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EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

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FY2014 Annual Report · EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
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ANNUAL REPORT 2014
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Contents

1.0 Strategic Review

Financial and operational highlights 

At a glance  

Business Model 

Organisational Structure 

Chairman’s Statement  

Chief Executive’s Review 

Board of Directors 

2.0 Governance

Strategic Report 

Report of the Directors 

Corporate Governance Statement 

Report of the Remuneration Committee 

Independent Auditors’ Report 

3.0 Financial Statements

Consolidated Income Statement 

Consolidated Statement of 
Comprehensive Income 

Consolidated and Company’s 
Statements of Financial Position 

Consolidated and Company’s 
Statements of Cash Flows 

Consolidated and Company’s 
Statements of Changes in Equity 

Notes to the Financial Statements 

4.0 Additional Information

Notice of Annual General Meeting 

Company Information 

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EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc is a global, integrated 
medical diagnostics business. 

Our expertise extends across three core divisions: The design and manufacture 
of diagnostic equipment including analysers and rapid tests; the manufacture of 
enzymes and liquid reagents used in clinical chemistry; and molecular diagnostic 
test kits and a spectrum of molecular testing services.

The fusion of traditional laboratory testing products, modern Point-of-Care 
technology and next generation molecular testing products and services makes 
EKF Diagnostics unique in the fi eld of small to mid-sized medtech businesses. 

Financial and operational highlights

1.0 Strategic Review

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

1

26% increase in revenues year-on-year with 
signifi cant contributions from new acquisitions.

• Group revenues of £40.06m (up 26%)
• Organic growth of 6% year-on-year with

acquisitions contributing £6.5m

• 38% increase in revenues in the second half

of 2014 compared to 2013 (£23.3m v £16.9m)

• Gross profi t up 22% to £19.9m
• Adjusted EBITDA up 31% to £6.3m
• Net cash of £2.1m (2013: £0.1m)
• Over 18,000 point-of-care analysers sold
• Almost 56m tests manufactured across the

diagnostic analyser portfolio

• Revenues from Hemo Control hemoglobin

analysers up by 23%

• Revenues from Quo-Lab HbA1c analysers up

by 69%

• Revenues of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate
Liquicolor reagent increased by 9%

2014 built on the achievements of 2013. The 
installed base of active point-of-care analysers 
is estimated to be more than 80,000 providing 
a consistent demand for tests. Clinical 
chemistry continues to be a competitive 
market and yet Beta-Hydroxybutyrate 
Liquicolor sales grew through a sustained 
focus in the USA.

Molecular diagnostics contributed revenues for 
the fi rst time with Selah Genomics, acquired in 
April 2014, providing new revenue streams from 
a portfolio of molecular test services. EKF’s 
proprietary molecular testing platform, 
PointMan™ also delivered revenues from the 
research-use-only market ahead of the planned 
release of CE marked products in 2015.

Building momentum

Signifi cant increase across all metrics of 
fi nancial performance

£40.06 £19.95 £6.26

Turnover (£m)

Gross profi t (£m)

Adjusted EBITDA (£m)

+26%

+22%

+31%

£31.80
2013

£26.06
2012

£21.66
2011

£16.35
2013

£14.31
2012

£10.38
2011

£4.82
2013

£3.20
2012

£1.57
2011

2

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

At a glance

Company history

In the 25 years since EKF was founded it has grown from a humble electrical 
engineering company based in the hinterland of the east German city of 
Magdeburg into an international, stock market-listed medical technology 
business.

The pace of change accelerated at the turn of 
the 21st Century when EKF-diagnostic made 
the strategic decision to focus on developing 
a range of glucose, lactate and hemoglobin 
analysers. 

When, in 2010, EKF-diagnostic was acquired by 
UK AIM-listed company IBL plc, the process 
of building a unique international IVD business 
began in earnest as Quotient Diagnostics Ltd in 
Walton-on-Thames and Dublin based 
Argutus Medical were bought. These 
acquisitions expanded EKF’s portfolio to 
include HbA1c analysers and kidney and liver 
biomarkers for use in pharmaceutical research.

In 2011 the business, by now known as EKF 
Diagnostics Holdings plc, bought Stanbio 
Laboratory, a clinical chemistry manufacturer 
and distributor of IVD analysers based near 

San Antonio, Texas. The company’s US 
presence was increased further in 2014 
through the purchase of Separation 
Technology Inc., Florida, a manufacturer of 
hematocrit analysers and laboratory 
centrifuges. This was followed by the purchase 
of DiaSpect Medical A.B. a Swedish owned, 
German based manufacturer of hematology 
products.

EKF Molecular Diagnostics was added to the 
company portfolio in March 2013 following the 
acquisition of 360 Genomics from Oxitec 
Limited and others. This fi rst foray into 
molecular diagnostics was complemented in 
April 2014 with the purchase of Selah 
Genomics Inc, Greenville, South Carolina a 
laboratory specialising in molecular 
diagnostics for personalised medicine.

A global IVD business

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc has a global presence with facilities in key 
markets around the world. 

London

Cardiff

Sailauf

Magdeburg
Leipzig

Krakow

Moscow

Shanghai

Elkhart

San Antonio

Greenville

Sanford

Company Headquarters
Manufacturing
Research & Development
(cid:54)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:72)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:50)(cid:73)(cid:180)(cid:70)(cid:72)(cid:86)
Molecular Laboratory Services  

Business model

Acquisition

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

3

1.0 Strategic Review

In 2014 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc purchased three businesses. In March 
Separation Technology Inc. (STI) was acquired from Thermo Fisher Scientifi c 
Inc. STI manufactures hematology analysers and laboratory centrifuges with the 
majority of its sales coming from the US blood banking sector. 

In April DiaSpect Medical AB was acquired. 
DiaSpect is a leading brand within reagent-free 
hemoglobin screening and owns a unique 
technology that allows EKF to compete 
head-to-head with the market leader.

The purchase of Selah Genomics, a clinical 
diagnostic company focused on enabling 

personalised medicine, provides EKF with an 
increased presence in the growing molecular 
diagnostics market. Selah specialises in the 
detection of molecular biomarkers to diagnose 
and monitor disease, detect risk, and identify 
which therapies will work best for individual 
patients.

Acquisition timeline

2010

  EKF-diagnostic GmbH 
 Quotient Diagnostics Ltd 
  Argutus Medical Ltd 

Organic growth

2011

2013

Stanbio Laboratory 

360 Genomics Ltd 

2014

Separation Technology Inc. 
DiaSpect Medical AB
Selah Genomics Inc.

Although 2014 was a year in which acquisitions provided signifi cant new 
revenues to EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc, the underlying business saw solid 
growth of 6%. 

This increase was in part attributable to winning 
new contracts in China through its Biosen 
glucose platform, and in Mexico where both the 
hemoglobin and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) 
analyser platforms performed well. 

Meanwhile within EKF’s clinical chemistry range 
sales of Beta-Hydroxybutyrate, a biomarker 
used to detect the presence of ketones in 
blood, rose 7% year on year. This performance 
was particularly impressive given the 
competitive nature of the ketone testing 
market.

New product development

Signifi cant investment was made throughout the year in preparing the ground 
for new point-of-care product releases. 2015 will see the launch of new 
versions of Hemo Control and Biosen as well as a new lactate platform, 
SensPoint, which is aimed at providing the company with a presence in the 
maternal medicine market. 

EKF’s Central Laboratory division launched 
several new products in 2014 including 
Procalcitonin (PCT), a marker used in
diagnosing and monitoring sepsis, and 
Glycated Serum Protein (GSP) an indicator of 
diabetic health.

EKF Molecular Diagnostics’ focus in 2014 was 
on CE marking its PointMan test kits, with fi rst 
releases expected by Q2 2015.

 
 
 
 
4

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Organisational structure

EKF Diagnostics’ expertise extends across three distinct branches of the 
in-vitro diagnostics sector. Each of the branches plays an important role in 
shaping the direction of the company today and in the future.

Point-of-Care

Central 
Laboratory

Molecular 
Diagnostics

Following the acquisitions made in 2014 
EKF estimates that there are more than 
80,000 EKF analysers in use today on 
a regular basis in doctor’s offi ces, blood 
banks, laboratories and clinics. This 
installed base of devices provides the 
bedrock for the company’s future 
revenue projections. 

The Point-of-Care division is made up 
of three key markets:

•  Hematology
•  Diabetes Care
•  Maternal & Women’s Health

EKF’s Central Laboratory division 
comprises of clinical chemistry (also 
known as chemical pathology, clinical 
biochemistry or medical biochemistry), 
blood analysers and a range of 
centrifuges. 

Unlike POCT central laboratory testing 
is a mature market (CAGR 2007-2012 
was 2%) with established suppliers 
competing for business throughout 
the world. 

Following the acquisition of Selah 
Genomics in April 2014 EKF’s presence 
in the molecular diagnostics market 
encompasses both products 
(PointMan) and testing services (Selah). 

EKF’s vision is to create a single entity 
for molecular diagnostics by combining 
these acquisitions into a holistic 
molecular division.

Hematology

Diabetes 
Care

Maternal and
Women’s Health

Central
Laboratory

Life
Sciences

Research
Biomarkers

Selah

GENOMICS

Point-of-Care: Hematology

Product portfolio

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

5

1.0 Strategic Review

The Hematology business unit within EKF is the largest in terms of revenues 
and the size of the installed base. The addition of DiaSpect and Separation 
Technology’s products to the portfolio means that EKF now offers the largest 
selection of point-of-care hemoglobin analysers on the market.

DiaSpect Tm 

Hemo Control  

UltraCrit™

HemataSTAT® 

Handheld analyser 
utilising reagentless 
methodology

Benefi ts of speed 
to result (1 second), 
shelf-life of 
microcuvettes 

Successor to 
DiaSpect 
Hemoglobin T

Uses ‘gold standard’ 
methodology 
(reagent fi lled 
microcuvettes)

Hematocrit analyser 
using unique 
ultrasound 
technology

Hematacrit 
centrifuge and 
analyser used in 
laboratories

Data management 
capability

Provides a hematocrit 
calculation

Proven, robust 
analyser sold 
worldwide

Strong presence in 
US blood banking 
sector

International version 
also provides 
hemoglobin 
calculation

Processes multiple 
samples

Manufactured in
Sailauf, Germany

Manufactured in
Magdeburg, Germany

Manufactured in
Sanford, USA

Manufactured in
Sanford, USA

Strategy

The opportunities for the Hematology business unit are primarily focused around 
two markets – public health initiatives such as anemia screening programmes and 
private practices where the cost of testing is paid for by an insurance 
company or the patient. 

EKF has two distinct strategies – OEM 
partnerships with international distributor/
manufacturers such as Alere and Fresenius 
Kabi and agreements with smaller distributors 
who are focused on the public health 
opportunities within their own countries.

The addition of the DiaSpect and UltraCrit 
models gives EKF an extended portfolio to 
offer to both market segments, as well as 
address niche markets such as veterinary and 
sports medicine. EKF believes that this 
portfolio can provide it with a competitive 
advantage to grow its market share in 2015 
and beyond.

 
 
6

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Point-of-Care: Diabetes Care

Product portfolio

Diabetes has been at the core of EKF’s strategy for well over 10 years starting 
with the early models of what became Biosen C-Line and Biosen S-Line. More 
recently HbA1c analysers have been developed and launched that address the 
diabetes screening market. And, although they do not strictly belong within a 
point-of-care framework, clinical chemistry tests such as Glycated Serum 
Protein and Beta-Hydroxybutyrate add further provenance to EKF’s claim to 
be a signifi cant contributor to diabetes care worldwide.

Biosen

Quo-Lab A1c

Quo-Test A1c 

Glucose and/or 
lactate measurement

Three models, each 
aimed at different 
settings

Used as the 
benchmark for blood 
glucose monitors in 
China

HbA1c testing 
(glycated 
hemoglobin)

HbA1c testing 
(glycated 
hemoglobin)

Results in four 
minutes using a 
unique methodology

Same methodology 
as Quo-Lab but fully 
automated

Targeted at 
developing world 
markets

Simple operation 
requires minimal 
training

Manufactured in
Magdeburg, Germany

Manufactured in
Magdeburg, Germany

Manufactured in
Magdeburg, Germany

Strategy

Although glucose testing is the most commonly used method of determining 
glycaemic control within diabetics, HbA1c is the accepted long term barometer of 
patient wellbeing and their compliance with their treatment regimes. The growth 
in popularity of HbA1c measurement has seen an increasing number of entrants 
to the point-of-care HbA1c market focused on GP surgeries and diabetes clinics. 
Despite this revenues from Quo-Lab increased by 69% in 2014 as EKF grew the 
distribution network and registered the product in new markets.

Despite being a relatively mature product in 
the company’s range, Biosen’s reputation for 
accuracy and reliability saw a signifi cant 
increase in demand in 2014. Unit sales of 
analysers grew by 9% year on year and this 
demand is expected to continue into 2015 
following an agreement with a Chinese 
distributor that will see 1,900 analysers 
shipped between 2014 and the end of 2016. 

2014 saw a major operational change within 
the Diabetes Care business unit as 
manufacturing of Quo-Test and Quo-Lab was 
transferred to EKF’s Magdeburg site. This 
change has allowed the company to make 
signifi cant operational savings as well as 
centralise the majority of its European-made 
analysers and tests.

Point-of-Care: Maternal & Women’s Health

1.0 Strategic Review

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

7

Product portfolio

Maternal and Women’s Health focuses primarily on diagnostics used to 
address conditions and complications associated with pregnancy and child 
birth. Sales within this business unit include revenues from creamatocrit 
centrifuges and hemoglobin meters used in Women and Infant Clinics, 
pregnancy test kits and HbA1c analysers used to diagnose gestational diabetes 
in pregnant women.

However the main focus of this new division is 
to develop the use of lactate within obstetric 
medicine. Over the past two years EKF’s R&D 
team in Germany have been developing one 
of the company’s existing platforms to provide 
accurate lactate readings taken during labour 

as a method of determining whether 
intervention is needed in the form of a 
caesarean section. This novel approach will be 
launched in 2015 alongside a set of guidelines 
issued by a European panel of experts.

Pregnancy kits

Cassette rapid tests

Marketed for use in 
hospital settings

SensPoint

Handheld lactate 
analyser with 
docking station

Strip sensor 
technology

Results in 10 seconds

Developed for use in
maternity wards

Creamatocrit 
Plus

Small lab centrifuge 

Measures the lipid 
concentration and 
caloric density of 
breast milk

Allows professionals 
to guide mothers 
with underweight 
infants 

Manufactured in
Magdeburg, Germany

Manufactured in
Sanford, USA

Distributed from 
San Antonio, USA

Strategy

EKF’s Maternal and Women’s Health business unit is very much in its infancy. The 
current focus is on distributor engagement and education and on developing a 
protocol with high level opinion leaders for the use of lactate in obstetric medicine.  

EKF is aware of strong commercial interest 
in this market as a result of a distributor in 
France starting to develop the market using 
Lactate Scout+. Lactate Scout+ uses the same 
strip system as SensPoint but was developed 
primarily for use in sports science. 

With the global trend for elective C-Sections, 
many of which are an unnecessary expense, as 
well as the global imperative to improve 
mother and child welfare, EKF is uniquely 
placed to take the lead in a developing market. 

8

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Central Laboratory

Product portfolio

EKF, through its wholly owned subsidiary Stanbio Laboratory, has had a 
presence within central laboratory sales dating back over 50 years. During this 
time it has built a global customer base for its clinical chemistry reagents that 
can be used on most open-channel analyser platforms.

The Central Laboratory business unit also 
includes the manufacture of enzymes, 
manufactured at EKF Life Sciences in Elkhart, 
Indiana. From this facility EKF Life Sciences sells 
enzymes used in Stanbio’s clinical chemistry 
portfolio as well as providing contract 
manufacturing services for third parties.

The acquisition of Separation Technology Inc. 
provided EKF with a third element to its 
central laboratory offering. As well as being a 
manufacturer of hematology products, STI has 
a heritage in manufacturing high quality, 
US-built, mini-centrifuges. 

