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dotdigital Group Plc

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FY2015 Annual Report · dotdigital Group Plc
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Annual Report 
2014/2015

  Contents

1  Key highlights
2  Chairman’s statement

  Strategic report

4  The dotmailer platform
6  How it works
8  Growth strategy
  10  Global client list
  12  Our culture
  14  Key performance indicators
  16  Risks, mitigations and impact
  18  Chief Executive’s report 
  26  Corporate social responsibility report

  Governance
  28  Board of Directors
  30  Corporate governance report
  31  Audit Committee report
  32  Remuneration Committee report
  34  Report of the Directors
  36  Report of the independent auditor

  Financial statements

  38  Consolidated income statement
  38  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
  39	 Consolidated	statement	of	financial	position
  40	 Company	statement	of	financial	position
  41  Consolidated statement of changes in equity
  42  Company statement of changes in equity
  43	 Consolidated	statement	of	cash	flows
  43	 Company	statement	of	cash	flows
  44	 Notes	to	the	consolidated	financial	statements
  68  Company information 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key highlights

Group revenues up 32%  
(from £16.2m to £21.4m)

EBITDA increase by 45% to £6.8m

Net cash generated from  
operating activities of £5.4m

Strong cash position of £11.9m  
as at 30 June 2015

Corporate statement

dotdigital Group’s flagship product is 
dotmailer, an email and multi-channel 
automation platform that enables 
marketers to plan, target, create, deploy, 
track and analyse their campaigns.

We understand what marketers need 
from a technology platform and bring 
together features and usability in a 
way that no one else does. Supported 
by world-class strategic and creative 
services we make it easy for our clients 
to achieve dramatic results that grow 
their business.

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dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Chairman’s 
statement

Frank Beechinor-Collins
Non-Executive Chairman

dotdigital has delivered great results for 

During this past year we have focused on 

the 2014/15 financial year. The Group 

building our indirect sales through partners and 

continues to be cash generative with 

distributors and we have signed a number of 

no debt and we finished the year with 

high-profile partnership agreements in North 

cash reserves of £11.9m, an increase 

America and Asia Pacific. 

Our international revenues 
have grown by 97% – 
driven by the focus on 
geographic expansion

of 28% on the prior year, after capital 

expenditure and product development 

We continue to make good progress in the 

costs of £2.3m. The Group returned  

US and our business there has grown by over 

a profit before tax of £5.2m for the  

114%, signing a number of significant new 

Development in our dotmailer platform 

year, which was ahead marginally of 

clients in that market. We also established an 

continues to ensure it conforms to scalability, 

market expectations. 

office in Australia which will focus on driving 

localisation and compliance in our new markets 

sales across the Asia Pacific region, primarily 

and product updates and enhancements have 

Our change in emphasis of how we sell to 

through carefully selected partners. This 

been well received by our customers. 

clients outlined last year has been successful 

operation is now headed up by Rohan Lock, 

and our average monthly spend by customer 

who for the past five years, was head of sales  

As with previous years, our policy on 

has increased by 41%. In addition 94% of new 

in the UK. We’ve already seen a good level of 

acquisitions remains unchanged. Our  

clients signed in the past year have signed 

sign ups through our partners 

longer-term contracts giving the Group greater 

continued focus is on organic growth but  

we will consider acquisition opportunities, 

visibility on future revenue. We have also made 

Our professional services division has continued 

should they arise, and only if they allow us  

significant progress with Magento customers, 

to grow in the past year, achieving nearly £3m of 

to accelerate growth in a market or provide  

who tend to be higher volume senders, and 

sales, up 56% on the previous year ,with good 

us with a technolological advantage.

these clients now spend considerably more  

profit margins. We have invested considerably 

with us on a monthly basis than other clients. 

in our infrastructure, ensuring that the business 

has the ability to offer the service expected 

by our customers as our business expands 

in both the volume of emails we send and the 

geographical markets in which we operate. 

2

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

An evolving team 

Simone has an extensive knowledge of the 

On behalf of all our stakeholders, I would 

During the past year we have evolved the plc 

email marketing space and her previous 

like to thank the team at dotdigital for their 

and operational boards to ensure we have the 

experience as a Non-Executive Director of the 

fantastic contribution to another successful 

requisite skills to grow our business in line with 

Company before becoming CEO has meant she 

year. I would also like to say a special thank you 

market expectations. Peter Simmonds, who  

had an excellent understanding of the business. 

to the executive management team for their 

has been CEO for the past eight years, left at 

Simone has focused on building the executive 

continued commitment, hard work and passion 

the end of June 2015. We identified Simone 

management team to ensure the business has 

in developing the business.

Barratt as Peter’s successor in 2014 and during 

the requisite skills as we progress through this 

the past year both Peter and Simone have 

stage of our evolution.

Outlook 

worked on the transition in the months leading 

The outlook for dotdigital over the coming years 

up to Peter’s retirement and Simone taking on 

Milan Patel continues to do an excellent  

is very promising with interesting opportunities 

the role of CEO. 

job as CFO under Simone, with a focus on 

both in the UK and in overseas markets. We 

effective planning and good financial control, 

plan to continue to grow our business via a 

On behalf of the Board I would like to take this 

thus ensuring our ongoing profitability and  

direct sales model but, increasingly, we see 

opportunity to thank Peter for the considerable 

cash generation. 

effort he has put in to building the business 

indirect channel and partnerships as a very 

effective way to achieve significant growth 

and ensuring we have effective processes and 

Founders Simon Bird and Tink Taylor continue 

internationally. The rebranding and repositioning 

controls in place so that we can achieve growth 

as Board members and to play a strategic 

of the business has helped fulfil our ambition 

whilst remaining profitable and cash generative. 

role in the business. Both have provided great 

to be seen as a supplier of choice in the mid-

We are delighted that Peter continues as a 

support to the executive management team. 

market. With this team and the strategy outlined 

significant shareholder of the business and he 

Tink has been instrumental in helping our 

here we look forward to another successful  

has also agreed to remain on the Board as a 

overseas expansion in not just North America 

year ahead.

Non-Executive Director. 

but in Central America and Australia. Simon 

identified and recruited Steve Shaw who has 

taken over as  IT Director and who, in turn, has 

made great strides in both the development of 

our main product suite and the infrastructure 

required for running our platform. 

Frank Beechinor-Collins

Non-Executive Chairman

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dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Strategic report

The dotmailer platform

I M A G I N AT I O N . . . D E L I V E R E D
An email and multi-channel automation platform 
for digital marketers.

Continuing growth

Increased scalability

World class integrations

The flagship product, dotmailer, is a powerful 

dotmailer is a well-established product and 

The company also has specialist and 

email and multi-channel marketing automation 

over the past eight years we have seen strong 

deep pre-built integrations with best-in- 

platform with easy to use tools that enable 

evidence of the scalability of the Group’s 

class eCommmerce platforms and CRM 

marketers to efficiently create, manage, execute 

platform with monthly sends volumes growing 

products such as Magento, SalesForce  

and evaluate effective targeted campaigns.

from under 5m sends per month to currently 

and Microsoft Dynamics. 

over 500m per month.

In addition to its automation technologies, 

In addition the platform has been designed to 

the Group also provides expert multi-channel 

The Group has carried out significant 

integrate easily with clients’ existing marketing 

marketing consultancy and services for 

development work on the dotmailer platform 

technology and systems.

businesses seeking to maximise customer 

over the years, providing continuous innovation 

acquisition, conversion and retention. The 

and functionality to its users.

dotmailer has a broad customer base, with the 

Company is headquartered in London and 

employed 190 staff at the end of June 2015.

Email continues to be the top-performing digital 

channel as confirmed in eConsultancy’s 2014 

Email Marketing Industry Census, with 68% 

rating the channel as Excellent or Good.  

This finding was echoed in the UK Direct 

Marketing Association report which shows the 

average ROI for email campaigns has actually 

risen 53% to £38 for every £1 spent in 2014.  

five largest clients accounting for approximately 

5% of total revenues (the top 20 clients account 

for less than 10% of total revenue).  

To some extent, this reflects some of the 

Group’s historical success in the SME space 

but, increasingly, the Group is gaining solid 

traction in the mid-to-small enterprise market  

in the UK, US and Asia Pacific. 

This includes a highly compelling visual drag 

and drop email template design, drag and drop 

segmentation and query builder, drag and drop 

campaign automation, translation of the user 

interface into eight languages and responsive 

template toolkits that optimise display content 

and layout on mobile devices (smartphones  

and tablets). Our platform’s ease of use, ease 

of integration and innovation combine to allow 

customers of all sizes and abilities to join us,  

and grow with us.

4

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

When we saw dotmailer, we were  
totally blown away. It was way ahead  
of anything else we saw. The decision 
was a no-brainer.

Steve Smith

eCRM Manager

City & Guilds

Ready. Set. Grow.

dotmailer provides clients around the world with marketing tools 

that are easy to use yet provide all the functionality that  

a mid sized or small enterprise needs now and as they grow.

Email 
marketing

Email 
automation

Multi-channel 
automation

Platform

Features 

Multi-channel

Advanced personalisation

Lead nurturing & scoring

Behavioural analysis

Landing pages

Automated campaigns

Insight & complex data

Integrations

Forms & surveys

Campaign reporting

Segment & triggers

Email marketing

5

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Strategic report

How dotmailer works

6

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Data inIntegrations make it fastand easy for customers topull their data into dotmailerEcommerce dataCRM dataSocial dataMessages outOur multi-channel marketingautomation platform empowersmarketers with the tools they needIntegrationsInsight & complex dataBehavioral analysisLead nurturing & scoringForms & surveysLanding pagesEmail marketingSegment & triggersAutomated campaignsAdvanced personalisationMulti-channelCampaign reporting includingContent & other assetsSystems & databasesWeb & emailTablets & dekstopsSales teamsCloud applicationsOnline channelsData warehousesincludingincludingCalls, SMS & messagingA client once described our platform 
as NASA technology with a Fisher Price 
interface. We liked that. It stuck. It’s now  
a mantra for our product development.  

Tink Taylor,

Founder, dotmailer

7

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Data inIntegrations make it fastand easy for customers topull their data into dotmailerEcommerce dataCRM dataSocial dataMessages outOur multi-channel marketingautomation platform empowersmarketers with the tools they needIntegrationsInsight & complex dataBehavioral analysisLead nurturing & scoringForms & surveysLanding pagesEmail marketingSegment & triggersAutomated campaignsAdvanced personalisationMulti-channelCampaign reporting includingContent & other assetsSystems & databasesWeb & emailTablets & dekstopsSales teamsCloud applicationsOnline channelsData warehousesincludingincludingCalls, SMS & messagingStrategic report

Our growth strategy

Enhancing shareholder value by focusing on profitable  
growth and product innovation. 

Our shareholder base expects a low-risk approach to investment. Over the past seven years as 

a public company we have a good track record of testing, learning and then investing in growth 

opportunities. As the Company has grown we have also taken care to protect our core customer 

base whilst looking to deliver strong top-line growth through:

Geographic 
expansion

Our revenues from outside the UK have grown from 3% in 2012/2013, to 10% in 2013/2014 and now 

to 15% in 2014/2015. We expect this % to increase through 2015/2016 with the bulk of these overseas 

revenues coming from the US and Asia Pacific. 

Our choice of strategic partners has been influenced by their geographic footprint to enable us to further 

penetrate other regions.

Product 
innovation

In 2014/2015 we delivered a number of significant new product features including Multi-channel extensions, 

insight data, advanced personalisation, lead scoring, fully personalised landing pages and substantial 

enhancements to our market leading integrations with Magento, MS Dynamics CRM and Salesforce. 

From a revenue perspective we saw an increase in recurring revenues from technology of 207% especially  

our marketing automation functionality. Going forward, in support of our international and partner growth 

strategy we will look to further globalize our product suite and our infrastructure.  In addition, we have identified 

the following themes for our roadmap:  platform extensibility, single customer view, real-time customer 

experience, predictive capabilities, eCommerce, email innovation, social.

Strategic 
partnerships  
and channel

In 2014/2015 we continued to build on our existing partner relationships in eCommerce and CRM  

by focusing on our specialist connectors for Magento, MS Dynamics CRM and Salesforce. 

2015/2016, we plan to focus on developing a robust Global Reseller network, whilst our Direct Sales  

team continues to grow our organic direct business. Additionally, we are excited about early progress  

in developing Key Strategic Partnerships that will drive our presence globally.

Identifying 
new niches

Our historic focus on the eCommerce niche has delivered good revenues (261% increase 2014/2015) as 

well as positioning us to be strategic partners of key global players such as Magento. This, in turn, has also 

driven our geographic growth. 

For the coming year, we have identified an opportunity to exploit our localisation and multi-lingual capabilities 

and drive revenues through this niche. 

8

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

y
d
u
t
s

e
s
a
C

Barbour 
Case study 

Overcoming the obstacles 

Barbour have been on a rapid learning curve with the 

evolution of its ecommerce business. The sole business 

goal has been to deliver a seamless customer experience. 

The obstacles to overcome have been many: building a 

detailed customer database, segmenting the audience, 

creating engaging content, integration between systems, 

personalising the experience.

In terms of bottom line a single 
direct campaign has generated  
a six-figure revenue amount, with  
a ROI of 37,581%.

Elaine Taylor

Manager

Barbour International

Smarter, scalable results 

Throughout this journey dotmailer have provided 

strong and consistent support to Barbour as 

they gradually adopt smarter and smarter email 

marketing automation tactics. This means tailored 

engagement programmes using past purchasing 

history are now sent as standard, automatically. 

The results are great but also scalable as the online 

business continues to grow.

9

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
 
Strategic report

Global client list

dotmailer is the trusted email marketing partner  
of huge success stories around the world.

Major clients

10

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015When I saw the EasyEditor in action  
I realised it is as easy as using Lego.

Chris Hipson

Customer Experience 

Econsultancy

New clients

New Magento clients

11

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Strategic report

Our culture

The dotmailer platform is built to be flexible and  
easy to work with. As a Company, we like to think  
we’re the same. 

The Group understands the critical role our 

people play in the success of the business. 

We continue to invest in their development 

and other initiatives that build upon the great 

culture that is at the heart of our business.

It’s our business to know your business. 
We run a business. You run a business. 
Bottom lines are top of mind for us. 
That’s why everything we do for you – 
and ourselves – is considered, thought 
through and viable. 

Two peas. Same pod.
We attract staff and clients that sing 
from the same hymn sheet as us. It’s  
an ethos that binds us together. Truth 
is, we’re more like family and friends 
than a company. 

12

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

On your marks. Get set. Grow.
Your success is our success. That’s why 
we grow our own people to be the 
best they can, so they can help your 
business to be the best it can. We don’t 
do the status quo. Now, off we grow. 

We’re an unlimited Company. 
We never sit still. Good enough isn’t  
good enough for us. We’re always 
thinking, always doing, always creating. 
Why? We love what we do. We care 
about how we do it. We think you  
will too. 

No nonsense.
Straight. Honest. Open. Truthful (even 
if it hurts). We don’t do business speak. 
We prefer common sense. That’s 
what the best and most successful 
relationships are based on. 

13

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Strategic report

Key performance indicators

We use our key performance indicators (KPIs) to 
measure our business. These indicators provide us 
with the visibility of both our strategic and financial 
performance. Employee remuneration is specifically 
linked to these KPIs. 

Financial

Revenue growth from continuing operation
We aim to deliver double-digit organic revenue growth.

2014

2015

£16,213,000

33% Growth 

£21,366,000

32% Growth

Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)
We aim to have a positive EBITDA growth.

£4,697,000

13% Growth

£6,772,000

45% Growth

£9,306,000

53% Growth

£11,932,000

28% Growth

2014

2015

Cash position
We aim to have a strong cash position. 

2014

2015

14

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015One of the first things that 
appealed to us was the creative 
freedom dotmailer provides.

Edward Huang

Financial Officer

Alex Woo

Strategic

Volume of emails sent
We aim to keep increasing the amount of emails sent through the system.

2014

2015

3,700,000,000

5,760,000,000

Recurring revenue as a %
We aim to have recurring revenues of over 70%.

2014

2015

Percentage of revenue from customers outside of the UK
We aim to expand internationally.

2014

2015

78% Recurring revenue
76% Recurring revenue

10% Outside of the UK

15% Outside of the UK

15

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Strategic report

Risks, mitigations 
and impact

Risk area

Impact

Mitigation of risk

The design of the platform along with the system’s architecture has multiple 
levels of resilience built in to cater for single points of failure. The Group 
continuously evaluates its key suppliers as part of its risk management 
process and diversifies these where possible, to improve resiliency. There 
is continued investment into dotmailer’s currently owned IP addresses, 
maintaining these to be reputable for sending email globally, and utilising 
them to maximum effect. The Group continues to monitor its IPv4 capacity 
and seeks opportunities to expand its pool or utilise newer technologies to 
limit exposure to this risk. 

Dedicated teams have been formed to deliver the migration project; with 
consultation from experts and the cloud service providers, the team have a 
clearly defined architecture & design and where risks have been identified 
tests have been run to prove resolutions. The testing/migration process 
will be phased to identify and resolve any issues before impacting core 
business.

