More annual reports from Eco Animal Health Group PLC:
2023 ReportECO ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP PLC ANNUAL REPORT & ACCOUNTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 ECO Animal Health Group Plc ECO ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP PLC DIRECTORS AND ADVISERS Directors Andrew Jones Non-Executive Chairman Marc Loomes Chief Executive Christopher Wilks Finance Director Frank Armstrong Non Executive Director Anthony Rawlinson Non Executive Director Secretary Christopher Wilks Company Number 1818170 Registered Office Registered Auditors 78 Coombe Road New Malden, Surrey KT3 4QS BDO LLP Level 12 Thames Tower Station Road Reading RG1 1LX Registrars Lawyers Bankers Nominated Adviser And Broker Joint Broker Share Registrars Limited The Courtyard, 17 West Street Farnham, Surrey GU9 7DR Mills and Reeve Monument Place, 24 Monument Street London EC3R 8AJ Natwest plc Tooting Branch, 30 High Street London SW17 0RG Singer Capital Markets One Bartholomew Lane London EC2N 2AX Peel Hunt Moor House, 120 London Wall London EC2Y 5ET 2 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 CONTENTS 4 6 Financial Highlights Operations Highlights 10 Chairman’s Statement 12 Chief Executive’s Report 14 Finance Director’s Report 19 Strategic Report 23 Corporate Governance Report 43 Directors’ Report 45 Independent Auditor’s Report 52 Consolidated Income Statement 53 54 Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Equity 55 Statement Of Changes In Equity 56 Statements Of Financial Position (Co. Number: 01818170) 57 Statements Of Cash Flows 58 Notes To The Consolidated Financial Statements ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 3 FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS SALES UP 46% AT £105.6m (2020: £72.1m) GROSS MARGIN INCREASE TO 51% (2020: 46%) PROFIT BEFORE TAX INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY TO £20.3m (2020 restated: £6.1m) 4 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 EARNINGS PER SHARE INCREASED SIGNIFICANTLY TO 12.08p (2020 restated: 5.77p) CASH GENERATION FROM OPERATIONS SIGNIFICANTLY STRONGER AT £15.8m (2020: £5.5m) NEW PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT EXPENDITURE AT £9.1m (2020: £10.9m) NET CASH HIGHER AT £19.5m (2020: £9.8m) ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 5 OPERATIONS HIGHLIGHTS DEMAND FOR AIVLOSIN® INCREASED BY 44% led by recovery in China, strong domestic growth in the USA and strong export driven growth in Brazil. REVENUE IN NORTH AMERICA INCREASED BY 28% reflecting rising farm incomes and profitability. REVENUE IN CHINA INCREASED BY 178% underpinned by structural changes to the Chinese pork producing industry post ASF and rapid restocking of pig herds. PRODUCT APPROVALS Aivlosin® marketing authorisations for swine received in Europe, United States and Canada. First vaccine marketing authorisation received in Brazil. TWO RESEARCH PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS SIGNED with the Pirbright Institute and the Vaccine Group to develop and license novel vaccines against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus. CONTINUED CORPORATE GOVERNANCE enhancements. 6 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Marc Loomes, CEO of ECO Animal Health Group plc, commented: “ These excellent results reflect the strong recovery in selected key markets which, together with the adaptability and innovation shown by our employees has delivered a record result during a year of formidable operational challenges arising from macroeconomic events. We are excited about the progress within our new product development programmes, with previous announcements demonstrating the potential of our in-house science and external collaborations. The year ahead has had a solid start, we carefully monitor the demand for our products and recognise the easing in China, but remain confident of a successful out- turn for the year. “ The information contained within this announcement is deemed by the Group to constitute inside information as stipulated under the Market Abuse Regulations (EU) No. 596/2014 (“MAR”). Upon the publication of this announcement via a Regulatory Information Service (“RIS”), this inside information is now considered to be in the public domain. ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 7 ECO GLOBAL OFFICES 8 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 SALES IN MORE THAN 70 COUNTRIES Head Office • New Malden, London Regional Offices • • Southgate, London Princeton, USA • Wilmington, USA • Ontario, Canada • Queretaro, Mexico • • Sao Paulo, Brazil Buenos Aires, Argentina • Dublin, Ireland • • • • • • Shanghai, China Zhejiang, China Johannesburg, South Africa Tokyo, Japan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Bangalore, India ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 9 This has been a year of exceptional performance, where for the first time we passed the milestone of £100m of sales and saw major growth in profit and cash flow. This has been a year of exceptional performance, where we passed the milestone of £100m of sales and saw major growth in profit and cash flow. The main contributor to the growth was China where a favourable combination of industry structural changes and restocking of the pig herd after the ASF epidemic together with changes in regulations for use of antibiotics in feed created exceptional levels of demand and sales opportunity for Aivlosin®. Additionally, we also saw good growth of our business in the key territories of North America and Brazil and steady progress in others. This would have been a great achievement in any year, but in a year where the world has been in the grips of COVID-19 and when the UK finally implemented Brexit, it is an exceptional performance. Staff throughout the business have quickly adapted to new ways of working and risen to the many challenges they faced to deliver a year of considerable financial performance. We have also made excellent progress with our strategy to build on our strong position with Aivlosin® in pig and poultry markets with a new complementary range of vaccines. We have an excellent portfolio of vaccine projects that are progressing well through the development process, backed by a team of highly experienced R&D scientists. The Board is excited by the value creation potential of our R&D programmes. The performance has resulted in a strong recovery of our profits and cash generation from operations compared with the prior year. We are pleased to propose the resumption of the payment of a dividend. The Board is proposing a dividend of 1.00p per share, which subject to shareholder approval will be paid on 22 October 2021 to shareholders on the register on 24 September 2021. The ex-dividend date will be 23 September 2021. 1010 CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 We have made substantial progress in strengthening governance systems in the Company and continue to build on this: • • The work to restate historical financial statements is now complete. Shareholders approved the new Annual Bonus Plan (including a deferred element) and Long-Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”) at a General Meeting in March 2021, and implementation of these schemes is now underway. We believe these rewards schemes will drive both shorter- and longer- term value and better align the interests of management with shareholders. • We recognise the importance of clear and transparent reporting on how the Company approaches activities that relate to Environmental, Social and Governance matters. We have for the first time included in this Annual Report a specific section, entitled “Sustainability Report” as a first step and plan to make a full review during the year and report in the next Annual Report. I have already mentioned the great contribution by management and staff throughout the Company which led to the excellent recovery and growth in the business. I am hugely grateful for their commitment and energy in moving ECO to a significantly stronger position than it has been before. We have today also announced the intention of Marc Loomes to retire. He wishes to retire on 31 December 2022 and will support the smooth transition to his successor. We are hugely grateful to Marc for his significant contribution and strong leadership he has provided over the last 17 years, and his total commitment to ensure a smooth succession process. I have particularly enjoyed my time working with Marc and he can be truly proud of the business that he has created and led. I would also like to once again sincerely thank our shareholders for their support. The last two years have seen huge challenges for the Company and the Board is highly appreciative of the continued loyalty and support from investors. We have made substantial progress in strengthening governance systems in the Company and continue to build on this. NET CASH AT YEAR END OF £19.5m Outlook Performance in our first three months of the current financial year ending 31 March 2022 has been solid with Group revenue marginally behind the corresponding prior year period. The strength seen in our Chinese market at the end of the last financial year has eased significantly following the recent pork price declines. This decline began to reverse ahead of the recent announcement on 28th June 2021 by the China state planner that central and local governments will start buying pork for state reserves. We have seen continuing strength in Latin America and early signs of recovery in Southeast Asia. The Group’s historical pattern of second half revenue weighting is expected to be retained during the current financial year particularly in relation to China where the market softness in the first three months of our current financial year is expected to reverse later in the year as state purchasing of pork improves the producer margins and encourages the purchasing of the Group’s products. We look forward to the rest of this financial year and our reporting prospects for 2022 with cautious optimism. Dr Andrew Jones Chairman 25 July 2021 1111 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Global revenue grew by 46% to £105.6 million reflecting the rapid restructuring and return to profitability of the Chinese pork market, supported by solid growth in the important North American and Brazilian domestic and export markets. Good progress was made in a number of key territories reflecting the value of ECO’s global footprint with sales generated in more than seventy countries, reflecting the global commoditised nature of pork and poultry production. I am delighted to report on a year of unprecedented performance which culminated in a record performance for the year ended 31 March 2021 exceeding the upgraded market expectations. The Company encountered a series of formidable operational challenges during a period of remarkable change; the global COVID-19 pandemic which disrupted work locations and practices, the consummation of Brexit and several ongoing regional outbreaks of African Swine Fever (ASF) in China and in other territories, required our employees to adapt, to innovate and to remain focused on the business. It is these staff attributes that have enabled the delivery of these notable results. Operational Review Global revenue grew by 46% to £105.6 million reflecting the rapid restructuring and return to profitability of the Chinese pork market, supported by solid growth in the important North American and Brazilian domestic and export markets. Good progress was made in a number of key territories reflecting the value of ECO’s global footprint with sales generated in more than seventy countries, reflecting the global commoditised nature of pork and poultry production. Sales of Aivlosin®, our patented antimicrobial which is used under veterinary prescription for the treatment of economically important diseases in pigs and poultry, increased by 44% to £87.5 million (2020: £60.7 million), accounting for 83% of total revenue. Sales of the smaller Ecomectin® anti-parasitic range at £4.2 million (2020: £4.0 million), increased by 7% and represented 4% of the Group’s revenue. 1212 Sales of all other products were £13.8 million (2020: £7.5 million) and mainly comprised a range of supportive antimicrobial products for pigs in China. Revenue from our external customers in China increased by 178%. This growth was underpinned by structural changes to the pork producing industry forced by the ASF pandemic and consequent rapid restocking of pig herds by major producers. Our Chinese subsidiary has focused on the respiratory health benefits of Aivlosin® for replacement breeding sows and piglets whose numbers at the major producers have increased rapidly in response to the pork shortage and very high pork prices. The value of these sows and their offspring has enabled the subsidiary to secure the business of an increasing number of key accounts as the industry faced the withdrawal of antimicrobials used as growth promoters together with a long hard winter which resulted in high respiratory disease prevalence. Revenue in Japan declined by 7% with COVID-19 restrictions limiting access to producers. North American revenue from external customers increased strongly by 19% reflecting the growing importance of Aivlosin®’s low yet effective dose rate and short treatment duration in medication protocols as veterinarians and producers adhere to responsible use of antimicrobial guidelines. In the USA, revenue was 28% higher at £10.6 million, reflecting rapidly rising farm incomes, profitability at the producer and at the packer level, and buoyant exports brought about by ASF in China. Our strengthened sales and technical teams have focused on further business expansion at both key producers and dispensing veterinary practices. Canadian revenue fell by 2% to £3.3 million largely because COVID-19 related enhanced biosecurity measures resulted in an exceptional overall health status of the national swine herd. Brazilian revenue rose strongly by 32% to £7.1 million reflecting the benefits of ECO’s key account management approach and the development of a very strong partnership with our local third-party distributor. Important supply tenders to major producers were won and the customer base broadened in a market where exports were strong but domestic demand subdued. The Mexican subsidiary’s revenue fell by 7% to £4.8 million hampered by stock availability in a particularly difficult COVID-19 trading environment. Revenue across the other Latin American countries increased by 14% despite the extremely challenging economic and social conditions where gains in Bolivia, Cuba and Chile were partly offset by declines in Argentina, Colombia and Peru. In South and Southeast Asia, revenue declined significantly by 36% to £9.1 million reflecting the impact of both ASF and COVID-19 across the region, notably in Thailand, our largest market, where despite difficulties the Company gained a positive treatment protocol listing for Aivlosin® with a major global producer. A new distributor was appointed in the Philippines, a recruitment process initiated for a key account manager in Indonesia for poultry where the business held up very well, and there were signs of an early and strong recovery in Vietnam. In India poultry market conditions remained extremely challenging. European revenue declined by 13% to £6.6 million. Aivlosin® sales were strong in key markets such as Spain although overall revenue into continental markets fell. Sales in the United Kingdom, which represented less than 2% of global revenue, declined by 17% to £1.5 million, across all products reflecting the difficult trading environment. ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 In Russia, an increasingly active exporter of pork and poultry meat, revenue was affected by disease outbreaks in swine and in poultry although relationships with the most important customers were strengthened. Sales in the Rest of the World increased by 16% to £1.3 million largely due to strong demand for Aivlosin® in Egypt offsetting a declining presence in South Africa. Product Approvals Aivlosin® marketing authorisations for swine were received from the European Medicines Agency (EMA), the United States Center for Veterinary Medicine of the Food and Drug Administration and from the Veterinary Drugs Directorate of Health Canada. These approvals added the treatment and control of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae to the Aivlosin® Water Soluble Granules formulation label. M. hyopneumoniae is a primary pathogen in swine respiratory disease (“SRD”) complexes playing an important role in facilitating the entry of other bacterial and viral pathogens. SRD occurs worldwide and causes major economic losses to the pig industry. A marketing authorisation from Brazil’s Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Food Supply was received for Circo/MycoGard®, a vaccine for piglets against Porcine Circovirus type 2 (“PCV2”) and M. hyopneumoniae, two of the most common primary pig respiratory disease pathogens affecting the health and productivity of swine globally. This first vaccine marketing authorisation, obtained in collaboration with Pharmgate Corp, USA marks a significant milestone as the Company builds capability with vaccines and broadens its product portfolio. Pipeline The Company’s early-stage research and proof of concept development activities are managed through collaborations with leading research institutions and universities with later stage full development work managed in-house. This model mitigates the significant costs associated with in-house laboratories and Company owned research functions. ECO has a formidable team of scientists and is building a significant product portfolio pipeline with a mix of well-established concepts and novel, highly competitive technologies and approaches with the emphasis on vaccines and other new products to complement our existing antimicrobial business. The pipeline is focused on providing solutions to respiratory and gastrointestinal (gut) diseases of major economic importance in pigs and poultry. Two worldwide exclusive research partnerships were signed in October 2020 with The Pirbright Institute in the UK and The Vaccine Group, also in the UK, to develop and licence novel vaccines for use in pigs against porcine respiratory and reproductive syndrome virus (“PRRSV”), one of the most economically damaging diseases to the global pig industry. New product development expenditure in the year was capped at £9.1 million (2020: £10.9 million) reflecting the Board’s initiation of a project prioritisation exercise within the R&D development portfolio to conserve cash in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Expenditure has been reinstated at the significant level of £10.2 million in 2021/22 which will ensure the acceleration of several key projects and that the product development portfolio is constantly refreshed. Our objective is to have several mid and late-stage projects able to deliver first revenues from the middle of the decade onwards. COVID-19 Impact The Group’s transition to effective homeworking has been smooth. All staff have been retained and ECO has not required assistance from any UK or US Government financial support schemes. The Company’s outsourced manufacturing model, the supply chain and our routes to market have, in most locations, functioned robustly. Brexit ECO’s EU marketing authorisations have been transferred to the European subsidiary, ECO Animal Health Europe Limited registered in Dublin, Republic of Ireland and our contingency product supply plans are operational. The limited ongoing financial impact of Brexit is expected to be further mitigated as our new systems bed in. ECO’s sales to the EU (excluding the UK) represented 6.2% of total revenue for the year. People ECO has provided flexibility to all our employees, supporting those with childcare and other caring responsibilities and ensured that homeworking has been as effective as possible. Notwithstanding this, our employees have demonstrated extraordinary levels of energy, engagement and professionalism in addressing the considerable challenges of the past year. Individually and collectively their ability to innovate and to adapt combined with sheer hard work and considerable fortitude underpins both these results and ECO’s prospects. It is these characteristics that will enable ECO to meet current and future market challenges and for this I thank them. We have today also announced my intention to retire on 31 December 2022. After 17 years I feel it is the right time to seek my retirement and I look forward to working with the Board to effect a smooth transition to my successor. I am immensely grateful for the support I have enjoyed over the years from colleagues and friends both within the business and outside. I will be available to help my successor in any way possible. Marc Loomes Chief Executive Officer 25 July 2021 CHINA AND JAPAN REVENUE UP BY 154% NORTH AMERICA REVENUE UP BY 19% LATIN AMERICA REVENUE UP BY 13% 1313 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 The year ended 31 March 2021 has been a significant year, most obviously marked by the need to work remotely and without the benefits of physical communication with customers, suppliers and colleagues. The business is reporting record revenues and earnings in the year ended 31 March 2021. Introduction I am pleased to present my second report as the Group Finance Director of ECO. The year ended 31 March 2021 has been a significant year, most obviously marked by the need to work remotely and without the benefits of physical communication with customers, suppliers and colleagues. Naturally this has brought challenges, but we are proud to be able to report that ECO has worked through this period with minimal interruption. We have chosen not to access any governmental support, staff and external stakeholder morale has remained good and the business is reporting record revenues and earnings in the year ended 31 March 2021. The “journey of change” I spoke about last year has continued throughout this financial year and the benefits are beginning to be seen. In particular, the audit this year has been a considerably smoother process and the financial control system improvements have functioned well. The internal audit function has conducted some useful reviews albeit that their inability to travel has hampered the geographical reach of their work this year. Trading In last year’s accounts we reported a very strong second half revenue performance; the second half representing circa 60% of the overall total for the year. This second half weighting was repeated in the latest financial year and arose – much as it did last year, from growth in China. The recovery from the African Swine Fever outbreak in China has been widely reported and the combination of governmental incentives and commodity price drivers has benefitted major producers 1414 who have gained a larger market share among pork producers in China. These major producers represent the target market for Aivlosin®. this may in part reflect a re-bound which is to be expected following a period of abnormally low demand. A geographical analysis of revenue is as follows: North America and Latin America have also advanced well during the year; commodity Revenue Summary China and Japan North America (USA and Canada) South and South East Asia Latin America Europe Rest of World and UK Year ended 31 March 2021 (£’m) 58.9 13.9 9.1 14.3 6.6 2.8 105.6 2020 (£’m) % change 23.1 11.6 14.2 12.6 7.6 3.0 72.1 154% 19% (36%) 13% (13%) (4%) 46% Revenue from China and Japan in the second half of the year was £38.1 million compared to the first six months ended 30 September 2020 of £20.8 million and the six months ended 31 March 2020 of £16.1 million. Japan represents less than 5% of the combined revenues. These successive six month increases in revenue in China demonstrated the ability of ECO to harness the market potential at a time when a favourable combination of herd restocking, and very high pork prices created exceptional levels of demand. The last full year of revenue in China and Japan before the ASF outbreak was the year ended 31 March 2018 and amounted to £27.6 million. This more than doubling of revenue compared to the last full year without ASF is significant but price stabilisation in the USA and export market opportunities in Brazil underpinning the ECO performance. The sales performance in South and South East Asia has been disappointing, reflecting the impact of both ASF and COVID-19 in these markets. After a year of strong growth (the increase in 2020 compared to 2019 was 75%) the revenue has settled to £9.1 million (2020: £14.2 million) compared with £8.1 million in the year ended 31 March 2019. As highlighted in the CEO report there has been some positive commercial news in Thailand, encouraging developments in The Philippines and Indonesia and early signs of market recovery in Vietnam. India remains ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 challenging where the poultry market has for the last 18 months been suffering with very low commodity prices and reduced demand. Gross margins at 51% in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020: 46%) showed a significant improvement. These gains were largely as a result of a favourable geographical mix – China and Japan represented 56% of Group revenues in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020: 32%), where the margins are higher than the average of the rest of the Group. EXPENDITURE IN R&D £9.1m Overheads, at £33.6 million were significantly greater in the year ended 31 March 2021 compared with the year ended 31 March 2020 (restated: £27.3 million). Wages and salaries increased to £12.4 million (2020: £8.2 million) reflecting a greater bonus accrual - specifically in China - as well as investment in sales and marketing, R&D and the finance team. In addition, the effect of the US Dollar weakening compared with Sterling resulted in a foreign exchange loss which increased by £1.7 million. Increases in insurance (greater revenue) and audit fee (new auditors with cost overruns incurred last year but impacting this year) were offset by COVID-19 related savings in advertising, travel expenditure and R&D. Total cash expenditure on research and development in the year was £9.1 million (2020: £10.9 million). Overall R&D expenditure in the year reduced as a consequence of a cautious approach taken by the Board in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic. At the half year, the Board decided to increase expenditure once the trading patterns could be confidently discerned, and it was clear that the Group had adapted to the new ways of working. This expenditure was expensed to the extent that it related to projects at the research phase and capitalised in accordance with IAS38 to the extent that it related to projects in the latter stage (development phase) of the project life- cycle. Research expenditure – included in administrative expenses Development expenditure – capitalised in intangible assets Total cash expenditure Year ended 31 March 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s 8,072 986 9,058 8,775 2,115 10,890 About 11% of expenditure was capitalised in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020: 19%) – this reflects the greater proportion of earlier stage project work such as vaccine and biologicals development. EBITDA has historically represented a key performance measure; the removal of amortisation (which is a significant annual non- cash charge to profits) and depreciation provides a good indication of the underlying cash trading performance of the business. The charge for amortisation of intangible assets and depreciation in the year was £1.3 million (2020 restated: £1.1 million). The EBITDA margin (excluding foreign exchange movements and expressed as a percentage of revenue in the period) was 23.1% in the year ended 31 March 2021 compared with 11.6% in the year ended 31 March 2020. This doubling in the EBITDA margin arises in part from the increased gross margin; the remainder is the result of operational gearing from increasing revenue with overheads increasing at a lower rate. Greater emphasis is now placed by the Board and the Leadership team on profit before income tax which includes all elements of charges (both cash and non-cash). As described in the Remuneration Committee report the key profit measure by which executive management are rewarded is profit before tax. Accordingly, EBITDA will have far less prominence in the future. Profit before income tax has increased to £20.3 million in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020 restated: £6.1 million), through a combination of greater revenue (profit contribution of £15.5 million), stronger margins (profit contribution of £4.7 million) and lower investment in expensed research (£0.7 million) offset by increased foreign exchange differences (£1.7 million) and increased administrative expenses (£5.0 million). The Group continues to benefit from a low effective tax rate in the UK due to the significant 1515 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Much work was undertaken on Intangible Assets in the balance sheet to finalise the Directors’ assessment of costs in periods prior to 2014 and to remove the limitation in scope from the audit opinion. In agreement with the auditors, the Directors concluded that IAS 8 allows previously capitalized development cost balances in the balance sheet, which as part of a prior period error adjustment exercise, cannot be supported due to a lack of accounting records, to be expensed. For the year ended 31 March 2020 Annual Report and Accounts, the Directors applied estimates of what proportion of costs should be expensed, for earlier periods where accounting records could not be located in the available time before the 2020 Annual Report and Accounts were signed. Those estimates were consistent with the proportion of costs expensed as part of the prior year adjustment exercise for more recent periods where accounting records were available and reviewed. In order to effect this adjustment (and remove the audit qualification), a revision to the Prior Period Adjustment presented last year has been required and we include an explanatory note to describe this adjustment (note 3 in this Annual Report). The effect of the adjustment at 31 March 2019 is to reduce the carrying value of intangible assets and retained earnings by £6.4 million; at 31 March 2020 to reduce the carrying value of intangible assets by £5.4 million, reduce non-current liabilities by £0.4 million and to reduce retained earnings by £5.0 million; and reduce amortisation within administrative expenses, resulting in an increase in operating profit and profit before tax for the year ended 31 March 2020 of £0.9 million, and a decrease in income tax charge of £0.4m. Having undertaken this adjustment, BDO has now been able to remove the audit qualification and are able to satisfactorily conclude their opinion on the carrying value of intangible assets. This reduction in the carrying value of intangible assets at 31 March 2019 and 31 March 2020 has the secondary benefit of reducing the on-going amortisation charge. expenditure in the R&D programme for which R&D tax credits are claimed. Historic tax losses result in zero tax payable in the UK in the year. For the Group overall, in the year ended 31 March 2021 the effective tax rate was 17.9% (2020 restated: 10.7%). The increase in the rate this year reflects, in the main, a greater proportion of the Group’s profits being taxed in higher tax rate jurisdictions such as China (which has a headline corporation tax rate of 25%). Profit after tax was £16.6 million in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020 restated: £5.5 million) reflecting the profit drivers described above offset by the higher effective tax rate. Earnings per share (“EPS”) has grown from 5.77 pence in the year ended 31 March 2020 (restated) to 12.08 pence in the year ended 31 March 2021; the increase in EPS is less than the proportionate increase in profit after tax because the minority interest relating to the Group’s joint venture partner in China was greater in the year ended 31 March 2021 arising from the significantly stronger trading in China. The consolidated cash position in the Group has increased from £11.9 million at 31 March 2020 to £19.5 million at 31 March 2021. This consolidated cash position at 31 March 2021 includes £13.7 million (2020: £5.3 million) which is held in the Group’s subsidiary in China. A portion of this cash is repatriated from China once per annum by dividend declaration; the Group’s share of the China cash distribution which is received in the UK is 51%. During the year the dividend received from the Group’s holding in the China subsidiary was £0.6 million – related to the China profitability in the year ended 31 December 2019 (2020: £1.0 million – related to year ended 31 December 2018). The greater impact from ASF in China arose in the year ended 31 December 2019. The cash generated from operations was significantly greater in the year ended 31 March 2021 at £15.8 million (2020: £5.5 million) reflecting the increased profitability of the Group. The cash conversion ratio (calculated as cash generated from operations divided by profit before income tax) decreased from 89% to 78% primarily due to an absorption of cash into inventories associated with rising revenues. Trade receivables increased by only 15% despite an increase in Group revenues of 46%, reflecting improved credit control. From operating cashflow, the overdraft was paid down (£2.0 million), income tax of £3.8 million was paid, investment of £0.9 million was made in capitalised development costs, dividends were paid to the minority interest in China (£0.6 million), the 1616 US Dollar and other foreign denominated cash balances translated to a foreign exchange loss of £0.7 million and other sundry cash movements (£0.1 million) resulted in an overall net cash improvement of £9.7 million and the higher cash balance at 31 March 2021. The Group’s £5 million overdraft facility (undrawn at the year end) remains in place. The non-controlling interest element of the consolidated Group profit is that portion of the profit attributable to the Group’s 49% joint venture partner in China. The portion of the consolidated profit attributable to the non- controlling interest was 51% in the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020: 29%). This increase arises for two reasons: the significant increase in the Group’s profits derived from China (the revenue analysis above shows that China represented over half the Group’s revenue in 2021 compared with less than a third in 2020) and, secondly, the research and development for the Group being undertaken in the UK - this results in the net profit margin in the UK portion of the Group being less than the net margin in China. Advice has been received following a transfer pricing study which supports a royalty charge and an appropriate royalty agreement will be put in place to more equitably share the profitability relating to the exploitation of the Group’s intellectual property. Audit The audit for the year ended 31 March 2021 was a more expeditious process than last year: this was the second year of auditing the ECO Group by BDO and the prior year balance sheet did not require a re-audit. BDO attended stock takes, providing them with the required support for the stock on hand at 31 March 2021. The audit opinion for the year ended 31 March 2020 was qualified by virtue of limitation in scope on two grounds: • Non-attendance at certain stock takes due to the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic • The inability to access records to support intangible assets capitalised relating to costs incurred prior to 2012. For the year ended 31 March 2021 the limitation of scope qualification in respect of non-attendance at stock takes is repeated only in respect of the comparative period. FINANCE DIRECTOR’S REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Key Performance Indicators A summary of the KPI’s is as follows: Revenues (£’m) Gross Margin (%) 105.6 72.1 120 105 90 75 60 45 30 15 0 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 46.3% 50.8% FY 20 FY 21 FY 20 FY 21 Research & Development (£’m) PBT Margin (%) 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 21 18 15 12 9 6 3 0 8.8 8.1 10.9 9.1 2.1 1.0 Expensed R&D Capitalised R&D Total R&D cash spend FY 20 FY 21 25.0% 20.0% 15.0% 10.0% 5.0% 0.0% 19.2% 8.5% FY 20 FY 21 Cash balances (£’m) EPS (Pence) 19.5 9.8 12.08 5.77 14 12 10 8 6 4 2 0 FY 20 FY 21 FY 20 FY 21 An explanation of the various trends in the KPIs above is included in the CEO’s and Finance Director’s reports. Post balance sheet events