Beta-
Hydroxybutyrate  

Glycated Serum 
Protein

Automated reagent 
for the early 
detection of ketosis

2-3 week indicator 
of average blood 
glucose

Primarily sold in USA 
through distribution 
network

Complementary to 
HbA1c in diagnosis and 
screening of diabetes

Micro12

High performance 
centrifuge

Used for molecular, 
clinical, cell and 
bacteriology use

PlasmaPrep-12

Plasma and serum 
separation

Programmable, multi 
sample centrifuge

Strategy

The central laboratory market is experiencing relatively small levels of growth 
compared to point-of-care and molecular diagnostics. This is because it is a 
mature market that is dominated by large corporations. However opportunities 
do exist where niche markets can be addressed with high quality products that 
either create a new market or switch Laboratory Managers away from traditional 
testing methods.

Beta-Hydroxybutyrate Liquicolor reagent is an 
excellent example of how EKF has changed 
the way in which central labs test for ketosis. 
Almost 1,000 US hospitals now use EKF’s ß-HB 
reagent instead of traditional nitroprusside 

testing following a concerted sales campaign 
focusing on the patient and practitioner 
benefi ts. A similar approach is planned for 
EKF’s new reagent products Procalcitonin 
(PCT) and Glycated Serum Protein (GSP).

Molecular Diagnostics

Product portfolio

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

9

1.0 Strategic Review

EKF Molecular Diagnostics was established in March 2013 following the 
acquisition of 360 Genomics Limited. Since then EKF Molecular has launched 
seven PointMan™ test kits aimed at the Research Use Only (RUO) and 
companion diagnostics markets.

PointMan™ is a highly specifi c and sensitive 
technology that enhances genetic detection 
processes. This capability is vital for companion 
diagnostics particularly in oncology. EKF is 
currently engaged with a number of 
collaborators, including the world-renowned 
cancer centre at Massachusetts General 
Hospital, to demonstrate the utility of the 
technology in detecting circulating tumour cells 
amd circulating free DNA. 

The second element within EKF’s molecular 
portfolio is Selah Genomics. Selah, based in 
South Carolina, USA was acquired in April 2014 
as part of EKF’s strategy to expand its footprint 
in the sector. Selah offers a range of molecular 
testing services to private practices throughout 
the USA, and is also involved in several 
collaborations with hospital groups and 
medtech conglomerates to commercialise new 
predictive testing models for cancer treatments.

PointMan™

PrecisionPath™

sTNFR1

Highly sensitive 
technology that 
enables detection of 
mutant cells

Seven kits available, 
all within oncology

CE marking of fi rst 
kits in 2015

Oncology panel of 
tests from Selah 
Genomics

Collaborations 
ongoing to develop 
predictive model for 
colon cancer

Companion 
diagnostic biomarker 

Predictor of End 
Stage Renal Disease 
in diabetic patients

Strategy

Molecular diagnostics has begun to gain signifi cant traction in the US where 
several laboratories specialising in molecular testing services have recently been 
acquired by international IVD businesses. 

EKF’s focus in 2015 will be to expand the Selah range of test panels and also 
integrate PointMan™ into Selah’s offering. 

The cornerstone of the company’s molecular 
strategy will be the completion and publication 
of studies and evaluations that demonstrate 
the utility of its portfolio. Many high level 
collaborations are already in place, some of 
which have attracted sponsorship from 

businesses looking to commercialise the 
technologies upon the successful completion 
of the evaluations. EKF expects the 
developments from PointMan™, PrecisionPath™ 
and sTNFR1 to attract considerable interest in 
the next twelve months.

10

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Chairman’s Statement

Dear Fellow Shareholder

The year past has been a curate’s egg of a year for the Company. There have 
been many positive factors as we have continued to grow both organically 
and by acquisition but they have been offset by certain events largely 
beyond our control.

Strategy

From a strategic perspective we believe we 
needed to achieve three key objectives in 
2014.

The fi rst was to underpin our current point of 
care offering particularly in hemoglobin testing 
where our existing hemoglobin technology, 
widely regarded as the Rolls-Royce of 
instruments, was being threatened by newer 
technologies. It was against that background 
that we acquired DiaSpect Medical AB last 
April for an upfront cash and equity 
consideration of £16m with an earnout of up to 
£4.75m, which was subsequently settled by a 
cash payment of £1.425m in January 2015.

We believe that the DiaSpect product suite 
allows us to compete more effectively against 
our principal competitor. I believe the benefi t 
of this acquisition will be more fully evidenced 
during 2015.

Secondly, we recognised that we needed to 
embolden our presence in molecular
diagnostics. In an ideal world this would have 
been in Point-of-Care, but given the plethora 
of technologies in development together with 
some launched products, not only would we 
have been playing catch-up with a me-too 
offering, but the scale of investment was not 
within our investment capacity. 

It was the Board’s view that a different 
approach was necessary and one which 
sought to build upon the Company’s toe-hold 
in molecular diagnostics through its 
previous acquisition of 360 Genomics Ltd and 
the PointMan™ technology.

We sought to do this through the acquisition 
of Selah Genomics Inc primarily for two 
reasons; one tactical and the other strategic.

Tactically the DME (Drug Metabolising 
Enzymes) testing was growing and set to grow 
further and we believed that it would help 
underpin our short to medium term growth 
ambitions. Strategically, we believed, and still 
do more than ever, that the true value will 
be evidenced by the work being undertaken 
at our facility in Greenville which we believe 
is at the forefront of molecular diagnostic 
testing in the fi eld of personalised medicine 
via next-generation sequencing (NGS) testing 
using both internally developed tests and 
leveraging externally developed tests.

It was unfortunate that within a very short 
period of time after the acquisition the local US 
Medicare Administrative Contractor (‘MAC’) 
withdrew reimbursement for the DME panel. 
We have sought during 2014 to resolve this 
issue. We have explored a number of avenues 

and the effort that has been expended has 
been at the expense of other opportunities. 
We have come to the conclusion this month 
that the opportunity cost to us in pursuing 
DME revenues through the current channels 
and without the support of the MAC is too high 
when compared to the more signifi cant and 
credible upside from PrecisionPath, which 
provides a panel of clinically validated 
biomarkers that can be used to design specifi c 
personalised treatment plans for cancer 
patients.

It is beholden upon me to address the key 
issue of reimbursement at point of 
acquisition. Whilst the risk to reimbursement 
was recognised in due diligence, neither 
ourselves nor the incumbent management 
perceived the threat to be an immediate one. 
Given the nature of reimbursement in the USA 
had we been located in another state such as 
New Hampshire or Connecticut then the ability 
to have continued in the execution of our plan 
would have gone ahead unfettered. However, 
feeling sorry for oneself is likely to elicit zero 
sympathy and we believe a more realistic way 
forward is to work with the MAC in South 
Carolina to provide to their standard the 
necessary clinical evidence to support the use 
of a DME panel in anticipation of
reimbursement becoming available again at 
some stage in the future.

Thirdly, whilst not based on our experience 
with DME it is clearly evident to those in the 
industry that health payers worldwide cannot 
continue to pay for the ever burgeoning 
number of new diagnostic tests and 
therapeutics unless clear health economic 
benefi ts can be demonstrated not in 
subjective terms, but in hard cash terms. It 
was against that strategic backdrop that we 
have taken a minority position in the Toronto 
based DxEconomix whose prime objective is 
to obtain value based pricing for IVD products 
for its clients. Progress has been slower than I 
had originally anticipated in that whilst many 
organisations recognise the need they are not 
yet fully prepared to pay for it.

Results overview

The Group has seen strong growth during the 
year with revenue of £40.1m (2013: £31.8m), an 
increase of 26%. This is despite the impact of 
a weak dollar and the well publicised issues in 
Russia, which include a very signifi cant
currency deterioration. Revenues would have 
been higher by £2.6m had they been
translated at 2013 rates. Within this, organic 
growth was 6%.

Adjusted earnings before interest, tax, 
depreciation, and amortisation (AEBITDA), 

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

11

1.0 Strategic Review

which excludes share-based payments and 
exceptional items, is our preferred 
measurement of income, and is up 31% to 
£6.3m (2013: £4.8m). 

more than 30% of last year’s due to the 
continued impact of sanctions; and, the 
continued downward pressure on 
reimbursement globally.

Board

During the year Gordon Hall retired as a 
Director having been on the EKF Board since 
2005. Having known Gordon for over twenty 
years I would like to thank him for his support 
both for the Company and for me personally 
and I wish him well for the future.

Subsequent to Gordon’s departure we 
strengthened the Board’s Non-Executive 
contingent through the appointment of 
Doris-Ann Williams and David Toohey, both of 
whom have immense industry knowledge and 
experience. Their contribution to the Board 
since joining has been invaluable.

The Board’s Executive contingent was 
strengthened through fi rstly the appointment 
of Paul Foulger as Chief Financial Offi cer – Paul 
has been with us from the start and it was a 
natural progression for Paul to make. Secondly, 
Tito Bacarese-Hamilton was appointed Chief 
Technology Offi cer. In the coming year a 
considerable burden rests on Tito’s shoulders 
as we seek to launch a number of new 
products.

Regarding the passing of my baton, that will 
be done when the time is right, we must 
absolutely deliver on our expectations this 
year and restore the confi dence in our 
shareholders for the team of which I am part. 
The pursuit of a signifi cantly more expansionist 
strategy under different chairmanship cannot 
be contemplated until that confi dence is 
restored and the share price responds 
accordingly.

Restructuring

During the year we moved our Quo-Test and 
Quo-Lab manufacturing to Barleben and 
closed our Dublin facility.

In 2015 we have refi ned our existing divisional 
structure of Point-of-Care and Molecular.

Julian Baines, whilst retaining overall Group 
CEO responsibilities, has been tasked with the 
day-to-day running of the Molecular Division 
with a primary focus of providing diagnostic 
tests directed at therapeutic intervention and 
monitoring.

Richard Evans will assume day-to-day 
responsibility for the whole of our Point of 
Care Division with that division being split into 
four main Business Units of Hemoglobin, 
Diabetes, Maternal & Women’s Health, and 
Central Laboratory.

We believe this focus will bring benefi ts during 
2015 and that the latent value in our molecular 
diagnostics offering will be realised.

Outlook

Despite the above and an industry which is 
experiencing overall growth rates of 5% our 
ambitions remain to achieve double digit 
growth and to be able to exploit the 
opportunities in front of us.

We are under no illusion that we must 
deliver on sensible expectations and that as 
we continue to seek to grow we must do this 
in a non-dilutory fashion. As with all my years 
with the Company the results are back-end 
weighted and 2015 appears to be no exception 
to this.

We will continue to review the frequent 
approaches from private equity groups as to 
whether this is to the benefi t of Shareholders 
but thus far none of the approaches represent 
anything more than opportunism.

The key deliverables for 2015 are set out below.

Point-of-Care
•  Further develop the hemoglobin business    
  across the whole spectrum of hemoglobin    
  applications and markets using connected    
  solutions to open new markets in monitoring 
•  Use EKF’s expertise to establish lactate
  measurement in peri-natal settings as a  
  marker of maternal and neonatal well-being
•  Continue to build on EKF’s experience in
  very accurate glucose measurement by  

introducing the Biosen instrument to new 

  markets, particularly in Asia and Latin 
  America
•  Incorporate connectivity and data 
  management in all our major revenue
  generating product lines
•  Development of the fi rst ever POC 
  monitoring system for patients with 
  Phenylketonuria (PKU)

Molecular Diagnostics
•  CE Marking for PointMan™ T790M assay
•  Reimbursement for PrecisionPath™ 
•  Complete the development of PrecisionPath  
  Discovery
•  Launching the initial tests for the Oncomine   
  programme through PrecisionPath Discovery
•  Launch the Ferrer Incode products into 
  Private Payer and Corporate Wellness 
  markets
•  Transfer the manufacture of PointMan™ into   
  Selah
•  Achieve ISO 13485 in the Selah facility
•  Progress the colon cancer programme with   
  Becton Dickinson, DecisionQ and Greenville   
  Health System
•  Deliver more pharma partnerships

I am buoyed by the opportunities in front of us 
and in particular the opportunities presented by 
PrecisionPath™ .

As we move into 2015 the overall outlook 
is positive despite some headwinds; Russia 
where revenues this year are likely to be no 

David Evans
Executive Chairman
16 March 2015

 
 
 
12

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Chief Executive’s Review

During 2014 we made progress as we saw the organic growth of the core 
business continue to be above the global industry average. Additionally, we 
made three strategic acquisitions and although at times challenging, these 
acquisitions have been quickly integrated and have given us signifi cant growth 
opportunities over the next three years. Year-on-year we have seen continuous 
improvement in both revenue and AEBITDA despite the decrease in healthcare 
spending worldwide, reduction in re-imbursement, tighter regulatory controls 
and the instability in Russia and the Middle East.

We now have a fi rm footing in the global Point 
of Care market with over 80,000 instruments 
installed globally. We have seen a large 
increase in the sales of our Quo-Lab and Hemo 
Control instruments. We are also making 
progress with our Molecular Diagnostics 
division with the signing of contracts with 
Massachusetts General Hospital, Gilupi and 
Angle, supporting our belief that our 
PointMan™ product will become key to some 
major new technologies, especially in the 
detection of circulating tumour cells in whole 
blood. In addition Selah has given us a valuable 
platform and relationships that will enable us 
to deliver signifi cant opportunities in the 
United States and beyond in 2015.

EKF Group has a lot to deliver in 2015 but 
those deliverables are clear and defi ned as we 
have laid the base foundations in key areas to 
deliver growth above the industry average.

Operations

Structural change
During the year we have continued to initiate a 
number of signifi cant structural changes to the 
business with the aim of improving effi ciency, 
reducing cost, and driving revenue. With 
minimal disruption we successfully transferred 
the manufacture of the Quo-Test and Quo-Lab 
product lines, including both instruments and 
cartridges, into our main European production 
base in Barleben, Germany. This involved the 
commissioning of a new Quo-Lab cartridge 
production line which was designed and built 
by EKF’s in house production engineering 
team and which has reduced the cost of 
manufacture signifi cantly. Having the 
ability to transfer production and build our 
own automated production lines is very rare 
and valuable to EKF. 

Our facility in Ireland has been closed 
following the termination of the building lease. 
While a small core project management team 
will remain in place, the majority of 
development projects, and the manufacture of 
the biomarker products have been transferred 
to the Walton-on-Thames site.

With the successful transfer of production of 
Quo-Test and Quo-Lab instruments and 
reagents cartridges to the Barleben 
manufacturing site and the closure of the 
Dublin site, the Company expects to 
benefi t from operational savings in the region 
of £0.75m annually. In addition, work has now 
begun on expanding the Barleben site which 
will provide increased production capacity. 

As production levels rise, the Company 
expects this to have an additional positive 
impact on product margins, as well as creating 
further overhead effi ciency opportunities. The 
Company will also continue to integrate the 
acquisitions made in 2014 and to exploit 
cross-selling initiatives and cost effi ciency 
opportunities. 

We have recently enhanced and expanded our 
regional structure, including in China where we 
are about to open a representative offi ce in 
Shanghai. At the same time we have improved 
our distributor support, introducing a Premier 
Partner Programme, held our fi rst international 
distributor meeting, and intend to employ a 
dedicated distribution chain manager.

The strengthening of the Sales and Marketing 
Infrastructure by bringing in experienced 
Business Unit Directors from major 
diagnostic organisations demonstrates that 
EKF is developing a global presence in the 
diagnostic industry and investment in this area 
will be key to continued growth.

Acquisitions
The three acquisitions made in the fi rst half 
of the year have expanded our product line 
capabilities in hematology and molecular 
diagnostics.

Separation Technology, Inc. (STI) brings a 
successful line of centrifugal separation 
products all of which are FDA 510(k) 
approved. Additionally, it brings Ultracrit, an 
ultrasound based hematology analyser which 
is being used in a number of major US blood 
banks. STI has been successfully integrated 
and has shown continued growth in the US 
market through the expanded sales coverage 
via our US sales team.