By utilising cloud service providers, economies of scale are inherited 
from the provider in terms of computing power, bandwidth, and security 
technologies, mitigating other corporate risks.

The Group’s technical team takes measured actions across multiple levels 
to secure the dotmailer platform and its customers’ data. Continued 
investment into the latest technology for threat detection, remediation and 
encryption, coupled with its security policies and penetration tests, greatly 
reduces the Group’s exposure to this risk.

The introduction of a dedicated security function within the business to 
oversee existing and improvements in technology, processes, and policy 
was a strategic decision to further reduce the risk in this area. The Group 
has invested, and will continue to invest significantly in this area to protect 
ourselves from the latest threats.

The Group operates an open door policy whereby it shares its policies 
relating to security & data privacy. dotmailer has a Trust Centre where 
customers can view this information online. Its features also assist 
customers to be compliant in current legislation and in most cases 
automates these compliance processes. The Group’s staff research the 
impact of new legislation to its customers (and in some cases are actively 
involved in the creation of the legislation & industry best practise) and 
publish related white papers and blogs. Its executive actively contributes 
to the digital marketing space to advocate best practice and make sure its 
customers’ needs are represented.

Supplier, 

computer 

hardware 

and internet 

reliability-related 

risks

Utilisation of 
cloud service 

providers

An event resulting in a hosting centre going 
offline for any significant period of time or the 
termination of provision of services by one of 
the Group’s hosting centres for any reason 
may result in significant loss of revenues and 
therefore materially harm the Group’s business, 
operating results and financial condition. 
Similarly, events preventing or obstructing the 
servers from communicating over the internet, 
such as the future availability of a finite number 
of IPv4 addresses, may restrict the capacity of 
the business.

A key strategy for the Group is to migrate 
the dotmailer platform to a hybrid cloud 
infrastructure, utilising cloud service providers 
to host the web and application functions of the 
platform. Failure to implement correctly could 
result in an unstable, or less efficient platform 
resulting in lower number of email sends, 
and ultimately lowering the confidence in the 
product. 

The nature of cloud computing also means that 
a majority of the dotmailer platform will sit on 
shared infrastructure that is more of a target for 
cyber-attacks.

Hacking & 

information 

security

There is a possible risk that a direct or indirect 
hacking attempt could result in a denial of 
service and/or loss of data which would impact 
on the Group’s reputation. 

Data privacy 

16

Such laws and regulations require or may require 
the Group and its clients to implement privacy 
and security policies, permit consumers to 
access, correct or delete personal information 
stored or maintained by such companies, inform 
individuals of security incidents that affect their 
personal information, and, in some cases, obtain 
consent to use personal information for certain 
purposes. Other possible legislation could, if 
enacted, impose additional requirements and 
prohibit the use of certain technologies, such 
as those that track individuals’ activities on web 
pages or record when individuals click on a link 
contained in an email message. Such laws and 
regulations could restrict the Group’s clients’ 
ability to collect and use email addresses, web 
browsing data and personal information, which 
may reduce demand for its products.

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Risk area

Impact

Mitigation of risk

Internet service 

providers (ISPs) 

reputation and 

internet browser, 

related risks

As a large proportion of the Group’s revenue is 
derived by charging a price per email for sending 
marketing emails on behalf of customers, the 
impact of not being able to deliver these or 
deliver these without engagement tracking for 
any reason is significant. If internet browsers 
detect hyperlinks as a phishing threat, if abuse 
complaints from providers are not dealt with 
properly, if bad customer data generates multiple 
complaints through ISPs or third party spam 
blacklists, these impact the platform’s overall 
ability to effectively deliver email. 

Competitive 

environment 

International 

expansion 

Hire and retain 

key personnel 

The sector the Group operates in is competitive. 
The impact of competitors having more features, 
increased financial backing, better brand 
recognition and better global coverage increases 
the risk to the Group’s business model.

As the business expands into new geographic 
territories there is a risk that policies and 
practices that have worked successfully in the 
UK market will not provide the high level of 
service and assurance that would have been 
delivered in the UK market. 

The loss of the services of key employees could 
harm the Group’s business. The future success 
of the Group also depends on its ability to 
identify, attract and retain highly skilled technical, 
managerial and sales personnel. The Group 
faces intense competition for qualified individuals 
from numerous technology, ecommerce and 
marketing companies.

Development and 

maintenance of 

products

There is a possible risk that without continued 
investment into new products, enhancement of 
old products and into new sectors the growth of 
the Group will be impaired. 

Evolving 

technology 

and customer 

requirements

As new products are developed, and 
the technology landscape changes, the 
maintenance burden of existing products 
increases and without continued investment 
maintaining those products they may become 
unusable and could affect the Group’s revenue. 

Failure to respond to evolving technological 
channels and customer requirements or to 
introduce competitive enhancements and new 
features may make the dotmailer solution less 
competitive. The introduction of new solutions 
by competitors potentially makes the Group’s 
solutions less attractive or easy to sell. Failure to 
anticipate client requirements and successfully 
develop new solutions or features may impact 
growth and retention of existing clients.

dotmailer provides a number of services as part of the core product to 
filter known or bad data that may not comply with EU, Asia Pacific or US 
anti-spam regulations. Continued investment in reputation & security-
related product development with the addition of more third party data 
feeds to filter bad data continues to reduce the risk. Through its admittance 
to various industry groups, notably the Messaging Malware Mobile 
Anti-Abuse Working Group (M3AAWG), the Group has demonstrated its 
commitment to implementing industry best practice in anti-abuse. It also 
provides a number of consultancy services to its customers to better 
improve their data and compliance with legislation. Through its expansion 
of its deliverability team, the Group continues to work closely with ISPs, 
email receivers and third party spam lists by proactively dealing with abuse 
complaints generated by customer emails. Whilst dotmailer acts as the 
data processor on behalf of its customers, and is not directly liable for 
breach of the EU, Asia Pacific or US anti-spam regulations, it does take 
these breaches seriously, suspending or terminating customer service 
agreements if necessary. 

The Group continues to grow revenues year-on year and reinvests to 
deliver new product features, best-in-class customer support and service 
offerings, enhanced brand recognition, improved service delivery and 
markets globally to attract new customers. 

The Group will place an emphasis on hiring senior people with experience 
of developing successful international business models, whilst hiring quality 
local people in important International territories. The Group will also utilise 
the services of expert advisers as and when necessary. Management 
information, business intelligence, audits and risk appraisals will be 
updated and monitored to ensure they reflect the International nature of the 
business.

Investment into talent acquisition hiring programmes and continuous 
learning and development has enabled the Group to hire and retain highly 
skilled individuals. Enhanced employee benefits, a competitive packageand 
a modern and flexible working environment utilising the latest technologies 
have continued to mitigate this risk.

Investment into the Group’s product offerings continues to enable good 
growth. Innovation and increased development of new core product 
offerings in the marketing automations space has opened up more revenue 
opportunities and increased the average recurring revenue of the Group’s 
existing customers. Ease of use of the dotmailer offerings and the ability 
to offer flexibility to integrate and connect to best-of-breed products 
continue to enable the Group’s customers to grow at their pace without 
constraints. The Group constantly reviews individual product performance 
and the technology landscape and makes decisions to optimise its product 
portfolio if necessary to reduce maintenance overheads. 

Investment in development of new solutions, partnerships with best-of-
breed third parties and enhancements to the platform means that the Group 
remains a credible provider of multi-channel marketing SaaS solutions. SaaS 
development requires implementation of rapidly changing technologies, 
adhering to standards and regulations, anticipating client requirements 
and frequent product enhancements. The Group has not aligned itself to a 
single vertical, neither B2B nor B2C, and this strategy is purposeful for risk 
reduction. Where competitors introduce new solutions generally targeted 
at verticals, the breadth of the dotmailer platform, providing solutions 
across sectors, still differentiates dotmailer from its competitors. It delights 
customers, enabling them to grow and adapt without the need to change 
their marketing platform. This in conjunction with, a continued emphasis in 
recruiting and retaining expert technical and marketing professionals, has 
enabled the Group to innovate within its sector.

17

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Strategic report

Chief Executive’s  
report

Simone Barratt
Chief Executive Officer

Introduction 

This strong organic growth was underpinned 

I am pleased to announce that the Group 

by a combination of successful new client 

delivered revenue growth in line with market 

wins in the mid-market and small enterprise 

guidance. Our EBITDA and profit before tax are 

sectors and, in particular, amongst Magento 

both marginally ahead of market guidance.

eCommerce platform users. There has also 

been healthy growth in recurring revenue from 

This performance is a result of continued strong 

existing clients, and the Group has signed up  

organic growth in the high-margin and long-

a higher proportion of clients under contracts 

term recurring revenues generated by our core 

than in the previous period.

multichannel marketing product, dotmailer, both 

in the UK and, increasingly, overseas.

The Group continues to win notable clients in 

the UK in both the B2B and B2C sectors. In 

Easy to use yet incredibly 
powerful, dotmailer is 
increasingly becoming 
the platform of choice 
for digital marketing 
professionals.

Financial highlights 

the past year these include: Honeywell, Unison, 

International growth 

30.06.15 

30.06.14 

%

(£m) 

(£m)  increase

Revenue 

EBITDA 

Net assets 

EPS 

21.4 

6.8 

18.4 

1.63 

16.2 

4.7 

14.2 

1.24 

32%

45%

30%

31%

Review of 2014/2015 

Revenue performance, which grew in line  

Ordnance Survey, The All England Lawn Tennis 

Revenues from the US performed strongly, 

and Croquet Club, Knight Frank, Sony Music, 

increasing from US$1.4m to US$3.0m, an 

Links of London, Sole Trader, Ladbrokes and 

increase of over 114% compared to the same 

Natural History Museum.   

period last year. The East Coast sales office, 

located in New York, continues to focus on 

We have also seen a strong performance from 

sector niches including Magento eCommerce 

our enabling professional services offerings 

platform users and higher value small enterprise 

with an increase in revenue from £1.8m to 

clients. As a result the Group has secured  

approximately £2.8m, an increase of 56% year 

a number of new clients, including Simple 

on year with margins in the region of 60%.  

Human, La Vie en Rose, Sail Plein Air Inc & 

Team Velocity Marketing.

with expectations, was driven by strong  

During the year, the Group’s average monthly 

growth of 32% across the Group’s core  

high-margin email and multi-channel  

automation SaaS platform.

spend per client rose by approximately 41% 

The Group has also made good early progress 

from £315 in the prior financial year to £445 in 

in the Asia Pacific region and the Group has 

2014/15. This, combined with a focus on longer 

established strong partner relationships in 

term contracts (94% of clients that signed up 

Australia and solid revenue pipelines building 

in the year are on contracts between 12 and 

through these channels. 

24 months), and client retention has resulted in 

higher client lifetime values.

We are in the process of undertaking a 

pilot utilising the localisation and translation 

capabilities of our platform in LATAM with  

a partner. 

18

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
 
 
 
Magento Connector 

Also, within the year we have revised our 

The quality of dotdigital’s connector into the 

approach to our product development and 

Magento eCommerce platform and the Group’s 

release process. Our new approach has 

ability to build strong relationships with Magento 

delivered increasingly innovative software in an 

partners has resulted in significant increased 

agile manner, but in a more structured quarterly 

revenues during the year.

release process. The key tenets of our product 

development strategy remain ‘ease of use’ 

The number of our clients now using dotmailer’s 

and ‘ease of integration’. Our highly skilled and 

Magento Connector has more than doubled 

creative team of developers continue to create 

during the financial year. The average monthly 

functionality that makes it easy for our clients to 

recurring revenue spend for a typical Magento 

deliver complex marketing processes, and easy 

customer has also grown to approximately 

for marketers to integrate with the best-of-breed 

£1,070 per month, a 53% increase on the 

platforms they already use. 

previous year. 

People 

Magento Connector UK clients now include 

After a two-year term as a Non-Executive 

The Royal Trust Collection, Fred Perry, Boodles, 

Director, I took over the CEO role on  

Calor Gas and Hornby.

24 February 2015. Peter Simmonds stepped 

down as Deputy CEO on 30 June 2015 and  

We have also signed a number of Magento 

I am delighted Peter remains on the Board  

Systems Integration partners as resellers for 

as a Non-Executive Director. 

the dotmailer platform, including Gorilla, a Gold 

Magento Solution Partner with offices across 

the US and Europe, and named as Magento’s 

Omni-channel Partner of the Year in April 2015. 

Technology, product development  

and support

Within the year we have restructured our 

technology, product development and support 

teams. The teams are now clearly aligned with 

operational support for our clients and our 

infrastructure, or on our product roadmap. 

Peter’s leaving party

Our first campaign 
generated over £6m 
worth of business and  
set the scene for 
everything we do today. 
It’s fair to say we’ve not 
looked back since!

Phil O’Sullivan

Marketing Director

Newmarket Holidays

19

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
Strategic report

Chief Executive’s  
report continued

2013/2014 was a year of important investment 

Cash generation 

in new hires and the appointment of new senior 

The business continues to be highly cash 

management. During 2014/2015 these new 

generative with cash at the end of the period 

hires have been successfully integrated into the 

standing at £11.9m, an increase of 28% on the 

business. The senior management team have 

prior year (2014: £9.3m) after capital expenditure 

implemented new structures and processes 

and product development of £2.3m. The Group 

to support our ambitious growth plans whilst 

continues to be debt free. Highly efficient cash 

driving operational efficiencies for the business. 

collection processes, combined with over 

As a result we have delivered a 32% increase 

45% of clients paying retainers by direct debit, 

in revenue, a 45% increase in EBITDA for a 

contributed to the Group’s strong cash position 

nominal 8% increase in headcount.

at the year end.

Dividend policy 

I am pleased to announce that the Board has 

conducted a review of the business plans for the 

next three years including evaluating the cash 

Over the past seven 
years, revenues have 
grown 346% from £4.8m 
to £21.4m (year to June 
2015). This equates to a 
seven-year CAGR of 24%, 
which is higher than the 
market growth in that 
time, reflecting market 
share gains.

needs for increased investment in both organic 

We have established a strong brand presence in 

growth and capital expenditure and has decided 

the US, especially in the growing B2C and B2B 

that an increase in dividend can be proposed 

eCommerce sectors, and we anticipate further 

this year.

penetration and growth. Growth to date has 

been as a result of the quality of our connector 

Therefore, subject to approval at the AGM in 

to the Magento platform and our Gold Standard 

December 2015, the Board propose that the 

Partnership. Going forward, we will continue to 

Group will pay a dividend of 0.36 pence per 

focus on growing our network and relationships 

share, payable at the end of January 2016.

with the system Integrators who service and 

James Koons 
Chief Privacy Officer

Another key hire in April 2015 was Chief Privacy 

Officer, James Koons, a high-profile industry 

Growth strategy  

influence the Magento community and on 

continuing to broaden and deepen our product 

expert who is based in the US. As outlined in 

During the year we evaluated a number of 

offering to this sector.

the Risks and Mitigation section of this Report, 

potential acquisition opportunities in the email 

our reputation with ISPs around the world and 

marketing space. However, as in prior years 

We are pleased with the early results of a pilot in 

our knowledge of and approach to global data 

none of the businesses evaluated were judged 

LATAM (Latin America), commencing in October 

privacy legislation are critical to providing our 

to be likely to create long-term shareholder 

clients with the highest level of protection and 

value when execution and integration risks 

2014 and conducted with a partner utilising 

our localisation technologies to translate our 

security and to ensuring we continue to deliver 

were factored in. We will, of course, continue to 

interface to the local market. 

their emails around the world.

consider acquisition opportunities if they arise.

We anticipate further organic growth in the  

through further expansion; into the Americas 

UK market and will continue to offer our 

and Asia Pacific, and via strategic and channel 

products directly to a wide range of industry 

partners and resellers. 

In addition, we expect to augment this growth 

sectors. Growth will come from winning 

business from competitors as well as from 

developing and promoting additional and 

increasingly sophisticated personalisation and 

automation product functionality to our existing 

customer base.

20

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015y
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Naylors 
Case study 

Rapid growth

Since going digital, Naylors has transformed from a 

local equestrian and country wear retailer into a highly a 

successful ecommerce business on the national stage. 

Since 2012 they’ve been working with ecommerce 

agency Space 48 to develop their offering on the 

Magento Enterprise platform. 

dotmailer’s people are very 
informative and a source of 
inspiration. The results we’ve  
seen of working with Magento 
and dotmailer have been 
extremely powerful.

James Atkinson

Partner at Naylors

Impressive results

For the email solution, they initially used Mailchimp, but they rapidly 

bumped up against the limits of a free solution. That was when their 

ecommerce agency suggested they look at dotmailer.

One of the first attractions they could see from migrating to the dotmailer 

was the ability to integrate their Magento customer purchasing data. This 

has been used to implement a fully integrated multichannel strategy that 

makes best use of automation to provide seamless transactions and the 

best possible customer service. They are looking forward to introducing 

even more automation in the future. 

Since making the shift to dotmailer the results have been impressive. 

Naylors have seen massive returns, A 219% increase in revenue, 186% 

increase in transactions, average order value increase of 11%, and a 21% 

increase in conversion from email to purchase. 

