Group determines 

the net interest expense/(income) on the net defined benefit liability/(asset) for the period by applying the discount rate used to measure the 

defined benefit obligation at the beginning of the annual period to the then-net defined benefit liability/(asset), taking into account any changes 

in the net defined benefit liability/(asset) during the period as a result of contributions and benefit payments. Net interest expense and other 

expenses related to defined benefit plans are recognised in profit or loss.

When the benefits of a plan are changed, or when a plan is curtailed, the resulting change in benefit that relates to past service or the gain or 

loss on curtailment is recognised immediately in profit or loss. The Group recognises gains and losses on the settlement of a defined benefit 

plan when the settlement occurs.

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Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements3. Significant accounting policies continued
(iii) Share-based payments and deferred bonus transactions

The PSP allows Group employees to acquire shares of the Company. The fair value of the award granted is recognised as an employee 

expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at the grant date and spread over the performance period during 

which the employees become unconditionally entitled to the award.

The fair value of the grants is measured using the Monte Carlo or Black-Scholes models, taking into account the terms and conditions 

upon which the grants were made. The amount recognised as an expense is only adjusted to reflect forfeitures resulting from failures to 

meet non-market conditions. The share-based payments are equity-settled. Key Group employees are awarded shares in the Company 

under the Annual Performance Bonus Plan. The fair value of the award granted is recognised as an employee expense with a corresponding 

increase in equity. The fair value is measured at the grant date and spread over the performance period during which the employees become 

unconditionally entitled to the award.

(n) Other provisions

A provision is recognised in the balance sheet when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event and  

it is probable that an outflow of economic benefits will be required to settle the obligation.

(o) Trade and other receivables

Trade and other receivables are initially recorded at fair value and then subsequently stated at their amortised cost less any impairment losses. 

The carrying amounts of the Group’s assets are reviewed at each balance sheet date to determine whether there is any indication of impairment.

If any such indication exists the assets’ recoverable amounts are estimated, being the greater of their net selling price 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 assessment of the time value of the money and risks specific to the asset. Receivables with a short duration are not discounted. 

An impairment loss in respect of trade and other receivables is reversed if there has been a change in the estimates used to determine the 

recoverable amount.

(p) Trade and other payables

Trade and other payables are initially recorded at fair value and then subsequently stated at amortised cost.

(q) Revenue recognition

Revenue from the sale of goods is measured by completion of the performance obligations in the contract and at the fair value of the 

consideration received or receivable, net of returns and allowances, trade discounts, volume rebates and product returns. Revenue represents 

the invoiced value of goods supplied and is recognised in the income statement in line with performance of contractual obligations and based 

on Incoterms in contract.

(r) Expenses

(i) Operating lease payments

Payments under operating leases are recognised in the income statement on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.

(ii) Net financing costs

Net financing costs comprise interest receivable, interest payable, borrowings, interest on pension assets and liabilities, foreign exchange 

gains and losses, gains and losses on hedging instruments that are recognised in the income statement and unwinding of discount.

(s) Income tax expense

Income tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Income tax expense is recognised in profit or loss except to the extent that it relates 

to items recognised directly in equity. The tax currently payable is based on the taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from 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.

108

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 20183. Significant accounting policies continued
Deferred tax is recognised on differences between the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities in the financial statements and the 

corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit and is accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax 

liabilities are generally recognised for all taxable temporary differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable 

that taxable profits will be available against which temporary differences can be utilised.

The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that 
sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the assets to be recovered. Deferred tax is calculated using tax rates that are 
enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is charged or credited to profit and loss, except when it relates to 

items charged or credited directly to equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to set off current tax assets against current tax liabilities 

and when they relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority and the Group intends to settle its current tax assets and liabilities 

on a net basis. Additional income taxes that arise from the distribution of dividends are recognised at the same time as the liability to pay the 

related dividend is recognised.

(t) Changes in accounting policies

The Group has consistently applied the accounting policies set out in this note to all periods presented in these consolidated financial 

statements. The Group has adopted a number of standards and amendments to standards, including any consequential amendments to 

other standards, with a date of initial application of 1 January 2018. There was no material impact on the financial performance of the Group.

Adoption of new and revised standards

A number of new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations, including IFRS 9 Financial Instruments, IFRS 15 Revenue from 

Contracts with Customers (effective for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2018) have been adopted in these financial statements. IFRS 16 

Leases (effective for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2019) has not been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements.

IFRS 16 – Leases: the standard is effective for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 January 2019 and will be adopted by the Group on 

1 January 2019. The Directors are assessing the likely impact on the reported results and financial position of the Group. The existing obligations 

under operating lease agreements at 31 December 2018 are £7.7m (see note 23), which primarily relate to buildings. We are using the modified 

retrospective approach for transition on 1 January 2019 and we are taking advantage of the exemption on transition relating to low value assets. 

We have not yet concluded on the value of the expected adjustment to the balance sheet for leases capitalised and the corresponding lease 

liability. Similarly, the expected impact on the income statement for the year ending 31 December 2019 has not been concluded. 

IFRS 15 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (effective for the year beginning 1 January 2018), and subsequent amendments ‘Clarifications 
to IFRS 15’ set out the requirements for recognising revenue and costs from contracts with customers. IFRS 15 provides a single source of 

accounting requirements for all contracts with customers, thereby replacing all current accounting pronouncements on revenue.

Under IFRS 15, revenue is recognised in a manner that depicts the completion of performance obligations to customers in an amount that 

reflects the consideration to which the provider of the goods or services expects to be entitled. The Group has identified the applicable 

performance obligations and the primary obligation is the supply of lighting fixtures with some lesser obligations related to revenue rebates. 

Revenue continues to be recognised based on Incoterms, normally on dispatch. Warranty is not a separate obligation and therefore does 

not impact the timing of revenue recognition. All credits to customers under rebate programs continue to be accounted for as reductions to 

revenue. Consequently, the recognition requirements of IFRS 15 did not have any impact on the timing and amount of revenue recorded in the 

Financial Statements.

IFRS 9 – ‘Financial instruments’ replaces IAS 39 (Financial instruments– Recognition and measurement) and addresses the classification and 

measurement of financial instruments, introduces new principles for hedge accounting and a new forward-looking impairment model for 

financial assets. The primary impact of IFRS 9 on the Group relates to provisioning for potential future credit losses on financial assets. 

109

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements3. Significant accounting policies continued
The adoption of IFRS 9 hedge accounting principles did not result in a restatement of the group’s results and the impact on the year ended 

31 December 2018 is not material. The adoption of IFRS 9 did not result in any changes in the measurement or classification of financial 

instruments as at 1 January 2018. All classes of financial assets and financial liabilities at 1 January 2018 had the same carrying values under 

IFRS 9 as they had under IAS 39.

There is no material impact on the Financial Statements of adopting IFRS 9.

(u) Measurement of fair values

A number of the Group’s accounting policies and disclosures require the measurement of fair values, for both financial and non-financial assets 

and liabilities.

The Group has an established control framework, appropriate for the size and complexity of the Group, with respect to the measurement  

of fair values. When measuring the fair value of an asset or liability, the Group uses market observable data as far as possible. Fair values  

are categorised into different levels in a fair value hierarchy based on the inputs used in the valuation techniques as follows:

Level 1: quoted prices (unadjusted) in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: inputs other than quoted prices included in level 1 that are observable for the asset or liability, either directly or indirectly.

Level 3: inputs for the asset or liability that are not based on observable market data (unobservable inputs).

If the inputs used to measure the fair value of an asset or a liability might be categorised in different levels of the fair value hierarchy, then the 

fair value measurement is categorised in its entirety in the same level of the fair value hierarchy as the lowest level input that is significant to  

the entire measurement.

4. Operating segments
The Group has two reportable operating segments. These segments have been identified based on the internal information that is supplied 

regularly to the Group’s chief operating decision maker for the purposes of assessing performance and allocating resources. The chief 

operating decision maker is considered to be the Group Chief Executive Officer.

The two reportable operating segments are:

 – Lighting, which develops, manufactures and supplies highly efficient LED lighting solutions for hazardous and industrial applications in which 

lighting performance is critical and includes anti-collision obstruction lighting; and

 – Signals and Components, which develops, manufactures and supplies status indication components for electronics OEMs, together with 
niche industrial and automotive electronic components and highly efficient LED signalling solutions for the traffic and signals markets.

There is no inter-segment revenue and no individual customers that represent more than 10% of revenue.

All revenue relates to the sale of goods. Segment gross profit is revenue less the costs of materials, labour, production and freight that 

are directly attributable to a segment. Overheads comprise operations management, selling costs plus corporate costs, which include 

share-based payments.

110

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 20184. Operating segments continued
Segmental assets and liabilities are not reported internally and therefore are not presented below.

Reportable segments

2018

Revenue

Underlying gross profit 

Overheads

Segment results

Unallocated expenses

Underlying operating profit 

Non-underlying expense 

Operating profit 

Net financing expense 

Profit before tax 

Income tax expense 

Profit after tax 

2017

Revenue 

Underlying gross profit

Overheads

Segment results

Unallocated expenses

Underlying operating profit

Non-underlying expense

Operating loss

Net financing expense

Loss before tax

Income tax expense

Profit after tax

Other segmental data

Underlying

Depreciation

Amortisation

Non-underlying

Impairment losses on tangible asset write-down

Impairment losses on intangible asset write-down 

Lighting  

£’m

125.0

47.1

(38.6)

8.5

Signals and 
Components 
£’m

44.6

13.2

(8.7)

4.5

Lighting  

£’m

137.5

54.3

(43.1)

11.2

Signals and 
Components 
£’m

43.5

12.4

(8.5)

3.9

2018

Signals and 
Components 
£’m

Lighting  

£’m

Total  
£’m

Lighting  

£’m

2017

Signals and 
Components 
£’m

2.3

1.1

–

–

0.8

0.4

–

–

3.1

1.5

–

–

1.8

1.1

0.9

1.1

0.6

0.4

–

0.1

111

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Total  
£’m

169.6

60.3

(47.3)

13.0

(5.0)

8.0

(0.4)

7.6

(0.2)

7.4

(2.1)

5.3

Total  
£’m

181.0

66.7

(51.6)

15.1

(5.4)

9.7

(6.4)

3.3

(0.3)

3.0

(1.3)

1.7

Total  
£’m

2.4

1.5

0.9

1.2

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements4. Operating segments continued
Geographical segments

The Lighting and Signals and Components segments are managed on a worldwide basis but operate in three principal geographical areas: 

North America, EMEA and Rest of World. The following table provides an analysis of the Group’s sales by geographical market, irrespective  

of the origin of the goods.