DiaSpect Medical has designed a hematology 
instrument which is available in both desktop 
and handheld formats. Both formats use 
DiaSpect’s patented reagentless cuvette 
technology, which allows cheaper
manufacture, longer shelf life and results in 
under two seconds, which is particularly useful 
in blood banks where time to result is critical. 
The DiaSpect range is sold into blood banks 
via our partnership with Fresenius, the world’s 
leading supplier of blood bank products. We 
announced on 5 January 2015 that the 
Company agreed to make a cash payment 
of £1.425m as fi nal settlement for the total 
deferred cash consideration due. The original 
maximum deferred consideration totalled 
£4.75m.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

13

1.0 Strategic Review

Selah Genomics, Inc. is a US CLIA certifi ed 
supplier of panels of molecular diagnostic tests 
to patients who are referred by general 
practitioners or by corporate health teams 
in the USA. Funding is usually either through 
Medicare or private health insurers. The 
company provides EKF with signifi cant 
opportunities through their relationships with 
major partners (Becton Dickenson, Greenville 
Health System, DecisionQ) as well as a high 
quality product range (PrecisionPath, 
PrecisionPath Discovery and the Ferrer InCode 
products). Delivery will be the main focus for 
the molecular diagnostics business in 2015.

Point-of-Care
During 2014 we focused on improving our 
distribution channels into major markets. 
Whilst we still have some way to go we have 
had success in introducing Human, Arkray, 
Fresenius, Alere Japan, and Multiclone as 
distributors, therefore strengthening our 
global sales capabilities. The current year will 
be focused on delivery. We have a strong mix 
of mature and new products and with the 
strengthening of the commercial team we will 
aim to continue to grow at a higher rate than 
the industry average.

The Point-of-Care business continues to 
perform well, with growth being seen across 
most products. In particular, Quo-Lab 
instrument sales are up more than 30% on the 
previous year with the product now registered 
in more countries than ever, including Japan, 
which offers EKF a signifi cant growth 
opportunity. Quo-Lab is a glycated 
hemoglobin analyser used in diabetes 
monitoring.

Biosen instrument sales are showing an 
increase of more than 8% on the previous year, 
mainly due to strong growth in Asia where we 
have signed a multi-million Euro contract with 
a new partner based in northern China. We 
do have signifi cant challenges in Russia where 
Biosen is the major product line; we would 
expect to see a 70% drop in revenues in Russia 
due to the reduction in healthcare spending 
and the impact of the rouble. A large contract 
win in China will go some way to mitigate this. 
Biosen is a range of analysers which 
measure glucose and lactate quickly and 
precisely in clinics, laboratories and sports 
medicine facilities.

Hemo Control continues to perform well 
especially in Mexico and Latin America where 
we have continued to win signifi cant tenders. 
The performance by Alere in the US market 
has been disappointing as the growth has not 
been as expected but we have continued to 
increase market share. The new sales 
infrastructure will enable us to support Alere 
in continuing to grow the US market. 
Hemo Control is a point of care device that 
provides immediate, lab-quality results for 
both hemoglobin and hematocrit from one 
simple test.

Central Laboratory
The main product in the Central Laboratory 
division, ß-HB, grew by 9%. Conversely, the 
Central Laboratory market is very 
competitive and we saw a decline overall. In 
2014 we took steps to mitigate this and in 2015 
we will launch a Procalcitonin marker (PCT) for 
sepsis diagnosis as a new product and also a 
new desktop Clinical Chemistry analyser. The 
Business Unit Director will also be responsible 
for expanding the Clinical Chemistry Business 
outside the US.

Molecular Diagnostics
Selah Genomics had a major setback in May 
2014 with the announcement that the 
reimbursement for the DME panel testing was 
to be signifi cantly reduced. This led to the 
announcement that revenues for 2014 would 
be materially lower. Whilst DME testing 
continues, it will not be the focus of the 
management in 2015. Alongside PointMan™, 
Selah offers a signifi cant opportunity for EKF 
over the next 3 years. In 2015 we will have a 
number of deliverables as set out in the 
Chairman’s Statement.

To deliver these we will be bringing all 
molecular products and services under one 
corporate identity as well as introducing US 
and UK industry experts to drive the molecular 
business which has real potential.

In 2014 Selah contributed £3.0m to full year 
revenues. Whilst we still face some choppy 
waters in the short term the change of focus 
has led to increased commercial 
opportunities and the potential for further 
signifi cant partnerships. For example, as 
mentioned earlier, we have announced a 
collaboration with the Greenville Health 
System’s ITOR facility, DecisionQ, and BD 
Technologies which will use PrecisionPath as 
the basis of a system that supports improved 
clinical decisions in the treatment of colon 
cancer patients. This is one of a number of 
opportunities for Selah in 2015.  

The initial Selah purchase agreement was 
drafted to accommodate the risk of reduced 
reimbursement payments via a reduction in 
deferred consideration payments if certain 
performance targets were not met; the lower 
than anticipated sales from Selah is likely to 
result in the year one earn-out payment of 
$17.5m not being payable. We still believe that 
Selah represents a signifi cant value 
opportunity to shareholders over the short to 
medium term if we deliver on the above.

During 2014 the value of PointMan™ to the 
molecular industry has become clear. 
PointMan™ signifi cantly enhances the sensitivity 
of any molecular platform, as well as working 
on a number of sample types such as biopsy 
or liquid biopsy (whole blood), and can be 
utilised in the latest technologies such as 
circulating tumour cells and circulating free 
DNA. Additionally this has led to MGH, Gilupi 
and Angle evaluating PointMan™ on their 
differing technologies and we look forward to 
reporting on results in the near future. 

14

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Chief Executive’s Review continued

Our collaboration with The Institute of Life 
Sciences in Swansea has shown that PointMan™ 
is effective in isolating and characterising 
certain low-level DNA mutations in blood, 
paving the way for the development of a 
simple cancer screening and diagnostic test 
based on a blood sample rather than a biopsy.  
The data highlighted the utility of a 
blood-based test and critically demonstrated 
that PointMan™ was highly sensitive and can 
detect just three mutant cells in a background 
of 10,000 wild type cells. 

The unifi cation of the molecular business, the 
progress being made with PrecisionPath 
and the continued development of the 
commercial offering of PointMan™ provide 
the Company with confi dence that 2015 will 
be a very signifi cant year for establishing the 
credentials of the EKF Molecular Diagnostics 
division and a considerable generator of 
shareholder value.

New products
During 2014 we introduced or entered 
late-stage development of a number of new or 
improved product lines. These include:-

•  SensPoint, a POC lactate measuring system  
  designed for use in peri-natal settings. 
•  Enhancements to major revenue
  generating product lines to equip our 
  customers with data-management and 
  connectivity capability.
•  Procalcitonin - this is a Central Laboratory    
  test for measuring sepsis.
•  sTNFR1/2 biomarkers that will predict fast
  progressors to Chronic Kidney Disease  
  (CKD) in both Type 1 and 2 diabetics. If  
  untreated CKD can lead to End Stage Renal 
  Disease which is one of the costliest 
  conditions for healthcare payers. sTNFR1 has 
  been exclusively licenced from Joslin 
  Diabetes Centre in Boston and is a 
  signifi cant development project for EKF.  
  EKF is working very closely with major 
  pharmaceutical and dialysis companies to    
incorporate sTNFR1/2 as complementary  

  diagnostics with their therapies.
•  Inborn Errors of Metabolism - EKF is 
  developing a POC system for monitoring 
  Phenylalanine levels in PKU (a rare genetic
  condition that is present from birth). The 
  company is working very closely with a 
  major pharmaceutical company with PKU 
  therapies on the market and signifi cantly 

improved drugs in late development. In PKU, 
  Phenylalanine (an amino acid) builds up and 
if untreated can lead to mental retardation, 

  behavioural disorders, seizures and other 
  serious medical problems. 

Results

Revenue
Revenue for the year was £40.1m (2013: 
£31.8m), an increase of 26%. Overall, 
acquisitions contributed £6.5m to revenues. 
Underlying organic revenues accounted for 
£33.6m of total revenues which represented 
6% organic growth year-on-year.

Gross profi t
Gross profi t has increased to £19.9m (2013: 
£16.3m), which is an increase of 22%. Gross 
profi t as a percentage of revenue is 49.8% 
(2013: 51.4%), largely as a result of the 
structurally lower margins on the Selah 
business because of the arrangements made 
with their billing and marketing partners.

Administration costs and research and 
development costs
Administrative expenses have increased by 
59.6%. The increase comes from the 
acquisitions, the additional amortisation 
associated with the acquisitions, added 
investment in sales resources, and from a 
number of exceptional items including the 
closure costs for our Dublin facility, the costs 
of moving manufacture of the Quo-Test and 
Quo-Lab products, and the costs of making 
the three acquisitions in the year. In addition 
to the R & D costs, included in administration 
costs of £1.3m, a further £1.5m of expenditure 
has been capitalised.

The charge for depreciation of fi xed assets and 
for the amortisation of intangibles is £5.0m 
(2013: £3.6m).

Operating profi t and adjusted earnings before 
interest tax and depreciation
The Group has made an operating loss of 
£2.5m (2013: profi t of £2.4m) for the reasons 
outlined above. We consider a more 
meaningful measure of underlying 
performance to be adjusted EBITDA which for 
2014 was £6.3m (2013: £4.8m). This excludes 
the effects of share-based payments of £0.5m 
(2013: £0.7m) and exceptional losses of £3.3m 
(2013: exceptional gains of £1.8m). 

Finance costs
Finance costs have decreased to £1.6m (2013: 
£1.8m). The decrease is largely a result of 
fair value adjustments associated with the 
deferred shares withheld as part of the tax 
warranty claim.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

15

1.0 Strategic Review

Outlook

Whilst we acknowledge that 2014 was a 
challenging year where we had setbacks, we 
performed very creditably with 26% overall 
growth and we made very signifi cant 
progress. It is clear what we have to deliver in 
2015 and we are very confi dent that this will 
be achieved. In 2015 we will see a number of 
new products being brought to market as well 
as improvements to some of our important 
existing products. 

The integration of Selah and EKF Molecular 
Diagnostics into one company will reap short 
and medium term rewards and Selah’s 
PrecisionPath service, which provides a panel 
of clinically validated biomarkers that can be 
used to design specifi c personalised treatment 
plans for cancer patients, represents a huge 
opportunity for growth. This has the potential 
to become a very high margin reimbursable 
testing service and the Company will keep 
Shareholders updated as this progresses. 
Additionally, it is clear how advantageous 
PointMan™ will be in the next generation of 
molecular diagnostic testing.

We believe that this report provides 
Shareholders with very clear guidance on 
our deliverables for 2015. In addition to these 
operational goals we are determined to deliver 
sensible fi nancial goals and as such have set 
as one of our key performance indicators the 
challenge to deliver at least 10% annual organic 
growth therefore outperforming our industry 
peers. We are convinced that by taking a more 
measured approach we are putting in place all 
of the factors required to become even more 
successful and to produce long term 
sustainable double digit growth, and value for 
shareholders.

Julian Baines
Chief Executive Offi cer
16 March 2015

Tax
There is a tax charge of £1.4m (2013: £1.5m). 
The charge is largely the result of the 
utilisation of a deferred tax asset associated 
with the Quotient business, as well as 
unrelieved losses made in certain jurisdictions. 
The effect of the potential tax warranty claim 
has been reduced following negotiations 
between the Group’s German subsidiary, its 
tax advisers, and the German tax authorities. 
We are hopeful this issue will be fully resolved 
early in 2015. The reduced tax charge has an 
associated reduction of the warranty claim, 
this amount has been included in exceptional 
items.

Balance sheet

Property, plant and equipment
We have invested £1.0m (2013: £1.2m) in 
property plant and equipment. Major projects 
include building work at Barleben and 
additional equipment at Selah, both to increase 
capacity.

Intangible assets
Intangible assets have increased substantially 
following the three acquisitions made in March 
and April, plus further capitalisation of 
development costs. Following the closure 
of the Group’s Dublin facility, the associated 
goodwill and trade secret assets, and the 
capitalised development cost associated with 
the Renastat project of £1.2m, have been 
impaired in full.

Deferred consideration
The fi nal payment of deferred consideration of 
£0.4m in respect of the acquisition of Quotient 
Diagnostics Ltd was made during the year. The 
small remaining provision has been credited to 
exceptional items. The deferred consideration 
payable to the vendors of DiaSpect Medical 
was renegotiated down to £1.4m and this was 
paid in January 2015.

Cash and working capital
Cash used in operations in 2014 is £3.3m (2013: 
£3.1m generated). Following the fund raising in 
April, the Group had cash on hand at 31 
December 2014 of £8.3m (2013: £2.5m), and 
a net cash position of £2.1m (2013: £0.1m).  
Trade debtors at year end are especially high 
as a result of sales to Mexico made during the 
year and especially in December. Payment of 
some of these outstanding amounts totalling 
£5.5m has been delayed because of slow 
payments to the relevant distributors by the 
Mexican Government.

16

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Board of Directors

Executive Board

David Evans
Executive Chairman (aged 54)

David has signifi cant experience and contacts worldwide within the IVD industry and is currently 
Chairman of the following listed companies: Omega Diagnostics Group plc, Collagen Solutions plc, 
Epistem Holdings plc, Scancell Holdings plc, Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc, Premaitha Health 
plc, and Opibiotix Health plc. In addition he was formerly Chairman of Immunodiagnostics Systems 
Holdings plc and BBI Holdings Limited (“BBI”) and Joint-Managing Director of Axis-Shield plc. He 
also sits on the Board of a number of private companies.

Julian Baines
Chief Executive Offi cer (aged 50)

Julian was Group CEO of BBI where he undertook a management buyout in 2000, a fl otation on AIM 
in 2004 and was responsible for selling the business to Alere Inc. in 2008 for circa £85 million. In 
December 2009 Julian became CEO of the Group and has subsequently successfully completed 
fund raisings in 2010, 2011 and 2014, and the acquisition and subsequent integration of eight 
businesses in seven countries building revenue from zero to over £40m.

Richard Evans
Chief Operating Offi cer (aged 57)

Richard qualifi ed as a Chartered Management Accountant in 1983 and holds a Bachelor of 
Commerce in Business Studies and Law from Edinburgh University and an MBA from INSEAD. 
Before joining EKF Richard was Finance Director, General Manager and fi nally Global Account 
Director at Hitachi Data Systems GmbH. He has also held positions at Fisher Scientifi c, TRW Seat 
Belt Systems, Maxtor Corporation, United Technologies Carrier and Abbot Diagnostics GmbH in 
Germany.

Paul Foulger
Finance Director and Company Secretary (aged 45)

Paul is a qualifi ed certifi ed accountant with extensive public and private company experience 
having been Finance Director at Venn Life Sciences Holdings plc, First Africa Oil plc, Cielo Holdings 
plc, Elsevier Science, Orogen Gold plc and Porta Communications plc, amongst others. Paul was 
Finance Director for EKF until September 2011 and was then reappointed in July 2013 when Richard 
Evans was promoted to Chief Operating Offi cer; he currently holds several other directorships, 
including, Autoclenz Group Limited and Arcis Biotechnology Limited. Paul holds an MBA from 
Warwick Business School.

Tito Bacarese-Hamilton
Chief Technology Offi cer (aged 57)

Tito is a clinical biochemist by training and brings more than 25 years of research and industrial 
experience in the medical and life sciences sector. Prior to joining EKF he was Vice President, R&D at 
LifeScan, a Johnson & Johnson company, where he had global responsibility for the full-scale 
development and commercial launch of all new products and platforms. Tito was also a founder of 
Quotient Diagnostics, which was acquired by EKF in 2010. Tito graduated from King’s College, 
London and earned his PhD at the Royal Postgraduate Medical Centre in London. He is a Fellow of 
the American National Association of Clinical Biochemistry, a member of the European Association 
for the Study of Diabetes and has published more than 50 peer-reviewed articles on a variety of 
topics related to pathology, oncology and laboratory medicine.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

17

1.0 Strategic Review

Non-Executive Board

David Toohey
Non-Executive Director (aged 57)

David has over 30 years’ experience in international business; in electronics system design and 
manufacturing settings and in medical devices. After holding senior positions in Bausch+Lomb and 
Boston Scientifi c he joined Inverness Medical (now Alere Inc) in 2001, where he fulfi lled a number of 
roles including VP New Products, President Global Professional Diagnostics and President 
International Business Operations. He is a Fellow of Engineers Ireland and a Chartered Engineer, 
holds an MBA and is a member of the Institute Of Directors. He is CEO and founder of Syncrophi 
Systems Ltd, a company pioneering the development of next-generation frontline patient care and 
clinical informatics solutions and is on the board of Croi, the non-profi t West of Ireland Cardiology 
Foundation.