21

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
 
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TUI  
Case study

A global operation

TUI AG is the largest leisure, travel and tourism company in 

the world. It owns travel agencies, hotels, airlines, cruise ships 

and retail stores. Its major subsidiaries include TUI Airlines, 

the largest holiday fleet in Europe, as well as UK-based tour 

operator Thomson. In total the brand covers nearly 80 tour 

operators operating from 18 countries.

dotmailer hit the sweet spot 
between advanced features 
and simple operation. It gives 
us a platform that will improve 
customer service, reduce 
duplication, and drive much 
higher levels of customer 
insight and intimacy.

An integrated success

Matt Royal

Using dotmailer they’ve implemented a successful three-year 

CRM Manager at TUI Travel PLC 

programme to integrate email, CRM, web and sales reporting. 

UK Education Division

The dotmailer platform has increased their ability to send out 

effective communications, whilst allowing TUI staff a deeper 

understanding of their market and customers.

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Chief Executive’s  
report continued

Email delivery remains a high priority and we  

will retain a small physical infrastructure 

presence in key regions to act as delivery nodes. 

This ensures we have full control over our IP 

address ranges and their reputation, which  

are crucial for email delivery.

These additional dotmailer instances will 

allow us to scale and spread risk, putting us 

in stronger position to continue to deliver on 

our customers expectations and to handle 

continued growth.

The model of growing internationally by focusing 

Technology and infrastructure

on key partners has proven to be successful 

We continue to invest in technology and 

and profitable in the US. The Group aims  

infrastructure to cater for a growing international 

to take the same focused approach to growing 

customer base. dotdigital has recently 

our new office in Australia, identifying a number 

commenced a three-year hybrid-cloud 

of key partners and resellers who have an 

infrastructure project – Project Cirrus – with  

existing footprint in Australia and the broader 

the key aim of deploying our platform into  

Asia Pacific region. 

new territories: North America (to support 

growth in the Americas), and Australia (to 

Going forward, we will deepen existing 

support growth in Asia Pacific). This will provide 

relationships, and identify new local and global 

our clients with increased performance and 

strategic partners to fast track our penetration 

resilience and the ability to keep their data  

into specific sectors, niches or geographies. 

within their economic region. 

The Group will also exploit what we believe to 

be an opportunity in the market – particularly 

in the US – to provide an alternative email and 

multi-channel automation platform to a network 

of mid-sized resellers and we are currently hiring 

to exploit this opportunity. 

This growth will be supported by a technology 

programme that delivers scale internationally. 

We are encouraged by the response we have 

had from partners and see this as a key tenet  

for our growth strategy in future. 

23

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Strategic report

Chief Executive’s  
report continued

Looking forward 

In addition to channel partners, resellers are 

The dotmailer email marketing and multi-

important for the Group’s growth ambitions 

channel automation platform continues 

including further penetration into the US as 

to perform strongly both in the UK and, 

well as for entering new markets. To this end 

increasingly, internationally.

the Group plans to appoint a Global Reseller 

Director who will be based in the US. There 

In readiness for the next phase of our growth 

have been a number of acquisitions in the  

I have created a Senior Executive Team that 

email marketing sector and the Directors  

sits between the Plc Board and the cross-

believe this has created an opportunity for 

departmental Operations Board. In addition 

dotmailer to replace their current platform. 

to myself and Milan Patel, CFO, the Senior 

Executive Team comprises Sharon Head – 

The ongoing investment in technology and 

previously Director of Operations, now Chief 

product development, and the resulting  

Operating Officer, and Steve Shaw – previously 

new multi-channel automation functionality 

Director of Technology, now Chief Technology 

launched in early 2015, has helped the  

Officer. This structure will allow us to allocate 

Group build new revenues. The Directors believe 

senior executive sponsorship to key global 

this will increase both the quality and quantum 

strategic partnerships. For clarification, these are 

of recurring revenues from our technology,  

not Plc Board appointments. 

and also from a recently introduced range of 

new productised multi-channel automation 

Together with the recent appointment of Anup 

services offerings.

Khera to the role of Senior Vice President (SVP) 

of Global Sales, and Phil Draper as Marketing 

 In summary, the demand for email marketing 

Director, the Group is well placed with a  

and multi-channel automation continues to be 

strong team of senior executives to deliver  

strong both in the UK and internationally. The 

future results.

Board believes that the dotmailer platform, 

with its ‘ease of use’ proposition, its specialist 

Further growth in the US will be supported by 

connectors, its specialist professional services, 

new sales offices in the MidWest and West 

and now its growing list of global strategic 

Coast. These offices will be located to mirror the 

partnerships, is well placed to continue to 

concentrations of Magento systems integrators, 

generate strong organic growth in revenue, not 

allowing us to forge stronger relationships and to 

just in the UK, but increasingly overseas as well.

provide those Integrators with local support.

Rohan Lock, who has headed the UK sales 

team for five years, is now responsible for the 

Asia Pacific region, based in Australia. He has 

considerable experience of building an effective 

sales organisation in the UK and is expected to 

help the Group accelerate sales growth in this 

region. Hiring a sales team has already begun 

and early indications from the Asia Pacific region 

show strong interest from high-value strategic 

channel partners and a growing pipeline. 

Sharon Head 
Chief Operating Officer

Steve Shaw 
Chief Technology Officer

Anup Khera 
SVP Global Sales

Phil Draper 
Marketing Director

The initiatives to grow our 
international presence are 
now delivering a strong 
pipeline of new clients 
particularly in the mid-size 
online retail space which 
continues to be a core 
focus for 2015.

24

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

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FairFX 
Case study

Easy automation

FairFX switched to using dotmailer a year ago. They 

have implemented a number of dotmailer’s automation 

tools, all of which are generating additional turnover  

for the business. 

dotmailer is all about delivering 
service that goes beyond the 
norm. They are very effective 
and professional team who know 
what they’re talking about, and 
help me to get the best out of  
my digital marketing.

Lisa Stone 

Marketing Manager 

FairFX

All the results. No more effort

With no ongoing input once the original content and parameters 

for the automation campaign have been set up it’s a win win for the 

client. The results of the campaign are increases year on year, 17% 

more visits to the website this year, 73% increase in conversion 

rates, 103% increase in transactions and 121% increase in revenue. 

Within just two days of launching the first programme FairFX 

generated additional turnover running into five figures. Over a year 

this adds up to over a million pounds of additional revenue from a 

totally automated service.

25

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
Strategic report

Corporate social  
responsibility report

During the past year the Group continued  

Employees

It is the policy of the Group to ensure that at 

with its ongoing commitment to social 

The Group has continued to invest in the 

all times there are equal opportunities for all 

responsibility in the market in which it  

development of our people across the Group 

employees, with no discrimination on account  

operates, to its employees, suppliers and  

thus underpinning the critical role that our 

of race, age, gender, sexual orientation,  

to the broader environment.

employees play in the success of the business.

disability and political or religious beliefs.  

Our philosophy is to ensure that ability, 

As a company listed on AIM, dotdigital is 

The Board has significantly enhanced the 

contribution to the business and potential to 

not required to produce a corporate social 

training and development programme available, 

develop are the determining factors in the 

responsibility report. However, the Directors 

to provide all employees with access to 

selection, training, career development and 

believe that in the interest of transparency a  

bespoke key skills training, as well as continuing 

promotion of all employees.

brief commentary should be included.

specific skills development in areas relating 

to the industry we operate in and, in addition, 

Investment in our offices continues, ensuring  

Clients

professional skills development. The Group  

a pleasant and safe working environment for  

The Group prides itself on ensuring that our 

now has a greater percentage of employees 

all employees. Above all, the Board continually 

products and services are designed to meet the 

than ever before studying towards and achieving 

monitor that our workplaces are safe  

expectations of our clients and their customers. 

professional qualifications, equipping themselves 

and comply with all relevant legislation; the 

Feature forums are offered to allow clients to 

and the business with specialist expertise.

Group has not been subject to sanctions or 

request features and vote on feature priority, 

fines for environmental, health and safety or 

which feeds directly into the development 

The Board’s commitment to an open and 

other infringements.

schedules for our SaaS product offerings. 

honest working environment continues with 

clear communication of business progress 

Business partnership

The Group is committed to complete 

through monthly ‘All Hands’ Company 

dotdigital believes that strong and effective 

transparency with our clients, providing 

meetings; including an anonymous ‘Ask 

partnerships, within our business community, 

pricing structures that are clear, and offering 

the Board’ Directors questions slot, regular 

is an important factor that promotes mutual 

packages that allow clients to deliver successful 

newsletters, and lunches for new and existing 

success for our partners and suppliers. As 

campaigns. A pricing calculator is provided for 

employees with the Board. 

dotdigital continues to act on its strategy 

dotmailer licenses and packages to allow clients 

of global growth, we will build upon our UK 

and potential clients to cost their campaigns, 

The Board strives to continue to offer a 

experience in the US, Australia and beyond. 

and our experienced sales team are able 

competitive benefits package in order to attract 

assist clients in pricing guidance across all our 

and retain the best talent, including share option 

Our constantly evolving and expanding partner 

products and services. 

schemes and bonuses based on Company and 

network is key to developing close business 

individual performance. Total reward statements 

relationships through informal and formal 

dotdigital products and services are supported 

are available to all employees to provide 

events, meet-ups and seminars. We share the 

by an expert team; giving access to support via 

complete visibility into the total value of salaries, 

advantage of our cutting-edge office space to 

email, telephone and live chat. We also provide 

benefits and rewards earned through the year. 

support and host an increasing number of such 

additional managed services for our products, 

enabling our clients to deliver successful 

campaigns and projects.

26

events. The business benefits that these close 

relationships provide are immediate and obvious 

to all involved.

Our commitment to using local businesses 

wherever possible is consistent even as we 

launch in Australia, making use of local providers 

of products and services where we can.

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
Environmental partnership

Risks

Our tried and tested adoption of Reduce, 

The Board is cognisant of the need to 

Reuse, Recycle runs through all our offices.  

monitor potential threats to the business and 

As a digital business we continue to strive to 

our workforce. To this end the Board has 

reduce printing and waste and increase the 

established a Risk Committee consisting of  

levels of recycling wherever possible.

both Non-Executive Directors and management. 

Our office hot-desking arrangements and 

ongoing risks to the business and this includes 

flexible approach to appropriate telecommuting 

risks posed both to our employees and any 

ensure we avoid unnecessary travel whenever 

potential risks to the business from suppliers 

This committee meets regularly to evaluate 

possible. 

and partners. Any recommendations by this 

committee are put directly to the Board for 

Ensuring we work with datacentre partners 

further discussion and implementation. 

that set industry standards in energy efficiency 

ensures we minimise our energy footprint. 

Strategic report

Suppliers

The strategic report was approved by a  

duly authorised committee of the Board of 

As a part of the Group’s strong commitment 

Directors on 12 October 2015 and signed  

to our local community we aim to source local 

on its behalf by:

suppliers wherever possible. This is underlined 

by the fact that a number of our suppliers have 

been with the Group for many years and we 

consider our key suppliers as partners. dotdigital 

aims to work with partners and suppliers  

with similar ethical standards and values.  

At dotdigital we understand the importance of 

Milan Patel

fair and equal treatment, and particularly drive 

Company Secretary

towards transparent and fair payment terms  

12 October 2015

and processes.

Community partnership 

The dotdigital Group employees need little 

encouragement to show their support for 

local and national charities. This year we have 

invested in relaunching and rebranding our 

employee social group. Volunteers representing 

all departments and offices across the globe 

ensure global representation and engagement. 

Rebranded as dotcommunity, the Group 

has two focuses: inwards (employee social 

engagement) and outwards (philanthropic 

activities). With so many of our employees 

involved in charity fundraising, our Co-Founder 

Tink Taylor set us the task of raising $1,000,000 

for charity. This project is called dotfoundation 

and utilising online and social channels we 

now have a single focus for our fundraising. 

dotfoundation acts as the ‘totaliser’ for all our 

charity fundraising, which currently includes 

Royal Brompton & Harefield Hospitals Charity 

and British Heart Foundation. 

As part of our Client Satisfaction Survey, 

we committed to making a £5 donation for 

each response. This enabled us to donate 

£5,000 across the following charities: St 

Christopher’s Hospice, Brick by Brick: Homes 

for the Homeless, Deafblind Scotland, Ronald 

McDonald House Manchester, DEC (Disasters 

Emergency Committee) and Marie Curie.

27

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
Governance

Board of Directors

Simone Barratt

Milan Patel, FCCA ACSI

Chief Executive Officer

Chief Finance Officer,  

Simon Bird

Co-Founder

Ian “Tink” Taylor

Co-Founder

Company Secretary

Simone Barratt has over 15 

Milan Patel joined the Company in 

Simon Bird has developed an  

Tink Taylor has 20 years’ 

years’ experience of ecommerce, 

2007 and was appointed Group 

in-depth technical knowledge of 

experience in digital marketing 

technology and online marketing.  

Company Secretary in 2009, and 

the internet and its applications. 

in both the UK and now the 

She has grown businesses to 

CFO in 2015. Milan is a Fellow 

Prior to co-founding dotdigital 

US. Since 2006 he has been 

multi $m from incorporation. She 

member of the Association of 

Group he assisted in the 

an influential member of the UK 

was appointed Non-Executive 

Chartered Certified Accountants, 

development of a major internet 

Direct Marketing Association’s 

Director of dotdigital in October 

and associate member of the 

access provider. He has provided 

Email Marketing Council and also 

2013 and stepped into the CEO 

Chartered Institute of Securities 

services to a number of well-known 

the Internet Advertising Bureau. 

role in February 2015. In 2000 she 

and Investments. He has been 

companies and organisations in 

In 2014, Tink was elected as 

launched and grew e-Dialog in 

responsible for the admission 

helping create websites, intranets, 

Advisory Committee Member of the 

Europe and subsequently in Asia 

to Plus and the introduction to 

extranets, content management 

Board of the US Direct Marketing 

Pacific. e-Dialog, a leading email 

AIM. He is also responsible for 

systems and other online 

Association’s Email Experience 

marketing technology company,  

the Group’s functions in financial 

solutions. He is prominent on the 

Council. He constantly strives to 

was acquired by GSI Commerce in 

management and reporting, 

the tech entrepreneur scene and 

help individual organisations, and 

2008, which in turn was acquired 

regulatory compliance, legal and 

heavily involved in the selection, 

the industry as a whole, to develop 

by eBay Inc. in 2010. In 2011 

corporate governance. He also 

recruitment and retention of 

and progress.

Simone was appointed Global 

brings substantial strategic financial 

dotmailer’s technical partners.

President of e-Dialog Inc with 

experience to the Board.

income statement responsibility for 

just under $100m and with 450 

employees across USA, EMEA  

and Asia Pacific.  

28

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
 
Frank Beechinor-Collins

Peter Simmonds, FCCA

Richard Kellett-Clarke, FCA

Non-Executive Chairman

Non-Executive Director

Non-Executive Director

Frank Beechinor-Collins was, for 

Peter Simmonds has over  

Richard Kellett-Clarke brings 

11 years, CEO and co-founder of 

30 years of experience at senior 

to the Board over 25 years of 

One Click HR, an AIM-listed IT/

management and board level, 

management experience in 

Human Resources business which 

principally in the areas of banking, 

the turnround and strategic 

operated in the UK and North 

insurance, finance, IT, outsourcing 

repositioning and recovery of 

America and had around 200 

and software. As well as being an 

creative businesses in CMCG, 

employees. Frank oversaw the 

experienced finance professional 

media, electronics and software 

successful sale of the business to 

Peter has considerable experience 

industries. He was a founder of 

ADP, a $4bn NYSE-listed company, 

of acquisitions, disposals, post-

AFX NEWS Limited, now part of 

for $25m. Frank brings a great 

acquisition integration, change 

Thomson Reuters, and Sealed 

deal of corporate experience and 

management and creating 

Media, now owned by Oracle. He 

a strong track record in M&A to 

the Board, gained over 25 years 

of working for and running public 

cultures and structures to facilitate 
entrepreneurship and growth.
Peter is currently Non-Executive 

was part of the team as CFO which 

brought Pickwick Group Plc to the 

main market and Brady Plc to AIM. 

and private companies. Frank is 

Chairman of IS Solutions Plc and a 

He is currently the CEO of Idox Plc, 

also currently a Non-Executive 

Non-Executive Director of Synety 

an AIM-listed specialist software 

Chairman of Coms Plc an AIM-

Plc both AIM-listed businesses.

and services business.

listed business.

29

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Governance

Corporate governance  
report

The Board has sought to comply with a 

(b) Directors’ remuneration

internal control and risk management further  

number of provisions of the 2014 UK Corporate 

As set out on pages 32 and 33, the 

into the operations of the business and to  

Governance Code (‘the Code’) in so far as  

remuneration of the Executive Directors is 

deal with areas of improvement which come  

it considers them to be appropriate for a 

determined by the Remuneration Committee 

to management and the Board’s attention.

company of this size and nature. They make  

whilst that of the Non-Executives is determined 

no statement of compliance with the Code 

by the whole Board. The Directors are 

The Directors acknowledge their responsibilities 

overall and do not ‘explain’ in detail any aspect 

conscious of the importance of performance-

for the Group’s system of internal financial 

of the Code with which the Group does  

related incentives and bonuses are paid based 

control. Such a system can provide reasonable 

not comply.

on performance as deemed appropriate by the 

but not absolute assurance against material 

Remuneration Committee. The Remuneration 

misstatement or loss. The Board confirms that 

Compliance statement

Committee uses both financial and non-financial 

the procedures necessary to comply with the 

(a) Directors

benchmarks to determine the Executive  

provisions of the Code, including the guidance 

The details of the Group’s Board, together with 

Director bonuses.

the Audit and Remuneration Committees, are 

of Turnbull, have been in place throughout the 

year ended 30 June 2015 and up to the date 

set out on pages 31 and 32.