All revenue relates to the sale of goods.

Sales revenue by geographical market

North America

EMEA

Rest of World

Reconciliations of reportable segment profit or loss

Total profit for reportable segments

Unallocated amounts:

Overheads

Non-underlying expense

Net financing expense

Profit before tax

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

124.1

136.0

20.3

25.2

21.2

23.8

169.6

181.0

2018 
£’m

13.0

(5.0)

(0.4)

(0.2)

7.4

2017 
£’m

15.1

(5.4)

(6.4)

(0.3)

3.0

5. Non-underlying expense
The Group incurs costs and earns income that is non-recurring in nature or that is otherwise considered to not be reflective of the underlying 

performance of the business. In the assessment of performance of the business units of the Group, management examines underlying 

performance, which removes the impact of non-underlying costs and income.

The table below presents the elements of non-underlying profit or loss recorded within administrative expenses:

Employee severance and restructuring costs

Increase pension liability for GMP equalisation

Intangible asset impairment

Tangible asset impairment and disposals

Production transfer costs

Non-underlying costs recorded in administrative expenses

2018  
£’m

–

(0.4)

–

–

–

(0.4)

2017  
£’m

0.3

–

(1.2)

(0.9)

(4.6)

(6.4)

In the current year, there is a one-off charge of £0.4m for the impact of Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) equalisation. This is an increase in 

the pension liability related to the equalisation of pension entitlements between the sexes which dates back to the 1990’s and which is treated 

as a past service cost and therefore a charge to the Income Statement. It is a one-off event and has no cash impact at the moment as we are 

within an agreed triennial funding window until 2020. 

112

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 20185. Non-underlying expense continued
In the prior year, non-underlying costs related to the transfer of lighting assembly to our manufacturing partner. The costs were for set up costs, 

project management and dedicated engineering time. There are no further transfer costs being incurred, all accrued redundancy costs have 

been utilised in the period against terminations related to the project. 

6. Personnel expenses

Wages and salaries

Social security contributions

Equity-settled share-based payment transactions

Contributions to defined contribution plans

Total charge for defined benefit plans

2018  
£’m

31.9

3.2

0.3

1.2

0.5

2017  
£’m

34.4

3.6

0.8

1.3

0.2

37.1

40.3

Wages and salary costs have reduced year on year with the main driver being reduced average headcount at our production facility in Mexico 

as the majority of production in the first half was at our manufacturing partner. In the second half, as we transferred production back in-house 

the number of heads increased. There were no management incentives in 2018 or the prior year. 

The average number of employees by geographical location was:

US and Mexico

Rest of World

In 2018, the Group employed an average of 717 direct staff (2017: 836) and 615 indirect staff (2017: 700). 

7. Net financing expense
Recognised in profit and loss

Net interest on defined benefit liability 

Interest expense on financial liabilities

Net financing expense recognised in the consolidated income statement

2018 
Number

2017 
 Number

1,093

239

1,332

1,304

232

1,536

Total  
£’m

–

(0.2)

(0.2)

Total  
£’m

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.3)

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Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements8. Income tax (income)/expense
Current tax expense

Recognised in the income statement

Current tax expense

Current year

Adjustment for prior years

Deferred tax expense

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Adjustment for prior years

Reduction in tax rate

Recognition of previously unrecognised losses 

Income tax expense/(income)

Reconciliation of effective tax rate

Profit for the year

Total income tax income

Profit excluding income tax

Income tax using the UK corporation tax rate

Effect of tax rates in foreign jurisdictions

Increase/(reduction) in tax rate

Non-deductible expenses

Recognition of tax effect of previously unrecognised losses

Adjustment for prior years 

Non-taxable income

Research and development credits

Other

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

2.1

0.2

2.3

(0.4)

0.1

0.1

–

2.1

2.5

(0.2)

2.3

(0.5)

(0.8)

0.4

(0.1)

1.3

2018  
%

2018  
£’m

2017  
%

2017 
£’m

5.3

2.1

7.4

1.4

0.4

0.1

–

–

0.3

–

(0.2)

0.1

2.1

19.3

16.9

13.6

33.9

(3.4)

(33.6)

–

(6.8)

3.4

43.3

1.7

1.3

3.0

0.6

0.5

0.4

1.0

(0.1)

(1.0)

–

(0.2)

0.1

1.3

19.0

5.8

0.9

–

–

3.9

–

(2.0)

0.8

28.4

The effective tax rate for the year is 28.4% compared with 43.3% in the prior year. Non-underlying items in the current year have very little 

impact on the tax rate, whereas, in the prior year, the tax rate on the underlying business was 37.2%. The reduction in tax rates in the US has 

helped to reduce the overall tax rate in the current year. However, the overall tax rate is higher than the US rate of 21% as the mix of profits  

in the year is weighted more towards higher tax rate jurisdictions compared to the US.

Tax recognised directly in equity

Employee benefits

Other

2018 
 £’m

(0.3)

0.1

2017 
 £’m

0.4

(0.6)

114

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 20188. Income tax (income)/expense continued
Current tax

Current tax is calculated with reference to the profit of the Company and its subsidiaries in their respective countries of operation. 

Set out below are details in respect of the significant jurisdictions where the Group operates and the factors that influenced the current  

and deferred taxation in those jurisdictions.

UK

The UK companies are subject to a corporate tax rate of 19.0% (2017: 19.25%). The UK tax authorities have reduced the UK rate of corporation 

tax will reduce by 2% to 17% from 1 April 2020. No further UK corporation tax rate reductions have been announced. As such, the UK timing 

differences have been recognised at the rate at which the timing differences are expected to unwind.

US

The majority of the Group’s profits arise in the US where the corporation tax rate reduced from 35% in the prior year to 21% in the current year 

and this is the main driver for reduction in effective tax rate.

9. Profit/(loss) for the year
Profit/(loss) for the year has been arrived at after charging:

Research and development costs:

Expensed as incurred

Amortisation charge

Total research and development costs

Depreciation of fixed assets

Impairment of goodwill and intangible assets

Impairment of tangible assets

Operating leases – property

Operating leases – other

Auditor’s remuneration

Audit of these financial statements

Amounts receivable by auditor in respect of:

Audit of financial statements of subsidiaries pursuant to legislation

2018 
 £’m

2017  
£’m

6.3

0.8

7.1

3.1

–

–

2.0

0.1

2018  
£’m

0.2

0.1

0.3

6.2

1.7

7.9

2.4

1.2

0.9

2.0

0.2

2017  
£’m

0.1

0.1

0.2

115

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements10. Property, plant and equipment

Land and 
buildings  

£’m

Plant, 
equipment 
and vehicles 
£’m

Cost

At 1 January 2017

Exchange adjustments

Additions

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Balance at 1 January 2018

Exchange adjustments

Additions

Disposals

Balance at 31 December 2018

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2017

Exchange adjustments

Charge for year

Impairment

Disposals

At 31 December 2017

Balance at 1 January 2018

Exchange adjustments

Charge for the period

Disposals

4.1

(0.3)

–

(0.8)

3.0

3.0

0.1

0.1

–

3.2

(3.6)

0.1

(0.2)

–

0.8

(2.9)

(2.9)

(0.1)

(0.1)

–

Total  
£’m

54.6

(4.4)

2.7

(2.3)

50.6

50.6

2.8

3.1

(2.0)

54.5

50.5

(4.1)

2.7

(1.5)

47.6

47.6

2.7

3.0

(2.0)

51.3

(35.1)

(38.7)

2.9

(2.2)

(0.9)

1.5

(33.8)

(33.8)

(1.9)

(3.0)

2.0

3.0

(2.4)

(0.9)

2.3

(36.7)

(36.7)

(2.0)

(3.1)

2.0

Balance at 31 December 2018

Carrying amount at 31 December 2018

At 31 December 2017

(3.1)

(36.7)

(39.8)

0.1

0.1

14.6

13.8

14.7

13.9

116

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201811. Intangible assets

Cost

Balance at 1 January 2017

Additions arising from internal developments

Effects of foreign exchange movement

Balance at 31 December 2017

Balance at 1 January 2018

Additions arising from internal developments

Disposals

Effects of foreign exchange movement

Balance at 31 December 2018

Amortisation and impairment losses

Balance at 1 January 2017

Amortisation for the period

Impairment

Effects of foreign exchange movement

Balance at 31 December 2017

Balance at 1 January 2018

Amortisation for the period

Disposals

Effects of foreign exchange movement

Balance at 31 December 2018

Carrying amount at 31 December 2018

At 31 December 2017

Concessions, 
patents, 
licences and 
trademarks  

£’m

Order book 
and customer 
relationships  

Technology  

£’m

£’m

Development 
costs  
£’m

Goodwill  

£’m

13.2

–

(0.5)

12.7

12.7

–

–

0.3

13.0

2.1

–

–

2.1

2.1

–

0.6

–

–

0.6

0.6

–

(2.1)

(0.6)

–

–

–

–

19.8

1.7

(1.3)

20.2

20.2

2.5

–

1.1

23.8

Total  
£’m

42.8

2.3

(2.4)

42.7

42.7

3.3

(2.7)

1.9

45.2

(4.2)

(2.1)

(0.6)

(15.0)

(27.4)

–

–

–

(4.2)

(4.2)

–

–

–

(4.2)

8.8

8.5

–

–

–

(2.1)

(2.1)

–

2.1

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(0.6)

(0.6)

–

0.6

–

–

–

–

(1.1)

(0.8)

0.8

(16.1)

(16.1)

(0.8)

–

(0.6)

(17.5)

6.3

4.1

(1.5)

(1.2)

1.3

(28.8)

(28.8)

(1.5)

2.7

(1.1)

(28.7)

16.5

13.9

7.1

0.6

(0.6)

7.1

7.1

0.8

–

0.5

8.4

(5.5)

(0.4)

(0.4)

0.5

(5.8)

(5.8)

(0.7)

–

(0.5)

(7.0)

1.4

1.3

The amortisation charge for the development costs, concessions, patents, licences and trademarks is shown within administrative expenses in 
the income statement.