Awards were made to the CEO and the Finance Director under the new LTIP post year end on 28 April 2021. Further details are provided in the Remuneration Committee Report. Marc Loomes, who joined ECO Animal Health Group plc in 2004, became Managing Director in 2005 and CEO in 2010, has informed the Board that he plans to retire on the 31 December 2022. The Board has commenced a process with a leading executive search consultancy to identify and appoint a successor to take over from Marc during the 2022-23 financial year. Christopher Wilks Finance Director 25 July 2021 1717 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 18 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 STRATEGIC REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 ECO Animal Health strives to provide best in class, scientifically proven ethical solutions to optimise the health, productivity and wellbeing of pigs and poultry. Our vision is to achieve this responsibly, working in partnership with veterinarians, animal health professionals and live- stock producers bringing value to all by improving animal health around the world. The business strategy is to generate shareholder value by achieving the maximum sales potential and profit from the existing product portfolio whilst investing in Research and Development (R&D) for new products, particularly vaccines, and seeking to in-license new products. We also seek to diversify by acquisition. The Company will continue to invest in skilled people. Growth of existing product portfolio ECO prioritises sales and development activities for existing products through ECO operating companies in key growth markets, principally China, North America, South and Southeast Asia and selected Latin American countries. Third party distributors are used in smaller markets to contain costs, recognising that this approach does lead to margin sacrifice for ECO. The cost base is managed to reflect achievable growth rates particularly when individual markets experience slowdowns. In all markets, Key Account management frameworks are adopted with major producers. The primary competitive targets for our portfolio are branded, well established, first generation products, concentrating on the additional value added by our products. Focus on investment in R&D ECO’s increase in R&D investment is focused on several late, mid and early stage projects which collectively provide a balanced mix of well- established concepts and novel technologies and approaches. This investment in R&D staff and the pipeline is expected to lead to further approvals for Aivlosin® in key markets, an acceleration and broadening of the introduction potential for vaccines in pigs and poultry and to an expansion of the search for new products in collaboration with leading universities and research institutions where an exclusive position with worldwide commercial rights can be obtained for any invention made. Licensing and acquisition ECO seeks to both license-in new products for pigs and poultry and to diversify by acquisition to complement our organic growth and provide enhanced product portfolio breadth in core markets. Skilled people ECO has highly professional, experienced and committed staff throughout the business. Our strategy is to build on this core strength and to continue to develop an organisational culture that attracts and rewards top talent in a company that offers challenges and opportunities for growth. Sustainability, Environmental and Other Social Issues The Group’s report on environmental matters, social and human rights issues and community issues are set out in the Sustainability Report to these financial statements. ECO HAS PROVED TO BE HIGHLY ADAPTABLE IN A CHANGING WORLD 1919 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Principal Risks and Risk management The Group has an established process for the identification and management of risk, working within the governance framework. Ultimately, the management of risk is the responsibility of the Board of Directors, working through the business leadership team. The Board’s role in risk management includes promoting a culture that emphasises integrity at all levels of business operations and setting the overall policies for risk management and control. As stated earlier in the Finance Director’s report specific action has been taken to strengthen financial controls in order to ensure that the risk of financial impropriety is reduced to the fullest extent possible. During the year the principal risks affecting the Group were comprehensively reviewed. Each identified risk was considered for likelihood of arising and consequent impact. Careful consideration was given to identifying any other emerging risks. The risks were reviewed on a quarterly basis by the Board of Directors. Each risk area continues to have priority controls allocated to it that are the responsibility of the Executive Directors to manage and review during the financial year. This process inherently manages risk by ensuring the principal risks are being mitigated by prioritised business activity as shown in the table below. The principal risks are listed on the following pages in order of significance by category. We have made this assessment by reference to the likelihood of each risk occurring and assessing the potential severity of impact it would have on the business from high to low. We have also assessed the future trend of each risk as far as we can predict. As there are a range of impacts in all areas which are mitigated to a high degree, the mitigations in the form of control structures are shown next to each identified risk. During the current financial year, we have added a new risk regarding the Biologicals manufacturing resource. We consider the risk over Brexit to have decreased sufficiently to be removed from the list. TABLE KEY: H = HIGH M = MEDIUM L = LOW Strategic risks Risk Likelihood Controls Impact Forward Trend High reliance on one supplier for key products Reliance placed on key directors, senior managers and staff members High dependency on a single product Potential threat from generic producers M M M M Business interruption insurance with a target of 6 months strategic safety stock in place. Investing in supply chain dual supply capacity. NomCom – succession plans being expanded. New RemCom policies being implemented: • Performance management, structured Bonus and LTIP for staff and executive Director’s. • Salary benchmarking and staff development. Innovation fund and development pipeline of new products: • Vaccines and other products. • Generic defence plans. • Significant investment in biologicals R&D pipeline Generic defence strategy – combining strong regulatory and legal stance in country with patent and trademark infringement enforcement. Ensure adequate supply and stock pressure in markets. Experienced international and local management teams. H H H M 2020 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Risk Likelihood Controls Impact Forward Trend Disease impact on growth (African Swine Fever, Coronavirus) Failure to identify biologicals manufacturing resource – this being a key success factor for R&D project delivery Operational risks H M Global organisation driving strategy in other geographical territories. Strategy to increase focus on poultry. Remote working capabilities established and proven. Board approval of 5 year strategic plan which identifies a pathway to accessing Biologicals manufacturing capability. M H Risk Likelihood Controls Impact Future Trend Operational activities result in environmental pollution Failure to achieve/maintain Good Manufacturing Practice and quality standards leading to supply interruption Risk of trial failure impeding registration and approval of Pipeline products Continuity of IT services Risk of business interruption due to fire, flood, explosion, natural disaster impacting ECO premises Risk of corporate manslaughter Seasonal and unforecasted demand impact on supply chain responsiveness New EU Veterinary Regulations entering into force (End 2021/Start 2022) L H M M M L H M Virtual supply chain - use of third parties limits our own exposure. Internal and external audits of third party facilities. Staff training. Regular competent authority inspections. Independent and internal QA function. Audits of third party facilities. Track record of successful audits. Multidisciplinary team to integrate marketing authorisations with change control processes and artwork for labels. High calibre staff recruited. Use of only reputable and well established laboratories and subcontractors. Regular replenishment of R&D pipeline to counteract effect of attrition. Retained IT consultancy monitor, investigate and improve the IT infrastructure. Servers hosted on Azure cloud based system with multiple daily back-ups to a second remote server. Active monitoring and correction of system issues. Roll out of laptop encryption. Business risk insurance cover. Business continuity plan. Cloud based servers with immediate backup restoration. High level of staff with remote working capability. Team had demonstrated during the global Coronavirus pandemic that can operate remotely with the same level of efficiency. Safety stocks in strategic markets. Maintain adequate health and safety procedures and insurances. Only responsible for one manufacturing plant, all other facilities are third party contracted services. Forecasting Project: Implementation of MRP, monthly Regional S&OP meetings, increased manufacturing capacity in USA, strategic review of lead times/responsiveness and the value benefit of last minute customisation. Purchase order lead time extended and multi-source supply chain implemented. Maintain proactive approach to understanding new requirements. Ensure measures in place to maintain compliance H H M M L M H L 2121 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 STRATEGIC REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Financial risks Risk Likelihood Controls Impact Future Trend Enhanced corporate governance. Implementing robust systems and controls. Keep international cash balances to a minimum. Daily/weekly monitoring of all bank account cash balances with explanations for material increases and depletions of balances. Change overseas local bank accounts to international banks with internet access. Internal Audit reviews. Strong firewalls in place. Regular back up of data on duplicate servers. Continual review and strengthening of controls and security. Cashflow and working capital management. Close monthly monitoring of budget to actual results. Robust credit control in place. Monitoring of exchange rates. Operationally transact in multiple currencies which are held and switched when appropriate. In house treasury function to hedge when necessary. Daily monitoring of bank balances. Spread cash deposits over a number of stable and internationally recognised banks. Our global teams will continue to strengthen relationships and business with key customers and accounts. M H H M M L Fraud and depletion of company funds Cyber attack Insufficient funding for business growth Currency Risk of bank deposits being lost through collapse of bank Mid term recession in major regions in the world (EU, NA, LATAM) Coronavirus effects to linger into 2021 in major economies in the world. L M L M L M Dr Andrew Jones Chairman 25 July 2021 2222 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 A strong business requires strong governance We aim to continually update our approach to corporate governance and we have ensured that governance remains central to delivering on our strategy and the successful operation of our business. Chairman’s introduction to governance Dear Shareholders I am pleased to introduce this section on governance, which describes the activities of the Board and its Committees during 2020-21 and in the period since the end of the year and how we have ensured governance remains central to delivering on our strategy and the successful operation of our business. We aim to continually update our approach to corporate governance and notable developments since the last Annual Report include: • • Shareholders strongly supported the new Annual Bonus Plan (including a deferred element) and LTIP schemes at the Company’s General Meeting held in March 2021, and implementation of these schemes is now underway. We believe these rewards schemes will drive both shorter- and longer- term value and better align the interests of management with shareholders. In the light of the increasing importance of ESG, we have introduced a Sustainability Report on page 35. Further detailed work on this area will be conducted in the 2021-22 year and will be reported in next year’s Annual Report. As an AIM quoted company, our governance framework is underpinned by the AIM Rules and we have adopted the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) Corporate Governance Code 2018 (the ‘QCA Code’) as the benchmark for measuring our adherence to good governance. In addition to the QCA Code, we monitor developments and guidance in the UK Corporate Governance Code, applicable to main market listed companies, to keep abreast of matters which we feel could also be embedded as best practice as part of a progressive approach. We also review the Investment Association guidelines and seek to comply with these where applicable. In the sections that follow, we set out our governance structures, along with an overview of how the Company complies with the Principles of the QCA Code and the Board Committee reports. Your support as shareholders is vital to the success of the Company and we intend to remain responsive to shareholder’s views and to engage with you so that the Company will deliver on its and your objectives. Thank you for you continued support. Yours sincerely Dr Andrew Jones Chairman 25 July 2021 2323 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 24 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 24 17 Board of Directors Dr Andrew Jones Marc Loomes Christopher Wilks Chairman Nomination Committee Chairman Appointed 1 December 2017 Year of Birth 1960 Andrew has over 35 years of experience in international life science-based businesses including Syngenta AG., Arysta Lifesciences Inc. and Phoqus Pharmaceuticals Plc. During this time, he worked in product development, international sales and marketing, merger and acquisition and general management. He currently runs his own consulting Company, Trioza Limited, which provides strategic advice to the animal health, crop protection and seeds sectors and is Chairman of Downland Marketing Ltd a UK based animal health distribution group. Andrew has a BSc degree and PhD in agricultural biology. Andrew brings substantial strategic marketing and business development experience and skills to the business. Chief Executive Appointed 1 December 2005 Year of Birth 1961 Finance Director Appointed 3 September 2019 Year of Birth 1964 Marc joined ECO Animal Health in 2004, became MD in 2005 and CEO in 2010. Marc, a qualified veterinarian and Member of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, has extensive international senior management experience of the animal health and crop protection industries obtained with blue chip multi-national companies in South Africa, Germany, Switzerland and the UK. He brings the ability to balance strategic vision and operational delivery to the business. Chris has considerable experience in the fields of both finance and science. Chris began his career after graduating from the University of Durham with a BSc in Applied Physics and Electronics. Initially he joined Marconi Space Systems, applying his degree skills to the design of power systems for spacecraft. He then trained as a Chartered Accountant at Arthur Young (now EY), and after qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in audit, he became a manager in its Corporate Finance team. Mr Wilks is a Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales. He is also currently a non-executive director (and Chair of the Audit Committee) of Kromek Group plc, an AIM listed worldwide supplier of radiation detection technology and was previously Chief Financial Officer of Signum Technology Limited, a leading group of specialised engineering businesses operating in the safety and critical service flow control sector, which he co-founded. Prior to Signum Technology, Mr Wilks was Chief Financial Officer at Sondex plc, a specialist manufacturer of technical instruments for the oil and gas industry. 17 2525 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Anthony (Tony) Rawlinson Dr Frank Armstrong Audit Committee Chairman Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed 1 January 2015 Year of Birth 1957 Remuneration Committee Chairman Independent Non-Executive Director Appointed 1 May 2020 Year of Birth 1957 Tony is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years corporate finance experience advising smaller quoted companies. After spending 14 years at Henry Ansbacher & Co and Strand Partners, he co-founded Dowgate Capital Advisers in 2001 and led its growth and development. He was also Chairman of its AIM quoted parent Company, Dowgate Capital, which was sold to a competitor in a recommended transaction in 2009. In 2010 he co-founded Cairn Financial Advisers LLP, a Nominated Adviser to a number of AIM companies and a corporate advisory firm. Tony retired from Cairn in November 2020. Frank is a medical doctor, a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians and a Fellow of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Medicine. He is currently Non- Executive Chair of Faron Pharmaceutical Oy (AIM, NASDAQ First North), Non- Executive Chair of Caldan Therapeutics Ltd, Non- Executive Chair of BioCaptiva Limited, Non-Executive Chair of Enhanc3D Ltd, a Non-Executive Director of Newcells Biotech Ltd and a Member of the Court of the University of Edinburgh. He has previously held Non-Executive roles in listed companies with Summit Therapeutics (AIM and NASDAQ), Redx Pharma (AIM), Mereo Biopharma (AIM and NASDAQ) and Juniper Therapeutics (NASDAQ). He started his career at ICI Pharma/Zeneca Pharma before moving to Bayer AG where he became head of worldwide product development. 2626 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Attendance at meetings All Committee and Board meetings held in the year were quorate. Director’s attendance during the year ended 31 March 2021 was as follows: Number of formal meetings held Andrew Jones Marc Loomes Chris Wilks Tony Rawlinson Frank Armstrong (appointed 1st May 2020) Board Audit Committee Remuneration Committee Nomination Committee 14 14 14 14 14 12 4 4 4 4 4 4 3 3 3 3 2 2 2 2 2 Compliance with the Principles of the QCA Code The Company’s shares are traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and as such, the Company is subject to the continuing requirements of the AIM Rules for Companies. As stated in the Chairman’s introduction, the Board has adopted the QCA’s Corporate Governance Code. The following table summarises how we apply the ten principles of the QCA Code: QCA Principle Explanation 1 To establish a strategy and business model which promote long-term value for shareholders 2 To seek to understand and meet shareholder needs and expectations The Board meets annually to review and approve the strategy for the Group. The strategic plan and business model are reviewed by the Executive Leadership Team on an ongoing basis with relevant operational and management updates being reported to demonstrate delivery and progress. Decisions of the Board are made in line with the strategic plan and business model for the Group. Further details of the Group’s strategy can be found in the Strategic Report The Directors are committed to open communication with the Group’s shareholders to ensure that they clearly understand its business, strategy and performance. The Board actively seeks dialogue with its shareholders via investor roadshows, one-to-one meetings and regular reporting. The Board believes that open communication with investors and analysts is the best way to ensure it understands what is expected of the Group in order to allow it to drive its business forward. The Company has an established programme of engaging openly with shareholders. Communications with shareholders are via its website, the publication of the Annual Report and the Interim Statement, trading and other announcements made on RNS and at the Annual General Meeting where the Board encourages investors to participate. The Company’s website contains information on the Company’s business, corporate information and specific disclosures required under AIM Rules for Companies and the QCA Code. Following the announcement of the Company’s full year and half year results the Company makes presentations to institutional shareholders, private client brokers and investment analysts. Periodic meetings are held with existing and prospective institutional and other investors. Formal feedback from shareholder meetings is provided by the Company’s broker and discussion of this feedback is an item on the Board’s agenda. 2727 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 QCA Principle Explanation 3 To take into account wider stakeholder and social responsibilities and their implications for long-term success 4 To embed effective risk management, considering both opportunities and threats, throughout the organisation The Board values the opinions of key stakeholders in the business and regularly seeks to ensure that the views of its employees, suppliers, customers and partners are known and where relevant to the success of our business they are acted upon. The Company recognises its responsibility to promote its success for the benefit of its stakeholders and understands that the business has a responsibility towards its shareholders, employees, partners, customers, suppliers and to the local community. The Board is also conscious that the tone and culture that it sets will impact all aspects of the Company and the way employees behave and operate. The importance of sound ethical values and behaviours is crucial to the ability of the Company to successfully achieve its corporate objectives whilst, in particular, meeting the demands of a sophisticated customer base. The Company has close on-going relationships with a broad range of its stakeholders; monitors feedback from them and uses this to develop future policy. The Board is responsible for overseeing management’s activities in identifying, evaluating and managing the risks facing the Group and records them on the Group risk register. The Board is responsible for the Company’s system of internal controls and for reviewing its effectiveness. The system is designed to manage, rather than eliminate, the risk of failure to achieve the execution of the Company’s strategic objectives and business model. The Board monitors financial controls through the setting and approval of an annual budget and the regular review of management accounts. Management accounts contain a number of indicators that are designed to reduce the possibility of misstatement in the financial statements. The Board reviews the effectiveness of these systems. This is achieved primarily by a comprehensive review of risks which cover both financial and non-financial issues potentially affecting the Group and from discussions with the external auditor. Details of these risks, and their management, are contained in the Strategic Report. The Board is not aware, to the best of its knowledge, of any significant failings or weaknesses in the system of internal control. The Board has established an internal audit function to provide an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the operations of the Group. Where the management of operational risk requires outside advice, this is sought from expert parties, and the Company has put measures in place to protect itself against supplier failure including insurance and contingent stock. Further details of our risk management, risks and internal; controls can be found in the Strategic Risk section of the Strategic Report. 2828 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 QCA Principle Explanation 5 To maintain the Board as a well-functioning, balanced team led by the Chair 6 To ensure that between them the Directors have the necessary up- to- date experience, skills and capabilities The Board keeps under review its current balance and composition in order to ensure that it has a sufficiently wide range of skills and experience to enable it to pursue its strategic goals and address anticipated issues in the foreseeable future. The Board is supported by the Audit, Remuneration and Nomination Committees. The purpose of the Board is to ensure that the business is managed for the long-term benefit of all shareholders, whilst at the same time having regard for employees, customers, suppliers and our impact on the environment and the communities in which the Group operates. The full Board is responsible and accountable to the shareholders for the management and success of the Group and to provide effective controls to assess and manage risks in the Group. There is a formal schedule of matters specifically reserved for the Board that includes matters relating to strategy & management; structure & capital; financial reporting & controls; internal controls; contracts; communications; board membership and other appointments; delegation of authorities and corporate governance. The Company has three non-executive Directors, each considered to be independent by the Board. The Board meets on a minimum of 6 occasions with board meetings spread across each year which tie in as far as possible with the Group’s financial reporting and trading calendars. The Board has an audit committee, a remuneration committee and a nomination committee each with delegated duties and responsibilities. Further details of the role of the board and the committees and how they operate can be found in the Chairman’s introduction to governance and the Board Committee reports that follow this section. The Nomination Committee reviews at least annually the balance and composition of the Board and its Committees to ensure the skill and experience needed for successful operation are in place. Update training is undertaken periodically and a comprehensive training course covering corporate governance and related matters was attended by all Directors and senior managers during the Summer of 2020. The skills and experience of the Board are set out in their biographical details included within this corporate governance report and the Company’s website and are considered by the Board as representing an appropriate range of capabilities needed to deliver the strategy of the Company for the benefit of its shareholders over the medium to long term. The experience and knowledge of each of the Directors gives them the ability to constructively challenge strategy and to scrutinise performance. The Company Secretary is assisted by an external professional company secretarial services provider. 2929 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 QCA Principle Explanation 7 To evaluate Board performance based on clear and relevant objectives, seeking continuous improvement 8 To promote a culture that is based on ethical values and behaviours The Chairman evaluates the performance of the Board through a combination of questionnaires and one-to-one meetings with each Director. This process offers Directors an opportunity to discuss their contribution in terms of their skills and experience as well as identifying improvements or development to enhance the capabilities of the Board as a whole. Further details of the board performance review undertaken in the year are set out in this corporate governance report. Succession planning is recognised as a material topic for the Company and is the responsibility of the Nomination Committee that makes recommendations to the Board concerning Board appointments. The Board aims to lead by example and make decisions that are in the best interests of the Group and its stakeholders as a whole. Our culture is underpinned by a clear set of values, which guide decision making at all levels in the business. The Board reviews and approves the Group’s policies which are then implemented and communicated internally and externally to those who are expected to adhere to them. The Board recognises that its decisions will impact the corporate culture of the Group as a whole and that this will affect the performance of the business. The Board is also very conscious that the tone and culture that it sets will greatly impact all aspects of the Group and the way employees behave and operate. The importance of sound ethical values and behaviours is crucial to the ability of the Group to successfully achieve its corporate objectives whilst, in particular, meeting the exacting demands of a sophisticated customer base. The Company’s ethical approach to business is reflected in the way the Company has been able to develop long term and fruitful relationships with its clients. The Company seeks to ensure that responsible business practice is fully integrated into the management of all its operations and into the culture of all parts of its business. It believes that the consistent adoption of responsible business practice is essential for operational excellence, which in turn is expected to ensure the delivery of its core objectives of sustained real growth in future profitability. 3030 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 QCA Principle Explanation 9 To maintain governance structures and processes that are fit for purpose and support good decision-making by the Board 10 To communicate how the Company is governed and is performing by maintaining a dialogue with shareholders and other relevant stakeholders The Board, led by the Audit Committee, undertook a review of its governance and framework to ensure that the Group’s governance structures remain appropriate and are fit for purpose. This framework sets out leadership and embeds delegated responsibilities to enable informed and confident decision-making. The Company maintains appropriate governance structures and processes according to its size and complexity. There is a clear division of responsibility between the Non-Executive Chairman and the Chief Executive. The Chairman is responsible for running the business of the board and for ensuring appropriate strategic focus and direction. The Chief Executive is responsible for proposing the strategic focus to the Board, implementing it once it has been approved and overseeing the management of the Group. The role of the Independent Non-Executive Directors includes questioning and challenging the Executive Director and assisting where possible in developing strategic proposals, reviewing and commenting on the integrity of the Company’s financial reporting systems and the information they provide; recommending appropriate standards of corporate governance; reviewing internal control systems; ensuring that risk management systems are robust and reviewing corporate performance and ensuring that performance is reported to shareholders. Compliance with the QCA Code and corporate governance requirements generally are reviewed on an on-going basis by the Board as well as part of the annual Board Effectiveness review process. The Board ensures that all stakeholders across the business are actively engaged through the relevant areas of responsibility. This includes making sure that the business as a whole upholds its values and monitors behaviour for acceptability. The Company recognises that meaningful engagement with its shareholders is integral to the continued success of the Group and the Company has actively engaged with shareholders through meetings, presentations and roadshows. The Board believes that the Annual Report and the Interim Report published at the half-year, play an important part in presenting all shareholders with an assessment of the Company’s position and prospects. All RNS press releases are published on the Company’s website. The Annual General Meeting is an opportunity for shareholders to meet and discuss the Company’s business with the Directors. The Board is supported by the audit, remuneration and nomination committees, each of which has access to information, resources and advice that it deems necessary, at the Company’s cost, to enable the committees to discharge their duties. 