(c) Relations with shareholders

of the Report of Directors. It has considered 

The Group encourages two-way 

the major business risks and the control 

The Board meets monthly and is responsible for 

communications with all its shareholders  

environment. Important control procedures, 

strategy, performance, approval of major capital 

and responds quickly to all requests or  

in addition to the day to day supervision of 

projects and the framework of internal controls. 

queries received. 

The Board has a formal schedule of matters 

the business, include comparison of monthly 

management accounts to the budget.

reserved for specific review and decision. 

All shareholders have at least twenty-one 

To enable the Board to discharge its duties, 

working days’ notice of the Annual General 

(iii) Audit Committee and auditors

all Directors receive appropriate and timely 

Meeting at which all of the Directors and the 

The Audit Committee comprises Frank 

information. Briefing papers are distributed to 

Chairman are normally available for questions. 

Beechinor-Collins, Peter Simmonds and is 

all Directors in advance of Board meetings. 

Comments and questions are encouraged  

chaired by Richard Kellett-Clarke (FCA). The 

All Directors have access to the advice and 

from the shareholders at the meeting.

auditors of the Group may also attend part or 

services of the Company Secretary, who is 

all of each meeting and they have direct access 

responsible for ensuring that Board procedures 

(d) Accountability and Audit

to the committee for independent discussions, 

are followed and that applicable rules and 

(i) Financial reporting

without the presence of the Executive 

regulations are complied with. At the year 

Detailed reviews of the performance and 

Directors if required. The Audit Committee may 

end there were five Executive Directors, one 

financial position of the Group are included in 

examine any matters relating to the financial 

independent Non-Executive Director and  

the Chief Executive’s statement. The Board uses 

affairs of the Group, and to the Group’s audit. 

an independent Non-Executive Chairman.

this and the Report of the Directors on pages 34 

This includes review of the annual accounts 

The current constitution of the Remuneration 

assessment of the Group’s position and 

compliance with accounting standards,  

Committee and the Audit Committee is shown  

prospects. The Directors’ responsibility for the 

the appointment and fees of auditors and  

on pages 31 and 32.

financial statements is described on page 35.

such other related functions as the Board  

to 35 to present a balanced and understandable 

and announcements, accounting policies, 

may require.

Appointments to the Board are nominated  

(ii) Internal control

by an Executive Director and then considered 

The Board confirms that it has established 

(iv) Going concern basis

by the full Board.

the procedures necessary to implement the 

After making enquiries, the Directors have 

The service contracts of the Executive Directors 

for Directors on the Combined Code”. The 

financial statements, that there is a reasonable 

are less than one year and determinable by six 

process of risk identification, evaluation and 

expectation that the Group has adequate 

months’ notice.

management has been considered by the 

resources to continue in operational existence 

guidance set out in “Internal Control: Guidance 

formed a judgement, at the time of approving the 

30

Board. It is the intention that this will continue 

for the foreseeable future. For this reason the 

to be kept under constant review and will be 

Directors continue to adopt the going concern 

considered at each Board meeting in the future. 

basis in preparing the financial statements.

The Board is continuing to take steps to embed 

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
Audit Committee  
report

The Audit Committee is a sub-committee  

Composition of the Audit Committee

Independence of External Auditors

of the Board. The responsibilities of the 

The Audit Committee comprises Frank 

Both the Board and the external auditors have 

committee include:

Beechinor-Collins, Peter Simmonds and  

safeguards in place to avoid the possibility that 

•  Reviewing the half-yearly and full year 
accounts and results announcements 

of the Group and any other formal 

announcements relating to the Group’s 

financial performance and recommending 

them to the Board for approval;

Richard Kellett-Clarke. The Chairman of the 

the auditors’ objectivity and independence  

Audit Committee is Richard Kellett-Clarke.  

could be compromised.  

The Committee meets separately with the 

external auditors without management being 

Our policy in respect of services provided by  

present. The Secretary to the committee is  

the external auditors is as follows:

Milan Patel, a fellow Director.

•  Reviewing the Group’s systems for internal 
financial control and risk management;

Main activities of the Audit Committee

At its meeting on 6 October 2015 the 

•  Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness 

of the Group’s internal accounting  

function and considering regular reports 

which arise;

•  Considering the appointment of the 
external auditors, overseeing the 

process for their selection and making 

recommendations to the Board in  

relation to their appointment to be  

put to shareholders for approval at a 

general meeting;

•  Monitoring and reviewing the effectiveness 
and independence of the external auditors, 

agreeing the nature and scope of their 

audit, agreeing their remuneration, and 

considering their reports on the Group’s 

accounts, reports to shareholders and 

their evaluation of the systems of internal 

financial control and risk management.

Committee reviewed the Group’s preliminary 

announcement of its results for the financial 

year to 30 June 2015 and the draft report 

and accounts for that year. The Committee 

received reports from the external auditors on 

the conduct of their audit, their review of the 

accounts, including accounting policies and 

areas of judgement, and their comments on  

•  Audit-related services – the external 

auditors are invited to provide services 

which, in their position as auditors, they 

must or are best placed to undertake.  

This includes formalities relating to 

borrowings, shareholders’ and other 

circulars, various other regulatory reports 

and work in respect of acquisitions  

and disposals;

•  Tax consulting – in cases where they are 
best suited, we use the external auditors. 

risk management and control matters. 

All other significant tax consulting work  

The external auditors also presented their 

proposed fees and scope for the forthcoming 

year’s audit. The Committee also reviewed the 

performance of both the internal accounting 

function and external auditors. The review of 

the external auditors was used to confirm the 

appropriateness of their reappointment and 

included assessment of their independence, 

qualification, expertise and resources,  

and effectiveness of their audit process.

The Audit Committee also reviewed the 

effectiveness of the Company’s systems for 

internal financial control and risk management. 

The Committee reviewed the Group’s credit 

control procedures and risks concerning  

IT controls.

is put out to tender;

•  General consulting – in recognition 
of public concern over the effect 

of consulting services on auditors’ 

independence, our policy is that the 

external auditors are not invited to tender 

for general consulting work.

Internal management accounting

The Audit Committee reviewed the performance 

of the internal accounting function, the 

department’s resource requirements and 

also approved the internal budgets for the 

year ended 30 June 2016. The Committee 

concluded that these budgets were both 

prudent and realistic in the context of the 

Group’s ambitions.

31

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Governance

Remuneration  
Committee report

The Remuneration Committee

Key elements of remuneration for 

Service contracts

The Group discloses the following information 

Executive Directors

The Executive Directors each entered into 

on Directors’ remuneration mindful of Rule 19  

The Committee considers the key elements 

a service contract with the Group. Each 

of the AIM rules and the fact that as the 

in total to ensure there is the right balance 

appointment runs for one year from that date 

Company is quoted on AIM, it is not required  

between reward for short-term success and 

and is terminable by six months’ notice by 

to comply with the Main Market UK Listing 

long-term growth. For Executive Directors,  

either party to expire at the end of that year or 

Rules or those aspects of the Companies Act  

this is summarised as follows:

at any time thereafter. The agreement contains 

which appliy to listed companies regarding the 

disclosure of Directors’ remuneration.

Base pay 

The Committee comprised Richard Kellett-

Clarke (Chairman) and Frank Beechinor-Collins.

The Secretary to the committee is Milan Patel, 

Reviewed against:

•  Salary levels in comparably sized 

companies listed on AIM;

restrictive covenants. Upon termination, no 

benefits (other than those accruing during  

the notice period) are due to the Director.

Employee incentive schemes

The Group has awarded share options under 

Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary.

•  Market conditions and company 

Enterprise Management Incentive (EMI), 

Remuneration policy

The Group’s executive remuneration policy 

objectives are:

(a)  To ensure that individual rewards and 
incentives are directly aligned with the 

performance;

•  Level of pay awards in rest of the 

business;

approved share option schemes to key 

employees who had completed their probation 

period at the date of grant. The Board considers 

the performance of staff in conjunction with 

•  Role and responsibility of the individual 

the Group during the annual review process. 

Director.

Discretionary bonuses are awarded based  

on individual and Group performance.

Approved by the Remuneration Committee 

Signed on its behalf by

performance of the Group and that of  

the interests of the shareholders;

Benefits 

(b)  To maintain a competitive package which 
enables the Group to attract and retain 

•  Aligned to total reward structure for all 

employees;

high-calibre executives; and

•  Provided on a market competitive basis.

(c)  To determine the terms of employment 

and remuneration for Executive Directors.

Annual Bonus Scheme

•  Group PBT with an individual performance 

element linked to object delivery;

•  Drive profitability and strategic change 

across the Group;

•  Delivery of the overall business strategy.

Richard Kellett-Clarke

Chairman of Remuneration Committee

Salary/Fees 
£’000 

Benefits 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

Pension 
£’000 

Share-based  
payment 
£’000 

 12-month period to 30.06.15

175 

125 

120 

159 

77 

656 

8 

8 

10 

11 

– 

37 

75 

25 

25 

75 

– 

200 

18 

12 

14 

15 

– 

59 

– 

– 

– 

20 

– 

20 

Number of 
outstanding 
options

–

–

–

1,427,397

–

Total 
£‘000 

276 

170 

169 

280 

77 

972 

Executive Directors 

P Simmonds 

I Taylor 

S Bird 

M Patel 

S J Barrett 

32

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Salary/Fees 
£’000 

Benefits 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

Pension 
£’000 

Share-based  
payment 
£’000 

 12-month period to 30.06.15

35 

30 

44 

109 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

1 

– 

– 

1 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Salary/Fees 
£’000 

Benefits 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

Pension 
£’000 

Share-based  
payment 
£’000 

 12-month period to 30.06.14

140 

120 

120 

53 

36 

469 

7 

7 

7 

4 

3 

90 

65 

65 

– 

65 

28 

285 

14 

12 

12 

2 

2 

42 

– 

– 

– 

– 

5 

5 

Salary/Fees 
£’000 

Benefits 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

Pension 
£’000 

Share-based  
payment 
£’000 

35 

30 

30 

95 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Total 
£‘000 

36 

30 

44 

110 

Total 
£‘000 

251 

204 

204 

Number of 
outstanding 
options

–

–

–

Number of 
outstanding 
options

–

–

–

59 

2,137,932

2,087,397

Number of 
outstanding 
options

111 

829 

Total 
£‘000 

35

30

30

95

Non-Executive Directors 

F Beechinor-Collins 

R Kellett-Clarke 

S J Barrett 

Executive Directors 

P Simmonds 

I Taylor 

S Bird 

G Fidura 

M Patel 

Non-Executive Directors 

F Beechinor-Collins 

R Kellett-Clarke 

S J Barrett 

Director interests

The respective interests, all of which are beneficial, in the shares of the Company for the members of the Board at the year end are stated below:

I Taylor 

S Bird 

P Simmonds* 

M Patel 

S J Barratt  

R Kellett-Clarke 

F Beechinor-Collins** 

  No of shares held 

% Holding

39,276,667 

31,276,667 

7,073,841 

1,048,530 

377,500 

320,000 

299,194 

13.69

10.90

2.46

0.37

0.13

0.11

0.10

79,672,399 

27.76

* 2.11% of Peter Simmonds’ holdings/voting rights has been held by Frank Nominees Limited who acts as the nominee for Alliance Trust Pensions 

Limited, which is the trustee of a SIPP established by Peter Anthony Simmonds. Frank Nominees is the vehicle used by Kleinwort Benson Limited to 

hold securities for clients, trusts, SIPPs etc. The beneficiary of the SIPP is Peter Anthony Simmonds.

** The 299,194 shares shown as being held by Mr Beechinor-Collins are owned by Curra Trust, a trust established for the benefit of his children and 

which he has no beneficial interest.

Directors’ interest in share options

Under the Group’s executive share option scheme the following Directors have the right to acquire ordinary shares. 

Executive Director 

M Patel 

Grant date 

 No. share options  
granted 

Option price 
(pence) 

Date first 
exercisable 

Expiry 
date

13/10/2011 

400,000 

7.25 

01/05/2013 

01/02/2016

15/10/2013 

1,027,397 

18.25 

01/11/2015 

31/10/2018

33

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Governance

Report of  
the Directors

The Directors present their report with the 

The Directors who served during the period and their beneficial interests in the shares of the Group 

financial statements of the Company and 

as recorded in the Register of Directors’ interests at 30 June 2015 are as follows: 

the Group for the year ended 30 June 2015. 

Information relating to principal activity, review  

of business key performance indicators, 

research and development activities and future 

outlook is included within the strategic report.

Principal activity

The principal activity of the Group in the year 

under review was that of providing intuitive 

software as a service (“SaaS”) and managed 

services to digital marketing professionals. 

Review of business

Directors 

I Taylor 

S Bird 

P Simmonds 

M Patel 

S J Barratt 

R Kellett-Clarke 

30.6.15 

30.6.14

Number of 
shares held 

Percentage 
shareholding 
% 

Number of 
shares held 

Percentage 
shareholding 
%

39,276,667 

13.69 

40,267,667 

31,276,667 

10.90 

32,267,667 

 7,073,841* 

2.46 

9,573,841* 

1,048,530 

377,500 

320,000 

0.37 

0.13 

 0.11 

382,078 

 215,000 

 – 

14.24

11.41

3.39

0.14

0.08

 –

0.11

F Beechinor-Collins 

299,194** 

0.10 

 229,194** 

During the year the Group has shown significant 

*Frank Nominees Limited holds 2.11% in respect of Peter Simmonds holding/voting rights act  

growth from continuing operations in customer 

as nominee for Trust Alliance Pensions Limited. Frank Nominees is a vehicle used by Kleinwort 

numbers, sales, and profits. Revenues grew from 

Benson Limited to hold securities for clients, trusts, SIPPs etc. The beneficiary of the SIPP is  

£16.2m in the year ended June 2014 to £21.4m 

Peter Anthony Simmonds.

for the year ended June 2015, an increase of 32%. 

Pre-tax profits grew from £3.6m in 12 months 

** The 299,194 shares shown as being held by Mr Beechinor-Collins are owned by Curra Trust,  

to June 2014 to £5.2m for the year ended June 

a trust established for the benefit of his children and in which he has no beneficial interest.

2015, an increase of 44%.

Key performance indicators

in the Group, as recorded in the register of Directors’ interests as at 30 June 2015 are  

The Directors who served during the period and their beneficial interests in share options  

The operations as a whole and the individual 

as follows:-

business units are managed and controlled 

using a variety of key performance indicators 

Executive Directors 

appropriate to the goals they have been set. 

M Patel 

Examples of key performance indicators from 

30.6.15 
Number of  
options held 

30.6.14 
Number of 
options held

1,427,397 

2,087,397

Substantial interests

On 06 October 2015, the following parties had notified the Group of a beneficial interest that 

represents 3% or more of the Group’s issued share capital at that date:

the Group are:

Revenue 

EBITDA 

 2015 
(£m) 

% 
2014 
 (£m)   Increase

21.4 

16.2 

32%

6.8 

4.7 

45%

Shareholder 

Volume of sends 

5.760 

3.700 

56%

I Taylor 

S Bird 

Dividends

The Board propose a dividend payment of 

£1.041,000 which equates to 0.36p per ordinary 

share (2014: £566,000 0.2p per ordinary share) 

to be distributed to shareholders in respect to 

Lion Trust Asset Management 

JO Hambro Capital Management  

Slater Investments Ltd 

Investec Asset Management 

the Group’s reported performance. The Board’s 

Franklin Templeton 

dividend policy will be reviewed annually in line 

with ensuring there is adequate cash within the 

business to maintain high growth strategy. 
34

Number of 
shares held 

39,276,667 

31,276,667 

26,969,801 

14,500,050 

14,226,970 

12,559,388 

9,200,000 

Percentage 
Shareholding 
%

13.56

10.80

9.31

5.00

4.91

4.34

3.18

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Future outlook

Going concern

The Group provides email and cross-channel 

After making appropriate enquiries, the  

•  Prepare the financial statements on 
the going concern basis unless it is 

marketing technology and services. Each 

Directors consider that the Company and  

inappropriate to presume that the 

of these areas has shown market growth 

the Group have adequate resources to  

Company will continue in business. 

significantly above that of the UK economy. 

continue in operational existence for the 

The Board believes that our widespread brand 

foreseeable future. For this reason they  

The Directors are responsible for keeping 

recognition and strong product will continue to 

continue to adopt the going concern basis 

adequate accounting records that are sufficient 

present opportunities to expand and diversify 

preparing the financial statements.

to show and explain the Company’s and 

profitability in the coming year.

the Group’s transactions and disclose with 

Events after the reporting period

reasonable accuracy at any time the financial 

Directors

There are no events after the date of this  

position of the Company and the Group 

The Directors shown below have held office 

report or the date the financial statements  

and enable them to ensure that the financial 

during the whole of the period from 1 July 2014 

were approved by the Board of Directors  

statements comply with the Companies 

to the date of this report:

which impact on the figures as presented.