Adam Reynolds
Non-Executive Director (aged 52)

Adam is a former stockbroker specialising in corporate fi nance. He has built, rescued and 
re-fi nanced a number of public companies. He is currently Chairman of Autoclenz Group Limited, 
Orogen Gold plc, and Hubco Investments plc and a Director of OptiBiotix Health plc, Premaitha 
Health plc, and Verdes Management plc.

Doris-Ann Williams MBE
Non-Executive Director (aged 54)

Doris-Ann Williams has been Chief Executive of the British In Vitro Diagnostics Association (BIVDA) 
since October 2001 and has more than 30 years’ experience working in the IVD sector. She has had 
a variety of experience, initially in R&D and subsequently in commercial roles. She is on the editorial 
board of IVD Technology, sits on a number of steering groups including that of the Technology 
Strategy Board and is currently on the NHS Implementation Board for Innovation, Health and Wealth. 
She also works closely with European Diagnostic Manufacturers Association and other global IVD 
industry associations. She was awarded an MBE in January 2011 and was recognised as a Friend of the 
Royal College of Pathologists in November 2012. 

Kevin Wilson
Non-Executive Director (aged 64)

Kevin has been on the board of a number of public and private businesses and was Senior 
Independent Director of BBI from its AIM fl otation to its sale in 2008. He has been active in 
Investment Banking and Stockbroking for 30 years as a corporate fi nance adviser and is FSA 
registered. He carries a PhD in Finance and an MBA in Business and is a Visiting Fellow at 
Manchester Business School and Visiting Senior Lecturer in Finance and Accounting at the 
University of Lancaster Management School.

18

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Strategic Report for the year ended 31 December 2014

Review of the business

A review of the business is contained in the Chairman’s Statement on pages 10 and 11, and in the Chief 
Executive’s Review on pages 12 to 15.

Risk management

We recognise that effective risk management is essential to the successful delivery of the Group’s 
strategy and will help us build a world class in-vitro diagnostic business. As we continue to grow our 
business we believe it is important to develop and enhance our approach to risk management, and 
to ensure it remains fi t for purpose. In the last quarter of 2014 we began enhancing and formalising 
our risk management processes and have started the journey of maturing our approach to how we 
identify and manage risks across the Group, in a consistent and robust manner. As such we are in the 
process of establishing a Risk Steering Committee, reporting to the Group Chairman and Finance 
Director, whose aim will be to formally review and manage the Group’s risk profi le and control 
environment.

Below we describe our risk management approach, the principal risks and uncertainties faced by the 
Group and the controls in place to manage them. 

Overview of risk management approach

Each business area is responsible for identifying, assessing and managing the risks in their respective 
area. Risks are identifi ed and assessed by all business areas on a periodic basis and are measured 
against a defi ned set of criteria, considering likelihood of occurrence and potential impact. The 
Executive Board members also conduct a strategic risk identifi cation and assessment exercise to 
identify risks, including those that could impact the business model, future performance, solvency or 
liquidity. This risk information is combined with a consolidated view of the business area risks. The 
most signifi cant risks identifi ed form our Group Risk Profi le, which is reported to the Executive Board 
for review and challenge, ahead of it being submitted to the Group Board for fi nal review, challenge 
and approval. The Board has the overall accountability for ensuring that risk is effectively managed 
across the Group and therefore ensuring that it is comfortable with the nature and extent of the 
principal risks faced in achieving its strategic objectives. During the course of 2015 the policies and the 
improved internal control environment established will underpin our approach to the risk 
management.  

Principal risks and uncertainties

Set out below are the principal risks which we believe could materially affect the Group’s ability to 
achieve its fi nancial and operating objectives and control or mitigating activities adopted to manage 
them. The risks are not listed in order of signifi cance. 

Key employees
Lack of retention of key employees affects the continuity and effectiveness of on-going relationships 
with key customers and suppliers. 

This risk is minimised by ensuring that a minimum of two individuals manage every relationship with 
key customers and suppliers. In addition, in retaining the key employees, incentivisation packages are 
offered through a mixture of sales commission, profi t related bonuses and participation in the Group 
LTIP and share option schemes. Main Board Directors are incentivised as detailed in the Directors’ 
Remuneration Report.

Political risk
A signifi cant proportion of the Group’s revenues are accounted for by agreements in developing 
countries. Any instability in these countries could signifi cantly affect the operations and the revenue 
of the Group. In particular, the Group has signifi cant revenue from customers in Mexico and Russia 
which are ultimately largely funded by the governments of those countries.

The Group spreads the risk through seeking a portfolio of diversifi ed revenue streams geographically 
with a mixture of distribution partners in developing and developed countries. 

Supply chain continuity
The Group relies on third party manufacturers for the supply of the majority of raw materials. 
Problems with obsolescence and manufacturer facilities may lead to delay and disruptions in the 
supply chain which could have a signifi cant negative impact on the Group. The Group maintains a 
close dialogue with key suppliers and closely monitors its inventory status and customer demand to 
ensure that any problems with the supply chain can be managed and back up sources of supply are 
maintained where possible.

Regulatory risk
There can be no guarantee that any of the Group’s products will be able to obtain or maintain the 
necessary regulatory approvals in any or all of the territories in respect of which applications for such 
approvals are made. Where regulatory approvals are obtained, there can be no guarantee that the 
conditions attached to such approvals will not be considered too onerous by the Group or its 
distribution partners in order to be able to market its products effectively. 

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

19

2.0 Corporate Governance

The Group seeks to reduce this risk by manufacturing the products to recognised standards, by 
keeping appraised with changes in the standards geographically, by seeking advice from regulatory 
advisers, consultations with regulatory approval bodies and by working with experienced 
distribution partners.

Competition risk
Due to the Group’s current and future potential competitors, such as major multinational 
pharmaceutical and healthcare companies having substantially greater resources than those of the 
Group, the competitors develop systems and products that are more effective or economic than any 
of those developed by the Group, rendering the Group’s products obsolete or otherwise 
non-competitive. 

The Group seeks to mitigate this risk by securing patent registration protection for its products, 
maintaining confi dentiality agreements regarding the Group’s know-how and technology, 
monitoring technological developments and by selecting leading businesses in their respective fi elds 
as distribution partners capable of addressing signifi cant competition, should it arise.

Intellectual property risk
The commercial success of the Group and its ability to compete effectively with other companies 
depends, amongst other things, on its ability to obtain and maintain patents suffi ciently broad in 
scope to provide protection for the Group’s intellectual property rights against third parties and to 
exploit its products. The absence of any such patents may have a material adverse effect on the 
Group’s ability to develop its business. 

The Group mitigates this risk by developing products where legal advice indicates patent 
protection would be available, seeking patent protection for the Group’s products, maintaining 
confi dentiality agreements regarding Group know-how and technology and monitoring 
technological developments and the registration of patents by other parties. The commercial 
success of the Group also depends upon not infringing patents granted, now or in the future, to third 
parties who may have fi led applications or who have obtained, or may obtain, patents relating to 
business processes which might inhibit the Group’s ability to develop and exploit its own 
products.

Foreign exchange risk
The Group has transactional currency exposures as the majority of revenues and expenditure and 
certain borrowings and deferred consideration are denominated in foreign currencies. Fluctuations in 
exchange rates between the Group’s functional currency of Sterling and the currency of the overseas 
operations could adversely impact the fi nancial results. In most cases the Group matches the currency 
receipts and expenditure of the overseas operations. The Group also endeavours to match the foreign 
currency assets of the foreign operations by funding through borrowings and loans denominated in 
the currency of the overseas operations, and to negotiate currency protection in major contracts.

Reimbursement levels
There is no guarantee that the Group may be able to sell its products or services profi tably if the 
reimbursement levels from third party payers, including government and private health insurers, is 
unavailable or limited.  Third party payers are increasingly attempting to contain health care costs 
through measures that could impact the Group including challenging the prices charged for health 
care products and services, limiting both coverage and the amount of reimbursement for new 
diagnostics products and services, and denying or limiting coverage for products that are approved 
by the regulatory agencies but are considered experimental by third party payers.

The Group understands that due to third party dependency it is extremely diffi cult to eradicate this 
risk. However, the Group manages this risk with constant dialogue and educating the third party 
payers on the Group’s products and also developing new technologies in order to seek additional 
reimbursements.

Financial reporting and disclosure
Due to the growth of the Group there is a constant pressure to report accurate fi nancial information in 
compliance with accounting standards and applicable legislation. 

This risk is mitigated with the Group’s internal controls over the fi nancial information and reporting 
overseen by the local fi nancial heads and then reviewed by the central fi nance team, including the 
Finance Director. The annual fi nancial statements are also subject to audit by the Group’s external 
auditors. 

Review of strategy and business model

The Board of Directors judges the Company’s fi nancial performance by reference to the internal 
budget which it establishes at the beginning of each fi nancial year.

EKF’s strategy is to create a world class IVD business through acquisition and organic growth, a 
so-called “buy and build” strategy. IVD has a wide spectrum, and within this spectrum we have 
chosen to concentrate on three distinct areas: Point-of-Care, especially in the areas of diabetes, 
hemotology, and women’s health; Central Laboratory; and Molecular Diagnostics.

 
20

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Strategic Report for the year ended 31 December 2014

We have succeeded in identifying and acquiring businesses in these areas with strong product lines 
and distribution networks which can benefi t from better, more professional management, greater 
resources, and from the synergistic benefi ts of being part of a larger group.

We sell worldwide to over 100 countries. In many territories we sell through local distributors, 
however where appropriate we sell direct to end users which include hospitals, laboratories, and 
government agencies. Our distributors are supported by a network of regional sales managers and 
by product managers who are specialists in our product range. We manufacture the majority of the 
products we sell ourselves, but also distribute a number of carefully chosen products on behalf of 
others. We have research and development centres in the UK and Germany, and also perform or 
manage research and development projects in the USA.

The Group works mainly on the principle of selling value priced instrumentation which generates 
long-term revenue streams from the subsequent sale of consumables. The Molecular Diagnostics 
division sells kits which are used for the enrichment of samples for DNA testing and provides 
diagnostic tests to physicians and their patients. The Group has an existing portfolio of technologies 
which produce revenues and will add technologies which are strategically appropriate to this 
portfolio should they become available and providing the additions make economic sense.

Future outlook

The Chairman’s Statement on pages 10 and 11 and the Chief Executive’s Review on pages 12 to 15 
give information on the future outlook of the Group, including the main trends and factors likely to 
affect its future development. 

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

The key performance indicators currently used by the Group are revenue, gross margin, adjusted 
EBITDA and cash resources. The Group intends to establish other key performance indicators in due 
course once the Group has matured suffi ciently. The Group does not use and does not at present 
intend to use non-fi nancial key performance indicators. KPIs are discussed in more detail in the 
Chief Executive’s Review on pages 12 to 15.

Environment

The Directors consider that the nature of the Group’s activities is not inherently detrimental to the 
environment. The Group is committed to minimising any effect on the environment caused by its 
operations.

Employees

The Group places value on the involvement of its employees and they are regularly briefed on the 
Group’s activities. The Group closely monitors staff attrition rates which it seeks to maintain at 
current low levels and aims to structure staff compensation levels at competitive rates in order to 
attract and retain high calibre personnel.

Disabled employees

Applications for employment by disabled persons are always fully considered, bearing in mind the 
specifi c aptitudes of the applicant involved. It is the policy of the Group that the training, career
development and promotion of disabled persons, as far as possible, be identical with that of other 
employees.

Social, community, and human rights

The Board recognises that the Group has a duty to be a good corporate citizen and to respect the 
laws and where appropriate the customs and culture of the territories in which it operates. The 
Group has donated products to selected appropriate charities which operate within its area, and 
supports staff who are taking part in charitable activities which are related to our business areas or 
customers. It contributes, as far as is practicable, to the local communities in which it operates and 
takes a responsible and positive approach to employment practices.

The Strategic Report was approved by the Board on 16 March 2015 and signed on its behalf by:

Paul Foulger
Finance Director and Company Secretary

Report of the Directors for the year ended 31 December 2014

2.0 Corporate Governance

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

21

The Directors have pleasure in submitting this report together with the audited consolidated 
fi nancial statements of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc for the year ended 31 December 2014.

Corporate details

EKF Diagnostics Holdings public limited company is incorporated and registered in England and 
Wales number 4347937. The registered offi ce is Avon House, 19 Stanwell Road, Penarth, Cardiff 
CF64 2EZ.

Directors

The Directors who held offi ce during the year and as at the date of signing the fi nancial 
statements were as follows:

David Evans
Julian Baines
Tito Bacarese-Hamilton (appointed 2 June 2014)
Richard Evans
Paul Foulger
Gordon Hall (resigned 31 March 2014)
Adam Reynolds
David Toohey (appointed 15 August 2014)
Doris-Ann Williams (appointed 15 August 2014)
Kevin Wilson

Principal activities

During the year the principal activities of the Group and Company were the development, 
manufacture and supply of products into the in-vitro diagnostics (IVD) market place, and the 
development and supply of products and services into the molecular diagnostics market. Future 
developments and research and development activities are discussed in the Chairman’s 
Statement on pages 10 and 11 and the Chief Executive’s Review on pages 12 to 15.

Dividends

There were no dividends paid or proposed by the Company in either year.

Going concern

The Directors have considered the applicability of the going concern basis in the preparation 
of these fi nancial statements. This included the review of internal budgets and fi nancial results 
which show, taking into account reasonably probable changes in fi nancial performance, that the 
Group should be able to operate within the level of its current funding arrangements.

After making enquiries, the Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Group has 
adequate resources to continue in operational existence for the foreseeable future. The Group 
therefore continues to adopt the going concern basis of preparation for its consolidated 
fi nancial statements.

Financial risk management

Financial risk management is discussed in Note 3 of the fi nancial statements.

Creditors payment policy

It is the policy of the Group and Company to agree appropriate terms and conditions for its 
transactions with suppliers (ranging from standard written terms to individual negotiated 
contracts) and for payment to be made in accordance with these terms provided the supplier 
has complied with its obligations. The average numbers of days credit taken by the Group as at 
31 December 2014 was 29 days (2013: 23 days).

Employee policies

Employee policies are discussed in the Strategic Report on pages 18 to 20.

22

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Report of the Directors for the year ended 31 December 2014

Directors’ interests

The interests of those Directors serving at 31 December 2014 and as at the date of signing of 
these fi nancial statements, all of which are benefi cial, in the share capital of the Company were 
as follows:

On 31 December 2014 
Ordinary Shares of 1p each 

 On 1 January 2014*
Ordinary Shares of 1p each 

David Evans 

Julian Baines 

Tito Bacarese-Hamilton 

Richard Evans 

Paul Foulger 

Adam Reynolds 

David Toohey 

Doris-Ann Williams 

Kevin Wilson 

1,805,753 

1,721,955 

106,429 

178,842 

3,488,589 

3,229,724 

- 

- 

1,534,325

1,550,527

106,429

96,700

3,410,018

3,176,153

-

-

947,846 

897,846

*or at the date of appointment where later.