3131 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Leadership and the Board The Role of the Board The Board comprises two Executive Directors and three independent Non-Executive Directors (including the Chairman). The Board is responsible for providing effective leadership to promote the long term success of the Company. There is a formal list of matters reserved for the Board, that may only be amended by the Board. The key responsibilities of the Board include: • • setting the Company’s vision and strategy; ensuring the necessary financial and human resources are in place to support implementation of the strategy; • maintaining the policy and decision-making process through which the strategy is implemented; • providing entrepreneurial leadership within a framework of good governance and risk management; • monitoring performance against key financial and non-financial indicators; • • responsibility for risk management and systems of internal control; and setting values and standards in corporate governance matters. Division of Responsibilities The responsibilities of both the Chairman and CEO are clearly defined and understood: The Non-Executive Chairman, Andrew Jones, has primary responsibility for leading the Board, facilitating the effective contribution of all members and ensuring that it operates effectively in the interests of the shareholders. In addition, he maintains a strong focus on governance to ensure good practice is embedded in the day to day operations with good flows in communication and reporting. He maintains a regular dialogue with the CEO to ensure the business receives the support from the Board necessary to progress the strategy. The Chairman also meets with the Non- executive Directors on their own together at several times a • 3232 year. Shareholders have an opportunity to engage with the Chairman and the Board at the Company’s AGM. • The Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Marc Loomes, is responsible for the day-to-day running of the business which includes implementation of the strategy. He is supported by an Executive Leadership Team (ELT) who have management responsibility for the business operations and support functions. Relevant matters are reported to the Board by the CEO and, as appropriate, the Finance Director and other ELT members. The role of the independent Non-Executive Directors is to: • • • • • • provide oversight and scrutiny of the performance of the Executive Directors; constructively challenge to help develop and execute on the agreed strategy; satisfy themselves as to the integrity of the financial reporting systems and the information they provide; satisfy themselves as to the robustness of the internal controls; ensure that the systems of risk management are robust and defensible; and review corporate performance and the reporting of performance to shareholders. Board Committees The Board has delegated and empowered three Committees: an Audit Committee, a Remuneration Committee, and a Nomination Committee. Each Committee has written terms of reference set by the Board, which are reviewed annually and are available on the Company’s website. Membership of each Committee is determined by the Board on the recommendation of the Nomination Committee. Each Committee Chair reports to the Board on the activities considered and determined by the relevant Committee. A summary of the Committees’ responsibilities and their work during the year can be found in the reports from the Committees appearing later in this section. Board Activities The Board held six scheduled meetings during the year at which it considered all matters of a routine nature, structured through clear agenda setting, written reports and presentations from both internal members of staff as well as external advisors and consultants. In addition, there were eight ad-hoc meetings of the Board to deal with non-routine business and three administrative board meetings to approve the issue of shares relating to options. Board Support, Meeting Management and Attendance The Board and its Committees meet regularly on scheduled dates. In leading and controlling the Company, the Directors are expected to attend all meetings and their attendance for the financial year 2020-21 is shown in the Corporate Governance section of this report, immediately before the Compliance with the Principles of the QCA Code. The Company Secretary plays a vital role in ensuring good governance, assisting the Chairman. Procedures are in place for distributing meeting agendas and reports so that they are received in good time, with the appropriate information. Ahead of each Board meeting, the Directors each receive reports which include updates on strategy, finance, including management accounts, operations, commercial activities, business development, risk management, legal and regulatory, people and infrastructure and on investor relations. The Directors may have access to independent professional advice, where needed, at the Company’s expense. Board Effectiveness The Board conducts an assessment of effectiveness each year through a questionnaire in a process led by the Chairman. The questionnaire provides Directors with the opportunity to express their views on a variety of topics including: board leadership, effectiveness and accountability. The detailed findings of the evaluation are reviewed and actions generated. In addition, the Chairman has regular one-to-one meetings with Directors. A Board performance review was held in the financial year led by the Chairman where it was determined that CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 the Board, its Committees and individual directors were felt to be working well with recommendations being made in relation to how the Board’s agenda could be evolved and the increased involvement of Executive Leadership Team members in Board matters. In compliance with the QCA Code, succession planning was considered as part of the board effectiveness process. The Board plans to appoint further non-executive directors as the business grows; appointments will be made based on required expertise to match the needs of the business while bearing in mind the need to introduce diversity into the Board composition. Strategic Resources The ELT includes representation from a wide range of disciplines, each leader identifies and manages the key resources and relationships in their respective areas. Ethical Behaviours The Board ensures ethical values and behaviours are recognised and respected, promoting a strong culture of supporting our core values. These values are incorporated into our various codes which are made available on the Company Intranet and which the Board regularly reviews and updates. These codes include Employee code of conduct, human resources policies, Anti Bribery and Corruption, Modern Slavery policy, Health and Safety policies and Social Media policies. Board Induction, Training and Development When appointed, new Directors are provided with a full and tailored induction in order to introduce them to the business and management of the Group. Throughout their tenure, Directors are given access to the Group’s operations and staff, and receive updates on relevant issues as appropriate, taking into account their individual qualifications and experience. This allows the Directors to function effectively with appropriate knowledge of the Group. The Board is satisfied that each Director has sufficient time to devote to discharging his responsibilities as a Director of the Company. Re-election of Directors All directors are put forward for re-election on a three-year rotational basis as set out in the articles of association of the Company. recognised in order to accurately reflect the views of shareholders. Shareholders are also encouraged to submit votes electronically by sending completed and signed proxy forms by email to voting@shareregistrars.uk.com The composition of the board of the directors in relation to diversity is set out in the Nomination Committee Report. Stakeholder Engagement The Board and its Committees recognise their responsibilities to shareholders and other stakeholders. The Company communicates with shareholders through the Annual Report and Accounts, regulatory announcements, the AGM as well as meetings with existing or potential new shareholders. Annual reports as well as other regulatory announcements and related information are all available on the Company’s website. The Company’s brokers also publish research from time to time. A list of the Company’s significant shareholders can be found in the Directors’ Report and in the investor section of the Company’s website which is updated following formal notifications of movements to the Company. The Company maintains regular communication and dialogue with other stakeholders such as employees, customers, suppliers and regulators to understand their needs and concerns and factors these requirements into its decisions and activities. Annual General Meeting (‘AGM’) This year’s AGM will take place on Thursday 16 September 2021 at 2.00pm, at The Grange, 100 High Street, London, N14 6BN. In order to ensure that your votes are cast in accordance with your wishes, you are strongly encouraged to appoint the Chairman of the meeting as your proxy given that public health considerations in relation to Covid-19 may mean that attendance at the meeting in person is not possible. In addition, the Chairman of the meeting will direct that voting on all resolutions will take place by way of a poll, rather than a show of hands, to ensure that proxy votes are Voting Outcomes The Company held its Annual General Meeting on 4 March 2021 following the financial year ended 31 March 2020. Additionally, on 4 March 2021 the Company held a General Meeting. All resolutions proposed to the meetings were duly passed on a poll. There were no significant objections. Internal controls There is a clearly defined delegation of authority from the Board to the Executive Leadership Team, with appropriate reporting lines to individual Executive Directors. There are procedures for the authorisation of Research and Development, capital expenditure and other investments. Board review of progress in these investment initiatives, together with “milestone” achievement assessment is a regular feature of the Board agenda. Internal controls are in place which are intended to provide reasonable assurance of the custodianship of assets, the recognition and measurement of liabilities, the maintenance of proper accounting records and the reliability of financial information used within the business. The Group finance team manages the financial reporting process to ensure that there is appropriate control and review of the financial information including the production of timely financial information for Board meetings as well as for annual and half-yearly financial reporting responsibilities. Group Finance is supported by the operational finance team throughout the Group, who have responsibility and accountability for providing information in compliance with the policies, procedures and internal best practices. The Company has in place a suite of codes and policies to promote good governance principles and ensure strong internal control processes throughout the Company. These include an overall code of conduct, and policies on anti- bribery and corruption, fraud, modern 3333 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Group actively engages with its stakeholders, to ensure we take account of and respond to their interests. continue to be exploited further helping with the Group’s carbon footprint. Further details are contained in the Sustainability Report. Going concern After making appropriate enquiries, the Directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, formed a judgement that there is a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. This conclusion is based on a review of the resources available to the Group, taking account of the Group’s financial projections together with available cash and a committed borrowing facility. In reaching this conclusion, the Board has considered the magnitude of potential impacts resulting from uncertain future events or changes in conditions, the likelihood of their occurrence and the likely effectiveness of mitigating actions that the Directors would consider undertaking. As set out in the Corporate Governance report, the Directors have met on several occasions during the year ended 31 March 2021. Discussion topics at each meeting included the Group’s response to the COVID-19 global pandemic, Research and Development, health, safety and environment, investor feedback, staff welfare concerns, customer and supplier feedback, capital investment and impact of Brexit. The directors do not consider Brexit to be a principal risk to the business. The activities of the Company have been described further in the various reports from the Chairman, Chief Executive and Committee Chairs. In each case employee impact, supplier and customer benefit and shareholder interests have weighed upon decisions made. Shareholder engagement this year has been more frequent than in past years. The top 10 investors represent 66.08% of the Company shares and investor meetings, investor calls together with regular trading updates throughout the year assisted with communication. Both of the Company’s stockbrokers provide feedback from shareholders and this feedback is discussed at the subsequent Board meeting. The Group employed an average of 207 people during the financial year ended 31 March 2021 (2020 – 204). All company announcements were simultaneously circulated to all members of staff. Communications of note during the year included the arrangements for remote and safe working during the Coronavirus pandemic, key new product announcements, new members of staff and retirements, new procedures and governance processes. In addition, all members of staff were invited to technical webinars, product launch discussions and presentations. The Group is considering other ways to reduce its environmental impact; the Group’s business model (largely outsourced manufacturing and research) is low impact. The Group has successfully traded through the “lockdown” period, utilising to a much greater extent electronic communications and these tools will slavery, share dealing in ECO securities, the use of social media and business travel arrangements. These policies are communicated directly to all members of staff by email, are re-enforced through periodic training and are available on the Group’s intranet site. Although the Board itself retains the ultimate power and authority in relation to decision making, the Audit Committee meets at least twice a year with external auditors to review specific accounting, reporting and financial control matters. The Committee also reviews the interim and final accounts and has primary responsibility for making a recommendation on the appointment, reappointment and removal of external auditors. The Board has established an internal audit function to provide an independent, objective assurance and consulting activity designed to add value and improve the operations of the Group. Activities of the internal audit function in the financial year are detailed further in the Audit Committee Report. Section 172 Statement Under s172 of the Companies Act 2006, Company Directors have a duty to act in good faith that is likely to promote the success of the Company. This duty is for the benefit of the members as a whole, having regard to the likely consequences of decisions for the long-term. In addition, the Directors’ duty must have regard to: a. The interests of the Company’s employees b. The need to foster the company’s business relationships with suppliers, customers and others c. The impact of the company’s operations on the community and the environment d. The desirability of the company maintaining a reputation for high standards of business conduct, and e. The need to act fairly as between members of the company. 3434 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 SUSTAINABILITY REPORT Our purpose is to develop, register and supply high quality veterinary medicines and vaccines to improve the health and welfare of pigs and poultry providing sustainable livelihoods to producers. We are committed to sustainability as an integral component of the ECO Group’s commitment to acting with the highest standards in its business dealings. Core to our conduct is a set of ethical principles designed to: 1. respect, protect and keep safe members of staff, customers, suppliers, collaborators, stakeholders and shareholders, 2. protect the environment and 3. enhance the reputation of the Group in its chosen field of business, animal health. These principles ensure that we provide a safe and fulfilling work environment, create a business with whom other like-minded businesses will wish to collaborate, make a positive contribution to the communities in which we work, and enhance shareholder value. This Sustainability Report is divided into the three key areas of Social, Environment and Business Governance. Details of ECO’s approach to corporate governance is set out in the Corporate Governance Report. Social We maintain regular communication and dialogue with our stakeholders such as employees, customers, shareholders, suppliers and regulators to understand their needs and concerns and factor these requirements into our decisions and activities. Our People ECO is a global company with a diverse and inclusive workforce and employs local teams to work with local people rather than head- office staff working abroad on assignment. The Company follows the UK and relevant local laws to ensure fair employment practices and complies with national legal requirements regarding pay, working hours and annual leave for our employees who are highly skilled individuals with specific training, expertise and experience. ECO invests in healthy and safe workplaces and our employee policies which protect our staff include the Employee Privacy Notice, GDPR Policy, Equal Opportunities Notice and Statement, Antiharassment and Bullying Policy, Flexible Working Policy, Business Travel, Health and Safety Policy Statement, Lone Working Policy, Parental Leave Policy and Display Screen Equipment Use Guidelines. Further policies provide guidance for ethical work practices and include the Employee Code of Conduct, Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy, Whistleblowing Policy, Fraud Policy and the Company’s Modern Slavery Act Statement. To ensure engagement with the wider business, all ECO staff are notified and provided full information by the CEO when interim and full year Annual Reports are published and new regulatory approvals are achieved as well as by the Executive Leadership Team or CEO when new starters join the company. Over the past year with COVID-19 forcing the closure of the UK Head Office, ECO has supported staff in working from home. In preparation for reopening in line with UK government recommendations, a detailed COVID-19 risk assessment has been carried out and steps put in place to create a safe and secure work environment with consideration paid to hygiene and social distancing to protect both staff and the wider community. Staff who have been self-isolating will have their needs considered before returning to the office. Only business travel deemed essential will take place. Our Community Shareholders: ECO communicates regularly with shareholders through the Annual Report and Accounts, Interim Statements, regulatory announcements, the AGM and other meetings. Annual Reports, regulatory announcements and related information are available to all stakeholders on the ECO Animal Health Group plc website. Business Partners - Veterinary Surgeons, Producers and Distributors: We recognise that our product and customer offerings to veterinary surgeons and producers must be of consistently high quality. We offer educational opportunities and programmes to veterinary surgeons and large pig and poultry producers. The topics are those which support a wider animal health and welfare agenda such as prevention and management of disease, biosecurity, Antimicrobial Resistance (“AMR”) and industry updates as well as how our products fit with these themes using globally recognised experts and ECO staff with specialist knowledge. Many of these training sessions are hands-on, practical and delivered locally and include subjects such as poultry hatchery audits and respiratory lung lesion scoring workshops, for example, the initiative between ECO and an Indian Veterinary College and Research Centre which allowed for information sharing on mycoplasma isolation and drug sensitivity testing. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we carried out virtual meetings and events to ensure that these value-added services could continue safely. ECO’s third party distributors are an integral part of our success. We have close relationships and offer technical and marketing support, training and educational customer events. In line with our values, our distributors must comply with local pharmaceutical laws and sector industry regulations including but not limited to those around bribery and corruption and pharmacovigilance. The Wider Community: ECO, like all businesses, has a responsibility to the wider communities in which we operate. Healthy pigs, poultry and laying hens make significant contributions to the protein volumes that feed the world. In addition to the negative welfare consequences, diseased animals, whether clinical or subclinical, grow more slowly, consume more feed and water, need more accommodation and space and require more treatments if not administered the most appropriate medication from the start than do healthy animals. 3535 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 ECO manufactures and sells a novel antimicrobial containing the active product ingredient (API) tylvalosin under the registered trademarks Aivlosin® and Valosin®. We do not support or promote increased use of antibiotics but focus instead on awareness that if a macrolide antibiotic is the best treatment option (based on diagnostics and veterinary surgeon experience) then Aivlosin® is likely to be an ideal choice requiring a low milligram of medication per kilogram bodyweight use over a treatment course because of its low effective therapeutic dose and short treatment duration and having a very short drug withdrawal period. Aivlosin® is available only by veterinary prescription and is not licensed for use in human medicine. It is licensed for the treatment and metaphylaxis (disease control) of economically important diseases in pigs and poultry following strict regulatory procedures insisted upon by regional and local authorities. The Company’s response to the globally important issue of AMR especially in the areas of Stewardship, Marketing and Distribution, Research and Development (R&D) and Manufacturing and Production are laid out in detail in an ‘ECO Animal Health Position Paper - Approach to AMR’ which is available on request. ECO is a member of the National Office of Animal Health (“NOAH”), in turn a National Association Member of Animal Health Europe and Health for Animals, and an active member of the Livestock One Health Subcommittee which includes AMR in its remit. We are aware of the vital importance of antimicrobials to both human and veterinary medicine and of the recommendations and classifications within the World Health Organisation, World Organisation for Animal Health and the European Medicines Agency antibiotic lists. ENVIRONMENT We take our responsibility towards the environment seriously and are working towards further means of reducing our impact. excessive lights or heating/cooling equipment, to use water resources appropriately and to switch off any electronic equipment which is not in use. The main company UK office in Southgate was recently refurbished and the changes made have helped to reduce the Company’s energy footprint. During the COVID-19 lockdowns when business travel was not possible and staff were homeworking, the Company energy footprint was lowered even further and could pave the way for exploring new ways of working to continue this trend. ECO’s manufacturing and research functions are mainly outsourced which reduces our direct impact. This requires us to put in place measures to ensure the companies with which we work take their responsibilities as seriously as we do. The Company’s tylvalosin API manufacturer in China has developed an industry-leading wastewater treatment system that meets and exceeds local regulatory requirements and is now marketing the system to other producers who also wish to reduce their environmental impact on watercourses. Chinese legislation requires biomass remaining at the end of API manufacture to be steam-dried and then incinerated using significant amounts of natural energy. ECO has facilitated the introduction of new technology to the site in the form of thermophilic anaerobic digestion, which should enable the biomass to be broken down at high temperature into a digestate suitable for use as a land fertiliser free from antibiotics and pathogens, for example, the African Swine Fever (“ASF”) virus. The by- product of the biomass breakdown is methane which is used to heat the process with the excess being converted into electricity and heat which is fed back into the main manufacturing site. The establishment of minimum order quantities for shipments of finished goods has helped to reduce the amount of packaging and energy used for land, water and air transportation. BUSINESS GOVERNANCE We aim to keep use of consumables to a minimum by promoting the effective and efficient usage of equipment, facilities, supplies and services. We encourage all staff to reduce wastage, not to print unnecessarily, to turn off ECO strives to provide best in class, scientifically proven, ethical solutions to optimise the health, productivity and wellbeing of pigs and poultry. We aim to do this sustainably, working in partnership with animal health professionals and livestock producers bringing value to all by improving animal husbandry around the world. Our flagship product Aivlosin® is marketed and distributed by ECO in more than 70 countries around the world. Promotion and communications with distributors, subsidiaries and customers highlight the need for diagnosing infection before treatment, using preventative methods such as management and vaccines to reduce the risk of animals becoming sick and using antimicrobials responsibly when they are needed. With the end-user in mind, the ECO R&D pipeline is focused on preventative vaccines and biologicals along with further claims and variations for Aivlosin®. In this way, we will contribute to making available a wider range of options for veterinary surgeons, pig and poultry producers and their animals in the future. Product Development: ECO develops medicines and vaccines to improve the health and welfare of pigs and poultry. The scientific studies required to obtain marketing authorisations are determined by the regulatory authorities and supported by published literature and laboratory testing where possible. Protocols for trials placed at Universities and Contract Research Organisations are reviewed by animal welfare committees focused on the health of animals. All stakeholders subscribe to the application of the principles of reduce, refine and replace for animal testing. Manufacturing: ECO complies with all the requirements of operating within the highly regulated pharmaceutical industry. The ECO contract manufacturers are under the direct control of ECO with contractual obligations and operate in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) guidelines. For example, we work with an exclusive API contract manufacturer in the production of tylvalosin. This manufacturing plant is registered with the US Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”) standards and by many other national authorities. It has passed routine inspections every two to three years since first being FDA-registered in 2009. ECO performs 3636 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Product Promotion: We are members of our industry professional body NOAH and comply with their Code of Practice. Product information provided to our customers is aligned to the Summary of Product Characteristics (“SPCs”) and is factual, fair and not designed to mislead. All customer materials including brochures, posters and publications go through an internal review process involving technical and regulatory review with final sign-off by the CEO. Dr Andrew Jones Chairman 25 July 2021 manufacturing plant audits and inspections at a minimum of every three years either directly or via an independent, qualified third-party. UK-based ECO manufacturing personnel visit the plant twice per year and while in the plant make observations in line with the ECO Animal Health Group Plc Modern Day Slavery Statement. During this last year COVID-19 has resulted in these visits being virtual but physical inspections will recommence as soon as travel allows. All batches of API are subject to third-party independent Quality Control laboratory testing when entering countries for manufacture into final Aivlosin® product. Pharmacovigilance: ECO takes pharmacovigilance (“PV”) responsibilities very seriously. Annual training is compulsory and provided to all staff to ensure that ECO continues to meet its obligations in this very important area of pharmaceutical industry compliance. We work with a dedicated PV consultant, have an internal Qualified Person Responsible for Pharmacovigilance (“QPPV”) and a Deputy QPPV and seek to improve our processes continuously. Any suspected adverse event reports are rigorously investigated to determine the causality and reported to the relevant competent authority. Technical Support: ECO’s technical teams have significant knowledge of the Company’s targeted species and disease areas, and how our products work. They answer distributor and customer queries and provide individualised training during on-farm and virtual meetings. Our technical services teams support veterinary surgeons and their producers in demonstration trials and best practice product usage. They work with a network of Key Opinion Leaders across the globe who support ECO and our customers with the most up-to-date information and research findings. ECO employs many veterinary surgeons across all areas of the business, contributing further to the high standards of understanding and communication around our products and relevant disease areas. 3737 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 AUDIT COMMITTEE REPORT Dear Shareholder The Committee may, if it requires, call for information from the Executive Management Team and consult with the external and internal advisers and auditors directly. The Audit Committee comprises Tony Rawlinson (Chairman), Dr Andrew Jones and Dr Frank Armstrong. Committee Report All Committee members are considered by the board to be independent directors of the Company and to have appropriate skills and expertise to enable them to carry out their role effectively. The Committee meets at least twice a year linked to the timing of the Company’s half year and full year results and also meets on an ad hoc basis. During the financial year under review the committee held four formal meetings, supplemented by a regular series of ad-hoc meetings that monitored the preparation of the Company’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ended 31 March 2020 which was published in February 2021, and a number of other ad hoc meetings and other communications. Terms of reference of the Audit Committee The terms of reference of the Committee are set out on the Company’s website. The Committee operates within terms of reference approved by the board, including: considering the appointment of external auditors; reviewing the relationship with external auditors; reviewing the financial reporting and internal control procedures; reviewing the management of financial matters and focusing upon the independence and objectivity of the external auditors; reviewing the consistency of accounting policies both on a year to year basis and across the Group; and internal audit remit and activities. • • • • • • 3838 On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to present the 2021 Audit Committee Report. The Committee has had a particularly busy year on a number of fronts. Internal Audit (“IA”) IA proved to be a highly beneficial addition in 2020 and much good work has been and remains to be done. An IA plan for the year was agreed by the board in March. Key reporting areas include a review of controls over banking and cash management and the integrity of overseas financial information. IA will also be looking at key risk identification and assessment and the maintaining of risk registers. Internal Controls The Finance Team continues the ongoing process updating and documenting our system of internal controls. Key controls are under review to ensure their effectiveness by IA and this process will continue as part of a rolling work programme with reports provided to the Audit Committee. FY2021 Accounts and Audit The Audit Committee has been working closely with the Company’s auditors, BDO to ensure the smooth progress of the FY2021 audit and that no significant issues arose in their preparation and the publication date was in broadly line with timetable. In relation to the accounts the committee has focused on and is satisfied with regard to the following matters: • • that key judgements made in preparing the annual accounts are appropriate; that significant accounting policies have been correctly applied; • • that the going concern statement has been made after due and careful consideration; and that the annual report has been fairly presented and is balanced and understandable. The Committee also carried out a review of the effectiveness of the Company’s auditor, BDO, following which we are pleased to be recommending their reappointment at this year’s AGM. Following the very thorough audit for 2020, the foundations were laid for a streamlined audit process and this has proved to be the case. I am pleased to report that the 2021 auditor’s report did not contain any limitations of scope relating to the 31 March 2021 balance sheet, although, as required, there is a repeat of the qualification relating to non-attendance at stock counts in respect of the comparative figures for 2020. This March (2021), COVID did not prevent the auditors from attending stocktakes in key locations as in 2020. There were some locations where this was not possible, but audit comfort was obtained by adopting alternative procedures to ensure the accuracy of stockholdings. In last year’s report, the auditor’s report contained a limitation of scope qualification in respect of Intangible Assets mainly due to the Company not retaining audit evidence of some costs incurred many years ago to support the intangibles balance, such records not being required to be retained by the Company. In preparing the 2021 Accounts, a decision was made to fully expense the value of such older items as prior period adjustments at 31 March 2019 and for the year ended 31 March 2020, as a result of which an audit of the remaining balance was possible this year. Audit costs The cost of the audit for 2021 was in line with estimate. Last year’s audit fee was substantially higher due to the high volume of work done and the protracted timetable. CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Finance Team Remuneration Committee Report The Finance Team has continued to grow and evolve. During the financial year ended 31 March 2021 a total of 4 new personnel were hired, including key posts such as Group Financial Controller and Accounts Payable Supervisor (UK). Since then a new UK Financial Controller joined the team in April 2021 and additional recruitment is in train for the posts of R&D Projects Accountant and Inventory Controller (UK). The near term objective is to have in place a team that provides high quality support to the operational management of the Group. Corporate Governance Following the review of all corporate governance documents and procedures last year these have been kept under review. We are grateful to Chris Wilks and his Finance Team for their hard work and expertise through a very demanding audit. We also thank the BDO audit team and our external advisers for their advice and assistance. Tony Rawlinson Audit Committee Chairman 25 July 2021 The Remuneration Committee comprises Dr Frank Armstrong (Chairman), Dr Andrew Jones and Mr Tony Rawlinson. During the year until 31 March 2021 the Remuneration Committee chairman was Mr Rawlinson. From 1 April 2021 to date Dr Armstrong has chaired the Remuneration Committee. Role of the Remuneration Committee On behalf of the Board and Shareholders, the Remuneration Committee reviews and determines the pay, benefits and other terms of service of the Company’s Executive Directors (CEO and Finance Director (“FD”)) and the Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”). The Committee also keeps under review the broad compensation strategy with respect to all other Company employees. The terms of reference of the Committee are set out on the Company’s website. Strategic alignment and Remuneration Policy The Remuneration Committee’s aim, as in previous years, is that the rewards that can be earned provide a competitive level of incentive and are appropriate for a Company of comparable size and complexity at each level of performance. To this end, the Committee considers appropriate goals from time to time which it believes will best ensure delivery of the Company’s short and long term objectives and ensure alignment with stakeholder interests. The Remuneration Committee also seeks to comply with recommended best practice in respect of shareholder dilution limits, both point in time dilution regarding unvested and unexercised share incentives and a cumulative rolling 10 year dilution limit. In both cases the recommended limits are 10% of issued share capital. The Company had exceeded the rolling 10 year limit of 10% in the past and therefore the Remuneration Committee consulted extensively and took professional advice to devise new arrangements. The revised remuneration structure developed during the year and explained further below was approved at a General Meeting of the Company held on the 4 March 2021 where shareholders approved the adoption of a new Annual Bonus Plan (including a deferred element) and a new Long Term Incentive Plan (“LTIP”). An amendment was also made to the existing 2011 Unapproved Staff Share Option Scheme, allowing awards to be settled in cash or in the issue of new shares. These new plans became effective from 1 April 2021. Notwithstanding the date from which these new plans applied, the Remuneration Committee adopted the deferred bonus arrangements in respect of bonuses awarded to the Executive Directors for the year ended 31 March 2021. Remuneration in practice The basic structure of remuneration comprises a basic salary, Annual Bonus Plan (where appropriate) and (also where appropriate) a share based incentive and a pension plan. Prior to 31 March 2021 all share based incentives were market priced share options. From 1 April 2021, the share based incentive arrangements for the Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”) and Executive Directors comprises awards from the new LTIP and to staff of market priced share options from the Company’s established Share Option Scheme. Executive directors, the ELT and staff also benefit from private medical and permanent health insurance. In addition, all Executive Directors are covered under the Company’s life assurance policy. The Group makes contributions to defined contribution pension schemes for the benefit of staff, executive directors and the ELT. The assets 3939 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 of the scheme are held separately from the Group and are independently administered by insurance companies. The Group also operates a legacy defined benefit scheme in the UK. Further information on these pension arrangements is set out in note 23 to these accounts. Remuneration during the year ended 31 March 2021 The financial year ended 31 March 2021 was unique, operating in a global pandemic and running the business remotely in a challenging environment. financial year against the criteria of the Annual Bonus Scheme that comprised a 30% element of basic salary from performance against personal goals and a 70% element of basic salary from financial performance of the Company. The Executives’ personal goals were set before the Covid-19 pandemic impacted the Company and, as a consequence of the pandemic, were not possible to deliver in their entirety. The performance of the Executives in leading the company through the pandemic however was considered as a special factor in assessing personal performance. The Remuneration Committee considered the performance of the Executive Directors in the In the financial year the Company outperformed against its financial goals despite the COVID pandemic and this was reflected by the Directors’ remuneration The aggregate remuneration payable to the Directors in respect of the period was as follows: Remuneration Committee in the Executive’s bonus award. The Remuneration Committee also noted however that the Company was late in publishing its audited final results for the year ended 31 March 2020, leading to a temporary suspension of trading of the Company’s shares on AIM. The Remuneration Committee determined it was appropriate to reduce the Executives bonus awards to reflect this issue. The CEO’s bonus award amounts to 75% of basic salary and the Finance Director’s bonus award is 65%. No share incentive awards were made during the financial year ended 31 March 2021. Salary or Fees Other Pension Bonus Total Remuneration Share Based Payments Total 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s M. Loomes C. Wilks A. Jones A. Rawlinson F. Armstrong J. Trouse K. Stockdale B. Clemo R. Wood 306 236 75 60 41 294 129 69 50 38 33 99 46 4 1 10 23 10 13 1 2 3 1 1 5 1 220 148 40 50 540 409 75 60 41 0 0 0 0 347 193 69 50 0 40 40 100 46 1 38 9 9 14 541 409 75 60 41 0 0 0 0 385 193 69 50 0 49 49 114 46 As noted above, the Remuneration Committee determined that the deferral arrangements of a portion of the Executive Directors’ bonuses in accordance with the new Annual Bonus Plan should be adopted and applied to the bonuses awarded in respect of the year ended 31 March 2021. Accordingly, one third of the bonus amounts set out above in respect of M. Loomes and C. Wilks for 2021 will be settled in shares, subject to three year vesting conditions and malus and claw-back provisions. Directors’ interests Details of share options held by Directors as at 31 March 2021 and 2020 are set out below: M D Loomes Option Price (pence per share) 31-Mar-21 31-Mar-20 545.0 435.0 312.5 3,900 400,000 350,000 3,900 400,000 350,000 M Loomes has an interest in 200,000 existing ordinary shares pursuant to the grant of an option over these shares by persons connected with Peter Lawrence, the former Chairman of the Company. These shares will vest with M Loomes providing he continues to be employed by the Company for three years from the date of grant of the option that was made on 7 March 2019. 