Act 2006. They are also responsible for 

S Bird

P A Simmonds

I Taylor

R Kellett-Clarke

F Beechinor-Collins

S J Barratt

M Patel

Listing

safeguarding the assets of the Company and 

the Group and hence for taking reasonable 

The Group’s ordinary shares have been traded 

steps for the prevention and detection of fraud 

on London Alternative Investment Market (AIM) 

and other irregularities. 

since 29 March 2011. N+1 Singer are the 

Group’s nominated advisors and together with 

The Directors are responsible for the 

Finncap are the joint brokers. The closing mid 

maintenance and integrity of the corporate and 

market share price at 30 June 2015 was 34.25p 

financial information included on the Company’s 

Acquisition of the Company’s own shares

(2014: 33.12p).

Further to the shareholder resolution of  

website. Legislation in the United Kingdom 

governing the preparation and dissemination of 

16 December 2014, the Company purchased 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

financial statements may differ from legislation in 

660,000 ordinary shares with a nominal value 

The Directors are responsible for preparing 

other jurisdictions.

of 0.5 pence, and representing 0.23% of the 

the Report of the Directors and the financial 

Company’s called up ordinary shares capital, for 

statements in accordance with applicable  

Statement as to disclosure of information 

a consideration of £212,984. The reason for the 

law and regulations. 

to auditors

purchase was to reduce surplus cash balances 

So far as the Directors are aware, there is 

and enhance earnings per share.

Company law requires the Directors to prepare 

no relevant audit information (as defined by 

financial statements for each financial year. 

Section 418 of the Companies Act 2006) of 

Indemnity of officers

Under that law the Directors have elected to 

which the Group’s auditors are unaware, and 

The Group purchases Directors and officers 

prepare the financial statements in accordance 

each Director has taken all the steps that he or 

insurance against their costs in defending 

with International Financial Reporting Standards 

she ought to have taken as a Director in order 

themselves in legal proceedings taken 

as adopted by the European Union. Under 

to make himself aware of any relevant audit 

against them in that capacity, and in respect 

company law the Directors must not approve 

information and to establish that the Group’s 

of damages resulting from the unsuccessful 

the financial statements unless they are satisfied 

auditors are aware of that information. 

defence of any proceedings.

that they give a true and fair view of the state of 

affairs of the Company and the Group and of 

Auditors

Financial instruments

the profit or loss of the Group for that period. 

The auditors, Jeffreys Henry LLP, will be 

Details of the Group’s risk management 

In preparing these financial statements, the 

proposed for re-appointment at the forthcoming 

objectives and policies together with its 

Directors are required to: 

Annual General Meeting.

exposure to financial risk are set out in  

Note 22 to the financial statements.

•  Select suitable accounting policies  
and then apply them consistently; 

On behalf of the Board

The purpose of the policies is to ensure that 

adequate cost-effective funding is available  

•  Make judgements and accounting 
estimates that are reasonable and 

to the Group and exposure to financial  

prudent; 

risk – interest rate, liquidity and credit risk – 

is minimised.

Product development

In the markets in which the Group operates, 

effective development is vital to maintaining 

competitive advantage and securing future 

income streams.

•  State whether the Group and parent 

Company financial statements have been 

prepared in accordance with IFRSs as 

adopted by the European Union subject 

to any material departures disclosed and 

explained in the financial statements. 

Milan Patel

Company Secretary

12 October 2015

35

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Governance

Report of the  
independent auditor

We have audited the financial statements of 

Scope of the audit of the financial 

dotdigital Group Plc for the year ended 30 

statements 

•  The financial statements have been 
prepared in accordance with the 

June 2015, which comprise the consolidated 

An audit involves obtaining evidence about 

requirements of the Companies  

income statement, consolidated statement of 

the amounts and disclosures in the financial 

Act 2006. 

comprehensive income, consolidated statement 

statements sufficient to give reasonable 

of changes of equity, company statement of 

assurance that the financial statements are 

Opinion on other matter prescribed  

changes in equity, consolidated statement 

free from material misstatement, whether 

by the Companies Act 2006 

of financial position, company statement of 

caused by fraud or error. This includes an 

In our opinion the information given in the  

financial position, consolidated statement of 

assessment of: whether the accounting policies 

Report of the Directors and Strategic report 

cash flows, company statement of cash flows 

are appropriate to the Group’s and the Parent 

for the financial year for which the financial 

and the related notes. The financial reporting 

company’s circumstances and have been 

statements are prepared is consistent with  

framework that has been applied in their 

consistently applied and adequately disclosed; 

the financial statements. 

preparation is applicable law and International 

the reasonableness of significant accounting 

Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 

estimates made by the Directors; and the 

Matters on which we are required  

adopted by the European Union, and as regards 

presentation of the financial statements. In 

to report by exception 

the parent company financial statements, as 

addition, we read all the financial and non-

We have nothing to report in respect of  

applied in accordance with the provisions of 

financial information in the Chairman’s and 

the following matters where the Companies  

the Companies Act 2006. 

Chief Executive’s report, Corporate Social 

Act 2006 requires us to report to you if,  

Responsibility report, Corporate Governance 

in our opinion: 

This report is made solely to the company’s 

report, Audit Committee report, Remuneration 

members, as a body, in accordance with 

Committee report and Directors’ report to 

Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 

identify material inconsistencies with the  

2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so 

audited financial statements and to identify  

that we might state to the company’s members 

any information that is apparently materially 

those matters we are required to state to them 

incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent 

in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. 

with, the knowledge acquired by us in the 

To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not 

course of performing the audit. If we become 

•  Adequate accounting records have not 
been kept by the parent company, or 

returns adequate for our audit have not 

been received from branches not visited 

by us; or 

•  The parent company financial statements 
are not in agreement with the accounting 

accept or assume responsibility to anyone other 

aware of any apparent material misstatements 

records and returns; or 

than the company and the company’s members 

or inconsistencies we consider the implications  

as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or 

for our report. 

for the opinions we have formed. 

Respective responsibilities of Directors 

In our opinion the financial statements: 

Opinion on financial statements 

and auditors 

As explained more fully in the Statement of 

Directors’ Responsibilities, the Directors are 

responsible for the preparation of the financial 

statements and for being satisfied that they 

give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to 

•  Give a true and fair view of the state of the 
Group’s and the Parent company’s affairs 

as at 30 June 2015 and of the Group’s 

profit and Group’s and Parent company’s 

cash flow for the year then ended; 

•  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. 

audit the financial statements in accordance 

•  Have been properly prepared in 

Jonathan Isaacs

with applicable law and International Standards 

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by  

Senior Statutory Auditor

on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards 

the European Union; 

require us to comply with the Auditing Practices 

Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors. 

36

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

•  The parent company financial statements 

have been properly prepared in 

accordance with IFRSs as adopted by 

the European Union and as applies in 

accordance with the provisions of the 

Companies Act 2006; and 

For and on behalf of 

Jeffreys Henry LLP (Statutory Auditors)

Finsgate 5-7 Cranwood Street

London EC1V 9EE

12 October 2015

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Financial 
statements

 Contents

38  Consolidated income statement

38  Consolidated statement of comprehensive income

39  Consolidated statement of financial position

40  Company statement of financial position

41  Consolidated statement of changes in equity

42  Company statement of changes in equity

43  Consolidated statement of cash flows

43  Company statement of cash flows

44  Notes to the consolidated financial statements

68  Company information 

37

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
 
Consolidated income statement 
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Continuing operations
Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Administrative expenses
Operating profit
Finance income 
Profit before income tax
Income tax expense
Profit for the year from continuing operations
Discontinued operations
Loss for the year from discontinued operations
Profit for the year
Attributable to the owners of the parent:
Profit for the year from continuing operations
Loss for the year from discontinued operations
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent
Earnings per share from continuing operations  
 (pence per share)
Basic
Diluted
Earnings per share from continuing and discontinued operations 
(pence per share)
Basic
Diluted

Notes

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

3

7

6
7
8

4

4

11
11

11
11

21,366
(2,292)

19,074
(13,858)
5,216
27
5,243
(587)
4,656

–
4,656

4,656
–
4,656

1.63
1.61

1.63
1.61

16,213
(1,533)

14,680
(11,059)
3,621
20
3,641
(181)
3,460

(41)
3,419

3,460
(41)
3,419

1.24
1.19

1.22
1.18

Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income 
Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit and loss:
Exchange differences on translating foreign operations
Total comprehensive income attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Total comprehensive income for the year
Comprehensive income from continuing operations
Comprehensive income from discontinued operations

Notes

30.6.15

£’000
4,656

30.6.14

£’000
3,419

3

(4)

4,659

3,415

4,659
–

3,456
(41)

38

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
Consolidated statement of financial position
For the year ended 30 June 2014

Assets
Non-current assists
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, plant and machinery

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets
Equity attributable to the owners of the parent
Called up share capital
Share premium
Reverse acquisition reserve
Other reserves
Retranslation reserve
Retained earnings
Total equity
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Current tax payable

Total liabilities
Total equity & liabilities

Notes

30.6.15

£’000

30.6.14

£’000

12
13
14

16
17

18
19
19
19
19
19

23

20

609
3,444
1,097
5,150

5,328
11,932
17,260
22,410

1,435
5,382
(4,695)
(25)
(3)
16,297
18,391

609
2,991
827
4,427

3,662
9,306
12,968
17,395

1,414
5,147
(4,695)
82
(6)
12,211
14,153

383

58

3,437
199
3,636
4,019
22,410

2,984
200
3,184
3,242
17,395

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 12 October 2015 and were 
signed on its behalf by

Milan Patel

Director 
Company registration number: 06289659 (England and Wales)

39

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statements 
Company statement of financial position
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Assets

Non-current assists
Investments

Current assets
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents

Total assets
Equity attributable to the Owners of the parent

Called up share capital
Share premium
Other reserves
Retained earnings
Total equity
Liabilities
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables

Total liabilities
Total equity & liabilities

Notes

30.6.15

£’000

30.6.14

£’000

15

16
17

18
19
19
19

20

5,186
5,186

3,124
166
3,290

8,476

1,435
5,382
(25)
1,534
8,326

150
150
150
8,476

5,186
5,186

3,845
109
3,954

9,140

1,414
5,147
82
2,423
9,066

74
74
74
9,140

The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 12 October 2015 and were 
signed on its behalf by

Milan Patel

Director 
Company registration number: 06289659 (England and Wales)

40

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Consolidated statement of changes in equity 
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Balance as at 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Dividends
Share based payment
Transactions with owners
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Share based payment
Transactions with owners
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2015

Balance as at 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Dividends
Share based payments
Transactions with owners
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Share based payments
Transactions with owners
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2015

Called up 
share capital 
£’000
1,387
27
–
–
27
–
–
–
1,414
21
–
–
–
21
–
–
–
1,435

Reverse 
acquisition 
reserve 
£’000
(4,695)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(4,695)
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
(4,695)

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
9,071
–
(279)
–
(279)
3,419
–
3,419
12,211
–
–
(570)
–
(570)
4,656
–
4,656
16,297

Other 
reserves 
£’000
13
–
–
69
69
–
–
–
82
–
(213)
–
106
(107)
–
–
–
(25)

Share premium 
£’000
4,863
284
–
–
284
–
–
–
5,147
235
–
–
–
235
–
–
–
5,382

Total equity 
£’000
10,637
311
(279)
69
101
3,419
(4)
3,415
14,153
256
(213)
(570)
106
(421)
4,656
3
4,659
18,391

Retranslation 
reserve 
£’000
(2)
–
–
–
–
–
(4)
(4)
(6)
–
–
–
–
–
–
3
3
(3)

•  Share capital is the amount subscribed for shares at nominal value.
•  Retained earnings represents the cumulative earnings of the Group attributable to equity shareholders.
•  Share premium represents the excess of the amount subscribed for share capital over the nominal value  

of the net share issue expenses. 

•  Retranslation reserve relates to the retranslation of a foreign subsidiary into the functional currency of the Group.
•  The reverse acquisition reserve relates to the adjustment required to account the reverse acquisition in accordance 

with International Financial Reporting Standards.

•  Other reserves relate to the charge for the share based payment in accordance with International Financial 

Reporting Standard 2 and shares repurchased in the year classified as treasury shares. 

41

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsCompany statement of changes in equity 
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Balance as at 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Dividends
Share based payment
Transactions with owners
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Share based payment
Transactions with owners
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2015

Balance as at 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Dividends
Share based payments
Transactions with owners
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Share based payments
Transactions with owners
Loss for the year
Total comprehensive income
Balance as at 30 June 2015

Called up  
share capital 
£’000
1,387
27
–
–
27
–
–
1,414
21
–
–
–
21
–
–
1,435

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
3,065
–
(279)
–
(279)
(363)
(363)
2,423
–
–
(570)
–
(570)
(319)
(319)
1,534

Other 
reserves 
£’000
13
–
–
69
69
–
–
82
–
(213)
–
106
(107)
–
–
(25)

Share  
premium 
£’000
4,863
284
–
–
284
–
–
5,147
235
–
–
–
235
–
–
5,382

Total  
equity 
£’000
9,328
311
(279)
69
101
(363)
(363)
9,066
256
(213)
(570)
106
(421)
(319)
(319)
8,326

•  Share capital is the amount subscribed for shares at nominal value.
•  Retained earnings represents the cumulative earnings of the Group attributable to equity shareholders.
•  Share premium represents the excess of the amount subscribed for share capital over the nominal value  

of the net share issue expenses. 

•  Retranslation reserve relates to the retranslation of a foreign subsidiary into the functional currency  

of the Group.

•  Other reserves relate to the charge for the share based payment in accordance with International Financial 

Reporting Standard 2 and shares repurchased in the year classified as treasury shares.

42

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

Consolidated statement of cash flows
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Tax paid
Net cash generated from operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of intangible fixed assets
Purchase of tangible fixed assets
Sale of tangible fixed assets
Interest received
Net cash flows used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Equity dividends paid
Share issue
Share repurchase
Net cash flows (used)/from financing activities
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
Increase in cash and cash equivalents from continuing operations
Increase in cash and cash equivalents from discontinuing operations
Increase in cash and cash equivalents

Notes

28

29
29

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

5,667
(263)
5,404

(1,612)
(667)
1
27
(2,251)

(570)
256
(213)
(527)
2,626
9,306
11,932
2,626
–
2,626

5,297
(100)
5,197

(1,408)
(607)
–
20
(1,995)

(279)
311
–
32
3,234
6,072
9,306
3,268
(34)
3,234

The above does not include the effect of foreign exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents due  
to its immaterial nature.

Company statement of cash flows
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations

Net cash generated from operating activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Equity dividends paid
Share issue
Share repurchase
Net cash flows (used)/from financing activities
Increase in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

Notes

28

29
29

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

584
584

(570)
256
(213)
(527)
57
109
166

7
7

(279)
311
–
32
39
70
109

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dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements 
For the year ended 30 June 2015

1.  General information

dotdigital Group Plc (“dotdigital”) is a company incorporated in England and Wales and quoted on the AIM Market.  
The address of the registered office is disclosed on the inside back cover of the financial statements. The principal  
activity of the Group is described on page 34.

2.  Accounting policies

Basis of preparation
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as 
adopted by the European Union (IFRS’s as adopted by the EU) and those parts of Companies Act 2006 applicable to 
companies reporting under IFRS. The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention. 

The Group has applied all accounting standards and interpretations issued by the International Accountancy Standards 
Board and International Accounting Interpretations Committee effective at the time of preparing the financial statements.

New and amended standards adopted by the Group
There are no IFRSs or IFRIC interpretations that are effective for the first time for the financial year beginning on or  
after 1 July 2014 that would be expected to have a material impact on the Group.

Standards, interpretations and amendments to published standards that are not yet effective
The following new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued, but are not effective  
for the financial year beginning 1 July 2014 and have not been early adopted:

Reference

IFRS 14

IFRS 15

Title

Summary

Regulatory deferral accounts

Revenue from contracts with customers

Amendments to IFRS 11
Amendments to  
IAS 16 and IAS 41
Amendments to  
IAS 16 and IAS 38 
Amendments to IAS 27 
Amendments to  
IFRS 10 and IAS 28
Amendments to  
IFRS 10 and IAS 28
Amendments to IAS 1
Improvements to IFRS 5

Joint arrangements 
IAS 16: Property plant and equipment  
and IAS 41: Agriculture
Intangible Assets

Separate financial statements
IFRS 10:Consolidated financial  
and IAS 28: Investments in Associates
IFRS 10:Consolidated financial  
and IAS 28: Investments in Associates
Presentation of Financial statements
Non current assets held for sale and  
discontinued operations

Improvements to IFRS 7

Financial instruments 

Improvements to IAS 19

Employee benefits

Improvements to IAS 34

Interim financial reporting

IFRS 9

Financial instruments

Application date  
of standard  
(Periods commencing 
on or after)

1 January 2016

1 January 2017

1 January 2016
1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2016
1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2016
1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2016

1 January 2018

Aims to enhance the comparability of financial reporting by 
entities subject to rate-regulations
Specifies how and when to recognise revenue from 
contracts as well as requiring more information and relevant 
disclosures.
On acquisitions of interest in joint operations
On Bearer plants

Clarification of acceptable methods of depreciation and 
amortisation
Equity method in separate financial statements
Investment entities: Applying the consolidation exception

Sale or contribution of assets between an investor and its 
associate or joint venture 
Disclosure initiative
Methods of disposal

Disclosures on servicing contracts and interim financial 
statements
Determining the discount rates for post-employment 
obligations
Information disclosed elsewhere in the interim financial 
report
Requirements on the classification and measurement of 
financial assets and liabilities and includes an expected 
credit losses model which replaces the current incurred loss 
impairment model. Also includes the hedging amendment 
that was issued in 2013

The Directors anticipate that the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have no material 
impact on the financial statements of the Group. The Group does not intend to apply any of these pronouncements early.