Lighting segment

Goodwill recognised is measured against discounted future cash flow projections for the relevant CGU. Management has prepared cash flow 

projections for a three-year period based on its 3 year strategy approved by the Board. These forecasts include assumptions around revenue 

growth, sales prices, costs of manufacture, operating costs, working capital movements and capital expenditure.

During 2017 there was a significant change in the business model for European Lighting which became a re-seller of goods from the US following 

the closure of the UK manufacturing facility. We changed from having Lighting CGU’s on a geographic basis derived from the acquisition that gave 

rise to the goodwill and instead we recognised a much larger CGU of European and North American Lighting. This recognised the integration of all 

production in Mexico and resulted in a larger CGU which represented 84% of Lighting revenue. 

In 2018, we reviewed the CGU’s assumptions again and concluded that Lighting in totality was really only one CGU as the assets that currently 

create the intellectual property and the physical assets used in production are all held in North America. All residual goodwill was therefore 

combined into one figure of £8.8m that was then tested for impairment. 

117

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements11. Intangible assets continued
The Group has two cash-generating units, Lighting and Signals & Components, which are the smallest identifiable independent groups of 

assets that generate cash inflows that are largely independent of the cash inflows from other assets or groups of assets. Where assets and 

costs are shared between the two cash-generating units a reasonable apportionment of these are made for the purpose of the impairment 

calculation.

The goodwill and other intangible assets all relate to the Lighting cash-generating unit. The long-term average growth rate used was 1.0% 

(2017: 1.0%) and the risk-adjusted post-tax discount rate was 13.0% (2017: 15.0%). The impairment test results in significant headroom  

and it is unlikely that a reasonable change in a key assumption would result in an impairment of goodwill or other intangibles.

The carrying amount of the goodwill is as follows:

Lighting 

2018  
£’m

8.8

8.8

2017  
£’m

8.5

8.5

The Group tests goodwill (at the CGU level) annually for impairment or more frequently if there are indications that goodwill might be impaired. 

The recoverable amounts of the CGU is determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are 

those regarding the discount rates and growth rates.

Management estimates discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of a number of factors that impact on the 

time value of money and any risk specific to the CGU. The rate includes management’s assessment of a normal level of debt to equity ratio 

within similar companies in its sector.

Management has arrived at the three-year plan based upon certain assumptions derived from a combination of internal assessment of the 

market size, an assessment of customer product requirements, production capacity requirements and the operational costs of the organisation. 

The key assumptions within the three-year forecasts are revenue growth and gross profit, which is based on management’s best estimate of 

material, labour and production cost trends and manufacturing efficiencies. Cash flows in years four and five are extrapolated using similar 

growth rates to the first three years. Cash flows beyond the five-year period are extrapolated using estimated growth rates of between 0% 

and 1%.

Sensitivity to changes in key assumptions

The rate used to discount the forecast cash flow for the CGUs in the Lighting segment was 13% (2017: 15.0%). The discount rate reflects the 
production issues that the Lighting business has suffered over the past two years. Management has applied different growth rates for the value 

in use calculations of each CGUs over the five-year period due to the differing nature of the products, industries and countries in which the 

CGU operates. Changes in these assumptions could reduce the recoverable amount below the carrying amount. The impairment tests showed 

significant headroom with reduced growth rates and higher discount levels.

12. Interest-bearing loans and borrowings
On 12 December 2016, the Company signed a five-year unsecured £25m multi-currency revolving credit facility with HSBC Bank plc.  

Under the terms of the facility, the Group also has a £25m “accordion” facility, by which further facilities may be made available by HSBC under the 

current terms to support significant investment opportunities that may arise. At 31 December 2018 there was £5.1m drawn on the facility (2017: £nil).

Opening balance

Proceeds from loans or borrowings

Total change in financing cash flows

118

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Loans and 
borrowings  

£’m

–

5.1

5.1

Total  
£’m

–

5.1

5.1

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201813. Deferred tax assets and liabilities
Recognised deferred tax assets and liabilities

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following:

Property, plant and equipment

Intangible assets

Employee benefits

Provisions

Losses and other items

Tax assets/(liabilities)

Set-off of tax

Net tax assets

Assets

Liabilities

Net

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

–

–

0.1

2.4

5.1

7.6

–

7.6

–

–

0.2

2.2

4.6

7.0

–

7.0

2018  
£’m

(0.9)

(1.4)

–

–

–

(2.3)

2017  
£’m

(0.8)

(0.9)

–

–

–

(1.7)

–

(1.7)

2018  
£’m

(0.9)

(1.4)

0.1

2.4

5.1

5.3

–

5.3

2017  
£’m

(0.8)

(0.9)

0.2

2.2

4.6

5.3

–

5.3

Deferred tax assets have been recognised in respect of all tax losses in entities expected to generate future taxable profits. The Group 

expects to generate sufficient taxable profits to recover the deferred tax assets within 4 to 6 years. There are no unrecognised deferred tax 

assets (2017: £nil). The increase in the deferred tax asset in the year is mainly due to losses recognised in Europe and profits arising in other 

jurisdictions. The geographic split of the deferred tax asset is – UK £3.5m, Germany £1.4m, Australia £0.2m, Malaysia £0.1m and Singapore 

£0.1m. The aggregate amount of temporary differences associated with investments in subsidiaries for which deferred taxation liabilities have 

not been recognised is £nil (2017: £nil). 

Movement in temporary differences during the year

Balance at 1 January 2017

Recognised in income

Recognised in equity 

Balance at 31 December 2017

Balance at 1 January 2018

Recognised in income

Recognised in equity

Balance at 31 December 2018

14. Inventories

Raw materials and consumables

Work in progress

Finished goods

Property, 
plant and 
equipment  

£’m

(0.1)

(0.7)

–

(0.8)

(0.8)

(0.1)

–

(0.9)

Intangible 
assets  
£’m

0.3

(1.2)

–

(0.9)

(0.9)

(0.5)

–

(1.4)

Employee 
benefits  

Provisions  

£’m

0.5

0.1

(0.4)

0.2

0.2

–

(0.1)

0.1

£’m

0.2

2.0

–

2.2

2.2

0.2

–

2.4

Other short-
term timing 
differences 
£’m

2.6

1.4

0.6

4.6

4.6

0.2

0.3

5.1

2018  
£’m

17.9

10.7

17.4

46.0

Total  
£’m

3.5

1.6

0.2

5.3

5.3

(0.2)

0.2

5.3

2017  
£’m

13.8

4.0

6.8

24.6

Inventories to the value of £76.7m (2017: £82.7m) were recognised as expenses in the year. During the year, inventory write-backs totalled £1.3m 

(2017: write-down £1.4m). 

119

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements14. Inventories continued  
There has been a significant increase in inventory during the year. The primary reason for the increase was due to the termination of  

the manufacturing partnership on 27 September 2018. In order to ensure a smooth transition back to our own facility we purchased  

a significant amount of raw materials and sub-assemblies. In addition, we also purchased some of the inventory at our manufacturing partner. 

Finished goods levels at December 2017 were low due to production delays at our manufacturing partner. As production has been moved  

back in-house, the supply of finished goods to our regional distribution centres has improved significantly.

15. Trade and other receivables

Trade receivables

Other non-trade receivables

Prepayments and accrued income

2018 
 £’m

28.6

6.5

1.7

36.8

2017  
£’m

28.4

4.1

1.1

33.6

The Group’s exposure to credit and currency risks and impairment losses related to trade and other receivables is disclosed in note 22.

16. Capital and reserves
Share capital

Allotted and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 1.89 pence each

2018  

Number

2018  
£’m

2017  

Number

2017  
£’m

32,534,237

0.6

32,521,179

0.6

During the year, 13,058 shares were issued (2017: 16,844) in order to satisfy the requirement for shares that vested as part of the Sharesave 

scheme, the proceeds of issue were less than £0.1m (2017: £0.1m). The ordinary shares issued in the year have the same rights as the other 

shares in issue.

Issued share capital

In issue at 1 January

Shares issued 

Issued and fully paid at 31 December

Merger reserve

Ordinary shares

2018  

Number

2017  

Number

32,521,179

32,504,335

13,058

16,844

32,534,237

32,521,179

On acquiring Lumidrives Limited in 2006, the Company issued ordinary shares as part of the consideration. Merger relief was taken  

in accordance with Section 131 of the Companies Act 1985 and hence £546,000 was credited to the merger reserve.

On acquiring Dialight A/S in 2010, the Company issued ordinary shares as part of the consideration. Merger relief was taken in accordance 

with Section 612 of the Companies Act 2006 and hence £903,000 was credited to the merger reserve.

Translation reserve

The translation reserve comprises all foreign exchange differences from 1 January 2004 arising from the translation of the financial statements 

of foreign operations for the Company.

120

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201816. Capital and reserves continued 
Capital redemption reserve

The capital redemption reserve comprises the nominal value of “B” preference shares redeemed since the capital reorganisation in 2005.

Dividends

No dividends were declared in the current or the prior year. After the balance sheet date no dividends were proposed by the Directors  

and there are no income tax consequences for the Company.

17. Earnings per share
Basic earnings per share

The calculation of basic earnings per share (“EPS”) at 31 December 2018 was based on a profit for the year of £5.3m (2017: £1.7m)  

and the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year of 32,527,708 (2017: 32,510,106).

Diluted earnings per share

The calculation of diluted EPS at 31 December 2018 was based on a profit for the year of £5.3m (2017: £1.7m) and the weighted average  

number of ordinary shares outstanding during the year of 33,006,459 (2017: 33,014,680) was calculated as follows:

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted)

Weighted average number of ordinary shares

Effect of share options in issue

Weighted average number of ordinary shares (diluted)

2018  
’000

2017  
’000

32,527

32,510

479

505

33,006

33,015

Underlying EPS is highlighted below as the Directors consider that this measurement of earnings gives valuable information on the performance 

of the Group.