On 20 March 2014, David Evans subscribed for 71,428 ordinary shares, Julian Baines subscribed 
for 71,428 ordinary shares, Richard Evans subscribed for 57,142 ordinary shares, Paul Foulger
subscribed for 28,571 ordinary shares, and Adam Reynolds subscribed for 28,571 ordinary 
shares, all at 35p. On 8 May 2014 David Evans purchased 100,000 ordinary shares, Julian Baines 
purchased 100,000 ordinary shares, Richard Evans purchased 25,000 shares, Paul Foulger 
purchased 50,000 ordinary shares, Adam Reynolds purchased 25,000 ordinary shares, and 
Kevin Wilson purchased 50,000 ordinary shares, all at 25.07p. David Evans purchased
100,000 ordinary shares at a purchase price of 23 pence per share on 1 October 2014.

Substantial shareholdings

As at 12 March 2015, the following interests in 3% or more of the issued Ordinary Share capital 
had been notifi ed to the Company:

Number of shares 

Percentage of issued  

share capital

Chase Nominees Limited 

Nortrust Nominees Limited 

HSBC Client Holdings Nominee (UK) Limited 

HSBC Global Custody Nominee (UK) Limited 

Vidacos Nominees Limited 

The Bank of New York (Nominees) Limited 

Pershing Nominees Limited 

State Street Nominees Limited 

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

56,110,396 

36,306,403 

33,019,975 

32,940,459 

23,250,034 

22,512,092 

21,529,250 

12,718,488 

13.3%

8.6%

7.8%

7.8%

5.5%

5.3%

5.1%

3.0%

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

Company law requires the Directors to prepare fi nancial statements for each fi nancial year. 
Under that law the Directors have prepared the Group and Parent Company fi nancial 
statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as 
adopted by the European Union. Under Company law the Directors must not approve the 
fi nancial statements unless they are satisfi ed that they give a true and fair view of the state of 
affairs of the Group and the Company and of the profi t or loss of the Group for that period. In 
preparing these fi nancial statements, the Directors are required to:

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
•  state whether applicable IFRSs as adopted by the European Union have been followed, 
  subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the fi nancial statements; and
•  prepare the fi nancial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to 
  presume that the Company and the Group will continue in business.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

23

2.0 Corporate Governance

The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are suffi cient to 
show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any 
time the fi nancial position of the Company and the Group and enable them to ensure that the 
fi nancial 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 the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website. 
Legislation in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of fi nancial 
statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions.

Directors’ liability insurance

The Company has entered into deeds of indemnity for the benefi t of each Director of the 
Company in respect of liabilities to which they may become liable in their capacity as Director 
of the Company and of any Company in the Group. Those indemnities are qualifying third party 
indemnity provisions for the purposes of Section 234 of the Companies Act 2006 and have 
been in force during the whole of the fi nancial year and up to the date of approval of the 
fi nancial statements.

Independent auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has expressed their willingness to continue in offi ce as auditors 
and a resolution to reappoint them will be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General 
Meeting.

Disclosure of information to the Auditors

The Directors who hold offi ce at the date of approval of this report confi rm that so far as they 
are each aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are 
unaware, and each Director has taken all the steps that he or she ought to have taken as a 
Director in order to make himself or herself aware of any relevant audit information and to 
establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

Corporate Governance

The Company’s statement of corporate governance can be found in the Corporate Governance 
Statement on pages 24 and 25 of these fi nancial statements. The Corporate Governance 
Statement forms part of this Report of the Directors and is incorporated into it by 
cross-reference.

Annual General Meeting

The resolutions to be proposed at the forthcoming Annual General Meeting are set out in the 
formal notice of the meeting, as set out on page 70.

Recommendation

The Board considers that the resolutions to be proposed at the Annual General Meeting are in 
the best interests of the Company and it is unanimously recommended that Shareholders 
support these proposals as the Board intends to do in respect of their own holdings.

 
24

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Statement 
for the year ended 31 December 2014

Compliance

The Directors recognise the value of the principles of the UK Corporate Governance Code (the 
Code). Although, as an AIM Company, compliance with the Code is not required, the Group seeks to 
apply the Code where practicable and appropriate for a business of its size.

The following statement describes how the Group as at 31 December 2014 sought to address the 
principles underlying the Code.

Board composition and responsibility

The Board currently comprises fi ve Executive Directors and four Non-Executive Directors. During 
the year Gordon Hall resigned as a Non-Executive Director, Tito Bacarese-Hamilton joined as an 
Executive Director, and David Toohey and Doris-Ann Williams joined as Non-Executive Directors. 
The Board notes that the Combined Code guidance recommends that at least half the Board should 
comprise independent Non-Executive Directors. The Board has determined that Kevin Wilson, 
Adam Reynolds, David Toohey, and Doris-Ann Williams are independent in character and 
judgement and that there are no relationships or circumstances which could materially affect or 
interfere with the exercise of their independent judgement. The Board is satisfi ed with the balance 
between Executive and Non-Executive Directors which allows it to exercise objectivity in decision 
making and proper control of the Company’s business. The Board considers its composition is 
appropriate in view of the size and requirements of the Group’s business and the need to maintain a 
practical balance between executives and non-executives. Due to the structure of the Company it is 
considered that it is not appropriate to make any further changes to the successful Board 
composition at present.

There is a division of responsibilities between the Executive Chairman, who is responsible for the 
overall strategy of the Group and running the Board, and the CEO, who is responsible for 
implementing the strategy and day to day running of the Group. He is assisted by the Finance 
Director, Chief Operating Offi cer, and Chief Technology Offi cer.

All Directors are subject to election by Shareholders at the fi rst Annual General Meeting after their 
appointment, and are subject to re-election at least every three years. Non-Executive Directors are 
appointed for a specifi c term of offi ce which provides for their removal in certain circumstances,
including under section 168 of the Companies Act 2006. The Board does not automatically 
re-nominate Non-Executive Directors for election by Shareholders. The terms of appointment of the 
Non-Executive Directors can be obtained by request to the Company Secretary.

The Board’s primary objective is to focus on adding value to the assets of the Group by identifying 
and assessing business opportunities and ensuring that potential risks are identifi ed, monitored and 
controlled. Matters reserved for Board decisions include strategic long-term objectives and capital 
structure of major transactions. The implementation of Board decisions and day to day operations 
of the Group are delegated to Management.

Board meetings

11 Board meetings were held during the year. The Directors’ attendance record during the year, 
along with the number of meetings held during their tenure is as follows:

David Evans (Executive Chairman) 
Julian Baines (Chief Executive Offi cer)
Tito Bacarese-Hamilton (Chief Technology Offi cer) 
Richard Evans (Chief Operating Offi cer)
Paul Foulger (Finance Director and Company Secretary) 
David Toohey (Non-Executive Director) 
Doris-Ann Williams (Non-Executive Director) 
Kevin Wilson (Non-Executive Director) 
Adam Reynolds (Non-Executive Director) 
Gordon Hall (Non-Executive Director) 

11 
11
6 
10 
11
4 
3 
10 
11 
3 

(11)
(11)
(6)
(11)
(11)
(4)
(4)
(11)
(11)
(3)

Audit Committee

This comprises three Non-Executive Directors, Kevin Wilson (Chairman), David Toohey, and Adam 
Reynolds. Kevin Wilson is the Senior Independent Director and has recent and relevant fi nance 
experience. The principal duties of the Committee are to review the half-yearly and annual fi nancial 
statements before their submission to the Board and to consider any matters raised by the auditors. 
The Committee also reviews the independence and objectivity of the auditors. 

 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

25

2.0 Corporate Governance

The terms of reference of the Committee refl ect current best practice, including authority to:

•  Recommend the appointment, re-appointment and removal of the external auditors;
•  Ensure the objectivity and independence of the auditors including occasions when non-audit  
  services are provided; and
•  Ensure appropriate ‘whistle-blowing’ arrangements are in place.

The Non-Executive Directors may seek information from any employee of the Group and obtain 
external professional advice at the expense of the Company if considered necessary. Due to the 
relatively low number of personnel employed within the Group, the nature of the business and the 
current control and review systems in place, the Board has decided not to establish a separate 
internal audit department. The Committee met once during 2014.

Remuneration Committee

The Company has established a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on executive 
remuneration and for fi xing the remuneration packages of individual Directors. No Director is involved 
in deciding his own remuneration.

The remuneration committee is made up of Adam Reynolds (Chairman), Kevin Wilson and Doris-Ann 
Williams. The Committee considers the employment and performance of individual Executive 
Directors and determines their terms of service and remuneration. It also has authority to grant 
options under the Company’s Executive Share Option Scheme. The Committee did not meet during 
2014 but intends to do so during the current year. 

Board appointments

There is no formal Nominations Committee, the appointment of new Directors being considered by 
the full Board.

Internal control

The Directors are responsible for ensuring that the Group maintains a system of internal control to 
provide them with reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of fi nancial information used within 
the business and for publication and that the assets are safeguarded. There are inherent limitations 
in any system of internal control and accordingly even the most effective system can provide only 
reasonable, but not absolute, assurance with respect to the preparation of fi nancial reporting and the 
safeguarding of assets.

The Group, in administering its business, has put in place strict authorisation, approval and control 
levels within which senior management operates. These controls refl ect the Group’s organisational 
structure and business objectives. The control system includes clear lines of accountability and covers 
all areas of the organisation. The Board operates procedures which include an appropriate control 
environment through the defi nition of the above organisation structure and authority levels and the 
identifi cation of the major business risks. The Group has commenced a project to enhance and 
formalise its internal controls including the establishment of a Risk Steering Committee.

Internal fi nancial reporting

The Directors are responsible for establishing and maintaining the Group’s system of internal 
reporting and as such have put in place a framework of controls to ensure that on-going fi nancial 
performance is measured in a timely and correct manner and that risks are identifi ed as early as is 
practicably possible. There is a comprehensive budgeting system and monthly management accounts 
are prepared which compare actual results against both the budget and the previous year. They are 
reviewed and approved by the Board and revised forecasts are prepared on a regular basis.

Relations with Shareholders

The Company reports to Shareholders twice a year. The Company dispatches the notice of its Annual 
General Meeting, together with a description of the items of special business, at least 21 clear days 
before the meeting. Each substantially separate issue is the subject of a separate resolution and all 
Shareholders have the opportunity to put questions to the Board at the Annual General Meeting. The 
Chair(s) of the Audit and Remuneration Committees normally attend the Annual General Meeting and 
will answer questions which may be relevant to their work. The Chairman advises the meeting of the 
details of proxy votes cast on each of the individual resolutions after they have been voted on in the 
meeting. The Chairman and the Non-Executive Directors intend to maintain a good and continuing 
understanding of the objectives and views of the Shareholders.

Corporate social responsibility

The Board recognises that the Group has a duty to be a good corporate citizen and is conscious that 
its business processes minimise harm to the environment, that it contributes as far as is practicable to 
the local communities in which it operates and takes a responsible and positive approach to 
employment practices.

The Report of the Directors was approved by the Board on 16 March 2015 and signed on its behalf by:

Paul Foulger
Finance Director and Company Secretary

 
26

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Report of the Remuneration Committee for the year ended 31 December 2014

Statement of compliance

This report does not constitute a Directors’ Remuneration Report in accordance with the Directors’ Remuneration Regulations 2007 
which do not apply to the Company as it is not fully listed. This report sets out the Group policy on Directors’ remuneration, including 
emoluments, benefi ts and other share-based awards made to each Director.

Policy on Executive Directors’ remuneration

Remuneration packages are designed to motivate and retain Executive Directors to ensure the continued development of the Group 
and to reward them for enhancing value to shareholders. The main elements of the remuneration package for Executive Directors are 
basic salary or fees, performance-related bonuses, benefi ts and share option incentives.

Directors’ remuneration

The remuneration of the Directors for the year ended 31 December 2014 is shown below:

Salary 
and fees 
£’000 

Pension 
£’000 

Benefi ts
in kind 
£’000 

Bonus 
£’000 

2014 
£’000 

2013
£’000 

Executive Directors 
David Evans* 
Tito Bacarese-Hamilton** 
Julian Baines 
Paul Foulger 
Richard Evans 

Non-Executive Directors 
David Toohey** 
Doris-Ann Williams** 
Kevin Wilson 
Adam Reynolds 
Gordon Hall*** 

45 
182 
238 
167 
184 

816 

11 
11 
25 
25 
12 

84 

- 
4 
12 
8 
5 

29 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

Total fees and emoluments 

900 

29 

- 
7 
12 
7 
12 

38 

- 
- 
- 
3 
- 

3 

41 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 
- 
- 
- 
- 

- 

- 

45 
193 
262 
182 
201 

883 

11 
11 
25 
28 
12 

87 

45
-
306
21
229

601

-
-
25
29
25

79

970 

680

*  David Evans’ remuneration is paid through his personal consultancy, MBA Consultancy.
**  Remuneration for Tito Bacarese-Hamilton, David Toohey, and Doris-Ann Williams is shown from their date of appointment.
*** Gordon Hall’s remuneration is shown up to his date of resignation.

Directors’ share options and Long-Term Incentive Plan

As at 31 December 2014 the following options to Directors of the Company existed under the Company’s unapproved share-option 
scheme and Long-Term Incentive Plan:

Option Holder 

David Evans 
Tito Bacarese-Hamilton 
Julian Baines 
Richard Evans 
Paul Foulger 

Option price per 
Ordinary Share 

Number of Ordinary
Shares under option  

15p 
35p 
15p 
20p 
35p 

8,545,638 
1,300,000 
8,545,638 
4,260,000 
1,000,000 

Exercise period

 1 January 2014 – 31 December 2020
30 May 2017-30 May 2024
1 January 2014 – 31 December 2020
1 January 2014 – 31 December 2020
17 April 2017 - 17 April 2024

Half of the options granted to David Evans and Julian Baines and all the options of Richard Evans are subject to the achievement of 15% 
compound annual Earnings Before Interest, Tax, Depreciation and Amortisation (EBITDA) growth for the three years commencing on 
1 January 2011. The base EBITDA was equal to twice the audited EBITDA achieved by the Group for the six months ending 31 December 
2010. This condition has now been met. The key terms for the remaining awards were revised on 11 June 2013. The key terms of these 
are as follows. For each test, the shares will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains the required price or higher for 
a period of 20 (60p options: 30) consecutive days at any time during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending on 
31 December 2016 .

a) 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 30 pence. This condition has now been met.
b) 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 37.5 pence.
c) 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 45 pence.
d) 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 52.5 pence. 
e) 1,709,126 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 60 pence.

The options granted to Paul Foulger will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains the required price or higher for a 
period of 20 consecutive days at any time during the period commencing on 17 April 2014 and ending on 17 April 2024.

a) one third of the notional shares will vest if the share price attains 50 pence.
b) one third of the notional shares will vest if the share price attains 60 pence.
b) one third of the notional shares will vest if the share price attains 70 pence.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

27

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Report on the fi nancial statements

Our opinion

In our opinion:

•  the fi nancial statements defi ned below, give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of  the Company’s affairs as at
  31 December 2014 and of the Group’s loss and the Group’s and the Company’s cash fl ows for the year then ended;
•  the Group fi nancial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
  (“IFRSs”)  as adopted by the European Union;
•  the Company fi nancial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards 
  (“IFRSs”) as adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006; and
•  the fi nancial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006.

What we have audited

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc’s fi nancial statements comprise:

•  the consolidated and company’s statements of fi nancial position as at 31 December 2014;
•  the consolidated income statement and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year then ended;
•  the consolidated and company’s statements of cash fl ows for the year then ended;
•  the consolidated and company’s statements of changes in equity for the year then ended; and
•  the notes to the fi nancial statements, which include a summary of signifi cant accounting policies and other explanatory information.

The fi nancial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the fi nancial statements is applicable law and IFRSs as 
adopted by the European Union and, as regards the company fi nancial statements, as applied in accordance with the provisions of the 
Companies Act 2006.

In applying the fi nancial reporting framework, the Directors have made a number of subjective judgements, for example in respect of 
signifi cant accounting estimates. In making such estimates, they have made assumptions and considered future events.

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006

In our opinion, the information given in the Strategic Report and the Report of the Directors for the fi nancial year for which the fi nancial 
statements are prepared is consistent with the fi nancial statements.

Other matters on which we are required to report by exception

Adequacy of accounting records and information and explanations received

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion:

•  we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or
•  adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been received from    
  branches not visited by us; or
•  the company fi nancial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns.