44

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015The financial statements are presented in sterling (£), 
rounded to the nearest thousand pound.

Basis of consolidation

In the period ended 2009 the Company acquired via a 
share for share exchange the entire issued share capital  
of dotmailer Limited, whose principle activity is that of  
web and email based marketing.

Under IFRS 3 ‘Business combinations’ the dotmailer 
Limited share exchange has been accounted for as 
a reverse acquisition. Although these consolidated 
financial statements have been issued in the name of 
the legal parent, the company it represents in substance 
is a continuation of the financial information of the legal 
subsidiary, dotmailer Limited. The following accounting 
treatment has been applied in respect of the reverse 
acquisition:

•  The assets and liabilities of the legal subsidiary, 

dotmailer Limited are recognised and measured in 
the consolidated financial statements at their pre 
combination carrying amounts, without restatement  
to their fair value;

•  The retained reserves recognised in the consolidated 
financial statements for the beginning of the prior 
period reflect the retained reserves of dotmailer 
Limited to 30 April 2008. However, in accordance with 
IFRS3 ‘Business combinations’ the equity structure 
appearing in the consolidated financial statements 
reflects the equity structure of the legal parent 
dotdigital Group Plc, including the equity instruments 
issued under the share exchange to effect the 
business combination;

•  A reverse acquisition reserve has been created to 
enable the presentation of a consolidated balance 
sheet which combines the equity structure of the  
legal parent with the non statutory reserves of the  
legal subsidiary;

•  Comparative numbers are prepared on the  

same basis.

The following accounting treatment has been applied  
in respect of the acquisition of dotdigital Group Plc:

•  The assets and liabilities of dotdigital are recognised 

and measured in the consolidated financial statements 
at their fair value at the date of acquisition.

•  The cost of an acquisition is measured as the fair value 
of the assets given, equity instruments issued and 
liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, 
plus costs directly attributable to the acquisition. 
Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed in 
a business combination are measured initially at their 
fair values at the date of acquisition, irrespective of the 
extent of any minority interest. The excess of the cost 

of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share 
of the identifiable net assets acquired is recorded as 
goodwill. If the cost of acquisition is less than the fair 
value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired, 
the difference is recognised directly in the income 
statement.

Subsidiaries

A subsidiary is an entity whose operating and financing 
policies are controlled by the Group. Subsidiaries 
are consolidated from the date on which control was 
transferred to the Group. Subsidiaries cease to be 
consolidated from the date the Group no longer has 
control. Intercompany transactions, balances and 
unrealised gains on transactions between Group 
companies have been eliminated on consolidation.

As a result of applying reverse acquisition accounting 
since 30 January 2009, the consolidated IFRS financial 
information of dotdigital Group plc is a continuation of  
the financial information of dotmailer Limited.

Revenue recognition

Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration 
received or receivable for the sale of goods and services 
in the ordinary course of the Group’s activities. Revenue 
is shown net of value added tax returns, rebates and 
discounts after eliminating sales within the Group.

The Group recognises revenue when the amount of 
revenue can be reliably measured and it is probable that 
the future economic benefits will flow to the entity. The 
Group bases it’s estimates on historical results, taking in to 
consideration the type of customer, the type of transaction 
and the specifics of each arrangement.

The Group sells web based marketing services to other 
businesses and services are either provided on a usage 
basis or fixed price bespoke contract. Revenue from 
contracts are recognised under percentage of completion 
method based on a percentage of services performed to 
date as a percentage of the total services to be performed.

Going concern

The Directors, at the time of approving the financial 
statements, a reasonable expectation that the Company 
and the Group have adequate resources to continue in 
operational existence for the foreseeable future. Thus they 
continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting 
in preparing the financial statements. Further detail is 
contained in the Strategic report.

45

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Operating profit

Operating profit is stated after charging operating expenses 
but before finance costs.

Amortisation is calculated using straight line method 
to allocate the cost of domain names over their useful 
lives of four years.

Dividends

•  Software

Final dividend distributions to the Company’s shareholders 
are recognised as a liability in the financial statements 
in the period in which the dividends are approved by 
the Company’s shareholders while interim dividends 
distributions are recognised in the period in which the 
dividends are declared and paid.

Acquired software and websites are shown at 
historical cost. They have a finite life and are carried 
at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation 
is calculated using straight line method to allocate the 
cost of software and websites over their useful lives of 
four years.

Goodwill

•  Product development

Goodwill represents the excess of the fair value of the 
consideration over the fair values of the identifiable net 
tangible and intangible assets acquired.

Under IFRS 3 “Business Combinations” goodwill arising  
on acquisitions is not subject to amortisation but is  
subject to annual impairment testing. Any impairment  
is recognised immediately in the income statement and  
not subsequently reversed.

Investments in subsidiaries

Investments are held as non-current assets at cost less any 
provision for impairment. Where the recoverable amount of 
the investment is less then the carrying amount, impairment 
is recognised.

Intangible assets

Intangible assets are recorded as separately identifiable 
assets and recognised at historical cost less any 
accumulated amortisation. These assets are amortised 
over their useful economic lives of 4-5 years, with the 
charge included in administrative expenses in the income 
statement.

Intangible assets are reviewed for impairment annually. 
Impairment is measured by determining the recoverable 
amount of an asset or cash generating unit (CGU) which 
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 
or CGU. For the purpose of impairment testing, assets that 
cannot be tested individually are grouped together into the 
smallest Group of assets that generates cash inflows from 
continuing use that are largely independent of the cash 
inflows of other assets  
or CGU.

•  Domain names

Acquired domain names are shown at historical cost. 
Domain names have a finite life and are carried at cost 
less accumulated amortisation. 

Product development expenditure is capitalised when 
it is considered that there is a commercially and viable 
technically product, the related expenditure is separable 
identifiable and there is a reasonable expectation 
that the related expenditure will be exceeded by 
future revenues. Following initial recognition, product 
developments are carried at cost less any accumulated 
amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. 
The useful lives of these intangible assets are assessed 
to have a finite life of five years. Amortisation is charged 
on assets with finite lives and until economic benefit can 
be received and recognised, this expense is taken to 
the income statement and useful lives are reviewed on 
an annual basis. Amortisation is charged from the point 
when the assets is available for use.

Other development expenditures that do not meet 
these criteria are recognised as an expense as 
incurred. Development costs previously recognised 
as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a 
subsequent period. Capitalised development costs are 
recorded as intangible assets and amortised from the 
point at which they are ready for use on a straight line 
basis over its useful life.

Costs incurred on development projects (relating to 
the design and testing of new or improved products) 
are recognised as intangible assets when the following 
criteria are fulfilled:

• 

It is technically feasible to complete the intangible 
asset so that it will be available of use or resale

•  Management intends to complete the intangible 

asset and use or sell it

•  There is an ability to use or sell the intangible

• 

It can be demonstrated how the intangible asset  
will generate possible future economic benefits

•  Adequate technical, financial and other resource  

to complete the development and to use or sell the 
intangible asset are available and

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

46

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015• 

Impairment of non financial assets  
(excluding goodwill)

At each balance sheet date, the Group reviews the 
carrying amounts of its tangible and intangible assets 
to determine whether there is any indication that 
those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any 
such indication exists, the recoverable amount of the 
asset is estimated in order to determine the extent 
of the impairment loss (if any). Where the asset does 
not generate cash flows that are independent from 
other assets, the Group estimates the recoverable 
amount of the cash-generating unit to which the asset 
belongs. An intangible asset with an indefinite useful 
life is tested for impairment annually and whenever 
there is an indication that the asset may be impaired.

Property, plant and equipment

Tangible non current assets are stated at historical  
cost less accumulated depreciation. Historical cost includes 
expenditure that is directly attributable to  
the acquisition of the items.

Subsequent costs are included in the assets carrying 
amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, 
only when it is probable that future economic benefits 
are associated with the item will flow to the Company 
and the cost of the item can be measured reliably. The 
carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. All 
other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income 
statement during the financial period in which they are 
incurred. Depreciation is provided at the following rates in 
order to write off each asset over its estimated useful life 
and are based on the cost of assets less residual value. 
Significant components of individual assets are assessed 
and if a component has a useful life that is different from 
the remainder of that asset, that component is depreciated 
separately.

Short leasehold: 

over the term of the lease

Fixtures and fittings: 

25% on cost

Computer equipment: 

25% on cost

The asset’s residual values and useful economic lives are 
reviewed and adjusted, if appropriate, at each reporting 
date. An asset’s carrying amount is written down 
immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying 
amount is greater then its estimated recoverable value.

Gains and losses on disposals are determined by 
comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount  
and are recognised within other (losses) or gains in  
the income statement.

Capital risk management

The Group manages its capital to ensure it is able to 
continue as a going concern while maximising the return 
to stakeholders through the optimisation of the debt and 
equity balance. The capital structure of the Group consists of 
cash equivalents and equity attributable to the owners of the 
parent as disclosed in the Statement of Changes in Equity.

Taxation

The tax expense for the year comprises current and 
deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the Income Statement, 
extent to the extent that it relates to items recognised in 
other comprehensive income or directly in equity. In this 
case, the tax is also recognised in other comprehensive 
income for directly in equity, respectively.

Current tax

Current taxes are based on the results shown in the 
financial statements and are calculated according to local 
tax rules, using tax rates enacted or substantially enacted 
by the balance sheet date.

Deferred taxation

Deferred income tax is provided in full, using the liability 
method, on temporary differences arising between the tax 
bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts in 
the financial statements.

Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent 
that it is probable that future taxable profit will be available 
against which the temporary difference will be utilised.

Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates that have 
been enacted or substantially enacted by the balance sheet 
date and are expected to apply when they related deferred 
income asset is realised or deferred income tax liability is 
settled.

Operating leases

Rent payable under operating leases is not recognised in 
the Group’s statement of financial position. Such costs are 
expensed on a straight line basis over the term of the lease. 
Lease incentives received are recognised as an integral part 
of the total expense, over the term of the lease.

Financial instruments

Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised on 
the statement of financial position when an entity becomes 
a party to the contractual provisions of the instruments. 
Financial assets and financial liabilities are initially measured 
at fair value. Transaction costs that is directly attributable 
to the acquisition or issue of financial assets and financial 
liabilities (other than financial assets and financial liabilities 
at fair value through profit or loss) are added to or deducted 
from the fair value of the financial assets or financial 
liabilities, as appropriate, on initial recognition. Transaction 
costs directly attributable to the acquisition of financial 
assets or financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss 
are recognised immediately in the income statement.

47

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

•  Financial assets

•  Cash and cash equivalents

The Group’s accounting policies for financial assets 
are set out below.

Management determine the classification of its 
financial assets at initial recognition depending on the 
purpose for which the financial assets were acquired 
and where allowed and appropriate, revaluate this 
designation at every reporting date.

All financial assets are recognised on a trade date 
when, and only when, the Group becomes a party 
to the contractual provisions of an instrument. When 
financial assets are recognised initially, they are 
measured at fair value plus transaction costs, except 
for those finance assets classified as at fair value 
through profit or loss (‘FVTPL’), which are initially 
measured at fair value.

Financial assets are classified into the following 
specified categories: financial assets at FVTPL,  
’held-to-maturity’ investments, ‘available for sale’ 
(AFS) financial assets and loans and receivables.  
The classification depends on the nature and purpose 
of the financial assets and is determined at the time  
of recognition.

Derecognition of financial assets occurs when the 
rights to receive cash flows from the investments 
expire or are transferred and substantially all of the 
risks and rewards of ownership have been transferred.

At each reporting date, financial assets are reviewed 
to assess whether there is objective evidence of 
impairment. If any such evidence exists, impairment 
loss is determined and recognised based on the 
classification of the financial asset.

Loans and receivables (including trade receivables, 
prepayments, deposits and other receivables, cash 
and bank balances) are non-derivative financial assets 
with fixed or determinable payments that are not 
quoted on an active market. At each reporting date 
subsequent to initial recognition, loans and receivables 
are carried at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method, less any identified impairment losses. 
An impairment loss is recognised in the statement 
of comprehensive income when there is objective 
evidence that the asset is impaired, and is measured 
as the difference between the asset’s carrying amount 
and the present value of estimated future cashflows 
discounted at the original effective interest rate. 
Impairment losses are reversed in subsequent periods 
when an increase in the asset’s recoverable amount 
can be related objectively to an event occurring 
after the impairment was recognised, subject to a 
restriction that the carrying amount of the asset at 
the date the impairment is reversed does not exceed 
what the amortised cost would have been had the 
impairment not been recognised.

Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash at bank 
and on hand, demand deposits with banks and 
other financial institutions, and short-term, highly 
liquid investments that are readily convertible into 
known amounts of cash and which are subject to 
an insignificant risk of changes in value, having been 
within three months of maturity at acquisition. Bank 
overdrafts that are repayable on demand and form 
an integral part of the Group’s cash management 
are also included as a component of cash and cash 
equivalents for the purpose of the consolidated 
statement of cash flows.

•  Trade receivables

Trade receivables are recognised initially at the 
lower of their original invoiced value and recoverable 
amount. A provision is made when it is likely that 
the balance will not be recovered in full. Terms on 
receivables range from 30 to 90 days.

•  Financial liabilities and equity

Financial liabilities and equity are recognised on the 
Group’s statement of financial position when the 
Group becomes a party to a contractual provision 
of an instrument. Financial liabilities and equity 
instruments issued by the Group are classified 
according to the substance of the contractual 
arrangements entered into and the definitions of a 
financial liability and an equity instrument. An equity 
instrument is any contract that evidences a residual 
interest in the assets of the Group after deducting  
all of its liabilities. Equity instruments issued by the 
Group are recognised at the proceeds received, net  
of transaction costs.

The Group’s financial liabilities include trade payables 
and accrued liabilities.

•  Trade payables

Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and 
subsequently measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method. Terms on accounts payables 
range from 10 to 90 days.

Foreign currency risk

Currency risk is the risk that the holding of foreign 
currencies will affect the Group’s position as a result  
of a change in foreign currency exchange rates.  
The Group has no significant foreign currency risk  
as most of the Group’s financial assets and liabilities  
are denominated in functional currencies of relevant  
group entities. Accordingly, no quantitative market  
risk disclosures or sensitivity analysis for currency  
risk have been prepared.

48

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015The results and financial position of all the group entities 
(none of which has the currency of a hyper-inflationary 
economy) that have a functional currency different from the 
presentation currency are translated into the presentation 
currency as follows:

(a)  Assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented 
are translated at the closing rate at the date of that 
balance sheet;

(b)  Income and expenses for each income statement  
are translated at average exchange rates (unless  
this average is not a reasonable approximation  
of the cumulative effect of the rates prevailing on  
the transaction dates, in which case income and 
expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of  
the transactions); and

(c)  All resulting exchange differences are recognised  

in other comprehensive income.

Equity

Share capital is the amount subscribed for shares  
at their nominal value.

Share premium represents the excess of the amount 
subscribed for the share capital over the nominal value  
of the respective shares net of share issue expenses.

Retained earnings represent the cumulative earnings  
of the Group attributable to equity Shareholders.

The reverse acquisition reserve relates to the adjustment 
required by accounting for the reverse acquisition in 
accordance with IFRS3 ‘Business combinations’.

Other reserves relate to the charge for share based 
payments in accordance with IFRS2 ‘Share based 
payments’.

Share based payments

For equity settled share based payment transactions 
the Group, in accordance with IFRS 2 “Share Based 
Payments” measures their value, and the corresponding 
increase in equity, indirectly, by reference to the fair value 
of the equity instruments granted. The fair value of those 
equity instruments is measured at the grant date using the 
trinomial method. The expense is apportioned over the 
vesting period of the financial instrument and is based on 
the number which is expected to vest and the fair value of 
those financial instruments at the date of grant. If the equity 
instruments granted vested immediately, the expense is 
recognised in full.

Functional currency translation

•  Functional and presentation currency

Items included in the financial statements of the 
company are measured using the currency of the 
primary economic environment in which the entity 
operates (functional currency), which is mainly pounds 
sterling (£) and it this currency the financial statements 
are presented in.

•  Transaction and balances

Foreign currency transactions are translated in to the 
functional currency using exchange rates prevailing 
at the dates of the transactions. Foreign exchange 
gains and losses resulting from the settlement of 
such transactions and from the translation at the year 
end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities 
denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in 
the income statement.