4040 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Remuneration Structure for FY22 onwards The key elements of the Company remuneration structure are as follows: Overview As described in the introductory remarks to this report, the bonus and share incentive structure was extensively revised and approved in a General Meeting of the Company held on 4th March 2021. The revised remuneration structure has been designed to bring the Company into line with best remuneration practice and to improve the alignment of senior management with shareholder interests, thereby supporting future value creation. In particular the new share incentive arrangements will in due course bring the share dilution limits back into alignment with best practice. Annual bonus plan • The new Annual Bonus Plan applies to both executive directors and the Executive Leadership Team (“ELT”) • Maximum and on-target awards will, as previously, be kept in line with those of comparable companies as shown in recent AIM remuneration surveys. On target awards are set at 60% of base salary and maximum possible awards are capped at 100% of base salary; • Performance assessments are split as to 35% linked to growth in profit before tax, 35% linked to ROCE with the 30% remainder linked to the achievement of personal targets set by the committee. The committee may change these objectives from year to year. The proposed personal objectives for the CEO and FD in the current year (FY22) are focused around business performance, growth and corporate governance • Awards to the Executive Directors under the Annual Bonus Plan include a deferred element (33 % of any such award) that will be settled in shares which will vest after 3 years subject to malus provisions in the year of the award and clawback provisions during the 3 year vesting period for the deferred element. Awards under the Annual Bonus Plan (non-deferred element, being 67% of the award) are settled in cash through the payroll after the AGM. The deferred element of any bonuses awarded to the ELT is 20% with 80% settled in cash after the relevant Annual audit is completed. the performance period equals or exceeds 20% Long term incentives • The new LTIP applies to both executive directors and the Executive Leadership Team • Vesting of awards made under the new LTIP will be over a 3 year period and will be subject to achievement of performance conditions; these conditions include a comparison of the Company’s Total Shareholder Return (“TSR”) to an absolute TSR growth target set by the Committee and achievement of strategic goals. The specific targets for the first award are set out below. • LTIP awards will be subject to malus (during the vesting period) and clawback (in the 3 years following vesting) provisions. • All other staff will continue to be eligible to be awarded market priced options. The terms of the existing unapproved staff share option scheme rules (“USOS”) have been amended for future grants to allow for any future gains to be settled in shares or cash (at the Committees’ discretion) to reduce dilution of the Company’s share capital. • Awards were made to the CEO and the Finance Director under the new LTIP post year end on 28 April 2021. These awards were over 87,901 shares and 64,824 shares to the CEO and Finance Director, respectively. The shares will vest after three years subject to performance conditions being met; the performance conditions in respect of this first award are Company TSR and R&D, specifically strategic projects and their progress and approval. The performance period dates from 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2024. The TSR performance scale is as follows: • • • • 0% vesting if annual compound TSR over the performance period is less than 7.5%; and 25% vesting if annual compound TSR over the performance period equals 7.5%; and 50% vesting if annual compound TSR over the performance period equals 10%; and 100% of the TSR relevant award shares will vest if annual compound TSR over • Pro-rata vesting for positions between these points • On 28 April 2021, first awards have also been made from the new LTIP scheme (subject to the same performance conditions set out above) to the ELT. Additionally, a tranche of share options has been awarded to certain qualifying staff. The total award under both schemes, together with an amount set aside to satisfy the requirements of the deferred element of the bonus has amounted to less than 1% of shares in issue and demonstrates the Remuneration Committee’s intent to bring the Company into line with best practice as regards dilution. Share ownership Executive directors are subject to share ownership targets to achieve over time. These targets, in line with market guidance, have been set by the Remuneration Committee at 125% of basic salary for the Chief Executive and 100% of salary for the Finance Director. This percentage is zero in respect of the Executive Directors at 31 March 2021. Other Information Remuneration of the Non-Executive Directors is determined by the Chairman and the Chief Executive Officer. The Non-Executive Directors are not entitled to annual bonuses, employee benefits or participation in the LTIP. However, they may be paid additional fees in the event that their workloads are significantly in excess of their contractual obligations. The Chairman’s remuneration is determined by Remuneration Committee in conjunction with the Chief Executive Officer. However, the Chairman is not entitled to vote on the matter. The Executive Directors are employed under rolling service contracts. The services of all Executive Directors may be terminated by the Company or the individual giving 12 months’ notice, or immediately in the event that the director is not re-elected by shareholders at an AGM. Non-Executive Directors are retained under Letters of Appointment. Non-Executive director appointments may be terminated by either the Company or the individual 4141 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 giving 3 months’ notice, or immediately in the event that the director is not re-elected by shareholders at an AGM. NOMINATION COMMITTEE REPORT The Executive Directors’ service agreements and the Non-Executive Directors’ appointment letters are normally available for inspection by shareholders at the Company’s registered office and at the Company’s AGM. Frank M Armstrong Remuneration Committee Chairman 25 July 2021 4242 The Nomination Committee comprises all the Non-Executive Directors and the CEO. Main responsibilities The terms of reference of the Committee are set out on the Company’s website. The main responsibilities of the Committee are as follows; • Regularly reviewing the structure, size and composition (including the skills, knowledge, experience and diversity) of the Board. • Giving full consideration to succession planning. • • • • Keeping under review the leadership needs of the organisation. Being responsible for identifying and nominating for the approval of the Board, candidates to fill Board vacancies as and when they arise. Reviewing the results of the Board performance evaluation process that relate to the composition of the Board. Formulating plans for succession for both Executive and Non-Executive Directors. • Nominating membership of the Audit and Remuneration Committees. • The re-election by shareholders of Directors under the annual re-election provisions and of the retirement by rotation provisions in the Company’s Articles of Association. • Any matters relating to the continuation in office of any Director at any time including the appointment or removal of any Director to Executive or other office. The Nomination Committee is also responsible for the Board’s policy on diversity. ECO is a global company with a diverse and inclusive workforce. The Board recognises the benefits of diversity in its broadest sense and diversity of skills, background knowledge, international and industry experience, race and gender, amongst many other qualities, are taken into consideration when seeking to appoint new Directors to the Board. The Committee will keep under review the requirement to appoint further non-executive directors as the business grows. Appointments will be made based on required expertise to match the needs of the business while bearing in mind the need to introduce diversity into the Board composition. Activities during the year The Committee met twice during the year. Dr Frank Armstrong joined the Board on 1 May 2020. This appointment followed an extensive exercise undertaken by an external search firm to identify a short list of candidates matching a specification set out by the Nomination Committee. In this instance a primary focus on past new product development and commercialization experience was key to the specification for the role. All members of the Board were involved in the selection and interview processes. During the year the Committee coordinated the induction process for Dr Frank Armstrong and considered succession planning, talent development and leadership at the senior management level. As part of the Board performance review process that was undertaken in the period, the Nomination Committee has recognised the current lack of diversity at the Board level and as a matter of policy will ensure future recruitment processes to the Board recognise the benefits of diversity and inclusion. Since the year end and at the same time as the release of these results, we have announced the intention of Marc Loomes to retire. Mr Loomes has informed the Board that he plans to retire on the 31 December 2022. The Board has commenced a process with a leading executive search consultancy to identify and appoint a successor. Dr Andrew Jones Chairman 25 July 2021 CORPORATE GOVERNANCE REPORT (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Directors present their report and financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2021. Directors The following Directors have held office since 1 April 2020: Andrew Jones Anthony Rawlinson Non-Executive Chairman Non-Executive Director Frank Armstrong (appointed 1 May 2020) Non-Executive Director Marc Loomes Christopher Wilks Chief Executive Finance Director Principal activities The principal activities of the Group in the year under review were those of manufacturers and suppliers of animal health products. These activities were conducted on a global scale, through a network including both regional offices, (notably in Shanghai and Princeton) and overseas subsidiaries. a response to COVID-19. Consequently, the emissions from ECO Group premises in the UK and the associated carbon footprint of the Group in the UK was minimal and below the reporting threshold. Analysis and reporting of emissions will, however, be undertaken once the offices are re-occupied. Post balance sheet events Results and dividends Post balance sheet events are detailed in note 33 to these financial statements. The consolidated income statement for the year is set out on page 61. The profit for the year after tax was £16.6 million (2020 restated: £5.5 million). The Company proposes, subject to shareholder consent at the Annual General Meeting, to pay a dividend of 1p per share, making a total of 1p per share for the year (2020 – Nil). Substantial shareholdings At 30 June 2021 the Company had been notified of the following holdings of 3% of more of its issued share capital: Future developments Shareholder Shares % of issued share capital The likely future development of the business is covered in the Chairman’s Statement and in the Strategic Report. Financial risk management Information on the use of financial instruments by the Group and its management of financial risk is disclosed in note 32 to the financial statements. Further details of the Group’s financial risks and controls are set out in the Strategic Report. Energy and carbon emission The ECO Group in the UK has an outsourced business model. All warehouses and production facilities are contracted to specialist regulated and approved companies. As such the premises occupied by the ECO Group in the UK comprise two offices which were, for the entirety of the financial year ended 31 March 2021, closed due to the need for remote working as AXA Framlington Investment Managers P A Lawrence and Family Chelverton Asset Management Schroder Investment Management Danske Bank Asset Management Soros Fund Management Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management (Inst) Amati Global Investors Artemis Investment Management Invesco 8,369,527 6,958,694 4,525,000 4,340,829 4,253,409 4,170,095 3,650,000 3,188,099 2,897,015 2,386,982 12.36 10.28 6.68 6.41 6.28 6.16 5.39 4.71 4.28 3.53 4343 DIRECTORS’ REPORTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 DIRECTORS’ REPORT (CONTINUED) FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Group research and development activities Auditors The Group is continually researching into and developing new products and markets. Details of expenditure incurred and written off during the year are shown in the notes to the financial statements. The Group remains committed to obtaining further authorisations of its Aivlosin® products in other key territories and for additional disease applications, while at the same time expanding its product offering to include vaccines and other biologicals relevant to the swine and poultry markets. Directors’ insurance The Company maintains Directors’ and Officers’ liability insurance for the benefit of its Directors which remained in place at 31 March 2021 and throughout the preceding year. Financial instruments The Group’s accounting policies for financial instruments and strategy for management of those financial instruments are given in notes 2.6 and 32 to the financial statements respectively. Internal financial controls The Board of Directors is responsible for the Group’s system of internal financial control. Internal control systems are designed to meet the particular needs of the companies concerned and the risks to which they are exposed. This provides reasonable, but not absolute, assurance against material misstatement or loss. Strict financial and other controls are exercised by the Group over its subsidiary companies by day to day supervision of the businesses by the Directors. Stockbrokers N+1 Singer (now called Singer Capital Markets) were the Company’s nominated advisor and stockbroker at the year end. Peel Hunt is joint broker. The closing share price on 31 March 2021 was 322.5p per share (2020: 220.0p). During the year the average share price was 253.1p (2020: 318.8p). 4444 The auditors BDO LLP are being proposed for reappointment at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting of the Company. Statement of Directors’ responsibilities The Directors are responsible for preparing the Annual Report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have prepared the Group and Parent Company financial statements in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. Under Company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and the Company and of the profit or loss of the Group for that period. In preparing these financial statements, the Directors are required to: • select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently; • make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable; • • state whether applicable international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the financial statements; prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business. The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities. The Directors are responsible for ensuring the Annual Report and the financial statements are made available on a website. Financial statements are published on the Company’s website in accordance with legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements, which may vary from legislation in other jurisdictions. The maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website is the responsibility of the directors. The directors’ responsibility also extends to the ongoing integrity of the financial statements contained therein. Statement of disclosure to auditors So far as each of the Directors at the date of approval of this report are aware; (a) there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and (b) they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information. Forward-Looking Statements This document contains certain forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements reflect the knowledge and information available to the Company and Group during preparation and up to the publication of this document. By their very nature, these statements depend upon circumstances and relate to events that may occur in the future and thereby involving a degree of uncertainty. Therefore, nothing in this document should be construed as a profit forecast by the Company or Group. On behalf of the Board. Dr Andrew Jones Chairman 25 July 2021 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT TO THE MEMBERS OF ECO ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP PLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Qualified opinion on the financial statements In our opinion, except for the possible effects of the matters described in the basis for qualified opinion section of our report: • • • • the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 March 2021 and of the Group’s profit for the year then ended; the Group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006; the Parent Company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. We have audited the financial statements of ECO Animal Health Group Plc (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for the year ended 31 March 2021 which comprise the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, the consolidated and company statements of financial position, the consolidated and company statements of changes in equity, the consolidated and company statements of cash flow and notes to the financial statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Parent Company financial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006. Basis for qualified opinion We were not able to observe the counting of physical inventories around the Group, except for the China locations, (“non-China Group inventories”) held at 31 March 2020 due to restrictions and control measures arising as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. We were unable to satisfy ourselves by alternative means concerning the non-China Group inventories quantities held at 31 March 2020, which are included in the comparative consolidated statement of financial position at a value of £14,003,000 (representing 82% of total inventory) by using other audit procedures. Consequently, we were unable to determine whether any adjustment to this amount at 31 March 2020 was necessary, or whether there was any consequential effect on the cost of sales and recorded tax amounts in the statement of comprehensive income, for the year ended 31 March 2021. We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs(UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements section of our report. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our qualified opinion. Independence We remain independent of the Group and the Parent Company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. Conclusions relating to going concern In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is appropriate. Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the Group and the Parent Company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting included: • Evaluating the Directors’ method of assessment, including the relevance and reliability of underlying data used to make the assessment, and whether assumptions and changes to assumptions from prior years are appropriate and consistent with each other. • • • • • Reviewing the reverse stress test, testing the arithmetic accuracy of the model, challenging the assumptions applied and where possible agreeing the model to supporting documentation. Challenging the Directors on whether the reverse stress test is appropriate and appropriately stresses the business. We did this by reviewing the scenarios used by the Directors in their assessment, challenging assumptions and performing further sensitivity analysis. Reviewing the period assessed by the Directors ensuring that they have considered a period of at least 12 months from the date of approval of the financial statements, as well ensuring the Directors have considered any events or conditions that may exist beyond that period. Reviewing the adequacy and appropriateness of disclosures in the financial statements regarding the going concern assessment. Comparing the level of available financial resources with the Group’s financial forecasts, including taking account of reasonably possible (but not unrealistic) adverse effects that could arise from risks, both individually and collectively, relating to the Group. We have also reviewed the accuracy of historical forecasting against actual results. Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, may cast significant doubt on the Group’s or the Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when the financial statements are authorised for issue. Our responsibilities and the responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the relevant sections of this report. 4545 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF ECO ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP PLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Overview Coverage1 94% (2020: 128%, due to losses in non-significant components) of Group profit before tax 83% (2020: 77%) of Group revenue 106% (2020: 100%) of Group net assets, due to a combination of net assets and net liabilities in non-significant components Key audit matters 2021 2020 ✓ ✓ 1. Revenue recognition and discount accounting 2. Intangible assets – capitalised development expenditure 3. Unauthorised related party transactions and subsequent investigation 4. Prior period errors and opening balance sheet propriety ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ KAM 3 and 4 are no longer considered to be a key audit matters because the investigation (KAM 3) and conclusion on opening balance sheet propriety (KAM 4) were finalised in the audit of the year to 31 March 2020. Materiality Group financial statements as a whole £750,000 (2019: £250,000) based on 3.7% (2019: 5%) of profit before tax 1 These are areas which have been subject to a full scope audit by the group engagement team An overview of the scope of our audit Our Group audit was scoped by obtaining an understanding of the Group and its environment, including the Group’s system of internal control, and assessing the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements. We also addressed the risk of management override of internal controls, including assessing whether there was evidence of bias by the Directors that may have represented a risk of material misstatement. At 31 March 2021, the Group comprised the Parent Company; one UK trading company, ECO Animal Health Limited; a two entity sub-Group in China headed by Zhejang Eco Biok Animal Health Products Limited; a US joint operation, Pharmgate Animal Health LLC; and 16 other entities. The Parent, the UK trading entity, the sub- Group in China and the US joint operation were deemed to be the significant components of the Group. The audit of the Parent Company, ECO Animal Health Limited and the Pharmgate Animal Health LLC joint operation was carried out by the Group audit team for the purposes of this opinion. The audit of the sub-Group, headed by Zhejang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited, was conducted by BDO China under instruction from and reporting to BDO LLP as the Group auditor. Our involvement with the component auditor is discussed below. The remaining entities were deemed insignificant to the Group due to the size of operations and balances within each entity. Audit work on these components has been limited to analytical review and sample revenue cut-off procedures carried out by the Group audit team. Our involvement with component auditors For the work performed by component auditors, we determined the level of involvement needed in order to be able to conclude whether sufficient appropriate audit evidence has been obtained as a basis for our opinion on the Group financial statements as a whole. Our involvement with component auditors included the following: • • • • • Internal planning discussions with the component auditor. The component auditor is a BDO member firm, ensuring consistent audit methodology and quality. Issue of reporting instructions for clarity on reporting requirements and for the documentation of reporting responses to the Group engagement team. Specific discussions surrounding significant audit risk areas, including the Key Matter relating to revenue recognition identified below. Remote review of audit files and work performed, along with review of internal reporting documents. Remote attendance at the component audit completion meeting, along with group management. 4646 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Group audit team were unable to visit the component location due to Covid-19 related travel restrictions, however regular Microsoft Teams calls were undertaken throughout the planning, execution and completion stages of the work, where remote review of the component auditor’s file was performed, findings were discussed, and additional work was instructed as necessary. Key audit matters Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) that we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the audit, and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters. KEY AUDIT MATTER HOW THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT ADDRESSED THE KEY AUDIT MATTER Revenue recognition and discount accounting The Group’s revenue recognition policy is included within the accounting policies in note 2 and the components of revenue are set out in note 4. The Group’s revenue is a key performance indicator for the market upon which the results of the Group will be assessed. The Group has one main source of revenue representing direct sales of animal pharmaceutical products into UK, European and global markets. The Group recognises revenue at the point its performance obligation is met, which is generally on delivery of product to the customer, but may occur at different points in the revenue cycle dependent on contractual terms. Certain revenue arrangements include the offering of volume and other discounts to customers. Given the potential for misstatement of revenue, whether due to fraud or error, and the inherent judgements and estimates involved in revenue recognition and cut-off assessments, we considered revenue recognition a significant risk of material misstatement in the financial statements. We reviewed the revenue recognition policy applied by the Group and considered its compliance with IFRS 15 ‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’. Our work included review of management’s identification of performance obligations and assessment of contractual terms to determine when these performance obligations were met, both throughout the year and around year end. We tested a sample of the Group’s revenue transactions to verify that revenue was accurately recorded in the correct accounting period. This testing was performed through review of contracts, invoices and delivery notes and agreement to the recognition of revenue in the accounting system. We reviewed management’s assessment of the value of these discounts at year end, reviewed contractual terms and re-performed calculations for a sample of accrued balances. Key observations Based on the work performed, we consider that revenue has been recognised in accordance with the Group’s revenue recognition accounting policy and the requirements of IFRS 15. 4747 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF ECO ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP PLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 KEY AUDIT MATTER HOW THE SCOPE OF OUR AUDIT ADDRESSED THE KEY AUDIT MATTER We confirmed with management that all reasonable efforts to obtain evidence had been made, and that no further evidence was available. We did this by understanding the process taken by management and reviewing their reports and output. We confirmed that amounts expensed in the prior period adjustment were appropriate and that the adjustment was accurately recorded in the financial statements. After management finalised their conclusions regarding which past costs were appropriately capitalised and which costs should have been expensed, for all periods up to 31 March 2020, we sampled the entire population of those costs and agreed the cost to underlying supporting documentation. We assessed whether or not the cost met the criteria of IAS 38 at the point of capitalisation. We performed the same procedures on capitalised costs for the year ended 31 March 2021. We also sampled amortisation entries during the period 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2021, after the prior period adjustment, to ensure amortisation commenced in the correct period and was recorded over the useful life in accordance with Group policy. We reviewed the useful lives applied, for appropriateness, by corroborating the historical periods during which the Group’s products have been sold and the periods over which competitor’s products have been marketed. We reviewed management’s annual impairment assessment at 31 March 2021, for capitalised development costs not yet available for use. We challenged the future estimated forecast cash flows and whether or not technical feasibility continued to be highly probable. Key Observations We consider the Group’s accounting policy to be appropriate. We did not identify anything material to suggest that the judgements applied by management, in respect of capitalisation and amortisation at 1 April 2019, 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2021, and their impairment assessment as of 31 March 2021, were inappropriate. Intangible Assets – capitalised development expenditure The Group’s accounting policy for intangible assets is included within the accounting policies in note 2 and the components of intangible assets are set out in note 12. The prior year restatement of development costs capitalised is set out in note 3. During the preparation of the financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020, the Directors reviewed past capitalised development expenditure and identified misstatements in prior periods as a result of the Group capitalising items which did not meet the criteria of IAS 38. Although this review resulted in adjustments recognised in the prior year, the review was not complete at the point of finalising those financial statements. During the preparation of the 31 March 2021 accounts, the Directors finalised their extensive review of past capitalised development expenditure in order to conclude on the accounting treatment for costs, for which sufficient accounting and audit evidence could not be obtained, and to provide sufficient audit evidence for all amounts which remained capitalised. Management concluded that all past capitalised development expenditure prior to 31 March 2012, and certain development staff costs during the period 1 April 2012 to 31 March 2014, for which sufficient accounting and audit evidence to determine whether capitalisation was appropriate could not be obtained, should be expensed during the period in which it was incurred (as further explained in the prior period adjustment note 3). A prior period adjustment was recognised accordingly. In addition to the review of capitalised costs, management also conducted an impairment assessment for assets recorded at 31 March 2021, considered the useful lives of assets remaining and ensured that amortisation recorded was appropriate, particularly following capitalised cost changes arising from prior period adjustments. Given the potential for misstatement of capitalised development expenditure, as well as the adjusted misstatements to prior periods, identified in the audits of both the year ended 31 March 2020 and 31 March 2021, we considered development expenditure capitalisation a key audit matter. 4848 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Our application of materiality We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing our audit, and in evaluating the effect of misstatements. We consider materiality to be the magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken on the basis of the financial statements. In order to reduce to an appropriately low level the probability that any misstatements exceed materiality, we use a lower materiality level, performance materiality, to determine the extent of testing needed. Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial as we also take account of the nature of identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when evaluating their effect on the financial statements as a whole. Based on our professional judgement, we determined materiality for the financial statements as a whole and performance materiality as follows: Materiality Basis for determining materiality Group financial statements 2021 £ 750,000 Parent company financial statements 2020 £ 250,000 2021 £ 340,000 2020 £ 45,000 3.7% of Profit before tax 5% of Profit before tax Capped at 45% of Group materiality given the assessment of the components’ aggregation risk. Capped at 20% of Group materiality given the assessment of the components’ aggregation risk. Rationale for the benchmark applied Profit before tax is considered the most appropriate measure in assessing the performance of the Group The company is the Group parent holding company, holding investments in other group entities Performance materiality 450,000 125,000 204,000 22,500 Basis for determining performance materiality 60% of materiality, on the basis of adjustments identified in prior periods, the location of components and the planned nature of testing. 50% of materiality 60% of materiality, on the basis of adjustments identified in prior periods and the planned nature of testing. 