Basic earnings

Underlying basic earnings1

Diluted earnings

Underlying diluted earnings1

2018  

2017  

Per share

Per share

16.4p

17.3p

16.1p

17.0p

4.8p

17.9p

4.8p

17.6p

1  Underlying earnings excludes non-underlying items as explained in note 29 and allocates tax at the appropriate rate (see note 8).

18. Employee benefits
Defined benefit pension obligations

The Group makes contributions to two closed defined benefit plans (referred to below as Plan A and Plan B) to provide benefits for employees 

and former employees upon retirement. The plans expose the Group to actuarial risks, such as longevity risk, interest rate risk and investment 

risk. Both plans are administered by discrete funds (the “Funds”) that are legally separate from the Group. Trustees include independent and 

Company-appointed individuals. The Trustees of the plans are required by law to act in the best interests of the plan participants and are 

responsible for setting certain policies (e.g. investment) of the Funds.

Part of the increase in pension liability in the year to incorporate the Guaranteed Minimum Pension (GMP) equalisation (£0.4m representing 

1.8% of liabilities) into the scheme liabilities. The equalisation issue relates to people who chose to pay part of their state contributions into a 

Company pension rather than to the state pension in the 1990’s as there was a requirement to ensure that the Guaranteed Minimum Pension 

that they received was the same under both. A recent court decision has clarified the permitted methods of calculating the adjustment and we 

have used method C2. This has had no impact on the scheme funding in the current year as the next triennial funding valuation is in 2020. 

121

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements18. Employee benefits continued
The Company is required to agree a Schedule of Contributions with the Trustees of the Funds following a valuation which must be carried out at 

least once every three years with the latest valuation in 2017. The outcome of the valuation was that Company contributions remain unchanged. 

The Company expects to pay contributions of £0.5m in respect of the Funds in the year to 31 December 2018. The weighted average duration 

of the defined benefit obligation is 16 years. There is no effect on recognition of the net defined benefit surplus as a result of the asset ceiling.

The following table shows a reconciliation from the opening balances to the closing balances for net defined benefit liability/(asset) and  

its components.

Balance at 1 January

Included in profit or loss

Current service cost

Past service cost-GMP

Interest cost/(income)

Included in other comprehensive income

Remeasurements (gain)/loss:

Actuarial (gain)/loss arising from:

– demographic assumptions

– financial assumptions

– return on plan assets excluding interest income

Other

Contributions paid by the employer

Benefits paid

Balance at 31 December

Represented by:

Net defined benefit asset (Plan A)

Net defined benefit asset (Plan B)

Plan assets consist of the following:

Equities (class 2)

Bonds and gilts (class 2)

Cash 

Defined  
benefit obligation

Fair value  
of plan assets

Net defined benefit  
liability/(asset)

2018  
£’m

25.8

2017  
£’m

27.3

2018  
£’m

2017 
 £’m

(26.8)

(26.0)

–

0.4

0.6

1.0

–

(0.2)

(0.7)

0.3

(0.6)

–

(1.3)

(1.3)

24.9

–

–

0.7

0.7

–

(0.3)

(0.1)

–

(0.4)

–

(1.8)

(1.8)

25.8

0.1

–

(0.6)

(0.5)

–

–

–

1.2

1.2

0.1

–

(0.7)

(0.6)

–

–

–

(1.5)

(1.5)

(0.5)

(0.5)

1.3

0.8

1.8

1.3

(25.3)

(26.8)

2018  
£’m

(1.0)

0.1

0.4

–

0.5

–

(0.2)

(0.7)

1.5

0.6

(0.5)

–

(0.5)

(0.4)

2018  
£’m

(0.1)

(0.3)

(0.4)

2018  
£’m 
Total

9.2

16.0

0.1

25.3

2017 
 £’m

1.3

0.1

–

–

0.1

–

(0.3)

(0.1)

(1.5)

(1.9)

(0.5)

–

(0.5)

(1.0)

2017  
£’m

(0.2)

(0.8)

(1.0)

2017  
£’m 
Total

11.9

14.8

0.1

26.8

122

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201818. Employee benefits continued
All equity securities and government bonds have quoted prices in active markets.

Actuarial assumptions

The principal assumptions at the balance sheet date (expressed as weighted averages) are:

Discount rate at 31 December

Future salary increases

Future pension increases

Inflation – RPI

Inflation – CPI 

% per annum

2018

2.70

n/a

3.25

3.35

2.35

2017

2.50

n/a

3.25

3.30

2.40

Assumptions regarding future mortality have been based on published statistics and mortality tables. The current longevities underlying the 

values of the defined benefit obligation at the reporting date were as follows:

Longevity at age 65 for current pensioners

Males

Females

Longevity at age 65 for current members aged 45

Males

Females 

Sensitivity analysis

2018

2017

Plan A

Plan B

Plan A

Plan B

22.1

24.2

23.7

25.7

22.1

24.2

23.7

25.7

22.3

24.2

23.7

25.7

22.3

24.2

23.7

25.7

Potential changes at the reporting date to one of the relevant actuarial assumptions, holding other assumptions constant, would have affected 

the defined benefit obligation by the amounts shown below:

Discount rate (0.5% movement)

Inflation (0.5% movement)

Life expectancy (+/–1 year)

Defined benefit obligation

Increase  

Decrease  

£’m

(1.4)

1.1

1.1

£’m

1.6

(1.1)

(1.1)

Although the analysis does not take account of the full distribution of cash flows expected under the plans, it does provide an approximation  

of the sensitivity of the assumptions shown.

Share-based payments

PSP

In September 2005, the shareholders approved the PSP.

During the year, an award under the PSP was made to the Executive Directors and senior managers, details of which are set out below.  

The award was split into three components, based on the EPS performance of the Group, based on the Group’s total shareholder return 

(“TSR”) performance and based on service conditions.

123

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements18. Employee benefits continued

Date of award

April 2015 (EPS)

April 2015 (TSR)

August 2015 (EPS)

August 2015 (TSR)

March 2016 (EPS)

March 2016 (TSR)

August 2016 (EPS)

August 2016 (TSR)

January 2017 (service condition)

January 2017 (service condition)

March 2017 (EPS)

March 2017 (TSR)

March 2017 (service condition)

August 2017 (service condition)

March 2018 (EPS)

March 2018 (TSR)

March 2018 (service condition)

March 2018 (service condition)

Number of 
awards at the 
beginning of 
the year

Number 
of awards 
granted 
during the 
year

Number 
of awards 
vested 
during the 
year

Number 
of awards 
at the year 
end

Fair value 
pence per 
share

Number 
of awards 
forfeited 
during the 
year

(25,079)

(25,079)

(35,822)

(35,822)

–

–

–

–

25,079

25,079

35,822

35,822

95,923

95,923

2,159

2,159

 7,721

7,721

64,139

21,380

32,530

3,608

(6,529)

(6,529)

(10,453)

85,470

(10,453)

85,470

(240)

(240)

1,919

1,919

1,192

1,192

(22,099)

42,040

(7,367)

14,013

(11,524)

21,006

3,608

116,357

38,786

(5,795)

51,281

5,536

116,357

38,786

57,076

5,536

Vesting 
period Maturity date

3 years Apr 2018

3 years Apr 2018

3 years Aug 2018

3 years Aug 2018

3 years Mar 2019

3 years Mar 2019

3 years Aug 2019

3 years Aug 2019

2 years

Jan 2018

3 years

Jan 2019

3 years Mar 2020

3 years  Mar 2020

3 years Mar 2020

3 years Aug 2020

3 years  Mar 2021

3 years Mar 2021

3 years Mar 2021

3 years Mar 2021

802

349

545

147

570

356

710

493

1037

1037

701

990

990

832

550

272

522

536

455,065

217,755

(13,058)

(189,973)

469,789

Further details of the PSP are included in the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 66 to 83.

The 2018 awards linked to EPS have been valued using the Black-Scholes model and those linked to TSR have been valued using the  

Monte Carlo model.

The following key assumptions and inputs have been used in the calculation of the fair values:

Share price

Exercise price

Expected volatility

Award life

Correlation

Dialight and the FTSE 250 Index (excluding investment trusts)

The employee expense in 2018 was £0.3m (2017: £0.8m) (see note 6). 

124

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

March  
2018 EPS 
and TSR 
award

5.5

Nil

48%

3 years

29%

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201818. Employee benefits continued
Save As You Earn (“SAYE”)

In 2014, the Group initiated an all-employee UK Sharesave Plan and established equivalent arrangements in the UK, the US and Mexico.  

Under the terms of the SAYE scheme employees can save up to £250 per month (or local currency equivalent) per scheme and up to £500 per 

month for all schemes. Awards under the scheme were made at a 20% discount to the closing mid market price on the date of invitation, vesting 

over a three-year period. There are no performance conditions attached to the SAYE scheme. The latest scheme was rolled out in April 2017.

Outstanding at 1 January 2018

Granted during the year

Vested in the year

Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at 31 December 2018

2017  
scheme 
number

2015  
scheme 
number

2014  
scheme 
number

44.932

46,164

6,707

–

–

–

–

–

–

(9,091)

(29,490)

(6.707)

35,841

16,674

–

There is a 6 month window for exercise of options at the end of each scheme. The 2015 scheme has finished but the options are in that exercise 

window. The options remaining have a weighted average remaining contractual life of two years.

Options were valued using the Black-Scholes option pricing model. The fair value per option granted and the assumptions used in the 

calculation were as follows:

19. Provisions

Balance at 1 January 2018

Effects of foreign exchange movement 

Provisions made during the year 

Provisions used during the year 

Provision not required

Balance at 31 December 2018 

Warranty  

£’m

1.5

0.2

0.9

(1.1)

–

1.5

Restructuring 
£’m

0.8

–

–

(0.8)

–

–

Total  
£’m

2.3

0.2

0.9

(1.9)

–

1.5

The warranty provision relates to sales made over the past five years. The provision has been estimated based on historical warranty data with 

similar products. The Group expects to settle the majority of the liability over the next two to three years. Movements related to discounting  

the warranty provision was less than £0.1m in the prior year and therefore not disclosed. The restructuring provision related to redundancy 

costs linked to our outsourcing program that was utilised in the year (see note 5).