Employee benefit costs

The Group operates a defined contribution pension 
scheme. Contributions payable by the Group’s pension 
scheme are charged to the income statement in the period 
in which they relate.

Segment reporting

Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent 
with the internal reporting provide to the chief operating 
decision-maker. The chief operating decision maker who 
is responsible for allocating resources and assessing 
performance of the operating segments as identified by the 
Board of Directors.

Critical accounting adjustments

The Group makes certain estimates and assumptions 
regarding the future. Estimates and judgements are 
continually evaluated based on historical experience 
and other factors, including expectations of future 
events that are believed to be reasonable under the 
circumstances. In the future, actual experience may differ 
from these estimates and assumptions. The estimates 
and assumptions that have a significant risk of causing a 
material adjustment to the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities within the next financial year are discussed below:

Judgements

(a) Capitalisation of development costs

Our business model is underpinned by our email 
and cross-channel marketing automation platform, 
dotmailer. Internal activities are continually undertaken 
to enhance and maintain the product in a bid to stay 
ahead of our competition. Management review the 
work of developers during the period and make the 
following judgements:

49

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

(c) Depreciation and amortisation

The Group depreciates short leasehold, fixtures and 
fittings, computer equipment and amortises computer 
software, internally generated development costs 
and domain names on a straight line method over 
the estimated useful lives. The estimated useful lives 
reflect the directors’ estimate of the periods that  
the Group intends to derive future economic benefits 
from the use of the Group’s short leasehold fixtures 
and fittings, computer equipment, computer  
software, internally generated development costs  
and domain names.

(d) Bad debt provision

We perform ongoing credit evaluations of our 
customers and grant credit based upon past 
payment history, financial condition and anticipated 
industry conditions. Customer payments are regularly 
monitored and a provision for doubtful accounts  
is established based upon specific situations and 
overall industry conditions. Hence the provision 
is maintained for potential credit losses based 
upon management’s assessment of the expected 
collectability of all accounts receivable. In making this 
assessment, management takes into consideration  
(i) an circumstances of which we are aware regarding 
a customer’s inability to meet its financial obligations 
and (ii) our judgements as to potential prevailing 
economic conditions in the industry and their potential 
impact on the Group’s customers.

• 

• 

Internal work relating to product development 
is reviewed against IAS 38 criteria and will be 
capitalised if management feel the criteria have 
been met.

Internal work relating to the maintenance of 
existing products is expensed to the income 
statement and accounted for in payroll costs.

Estimates and assumptions

(a) Impairment testing of goodwill

The Directors have carried out a detailed impairment 
review in respect of goodwill. The Group assesses 
at each reporting date whether there is an indication 
that an asset may be impaired, by considering the 
net present value of discounted cash flows forecasts 
which have been discounted using a pre-tax discount 
rate of 10%. The cash flow projections are based on 
the assumption that the Group can realise projected 
sales. A prudent approach has been applied with no 
residual value being factored.

Further details on the estimates and assumptions we 
make in our annual impairment testing of goodwill are 
included in Note 12 to the Financial Statements. At the 
period end, based on these assumptions there was no 
indication of impairing to carrying value of goodwill.

(b) Share-based compensation

Key management believe that there will not be only 
one acceptable choice for estimating the fair value  
of share-based payment arrangements. The 
judgements and estimates that management apply  
in determination of the share-based compensation  
are summarised below:

• 

• 

 Selection of a valuation model

 Making assumptions used in determining  
the variables used in a valuation model

i. expected life,

ii. expected volatility,

iii. expected dividend yield,

iv. interest rate

Further detail on the estimates and assumptions we make 
in our share-based compensation are included in Note 27 
to the Financial Statements. The charge made to income 
statement for period is also disclosed here.

50

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/20153.  Segmental reporting

The Group’s single line of business is the provision of web based marketing services. Last year more than 90% of the 
Group’s revenue arose in the UK and all of the Group’s non-current assets were held there. This year the chief operating 
decision maker considers the Group’s only reportable segment to be by geographical location this being UK and rest of 
the world (“RoW”) operations as shown below:

UK Operations 
£’000

30.6.2015

RoW  
Operations 
£’000

Income statement
Revenue
Gross profit
Profit before income tax
Total comprehensive income attributable to the  
owners of the parent
Financial position
Total assets
Net current assets

18,274
16,676
3,476
2,895

21,591
12,964

Revenue from external customers are attributed to the geographical segments noted above based on the customers 
location. There was no customers who account for more than 10% of revenue (2014: None)

UK Operations 
£’000

30.6.2014

RoW  
Operations 
£’000

819
660

22,410
13,624

Total  
£’000

21,366
19,074
5,243
4,659

Total  
£’000

16,213
14,680
3,641
3,415

3,092
2,398
1,767
1,764

1,566
1,413
1,211
1,210

14,647
13,267
2,430
2,205

17,002
10,030

Income statement
Revenue
Gross profit
Profit before income tax
Total comprehensive income attributable to the  
owners of the parent
Financial position
Total assets
Net current assets

4.  Discontinued operations

Discontinued operations refers to the closure of the service division.

Analysis of continuing and discontinued operations is as follows:

Year ended 30 June 2015
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Administrative expenses
Operating profit before exceptional items
Finance income
Income tax
Profit for the year attributable to owners of the parent

393
(246)

17,395
9,784

Continuing 
operations 
30.6.15 
£’000
21,366
(2,292)
19,074
(13,858)
5,216
27
(587)
4,656

Discontinued 
operations 
30.6.15 
£’000
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

51

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Year ended 30 June 2014
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Administrative expenses
Operating profit/(loss) before exceptional items
Finance income including exceptional items
Income tax
Profit/(loss) for the year attributable to owners of the parent

5.  Employees and directors

Wages and salaries
Social security costs

Other pension costs

The average monthly number of employees during the year are as follows

Directors
Sales and Marketing 
SEO and Product Developers
Administration

Continuing 
operations 
30.6.14 
£’000
16,213
(1,533)
14,680
(11,059)
3,621
20
(181)
3,460

Discontinued 
Operations 
30.6.14 
£’000
199
(122)
77
(118)
(41)
–
–
(41)

30.6.15 
£’000
7,711
871

221
8,803

30.6.15
7
84
48
47
186

30.6.14 
£’000
6,024
679

147
6,850

30.6.14
7
80
41
44
172

Remuneration of key management personal is included in Note 25

During the year the Group also capitalised staff related costs of £1,549,066 (2014 – £1,232,341) in relation to internally 
generated development costs.

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

27
27

20
20

30.6.15 
£’000
1,516
415
361
2,292

30.6.14 
£’000
1,033
471
29
1,533

6.  Net finance income 

Finance income:
Deposit account interest

7.  Operating profit before exceptional items

Costs by nature 
Profit from continuing operations has been arrived after charging/(crediting):-

Direct marketing
Outsourcing
Other costs
Total cost of sales

52

dotdigital Group Plc
Annual Report 2014/2015

 
 
Staff related costs (inc Directors emoluments) –note 5
Operating leases: Land and buildings
Operating lease: Other
Audit remuneration
Amortisation of intangibles
Depreciation charge
Legal, professional and consultancy fees
Computer expenditure
Bad debts
Foreign exchange losses
Travelling
Office running
Other costs
Total administration costs

30.6.15

£’000
8,803
834
44
38
1,159
397
417
828
103
61
351
217
606
13,858

During the year the Group obtained the following services from the Group’s auditor at costs detailed below:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of Parent Company and  
consolidated financial statements
Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for other services
– The audit of Company subsidiaries
– Non audit fees: Tax and review of interim accounts

8.  Income tax expense

Analysis of the tax charge from continuing operations:

Current tax on profits for the year
Deferred tax on origination and reversal of timing differences

Overprovision in previous periods

Tax charge from continuing operations

Factors affecting the tax charge:

Profit on ordinary activities before tax
Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by the standard rate of corporation tax in the  
UK of 20.75% (2014: 22.50%)
Effects of:
Expenses not deductible
Research and development enhanced claim
Expenditure permitted on exercising options
Overseas tax (profits)/losses
Capital allowances in excess of depreciation
Total income tax

30.6.14

£’000
6,850
586
68
36
866
251
480
584
302
67
250
160
559
11,059

30.6.14

£’000
7

26
3
36

30.6.15

£’000
7

27
4
38

30.6.15

30.6.14

£’000
262
325
587
–
587
587
587

30.6.15

£’000
5,243
1,088

(250)
(747)
(238)
(43)
(48)
262

£’000
166
44
210
(29)
181
181
181

30.6.14

£’000
3,600
810

281
(661)
(247)
25
(42)
166

Deferred tax was calculated using the rate 20% (2014: 20.75%). For further details on deferred tax please see Note 23.

53

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statements 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

9.  Profit/(loss) of parent company

As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the profit and loss account of the parent company is not 
presented as part of these financial statements. The parent company’s loss for the financial year was £318,852  
(2014: £363,022). 

10. Dividends

Amounts recognised as distributions to equity holders in the period.

Final dividend for year end 30 June 2015 of 0.2p per share
Proposed dividend for the year end 30 June 2015 of 0.36p (2014: 0.2p) per share

30.6.15 
£’000
570
1,041

30.6.14 
£’000
279
566

The proposed final dividend is subject to approval by the shareholders at the Annual General Meeting and has not been 
included as a liability in these financial statements.

11. Earnings per share

Earnings per share data is based on the consolidated profit using and the weighted average number of shares in issue of 
the parent company. Basic earnings per share are calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders 
by the weighted average number of ordinary shares outstanding during the period.

Diluted earnings per share is calculated using the weighted average number of shares adjusted to assume the conversion 
of all dilutive potential ordinary shares.

Reconciliations are as follows:-

From continuing operations

Basic EPS
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent
Options and Warrants
Diluted EPS
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent

From continuing operations
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent
Adjustments to exclude profit/(loss) from discontinued operations
Profit for the year from continuing operations for the purpose of basic  
of basic earnings per share excluding discontinued operations

From discontinued operations

Basic EPS
Diluted EPS

30.6.15 

Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares

Earnings 
£’000

4,656 284,804,914
5,001,766

–

4,656 289,806,680

30.6.15 
£’000
4,656
–
4,656

Per share 
Amount 
Pence

1.63
–

1.61

30.6.14 
£’000
3,419
41
3,460

30.6.15 
Per share (p)
–
–

30.6.14 
Per share (p)
(0.02)
(0.01)

There was no difference in the weighted average number of shares used in the calculation of basic and diluted earnings  
per share as the effect of all notionally dilutive shares outstanding were anti-dilutive.

Weighted average number of shares

Basic EPS
Diluted EPS

2015 
 Shares

2014 
Shares
284,804,914 279,107,898
289,806,680 290,380,434

The denominators and numerators used are the same those detailed above for both basic and diluted earnings per share 
from continuing and discontinued operations.

54

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
 
From continuing and discontinued operations

Basic EPS
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent
Options and Warrants
Diluted EPS
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent

From continuing operations

Basic EPS
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent
Options and Warrants
Diluted EPS
Profit for the year attributable to the owners of the parent

30.6.14

Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares

Earnings 
£’000

3,419 279,107,898
11,272,536

–

3,419 290,380,434

30.6.14

Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares

Earnings 
£’000

3,460 279,107,898
11,272,536

–

3,460 290,380,434

Per share 
Amount 
Pence

1.22
–

1.18

Per share 
Amount 
Pence

1.24
–

1.19

Adjusted earnings per share represents the performance of the company had the exceptional item listed above not 
occurred in the year and is only presented for guidance purposes. 

12. Goodwill
Group

Cost
At 1 July
And 30 June
Accumulated impairment loss
At 1 July and at 30 June
Net book value

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

4,121

4,121

3,512
609

3,512
609

Goodwill arising on business combinations is not amortised but is reviewed for impairment on an annual basis, or more 
frequently if there are indications that goodwill may be impaired. Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated, 
at acquisition, to cash generating units (CGU’s) that are expected to benefit from that business combination.

The carrying amount of goodwill relates wholly to the Group’s single trading activity and business segment.  
This has been tested for impairment during the current financial year by comparison with the recoverable amounts  
of the CGU.

Recoverable amounts for CGU’s are based on the higher of value in use and fair value less costs to sell.  
The recoverable amounts of the CGU have been determined from value in use calculations. These calculations use  
pre-tax cash flow projections based on financial budgets approved by management covering a five year period.  
The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding discount rates, growth rates, and expected 
changes in margins. Management estimate discount rates using pre-tax rates that reflect the current market assessment 
of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGU’s. Changes in income and expenditure are based on past 
experience and expectations of the future changes in the market. The pre-tax discount rate used to calculate the value 
in use are 10% (2014 – 10%). The valuations indicate sufficient headroom such that a reasonably possible change in key 
assumptions would not result in impairment of goodwill.

55

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statements 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

13. Intangible assets
Group

Cost
At 1 July 2014
Additions
At 30 June 2015
Amortisation
At 1 July 2014
Amortisation for the year
At 30 June 2015
Net book value
At 30 June 2015

Cost
At 1 July 2013
Additions
At 30 June 2014
Amortisation
At 1 July 2013
Amortisation for the year
At 30 June 2014
Net book value
At 30 June 2014

Computer 
softwares 
£’000

Internally 
generated 
development 
costs 
£’000

Domain 
names 
£’000

274
–
274

195
33
228

46

5,013
1,612
6,625

2,102
1,125
3,227

3,398

16
–
16

15
1
16

–

Computer 
softwares 
£’000

Internally 
generated 
development 
costs 
£’000

Domain 
names 
£’000

211
63
274

155
40
195

79

3,668
1,345
5,013

1,278
824
2,102

2,911

16
–
16

13
2
15

1

Development cost additions represents resources the Group have invested in the development of new innovative  
and ground breaking technology products for marketing professionals. This platform allows them to create, send  
and automate marketing campaigns. Following development of the products the group intends to licence the use  
of the platform.

14. Property, plant and equipment
Group

Cost
At 1 July 2014
Additions
Disposals
At 30 June 2015
Depreciation
At 1 July 2014
Depreciation for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 30 June 2015
Net book value
At 30 June 2015

56

Short 
Leasehold 
£’000

Fixtures & 
fittings 
£’000

Computer  
equipment 
£’000

288
107
–
395

47
48
–
95

300

308
93
–
401

112
91
–
203

198

888
467
(1)
1,354

498
258
(1)
755

599

Totals 
£’000

5,303
1,612
6,915

2,312
1,159
3,471

3,444

Totals 
£’000

3,895
1,408
5,303

1,446
866
2,312

2,991

Totals 
£’000

1,484
667
(1)
2,150

657
397
(1)
1,053

1,097

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
Cost
At 1 July 2013
Additions
Disposals
At 30 June 2014
Depreciation
At 1 July 2013
Depreciation for the year
Eliminated on disposal
At 30 June 2014
Net book value
At 30 June 2014

15. Investments
Company

Cost
At 1 July and 30 June
Amortisation
At 1 July and 30 June
Net book value
At 30 June

Short  
Leasehold 
£’000

Fixtures & 
fittings 
£’000

Computer 
equipment 
£’000

107
181
–
288

25
22
–
47

241

155
154
(1)
308

64
49
(1)
112

196

620
272
(4)
888

321
180
(3)
498

390

Totals 
£’000

882
607
(5)
1,484

410
251
(4)
657

827

Shares in 
Group 
undertakings 
30.6.15 
£’000

Shares in 
Group 
undertakings 
30.6.14 
£’000

8,705

8,705

3,519

3,519

5,186

5,186

The Group or the company’s investments at the balance sheet date in the share capital of companies include  
the following: 

Subsidiaries
dotmailer Limited

Nature of business
Web and email based marketing

dotsurvey Limited
dotsearch Europe Limited
dotcommerce Limited
doteditor Limited
dotSEO Limited
dotagency Limited

Dormant
Branch company
Dormant
Dormant
Dormant
Non-trading

dotmailer Inc

Web and email based marketing

All of the above subsidiaries have been included within the consolidated results. 

Proportion of

voting power

held %:
100
100
100
100
100
100
100
100

100

Class of share
Ordinary
Ordinay A
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary
Ordinary  

B, C and D
Ordinary

All the above companies with the exception of dotmailer Inc were incorporated in England and Wales. dotmailer Inc  
was incorporated in Delaware (US).

57

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statements  
Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

16. Trade and other receivables

Current:
Trade receivables
Less: Provision for impairment of trade receivables
Trade receivables – net
Other receivables
Amounts owed by Group undertakings
VAT
Prepayments 

Group

30.6.15 
£’000

4,589
(343)
4,246
39
–
–
1,043
5,328

Company

30.6.14 
£’000

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

3,119
(336)
2,783
35
–
–
844
3,662

–
–
–
–
3,108
7
9
3,124

–
–
–
–
3,821
12
12
3,845

Further details on the above can be found in Note 22.

Included within prepayments is an amount of £121,998 (2014: £104,429) in relation to deferred commission which is 
considered to be long term.

17. Cash and cash equivalents

Bank accounts

Further details on the above can be found in Note 22. 