We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.

Directors’ remuneration

Under the Companies Act 2006 we are required to report to you if, in our opinion, certain disclosures of Directors’ remuneration 
specifi ed by law are not made. We have no exceptions to report arising from this responsibility.  

Responsibilities for the fi nancial statements and the audit

Our responsibilities and those of the Directors

As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities set out on page 22, the Directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the fi nancial statements and for being satisfi ed that they give a true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the fi nancial statements in accordance with applicable law and International 
Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland) (“ISAs (UK & Ireland)”). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices 
Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

This report, including the opinions, has been prepared for and only for the Company’s members as a body in accordance with Chapter 3 
of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006 and for no other purpose. We do not, in giving these opinions, accept or assume responsibility for 
any other purpose or to any other person to whom this report is shown or into whose hands it may come save where expressly agreed 
by our prior consent in writing.

28

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Independent Auditors’ Report to the members of 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc continued

What an audit of fi nancial statements involves 

We conducted our audit in accordance with ISAs (UK & Ireland). An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and 
disclosures in the fi nancial statements suffi cient to give reasonable assurance that the fi nancial statements are free from material 
misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an assessment of: 

•  whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the Company’s circumstances and have been consistently

applied and adequately disclosed;

•  the reasonableness of signifi cant accounting estimates made by the Directors; and
•  the overall presentation of the fi nancial statements.

We primarily focus our work in these areas by assessing the Directors’ judgements against available evidence, forming our own 
judgements, and evaluating the disclosures in the fi nancial statements.

We test and examine information, using sampling and other auditing techniques, to the extent we consider necessary to provide 
a reasonable basis for us to draw conclusions. We obtain audit evidence through testing the effectiveness of controls, substantive 
procedures or a combination of both. 

In addition, we read all the fi nancial and non-fi nancial information in the Annual Report to identify material inconsistencies with the 
audited fi nancial statements and to identify any information that is apparently materially incorrect based on, or materially inconsistent 
with, the knowledge acquired by us in the course of performing the audit. If we become aware of any apparent material misstatements 
or inconsistencies we consider the implications for our report.

Mark Ellis (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors
Cardiff
16 March 2015

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

29

Consolidated Income Statement

Continuing operations 

Revenue 

Cost of sales 

Gross profi t 

Administrative expenses 

Other income 

Operating (loss)/profi t 

Depreciation and amortisation 

Share-based payment 

Exceptional items 

EBITDA before exceptional items and share-based payment 

Finance income 

Finance costs 

(Loss)/profi t before income tax 

Income tax expense 

Loss for the year 

Loss attributable to: 

Owners of the parent 

Non-controlling interest 

Loss per Ordinary Share attributable to the owners of the parent during the year 

Basic 

From continuing operations 

Diluted 

From continuing operations 

Notes 

2014 
£’000 

2013
£’000

5 

6 

40,062 

(20,113) 

31,804 

(15,459)

19,949 

16,345 

6, 7 

(22,793) 

(14,439)

371 

495 

(2,473) 

(4,950) 

(512) 

(3,268) 

6,257 

18 

2,401 

(3,554)

(709)

1,840 

4,824 

5 

(1,573) 

(1,799)

(4,028) 

(1,440) 

607 

(1,500)

(5,468) 

(893)

(5,689) 

221 

(5,468) 

(1,126)

233 

(893)

Pence 

Pence

(1.50) 

(0.41)

(1.50) 

(0.41)

5 

7 

5 

12 

12 

13 

14 

14 

The notes on pages 35 to 69 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

The Company has elected to take the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present the Parent Company 

income statement.

The loss for the Parent Company for the year was £2,882,000 (2013: £1,490,000).

 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
30

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income

Loss for the year 

Other comprehensive income: 

Movement on pension scheme 

Currency translation differences 

Other comprehensive gain for the year 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Attributable to: 

Owners of the parent 

Non-controlling interests 

Total comprehensive loss for the year 

Notes 

33 

2014 
£’000 

(5,468) 

48 

546 

594 

(4,874) 

(4,890) 

16 

(4,874) 

2013
£’000

(893)

9

199

208

(685)

(881)

196

(685)

Items stated above are disclosed net of tax. The income tax relating to each component of other comprehensive income is disclosed 

in note 13.

The Company has elected to take the exemption under section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 not to present the parent company 

income statement.

The notes on pages 35 to 69 are an integral part of these consolidated fi nancial statements.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

31

Consolidated and Company’s Statements of Financial Position

Notes 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company 
2013
£’000 

Assets

Non-current assets  

Property, plant and equipment  

Intangible assets 

Investments in subsidiaries 

Investments 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred tax assets 

Total non-current assets 

Current assets 

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Deferred tax assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total current assets 

Total assets 

Equity attributable to owners of the parent 

Share capital 

Share premium account 

Other reserve 

Foreign currency reserves 

Retained earnings 

Non-controlling interest 

Total equity 

Liabilities

Non-current liabilities 

Borrowings 

Deferred consideration 

Deferred tax liabilities 

Retirement benefi t obligation 

Total non-current liabilities 

Current liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Deferred consideration 

Current income tax liabilities 
Deferred tax liabilities 

Borrowings 

Total current liabilities 

Total liabilities 

Total equity and liabilities 

16 

17 

18 

20 

22 

28 

23 

22 

28 

24 

29 

29 

32 

32 

31 

26 

27 

28 

33 

25 

27 

28 

26 

         10,568  

         93,522  

                  -  

           1,152  

- 

              238 

9,785 

34,725 

– 

250 

– 

903 

 1,576  

 -  

 61,043  

 1,152  

 17,799  

 238  

105,480 

45,663 

81,808 

5,793 

16,115 

45 

8,346 

30,299 

135,779 

4,221 

91,276 

41 

26 

(8,541) 
87,023 

353 

5,308 

7,155 

46 

2,551 

15,060 

60,723 

2,727 

41,783 

41 

(725) 

(3,412) 
40,414 

508 

- 

18,508 

- 

4,390 

22,898 

104,706 

4,221 

91,276 

- 

- 

(9,050) 
86,447 

- 

1,616

–

16,630

250

17,799

96

36,391

–

7,275

–

159

7,434

43,825

2,727

41,783

–

–

(6,680)
37,830

–

87,376 

40,922 

86,447 

37,830

2,492 

9,536 

13,258 

- 

25,286 

7,943 

8,493 

2,171 
756 

3,754 

23,117 

48,403 

135,779 

2,108 

5,471 

3,442 

103 

11,124 

4,189 

1,778 

1,998 
380 

332 

8,677 

19,801 

- 

3,165 

- 

- 

3,165 

3,758 

8,493 

- 
- 

2,843 

15,094 

18,259 

60,723 

104,706 

–

–

–

–

–

4,217

1,778

–
–

–

5,995

5,995

43,825

The notes on pages 35 to 69 are an integral part of these fi nancial statements.
The fi nancial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 16 March 2015.

Julian Baines 
Chief Executive Offi cer 

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
Registered no: 04347937

    Paul Foulger
    Finance Director

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
32

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Consolidated and Company’s Statements of Cash Flows

Group 
2014 
£’000 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company 
2013
£’000 

Cash fl ow from operating activities

Cash (used in)/generated by operations 

Interest paid 

Income tax paid 

Notes 

35 

(3,262) 

(241) 

(1,241) 

3,172 

(152) 

(1,013) 

(12,011) 

(69) 

(21) 

Net cash (used in)/generated by operating activities 

(4,744) 

2,007 

(12,101) 

Cash fl ow from investing activities 

Purchase of investments 

Purchase of property, plant and equipment (PPE) 

Purchase of intangibles 

Purchase of subsidiaries (net of cash acquired) 

Proceeds from sale of PPE 

Interest received 

Net cash used in investing activities 

Cash fl ow from fi nancing activities 

Proceeds from issuance of Ordinary Shares 

New bank loans 

Repayments on borrowings 

Dividend payment to non-controlling interest 

Payment of deferred consideration 

35 

29 

(902) 

(1,038) 

(1,595) 

(12,379) 

22 

18 

– 

(1,185) 

(1,097) 

61 

5 

(902) 

(17) 

- 

(10,248) 

- 

4 

(15,874) 

(2,216) 

(11,163) 

(26)

25,007 

3,764 

(1,855) 

(171) 

(355) 

– 

477 

(439) 

(169) 

(1,429) 

25,007 

2,843 

- 

- 

(355) 

Net cash (used in)/generated by fi nancing activities 

26,390 

(1,560) 

27,495 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

Exchange gains/(losses) on cash and cash equivalents 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 

24 

5,772 

2,551 

23 

8,346 

(1,769) 

4,331 

(11) 

2,551 

4,231 

159 

- 

4,390 

65

–

–

65

–

(26)

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

–

(616)

(616)

(577)

736

–

159

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
Consolidated and Company’s Statements of Changes in Equity

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

33

Consolidated 

At 1 January 2013 

Comprehensive income 

(Loss)/profi t for the year 

Other comprehensive income 

Actuarial gain on pension 

Currency translation differences 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
account 
£’000 

2,671  40,240 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

Proceeds from shares issued 

56 

1,543 

Issue of convertible loan notes in subsidiary 

Dividends to non-controlling interest 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

56 

1,543 

2,727 

41,783 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

Share-based payments 

Total contributions by and

  distributions to owners 

At 1 January 2014 

Comprehensive income 

(Loss)/profi t for the year 

Other comprehensive income 

Movement on pension 

Currency translation differences 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners 

Dividends to non-controlling interest 

Share-based payments 

Total contributions by and

  distributions to owners 

At 31 December 2014 

Proceeds from shares issued 

1,494 

49,493 

Other 
reserve 
£’000 

Foreign 
currency 
reserve 
£’000 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000 

Non-
controlling 
interest 
£’000 

Total 
£’000 

Total
equity
£’000 

(961) 

(3,004) 

38,946 

481 

39,427

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

41 

– 

– 

41 

41  

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

– 

– 

236 

236 

– 

– 

– 

– 

– 

(1,126) 

(1,126) 

233 

(893)

9 

– 

9 

236 

(1,117) 

(881) 

– 

– 

– 

709 

1,599 

41 

– 

709 

709 

2,349 

– 

(37) 

196 

– 

– 

(169) 

– 

(169) 

508 

9

199

(685)

1,599

41

(169)

709

2,180

40,922

(725) 

(3,412) 

40,414 

- 

-

- 

751 

(5,689) 

(5,689) 

221 

(5,468)

48 

- 

48 

751 

- 

(205) 

48

546

751 

(5,641) 

(4,890) 

16 

(4,874)

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

512 

50,987 

- 

50,987

- 

512 

(171) 

- 

(171)

512

1,494 

49,493 

4,221 

91,276 

- 

41 

- 

26 

512 

(8,541) 

51,499 

87,023 

(171) 

353 

51,328

87,376

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
34

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Consolidated and Company’s Statements of Changes in Equity 
continued

Company 

At 1 January 2013 

Comprehensive income 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners 

Proceeds from shares issued 

Share-based payments 

Total contributions by and distributions to owners  

At 1 January 2014 

Comprehensive income 

Loss for the year 

Total comprehensive income 

Transactions with owners 

Proceeds from shares issued 

Share-based payments 

Total contributions by and distributions to owners  

At 31 December 2014 

Share 
capital 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

Retained
earnings 
£’000 

Total
£’000

2,671 

40,240 

(5,899) 

37,012

– 

– 

56 

– 

56 

2,727 

- 

- 

– 

– 

(1,490) 

(1,490)

(1,490) 

(1,490)

1,543 

– 

1,543 

41,783 

– 

709 

709 

(6,680) 

1,599

709

2,308

37,830

- 

- 

(2,882) 

(2,882) 

(2,882)

(2,882)

1,494 

49,493 

- 

1,494 

4,221 

- 

49,493 

91,276 

- 

512 

512 

(9,050) 

50,987

512

51,499

86,447

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

35

Notes to the Financial Statements for the year ended 31 December 2014

1. General information

EKF Diagnostics Holdings Plc is a company incorporated and domiciled in the United Kingdom. The Company is a public limited 
company, which is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange. The address of the registered offi ce is Avon House, 
19 Stanwell Road, Penarth, Cardiff CF64 2EZ.

The principal activity of the Group continued to be the development, manufacture and supply of products and services into the 
in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) market place, including the molecular diagnostics sector. The Group has presence in the UK, USA, Germany, 
Poland, Russia, China, and Ireland, and sells throughout the world including Europe, the Americas, Asia, and Africa.

The fi nancial statements are presented in British Pounds Sterling, the currency of the primary economic environment in which the 
Company’s headquarters is operated. The Group comprises EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc and its subsidiary Companies as set out in 
note 18.

The registered number of the Company is 04347937.

2. Summary of signifi cant accounting policies

The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated fi nancial statements are set out below. The policies 
have been consistently applied throughout the year, unless otherwise stated.

Basis of preparation
The consolidated fi nancial statements of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc have been prepared in accordance with International Financial 
Reporting Standards as adopted by the European Union (IFRS’s), IFRIC interpretations and the Companies Act 2006 applicable to 
companies reporting under IFRS. Practice is continuing to evolve on the application and interpretations of IFRS.

The consolidated fi nancial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modifi ed by the revaluation of 
available-for-sale assets at fair value through profi t or loss and certain fi nancial liabilities at fair value through profi t and loss.

The preparation of fi nancial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also 
requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a 
higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are signifi cant to the consolidated fi nancial 
statements are disclosed in note 4.

(a) Standards, amendments and interpretations effective in 2014

The following new IFRS pronouncements relevant to the Group have been adopted in these fi nancial statements:

  •  Amendments to IAS 32: ‘Financial instruments: Presentation’ related to offsetting fi nancial assets and fi nancial liabilities
  •  Amendments to IAS 36: ‘Impairment’ related to recoverable amount disclosures for non-fi nancial assets

None of the above amendments have had a material impact on the Group consolidated fi nancial statements.

(b)  Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been adopted early by

  the group.

The following new standards, amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued, but are not effective for the fi nancial 
year beginning 1 January 2014 and have not been early adopted: 

  •  IFRS 9: ‘Financial instruments’ 
  •  IFRS 15: ‘Revenue from contracts with customers’ 
  •  Amendments to IFRS 11: ‘Joint arrangements’ related to the acquisition of interests in joint operations and the sale or 
        contribution of assets between an investor and its associate or joint venture 
  •  IAS 1: ‘Presentation of fi nancial statements’. 
  •  Amendment to IAS 16: ‘Property, plant and equipment’ and IAS 38: ‘Intangible assets’ related to the clarifi cation of acceptable 
        methods of depreciation and amortisation 
  •  Annual Improvement Project 2010-2012, 2011-2013 & 2012-2014 
  •  Amendment to IAS 19: ‘Employee benefi ts’ related to employee contributions to defi ned benefi t plans. 
  •  Amendment to IAS 27: ‘Separate fi nancial statements’

The Directors do not anticipate that the application of the Annual Improvement Projects and the Amendments to IAS 1, IAS 16, IAS 19, 
IAS 27, IAS 38 and IFRS 11 will have a material impact on the amounts reported and disclosed.

The Group is currently in the process of assessing the impact of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15 and it is currently too early to conclude what 
impact these standards will have as a detailed impact assessment is required and therefore it is not practicable to provide a 
quantifi ed estimate of the effects of IFRS 9 and IFRS 15. This will be provided once the Group has completed the detailed reviews.

Going concern
The Group meets its day-to-day working capital requirements through the use of cash reserves and existing bank facilities. The 
Group has maintained its liquidity profi le through the year.

The Directors have considered the applicability of the going concern basis in the preparation of these fi nancial statements. This 
included the review of internal budgets and fi nancial results which show, taking into account reasonably probable changes in 
fi nancial performance, that the Group should be able to operate within the level of its current funding arrangements.

The Directors have a reasonable expectation that the Company and the Group have adequate resources to continue in operation for 
the foreseeable future. For this reason they have adopted the going concern basis in the preparation of the fi nancial statements.