50% of materiality 4949 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 INDEPENDENT AUDITOR’S REPORT (CONTINUED) TO THE MEMBERS OF ECO ANIMAL HEALTH GROUP PLC FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Component materiality We set materiality for each component of the Group based on a percentage of between 45% and 80% of Group materiality dependent on the size and our assessment of the risk of material misstatement of that component. Component materiality ranged from £340,000 to £600,000. In the audit of each component, we further applied performance materiality levels of 60% of the component materiality to our testing to ensure that the risk of errors exceeding component materiality was appropriately mitigated. Reporting threshold We agreed with the Audit Committee that we would report to them all individual audit differences in excess of £22,000 (2019:£5,000). We also agreed to report differences below this threshold that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds. Other information The directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. Our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the course of the audit, or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether this gives rise to a material misstatement in the financial statements themselves. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact. We have nothing to report in this regard. Other Companies Act 2006 reporting Based on the responsibilities described below and our work performed during the course of the audit, we are required by the Companies Act 2006 and ISAs (UK) to report on certain opinions and matters as described below. Strategic report and Directors’ report In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: Matters on which we are required to report by exception • the information given in the Strategic report and the Directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is consistent with the financial statements; and • the Strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the Group and Parent Company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ report. We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, in our opinion: • • • • adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from branches not visited by us; or the Parent Company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. Responsibilities of Directors As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s and the Parent Company’s ability to continue as a going concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to liquidate the Group or the Parent Company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will 5050 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial statements. Extent to which the audit was capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud is detailed below: • • We identify and assess the risks of material misstatement of the financial statements, whether due to fraud or error, and then design and perform audit procedures responsive to those risks, including obtaining audit evidence that is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. We have identified and assessed the potential risks related to irregularities, including fraud, by considering the following: o o o The nature of the industry, including the design of the Group’s remuneration policies; Enquiries of management regarding: the compliance with laws and regulations; the detection and response to the risk of fraud and any knowledge of actual, suspected or alleged fraud; and the controls in place to mitigate risks related to fraud or non-compliance with laws and regulations; Obtaining an understanding of the legal and regulatory framework in which the Group operates, focussing on those laws and regulations that had a significant effect on the financial statements or that had a fundamental effect on the operations of the Group, namely: the accounting framework; the Companies Act 2006; relevant tax legislation; and the requirements for regulated products. • We have responded to risks identified by performing procedures including the following: o o o Performance of sample cut-off procedures over revenue recognition around the year-end, as explained in the revenue recognition key audit matter; Enquiry of in-house management and external legal counsel concerning actual and potential litigation and claims; Performing analytical procedures to identify any unusual or unexpected relationships which may indicate risks of misstatement due to fraud; and o Reading the minutes of meetings of those charged with governance. • We have also considered the risk of fraud through management override of controls by: o o Sample testing the appropriateness of journal entries and other adjustments; and Assessing whether the judgements made in making accounting estimates are indicative of potential bias, in particular assumptions used in determining the defined benefit pension liability. Our testing was performed at a level we deemed capable of identifying material error. We communicated relevant identified laws and regulations and potential fraud risks to all engagement team members and discussed how and where these might occur and remained alert to any indications of fraud and non-compliance with laws and regulations throughout the audit. • • Our audit procedures were designed to respond to risks of material misstatement in the financial statements, recognising that the risk of not detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error, as fraud may involve deliberate concealment by, for example, forgery, misrepresentations or through collusion. There are inherent limitations in the audit procedures performed and the further removed non- compliance with laws and regulations is from the events and transactions reflected in the financial statements, the less likely we are to become aware of it. A further description of our responsibilities is available on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: www.frc.org.uk/ auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. Use of our report This report is made solely to the Parent Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Parent Company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the Parent Company and the Parent Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. Ian Oliver (Senior Statutory Auditor) For and on behalf of BDO LLP, Statutory Auditor Reading United Kingdom 25 July 2021 BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127). 5151 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2021 2020 £000’s 105,607 (51,990) £000’s Restated* 72,106 (38,742) 53,617 33,364 319 105 (33,619) (27,334) 20,317 6,135 129 (200) (71) 38 38 20,284 (3,635) 16,649 8,158 8,491 16,649 12.08 12.07 112 (142) (30) 42 42 6,147 (659) 5,488 3,895 1,593 5,488 5.77 5.54 24,400 8,362 Notes 4 5 6 7 7 16 9 26 8 8 6 Revenue Cost of sales Gross profit Other income Administrative expenses Profit from operating activities Finance income Finance costs Net finance (expense)/income Share of profit of associate Profit before income tax Income tax charge Profit for the year Profit attributable to: Owners of the parent Company Non-controlling interest Profit for the year Earnings per share (pence) Diluted earnings per share (pence) Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortisation, Share Based Payments and Foreign Exchange Differences * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. The notes on pages 58 to 120 form part of these financial statements. 5252 CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTFOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Profit for the year 16,649 5,488 2021 2020 Notes £000’s £000’s Restated* Other comprehensive income/(losses): Items that may be reclassified to profit or loss: Foreign currency translation differences Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss: Revaluation of freehold property Deferred tax on property revaluations Remeasurement of defined benefit pension schemes Other comprehensive income/(losses) for the year Total comprehensive income for the year Attributable to: Owners of the parent Company Non-controlling interest * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. The notes on pages 58 to 120 form part of these financial statements. (258) 98 - 84 (32) (206) (92) - 12 18 16,443 5,506 8,233 8,210 16,443 3,874 1,632 5,506 13 23 26 5353 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTOF COMPREHENSIVE INCOMEFOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Share Capital Share Premium Account Revaluation Reserve Other Reserves Foreign Exchange Reserve Retained Earnings Total Non- controlling Interest Total Equity £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Balance as at 31 March 2019 - as reported 3,372 62,650 Prior year adjustments* - - Balance as at 31 March 2019 - as restated 3,372 62,650 664 - 664 - - (92) - (92) - - - - - 106 - 106 - - - - - - - - - - 467 17,214 84,473 5,102 89,575 - (6,359) (6,359) - (6,359) 467 10,855 78,114 5,102 83,216 - 3,895 3,895 1,593 5,488 59 - - - - 12 59 (92) 12 39 - - 98 (92) 12 59 3,907 3,874 1,632 5,506 - - - - - - 284 237 284 (373) (373) - - - 237 284 (373) (7,453) (7,453) (7,542) (7,305) (968) (968) (8,421) (8,273) - - - - - 5 - - - 5 - - - - - 232 - - - 232 3,377 62,882 572 106 526 7,220 74,683 5,766 80,449 - - - - - 2 - - - 2 - - - - - 376 - - - 376 - - 84 - 84 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 8,158 8,158 8,491 16,649 23 - - - - 23 84 (32) (32) (281) (258) - - 84 (32) 23 8,126 8,233 8,210 16,443 - - - - - - 123 - - 378 123 - - 123 501 - - - (562) (562) 378 123 - (562) (61) Profit for the year - restated* Other comprehensive income: Foreign currency differences Revaluation of freehold property Actuarial gains on pension scheme assets Total comprehensive income/ (loss) for the year Transactions with owners: Issue of shares in the year Share-based payments Deferred tax on share-based payments Dividends Transactions with owners Balance as at 31 March 2020 - as restated Profit for the year Other comprehensive income: Foreign currency differences Deferred tax on property revaluations Actuarial gains on pension scheme assets Total comprehensive income/ (loss) for the year Transactions with owners: Issue of shares in the year Share-based payments Deferred tax on share-based payments Dividends Transactions with owners Balance as at 31 March 2021 3,379 63,258 656 106 549 15,469 83,417 13,414 96,831 * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. The notes on pages 58 to 120 form part of these financial statements. 5454 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN EQUITY FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 COMPANY Share Capital Share Premium Account Other Reserves Revaluation Reserve Retained Earnings Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Balance as at 31 March 2019 3,372 62,650 106 395 18,509 85,032 - (151) (151) Loss for the year Other comprehensive income: Revaluation of freehold property Actuarial gain on pension scheme assets Total comprehensive loss for the year Transactions with owners Issue of shares in the year Share-based payments Deferred tax on share-based payments Deferred tax on property revaluations Dividends Transactions with owners - - - - 5 - - - - 5 - - - - 232 - - - - 232 - - - - - - - - - - (92) - (92) - - - (1) - (1) Balance as at 31 March 2020 3,377 62,882 106 302 Loss for the year Other comprehensive income: Deferred tax on property revaluations Actuarial loss on pension scheme assets Total comprehensive loss for the year Transactions with owners Issue of shares in the year Share-based payments Dividends Transactions with owners - - - - 2 - - 2 - - - - 376 - - 376 - - - - - - - - - 83 - 83 - - - - - 12 (139) - 284 (63) - (7,453) (7,232) 11,138 (92) 12 (231) 237 284 (63) (1) (7,453) (6,996) 77,805 (903) (903) - (32) (935) - 123 - 123 83 (32) (852) 378 123 - 501 Balance as at 31 March 2021 3,379 63,258 106 385 10,326 77,454 The notes on pages 58 to 120 form part of these financial statements. 5555 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 STATEMENTS OF FINANCIAL POSITION (CO. NUMBER: 01818170) AS AT 31 MARCH 2021 Group Company 2021 2020 2019 2021 2020 Notes £000’s £000’s Restated* £000’s Restated* £000’s £000’s 36,108 36,020 34,650 2,181 305 1,399 180 - - 2,426 305 1,658 166 - - 2,144 200 1,675 116 - - - 651 305 37 20,032 55,909 - - 622 305 25 20,032 59,295 - 40,173 40,575 38,785 76,934 80,279 20,504 32,452 3,475 496 19,523 76,450 116,623 (14,521) - (3,015) (501) (311) (50) 17,264 28,353 1,265 652 11,877 59,411 99,986 (14,486) (2,032) (940) - (342) (50) (18,398) (17,850) 58,052 98,225 41,561 82,136 (183) (1,211) (263) (1,424) 96,831 80,449 3,379 63,258 656 106 549 15,469 83,417 13,414 96,831 3,377 62,882 572 106 526 7,220 74,683 5,766 80,449 19,477 23,333 827 462 16,863 60,962 99,747 - 281 - 27 819 - 55 - 36 177 1,127 78,061 268 80,547 (13,363) (524) - (816) (533) (330) (49) (15,091) 45,871 84,656 - (1,440) 83,216 3,372 62,650 664 106 467 10,855 78,114 5,102 83,216 - - - (7) (50) (581) 546 77,480 (567) (2,001) - - (24) (50) (2,642) (2,374) 77,905 6 (32) (95) (5) 77,454 77,805 3,379 63,258 385 106 - 10,326 77,454 - 3,377 62,882 302 106 - 11,138 77,805 - 77,454 77,805 Non-current assets Intangible assets Property, plant and equipment Investment property Right-of-use assets Investments Amounts due from subsidiary Company Deferred tax assets Total non-current assets Current assets Inventories Trade and other receivables Income tax recoverable Other taxes and social security Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets TOTAL ASSETS Current Liabilities Trade and other payables Borrowings Income tax payable Other taxes and social security Lease liabilities Dividends Current liabilities Net current assets/(liabilities) Total assets less current liabilities Non-current liabilities Deferred tax Lease liabilities TOTAL ASSETS LESS TOTAL LIABILITIES EQUITY Issued share capital Share premium account Revaluation reserve Other reserves Foreign exchange reserve Retained earnings Shareholders' funds Non-controlling interests Total equity 12 13 14 15 16 18 17 18 20 21 22 22 19 22 25 27 27 26 Approved by the Board and authorised for issue on 25 July 2021. Dr Andrew Jones, Chairman. * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. The notes on pages 58 to 120 form part of these financial statements. 5656 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 Cash flows from operating activities Profit/(loss) before income tax Adjustment for: Finance income Finance cost Foreign exchange (gain)/loss Depreciation Amortisation of right-of-use assets Revaluation of investment property Amortisation of intangible assets Share of associate's results Impairment of investments Share based payment charge Dividends received Group Company 2021 2020 Restated* 2021 2020 Restated* Notes £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 7 7 13 15 14 12 16 16 20,284 6,147 (129) 200 559 430 403 - 898 (38) - 123 - (112) 142 62 334 389 (64) 745 (42) - 284 - (916) (875) 65 (3) 15 24 - - - - 8 (46) (151) (895) 30 - 17 32 (64) - - 45 114 (77) Operating cash flows before movements in working capital 22,730 7,885 (1,728) (949) Change in inventories Change in receivables Change in payables Cash generated from operations Finance costs Income tax Net cash from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of property, plant and equipment Disposal of property, plant and equipment Purchase of intangibles Finance income Dividends received Net cash (used in)/from investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from issue of share capital Interest paid on lease liabilities Principal paid on lease liabilities Dividends paid Net cash (used in)/from financing activities Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Foreign exchange movements Balance at the beginning of the period Balance at the end of the period** 13 13 12 7 22 22 20 (3,698) (3,959) 753 15,826 (79) (3,766) 11,981 (212) 11 (861) 129 - (933) 378 (122) (378) (562) (684) 10,364 (686) 9,845 19,523 2,212 (5,209) 603 5,491 (17) (1,076) 4,398 (767) - (2,115) 112 - (2,770) 237 (124) (365) (8,421) (8,673) (7,045) 27 16,863 9,845 - 3,169 33 1,474 (54) (5) 1,415 (37) - - 875 46 884 378 (11) (23) - 344 2,643 - (1,824) 819 - 962 253 266 (30) - 236 (1) - - 895 77 971 237 (13) (38) (7,453) (7,267) (6,060) - 4,236 (1,824) * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. ** In the statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalent is presented net of balances outstanding on bank overdrafts. Please refer to note 20 for further details. The notes on pages 58 to 120 form part of these financial statements. 5757 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021 1. General information ECO Animal Health Group plc (“the Company”) and its subsidiaries (together “the Group”) manufacture and supply animal health products globally. The Company is traded on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange and is incorporated and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 78 Coombe Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QS. 2. Summary of significant accounting policies 2.1 Basis of preparation The Group has presented its Annual Report and Accounts in accordance with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The preparation of financial statements, in conformity with international accounting standards in conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, requires the use of estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenue and expenses during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of the amount, event or actions, actual results ultimately may differ from those estimates. The estimates and underlying assumptions are reviewed on an ongoing basis. Revisions to accounting estimates are recognised in the period in which the estimate is revised if the revision affects only that period or in the period of the revision and future periods if the revision affects both current and future periods. Further details of estimates and judgements are provided in note 2.30. The principal accounting policies of the Group are set out below and have been applied consistently in dealing with items which are considered material in relation to the Group’s financial statements. Going Concern After making appropriate enquiries, the Directors have, at the time of approving the financial statements, formed a judgement that there is a reasonable expectation that the Company and Group have adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. For this reason, the Directors continue to adopt the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements. This conclusion is based on a review of the resources available to the Group, taking account of the Group’s financial projections together with available cash and committed borrowing facilities. The Directors have performed a reverse stress test on the business, by considering what quantum of revenue and gross margin reduction would be required to exhaust all available funds within 12 months of the date of approving the accounts. The Directors concluded that the likelihood of such a reduction was remote, and therefore that no material uncertainty exists with respect of going concern. 2.2 Adoption of new and revised standards The following new standards, amendments and interpretations for existing standards became effective in the financial year. These standards have been applied in preparing these consolidated financial statements but did not have a material effect on the Group. • Definition of a Business (Amendments to IFRS 3); • Interest Rate Benchmark Reform (Amendments to IFRS 9 and IFRS 7); • COVID-19-Related Rent Concessions (Amendments to IFRS 16); • IAS 1 Presentation of financial statements, and IAS 8 Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors (Amendment - Definition of Material); and • Revisions to the Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting. 5858 ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 There are a number of standards, amendments to standards, and interpretations which have been issued by the IASB that are effective in future accounting periods that the Group has decided not to adopt early. The following amendments are effective for the period beginning 1 January 2022: • Onerous Contracts – Cost of Fulfilling a Contract (Amendments to IAS 37); • Property, Plant and Equipment: Proceeds before Intended Use (Amendments to IAS 16); • Annual Improvements to IFRS Standards 2018-2020 (Amendments to IFRS 1, IFRS 9, IFRS 16 and IAS 41); and • References to Conceptual Framework (Amendments to IFRS 3). The Directors do not expect that the adoption of the Standards and Interpretations listed above will have a material impact on the financial statements of the Group in future periods. Beyond the information above, it is not practicable to provide a reasonable estimate of the effect of these standards until a detailed review has been completed. 2.3 Basis of consolidation The consolidated financial statements comprise the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries drawn up to 31 March 2021. An entity is classed as a subsidiary of the Company when as a result of contractual arrangements, the Company has the power to govern its financial and operating policies so as to obtain benefits from its activities. The purchase method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. 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. Identifiable assets acquired and contingent liabilities assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any non-controlling 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, the difference is recognised directly in the income statement. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where material to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group. Although the subsidiaries in Brazil and China and the joint operations in the USA and Canada all have December year ends, the Group uses management accounts to the end of March to prepare the Group accounts. Subsidiaries are wholly consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are deconsolidated from the date that control ceases. Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated on consolidation. The Group initially recognised any non-controlling interest in the acquiree at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets. For each business combination, the Group elects whether to measure the non-controlling interests in the acquiree at fair value or at the proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Acquisition-related costs are expensed as incurred and included in administrative expenses. The Group has not elected to take the option to use fair value in acquisitions completed to date. Profit or loss and each component of Other Comprehensive Income are attributed to the equity holders of the parent of the Group and to the non-controlling interests, even if this results in the non-controlling interests having a deficit balance. 2.4 Segment reporting Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting to the chief operating decision-maker. The chief operating decision-maker who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating segments has been identified as the Board. 5959 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2.5 Foreign currency translation (a) Functional and presentation currency Items included in the financial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic environment in which the entity operates (“functional currency”). The consolidated financial statements are presented in Pounds Sterling, which is the Company’s functional and the Group’s presentation currency. (b) Transactions and balances Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated into Pounds Sterling at the rates of exchange ruling at the date of the financial statements. Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the date of the transactions. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the translation at period end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised in the income statement within administrative expenses. Foreign exchange gains and losses that relate to borrowing and cash and cash equivalents are presented in the income statement within administrative expenses. (c) Group companies The results and financial position of all Group entities that have a functional currency different from the Group’s functional and presentation currency are translated into the Group’s functional and presentation currency as follows; • • assets and liabilities for each Statement of financial position presented are translated at the closing exchange rate at the date of the Statement of financial position; 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 the income and expenses are translated at the rate on the dates of the transaction; and • all resulting exchange differences are recognised through other comprehensive income as a separate component of equity. When a foreign operation is partially disposed or sold, exchange differences that were recognised in equity are recognised in the income statement as part of the gain or loss on sale. Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated at the closing exchange rate. 2.6 Financial instruments Financial assets The Group’s financial assets comprise mainly trade and other receivables and cash and cash equivalents in the consolidated statement of financial position. These financial assets arise principally from the provision of goods to customers and are measured at amortised cost. Impairment provisions for current and non-current trade receivables are recognised based on the simplified approach within IFRS 9 using a provision matrix in the determination of the lifetime expected credit losses. During this process, the probability of the non-payment of the trade receivables is assessed. This probability is then multiplied by the amount of the expected loss arising from default to determine the lifetime expected credit loss for the trade receivables. For trade receivables, which are reported net, such provisions are recorded in a separate provision account with the loss being recognised within Administrative expenses in the consolidated income statement. On confirmation that the trade receivable will not be collectable, the gross carrying value of the asset is written off against the associated provision. Impairment provisions for receivables from related parties and loans to related parties are recognised based on a forward looking expected credit loss model. The methodology used to determine the amount of the provision is based on whether there has been a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition of the financial asset. For those where the credit risk has not increased significantly since initial recognition of the financial asset, twelve month expected credit losses along with gross interest income are recognised. For 6060 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 those for which credit risk has increased significantly, lifetime expected credit losses along with the gross interest income are recognised. For those that are determined to be credit impaired, lifetime expected credit losses along with interest income on a net basis are recognised. Financial liabilities The Group’s financial liabilities comprise mainly trade and other payables and bank overdrafts in the consolidated statement of financial position. These financial liabilities are initially recognised at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost in accordance with IFRS 9. 2.7 Goodwill Goodwill arising on the acquisition of an entity represents the excess of the costs of acquisition over the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities of the entity recognised at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is initially recognised as an asset at cost and is subsequently measured at cost less any accumulated impairment losses. Goodwill is not subject to amortisation but is tested for impairment annually. Negative goodwill arising on an acquisition is recognised directly in the income statement. On disposal of a subsidiary or a jointly controlled entity, the attributable amount of goodwill is included in the determination of the profit or loss recognised in the income statement on disposal. Goodwill arising before the date of transition to IFRS, on 1 April 2004, has been retained at the previous UK GAAP amounts, subject to being tested for impairment at that date. Goodwill written off to reserves under UK GAAP prior to 1998 has not been reinstated and is not included in determining any subsequent profit or loss on disposal. 2.8 Other intangible assets IAS 38 – Intangible Assets includes guidance on the accounting for Research and Development expenditure. Such an intangible asset is a resource that is controlled by the entity as a result of past events (for example, purchase or self-creation) and from which future economic benefits (inflows of cash or other assets) are expected. The three critical attributes of an intangible asset are: • identifiability • control (power to obtain benefits from the asset) • future economic benefits (such as revenues or reduced future costs) Identifiability: An intangible asset is identifiable when it: • • is separable (capable of being separated and sold, transferred, licensed, rented, or exchanged, either individually or together with a related contract) or arises from contractual or other legal rights, regardless of whether those rights are transferable or separa- ble from the entity or from other rights and obligations. Development expenditure – whether purchased or self-created (internally generated) is an example of an intangible asset, governed under IAS 38. Recognition criteria: IAS 38 requires an entity to recognise an intangible asset (at cost) if, and only if: • it is probable that the future economic benefits that are attributable to the asset will flow to the entity; and • the cost of the asset can be measured reliably. IAS 38 includes additional recognition criteria for internally generated intangible assets. Expenditure on the research phase of an internal project is expensed as incurred. Expenditure in the development phase of an internal project is capitalised if the entity can demonstrate: a) the technical feasibility of completing the intangible asset so that it will be available for use or sale. b) its intention to complete the intangible asset and use or sell it. c) its ability to use or sell the intangible asset. 6161 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 d) how the intangible asset will generate probable future economic benefits. Among other things, the entity can demonstrate the existence of a market for the output of the intangible asset or the intangible asset itself or, if it is to be used internally, the usefulness of the intangible asset. e) the availability of adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the intangible asset. f) its ability to measure reliably the expenditure attributable to the intangible asset during its development. The probability of future economic benefits must be based on reasonable and supportable assumptions about conditions that will exist over the life of the asset. If an entity cannot distinguish the research phase of an internal project to create an intangible asset from the development phase, the entity treats the expenditure for that project as if it were incurred in the research phase only. The Group context of IAS 38 Since the early start-up stages of the business, the Group has and continues to invest significant expenditure in research and development into new animal treatments and therapies. This has resulted in a significant family of pharmaceutical treatments for pigs and poultry. Branded as Aivlosin, this product has developed over 20 years into treatments for multiple respiratory and intestinal infections – each of which have separate regulatory and marketing approvals in each target market. The work to bring Aivlosin from the laboratory to the commercial farm has moved through the classical phases of pharmaceutical development and the ECO Animal Health R&D model can be described by the following broad phases: • The discovery phase – in vitro, in laboratory • The proof of concept phase – key efficacy trials in small groups of animals • The exploratory development phase – optimisation of dose, economic validation • The full development phase – building the data set for dossier submission • Submission of an application for regulatory approval • Marketing and regulatory approval granted – commercial revenue begins The application of the principles of IAS 38 to the above model is to treat expenditure on Research and Development as an expense until the likely commercial benefits that will flow from the project can be judged to be highly probable. This means that the technical feasibility (judged by reference to efficacy) must be certain, the economic feasibility (judged by reference to manufacturing methodology, market intelligence, overall programme cost) has to be highly probable and the likelihood of gaining regulatory approval must be judged to be highly probable. The Directors consider that capitalisation will generally commence once a project enters the full development phase. In practice, work that is undertaken to build towards regulatory approval for a new treatment claim using Aivlosin (or other product) or an approval for marketing Aivlosin in a new geographical market can be viewed as starting at the full development phase and are likely to meet the capitalisation criteria whereas costs in relation to some of the Group’s more recently announced projects (for example the vaccine collaboration projects with The Pirbright Institute) would be considered to have not yet met the criteria for capitalisation and should have therefore been expensed. Such projects’ costs are likely to meet the capitalisation requirements once they are approved internally to commence the full development phase, subject to careful consideration of residual technical feasibility/risk. Amortisation of capitalised expenditure is determined with reference to the point at which regulatory approval is given to the product to which the expenditure relates. For historic periods, the approach adopted has been to amalgamate the expenditure incurred on all projects relating to the same product, since the last regulatory approval and then identify the next nearest regulatory approval given for that product in either the same or a subsequent half-year. Amortisation begins in the half-year following the receipt of regulatory approval. A full six months of amortisation is charged in the first half-year for which costs are amortised. Where the Group has capitalised costs which relate to multiple products, a proportional method is adopted to determined what ratio of costs capitalised to date should be subject to amortisation. This method first looks at capitalised costs that relate to specific products and identifies the proportion of such costs that are subject to amortisation at the end of any given half-year period. The ratio thus calculated is then applied to those costs that relate to multiple products to determine the portion that should be subject to amortisation. 6262 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 These approaches have been modified where it is possible to allocate an individual capitalised cost to a single identifiable project. In these cases the start date for amortisation is the half-year following the half-year period in which the project receives regulatory approval. Where regulatory approval has not been received for a project, the amortisation has not started. Amortisation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows: Aivlosin 5% on cost Ecomectin 10% on cost Trade marks and patents 10% on cost 2.9 Property, plant and equipment and depreciation Plant and equipment are stated at cost less depreciation. Depreciation is provided at rates calculated to write off the cost less estimated residual value of each asset over its expected useful life, as follows: Plant and machinery 10%-20% on cost Fixtures, fittings and equipment 10%-20% on cost Motor vehicles 25% on cost Freehold land and buildings valuations are measured as a level 3 recurring fair value measurement. The property is professionally valued by a qualified surveyor at least once every three years. Surpluses (which are not reversals of previous deficits) arising from the periodic valuations are taken to other comprehensive income, and deficits (which are not reversals of previous surpluses) are taken to the income statement within administrative expenses. Depreciation is provided at a rate calculated to expense the valuation less estimated residual value over the remaining useful life of the building at a rate of 2% per annum on a straight line basis. Land is not depreciated. 