Due within one year

Due between one and five years

Total  
2018  
£’m

1.0

0.5

1.5

Total  
2017  
£’m

1.4

0.9

2.3

125

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements20. Trade and other payables

Trade payables 

Other taxes and social security

Non-trade payables and accrued expenses

The Group’s exposure to currency and liquidity risk related to trade and other payables is disclosed in note 22.

21. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of total financial position

Cash and cash equivalents in the statement of cash flows

2018  
£’m

19.4

0.9

9.7

30.0

2018  
£’m

2.2

2.2

2017  
£’m

14.6

1.0

11.3

26.9

2017  
£’m

12.8

12.8

22. Financial risk management
The Group has exposure to credit risk, market risk and liquidity risk from its use of financial instruments.

This note presents information about the Group’s exposure to each of the above risks and the Group’s objectives, policies and processes for 

measuring and managing risk. Further quantitative disclosures are included throughout these consolidated financial statements.

The Board of Directors has overall responsibility for the establishment and oversight of the Group’s risk management framework. The Group’s 

risk policies are established to identify and analyse the risks faced by the Group, to set appropriate risk limits and controls, and to monitor risks 

and adherence to limits.

The Audit Committee oversees how management monitors compliance with the Group’s risk management policies and procedures and reviews 

the adequacy of the risk management framework in relation to the risks faced by the Group.

Credit risk

Trade and other receivables

Credit risk is the risk of financial loss if a customer fails to meet its contractual obligations by not paying the receivables due. The Group’s 

exposure to credit risk is influenced mainly by the individual characteristics of each customer. The Group has no significant credit risk as it does 

not have any major customer concentration. 

Management has a credit policy in place and the exposure to credit risk is monitored on an ongoing basis. Each new customer is analysed 

individually for creditworthiness before the Group’s standard payment conditions and terms and conditions are offered.

The Group’s review includes external ratings when available and, in some cases, bank references. Purchase limits are set for customers. 

Customers who do not meet the benchmark creditworthiness may transact with the Group only on a prepayment basis.

The Group establishes an allowance for impairment that represents its estimate of expected future losses in respect of trade and other 

receivables. Impairment losses are determined having taken into account special customer circumstances and financial position, together  

with Group information about general payment trends.

All receivables are less than 120 days, with the exception of one for £0.1m which is fully impaired.

126

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201822. Financial risk management continued
Exposure to credit risk

The ageing of trade receivables at the reporting date was:

Not past due

Past due 0–30 days

Past due 31–120 days

Past due 121–365 days

More than one year

Total

Gross 
 2018  
£’m

21.7

4.4

2.6

–

0.1

28.8

Impairment 
2018  
£’m

–

–

–

–

(0.1)

(0.1)

Gross  
2017  
£’m

21.2

5.5

1.6

0.3

0.1

28.7

The movement in the allowance for impairment in respect of trade receivables during the year was as follows:

Balance at 1 January 2018

Effects of foreign exchange 

Utilisation of provision 

Provision created 

Balance at 31 December 2018

Impairment 
2017  
£’m

–

–

–

(0.2)

(0.1)

(0.3)

£’m

0.3

–

(0.3)

0.1

0.1

The allowance in respect of trade receivables is used to record forecast impairment losses unless the Group is satisfied that no recovery of the 

amount owing is possible; at that point the amount considered irrecoverable is written off against the financial asset directly. Other non-trade 

receivables of £6.5m (2017: £4.1m) are not past due and have no impairment.

Market risk

Market risk is the risk that changes in market prices, such as foreign exchange rates and interest rates, will affect the Group’s income.  

The objective of market risk management is to manage and control market risk exposures within acceptable parameters, while optimising  

the return.

Interest rate risk

The Group’s policy is to manage exposure to interest rate risk by utilising short-term fixed rate borrowings. At 31 December 2018, the Group 

had £5.1 drawn against its revolving credit facility.

Foreign currency risk

Exposure to currency risk arises in the normal course of the Group’s business.

The Group is exposed to foreign currency risk on sales and purchases that are denominated in a currency other than each subsidiary’s 

functional currency. The currencies giving rise to risk are primarily the Euro, CAD Dollar and the US Dollar.

Where possible the Group uses natural hedging within the Group to hedge the majority of its foreign currency risk. Natural hedging is the 

mechanism whereby the cash inflows in a particular currency are matched to the cash outflows in that currency at the same business or  

a different Group company. The Group has borrowing facilities in US Dollars in order to match the currency of the Group’s major market. 

Foreign exchange contracts may be taken out to manage exposures that are not mitigated through natural hedging but the Group had  

no foreign exchange contracts at the balance sheet date.

127

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements22. Financial risk management continued
Market risk continued

In respect of other monetary assets and liabilities held in currencies other than UK Sterling, the Group ensures that the net exposure is kept  

to an acceptable level by buying or selling foreign currencies at spot rates where necessary to address short-term imbalances.

The Group’s exposure to foreign currency risk was as follows, based on notional amounts:

Trade receivables

Currency cash

Trade payables

Gross balance sheet exposure

2018  
$’m

0.9

(3.9)

–

(3.0)

2018  

CAD’m

2.4

–

–

2.4

2018  
€’m

2.6

–

–

2.6

2018
AUDm

2017  
$’m

2017  

CAD’m

–

0.1

–

0.1

0.5

0.5

–

1.0

2.8

0.4

(0.1)

3.1

2017  
€’m 

3.4

0.3

(0.1)

3.6

2018
AUDm

–

–

–

–

The following significant exchange rates applied during the year:

US Dollar

Euro

Canadian Dollar

Mexican Peso

Liquidity risk

2018 
Average 
 rate

2018  
At balance 
sheet date

1.33

1.13

1.73

1.27

1.11

1.74

2017 
Average  

rate

1.29

1.14

1.67

2017  
At balance 
sheet date

1.35

1.13

1.69

25.63

25.02

24.33

26.55

Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting the obligations associated with its financial liabilities that are settled 

by delivering cash or another financial asset. The Group’s approach to managing liquidity is to ensure, as far as possible, that it will always have 

sufficient liquidity to meet its liabilities when due, under both normal and stressed conditions, without incurring unacceptable losses or risking 

damage to the Group’s reputation.

Exposure to liquidity risk

For non-derivative financial liabilities, the Group’s exposure relates principally to trade and other payables and borrowings. Trade and other 

payables arise in the normal course of business and there are no unusual or onerous terms and conditions.

128

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201822. Financial risk management continued
The following are contractual maturities of financial liabilities, including estimated interest payments and excluding the impact of netting 

agreements:

31 December 2018

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

31 December 2017

Non-derivative financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Carrying 
amount  

Contractual 
cash flow  

£’m

£’m

2 months  
or less 
 £’m

2–12  
months  

£’m

(30.0)

(30.0)

(30.0)

(5.1)

(35.1)

(5.1)

(35.1)

(30.0)

(5.1)

(5.1)

Carrying 
amount  

Contractual 
cash flow  

£’m

£’m

2 months  
or less  
£’m

2–12  
months  

£’m

(26.9)

(26.9)

(26.9)

–

–

–

(26.9)

(26.9)

(26.9)

–

– 

–

The Group has a five-year unsecured £25m multi-currency revolving credit facility, of which £5.1m is drawn at 31 December 2018 (2017: £nil), 

see note 12.

Capital management

The Board’s policy is to maintain a strong capital base in order to maintain investor, creditor and market confidence and to sustain future 

development of the business. The Board considers consolidated total equity as capital. As at 31 December 2018, this totalled £85.1m  

(2017: £76.1m).

The Board is not proposing a final dividend for 2018. The Group has a clear capital allocation discipline and is committed to returning any 

excess funds to our shareholders via either a future dividend or a share repurchase.

Sensitivity analysis

In managing interest rate and currency risks the Group aims to reduce the impact of short-term fluctuations on the Group’s earnings.  

Over the longer term, however, permanent changes, in particular in foreign exchange rates, would have an impact on equity value and 
consolidation earnings.

At 31 December 2018, it is estimated that a general increase of 1% in the value of the Euro and the US Dollar against UK Sterling would have 

increased the Group’s profit before tax by approximately £0.4m for the year ended 31 December 2018 (2017: increased profit before tax  

by £0.3m), and would have had increased the Group’s equity for the year ended 31 December 2018 by £0.1m (2017: £0.1m).

129

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements22. Financial risk management continued
Fair values versus carrying amounts

The fair values of financial assets and liabilities, together with the carrying amounts shown in the balance sheet are as follows:

Financial assets

Cash and cash equivalents

Loans and receivables

Trade and other receivables

Total financial assets

Financial liabilities

Trade and other payables

Borrowings

Total financial liabilities

Net financial assets

Carrying 
amount 
2018  
£’m

Fair value 
2018  
£’m

Carrying 
amount  
2017  
£’m

Fair value 
2017  
£’m

2.2

2.2

12.8

12.8

32.9

35.1

32.9

35.1

34.3

47.1

34.3

47.1

(29.1)

(5.1)

(29.1)

(5.1)

(26.9)

(26.9)

–

–

(34.2)

(34.2)

(26.9)

(26.9)

0.9

0.9

20.2

20.2

Details of the major methods and assumptions used in estimating the fair values of financial instruments reflected in the table are set out in note 3(u).

23. Operating leases
Non-cancellable operating lease rentals are payable as follows:

Less than one year

Between one and five years

2018  
£’m

2.2

5.5

7.7

2017  
£’m

1.6

2.1

3.7

Of the £7.7m (2017: £3.7m), £6.8m (2017: £3.4m) relates to property and the balance to plant and equipment.

The Group has no off balance sheet arrangements that need to be disclosed as within the context of Section 410A of the Companies Act 2006.

24. Capital commitments
Capital commitments at 31 December for which no provision has been made in the accounts were:

Contracted

2018  
£’m

1.9

2017  
£’m

0.8

130

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201825. Contingencies
During 2011 the Roxboro UK Pension Fund (the “Scheme”) was closed to future accrual. This Scheme is included within the pension asset 

detailed in note 18. As part of the negotiations regarding closure, the Company agreed to grant a parent company guarantee in respect 

of all present and future obligations and liabilities (whether actual or contingent and whether owed jointly or severally and in any capacity 

whatsoever) of Dialight Europe Limited, the principal employer, to make payments in the Scheme up to a maximum amount equal to the entire 

aggregate liability, on the date on which any liability under the guarantee arises, of every employer (within the meaning set out in Section 318 of 

the Pensions Act 2004 and regulations made thereunder) in relation to the Scheme, were a debt under Section 75(2) of the Pensions Act 1995 

to have become due on that date. No provision has been made in relation to this contingency.