 
36

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

2. Summary of signifi cant accounting policies continued

Basis of consolidation
The consolidated fi nancial statements incorporate the fi nancial statements of the Company and its subsidiary undertakings. 
Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has the power to govern their fi nancial and operating policies generally 
accompanying a shareholding of more than fi fty per cent of the voting rights. The existence and effect of potential voting 
rights that are currently exercisable or convertible are considered when assessing whether the Group controls another entity. 
Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is transferred to the Group. They are de-consolidated from the 
date that control ceases.

The Group uses the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration transferred for 
the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair values of the assets transferred, the liabilities incurred and the equity interests issued by 
the Group. The consideration transferred includes the fair value of any asset or liability resulting from a contingent consideration 
agreement. Acquisition related costs are expensed as incurred. Identifi able assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities 
assumed in a business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date. On an acquisition by acquisition 
basis, the Group recognises any non-controlling interest in the acquiree either at fair value or at the non-controlling interest’s 
proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets.

The excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the acquisition date fair 
value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifi able net assets acquired is 
recorded as goodwill. If this is less than the fair value of the net assets of the subsidiary acquired in the case of a bargain purchase, 
the difference is recognised directly in the income statement.

Investments in subsidiaries are accounted for at cost less impairment.

Inter-Company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised 
losses are also eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the 
policies adopted by the Group.

Foreign currency translation
(a) Functional and presentational currency
Items included in the fi nancial statements of each of the Group’s entities are measured using the currency of the primary economic 
environment in which the entity operates (the functional currency). The consolidated fi nancial statements are presented in British 
Pounds Sterling, which is the Company’s functional and presentational currency.

(b) Transactions and balances
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency using the exchange rates prevailing at the dates of the 
transactions where items are re-measured. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and 
from the translation at year-end exchange rates of monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are recognised 
in the income statement within ‘administrative expenses’.

(c) Group companies
The results and fi nancial position of all the Group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyper-infl ationary economy) that have 
a functional currency different from the presentational currency are translated into the presentational currency as follows:

  •  assets and liabilities for each balance sheet presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that balance sheet;
  •  income and expenses for each income statement are translated at average exchange rates; and
  •  all resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income.

On consolidation, exchange differences arising from the translation of the net investment in foreign operations are taken to other 
comprehensive income. When a foreign operation is partially disposed of or sold, exchange differences that were recorded 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 rate.

Segmental reporting
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided 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 identifi ed as the Executive Directors who make strategic decisions.

Government grants
Government grants receivable in connection with expenditure on property, plant and equipment are accounted for as deferred 
income, which is credited to the income statement over the expected useful economic life of the related assets, on a basis consistent 
with the depreciation policy. Revenue grants for the reimbursement of costs charged to the income statement are credited to the 
Income Statement in the year in which the costs are incurred.

Property, plant and equipment
Property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less accumulated depreciation and any provision for impairment. 
Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly attributable to the acquisition of the asset and bringing the asset to its working 
condition for its intended use.

Subsequent costs are included in the asset’s carrying amount or recognised as a separate asset, as appropriate, only where it is 
probable that future economic benefi ts associated with the asset will fl ow to the Group and the cost of the asset can be measured 
reliably. The carrying amount of the replaced part is derecognised. All other repairs and maintenance are charged to the income 
statement during the fi nancial period in which they are incurred. Any borrowing costs associated with qualifying property plant and 
equipment are capitalised and depreciated at the rate applicable to that asset category.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

37

Land is not depreciated. Depreciation on other assets is calculated using the straight-line method or reducing balances method to 
allocate their cost to its residual values over their estimated useful lives, as follows:

Buildings 
Fixtures and fi ttings 
Plant and machinery 
Motor vehicles 

2%–2.5%
20%–25%
20%–33.3%
25%

The assets’ residual values and useful economic lives are reviewed regularly and adjusted if appropriate, at the end of each 
reporting period.

An asset’s carrying value is written down immediately to its recoverable amount if the asset’s carrying amount is greater than its 
estimated recoverable amount.

Gains and losses on the disposal of assets are determined by comparing the proceeds with the carrying amount and are recognised 
in administration expenses in the income statement.

Intangible assets
(a) Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifi able assets 
of the acquired subsidiary at the date of the acquisition. Goodwill on acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in ‘intangible assets’. 
Goodwill has an infi nite useful life and is tested annually for impairment and carried at cost less accumulated impairment losses. 
Impairment losses on goodwill are not reversed. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying amount of goodwill 
relating to the entity sold.

Goodwill is allocated to cash-generating units for the purpose of impairment testing. The allocation is made to those cash-generating 
units or groups of cash-generating units that are expected to benefi t from the business combination in which the goodwill arose, 
identifi ed according to operating segment.

(b) Trademarks, trade names and licences
Separately acquired trademarks and licences are shown at historical cost. Trademarks and licences acquired in a business 
combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Trademarks and licences have a fi nite useful life and are carried 
at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the cost of trademarks 
and licences over their estimated useful lives of between 8 and 12 years and is charged to administrative expenses in the income 
statement.

(c) Customer relationships
Contractual customer relationships acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. The 
contractual customer relationships have a fi nite useful life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is 
calculated using the straight-line method over the expected life of the customer relationship of between 6 and 15 years and is 
charged to administrative expenses in the income statement.

(d) Trade secrets
Trade secrets, including technical know-how, operating procedures, methods and processes, acquired in a business combination are 
recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Trade secrets have a fi nite useful life and are carried at cost less accumulated 
amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the cost of trade secrets over their estimated 
useful lives of between 6 and 15 years and is charged to administrative expenses in the income statement.

(e) Development costs
Development costs acquired in a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Development costs have a 
fi nite useful life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method over 
their estimated useful lives of 15 years and is charged to administrative expenses in the income statement.

Expenditure incurred on the development of new or substantially improved products or processes is capitalised, provided that the 
related project satisfi es the criteria for capitalisation, including the project’s technical feasibility and likely commercial benefi t. All 
other research and development costs are expensed as incurred.

Development costs are amortised over the estimated useful life of the products with which they are associated. Amortisation 
commences when a new product is in commercial production. The amortisation is charged to administrative expenses in the income 
statement. The estimated remaining useful lives of development costs are reviewed at least on an annual basis.

The carrying value of capitalised development costs is reviewed for potential impairment at least annually and if a product becomes 
unviable and an impairment is identifi ed the deferred development costs are immediately charged to the income(cid:162)statement.

(f) Non-compete agreements
Non-compete agreements arising from a business combination are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date. Non-compete 
agreements have a fi nite life and are carried at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line 
method to allocate the cost of non-compete agreements over their estimated useful lives of three years and is charged to 
administrative expenses in the income statement.

38

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

2. Summary of signifi cant accounting policies continued

Impairment of non-fi nancial assets
Assets that have an indefi nite life such as goodwill are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment. Assets 
that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying 
amount may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its 
recoverable amount.

The recoverable amount is the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, the estimated 
future cash fl ows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that refl ects current market assessments of the 
time value of the money and the risks specifi c to the asset for which the estimates of future cash fl ows have not been adjusted.

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are separately identifi able cash 
fl ows. Impairment losses recognised for cash-generating units, to which goodwill has been allocated, are credited initially to the 
carrying amount of goodwill. Any remaining impairment loss is charged pro rata to the other assets in the cash-generating unit.

Where an impairment loss subsequently reverses, the carrying amount of the asset (cash-generating unit) is increased to the revised 
estimate of its recoverable amount, but so that the increased carrying amount does not exceed the carrying amount that would have 
been determined had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset (cash-generating unit) in the prior period. A reversal of an 
impairment loss is recognised in the income statement immediately. If goodwill is impaired however, no reversal of the impairment is 
recognised in the fi nancial statements.

Investments 
Investments where the Group does not have a controlling interest are initially recognised at cost. The carrying value is tested 
annually for impairment and an impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its 
recoverable amount.

Financial assets
Classifi cation
The Company classifi es its fi nancial assets in the following categories: loans and receivables and available-for-sale fi nancial 
assets. The classifi cation depends on the purpose for which the fi nancial assets were acquired and management determines the 
classifi cation of its fi nancial assets at initial recognition.

(a) Loans and receivables
Loans and receivables are non-derivative fi nancial assets with fi xed or determinable payments that are not quoted in an active 
market. They are included in current assets, except for maturities greater than 12 months after the balance sheet date. These are 
classifi ed as non-current assets. The Company’s loans and receivables comprise ‘trade and other receivables’ and cash and cash 
equivalents in the balance sheet.

(b) Available-for-sale fi nancial assets
Available-for-sale assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classifi ed as loans and receivables. 
They are included in non-current assets unless the investment matures or management intends to dispose of it within 12 months of 
the end of the reporting period.

Recognition and measurement
Regular purchases and sales of fi nancial assets are recognised on the trade date – the date on which the Company commits to 
purchase the asset. Assets are initially recognised at fair value plus transaction costs. Financial assets are derecognised when the risk 
and rewards of ownership have been transferred.

Loans and receivables are subsequently carried at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.

Available-for-sale fi nancial assets are subsequently carried at fair value. Gains and losses arising from changes in fair value are 
recognised in other comprehensive income until the asset is disposed at which time the cumulative gain or loss previously 
recognised in equity is included in the consolidated income statement for the period. If an available-for-sale investment is determined 
to be impaired, the cumulative loss previously recognised in equity is included in the income statement for the(cid:162)period.

Inventories
Inventories and work in progress are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is calculated on a fi rst in and fi rst out 
basis and includes raw materials, direct labour, other direct costs and attributable production overheads, where appropriate. Net 
realisable value represents the estimated selling price less all estimated costs of completion and applicable selling costs. Where 
necessary, provision is made for slow-moving and obsolete inventory. Inventory on consignment and their related obligations are 
recognised in current assets and payables respectively.

Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables are initially recognised at fair value, being the original invoice amount, and subsequently measured at amortised 
cost less provision for impairment. A provision for impairment is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not 
be able to collect all amounts due according to the original terms of the receivable. Trade receivables that are less than three months 
past due are not considered impaired unless there are specifi c fi nancial or commercial reasons that lead management to conclude 
that the customer will default. Older debts are considered to be impaired unless there is suffi cient evidence to the contrary that 
they will be settled. The amount of the provision is the difference between the asset’s carrying value and the present value of the 
estimated future cash fl ows. The carrying amount of the asset is reduced through the use of an allowance account, and the amount 
of the loss is recognised in the income statement within administrative expenses. When a trade receivable is uncollectible it is written 
off against the allowance account. Subsequent recoveries of amounts previously written off are credited against administrative 
expenses in the income statement.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

39

Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and short-term deposits in the balance sheet comprise cash at bank and in hand and short-term deposits with an original 
maturity of less than three months, reduced by overdrafts to the extent that there is a right of offset against other cash balances.

For the purposes of the consolidated cash fl ow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash and short-term deposits as 
defi ned above net of outstanding bank overdrafts where there is a right of offset.

Share capital
Ordinary Shares are classifi ed as equity. Proceeds in excess of the nominal value of shares issued are allocated to the share premium 
account and are also classifi ed as equity. Incremental costs directly attributable to the issue of new Ordinary Shares or options are 
deducted from the share premium account.

Financial liabilities
Debt is measured at fair value, being net proceeds after deduction of directly attributable issue costs, with subsequent measurement 
at amortised cost with the exception of deferred equity consideration which is categorised as a fi nancial liability at fair value through 
profi t and loss. Debt issue costs are recognised in the income statement over the expected term of such instruments at a constant 
rate on the carrying amount.

Trade and other payables
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods or services that have been acquired in the ordinary course of business from 
suppliers. Accounts payable are classifi ed as current liabilities if payment is due within one year or less (or in the normal operating 
cycle of the business if longer). If not, they are presented as non-current liabilities. Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value 
and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method.

Borrowings
Borrowings are recognised initially at the fair value of proceeds received, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are 
subsequently carried at amortised cost. Borrowings are classifi ed as current liabilities unless the Group has an unconditional right to 
defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after the balance sheet date.

Borrowing costs are expensed in the consolidated Group income statement under the heading ‘fi nance costs’. Arrangement and 
facility fees together with bank charges are charged to the income statement under the heading ‘administrative expenses’.

Current and deferred income tax
The tax expense comprises current and deferred tax. Tax is recognised in the income statement, except to the extent that it relates 
to items recognised in other comprehensive income where the associated tax is also recognised in other comprehensive(cid:162)income.

The current income tax charge is calculated on the basis of the tax laws enacted or substantively enacted at the balance sheet date 
in the countries where the Company and its subsidiaries operate and generate taxable income. Management evaluates positions 
taken in tax returns with respect to situations in which applicable tax regulation is subject to interpretation and establishes provisions 
where appropriate on the basis of amounts expected to be paid to the tax authorities.

Deferred tax is recognised, using the liability method, on all temporary differences at the balance sheet date between the tax 
bases of assets and liabilities and their carrying amounts for fi nancial reporting purposes. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised 
in respect of all temporary differences except where the deferred tax liability arises from the initial recognition of goodwill in 
business combinations.

Deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry-forward of unused tax assets and tax losses, to the 
extent that they are regarded as recoverable. They are regarded as recoverable where, on the basis of available evidence, there will 
be suffi cient taxable profi ts against which the future reversal of the underlying temporary differences can be(cid:162)deducted.

The carrying value of the amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no 
longer probable that suffi cient taxable profi t will be available to allow all, or part, of the tax asset to be utilised.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year when the asset is realised or 
the liability is settled, based on the tax rates (and tax laws) that have been substantively enacted at the balance sheet date.

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when the deferred income tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation 
authority on either the taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net(cid:162)basis.

Provisions
Provisions for legal claims are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of a past event 
and it is probable that an outfl ow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount can be reliably(cid:162)measured.

Leases
Leases which transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset are treated as a fi nance lease. Assets held 
under fi nance leases are capitalised at their fair value at the inception of the lease and depreciated over the estimated useful 
economic life of the asset or lease term if shorter. The fi nance charges are allocated to the income statement in proportion to the 
capital amount outstanding.

All other leases are classifi ed as operating leases. Operating lease rentals are charged to the income statement in equal annual 
amounts over the lease term.

Deferred consideration
Deferred consideration is recognised at fair value. Where the value of deferred consideration is based on a future event, management 
estimate the likelihood of the consideration becoming payable. Deferred consideration is discounted to take account of the time 
value of money at rates based on those used for the valuation of related intangible assets.

40

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

2. Summary of signifi cant accounting policies continued

Employee benefi ts
(a) Pension obligations
Group companies operate various pension schemes and have both defi ned benefi t and defi ned contribution plans. A defi ned 
contribution plan is a pension plan under which the Group pays fi xed contributions into a separate entity with the pension cost 
charged to the income statement as incurred. The Group has no further obligations once the contributions have been paid.

Under a defi ned benefi t scheme, the amount of retirement benefi t that will be received by an employee is defi ned with respect 
to periods of service and fi nal salary. The amount recognised in the balance sheet is the difference between the present value of 
the defi ned benefi t obligation at the balance sheet date and the fair value of the scheme assets. The defi ned benefi t obligation 
is calculated annually by independent actuaries using the projected unit credit method. The present value of the defi ned benefi t 
obligation is determined by discounting the estimated future cash outfl ows.

Actuarial gains and losses arising from experience adjustments and changes in actuarial assumptions are charged or credited in other 
comprehensive income in the period in which they arise.

The service cost of providing retirement benefi ts to employees during the year is charged to operating profi t. Past service costs are 
recognised immediately in income, unless the changes to the pension plan are conditional on the employees remaining in service 
for a specifi ed period of time (the vesting period). In this case, the past service costs are amortised on a straight-line basis over the 
average vesting period.

(b) Share-based compensation
The Group operates a number of equity-settled, share-based compensation plans, under which the Group receives services from 
employees as consideration for equity instruments of the Group. Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at fair value 
at the date of grant and are expensed over the vesting period based on the number of instruments that are expected to vest. 
For plans where vesting conditions are based on share price targets, the fair value at the date of grant refl ects these conditions. 
Where applicable the Group recognises the impact of revisions to original estimates in the income statement, with a corresponding 
adjustment to equity for equity-settled schemes. Fair values are measured using appropriate valuation models, taking into account 
the terms and conditions of the awards.