2.10 Impairment of non-financial assets The carrying amounts of the Group’s assets are reviewed at each year end, to determine whether there is any indication of impairment. If any such indication exists, the asset’s recoverable amount is estimated in order to determine the impairment loss if any. The recoverable amount is the higher of its fair value and its value in use. For intangible assets with an indefinite useful life or not available for use, an impairment test is performed at each year end. In assessing value in use, the expected future cashflows from the asset 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. An impairment loss is recognised in the income statement whenever the carrying amount of an asset or its cash-generating unit exceeds its recoverable amount. A previously recognised impairment loss for costs other than goodwill is reversed if the recoverable amount increases as a result of a change in the estimates used to determine the recoverable amount, but not to an amount higher than the carrying amount that would have been determined (net of depreciation) had no impairment loss been recognised in prior years and no reversal of impairment losses recognised on goodwill. 6363 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2.11 Investment property Investment property is property held either to earn rental income or for capital appreciation or for both, but not for sale in the ordinary course of business, use in the production or supply of goods or services or for administrative purposes. Investment property is measured at fair value as a level 3 recurring fair value measurement. The property is professionally valued by a qualified surveyor at least once every three years. Surpluses and deficits arising from the periodic valuations are taken to the income statement within administrative expenses. 2.12 Investments in subsidiaries An investment in a subsidiary is where the Group own a controlling interest in an entity. Investments in subsidiaries are stated at cost less impairment in the Parent Company’s statement of financial position. Other non-current asset investments are stated at fair value. They are recognised or derecognised on the date when the contract for acquisition or disposal requires the delivery of that investment. An impairment is recognised in profit or loss when there is objective evidence that the asset is impaired and is measured as the difference between the investment’s carrying amount and the present value of estimated future cashflows discounted at the effective interest rate adjusted for a risk premium. Impairment losses are reversed in subsequent periods when an increase in the investment’s recoverable amount can be related objectively to an event occurring after the impairment was recognised, subject to the restriction that the carrying amount of the investment at the date the impairment is reversed shall not exceed what the amortised costs would have been had the impairment not been recognised. 2.13 Joint Arrangements A joint arrangement is a contractual arrangement whereby the Group and other parties undertake an economic activity that is subject to joint control; that is, when the strategic financial and operating policy decisions relating to the activities require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control. The group classifies its interests in joint arrangements as either: – Joint ventures: where the group has rights to only the net assets of the joint arrangement – Joint operations: where the group has both the rights to assets and obligations for the liabilities of the joint arrangement. In assessing the classification of interests in joint arrangements, the Group considers: – The structure of the joint arrangement – The legal form of joint arrangements structured through a separate vehicle – The contractual terms of the joint arrangement agreement – Any other facts and circumstances (including any other contractual arrangements). The Group has interests in joint operations. The Group recognises its share of the assets, liabilities, income, expenses and cashflows of joint operations combined with the equivalent items in the consolidated financial statements on a line by line basis. 2.14 Investments in Associates An associate is an entity in which an investor has significant influence but not control or joint control. Significant influence is defined as “the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions but not to control them”. The Group reports its interests in associates using the equity method of accounting. Under this method, an equity investment is initially recorded at cost (subject to initial fair value adjustment if acquired as part of the acquisition of a subsidiary) and is subsequently adjusted to reflect the Group’s share of the net profit or loss of the associate. If the Group’s share of losses of an associate equals or exceeds its “interest in the associate”, the Group discontinues recognising its share of further losses. If the associate subsequently reports profits, the investor resumes recognising its share of those profits only after its share of the profits equals the share of losses not recognised. 6464 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2.15 Leasing The Group assesses at contract inception whether a contract is, or contains, a lease. That is, if the contract conveys the right to control the use of an identified asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration. The Group applies a single recognition and measurement approach for all leases under IFRS 16, except for short-term leases and leases of low-value assets. Right-of-use assets The Group recognises right-of-use assets at the commencement date of the lease, which is the date the underlying asset is available for use. Right-of-use assets are measured at cost, less any accumulated depreciation and impairment losses, and adjusted for any re-measurement of lease liabilities. The cost of right-of-use assets includes the amount of lease liabilities recognised, initial direct costs incurred, and lease payments made at or before the commencement date, less any lease incentives received. Right-of-use assets are depreciated on a straight-line basis over the lease term. If ownership of the leased asset transfers to the Group at the end of the lease term or the cost reflects the exercise of a purchase option, depreciation is calculated using the estimated useful life of the asset. The right-of-use assets are also subject to impairment. Refer to the accounting policies in the section 2.10 for further details. Lease liabilities At the commencement date of the lease, the Group recognises lease liabilities measured at the present value of the lease payments to be made over the lease term. The lease liabilities include the present value of the following lease payments: • • • • • fixed payments (including in-substance fixed payments), less any lease incentives receivable; variable lease payments that are based on an index or a rate, initially measured using the index or rate as at the commencement date; amounts expected to be payable by the Group under residual value guarantees; the exercise price of a purchase option if the Group is reasonably certain to exercise that option; and payments of penalties for terminating the lease, if the lease term reflects the Group exercising that option. Lease payments to be made under reasonably certain extension options are also included in the measurement of the liability. The lease payments are discounted using the interest rate implicit in the lease. If that rate cannot be readily determined, the lessee’s incremental borrowing rate is used, being the rate that the individual lessee would have to pay to borrow the funds necessary to obtain an asset of similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment with similar terms, security and conditions. In addition, the carrying amount of lease liabilities is re-measured if there is a modification, a change in the lease term, a change in the lease payments (for example, changes to future payments resulting from a change in an index or rate used to determine such lease payments) or a change in the assessment of an option to purchase the underlying asset. The Group is exposed to potential future increases in variable lease payments based on an index or rate, which are not included in the lease liability until they take effect. When adjustments to lease payments based on an index or rate take effect, the lease liability is reassessed and adjusted against the right-of-use asset. Lease payments are allocated between principal and finance cost. The finance cost is charged to profit or loss over the lease period to produce a constant periodic rate of interest on the remaining balance of the liability for each period. Extension and termination options Extension and termination options are included in a number of property and equipment leases across the Group. These are used to maximise operational flexibility in terms of managing the assets used in the Group’s operations. The majority of extension and termination options held are exercisable only by the Group and not by the respective lessor. 6565 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Group applies judgement in evaluating whether it is reasonably certain whether or not to exercise the option to renew or terminate the lease. That is, it considers all relevant factors that create an economic incentive for it to exercise either the renewal or termination. After the commencement date, the Group reassesses the lease term if there is a significant event or change in circumstances that is within its control and affects its ability to exercise or not to exercise the option to renew or to terminate. Recognition exemptions The Group applies the short-term lease recognition exemption to its short-term leases, being those leases that have a lease term of twelve months or less from the commencement date and do not contain a purchase option. The Group also applies the recognition exemption to leases of which the underlying asset is of low value, comprising assets below the Group’s capitalisation threshold. Lease payments on short-term leases and leases of low-value assets are recognised as an expense on a straight-line basis over the lease term. Practical expedients The Group applies a single discount rate to a portfolio of leases with reasonably similar characteristics. 2.16 Inventories Inventories are valued at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is determined using the historical batch price of the principal raw materials and the weighted average cost for other ingredients and other product costs. The cost of finished goods comprises raw materials, packaging costs and sub-contracted manufacturing costs. Net realisable value is the estimated selling price in the ordinary course of business, less any costs which would be incurred in completing the goods ready for sale. 2.17 Trade receivables Trade receivables are initially measured at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. Trade receivables are presented net of discounts or other variable consideration adjustments earned, where the expectation and intention is to settle the balance net. Impairment provisions are recognised based on the simplified approach in accordance with IFRS 9 using a provision matrix in the determination of the lifetime expected credit losses. See impairment section in section ‘2.6 Financial instruments’ for more details. 2.18 Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand, deposits held on call with banks, other short-term highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less. Bank overdrafts are shown within borrowings in current liabilities in the statement of financial position. For the purpose of the statement of cash flows, bank overdrafts are included in the presentation of cash and cash equivalents. 2.19 Financial liabilities and equity Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into. An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities. 2.20 Bank borrowings and loans Interest-bearing bank loans and overdrafts are recorded as the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs (which equate to fair value). Finance charges including premiums payable on settlement or redemption and direct issue costs are accounted for on an amortised cost basis in profit or loss using the effective interest rate method and are added to the carrying amount of the instrument to the extent that they are not settled in the period in which they arise. 6666 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2.21 Trade payables Trade payables are initially measured at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method. 2.22 Provisions Provisions are recognised when the Group has a present obligation as a result of a past event and it is probable that the Group will be required to settle the obligation. Provisions are measured at the Directors’ best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the obligation outstanding at the year end and are discounted to present value where the effect is material. 2.23 Revenue recognition Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods in the ordinary course of the Group’s activities. The Group’s revenue is principally derived from selling goods with revenue recognised at a point in time when control of the goods has transferred to the customer. Revenue is shown net of value added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within the Group. Transaction price is determined by the contract and variable consideration relating to discounts, free goods or volume rebates have been constrained in estimating contract revenue that is highly probable by using the most likely amount method. The Group’s contracts for delivery of goods are less than 12 months, there are no warranties within its sales contracts. Revenue is recognised when the performance obligation is fulfilled and the amount can be measured reliably. The performance obligation is fulfilled when control of the goods passes to the customer, which is normally in accordance with Incoterms or receipt by customer. No goods are dispatched on a sale or return basis. Distributors trade on their own account and not as agents. The Group also receives interest and royalty income, which are recognised on an accruals basis. 2.24 Pensions Defined Contribution Scheme The pension costs charged against operating profits represent the amount of the contributions payable to the schemes in respect of the accounting period. Defined Benefit Scheme The regular cost of providing retirement pensions and related benefits is charged to the income statement over the employees’ service lives on the basis of a constant percentage of earnings. The present value of the defined benefit obligation less the fair value of the plan assets is disclosed as an asset or liability in the statement of financial position in accordance with IAS 19. The disclosure of a net defined benefit asset is limited to the present value of any economic benefit available in the form of refunds from the plan or reductions in future contributions to the plan. Actuarial gains or losses are recognised through other comprehensive income. 2.25 Share-based payments The Group issues equity-settled share options to certain employees in exchange for services from those employees. Equity-settled share options are measured at fair value (excluding the effect of non-market based vesting conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant date of such equity-settled share options is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s estimate of shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non-market based vesting conditions (with a corresponding movement in equity). Fair value is measured by use of the Black-Scholes model. The expected life used in the model has been established based on management’s best estimate of the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions and behaviour considerations. 6767 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Further details of the inputs to the Black-Scholes model can be found in note 24 to the accumulating share based payment charges in reserves. Share-based payment charges are credited to retained earnings only; the share-based payment reserve account balance is subsumed within retained earnings. 2.26 Taxation Tax expense for the period comprises current and deferred tax. Current tax, including UK corporation tax and foreign tax is provided at amounts expected to be paid (or recovered) using the tax rates and laws that have been enacted or substantially enacted by the year end. Tax expenses are recognised in profit or loss or other comprehensive income according to the treatment of the transactions which give rise to them. Deferred income tax is recognised, using the liability method, on temporary differences arising between the tax basis of assets and liabilities and their carrying amount in the financial statements. Deferred income tax is determined using tax rates (and laws) that have been enacted, or substantially enacted, by the date of the statement of financial position and are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realised or deferred tax liability is settled. Deferred tax assets are recognised only to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits will be available against which the temporary differences can be utilised. IFRIC 23 Uncertainty over Income Tax Treatments IFIRC 23 provides guidance on the accounting for current and deferred tax liabilities and assets in circumstances in which there is uncertainty over income tax treatments. The interpretation requires: • • • The Group to determine whether uncertain tax treatments should be considered separately, or together as a group, based on which approach provides better predictions of the resolution; The Group to determine if it is probable that the tax authorities will accept the uncertain tax treatment; and If it is not probable that the uncertain tax treatment will be accepted, measure the tax uncertainty based on the most likely amount or expected value, depending on whichever method better predicts the resolution of the uncertainty. The measurement is required to be based on the assumption that each of the tax authorities will examine amounts they have a right to examine and have full knowledge of all related information when making those examinations. 2.27 Equity Ordinary shares are classified as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new shares or options are shown in equity as a deduction, net of tax, from the proceeds. Amounts arising on the restructuring of equity and reserves to protect creditor interests are credited to the capital redemption reserve. Amounts arising from share-based payment expenses recorded in the Group’s results are recorded within retained earnings. The cost of its own shares bought into treasury by the Company is debited to retained earnings as required by the Companies Act 2006. A subsequent sale of these shares would result in this entry being wholly or partly reversed with any profit on the sale being credited to Share Premium. Amounts arising from the revaluation of non-monetary assets and liabilities held in foreign subsidiaries, and joint operations are held within the foreign exchange revaluation reserve. 6868 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2.28 Non-controlling interest For each business combination, the Group elects to measure any non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at their proportionate share of the acquiree’s identifiable net assets. Changes in the Group’s interest in a subsidiary that do not result in a loss of control are accounted for as transactions with owners in their capacity as owner. Adjustments to non-controlling interests are based on a proportionate amount of the net assets of the subsidiary. No adjustments are made to goodwill and no gain or loss is recognised in the statement of profit or loss. 2.29 Dividend distribution Dividends are recorded when they become a legal obligation of the Company. For final dividends, this will be when they are approved by the shareholders at the AGM. For interim dividends, this will be when they have been paid. 2.30 Critical accounting estimates and judgements The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom equal the related actual results. 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 as follows: Capitalisation and impairment review of intangible assets The Group assesses development costs incurred for capitalisation in accordance with the requirements of IAS38 and the Group’s accounting policy described in note 2.8. The stage of development and assessment of technical and commercial feasibility, in particular, require the use of judgements and estimates in consultation with the new product development team. The Group tests annually whether intangible assets with indefinite life, or not yet available for use, have suffered any impairment. Other intangible assets are reviewed for impairment when an indication of potential impairment exists. Impairment provisions are recorded as applicable based on Directors’ estimates of recoverable values. The recoverable amounts of the Cash Generating Units (CGU’s) to which intangible assets are allocated are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding discount rates, growth rates and the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. The Group also reviews and quantifies the tax implications related to any recognised impairments and these are included within tax calculations as appropriate. Further details of the impairment reviews performed can be found in note 12 of the financial statements. Income taxes The Group is subject to income taxes predominantly in the United Kingdom but also in other jurisdictions. Significant judgements are required in determining the provision for income taxes including the use of tax losses and in estimating deferred tax assets arising from unused tax losses or credits. There are some transactions and calculations for which the ultimate tax determination is uncertain, including tax credits for research and development expenditures. The Group recognises assets and liabilities based on estimates of the final agreed position. Where the final tax outcome of these matters is different from the amounts that were initially recorded, such differences will impact the income tax and deferred tax provisions in the period in which such determination is made. Deferred tax assets on timing differences are recognised to the extent by which the Directors estimate that future profits will be generated to utilise the underlying costs or losses to which they relate. Pension scheme The Group maintains one defined benefit pension scheme which has been accounted for according to the provisions of IAS 19. Although the assumptions were determined by a qualified actuary, any change in those assumptions may materially impact the financial position and results of the Group. Details of the assumptions used can be found in note 23 of the financial statements. 6969 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Share-based payments The charge to the Income Statement in respect of share-based payments has been externally calculated using management’s best estimates of the amount of options expected to vest and various other inputs to the Black-Scholes valuation model, as disclosed in note 24. Variations in those assumptions in the model may have a material impact on the Group’s results and financial position at the time of valuation. Leases – estimating the incremental borrowing rate Where the Group cannot readily determine the interest rate implicit in the lease, it uses its incremental borrowing rate (IBR) to measure lease liabilities. The IBR is the rate of interest that the Group would have to pay to borrow over a similar term, and with a similar security, the funds necessary to obtain an asset of a similar value to the right-of-use asset in a similar economic environment. The IBR therefore reflects what the Group ‘would have to pay’, which requires estimation when no observable rates are available or when they need to be adjusted to reflect the terms and conditions of the lease. In practice, the Group considered the following aspects in the assessment of IBR. Once decided, the IBR will remain unchanged unless there are modifications in lease terms or changes in the assessment of an option to purchase the underlying asset. A base rate that reflects economic environment and the term of the lease. This is mainly derived from the yield of a government bond issued by the country in which the Group has in scope leases. Where the term of the lease does not conform with the maturity period of the bond, the Group considered other available information such as yields on the bonds with the nearest maturity period, or the yield curve published by the country’s treasury department. Considering there is often a difference in the cash flow profile between a lease and government bond, the Group has decided to reduce the base rate by 0.05% to 0.10%. Financing factors that reflect the lessee companies’ risk premium on borrowing. Management considered the financial strength and credit risk of the lessee companies and has estimated the credit spread to be in the range of 1.50% to 5.00%. Asset factors that reflect the quality of hypothetical security. Depending on the location and type of underlying assets, the Group expects the quality of security in this hypothetical borrowing transaction to vary. For example, the right to use a warehouse in rural areas may provide less relevant security compared to commercial office in a major city’s central business district. Based on the Group’s assessment, the asset factor ranges between - 0.45% to - 0.50%. The weighted average of the discount rates applied by the Group is as follows: Property Vehicle Other Weighted average Fair value measurement 2021 2020 5.9% 29.0% 4.0% 7.2% 5.9% 29.0% 4.0% 7.1% A number of assets and liabilities included in the Group’s financial statements require measurement, and/or disclosure of, fair value. 7070 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The fair value measurement of the Group’s financial and non-financial assets and liabilities utilises market observable inputs and data as far as possible. Inputs used in determining fair value measurements are categorised into different levels based on how observable the inputs used in the valuation technique utilised are (the ‘fair value hierarchy’): – Level 1 : Quoted prices in active markets for identical items (unadjusted) – Level 2 : Observable direct or indirect inputs other than Level 1 inputs – Level 3 : Unobservable inputs (i.e. not derived from market data). The classification of an item into the above levels is based on the lowest level of inputs used that has a significant effect on the fair value measurement of the item. The Group measures a number of items at fair value, including: • • Land and buildings (note 13); Investment property (note 14); • Pension and other post-retirement benefit commitments (note 23); • Share-based payments (note 24); and • Initial recognition of financial instruments (note 32). For more detailed information in relation to the fair value measure of the items above please refer to the applicable notes. 3. Prior year restatement Development costs capitalisation reassessment The Group recognises certain costs as intangible assets, including costs relating to the development of drugs registration, patents, licenses, and distribution rights. Prior to recognising these intangible assets, the Group assesses the assets for attributes including identifiability, control, and future economic benefits as set out in note 2.8 of these financial statements. For the year ended 31 March 2020 Annual Report and Accounts, the Directors performed a detailed exercise to re-visit all prior periods’ capitalised development costs, in order to determine which costs met the capitalisation criteria at the date they were incurred, based on all available accounting records and information, and recorded a prior period adjustment to expense all such costs which did not meet the capitalisation criteria. The Directors applied estimates of what proportion of capitalised development costs should have been expensed, for periods prior to 2014, where all applicable accounting records could not be located in the available time before the 2020 Annual Report and Accounts were signed. Those estimates were consistent with the proportion of capitalised costs subsequently expensed as part of the overall prior year adjustment exercise, which considered all prior periods’ capitalised development costs, for more recent periods where accounting records were available and reviewed. For the year ended 31 March 2021 Annual Report and Accounts, the Directors revisited costs in respect of periods prior to 2014 and completed their search for all available evidence. The Directors also completed their search and provision of evidence to support the capitalisation of costs, incurred during the periods from 2014 to 31 March 2018, for audit purposes. There were certain staff costs capitalised between 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2013 where there were insufficient records to support the time spent by certain development staff on projects qualifying for capitalisation. For assets recognised prior to 31 March 2011, only limited records were available, and it was not possible to definitively support the original recognition of these assets. The Directors concluded, after extensive efforts, that it is no longer possible to locate or reconstruct these records. 7171 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 As the Directors identified errors in the capitalisation of costs where sufficient records are still available, they reconsidered the requirements of IAS 8 for those costs for which sufficient records are not available (i.e. all costs prior to 31 March 2011 and staff costs prior to 31 March 2013) as they consider it is likely that further errors were made but the lack of records make it impracticable to fully quantify the errors. The Directors concluded that, given the practical limitations to full retrospective restatement to correct the errors and the requirements of IAS 8 where such limitations exist, it is appropriate to retrospectively de-recognise any capitalised development cost balances in the balance sheet relating to the period before 31 March 2011 and any development staff costs prior to 31 March 2013. It is not practicable to determine what balances should have been recognised in their place. In order to reflect the impact of this final exercise, a revision to the prior period adjustment in respect of development costs recorded in the 31 March 2020 Annual Report, has been required. As a result, the Group has de-recognised all intangible assets relating to drugs registration, patents, licenses, and distribution rights recognised prior to 31 March 2011 and the aforementioned intangible assets relating to certain development staff costs capitalised between 31 March 2011 and 31 March 2013. The effect is equivalent to these assets not having been recognised originally. The prior year restatement did not have an impact on the individual financial statements of the Company. The impact of the prior year restatement on the Group’s financial statements is detailed below. Impact on the Group consolidated income statement for the year to 31 March 2020 As reported Adjustments As restated £000’s £000’s £000’s 72,106 (38,742) 33,364 105 (28,274) 5,195 112 (142) (30) 42 42 5,207 (1,032) 4,175 - - - - 940 940 - - - - 940 373 1,313 72,106 (38,742) 33,364 105 (27,334) 6,135 112 (142) (30) 42 42 6,147 (659) 5,488 Revenue Cost of sales Gross profit Other income Administrative expenses Profit from operating activities Finance income Finance costs Net finance (expense)/income Share of profit of associate Profit before income tax Income tax charge Profit for the year 7272 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Profit attributable to: Owners of the parent Company Non-controlling interest Profit for the year Earnings per share (pence) Diluted earnings per share (pence) As reported Adjustments As restated £000’s £000’s £000’s 2,582 1,593 4,175 3.82 3.67 1,313 - 1,313 1.95 1.87 3,895 1,593 5,488 5.77 5.54 Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation, Amortisation, Share Based Payments and Foreign Exchange Differences 8,362 - 8,362 Impact on the Group statement of comprehensive income for the year to 31 March 2020 As reported Adjustments As restated £000’s £000’s £000’s Profit for the year 4,175 1,313 5,488 Other comprehensive income/(losses) net of related tax effects: Revaluation of freehold property Foreign currency translation differences Deferred tax on property revaluations Remeasurement of defined benefit pension schemes Other comprehensive income/(losses) for the year (92) 98 - 12 18 - - - - - (92) 98 - 12 18 Total comprehensive income for the year 4,193 1,313 5,506 Attributable to: Owners of the parent Company Non-controlling interest 2,561 1,632 4,193 1,313 - 1,313 3,874 1,632 5,506 7373 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Impact on consolidated Statement of financial position Non-current assets Intangible assets Property, plant and equipment Investment property Right-of-use assets Investments Amounts due from subsidiary Company Deferred tax assets Total non-current assets Current assets Inventories Trade and other receivables Income tax recoverable Other taxes and social security Cash and cash equivalents Total current assets TOTAL ASSETS Current Liabilities Trade and other payables Borrowings Income tax payable Other taxes and social security Lease liabilities Dividends Current liabilities Net current assets/(liabilities) 2020 as reported Adjustments 2020 as restated 2019 as reported Adjustments 2019 as restated £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 41,439 2,426 305 1,658 166 - - (5,419) 36,020 41,009 (6,359) 34,650 - - - - - 2,426 305 1,658 166 - - 2,144 200 1,675 116 - - - - - - - - 2,144 200 1,675 116 - - 45,994 (5,419) 40,575 45,144 (6,359) 38,785 17,264 28,353 1,265 652 11,877 59,411 - - - - - - 17,264 28,353 1,265 652 11,877 59,411 19,477 23,333 827 462 16,863 60,962 - - - - - - 19,477 23,333 827 462 16,863 60,962 105,405 (5,419) 99,986 106,106 (6,359) 99,747 (14,486) (2,032) (940) - (342) (50) (17,850) 41,561 - - - - - - - - (14,486) (13,363) (2,032) (940) - (342) (50) - (816) (533) (330) (49) (17,850) (15,091) 41,561 82,136 45,871 91,015 - - - - - - - - (13,363) - (816) (533) (330) (49) (15,091) 45,871 (6,359) 84,656 Total assets less current liabilities 87,555 (5,419) Non-current liabilities Deferred tax Lease liabilities (636) (1,424) 373 - (263) (1,424) - (1,440) - - TOTAL ASSETS LESS TOTAL LIABILITIES 85,495 (5,046) 80,449 89,575 (6,359) - (1,440) 83,216 7474 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 EQUITY Issued share capital Share premium account Revaluation reserve Other reserves Foreign exchange reserve Retained earnings Shareholders’ funds Non-controlling interests Total equity 2020 as reported Adjustments 2020 as restated 2019 as reported Adjustments 2019 as restated £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 3,377 62,882 572 106 526 12,266 79,729 5,766 - - - - - 3,377 3,372 62,882 62,650 572 106 526 664 106 467 - - - - - (5,046) (5,046) 7,220 17,214 74,683 84,473 (6,359) (6,359) - 5,766 5,102 - 3,372 62,650 664 106 467 10,855 78,114 5,102 85,495 (5,046) 80,449 89,575 (6,359) 83,216 Impact on the Group statement of cash flows for the year ended 31 March 2020: Cash flows from operating activities Profit/(loss) before income tax Adjustment for: Finance income Finance cost Foreign exchange gain/(loss) Depreciation Amortisation of right-of-use assets Revaluation of investment property Amortisation of intangible assets Share of associate’s results Impairment of investments Share based charge Dividends received Operating cash flows before movements in working capital Change in inventories Change in receivables Change in payables Cash generated from operations As reported Adjustments As restated £000’s £000’s £000’s 5,207 940 6,147 (112) 142 62 334 389 (64) - - - - - - 1,685 (940) (42) - 284 - 7,885 2,212 (5,209) 603 5,491 - - - - - - - - - (112) 142 62 334 389 (64) 745 (42) - 284 - 7,885 2,212 (5,209) 603 5,491 7575 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Finance costs Income tax Net cash from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Acquisition of property, plant and equipment Disposal of property, plant and equipment Purchase of intangibles Finance income Dividends received Net cash (used in)/from investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Proceeds from borrowings (note 20) Proceeds from issue of share capital Interest paid on lease liabilities Principal paid on lease liabilities Dividends paid Net cash (used in)/from financing activities Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Foreign exchange movements Balance at the beginning of the period Balance at the end of the period As reported Adjustments As restated £000’s £000’s £000’s (17) (1,076) 4,398 (767) - (2,115) 112 - (2,770) 2,032 237 (125) (364) (8,421) (6,641) (5,013) 27 16,863 11,877 - - - - - - - - - (2,032) - - - - (2,032) (2,032) - - (2,032) (17) (1,076) 4,398 (767) - (2,115) 112 - (2,770) - 237 (125) (364) (8,421) (8,673) (7,045) 27 16,863 9,845 7676 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 4. Segment information Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board to make strategic decisions. The Board considers the business from a geographical perspective. Geographically, management considers the performance in the Corporate/UK, China and Japan, North America, South and South East Asia, Latin America, Europe and the Rest of the World. Revenues are geographically allocated by the destination of customer. The performance of these geographical segments is measured using Earnings before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (“Adjusted EBITDA*”), adjusted to exclude share based payments expenses. Corporate/ U.K. China & Japan North America S & SE Asia Latin America Europe Rest of World Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Year ended 31 March 2021 Revenue from external customers 1,471 58,906 13,887 9,118 14,265 6,580 1,380 105,607 Sale of goods Royalties 1,471 58,906 13,887 - - - 9,118 - 14,265 6,580 - - 1,204 176 105,431 176 1,471 58,906 13,887 9,118 14,265 6,580 1,380 105,607 Adjusted EBITDA** Total Assets (17,644) 33,136 26,080 59,568 4,973 8,109 3,390 3,165 3,260 9,641 1,597 2,250 515 754 22,171 116,623 Year ended 31 March 2020 Revenue from external customers Sale of goods Royalties 1,768 23,148 11,635 14,175 12,601 7,590 1,189 72,106 1,768 23,148 11,635 14,175 12,601 7,590 - - - - - - 1,032 157 71,949 157 1,768 23,148 11,635 14,175 12,601 7,590 1,189 72,106 Adjusted EBITDA** Total Assets - restated (15,011) 25,504 6,499 31,417 4,196 17,212 6,266 7,968 2,286 12,355 2,951 4,585 636 945 7,823 99,986 During the year, the revenue from sales to one particular customer in the ‘China & Japan’ segment was £15,692,000 (2020: £5,898,000), which is greater than 10 percent of the revenue of the Group. Goodwill and other intangible assets are initially allocated to the geographical segments on the basis of the proportion of sales achieved by each segment. 