We continue to negotiate our final exit from our former manufacturing partner which include remaining working capital balances. The Directors 

believe there is a low probability of this crystallising into an outflow. 

The Group operates in jurisdictions that are unstable or have changing political conditions. From time to time certain tax positions are challenged 

which carry a financial risk. The Directors have considered these risks and believe that they are not material to the Financial Statements.

26. Related parties
The ultimate controlling party of the Group is Dialight plc. Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries have been eliminated  

on consolidation. Intra-group transactions are priced on an arm’s length basis.

Transactions with key management personnel

Directors of the Company and their immediate relatives control less than 1% of the Company.

The main Board Directors are considered to be the Group’s key management personnel. There are no loans between the Group and key 

management personnel.

Key management personnel compensation comprised the following:

Short-term employee benefits 

Post-retirement benefits

Share-based payments

2018  
£’m

1.2

0.1

0.3

1.6

2017  
£’m

1.3

0.1

0.8

2.2

The aggregate of remuneration and amounts receivable under long-term incentive schemes of the highest paid Director was £0.6m (2017: £0.6m), 

and pension contributions of £0.1m (2017: £0.1m) were made to a money purchase scheme on his behalf. During the year, the highest paid 

Director received 104,280 shares under a long-term incentive scheme.

Number of Directors accruing benefits under money purchase schemes

Number of Directors who exercised share options 

Number of Directors in respect of whose qualifying services shares  

were received or receivable under long term incentive schemes

2018

2017

2

–

2

2

–

2

131

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements27. Subsidiaries
In accordance with Section 409 of the Companies Act 2006, a full list of subsidiaries as at 31 December 2018 is disclosed below.  

Those companies stated in table (a) below are those, in the opinion of Directors, which principally affect the revenue, profit or assets  

of the Dialight Group. The remaining companies that comprise the Dialight Group are set out in table (b) below. The investment is held  

directly by Dialight plc except for those companies indicated by *.

Percentage owned

Registered office

Principal activity

(a) Trading companies

Name

Dialight Corporation*

Dialight Europe Limited

Dialight GmbH*

Dialight A/S

100%

100%

100%

100%

Dialight ILS Australia Pty Limited*

75%

Dialight Asia Pte. Ltd*

75%

Dialight Penang Sdn. Bhd.*

100%

Dialight Do Brasil Tecnologia Led Ltda*

75%

Dialight de Mexico, S. de R.L. de C.V.*

100%

1501 Route, 34 South 
Farmingdale, NJ 07727 
United States

Leaf C  
Level 36, Tower 42  
25 Old Broad Street  
London EC2N 1HQ 
United Kingdom

Maximilianstrasse 54  
80538 Munchen  
Germany

Ejby Industrivej 91 B  
2600 Glostrup  
Copenhagen

Level 2 Spectrum  
100 Railway Road  
Subiaco WA 6008  
Australia

33 Ubi Avenue 3  
07–72 Vertex (Tower A)  
Singapore, 408868 

Room B, 3rd Floor  
309-K Perak Road  
10150, Penang  
Malaysia

American Park Empresarial NR  
Indaiatuba  
Sao Paulo/SP  
13347-662, Brazil

Calle Lirios S/N  
Colona Pacheco  
Ensenda  
Baja California  
Mexico

Design, assembly and sale of Lighting 
and Signals and Components products

Sale of Lighting products

Sale of Lighting products

Assembly and sale of Lighting products

Sale of Lighting products

Sale of Lighting products

Assembly and sale of Lighting and 
Signals and Components products

Assembly and sale of Lighting products

Assembly of Lighting, Signals and 
Components products

Dialight ILS Australia Pty Limited, Dialight Asia Pte. Ltd and Dialight Do Brasil Tecnologia Led Ltda are all owned 75% by the Group and there 

are non-controlling interests of 25%. The total profit for the period attributable to non-controlling interests is £0.1m (2017: £0.4m) and their 

share of equity is £0.4m (2017: £0.3m).

The Group also has branches in France and the United Arab Emirates.

132

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201827. Subsidiaries continued
(b) Other companies

Unless otherwise stated, the registered office for the subsidiaries listed below is Leaf C, Level 36, Tower 42, 25 Old Broad Street,  

Percentage owned

Registered office

Principal activity

London EN2N 1HQ.

Name

Belling Lee Limited

Roxboro Overseas Limited

100%

100%

The Roxboro Trust Company Limited

100%

The Roxboro UK Pension Trustee Limited*

50%

Dialight Latin America, S. de R.L. de C.V.*

100%

CRL Components, Inc.*

100%

Roxboro Analytical Inc.*

100%

Roxboro Holdings Inc.*

100%

Intermediary holding company

Non-trading/intermediary holding 
company

Dormant

Corporate pension fund trustee

Non-trading

Dormant

Non-trading

Non-trading/intermediary holding 
company

Calle Lirios S/N  
Colona Pacheco  
Ensenda  
Baja California  
Mexico

The Corporation Trust Co. 
Corporation Trust Centre  
1209 Orange Street  
City of Wilmington 
County of New Castle DE  
United States

1501 Route 34 South 
Farmingdale  
NJ 07727 
United States

The Corporation Trust Co.  
Corporation Trust Centre  
1209 Orange Street  
City of Wilmington 
County of New Castle DE,  
United States

Roxboro Metrology Inc.* 

100%

1501 Route 34 South Farmingdale  
NJ 07727 
United States

Non-trading

28. Other receivables

Other receivables

These relate to deposits on leasehold properties.

2018 
 £’m

0.2

2017 
 £’m

0.2

133

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2018

29. Reconciliation to non-GAAP performance measures
In the current year, costs related to GMP equalisation (see note 18) have been treated as non-underlying. The Group was involved in a major 

transformation of its operational footprint in the prior year. This resulted in costs being incurred and revenues being earned that relate solely 

to the transformation and which are not representative of the on-going performance of the business. The Board consider that users of the 

financial statements find it useful to view the on-going costs and revenues of the business in isolation from costs related to the transformation 

and other non-recurring costs. 

Profit from operating activities

Non-underlying items (see note 5)

Underlying operating profit/underlying EBIT

Profit from operating activities

Non-underlying items (see note 5)

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (see note 10)

Amortisation of intangible assets (see note 11)

Adjusted underlying EBITDA

Profit from operating activities

Non-underlying items

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment (see note 10)

Amortisation of intangible assets (see note 11)

Net movement on working capital (Inventories, trade and other receivables, trade and other payables)  

as per Consolidated statement of cash flows

Adjusted operating cashflow

Constant currency

2018  
£’m

7.6

0.4

8.0

7.6

0.4

3.1

1.5

2017 
 £’m

3.3

6.4

9.7

3.3

6.4

2.4

1.5

12.6

13.6

7.6

0.4

3.1

1.5

(19.0)

(6.4)

3.3

6.4

2.4

1.5

5.9

19.5

The Group’s revenues are mainly earned in the US and it presents certain key metrics on a constant currency basis to remove any impact  

of currency fluctuations. The constant currency impact is calculated by re-translating the prior year numbers at the exchange rate prevailing  

in the current year.

Net (debt)/cash

Net debt is defined as total Group borrowings less cash. Net debt of £2.9m at the year end consisted of borrowings of £5.1m less cash of 

£2.2m (2017: £12.8m cash and no borrowings).

134

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Company balance sheet (prepared under FRS 102)
At 31 December 2018

Fixed assets

Tangible assets 

Investments

Pension fund asset

Current assets

Debtors (including £28m over 1 year)

Deferred tax asset

Cash 

Creditors

Amounts falling due within one year

Other creditors 

Borrowings 

Current liabilities

Net current assets

Total assets less current liabilities

Capital and reserves

Called up share capital 

Capital redemption reserve

Other reserve

Profit and loss account

Equity shareholder funds

Note

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

32 

33

37

37

40

38

39

41, 42

42

0.1

16.3

0.3

16.7

46.0

0.3

0.3

46.6

(3.4)

(5.1)

(8.5)

38.1

54.8

0.6

2.2

3.7

48.3

54.8

0.1

17.9

0.2

18.2

40.1

0.3

0.3

40.7

(2.9)

–

(2.9)

37.8

56.0

0.6

2.2

3.4

49.8

56.0

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, a separate profit and loss account of the parent company has not been presented. 

The parent company’s loss for the year was £1.5m (2017: profit of £6.6m).

The accompanying notes form part of the financial statements.

These financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors on 05 March 2019 and were signed on its behalf by:

Martin L. Rapp

Fariyal Khanbabi

Group Chief Executive

Group Finance Director

135

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsCompany statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 December 2018

Balance at 1 January 2018

Loss

Other comprehensive income

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension liability, net of tax

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for year

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity

Share based payments, net of tax

Total contribution by and distribution to owners

Balance at 31 December 2018

Balance at 1 January 2017

Profit

Other comprehensive income

Remeasurement of defined benefit pension liability, net of tax

Total other comprehensive income

Total comprehensive income for year

Transactions with owners, recorded directly in equity

Share based payments, net of tax

Total contribution by and distribution to owners

Balance at 31 December 2017

Other 
reserve 
capital 
contribution 
£’m

3.4

Share  
capital  
£’m

0.6

–

–

–

–

0.6

–

–

–

0.3

0.3

3.7

Other 
reserve 
capital 
contribution 
£’m

2.6

Share  
capital  
£’m

0.6

–

–

–

–

–

0.6

–

–

–

0.8

0.8

3.4

Capital 
redemption  

Retained 
earning  

2.2

48.3

54.8

Capital 
redemption  

Retained 
earning  

Total  
equity  
£’m

56.0

(1.5)

–

–

£’m

49.8

(1.5)

–

–

(1.5)

(1.5)

0.3

0.3

–

Total  
equity  
£’m

48.7

6.6

(0.1)

(0.1)

£’m

43.3

6.6

(0.1)

(0.1)

6.5

6.5

–

–

0.8

0.8

£’m

2.2

–

–

–

–

£’m

2.2

–

–

–

–

–

2.2

49.8

56.0

At 31 December 2018 the number of shares held by the Group through the ESOT was nil ordinary shares (2017: nil). The market value of these 

shares at 31 December 2018 was £nil (2017: £nil).