18. Called up share capital

Allotted, issued, fully paid number

287,002,065 (2014: 282,782,065)

Group

30.6.15 
£’000
11,932
11,932

30.6.14 
£’000
9,306
9,306

Company

30.6.15 
£’000
166
166

30.6.14 
£’000
109
109

Nominal 
value
£0.005

30.6.15 
£’000
1,435
1,435

30.6.14 
£’000
1,414
1,414

During the reporting period the Company undertook the following transactions involving the issuing and reclassifying 
issued share capital:

On 07 August 2014 a number of employees exercised their share options increasing the issued share capital  
by 790,000 shares at a premium price of between 5p and 7.5p. 

On 20 October 2014 a number of employees exercised their share options increasing the issued share capital  
by 730,000 shares at a premium price of between 5p and 7.5p.

On 18 December 2014 a number of employees exercised their share options increasing the issued share capital  
by 910,000 shares at a premium price of between 5p and 7.5p.

On 27 April 2015 a number of employees exercised their share options increasing the issued share capital  
by 1,790,000 shares at a premium price of between 5p and 7.5p.

58

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015 
19. Reserves
Group

As at 1 July 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income: Currency translation
Share based payment
Balance as at 30 June 2015

As at 1 July 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Profit for the year
Other comprehensive income: Currency translation
Share based payment
Balance as at 30 June 2015

Group

As at 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Dividends
Profit for the year
Currency translations

Share based payments

Balance as at 30 June 2014

As at 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Dividends
Profit for the year
Currency translation
Share based payment
Balance as at 30 June 2014

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
12,211
–
–
(570)
4,656
–
–
16,297

Retranslation 
Reserve 
£’000
(6)
–
–
–
–
3
–
(3)

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
9,071
–
(279)
3,419
–

–

12,211

Retranslation 
reserve 
£’000
(2)
–
–
–
(4)
–
(6)

Share 
premium 
£’000
5,147
235
–
–
–
–
–
5,382

Other 
reserves 
£’000
82
–
(213)
–
–
–
106
(25)

Share 
premium 
£’000
4,863
284
–
–
–

–

5,147

Other 
reserves 
£’000
13
–
–
–
–
69
82

Reverse 
acquisition 
reserve 
£’000
(4,695)
–
–
–
–
–
–
(4,695)

Totals 
£’000
12,739
235
(213)
(570)
4,656
3
106
16,956

Reverse 
acquisition 
reserve 
£’000
(4,695)
–
–
–
–

–

(4,695)

Totals 
£’000
9,250
284
(279)
3,419
(4)
69
12,739

59

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Company

At 1 July 2014
Issue of share capital
Share repurchase
Dividends
Loss for the year
Share based payment
At 30 June 2015

At 1 July 2013
Issue of share capital
Reclassification of reserves
Loss for the year
Share based payment
At 30 June 2014

20. Trade and other payables

Current:
Trade payables
Amounts owed to Group undertkings
Social security and other taxes
Other payables
VAT
Accruals and deferred income

 Retained 
earnings 
£’000
2,423
–
–
(570)
(319)
–
1,534

Retained 
earnings 
£’000
3,065
–
(279)
(363)
–
2,423

Group

30.6.15 
£’000

853
–
498
349
574
1,163
3,437

Further details on liquidity and interest rate risk can be found in Note 22.

21. Leasing agreements

Minimum lease payments under non cancellable operating leases fall due as follows:–

Within one year
Between two to five years

Within one year
Between two to five years

60

Land & 
Buildings 
£’000
232
1,490
1,722

Land & 
Buildings 
£’000
311
2,147
2,458

Share  
Premium 
£’000
5,147
235
–
–
–
–
5,382

Share  
premium

£’000
4,863
284
–
–
–
5,147

Other 
reserves 
£’000
82
–
(213)
–
–
106
(25)

Share  
based 
payments 
£’000
13
–
–
–
69
82

Totals 
£’000
7,652
235
(213)
(570)
(319)
106
6,891

 Totals 
£’000
7,941
284
(279)
(363)
69
7,652

Company

30.6.14 
£’000

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

819
–
549
391
559
666
2,984

16
4
–
91
–
39
150

30.06.15

Others 
£’000
19
12
31

30.06.14

Others 
£’000
34
19
53

2
–
–
12
–
60
74

Totals 
£’000
251
1,502
1,753

Totals 
£’000
345
2,166
2,511

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015  
Operating leases represent rents payable by the Group for its office properties. Leases are negotiated for an average term 
if five years and rentals are fixed on average for two years with the option to extend for a further five years at the prevailing 
market rate at the time.

22. Financial instruments and risk management

The Groups activities expose it to a number of financial risks that include credit risk, liquidity risk, currency risk and interest 
rate risk. These risks and the Group’s policies for managing them have been applied consistently during the year and are 
set out below.

The Group hold no financial or non other financial instruments other than those utilised in the working operations of the 
Group and that listed in this note. It is the Group’s policy not to trade in derivative contracts.

Principle financial instruments
The principle financial instruments used by the Group, from which financial instrument rate risk arises, are  
as follows:

•  Trade receivables
•  Cash and cash equivalents
•  Trade and other payables
Financial instruments by category
The following table sets out the financial instruments as at the reporting date:
Group

Company

Financial assets
Trade and other receivables
Bank balances

Financial liabilities
Trade payables
Accrued liabilities and other payables

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

5,328
11,932
17,260

853
2,584
3,437

3,662
9,306
12,968

819
2,165
2,984

16
166
182

16
130
146

24
109
133

2
72
74

The fair value of the Financial assets and Financial liabilities equal to their carrying values. All financial assets are 
categorised as loans and receivables and all financial liabilities are categorised as financial liabilities at amortised costs.

General objectives, policies and processes
The Board has overall responsibility for the determination of the Group’s risk management objectives and policies and 
whilst retaining ultimate responsibility for them, it has delegated the authority for designing and operating processes that 
ensure the effective implementation of the objectives and policies to the Group’s risk committee. The Board receives 
monthly reports from the Risk Committee through which reviews the effectiveness of the processes put in place and the 
appropriateness of the objectives and policies it sets.

The overall objective of the Board is to set policies that seek to reduce risk as far as possible without unduly affecting the 
Company’s competitiveness and flexibility. Further details regarding these policies are set out below:

61

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Interest rate risk
The Group’s interest rate risk arises from interest bearing assets and liabilities. The Group has in place a policy of 
maximising finance income by ensuring that cash balances earn a market rate of interest; offsetting where possible, cash 
balances and by forecasting and financing its working capital requirements. As at the reporting date the Group was not 
exposed to any movement in interest rates as it has not external borrowings and therefore not exposed to interest rate 
risk. No sensitivity analysis has been prepared.

The Group’s working capital requirements are managed through regular monitoring of the overall cash position and 
regularly updated cash flow forecasts to ensure there are sufficient funds available for its operations.

Liquidity risk
The Group’s working capital requirements are managed through regular monitoring of the overall position and regularly 
updated cash flow forecasts to ensure there are funds available for its operations. Management forecasts indicate no new 
borrowing facilities will be required in the upcoming financial period.

Trade and other payables of £2,365,000 (2014: £1,876,000) are expected to mature in less than a year

Credit risk
Credit risk arises principally from the Group’s trade receivables, as there are no trade receivables within the company, 
which comprise amounts due from customers. Prior to accepting new customers a credit check is obtained. As at 30 
June 2015 there were no significant debts pass their due period which had not been provided for. The maturity of the 
Groups trade receivables is as follows:

0-30 days
30-60 days
More than 60 days

The maturity of the Group’s provision for impairment is as follows:

0-30 days
30-60 days
More than 60 days

The movement in the provision for the impairment is as follows:

As at 1 July 2014
Provision for impairment
Receivable written off in the year
Unused amount reversed
As at 30 June 2015

30.6.15 
£’000
2,311
813
1,465
4,589

30.6.15 
£’000
2
2
339
343

30.6.15 
£’000
336
103
(47)
(49)
343

30.6.14 
£’000
1,817
702
600
3,119

30.6.14 
£’000
–
83
253
336

30.6.14 
£’000
249
302
(165)
(50)
336

62

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015The Group minimises its credit risk by profiling all new customers and monitoring existing client of the Group for changes 
in their initial profile. The level of trade receivables older than the average collection period consisted of a value of 
£1,486,597 (2014: £678,260) of which £339,962 (2014: £327,242) was provided for. The Group felt that the remainder 
would be collected post year end as they were with long standing relationships, the risk of default is considered to be low 
and write offs due to bad debts are extremely low. The Group has no significant concentration  
of credit risk, with the exposure spread over a large number of customers.

The credit risk on liquid funds is low as the counterparts are banks with high credit ratings assigned by international credit 
ratings. The majority of the company’s cash holdings are held at NatWest Bank who has an A credit rating.

The carrying value of both financial assets and liabilities approximates to fair value.

Capital Policy
The Groups objectives when managing capital are to safeguard its ability to continue as a going concern in order to 
provide optimal returns for shareholders and to maintain an efficient capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In doing so the Group’s strategy is to maintain a capital structure commensurate with a strong credit rating and to retain 
appropriate levels of liquidity headroom to ensure financial stability and flexibility. To achieve this, the Group monitors key 
credit metrics, risk and fixed charge cover to maintain this position. In addition the Group ensures a combination  
of appropriate short term and long term liquidity headroom. 

During the year the Group had a short term loan balance of £nil (2014: £nil) and amounts payable over one  
year are nil. The Group had a strong cash reserve to utilise for any short term capital requirements that were needed  
by the Group.

The Group has continued to look for a further long term investments or acquisitions and therefore to maintain  
or re-align the capital structure, the Group may adjust when dividends are paid to shareholders, return capital  
to shareholders, issue new shares or borrow from lenders.

23. Deferred tax

As at 1 July
Current year provision

The deferred tax liability above comprises the following temporary differences:

Capital allowances in excess of depreciation
R & D relief in excess of amortisation
Share option relief

30.6.15 
£’000
58
325
383

30.6.15 
£’000
103
679
(399)
383

30.6.14 
£’000
14
44
58

30.6.14 
£’000
58
600
(600)
58

The deferred tax provision relates to taxes to be levied by the same authority on the same entity expected to be settled at 
the same time. As such deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset.

24. Capital commitments

The Company and Group have no capital commitments as at the year end. Last year the Company and Group had capital 
committed to £191,000 towards the fit out of the new London Bridge office.

63

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statements30.6.15 
£’000
3

30.6.14 
£’000
2

4

7

8

10

30.6.14 
£’000
41

Notes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

25. Related party disclosures

Transactions between the company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation 
and are not disclosed in this note.

Group

The following transactions were carried out with related parties

Sale of services
Codence performance

Coms.com

Entity under common 
directorship
Entity under common 
directorship

Email marketing services

Email marketing services

Sales of services are based on the price lists in force and at terms that would be available to third parties
30.6.15 
£’000
8

Purchase of services
Barratts of Old Ltd

Consultancy services

Entity under common 
directorship

Key management compensation
Key management include Directors and the Company Secretary. The compensation paid for key management for 
employee services are shown below

8

41

Remuneration and other short term employee benefits
Share based payments
Pension cost

Directors

Aggregate emoluments
Company contributions to money purchase pension scheme
Share based payments

Information in relation to the highest paid Director is as follows:

Salaries
Other benefits
Pension costs
Share based payments

The highest paid Director excercised 660,000 share options in the year (2014: none).

30.6.15 
£’000
1,002
20
60
1,082

30.6.15 
£’000
1,002
60
20
1,082

30.6.15 
£’000
234
11
15
20
280

30.6.14 
£’000
966
15
42
1,023

30.6.14 
£’000
877
42
5
924

30.6.14 
£’000
230
7
14
–
251

64

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Company

The following transactions were carried out with related parties

Year end balances arising from sales/purchase of services

dotmailer Limited
dotagency Limited

Subsidiary
Subsidiary

Payables
Receivables

30.6.15 
£’000
(3,280)
–
(3,280)

30.6.14 
£’000
(1,864)
9
(1,855)

The receivables and payables are unrestricted in nature and bear no interest. No provisions are held against receivables 
from related parties.

Loans to related parties

dotmailer Limited
As at 1 July
Loans advanced
Loans repaid 

Subsidiary

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

5,681
751
(44)
6,388

5,400
324
(43)
5,681

Key management compensation
Key management are Non-Executive Directors. The compensation paid for key management for employee services are 
shown below

Remuneration and other short term employee benefits

Directors

Aggregate emoluments

26. Ultimate controlling party

30.6.15 
£’000
–
–

30.6.15 
£’000
–
–

30.6.14 
£’000
95
95

30.6.14 
£’000
95
95

There is no ultimate controlling party of the Group. dotdigital Group Plc acts as the parent company to dotmailer Limited, 
dotagency Limited, dotsearch Europe Limited, dotmailer Inc, dotsurvey Limited (Dormant), DotSEO Limited (Dormant), 
dotcommerce Limited (Dormant) and doteditor Limited (Dormant). 

65

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsNotes to the consolidated financial statements continued
For the year ended 30 June 2015

27. Share-based payment transactions

The measurement requirements of IFRS 2 have been implemented in respect of share options that were granted  
after 7 November 2002. The expense recognised for share based payment made during the year is £106,000  
(2014: £69,000)

Vesting conditions of the options dictate that employees must remain in the employment of the Group for the whole period 
to qualify. 

Movement in issued share options during the year
The table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise price (WAEP) of, and movements in share options during 
the period. The options outstanding at 30 June 2015 had a WAEP of 14.43p (2014: 8.82p) and a weighted average 
contracted life of 2.1 (2014: 2.8) years and their exercise prices ranged from 1p to 31.50p. All share options are settled  
in form of equity issued.

Outstanding at the beginning of the period
Granted during the year
Forfeited/cancelled during the period
Exchanged for shares
Outstanding at the end of the period
Exercisable at the end of the period

30.06.15 
No of options
13,923,790
2,275,000
1,040,000
4,220,000
10,938,790
8,462,724

WAEP
8.82p
29.53p
16.56p
6.06p
14.43p
10.44p

30.6.14 
No of options
16,117,930
3,655,860
540,000
5,310,000
13,923,790
9,517,930

WAEP
7.54p
18.25p
12.57p
5.80p
8.82p
4.09p

The weighted average share price at the date of the exercise for share options exercised during the period was 30.52p 
(2014: 30.58p)

The inputs into the black-scholes model are as follows:

Number of options granted
Share price at grant date
Exercise price
Option life in years
Risk free rate
Expected volatility
Expected dividend yield
Fair value of options/warrants

10 April  
2015
750,000
31.50p
31.50p
5
1.33%
30%
0%
5.64p

28 November 
2014
1,525,000
29.00p
28.50p
5
1.35%
30%
0%
 5.33p

18 October 
2013
3,554,794
17.82p
18.25p
5
1.40%
30%
0.4%
3.31p

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the historical volatility of the Group’s share price from the date it listed to 
the grant date of the share option. The expected life used in the model is based on management’s best estimate, for the 
effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behavioural considerations.

66

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/201528. Group reconciliation of profit before corporation tax to cash generated from operations 

Current:
Profit before tax from all operations
Currency revaluation
Depreciation
(Profit)/Loss on disposal of fixed assets
Share based payments
Finance income

(Increase)/decrease in trade receivables
Increase/(decrease) in trade payables
Cash generated from operations

29. Group cash and cash equivalents

Group

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

Company

30.6.15 
£’000

30.6.14 
£’000

5,243
3
1,556
(1)
106
(27)
6,880
(1,666)
453
5,667

3,600
(4)
1,117
1
69
(20)
4,763
(769)
1,303
5,297

(319)
–
–
–
106
–
(213)
721
76
584

(363)
–
–
–
69
–
(294)
1,578
(1,277)
7

The amounts disclosed on the statement of cash flow in respect of cash and cash equivalents are in respect of these 
statements of financial position amounts: 

As at 1 July 2013
As at 31 July 2014
As at 30 June 2015

Net cash flow from discontinued operations
Net cash generated from operating activities
Net cash generated from investing activities
Net cash used in financing activities

30. Project development

Group

£’000
6,072
9,306
11,932

Company

£’000
70
109
166

30.06.15

30.06.14

£’000
–
–
–
–

£’000
–
(95)
–
–

During the period the Group incurred £1,611,929 (2014: £1,344,414) in development investments. All resources utilised  
in development has been capitalised as outlined in the accounting policy governing this area.

31. Events after the end of the reporting period

There are no post balance sheet events which impact the Group’s financial statement.

67

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015Financial statementsCompany information
For the year ended 30 June 2015

Auditors:

Jeffreys Henry LLP 
Statutory Auditor 
Finsgate 5-7 Cranwood Street 
London 
EC1V 9EE

Registered office:

No. 1 London Bridge 
London 
SE1 9BG

Registered number:

06289659 (England and Wales)

Nomad/broker:

N+1 Singer 
1 Bartholomew Lane 
London 
EC2N 2AX

Joint broker:

Finncap 
60 New Broad Street 
London 
EC2M 1JJ

Solicitors:

BPE Solicitors LLP 
St James House 
St James Square 
Cheltenham 
GL50 3PR

Directors:

S Bird 
P A Simmonds 
I Taylor 
R Kellett-Clarke  
F Beechinor-Collins 
S J Barratt 
M Patel

Company Secretary:

M Patel 

68

dotdigital Group PlcAnnual Report 2014/2015www.dotdigitalgroup.com