7777 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 A reconciliation of adjusted EBITDA for reportable segments to profit from operating activities is provided as follows: Adjusted EBITDA for reportable segments Depreciation Amortisation of right-of-use assets Revaluation of investment property Amortisation Share-based payment charges Profit from operating activities 2021 £000’s 22,171 (430) (403) - (898) (123) 20,317 2020 £000’s Restated* 7,823 (334) (389) 64 (745) (284) 6,135 * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. ** Adjusted EBITDA reported for the segments includes foreign exchange gains and losses. The Adjusted EBITDA for the Group is presented in note 6. Product Revenues Aivlosin Ecomectin Others Total Contract Balances Within one year or on demand At 1 April Amounts included in contract liabilities that was recognised as revenue during the period Cash received in advance of performance and not recognised as revenue during the period At 31 March 2021 £000’s 87,549 4,234 13,824 105,607 2021 £000’s 594 (594) 2,155 2,155 2020 £000’s 60,686 3,951 7,469 72,106 2020 £000’s 847 (847) 594 594 The Group recognised contract liabilities of £2,155,000 at 31 March 2021 (2020: £594,000). The Group does not hold any long term sales contracts and any rebates, discounts or free goods incentives are settled and recognised as revenue within the next accounting period. Contract balances are reported within trade and other payables on the Statement of Financial Position. 7878 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 5. Other income Management charges Sundry income 6. Result from operating activities 2021 £000’s - 319 319 2020 £000’s 7 98 105 2021 2020 Notes £000’s £000’s Restated* Result from operating activities is stated after charging/(crediting): Cost of inventories recognised as an expense Employee benefits expenses Amortisation of intangible assets Depreciation Amortisation of right-of-use assets Revaluation of investment property Loss/(gain) on foreign exchange transactions Research and development Impairment losses on trade receivables Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the parent Company and Group annual accounts Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries Fees payable to the Company’s auditor for the audit of the parent company and Group annual accounts, for the year ended 31 March 2021, were £350,000 (2020: £414,000), and fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries were £48,000 (2020: £460,000). 12 13 15 14 51,864 14,867 898 430 403 - 2,230 8,072 (65) 442 475 38,381 9,968 745 334 389 (64) 539 8,775 139 54 47 7979 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s Restated* 20,317 6,135 430 403 - 898 123 22,171 2,230 24,401 334 389 (64) 745 284 7,823 539 8,362 Earnings before interest, tax, depreciation, amortisation and impairment, share-based payments and foreign exchange differences (adjusted EBITDA) Profit from operating activities Depreciation Amortisation of right-of-use assets Revaluation of investment property Amortisation Share-based payments Foreign exchange differences Adjusted EBITDA * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. Management believe that adjusted EBITDA is an appropriate measure of the Group’s performance as it is the initial source for all re-investment and for all returns to shareholders. Investors, bankers and analysts all focus on this important measure of underlying performance because it enables them to make judgements about the Group’s ability to generate sufficient cash to meet all the re-investment needs of the business while still providing adequate returns to shareholders. Therefore, adjusted EBITDA has a direct relationship with the value of the Group and is seen by our investors as a Key Performance Indicator for management. The following items are adjusted for in the calculation of adjusted EBITDA as defined by the Group. Item Rationale for Adjustment Depreciation and Amortisation These items are a result of past investments and therefore, although they are correctly recorded as a cost of the business, they do not reflect current or future cash outflows. Revaluation of Investment Property Gains and Losses on Disposal of Fixed Assets and Impairment of Intangibles Share Based Payments Foreign Exchange differences Additionally, Depreciation and Amortisation calculations are subject to judgement regarding useful lives and residual values of particular assets and the adjustment removes the element of judgement. These are subject to judgement and do not reflect cash flows. These items are a result of past investments and therefore, although they are correctly recorded as income or cost of the business, they do not reflect current or future cash outflows. This item is subject to judgement and will never be reflected in the Group’s cash flows. Since the key driver of this figure is the revaluation of monetary assets denominated in foreign currency at the period end, which may reverse prior to settlement, taking this figure out of the EBITDA figure removes volatility from the performance measure. Foreign exchange movements are largely outside of the Group’s control, so this gives a better measure of the Group’s progress than statutory profit measures which include them. 8080 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 7. Finance income/(expense) 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s Finance income Interest received on short term bank deposits 129 112 Finance costs Interest paid Interest paid on lease liabilities 8. Earnings per share (79) (121) (200) (71) (18) (124) (142) (30) The calculation of basic earnings per share is based on the post-tax profit for the year divided by the weighted average number of shares in issue during the year. 2021 Weighted average number of shares 2020 Restated* Weighted average number of shares Per share amount Per share amount Earnings 000’s pence £000’s 000’s pence Earnings £000’s 8,158 67,559 12.08 3,895 67,530 5.77 Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders on continuing operations after tax Dilutive effect of share options - 44 Diluted earnings per share 8,158 67,603 (0.01) 12.07 - 2,783 3,895 70,313 (0.23) 5.54 Diluted earnings per share takes into account the dilutive effect of share options. * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. 8181 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 9. Taxation Current tax Foreign corporation tax on profits for the year Withholding tax on intercompany dividend Research and development tax credits claimed in the year Research and development tax credits - adjustment for prior year Deferred tax Origination and reversal of temporary differences Due to change in effective rate Income tax charge Origination and reversal of temporary differences Due to change in effective rate Deferred tax recognised through reserves Factors affecting the tax charge for the year Profit on ordinary activities before taxation Profit on ordinary activities before taxation multiplied by the applicable rate of UK corporation tax of 19% (2020: 19%) Effects of: Non-deductible expenses Non-chargeable credits Right-of-use assets depreciation Withholding tax on inter-company dividends Enhanced allowance on research and development expenditure Adjustment in respect of prior years Different tax rate for foreign subsidiaries Reduced effective deferred tax rate Origination and reversal of temporary differences Unused tax losses carried forward Income tax charge * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. 8282 2021 £000’s 5,921 31 (1,569) (752) 4 - 3,635 (84) - (84) 2021 £000’s 20,284 3,854 326 (141) (40) 31 (990) (751) 1,273 - (116) 189 3,635 2020 £000’s Restated* 1,520 54 (1,000) 196 (186) 75 659 373 1 374 2020 £000’s Restated* 6,147 1,168 165 (68) (35) 54 (560) (196) 165 76 (346) 236 659 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Applicable tax rate per UK legislation Effects of: Non-deductible expenses Non-chargeable credits Right-of-use assets depreciation Withholding tax on inter-company dividends Enhanced allowance on research and development expenditure Adjustment in respect of prior years Different tax rate for foreign subsidiaries Reduced effective deferred tax rate Origination and reversal of temporary differences Unused tax losses carried forward Effective tax rate Future tax changes On 5 March 2021 it was announced that the rate of UK corporation tax would be increased to 25% from 1 April 2023; however, at the reporting date of 31 March 2021, this change had not been substantively enacted. As such, the UK deferred tax assets and liabilities have been calculated based on the enacted rate of 19%. At the year ended 31 March 2021 the Group had unused overseas tax losses amounting to £nil (2020: £3.8 million) for which no deferred tax asset has been recognised. 10. Profit for the financial year Parent Company’s profit/(loss) for the financial year 2021 £000’s (903) 2020 £000’s (151) The Company has elected to take the exemption under Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present the Parent Company income statement. 2021 % 19.00 1.61 (0.70) (0.20) 0.15 (4.88) (3.70) 6.28 - (0.57) 0.93 17.92 2020 % Restated* 19.00 2.69 (1.10) (0.56) 0.88 (9.11) (3.19) 2.68 1.24 (5.63) 3.84 10.74 8383 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 11. Dividends Cash dividends on ordinary shares declared and paid: Interim dividend for the year ended 31 March 2019 at 4.0p per ordinary share (settled 12 April 2019) Final dividend for the year ended 31 March 2019 at 7.04p per ordinary share (settled 16 October 2019) Proposed dividends on ordinary shares: Final dividend for the year end 31 March 2021 at 1.0p per ordinary share 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s - - - 2,698 4,755 7,453 677 - The Board of Directors proposes that a dividend of 1.0p per ordinary share to be paid for the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020: £nil). Proposed dividends on ordinary shares are subject to approval at the annual general meeting and are not recognised as a liability as at date of the Statement of Financial Position. 8484 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 12. Intangible fixed assets Group Cost At 31 March 2019 - as reported Prior year adjustment At 31 March 2019 - as restated Additions At 31 March 2020 - as restated Additions At 31 March 2021 Amortisation At 31 March 2019 - as reported Prior year adjustment At 31 March 2019 - as restated Charge for the year Prior year adjustment At 31 March 2020 - as restated Charge for the year At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 - as restated At 31 March 2019 - as restated Goodwill Distribution rights Drug registrations, patents and license costs Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 17,930 - 17,930 - 17,930 - 17,930 - - - - - - - - 17,930 17,930 17,930 1,442 (1,035) 407 - 407 - 407 (735) 635 (100) (70) 50 (120) (19) (139) 268 287 307 39,470 (18,608) 20,862 2,115 22,977 986 23,963 (17,098) 12,649 (4,449) (1,615) 890 (5,174) (879) (6,053) 17,910 17,803 16,413 58,842 (19,643) 39,199 2,115 41,314 986 42,300 (17,833) 13,284 (4,549) (1,685) 940 (5,294) (898) (6,192) 36,108 36,020 34,650 The amortisation and impairment charges are included within administrative expenses in the income statement. Entity Date of acquisition 2021 & 2020 Distribution rights are amortised over their estimated useful life of 20 years and reviewed for impairment when any indication of potential impairment exists. The remaining amortisation period at the date of the financial statements ranged from 4 to 20 years. Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. The carrying value of goodwill is attributable to the following cash generating units: ECO Animal Health Limited 1 October 2004 Zhejiang Eco Biok Animal Health Products Limited 1 April 2007 ECO Animal Health Japan Inc 24 December 2009 £000’s 17,359 94 477 17,930 8585 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Goodwill acquired in a business combination is allocated at acquisition to the cash generating units (CGU’s) that are expected to benefit from the business combination. The recoverable amounts of the CGU’s are determined from value in use calculations. The key assumptions for the value in use calculations are those regarding discount rates, growth rates and the estimated remaining useful life of the asset. The Group prepares cashflow forecasts that cover the two year period after the Statement of Financial Position date and then extrapolates them assuming a 3% annual growth rate which is well below the past performance of the business. The Directors believe that the long-term growth rate assumed does not exceed the average long-term growth rate for the relevant markets. Management estimates discount rates using the pre-tax rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the CGU’s. In the current year management estimated the applicable rate to be 8% (2020: 8%). Management considers that there is adequate headroom when comparing the net present value of the cashflows to the carrying value of goodwill to conclude that no impairment is necessary this year. On assumptions as at each period end the excess of recoverable amount over carrying value is over £76 million (2020: £130 million). Management believes that the most significant assumption in the calculation of value in use is the estimated growth rate. However, even if the growth rate were to be zero, the recoverable amount would still be over £73 million (2020: £119 million) more than the carrying value and no impairment would be necessary. The net book value of Drug registrations, patents and license costs can be broken down as follows: Aivlosin Ecomectin Others 2021 £000’s 15,161 2,466 283 17,910 2020 £000’s Restated* 15,041 2,449 313 17,803 * Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year adjustment Aivlosin is a highly effective antibiotic that treats a range of specific enteric (gut) and respiratory diseases in pigs and poultry, ensuring a rapid return to health. In addition to the welfare benefits, healthy animals gain weight faster, digest food more efficiently and get to market earlier which all bring economic benefit to the farmer. Substantial ongoing product development covering more formulations, species and diseases is expected to substantially further increase its revenue generating potential. The remaining useful life is from 4 to 20 years. Ecomectin is an endectocide that controls worms, ticks, lice and mange in grazing stock and pigs. The remaining useful life is 0 to 10 years. At 31 March 2021 Intangible assets included £5,791,000 (2020 restated: £4,822,000) of assets capitalised that had not commenced their useful life, of which approximately £4,909,000 (2020 restated: £3,985,000) were Aivlosin related products. The directors have conducted impairment reviews and no impairment is required. Following restatement, no impairment indicators have been identified in relation to intangible assets in commercial use. Drug registrations and licences are amortised over their estimated useful lives of 10 to 20 years, which is the Directors’ estimate of the time it would take to develop a new product allowing for the Group’s patent protection and the exclusivity period which comes with certain registrations. All such costs are recorded in the UK/Corporate reporting segment. The Directors have assessed the carrying value of intangible assets for indicators of value impairment for the year ended 31 March 2021 and have concluded that no impairment is necessary. 8686 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 13. Property, plant and equipment Group Cost or valuation At 1 April 2019 Additions Disposals Revaluation in the year Reclassification Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2020 Additions Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2021 Depreciation At 1 April 2019 Charge for the year Disposals Revaluation in the year Reclassification Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2020 Charge for the year Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 At 31 March 2019 Freehold Land and Buildings Leasehold improve- ments Plant and Machinery Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment Motor Vehicles Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 760 - - (145) 53 - 668 - - (1) - 555 - - - - 555 - - - 667 555 - (15) - 13 (7) - (9) (14) - - - - - - - - - (103) - - 1,886 40 - - (937) (3) 986 64 (247) (16) 787 (978) (44) - - 310 2 (710) (47) 244 10 1,282 157 (432) - 648 (5) 1,650 153 (34) (21) 1,748 (860) (241) 426 - (137) - (812) (238) 29 10 82 15 (6) - 236 (16) 311 2 (29) (15) 269 (28) (34) 4 - (166) 11 (213) (28) 26 10 4,010 767 (438) (145) - (24) 4,170 219 (310) (53) 4,026 (1,866) (334) 430 13 - 13 (1,744) (430) 299 30 (23) (103) (503) (1,011) (205) (1,845) 644 659 760 452 555 - 284 276 908 737 838 422 64 98 54 2,181 2,426 2,144 The freehold land and buildings at Coombe Road, New Malden was valued at £615,000 at 31 March 2020 by Colliers International Valuation UK LLP (external independent qualified valuers). The fair value of the freehold property was determined by applying a 7.5% discount rate to the annual rental value of the property as determined by local market conditions. The Group considers the fair value of the property determined. This property will continue to be valued on a regular basis. 8787 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Valuation Technique used Significant unobservable inputs Inter-relationship between key unobservable inputs and fair value RICS Valuation – Global Standards (‘Red Book Global Standards’) Estimated market rent Capital Value Reduced marketability and hence rent achievable by the property. Price per square foot in local market. Yield in local market General condition Statutory searches Environmental matters In determining the fair value of freehold land and buildings level-3 fair value inputs are used. The significant unobservable inputs used in establishing the fair value of freehold land and buildings are the estimated market rent and capital value. The Directors believe that the fair value of freehold land and buildings reflects the carrying value and a significant change in unobservable inputs would not significantly increase or reduce the fair value of the freehold land and buildings. The freehold property of 78 Coombe Road, New Malden is subject to a legal charge held by the Company’s bankers dated 20 March 1987. The value of the freehold property would have been recorded at £239,000 (2020: £249,000) on a historical cost basis. Depreciation has been included in the administrative expenses line in the income statement, except for £118,000 (2020: £129,000) of depreciation of production equipment in the Chinese subsidiary ECO Biok and for £6,000 (2020: £1,000) of depreciation in Pharmgate Animal Health USA LLC, which are included within cost of sales. 8888 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Company Freehold Land and Buildings Fixtures, Fittings and Equipment Total Cost or valuation £000’s £000’s £000’s At 1 April 2019 Additions Disposals Revaluation in the year At 31 March 2020 Additions At 31 March 2021 Depreciation At 1 April 2019 Charge for the year restated Disposals Revaluation in the year At 31 March 2020 Charge for the year At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 At 31 March 2019 760 - - (145) 615 - 615 - (13) - 13 - (12) (12) 603 615 760 167 1 (154) - 14 44 58 927 1 (154) (145) 629 44 673 (158) (158) (4) 155 - (7) (3) (10) 48 7 9 (17) 155 13 (7) (15) (22) 651 622 769 8989 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 14. Investment property Group and Company At 1 March 2019 Revaluation in 2020 At 31 March 2020 Revaluation in 2021 At 31 March 2021 Freehold Land and Buildings £000’s 200 105 305 - 305 The property in Western Road, Mitcham was valued at £305,000 as at 31 March 2020 by Colliers International Valuation UK LLP (external independent qualified valuer). The fair value of the investment property was determined by applying a 7.75% discount rate to the annual rental value of the property as determined by local market conditions. The Group considers the fair value of the property determined in this valuation continues to be reflective of the fair value of the property at 31 March 2021 and is not significantly different to the open market value. No significant costs have been incurred in the repairs and maintenance of the property during the year. The value of the investment property would have been recorded at £130,000 on a historical cost basis. Valuation Technique used Significant unobservable inputs Inter-relationship between key unobservable inputs and fair value RICS Valuation – Global Standards (‘Red Book Global Standards’) Estimated market rent Capital value Reduced marketability and hence rent achievable by the property. Price per square foot in local market. Yield in local market General condition Statutory searches Environmental matters In determining the fair value of investment property level-3 fair value inputs are used. The significant unobservable inputs used in establishing the fair value of investment property are the estimated market rent and capital value. The Directors believe that the fair value of investment property reflects the carrying value and a significant change in unobservable inputs would not significantly increase or reduce the fair value of the investment property. 9090 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 15. Right-of-use assets Group Cost or valuation At 1 April 2019 Additions Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2020 Additions Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2021 Depreciation At 1 April 2019 Charge for the year Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2020 Charge for the year Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 At 31 March 2019 Property Vehicles £000’s £000’s Other £000’s Total £000’s 2,239 370 (494) (2) 2,113 129 - (41) 2,201 (714) (323) 494 1 (542) (347) - 11 (878) 1,323 1,571 1,525 229 - (33) 2 198 58 (109) - 147 (91) (61) 33 - (119) (52) 96 - (75) 72 79 138 22 - - 1 23 - - (1) 22 (10) (5) - - (15) (4) - 1 (18) 4 8 12 2,490 370 (527) 1 2,334 187 (109) (42) 2,370 (815) (389) 527 1 (676) (403) 96 12 (971) 1,399 1,658 1,675 9191 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Vehicles £000’s Other £000’s Total £000’s 115 - (19) (1) 95 40 (67) - 68 (61) (31) 19 1 (72) (23) 63 - (32) 36 23 54 7 - - - 7 - - - 7 (4) (1) - - (5) (1) - - (6) 1 2 3 122 - (19) (1) 102 40 (67) - 75 (65) (32) 19 1 (77) (24) 63 - (38) 37 25 57 Company Cost or valuation At 1 April 2019 Additions Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2020 Additions Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2021 Depreciation At 1 April 2019 Charge for the year Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2020 Charge for the year Disposals Foreign exchange movements At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 At 31 March 2019 9292 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 16. Fixed asset investments Group At 31 March 2019 Share of associate's result for the year Foreign exchange differences At 31 March 2020 Share of associate's result for the year Foreign exchange differences At 31 March 2021 Company Cost At 31 March 2019, 2020 Disposed At 31 March 2021 Impairment At 1 April 2019 Impairment charge At 31 March 2020 Impairment charge Disposal At 31 March 2021 Net Book Value At 31 March 2021 At 31 March 2020 At 31 March 2019 Petlove Limited, a former subsidiary of the Company, which was fully impaired in the financial year ended 31 March 2020, was dissolved on 27 October 2020. Investment in Associate Unlisted investments £000’s £000’s 107 42 8 157 38 (24) 171 9 - - 9 - - 9 Unlisted investments (subsidiaries) £000’s 20,077 (25) 20,052 - (45) (45) - 25 (20) Total £000’s 116 42 8 166 38 (24) 180 Total £000’s 20,077 (25) 20,052 - (45) (45) - 25 (20) 20,032 20,032 20,032 20,032 20,077 20,077 9393 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Company holds more than 20% of the share capital of the following companies: Subsidiary undertakings held by the Company Company Registered office address Country of registration or incorporation Class Shares held % Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited Zhongguan Industrial Area, Deqing, Zhejiang Province P. R. China Ordinary ECO Animal Health Limited 78 Coombe Road, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 4QS Great Britain Ordinary 3* 100 Subsidiary undertakings held by the Group ECO Animal Health Southern Africa (Pty) Limited. Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited. Shanghai ECO Biok Veterinary Drug Sale Company Ltd. (via Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Products Ltd.) 228 Athol Road, Highlands North, Johannesburg 2192 South Africa Ordinary 100 Zhongguan Industrial Area, Deqing, Zhejiang Province P. R. China Ordinary 51* Room 1502-3, Imago Plaza, No. 99 Wuning Road, Ptro District, Shanghai 200063 P. R. China Ordinary 51 ECO Animal Health do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Veterinarios Ltda. Av. Dr. Cardoso de Melo, 1470, Cl311, Villa Olimpia, CEP 04548-005, Sao Paulo ECO Animal Health Japan Inc. 1-2-1, Hamamatsu-cho, Minato-Ku, Tokyo ECO Animal Health USA Corp. 344 Nassau Street, Princeton, New Jersey, 08540 Interpet LLC. 3775 Columbia Pike, Ellicott City, Maryland, 21043 Brazil Japan U.S.A. U.S.A. Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary Ordinary ECO Animal Health de Mexico, S de R.L. de C.V. Av Techologico Sur 134-4, Unidad Habitacional Moderna, Queretaro, 76030 Mexico Ordinary ECO Animal Health de Argentina S.A. Calle 4 E 43/44 N: 581 P.6 D:B La Plata, Buenos Aires Argentina Ordinary ECO Animal Health Malaysia Sdn. Bhd. 10th Floor, Menara Hap Seng, No 1 & 3, Jalan P Ramlee, 50250 Kuala Lumpur Malaysia Ordinary 100 100 100 100 100 100 100 ECO Animal Health India (Private) Ltd No 33/5, Second Floor, Mount Kailash Building, Meanee Avenue Road, Ulsoor Bangalore, Karnataka, 560042 ECO Animal Health Europe Ltd 6 Northbrook Road, Dublin 6, Eire India Ordinary 100 Republic of Ireland Ordinary 100 * The Group’s control over its China based subsidiary Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited is achieved via a joint holding of 51% of the entity’s Ordinary share capital between the Company (3%) and its UK based trading subsidiary ECO Animal Health Limited (48%). Shanghai ECO Biok Veterinary Drug Sale Company Ltd is a 100% subsidiary of Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited. 9494 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The principal activity of these undertakings for the last relevant financial year was as follows: Company Name ECO Animal Health Limited ECO Animal Health Southern Africa (Pty) Limited Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited Shanghai ECO Biok Veterinary Drug Sale Company Ltd. Principal activity Distribution of animal drugs Non-trading Manufacture of animal drugs Distribution of animal drugs ECO Animal Health do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Veterinarios Ltda Distribution of animal drugs ECO Animal Health Japan Inc. ECO Animal Health USA Corp. Interpret LLC ECO Animal Health de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C. V. ECO Animal Health de Argentina S.A. ECO Animal Health Malaysia Sdn. Bhd ECO Animal Health India (Private) Ltd ECO Animal Health Europe Ltd Distribution of animal drugs Distribution of animal drugs Non-trading Distribution of animal drugs Non-trading Non-trading Non-trading Non-trading The aggregate amount of capital and reserves and the results of these undertakings for the last relevant financial year were: ECO Animal Health Limited ECO Animal Health Southern Africa (Pty) Limited Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Ltd ECO Animal Health do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Veterinarios Ltda. ECO Animal Health Japan Inc. ECO Animal Health de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C. V. ECO Animal Health USA Corp. ECO Animal Health India (Private) Ltd ECO Animal Health Europe Ltd ECO Animal Health Malaysia Sdn Bhd Equity 2021 £000’s (5,088) 280 27,384 553 1,398 578 (1,382) (1) - (21) Profit/(loss) for the year 2021 £000’s (1,816) 4 17,340 847 (16) 151 111 (2) - (1) Equity 2020 £000’s 1,021 276 11,965 (227) 1,505 141 (1,648) - - (21) The equity and results of Shanghai ECO Biok Veterinary Drug Sale Company Ltd are included within those disclosed for Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited. All of the subsidiaries listed above were included in the consolidation for the year. Profit/(loss) for the year 2020 £000’s 1,834 19 3,473 (571) 152 99 (997) - - (7) 9595 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited and ECO Animal Health do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Veterinarios Ltda both have 31 December year ends. The Group receives management accounts for the three months to 31 March for these subsidiaries for use in preparing the consolidated financial statements. Interpet LLC has been excluded from consolidation as it holds no assets or liabilities and has ceased trading. The following trading subsidiaries have no requirement for audit under local legislation: • • • • ECO Animal Health do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Veterinarios Ltda. ECO Animal Health Japan Inc. ECO Animal Health USA Corp. ECO Animal Health de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C. V. ECO Animal Health Group PLC has given statutory guarantees against all the outstanding liabilities of ECO Animal Health Ltd, thereby allowing its subsidiary to be exempt from the annual audit requirement under Section 479A of the Companies Act, for the year ended 31 March 2021. Non-controlling interests Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited (Zhejiang ECO Biok) and Shanghai ECO Biok Veterinary Drug Sale Company Limited (Shanghai ECO Biok), both 51% owned subsidiaries of the Group, have material non-controlling interests (NCI). Summarised financial information in relation to these two subsidiaries is presented below together with amounts attributable to NCI. Please note that as Shanghai ECO Biok is a 100% owned subsidiary of Zhejiang ECO Biok, the summarised results below are consolidated on Zhejiang ECO Biok level, before wider group eliminations. Summarised statement of comprehensive income For the year ended 31 March 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s Revenue Cost of sales Gross Profit Administrative expenses Operating profit Other income Finance income/(expense) Profit before tax Tax expense Profit after tax Profit/(loss) allocated to NCI Other comprehensive income allocated to NCI Dividend paid to NCI 9696 56,179 (25,527) 30,652 (7,619) 23,033 6 31 23,070 (5,730) 17,340 8,491 (281) (562) 20,169 (10,374) 9,795 (5,275) 4,520 - (67) 4,453 (1,201) 3,252 1,593 39 (968) NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Summarised balance sheet As at 31 March 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s Assets: Property, plant and equipment Right-of-use assets Deferred tax assets Inventories Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Liabilities: Trade and other payables Contract liabilities Lease liabilities - short term Lease liabilities - long term Accumulated NCI Summarised cash flows For the year ended 31 March Cash flows from operating activities Cash flows from investing activities Cash flows from financing activities Foreign exchange movements Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents Joint Operations 626 755 - 4,967 18,161 13,651 38,160 7,785 2,155 82 753 10,775 13,413 2021 £000’s 10,359 20 (1,310) (757) 8,312 704 891 30 3,150 6,457 5,339 16,571 3,306 605 96 857 4,864 5,766 2020 £000’s 3,493 (24) (2,192) 17 1,294 The Group also holds (by means of its ownership of ECO Animal Health USA Corp.), a 50% interest in Pharmgate Animal Health LLC, which is resident in the U.S.A. Pharmgate Animal Health LLC distributes the Group’s products in the U.S.A. The Group also holds (by means of its ownership of ECO Animal Health Ltd) a 50% interest in Pharmgate Animal Health Canada Inc, which distributes its products into Canada. The Group also holds (by means of its ownership of ECO Animal Health Europe Ltd) a 50% interest in ECO- Pharm Limited, based in the Republic of Ireland. ECO-Pharm Limited has not yet commenced trading. Both Pharmgate Animal Health LLC and Pharmgate Animal Health Canada Inc. have accounting years which end on 31 December. 9797 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Group’s holdings in each of the joint operations’ share capital is given in the table below: Pharmgate Animal Health Canada Inc Holding (shares) Shares in issue Holding % Common Shares Class A Shares Class B Shares 100 100 - 200 100 100 50 100 - Pharmgate Animal Health USA LLC Holding (shares) Shares in issue Holding % Common Shares Class A Shares Class B Shares ECO-Pharm Limited Common Shares Class A Shares Class B Shares 100 100 - 200 100 100 50 100 - Holding (shares) Shares in issue Holding % 25,000 50,000 1 - 1 1 50 100 - In the case of Pharmgate Animal Health Canada Inc and Pharmgate Animal Health USA LLC, A shares carry the rights to dividends payable out of profits attributable to the Group. These are made up of profits made by products supplied by the ECO Group plus 50% of any profit relating to new products developed jointly by the partners to the joint operation. In the case of ECO-Pharm Limited, profits attributable to the Group are made up of profits made by products supplied by the ECO Group plus 33% of any profit relating to new products developed jointly by the partners to the joint operation. The following amounts included in the Group’s financial statements are related to its interest in these joint operations. Pharmgate Animal Health LLC Pharmgate Animal Health Canada Inc 2021 £000’s 18 1,055 (1,047) 10,745 - 2020 £000’s - 2,325 (2,310) 7,612 - 2021 £000’s - 545 (544) 3,300 - 2020 £000’s - 511 (510) 3,358 - Non-current assets Current assets Current liabilities Sales Profit after tax 9898 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Associated Company The Group also holds (by means of its ownership of ECO Animal Health Japan Inc.) a 47.62% interest in EcoPharma.com which is resident in Japan. This Company distributes Animal Health products and other general merchandise within Japan. ECO Animal Health Japan Inc’s holding in EcoPharma.com is 10,000,000 shares out of a total of 21,000,000 shares. The following amounts included in the Group’s financial statements are related to its interests in this associated Company. Investments (share of net assets) At 1 April Share of results for the year Foreign exchange movement At 31 March Summarised financial information At 31 March Current assets Non-current assets Current liabilities Non-current liabilities Net assets (100%) Group share of net assets (47.62%) Year ended 31 March Revenue Net profit 2021 £000’s 157 38 (24) 171 2021 £000’s 938 44 208 415 359 171 1,704 80 2020 £000’s 107 42 8 157 2020 £000’s 541 19 221 12 327 157 1,634 79 9999 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 17. Inventories Raw materials and consumables Finished goods and goods for resale Work in progress Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 11,488 5,433 3,583 6,734 4,397 6,133 20,504 17,264 - - - - - - - - The cost of inventories recognised as an expense and included in cost of sales in the financial year amounted to £51,864,000 (2020: £38,381,000). 