136

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the Company financial statements
for the year ended 31 December 2018

30. Accounting policies
The principal accounting policies are summarised below. They have all been applied consistently throughout the year and to the preceding year.

(a) General information and basis of accounting

Dialight plc is a company incorporated in the United Kingdom under the Companies Act 2006. The address of the Registered Office is given 

on page 147 of this Annual Report and Accounts. The Company is a holding company that manages the other trading subsidiaries of the 

Dialight Group.

The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, modified to include certain items at fair value, and  

in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 102 (“FRS 102”) issued by the Financial Reporting Council.

The functional currency of Dialight plc is considered to be UK Sterling because that is the currency of the primary economic environment  

in which the Company operates.

(b) Going concern

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company has adequate resources to continue in operational existence for a period  

no shorter than 12 months from the date of this report. Thus, they continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in preparing the 

annual financial statements.

(c) Tangible fixed assets

Tangible fixed assets are stated at cost, net of depreciation and any provision for impairment. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed 

assets at rates calculated to write off the cost, less estimated residual value, of each asset on a straight-line basis over its expected useful life, 

which is between three and ten years.

(d) Financial instruments

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

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.

(i) Financial assets and liabilities

All financial assets and liabilities are initially measured at transaction price (including transaction costs), except for those financial assets classified 

as at fair value through profit or loss, which are initially measured at fair value (which is normally the transaction price excluding transaction costs), 

unless the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction. If an arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the financial asset or financial 

liability is measured at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument.

The Company’s debt instruments are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Debt instruments that are classified as payable or receivable within one year on initial recognition and which meet the above conditions are 

measured at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received, net of impairment.

(ii) Investments

Investments in subsidiaries and associates are measured at cost less impairment. For investments in subsidiaries acquired for consideration, 

including the issue of shares qualifying for merger relief, cost is measured by reference to the nominal value of the shares issued plus fair value 

of other consideration. Any premium is ignored.

(iii) Equity instruments

Equity instruments issued by the Company are recorded at the fair value of cash or other resources received or receivable, net of direct 

issue costs.

137

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements30. Accounting policies continued
(e) Impairment of assets

Assets, other than those measured at fair value, are assessed for indicators of impairment at each balance sheet date. If there is objective 

evidence of impairment, an impairment loss is recognised in profit or loss.

(f) Taxation

Current tax, including UK corporation tax and foreign tax, is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and 

laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is recognised in respect of all timing differences that have originated but not reversed at the balance sheet date where transactions 

or events that result in an obligation to pay more tax in the future or a right to pay less tax in the future have occurred at the balance sheet date. 

Timing differences are differences between the Company’s taxable profits and its results as stated in the financial statements that arise from 

the inclusion of gains and losses in tax assessments in periods different from those in which they are recognised in the financial statements.

Unrelieved tax losses and other deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that, on the basis of all available evidence, it can be regarded 

as more likely than not that there will be suitable taxable profits from which the future reversal of the underlying timing differences can be deducted.

(g) Employee benefits

The Company operates both defined benefit and defined contribution plans. The assets of all arrangements are held separately from the  

assets of the Company in independently administered funds. The amount charged against profits in respect of defined contribution 

arrangements is the contributions payable to those arrangements in the accounting period.

For the defined benefit arrangements, the assets are measured at market values. The liabilities are measured using the projected unit credit 

method, discounting at the current rate of return of a high-quality corporate bond of the appropriate term and currency to the liability.

The defined benefit scheme surplus or deficit is recognised in full and presented on the face of the balance sheet.

Other long-term employee benefits are measured at the present value of the benefit obligation at the reporting date.

(h) Foreign currency

Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate of exchange at the date of the transaction. Monetary assets and liabilities 

denominated in foreign currencies at the balance sheet date are reported at the rates of exchange prevailing at that date.

Exchange differences are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which they arise.

(i) Leases

Rentals under operating leases are charged on a straight-line basis over the lease term, even if the payments are not made on such a basis. 

Benefits received and receivable as an incentive to sign an operating lease are similarly spread on a straight-line basis over the lease term.

(j) Share-based payment

The Company grants to its employees rights to its equity instruments of Dialight plc. The fair value of awards granted is recognised as an 

employee expense with a corresponding increase in equity. The fair value is measured at grant date and spread over the period during which 

the employees become unconditionally entitled to receive the awards. The fair value of the awards granted is measured using a pricing model, 

taking into account the terms and conditions upon which the awards were granted. The amount recognised as an expense is adjusted to 

reflect the actual value of share awards that vest except where forfeiture is only due to share prices not achieving the threshold for vesting. 

Where the Company grants awards over its own shares to the employees of its subsidiaries, it recognises an increase in the cost of investment 

in its subsidiaries equivalent to the equity-settled share-based payment charge recognised in its subsidiaries’ financial statements with the 

corresponding credit being recognised directly in equity.

138

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the Company financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201830. Accounting policies continued
(k) Dividends

Dividends are recognised in the period in which they are approved by the Company’s shareholders, or in the case of an interim dividend, 

when the dividend is paid. Dividends receivable from subsidiaries are recognised when either received in cash or applied to reduce a creditor 

balance with a subsidiary.

31. Critical accounting judgements and key sources of estimation uncertainty
In the application of the Company’s accounting policies, which are described in note 30, the Directors are required to make judgements, 

estimates and assumptions about the carrying amounts of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. The estimates 

and associated assumptions are based on historical experience and other factors that are considered to be relevant. Actual results may differ 

from these estimates.

The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in 

which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period, or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both 

current and future periods.

The Directors consider that there are no critical accounting judgements or key sources of estimation uncertainty within the Company’s 

individual financial statements.

32. Fixed assets

Cost

At 1 January 2018

Additions

At 31 December 2018

Depreciation

At 1 January 2017

Charge for the year

At 31 December 2018

Net book value at 31 December 2018

Net book value at 31 December 2017

No assets of the Company are held under finance leases.

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment 
£’m

0.3

0.0

0.3

(0.2)

0.0

(0.2)

0.1

0.1

139

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements33. Fixed asset investments
Investments in subsidiary undertakings

Cost

At 1 January 2018

Share-based payment

At 31 December 2018

Provisions

At 1 January 2018

Profit and loss account

At 31 December 2018

Net book value at 31 December 2018

Net book value at 31 December 2017

£’m

23.6

0.3

23.9

(5.7)

(1.9)

(7.6)

16.3

17.9

In accordance with Section 26 of FRS 102, the cost of investment is increased to reflect the cost of share options awarded to employees of the 

Company’s subsidiaries. Following the impairment review of the carrying value of parent company investments, the future cash flows of the 

European wind business were reduced based on current year performance, resulting in an impairment of £1.9m.

A full list of subsidiaries of the Company is provided in note 27 on pages 132 and 133.

34. Financial risk management
The Company has exposure to market risk and liquidity risk from its use of financial instruments. The overall framework for managing risk and 

the interest rate risk that affects the Company is discussed in note 22.

All carrying values are considered to be fair values.

A sensitivity analysis has been carried out in note 22 and is considered to not be materially different from the results for the Company only.

Foreign currency risk

The Company holds monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than UK Sterling. The majority of these relate to intercompany balances 

which provide a natural hedge elsewhere in the Group.

The Company’s exposure to foreign currency risk to third parties was as follows based on notional amounts:

Currency cash 

Other creditors 

Gross balance sheet exposure

2018  
$’m

(3.9)

–

(3.9)

2018  
€’m

2018 
AUD ’m

–

–

–

0.1

–

0.1

2017  
$’m

0.2

–

0.2

2017  
€’m

2017
AUDm

–

–

–

–

–

–

The exchange rates applied during the year are disclosed in note 22.

Liquidity risk

The Company’s exposure to liquidity risk relates to its borrowings. This is discussed in note 22.

140

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the Company financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201835. Share-based payments
Share-based payments are described in full in note 18.

PSP

The PSP relating to employees of the Company is disclosed on page 70 in the Directors’ remuneration report.

Save As You Earn (“SAYE”)

The options under the SAYE relating to employees of the Company are as follows:

Outstanding at 1 January

Granted during the year

Forfeited during the year

Outstanding at 31 December

2017 
 scheme 
number

2015  
scheme 
number

5,971

3,736

–

(3,185)

–

–

2,786

3,736

Details on assumptions and inputs used in the calculation of share-based payment amounts are disclosed in note 18.

36. Key management personnel
The main Board Directors are considered to be the Company’s key management personnel. Details of their compensation are disclosed in note 26.

37. Debtors

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings < 1 year

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings > 1 year

Other debtors 

38. Creditors

Amounts falling due within one year:

Deferred tax liability (note 40)

Amounts owed to subsidiary undertakings

Accruals and deferred income

2018  
£’m

17.6

28.0

0.4

46.0

2017  
£’m

12.2

27.5

0.4

40.1

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

–

1.4

2.0

3.4

–

1.2

1.7

2.9

39. Borrowings
On 12 December 2016, the Company signed a five-year unsecured £25m multi-currency revolving credit facility with HSBC Bank plc.  

Under the terms of the facility, the Group also has a £25m “accordion” facility, by which further facilities may be made available by HSBC 

under the current terms to support significant investment opportunities that may arise. Amongst the covenants attached to the facility are 

requirements related to the net debt to EBITDA ratio of the Group and interest cover. During the year and subsequently, the Group has 

operated well within those covenants.

At 31 December 2018 there were £5.1m drawings on the facility (2017: £nil).