18. Trade and other receivables Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 Non-current: £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Amounts owed by group undertakings - - 55,909 59,295 The intercompany debt is due on demand, however the Company has classified the receivable as a non-current asset as it does not expect to realise the asset within 12 months after the reporting period. Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 Current: £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Trade receivables Other receivables Prepayments and accrued income 29,838 25,974 1,688 926 1,884 495 32,452 28,353 - 69 212 281 - 30 25 55 100100 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 As at 31 March 2021, trade receivables of £3,170,000 (2020: £11,402,000) due to the Group and £nil (2020: £nil) due to the Company were past due but not impaired. These relate to long standing distributors with whom we have agreed settlement terms and with whom there is no history of default. The ageing analysis of these trade receivables is as follows: Up to 3 months past due 3 to 6 months past due Over 6 months past due Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 2,098 468 604 3,170 6,974 2,899 1,529 11,402 - - - - - - - - As at 31 March 2021, impairment provisions of £351,000 on gross receivables of £729,000 (2020: £419,000 on gross receivables of £705,000) were recognised. The impaired receivables mainly relate to debt for which recovery is still being sought. The Group mitigates its exposure to credit risk by extensive use of commercial credit reference agencies, close management of its customers’ trading against terms offered and use of retention of title clauses wherever possible. The Group has experienced minimal bad debt history and considered this in arriving at the impairment provision recognised. This consideration includes the potential risks arising from COVID on its customers. Its experience with customers since 31 March 2021, is consistent with those considerations that credit risk has not increased. No collateral is held against customer receivable balances. The ageing analysis of the impaired balances is as follows: Current debt Up to 3 months past due 3 to 6 months past due Over 6 months past due Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 6 97 1 247 351 152 4 2 261 419 - - - - - - - - - - Movement on the Group provision for impairment of trade receivables is as follows: Group Balance at 1 April Additional provision made (Recovered) in the year Written off in the year Foreign exchange movements Balance at 31 March 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s 419 71 (136) - (3) 351 280 140 - (1) - 419 101101 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables are denominated in the following currencies: British Pounds Sterling U S Dollars Euros Chinese RMB Japanese Yen Brazilian Real Canadian dollars Mexican Pesos Other currencies Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 1,192 8,067 1,749 18,161 175 363 545 1,997 203 759 12,875 2,875 6,757 841 2,233 511 1,499 3 281 55 - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 32,452 28,353 281 55 The carrying amounts of trade and other receivables are not significantly different to their fair values. 19. Deferred tax Group Deferred tax assets and liabilities are attributable to the following: Assets/(Liabilities) Net 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Restated* Restated* Trade related temporary differences (2,294) (2,114) (2,294) (2,114) Overseas trade related temporary differences Freehold property Investment property Plant and equipment Deferred tax on share options Tax losses carried forward Amount (payable) after more than one year 3 8 (1) (12) 120 1,993 (183) 30 (76) (19) (77) - 1,993 (263) 3 8 (1) (12) 120 1,993 (183) 30 (76) (19) (77) - 1,993 (263) 102102 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The movement on the deferred tax account can be summarised as follows: Trade- related temporary differences Freehold property Investment property Plant and machinery Share options Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s At 1 April 2020 - restated* (Charge) for the year through income statement Credit for the year through income statement Credit for the year through reserves At 31 March 2021 (91) (206) - - (297) (76) - - 84 8 (19) - 17 - (2) (77) - 65 - (12) - - 120 - 120 (263) (206) 202 84 (183) Trade related temporary differences are predominantly related to research and development tax deductions claimed in advance of expense recognition in the income statement. The tax losses carried forward are not expected to expire under current legislation. Any future dividend received from the Chinese subsidiary Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited will be subject to a 5% withholding tax. The deferred tax liability in respect of this has not been recognised. *Please refer to note 3 for further details on the prior year restatement. Company At 1 April 2019 (Charge) for the year through income statement (Charge) for the year through reserves At 31 March 2020 Credit for the year through income statement Credit for the year through reserves At 31 March 2021 Freehold property Investment property Share options Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s (75) - (1) (76) - 84 8 (10) (9) - (19) 17 - (2) 85 (22) (63) - - - - - (31) (64) (95) 17 84 6 At the year ended 31 March 2021 the Group has an unrecognised deferred tax asset in relation to unused overseas tax losses amounting to £nil (2020: £700,000). These tax losses are not expected to expire. 103103 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 20. Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents for statement of financial position presentation purposes, comprise cash, short-term deposits held by the Group. The carrying amount of these assets are not significantly different to their fair value. Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Cash and cash equivalents 19,523 11,877 Bank overdraft Cash and cash equivalents presented in the statement of cash flows (restated) - (2,032) 19,523 9,845 819 - 819 177 (2,001) (1,824) Balances drawn on the bank overdraft facility are repayable on demand and form an integral part of the cash management of the Group and Company. In the statement of cash flows, the Group and the Company have presented cash and cash equivalents net of balances outstanding on bank overdrafts, which is an updated presentation on prior year. Amounts drawn and repaid on the overdraft facility are therefore considered as part of changes in cash and cash equivalents and are not presented as financing cash flows. The presentation in the prior year has been amended accordingly. Significant non-cash transactions from investing activities are as follows: Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 187 125 370 - 40 - - - Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 7,918 2,155 683 3,765 14,521 7,608 594 2,093 4,191 14,486 58 - 147 319 524 189 - 197 181 567 Acquisition of property, plant and equipment by means of leases or not yet paid at year end Acquisition of intangible assets not yet paid at year end 21. Trade and other payables Trade payables Contract liabilities Other payables Accruals and deferred income 104104 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 22. Borrowings Cash and cash equivalents Bank overdraft Lease liabilities Net Cash Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 19,523 11,877 - (1,522) 18,001 (2,032) (1,766) 8,079 819 - (39) 780 177 (2,001) (27) (1,851) The Group has a overdraft facility in certain currencies in respect of a pool of bank accounts held with NatWest Bank plc. The interest rate for all currency overdrafts is 1.8% over the relevant currency base rate and the borrowings are secured by two debentures held over the assets of the Group. Any drawdown of this facility is repayable on demand. The Company and ECO Animal Health Limited have each given a guarantee to the Group’s bankers for the overdraft facility. The facility has a gross and net limit of £5,000,000, which may be borrowed and repaid at will. At 31 March 2021, the undrawn facility was £5,000,000 (2020: £2,968,000). Reconciliation of Lease Liabilities Group Company 2021 2020 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Opening lease liabilities New lease liabilities Repayment Lease liabilities interest Disposal Foreign exchange Closing lease Liabilities Current lease liabilities Non-current lease liabilities (1,766) (1,770) (188) 500 (122) 18 36 (359) 489 (124) - (2) (1,522) (1,766) (311) (1,211) (342) (1,424) (29) (43) 35 (11) 6 3 (39) (7) (32) The Group leases a number of properties and motor vehicles in the jurisdictions it operates in. At 31 March 2021 there were no termination or extension options on leases. The Group expensed £55,000 for the year ended 31 March 2021 (2020: £47,000) for short term leases. (65) - 51 (13) - (2) (29) (24) (5) 105105 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Group Leases Maturity At 31 March 2021 the Group held the following number of leases in each of the maturity categories below. At 31 March 2021 Up to 1 year Between 1 - 5 years Over 5 years Total number of leases Average remaining lease term (in years) Property Number Vehicle Number Other Number Total Number 5 2 2 9 7.1 5 5 - 10 1.3 3 - - 3 0.7 13 7 2 22 3.6 At 31 March 2020 Up to 1 year Between 1 - 5 years Over 5 years Total number of leases Property Number Vehicle Number Other Number Total Number - 5 3 8 3 8 - 11 - 3 - 3 3 16 3 22 4.2 Average remaining lease term (in years) 8.7 1.6 1.6 The weighted average incremental borrowing rate applied to lease liabilities recognised in the statement of financial position was 7.2% at 31 March 2021 (2020: 7.10%). Weighted average incremental borrowing rate: Group Property Vehicle Other Weighted average 2021 2020 5.9% 29.0% 4.0% 7.2% 5.9% 29.0% 4.0% 7.1% Amounts payable under lease arrangements for the Group The undiscounted contractual cash flows payable under the existing lease arrangements at 31 March 2021 are analysed into the following maturity categories. Up to 1 year Between 1 - 5 years Over 5 years Total £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Amounts payable under lease arrangements 415 768 768 1,951 106106 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 23. Pension and other post-retirement benefit commitments Defined Contribution Pension Scheme The Group operates defined contribution pension schemes. The assets of the schemes are held separately from the Group and independently administered by insurance companies. The pension cost charge represents contributions payable to the funds in the year and amounted to £105,000 (2020: £262,000). Defined Benefit Pension Scheme The Group operates a defined benefit scheme in the UK for ex-employees only. A full actuarial valuation was carried out at 6 April 2018 and updated to 31 March 2021 for IAS 19 purposes by a qualified independent actuary. The major assumptions used by the actuary were: Discount rate Pension revaluation Inflation assumption with a maximum of 5% p.a. Mortality rates 31 March 2021 31 March 2020 1.90% 3.40% 3.40% 2.40% 2.70% 2.70% No pre-retirement mortality is assumed (2020: none). Post retirement mortality is based on 100% of the SAPS “S2” normal tables, based on the members’ year of birth, improving in line with CMI 2020 projections with a 1.25% long term trend rate (2020: CMI 2019). Under these mortality assumptions, the expected future lifetime for a member retiring at age 65 at the year-end would be 22.1 years for males (2020: 22.4 years) and 24.2 years for females (2020: 24.4 years). For members retiring in 20 years’ time, the expectation of life would be 23.4 years for males (2020: 23.7 years) and 25.7 years for females (2020: 25.9 years). The weighted average term of the liabilities is 10 years (2020: 10 years). The scheme is exposed to a number of risks including: • • • Interest rate risk: Movements in the discount rate used could affect the present value of the defined benefit pension obligations. Longevity risk: Changes in the estimated mortality rates of former employees could affect the present value of the defined benefit pension obligations. Investment risk: Variations in the actual return from the scheme’s investments could affect the scheme’s ability to meet its future pension obligations. 107107 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Assets at start of year Defined benefit obligation at start of year Net (liability) at 1 April Return on assets Interest cost Past service cost Gain/(loss) on asset return (Loss)/gain on changes in assumptions Statement of other comprehensive income Employer contributions (gross) Net (liability) at 31 March Actual assets at end of year Actual defined benefit obligation at end of year 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s 1,787 (1,814) 42 (42) (4) (4) (28) 1,802 (1,899) (27) (97) 38 (39) - (2) 14 (1) 12 59 (27) 1,787 (1,814) (4) (32) 59 (4) 1,795 (1,799) (Loss)/gain on changes in assumptions comprises a gain of £3,000 (2020: £4,000 loss) relating to changes in demographic assumptions and a loss of £31,000 (2020: £18,000 gain) relating to changes in financial assumptions. 108108 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The pension fund assets (principally made up of annuities for the benefit of active pensioners) are all held within a policy managed by an insurance company regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority of the United Kingdom and the United Kingdom Pensions Regulator. By law, the trustees are required to act in the best interests of participants to the schemes. Responsibility for governance of the plans – including investment decisions and contributions schedules lies with trustees. Reconciliation of changes in the asset value during the year 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Fair value of assets at 1 April Return on assets Gain/(loss) on asset return Employer contributions (gross) (Decrease)/increase in secured pensioners' value due to scheme experience Benefits paid Fair value of assets at 31 March Reconciliation of changes in the liability value during the year Defined benefit obligation at 1 April Interest cost Past service cost (Gain)/loss on changes in assumptions (Decrease)/increase in secured pensioners' value due to scheme experience Benefits paid 1,787 42 (4) 59 (89) - 1,814 42 4 28 (89) - 1,802 38 (2) 59 (110) - 1,795 1,787 1,899 39 - (14) (110) - Defined benefit obligation at 31 March 1,799 1,814 The amount of annual contribution to be paid by the employer of £59,000 (2020: £59,000) is expected to continue until December 2021. Year ended 31 March 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Fair value of plan assets 1,795 1,787 1,802 2,503 2,314 Present value of defined benefit obligation (Deficit)/Surplus in plan Experience (losses)/gains on plan liabilities 1,799 1,814 1,899 2,603 2,435 (4) (4) (27) (2) (97) (38) (100) (121) (7) (300) 109109 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Plan Assets Assets under management Annuities Total Assets under management composition Corporate Bonds Overseas Equities UK Equities Property Cash Derivatives Gilts 2021 £000’s 205 1,590 1,795 2021 43.4% 28.4% 17.8% 8.9% 1.2% 0.3% - 2020 £000’s 145 1,642 1,787 2020 37.0% 26.1% 15.6% 10.1% 1.4% - 9.8% 100.0% 100.0% Defined benefit obligation – sensitivity analysis The following amounts are the effect (on the defined benefit obligation) of reasonably possible changes to the key actuarial assumptions, as required by IAS 19. Actuarial assumptions Reasonably Possible Change (Decrease)/Increase in Defined Benefit Obligation 2021 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Discount rate +/- 0.1% (2020: +/- 0.25%) Members’ life expectancy +/- 1 year (20) (100) 20 100 (42) (97) 44 101 The above sensitivity analyses are based on a change in an assumption while holding all other assumptions constant. In practice, this is unlikely to occur, and changes in some of the assumptions may be correlated. When calculating the sensitivity of the defined benefit obligation to significant actuarial assumptions the same method (present value of the defined benefit obligation calculated with the projected unit credit method at the end of the reporting period) has been applied as when calculating the defined benefit liability recognised in the Statement of financial position. 110110 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The methods and types of assumptions used in preparing the sensitivity analysis did not change compared to the prior period. The Company has given a floating charge dated 1 December 2006 over all of its assets to the trustees of the pension fund to secure all present and future obligations and liabilities to the pension fund. 24. Share-based payments The expense recognised for share-based payments made during the year is shown in the following table: 2021 £000’s 2020 £000’s 123 284 Total expense arising from equity settled share-based payments transactions The share-based payment plans are described below: Movements in issued share options during the year The following table illustrates the number and weighted average exercise prices (WAEP) of, and movements in, share options during the period: Options Options 2021 2021 2020 2020 000’s WAEP 000’s WAEP (£) 3,519 3.68 4,292 - - (149) 3,370 3,005 - - 2.54 3.73 3.72 - (668) (105) 3,519 2,812 (£) 3.62 - 3.55 2.27 3.68 3.36 Outstanding at 1 April Granted during the period Cancelled during the period Exercised during the period Outstanding at 31 March Exercisable at 31 March The average share price during the year was 253.12p (2020: 319.10p). The maximum aggregate number of shares over which options may currently be granted cannot exceed 10% of the nominal share capital of the Company on the grant date. The options outstanding at 31 March 2021 had a weighted average exercise price of £3.73 (2020: £3.68) and a weighted average remaining contractual life of 2.6 years (2020: 3.1 years). ECO Animal Health Group plc Executive Share Option Scheme In accordance with the Executive Share Option Scheme, approved and unapproved share options are granted to Directors and employees who devote at least 25 hours per week to the performance of duties or employment with the Company. No share options have been granted in the year (2020: none). The exercise price of the options is equal to the market price of the shares at the date of grant. The options vest three years from the date of grant and if the option holder ceases to be a Director or employee of the Company due to injury, disability, redundancy or retirement on reaching pensionable age or any other age at 111111 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 which they are bound to retire at in accordance with the terms of their contract of employment, the option may be exercised within a period of six months after the option holders so ceasing, although the Board may, at its discretion, extend this period by up to 36 months after the date of cessation. If the option holder ceases employment for any other reason, the option may not be exercised unless the Board permits. The approved and unapproved options will be forfeited where they remain unexercised at the end of their respective contractual lives of ten and seven years respectively. An analysis of the expiry dates of the outstanding options at 31 March 2021 is given below: Date of grant 11 October 11 09 October 13 21 August 14 21 August 14 13 February 15 13 February 15 26 August 15 26 August 15 18 December 15 18 January 16 18 January 16 17 February 16 17 February 16 01 March 16 01 March 16 12 September 16 12 September 16 15 September 16 15 September 16 21 September 17 21 September 17 12 April 18 23 October 18 23 October 18 19 December 18 19 December 18 Unapproved Approved Exercise price (pence) Expiry date 8,000 11,100 14,400 34,500 24,850 10,200 19,600 9,600 25,100 5,900 53,475 3,900 75,200 7,800 186.50 196.00 161.50 161.50 200.50 200.50 265.00 265.00 312.50 315.00 315.00 312.50 312.50 312.50 312.50 432.50 432.50 435.00 435.00 620.00 620.00 545.00 380.00 380.00 380.00 380.00 11 October 21 09 October 23 07 August 24 07 August 21 13 February 25 13 February 22 26 August 25 26 August 22 18 December 22 18 January 26 18 January 23 17 February 26 17 February 23 01 March 26 01 March 23 12 September 26 12 September 23 15 September 26 15 September 23 21 September 27 21 September 24 12 April 28 23 October 28 23 October 25 19 December 28 19 December 25 5,500 121,500 511,650 600,000 252,800 400 40,400 423,900 544,100 287,525 276,800 2,200 The market price of the shares at 31 March 2021 was 322.5p (2020: 220.0p) with a range in the year of 198.0p to 371.0p (2020: 135.0p to 445.0p). 3,066,775 303,625 112112 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 The Company uses a Black-Scholes model to value share-based payments and the following table lists the inputs to this model for the last five years. No new options were issued in the year ended 31 March 2021. Vesting period (years) Option expiry (years) Dividends expected on the shares Risk free rate (average) Volatility of share price Weighted average fair value (pence) 2021 2020 2019 2018 2017 n/a n/a 3 3 3 7-10 yrs 7-10 yrs 7-10 yrs 1.90% 1.00% 1.10% 1.00% 1.50% 1.00% 20.00% 20.00% 20.00% 51.0 98.6 61.4 The risk-free rate has been based on the yield from UK Government Treasury coupons. The volatility of the share price was estimated based on standard deviation calculations on the historic share price. 25. Share capital Authorised 68,100,000 ordinary shares of 5p each 10,790 deferred ordinary shares of 10p each 32,334 convertible preference shares of £1 each 2021 £000’s 3,405 1 32 3,438 2020 £000’s 3,405 1 32 3,438 Allotted, called up and fully paid 67,696,416 (2020: 67,547,626) ordinary shares of 5p each 3,379 3,377 During the year 148,790 shares were issued at a premium of £367,000 as a result of the exercise of options by employees. (2020: 104,500 shares at a premium of £232,000). All share issued are non-redeemable and rank equally in terms of voting rights (one vote per share); rights to participate in all approved dividend distribution for that class of shares; and right to participate in any capital distribution on winding up. The shares in the original or any increased capital of the Company may be issued with such preferred, deferred or other special rights or restrictions, whether in regard to dividend, voting, return of capital as the Company may from time to time determine. 113113 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 26. Non-controlling interests Balance as at 1 April Share of subsidiary's profit for the year Share of foreign exchange gain/(loss) on net investment Share of dividend paid by subsidiary Balance as at 31 March 27. Other reserves 2021 2020 Restated* £000’s £000’s 5,766 8,491 (281) 8,210 (562) 13,414 5,102 1,593 39 1,632 (968) 5,766 The Group and Company held a Capital redemption reserve of £106,000 as at 31 March 2021 (2020: £106,000). Included in the Group’s foreign currency revaluation reserve are the following exchange movements on consolidation of the subsidiaries and joint operations listed below: At 31 March 2020 Movement in the year At 31 March 2021 £000’s £000’s £000’s 894 (259) (346) 94 (67) (60) 11 526 (66) (90) 155 286 (3) 23 635 (412) 4 88 226 8 549 In respect of: Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited ECO Animal Health do Brasil Comercio de Produtos Veterinarios Ltda ECO Animal Health Japan Inc. ECO Animal Health USA Corp. ECO Animal Health de Mexico, S. de R. L. de C. V. Pharmgate LLC Foreign currency differences attributable to owner credited directly to reserves 28. Capital commitments The Group had no authorised capital commitments as at 31 March 2021 (2020: £Nil). 114114 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 29. Directors’ emoluments Emoluments for qualifying services Company pension contributions to money purchase schemes Share-based payments Benefits in kind 2021 £000’s 1,086 34 1 5 1,126 2020 £000’s 847 26 70 11 954 During the year no directors exercised share options (2020: none) realising a gain of £nil (2020: £nil). The highest paid director received £541,000 (2020: £385,000) including £1,000 (2020: £38,000) of share-based payments and £10,000 (2020: £10,000) of pension contributions. 30. Employees Number of employees The average number of employees (including Directors) during the year was: Directors Production and development Administration Sales Employment costs (including amounts capitalised) Wages and salaries Share-based payments Social security costs Other pension costs 2021 2020 Number Number 5 66 48 88 207 2021 £000’s 13,776 123 863 105 14,867 5 66 45 88 204 2020 £000’s 9,584 284 764 269 10,901 115115 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 31. Related party transactions During the year ended 31 March 2020 Julia Trouse, a longstanding former Director and Company Secretary of the Group, withdrew cash from the Company totalling £25,748 which was recorded in the Company and Group’s financial statements as administrative costs in each period. Mrs Trouse withdrew further cash over an extended period starting in 2014, the cumulative amount of which was £322,109 as at 31 March 2020 (£296,361 as at 31 March 2019; and £249,441 as at 31 March 2018). These withdrawals were not approved, were outside the normal course of the Group’s business and were in excess of Mrs Trouse’s contractual remuneration levels. The highest total value of withdrawals in any year was £87,187. No reimbursement of these withdrawals was assumed at any of the reporting dates to 31 March 2020, therefore all amounts remain expensed in the periods in which each payment was made and no asset for reimbursement was included in the financial statements as at 31 March 2020. Mrs Trouse resigned as a director of the Company on 19 August 2019 and ceased employment with the Company on 31 January 2020. The Group’s Internal Audit department identified the payments and reported their findings to the Board in April 2020. Further work was performed to help assess the full extent of the withdrawals. Mrs Trouse agreed to repay these amounts to the Company and Group and a repayment of £307,113 was made in August 2020. No interest was received. The reimbursement is recorded as Other Income in the financial statements for the year ending 31 March 2021. Mrs Trouse has repaid the remaining balance without interest in February 2021. During the year ended 31 March 2020, the Group paid consultancy fees of £14,500 (2021: £nil) to Clemo Consultancy Ltd, a company in which B Clemo a former director (resigned 19 August 2019) had significant control. During the year Mr P Lawrence (a significant shareholder) and his family received dividends to the value of £nil (2020: £489,000). The other Directors and their families received dividends to the value of £nil (2020: £1,000). Interest and management charges from Parent to the other Group companies During the year the Company made management charges on an arm’s length basis to ECO Animal Health Limited amounting to £775,000 (2020: £475,000) and charged interest of £875,000 (2020: £890,000) to the subsidiary company. Both of these transactions were made through the inter-company account and were eliminated on consolidation. During the year Zhejiang ECO Biok Animal Health Products Limited paid dividends of £45,000 to ECO Animal Health Group plc (2020: £77,000) and £540,000 to ECO Animal Health Limited (2020: £930,000). Key management compensation The Group regards the Board of Directors as its key management. Salaries and short-term benefits Retirement benefits Share-based payments 2021 £000’s 1,092 33 1 1,126 2020 £000’s 858 26 70 954 The number of Directors for which retirement benefits were accruing was 2 (2020: 4). 116116 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 32. Financial instruments The Group uses financial instruments comprising borrowings, cash and cash equivalents and various items, such as trade receivables, trade payables etc. that arise directly from its operations. The main purpose of these financial instruments is to raise finance for the Group’s operations. The Directors are responsible for the overall risk management. The main risks arising from the Group’s use of financial instruments are capital and liquidity risk, credit risk and foreign currency risks and they are summarised below. The policies have remained unchanged throughout the year. Capital and liquidity risk The Group manages its capital to ensure continuity as a going concern whilst maximising returns through the optimisation of debt and equity. As part of this, the Board considers the cost and risk associated with each class of capital. The capital structure of the Group consists of cash and cash equivalents in note 20, borrowings in note 22 and equity attributable to equity holders of the parent comprising issued capital, reserves and retained earnings as disclosed in the Group’s statement of changes in equity. Liquidity risk is managed by maintaining adequate reserves and banking facilities with continuous monitoring of the latest developments by management. The Group’s objectives when maintaining capital are: • • to safeguard the entity’s ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide returns for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders; and to provide an adequate return to shareholders by pricing products and services commensurately with the level of risk. The Group sets the amount of capital it requires in proportion to risk. The group manages its capital structure and makes adjustments to it in the light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares, or sell assets to reduce debt. As an AIM quoted company, our governance framework is underpinned by the AIM Rules and the Quoted Companies Alliance (QCA) Corporate Governance Code 2018 (the ‘QCA Code’). In addition to the QCA Code, we monitor developments and guidance in the UK Corporate Governance Code, applicable to main market listed companies, to keep abreast of matters which we feel could also be embedded as best practice as part of a progressive approach. We also review the Investment Association guidelines and seek to comply with these where applicable. At 31 March 2021, the Group was contractually obliged to make repayments as detailed below: Within one year or on demand Trade payables Other payables Accruals Borrowings 2021 £000’s 7,918 683 3,765 - 12,366 2020 £000’s 7,608 2,093 4,191 2,032 15,924 117117 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Credit Risk Credit risk is that of financial loss as a result of default by a counterparty on its contractual obligations. The Group’s exposure to credit risk arises principally in relation to trade receivables from customers and on short term bank deposits. Customers’ creditworthiness is wherever possible checked against independent rating databases and filing authorities, or otherwise assessed on the basis of trade knowledge and experience. Exposure and customer credit limits are continually monitored both on specific debts and overall. The credit risk in relation to short term bank deposits is limited because the counterparties are banks with good credit ratings. The Group operates in certain geographical areas which are from time to time subject to restrictions in the free movement of funds. The Board seeks to minimise the Group’s exposure to these markets but the nature of our business makes it impossible to eliminate this exposure completely. None of those receivables has been subject to a significant increase in credit risk since initial recognition and, consequently, 12-month expected credit losses have been recognised, and there are no non-current receivable balances lifetime expected credit losses. Currency risk The Group operates in overseas markets particularly through its subsidiaries in China, Brazil, Mexico, the USA and Japan as well as its joint operation in Canada and is therefore subject to currency exposure on transactions undertaken during the year. The Group does some simple economic hedging of receivables when the Board feels it is appropriate to do so and foreign exchange differences on retranslation of foreign monetary items are recorded in administrative expenses in the income statement. The table below shows the extent to which the Group companies have monetary assets and liabilities in currencies other than in Sterling: Foreign currency of Group operations 2021 US Dollar Euros Chinese RMB Japanese Yen Brazilian Real Canadian Dollar Mexican Peso Other £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Trade and other receivables Trade and other payables Cash and cash equivalents Total 2020 8,063 (3,773) 2,331 6,621 US Dollar 1,749 (757) 248 17,783 (5,273) 14,140 1,240 26,650 160 (64) 271 367 359 (74) 1,165 1,450 533 1,849 (498) 305 340 (87) 217 1,979 175 (134) 58 99 Euros Chinese RMB Japanese Yen Brazilian Real Canadian Dollar Mexican Peso Other £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s £000’s Trade and other receivables 12,850 2,875 6,650 Trade and other payables Cash and cash equivalents (1,183) 4,527 (12) 525 (3,375) 5,609 Total 16,194 3,388 8,884 837 (233) 80 684 2,230 (131) 360 2,459 511 (129) 452 834 1,472 (329) 200 1,343 3 (1) 123 125 118118 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 At 31 March 2021 the Group was mainly exposed to the US Dollar, Euro, Chinese RMB, Japanese Yen, Brazilian Real, Canadian Dollar and Mexican Peso. The following table details the effect of a 10% movement in the exchange rate of these currencies against sterling when applied to outstanding monetary items denominated in foreign currency as at 31 March 2021. U S Dollar Euro Chinese RMB Japanese Yen Brazilian Real Canadian Dollar Mexican Peso Analysis of financial instruments by category Group 2021 Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Trade and other payables Amounts due under leases Borrowings 2020 Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Trade and other payables Amounts due under leases Borrowings 2021 £000’s 736 138 2,961 41 161 38 220 Financial assets Financial liabilities £000’s £000’s 31,526 19,523 - - - - - (12,416) (1,522) - 2020 £000’s 1,799 376 987 76 273 93 149 Total £000’s 31,526 19,523 (12,416) (1,522) - £000’s £000’s £000’s 27,858 11,877 - - - - (13,892) (1,766) (2,032) 27,858 11,877 (13,892) (1,766) (2,032) 119119 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Company 2021 Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Trade and other payables Amounts due under leases Borrowings Financial assets Financial liabilities £000’s £000’s 69 819 - - - - - (574) (39) - Amounts due from group undertakings 55,909 Total £000’s 69 819 (574) (39) - 55,909 2020 £000’s £000’s £000’s Trade and other receivables Cash and cash equivalents Trade and other payables Amounts due under leases Borrowings 30 177 - - - - - (567) (29) (2,001) Amounts due from group undertakings 59,295 30 177 (567) (29) (2,001) 59,295 All financial assets and liabilities in the Group’s and Company’s statements of financial position are classified as held at amortised cost for both the current and previous year. 33. Post balance sheet events Retirement of the Chief Executive Officer Marc Loomes, who joined ECO Animal Health Group plc in 2004, became Managing Director in 2005 and CEO in 2010, has informed the Board that he plans to retire on the 31 December 2022. The Board has commenced a process with a leading executive search consultancy to identify and appoint a successor to take over from Marc during the 2022-23 financial year. 120120 NOTES TO THE CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS (CONTINUED)FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2021ECO Animal Health Group Plc | Annual Report 2020/21 Produced by Perivan REGISTERED OFFICE 78 COOMBE ROAD, NEW MALDEN, SURREY KT3 4QS ENGLAND TEL: +44 (0)20 8447 8899 WWW.ECOANIMALHEALTHGROUPPLC.COM
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