141

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statements40. Deferred tax assets/(liabilities)

At 1 January

Prior year adjustment

Profit and loss account

Group relief

Recognised in equity

At 31 December

An analysis of deferred tax is as follows:

Capital allowances

Losses and other items

41. Called up share capital

Allotted and fully paid

Ordinary shares of 1.89 pence each

Shares classified as liabilities

Shares classified in shareholder funds

2018  
£’m

0.3

–

–

–

–

0.3

–

0.3

2017  
£’m

(0.9)

–

0.3

0.9

–

0.3

–

0.3

2018  

Number

2018 
 £’m

2017  

Number

2017  
£’m

32,534,237

32,521,179

0.6

–

0.6

0.6

0.6

–

0.6

0.6

During the year, 13,058 shares were issued (2017: 16,844) in order to satisfy the requirement for shares that vested as part of the Sharesave scheme, 

the proceeds of issue were less than £0.1m (2017: £0.1m). The ordinary shares issued in the year have the same rights as the other shares in issue. 

42. Capital and reserves
Dividends

No dividends were declared in the current or the prior year. After the balance sheet date no dividends were proposed by the Directors and 

there are no income tax consequences for the Company.

142

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Notes to the Company financial statements continuedfor the year ended 31 December 201843. Pensions
The Company operates a defined contribution plan and a defined benefit pension arrangement called the Roxboro UK Executive Pension Fund 

(the “Executive Fund”). The Executive Fund provides benefits based on final salary and length of service on leaving. The Executive Fund is 

closed to new members. The following disclosures exclude any allowance for defined contribution funds operated by the Company.

The Executive Fund is subject to the “Statutory Funding Objective” under the Pensions Act 2004. An actuarial valuation of the Executive Fund 

is carried out at least once every three years to determine whether the Statutory Funding Objective is met. As part of the process the Company 

must agree with the Trustees of the Executive Fund the contributions to be paid to address any shortfall against the Statutory Funding 

Objective.

The most recent actuarial valuation was carried out in 2017. The results of that valuation were projected by an independent qualified actuary  

to 31 December 2017 allowing for Executive Fund cash flows and changes in the assumptions for FRS 102 purposes.

Recognised assets for defined benefit obligations

Present value of funded obligations

Fair value of plan assets

Recognised asset for defined benefit obligations

Plan assets consist of the following:

Bonds

Cash

The assets do not include any investments in shares of the Company.

Movements in the present value of defined benefit obligations

Liabilities at 1 January 

Interest cost 

Benefits paid 

Experience loss on defined benefit obligation 

Changes to financial assumptions

Liabilities at 31 December

Movements in fair value of plan assets

Assets at 1 January

Interest on assets

Employer contributions

Benefit paid

Return on plan assets less interest

Assets at 31 December

143

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

2018  
£’m

(2.2)

2.5

0.3

2018  
£’m

2.5

–

2.5

2018  
£’m

2.3

0.1

(0.1)

–

(0.1)

2.2

2018  
£’m

2.5

0.1

0.1

(0.1)

(0.1)

2.5

2017  
£’m

(2.3)

2.5

0.2

2017  
£’m

2.5

–

2.5

2017  
£’m

2.3

0.1

(0.1)

–

–

2.3

2017  
£’m

2.4

0.1

0.1

(0.1)

–

2.5

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsNotes to the Company financial statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2018

43. Pensions continued
Expense recognised in the profit and loss account

Interest on obligation

Interest on plan assets

Liability for defined benefit obligations

The principal assumptions at the balance sheet date (expressed as weighted averages) are:

Discount rate at 31 December

Future pension increases

Inflation – RPI

Inflation – CPI 

2018 
 £’m

0.1

(0.1)

–

2017  
£’m

0.1

(0.1)

–

UK scheme (% per annum)

2018

2.70

3.25

3.35

2.35

2017

2.50

3.25

3.30

2.40

For its UK pension arrangements the Group has, for the purpose of calculating its liabilities as at 31 December 2018, used SAPS S2NA mortality 

tables based on year of birth (as is published by the Institute and Faculty of Actuaries). The UK mortality tables are based on the latest mortality 

investigations and reflect an industry-wide recognition that life expectations have improved. The average life expectancy of an individual 

currently aged 45 years and retiring at age 65 years is 23.7 years for males and 24.2 years for females. For individuals currently aged 65 years 

the average life expectancy is 22.3 years for males and 24.2 years for females.

44. Related party transactions
During the period, the Company received no management fees or interest on inter-company loans (2017: £nil) from subsidiaries that are not 

wholly owned. At 31 December 2018 a total of £1.1m was owed to the Company by those subsidiaries (2017: £2.2m).

144

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

45. Statement of cash flows

Operating activities

(Loss)/Profit for the year

Adjustments for:

Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 

Impairment of investment

Share-based payments

Finance income

Financial expense 

Operating cash flow before movements in working capital

(Decrease)/Increase in debtors

Increase/(Decrease) in other creditors

Cash used in operations

Interest received

Interest paid

Net cash generated from operating activities 

Investing activities

Capital expenditure

Net cash used in investing activities

Financing activities

Drawdown of bank facility 

Net cash generated from financing activities

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

Finance income and interest is received from wholly owned subsidiaries.

31 December 
2018  
£’m

31 December 
2017  
£’m

(1.5)

6.6

–

1.9

0.3

(1.9)

0.2

(1.0)

(5.8)

0.5

(6.3)

1.4

(0.2)

1.2

–

–

5.1

5.1

–

0.3

0.3

–

0.9

0.8

(2.4)

0.1

6.0

6.7

(13.9)

(1.2)

1.4

(0.1)

1.3

(0.1)

(0.1)

–

–

–

0.3

0.3

145

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsFive-year summary

Revenue

Research and development cash expenditure 

Underlying operating profit 

Non-underlying operating loss

Finance charges

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Cash (used in)/generated from operating activities

Net (debt)/cash

Shareholders’ funds

Statistical information

Basic earnings per ordinary share 

Dividends per share

Dividend cover (times)

Underlying operating margin

Prepared under IFRSs

2018  
£’m

2017  
£’m

2016  
£’m

2015  
£’m

2014  
£’m

169.6

181.0

182.2

161.4

159.8

7.3

8.0

(0.4)

(0.2)

7.4

(7.4)

(2.9)

85.1

Pence

16.4

n/a

n/a

6.9

9.7

(6.4)

(0.3)

3.0

13.1

12.8

76.1

6.0

13.1

(16.4)

(0.5)

(3.8)

16.3

8.0

77.1

5.5

6.1

(9.5)

(0.5)

(3.9)

8.7

(3.8)

70.1

6.2

18.1

(2.3)

(0.3)

15.5

8.6

0.6

72.8

Pence

Pence

Pence

Pence

4.8

n/a

n/a

(8.4)

(6.4)

n/a

n/a

9.8

n/a

29.4

15.0

2.0

4.7%

5.4%

7.2%

3.7%

11.2%

146

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Directory and shareholder information

Company Secretary and  
Registered Office
Ronan Sheehy

Leaf C

Level 36

Tower 42

25 Old Broad Street

London EC2N 1HQ

Telephone: +44 (0)20 3058 3541

Registered in England and Wales

Company number: 2486024

Email: info@dialight.com

www.dialight.com

Registrars
Equiniti

Aspect House

Spencer Road

Lancing

West Sussex BN99 6DA

Equiniti’s Shareholder Contact Centre 

can be contacted by telephone on 

0371 384 2495 (international callers: 

+44 121 415 7047) between 8.30am 

and 5.30pm Monday to Friday, 

excluding bank holidays.

Website
Shareholders are encouraged to visit our 

You can also access details of your 

shareholding and a range of other 

website, www.dialight.com, which contains 

shareholder services by registering  

information about Dialight. Any information 

at www.shareview.co.uk.

on or linked from the website is not 

incorporated by reference into the Annual 

Report and Accounts.

Dealing service
Equiniti offers Shareview Dealing, a  

service which allows you to sell your 

There is a section designed specifically for 

Dialight plc shares or add to your holding  

investors at www.IR.dialight.com, which 

includes detailed coverage of Dialight’s 

if you are a UK resident. You can deal in 

your shares on the internet or by telephone. 

share price and our financial results. You can 

For more information about this service  

also review this year’s Annual Report and 

and for details of their rates, log on to  

Accounts. Our share price is also available 

www.shareview.co.uk/dealing or telephone 

on the London Stock Exchange’s website, 

0345 603 7037 between 8.30am and 

www.londonstockexchange.com.

4.30pm, Monday to Friday.

Dialight plc shareholders can elect to 

receive their shareholder communications 

such as the Annual Report and Accounts 
and other shareholder documents 

electronically by registering at  

If you wish to deal, you will need your 

account/shareholder reference number 

which appears on your share certificate.

Alternatively, if you hold a share  

www.dialight.com/SiteServices/AlertServices.

certificate, you can also use any bank, 

Financial advisers and 
stockbrokers
Investec Bank PLC

30 Gresham Street

London EC2V 7QP

Rothschild & Co

New Court

St. Swithin’s Lane

London EC4N 8AL

building society or stockbroker offering 

share dealing facilities to buy or sell shares. 

If you are in any doubt about buying or 

selling shares, you should seek professional 

financial advice.

Auditors
KPMG LLP

15 Canada Square 

London 

E14 5GL

147

Dialight plc Annual Report and Accounts 2018

Legal advisers
Slaughter and May

One Bunhill Row

London EC1Y 8YY

Principal bankers
HSBC Bank PLC

Level 6 Metropolitan House

321 Avebury Boulevard

Milton Keynes MK9 2GA

Financial PR
MHP Communications

6 Agar Street

London WC2N 4HN

Financial calendar 2019
Annual General Meeting

17 April 2019

Half Yearly Financial Report

30 July 2019

Forward-looking statements
Certain sections of this Annual Report 

contain forward-looking statements that 

are subject to risk factors associated with, 

amongst other things, the economic and 

business circumstances occurring from 

time to time in the countries and sectors in 

which the Company and its subsidiaries and 

associates operate. It is believed that the 

expectations reflected in the Annual Report 
are reasonable but they may be affected by 

a wide range of variables which could cause 

actual results to differ materially from those 

currently anticipated.

Trademarks
The following trademarks appear in this 

document: Dialight and Vigilant, and  

they are registered trademarks of the 

Dialight Group.

Strategic reportGovernanceFinancial statementsD

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Dialight plc
Leaf C
Level 36
Tower 42
25 Old Broad Street
London EC2N 1HQ
www.dialight.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
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