When the share-based payment awards are exercised, the Company issues new shares. The proceeds received net of any directly 
attributable transaction costs are credited to share capital (nominal value) and share premium.

National insurance on share options
To the extent that the share price at the balance sheet date is greater than the exercise price on options granted under unapproved 
share-based payment compensation schemes, provision for any National Insurance Contributions has been based on the prevailing 
rate of National Insurance. The provision is accrued over the performance period attaching to the award.

Revenue recognition
(a) Sale of goods
Revenue for the sale of medical diagnostic instruments and reagents is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or 
receivable and represents the invoiced value for the sale of the goods and services net of sales taxes, rebates and discounts. Revenue 
from the sale of goods is recognised when a Group Company has delivered products to the customer, the customer has accepted 
delivery of the products and collectability of the related receivables is reasonably assured.

(b) Sale of services
Revenue for the sale of molecular diagnostic testing services is recognised when the test has been completed and the results 
returned to the patient. Billing is carried out by the Group directly or through third party billing agencies. Sales commissions to third 
parties are recognised at the same time as revenue is recognised and accrued until due for payment.

(c) Interest income
Interest income is accrued on a time basis, by reference to the principal outstanding and at the effective interest rate applicable, 
which is the rate that exactly discounts estimated future cash receipts through the expected life of the fi nancial asset to that asset’s 
net carrying amount.

(d) Royalty and licence income
Royalty and licence income is recognised on an accruals basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreements.

Dividend distribution
Dividend distributions to the Company’s Shareholders are recognised as a liability in the Group’s fi nancial statements in the period in 
which the dividends are approved by the Company’s Shareholders. Interim dividends are recognised when paid.

Other income
Other income includes grant income and R & D tax credits passed through income where this is permitted by the relevant jurisdiction.

Exceptional items
These are items of an unusual or non-recurring nature incurred by the Group and include transactional costs and one off items 
relating to business combinations, such as acquisition expenses.

3. Financial risk management

Financial risk factors
The Group’s activities expose it to a variety of fi nancial risks: market risk (foreign exchange risk and cash fl ow interest rate 
risk), credit risk, liquidity risk, capital risk and fair value risk. The Group’s overall risk management programme focuses on the 
unpredictability of the fi nancial markets and seeks to minimise the potential adverse effects on the Group’s fi nancial performance. 
The Group does not use derivative fi nancial instruments to hedge risk exposures.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

41

Risk management is carried out by the head offi ce fi nance team. It evaluates and mitigates fi nancial risks in close co-operation with the 
Group’s operating units. The Board provides principles for overall risk management whilst the head offi ce fi nance team provides specifi c 
policy guidance for the operating units in terms of managing foreign exchange risk, credit risk and cash and liquidity management.

(a) Market risk
(i) Foreign exchange – cash fl ow risk
The Group’s presentational currency is sterling although it operates internationally and is exposed to foreign exchange risk arising 
from various currency exposures, primarily between GBP, USD, the Euro, Rouble, and Zloty such that the Group’s cash fl ows are 
affected by fl uctuations in the rate of exchange between GBP and the aforementioned foreign currencies.

This exposure is managed by a natural currency hedge as the Group’s operating subsidiaries cost base is also denominated in USDs, 
Euros, Roubles, and Zloty as the Group has subsidiary businesses located in the USA, Germany, Ireland, Russia, and(cid:162)Poland.

Management do not use derivative fi nancial instruments to mitigate the impact of any residual foreign currency exposure not 
mitigated by the natural hedge within the business model. The Group does not speculate in foreign currencies and no operating 
Company is permitted to take unmatched positions in any foreign currency.

(ii) Foreign exchange – Fair value risk
Translation exposures that arise on converting the results of overseas subsidiaries are not hedged. Net assets held in foreign 
currencies are hedged wherever practical by matching borrowings in the same currency. The principal exchange rates used by the 
Group in translating overseas profi ts and net assets into GBP are set out in the table below.

Rate compared to GBP 

Euro 

Russian Rouble 

Polish Zloty 

US Dollar 

Average 
rate 
2014 

1.244 

64.048 

5.206 

1.647 

Average 
rate 
2103 

1.183 

50.155 

4.959 

1.572 

Year end 
rate 
2014 

1.287 

91.264 

5.465 

1.559 

Year end
rate
2013

1.203

54.500

4.983

1.657

As a guide to the sensitivity of the Group’s results to movements in foreign currency exchange rates, a one cent movement in the 
Euro and US Dollars to Sterling rate would impact annual earnings by approximately £26,000 and £33,000 respectively.

(iii) Cash fl ow and fair value interest rate risk
The Group has interest-bearing assets in the form of cash and cash equivalents and limited interest-bearing liabilities which relate 
to long-term borrowing and fi nance lease obligations in the Group’s US and German subsidiaries. Interest rates on cash and cash 
equivalents are fl oating whilst interest rates on borrowings have been fi xed and therefore expose the Group to fair value interest rate 
risk. The Group does not speculate on future changes in interest rates.

Where overseas acquisitions are made, it is the Group’s policy to arrange any borrowings required in local currency.

It is the Group’s policy not to trade in fi nancial instruments. The Group does not use interest rate swaps.

(b) Credit risk
Credit risk is managed on a Group basis, except for credit risk relating to accounts receivable balances. Each local subsidiary and 
operating business unit is responsible for managing and analysing the credit risk for each of their new clients before standard 
payment and delivery terms and conditions are offered. It is the Group policy to obtain deposits from customers where possible, 
particularly overseas customers. In addition if possible the Group will seek confi rmed letters of credit for the balances due. Credit risk 
is managed at the operating business unit level and monitored at the Group level to ensure adherence to Group policies. If there is 
no independent rating, local management assesses the credit quality of the customer, taking into account its fi nancial position, past 
experience and other factors. Individual risk limits are set based on internal or external ratings in accordance with limits set by the 
Board. The utilisation of credit limits is regularly monitored. Where extended credit is granted, this is agreed by the Finance Director.

Credit risk also arises from cash and cash equivalents, derivative fi nancial instruments and deposits with banks and fi nancial 
institutions, as well as credit exposures to customers.

(c) Liquidity risk
Cash fl ow forecasting is performed in the individual operating entities of the Group and is aggregated by Group fi nance. Group 
fi nance monitors cash and cash fl ow forecasts and it is the Group’s liquidity risk management policy to maintain suffi cient cash and 
available funding through an adequate amount of cash and cash equivalents and committed credit facilities from its bankers. Due 
to the dynamic nature of the underlying businesses, the head offi ce fi nance team aims to maintain fl exibility in funding by keeping 
suffi cient cash and cash equivalents available to fund the requirements of the Group.

The Group’s policy in relation to the fi nance of its overseas operations requires that suffi cient liquid funds be maintained in each of its 
territory subsidiaries to support short and medium-term operational plans. Where necessary, short-term funding is provided by the 
holding Company. In the UK, the working capital bank facility and the management of liquid funds in excess of operational needs are 
controlled centrally. Typically excess funds are placed as short-term deposits, to provide a balance between interest earnings and 
fl exibility.

The table overleaf analyses the Group’s non-derivative fi nancial liabilities into relevant maturity groupings based on the remaining 
period at the balance sheet date to the contractual maturity date. The amounts disclosed in the table are the contractual undiscounted 
cash fl ows. In the case of deferred consideration the amount shown as payable between 2 and 5 years for 31 December 2014 is the total 
gross contractual liability should all performance criteria be met, not the estimated liability based on current and forecast performance.

 
 
 
 
 
 
42

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

3. Financial risk management continued

At 31 December 2014: 

Borrowings (inc. fi nance leases) 

Deferred consideration  

Trade and other payables 

At 31 December 2013: 

Borrowings (inc. fi nance leases) 

Deferred consideration  

Trade and other payables 

Less than 
one year 
£’000 

Between 
1 and 2 years 
£’000 

Between 
2 and 5 years 
£’000 

More than
5 years 
£’000 

3,862 

1,425 

7,731 

348 

430 

4,023 

343 

3,943 

- 

268 

– 

– 

709 

1,522 

- 

797 

7,216 

– 

1,576 

5,101 

- 

1,220 

3,198 

– 

Total
£’000

6,490

11,991

7,731

2,633

10,844

4,023

(d) Capital risk management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the ability to continue as a going concern in order to provide returns 
for shareholders and benefi ts for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of(cid:162)capital.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. This ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt 
is calculated as total borrowings (including “current and non-current borrowings” as shown in the consolidated balance sheet) less 
cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is the sum of net debt plus equity.

The Group is currently largely un-geared, having net cash at 31 December 2014. It is the stated strategy of the Group to grow both 
organically and through acquisition with acquisitions to be funded through a mixture of debt and equity funding.

(e) Fair value estimation
The Group has no Level 1, 2 or 3 classifi ed fi nancial assets as at 31 December 2014 (2013: none).

4. Critical accounting estimates and judgements

In the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies, management has made accounting judgements in the determination of 
the carrying value of certain assets and liabilities. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making assumptions and estimates, 
actual outcomes will differ from those assumptions and estimates. The following judgements have the most signifi cant effect on the 
amounts recognised in the fi nancial statements.

(a) Business combinations
The recognition of business combinations requires the excess of the purchase price of acquisitions over the net book value of assets 
acquired to be allocated to the assets and liabilities of the acquired entity. The Group makes judgements and estimates in relation to 
the fair value allocation of the purchase price. If any unallocated portion is positive it is recognised as goodwill.

(i) Goodwill
The amount of goodwill initially recognised as a result of a business combination is dependent on the allocation of the purchase price 
to the fair value of the identifi able assets acquired and the liabilities assumed. The determination of the fair value of the assets and 
liabilities is based, to a considerable extent, on management’s judgement.

Allocation of the purchase price affects the results of the Group as fi nite lived intangible assets are amortised, whereas indefi nite 
lived intangible assets, including goodwill, are not amortised and could result in differing amortisation charges based on the 
allocation to indefi nite lived and fi nite lived intangible assets.

(ii) Finite lived intangible assets
Finite lived intangible assets include trade secrets and non-compete agreements acquired as part of business combinations. The fair 
value of these separately identifi able assets is determined by discounting estimated future net cash fl ows generated by the asset. 
The use of different assumptions for the expectations of future cash fl ows and the discount rate would change the valuation of the 
intangible assets. The relative size of the Group’s intangible assets, excluding goodwill, makes the judgements surrounding the 
estimated useful lives critical to the Group’s fi nancial position and performance.  When assessing the fair value of EKF Molecular 
Diagnostics and Selah Genomics, the Group has assumed revenue growth levels which are above industry averages because of the 
high growth markets in which these units operate, and the relatively early stage of their development.

(iii) Deferred consideration
In some business combinations the purchase price includes deferred consideration which is contingent on future events. The fair 
value of the deferred consideration is determined by discounting estimated future outfl ows which are based on management’s 
judgement of the likelihood and timing of future events. The deferred consideration in respect of Selah Genomics, which is based on 
the achievement of quarterly revenue targets, has been determined by assuming Selah achieves the required revenue pattern after 
the fi rst year of ownership.

(b) Impairment of goodwill
The Group tests annually whether goodwill has suffered any impairment, in accordance with the accounting policy stated in note 
2. The recoverable amounts of cash-generating units have been determined based on value-in-use calculations. These calculations 
require the use of estimates as set out in note 17.

(c) Share-based payments
A number of accounting estimates and judgements are incorporated within the calculation of the charge to the income statement in 
respect of share-based payments. These are described in more detail in note 30.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

43

(d) Impairment of receivables
Trade and other receivables are carried at the contractual amount due less any estimated provision for non-recovery. Provision is 
made based on a number of factors including the age of the receivable, previous collection experience and the fi nancial 
circumstances of the counterparty.

The Group has receivables outstanding at year end from certain customers in Mexico totalling $10.2m (£6.5m) some of which are 
overdue for payment. Settlement has been delayed because payments to the Group’s Mexican customers have themselves been 
delayed. The receivables balance has not been impaired because management judge that the outstanding amounts will be settled in 
full. Of the outstanding balance £5.5m is overdue for payment.

(e) Deferred tax assets
Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profi ts will be available against which 
deductible temporary differences can be utilised. A deferred tax asset in respect of tax losses relating to the Company has not been 
recognised as insuffi cient future taxable profi t in the Company is currently forecast. A deferred tax asset has not been recognised 
in respect of the historic losses within the Group’s Irish business as the business is being transferred to other parts of the Group and 
the goodwill, trade secrets and capitalised development costs relating to the Renastat development at the Irish business have been 
impaired. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets at the balance sheet date was £283,000 (2013: £949,000). In addition there 
were £1,141,000 (2013: £872,000) of deferred tax assets not recognised.

(f) Tax warranties
The Group has been advised by its German tax advisers that there is a potential tax and associated interest liability associated with 
the EKF-diagnostic GmbH business prior to acquisition, of up to ¤1.19m (£0.93m). Under the warranties of the acquisition agreement 
EKF has already withheld payment of part of the deferred consideration to cover such liability. The warranty claim effect has reduced 
as a result of review of the potential liability with the Group’s tax advisers and the German tax authorities. The reduction of the 
potential claim is included within administration costs and has been disclosed as an exceptional item. The determination of both the 
total tax and interest potentially payable, and the related warranty claim, are based on management judgement.

5. Segmental reporting

Management has determined the Group’s operating segments based on the monthly management reports presented to the Chief 
Operating Decision Maker (‘CODM’). The CODM is the Executive Directors and the monthly management reports are used by the 
Group to make strategic decisions and allocate resources.

The principal activity of the Group is the design, development, manufacture and selling of diagnostic instruments, reagents and 
certain ancillary products. This activity takes place across various countries, such as the USA, Germany, Poland, Russia, United 
Kingdom and Ireland, and as such the Board considers the business primarily from a geographic perspective. Although not all the 
segments meet the quantitative thresholds required by IFRS 8, management has concluded that all segments should be maintained 
and reported, given potential future growth of the segments. In 2015 a new matrix structure for revenue based partly on disease 
states will be introduced and this structure will be refl ected in the segmental analysis in future years.

The reportable segments derive their revenue primarily from the manufacture and sale of medical diagnostic equipment. Other 
services include the servicing and distribution of third party company products under separate distribution agreements, and the 
supply of molecular diagnostic testing services.

Currently the key operating performance measures used by the CODM are Revenue and adjusted EBITDA.

44

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

5. Segmental reporting continued

The segment information provided to the Board for the reportable segments for the year ended 31 December 2014 is as follows:

Germany 
£’000 

UK 
£’000 

USA 
£’000 

Ireland 
£’000 

Poland 
£’000 

Russia 
£’000 

Other 
£’000 

Total
£’000 

15,520  

2,539  

24,499  

 (7,297) 

 (1,848) 

 (29) 

373  

  -  

1,770  

 (22) 

3,162  

   -  

1,738  

49,601 

 (343) 

 (9,539)

 8,223  

 691  

 24,470  

  373  

 1,748  

 3,162  

  1,395  

  40,062 

2014 

Income statement 

Revenue 

Inter-segment 

External revenue 

Adjusted EBITDA*  

Exceptional costs 

Share-based payment 

EBITDA 

Depreciation 

Exceptional impairment 

Amortisation 

Operating profi t/(loss) 

Net fi nance costs 

Income tax 

4,460  

4,746  

4,579  

 (481) 

 (663) 

  -  

-  

-  

-  

 (42) 

 (170) 

-  

1,079  

-  

   -  

3,979 

4,083 

4,579 

(212) 

 1,079 

             (609)            (117) 

 (458)              (11)               (35) 

- 

- 

- 

 (603) 

(624) 

(1,465) 

2,767 

(21) 

(58) 

3,342 

(694) 

(714) 

2,656 

(231) 

(687) 

(1,162) 

(229) 

(1,614) 

- 

141 

Profi t/(loss) for the year 

2,688 

1,934 

1,738  

 (1,473) 

Segment assets 

Operating assets 

26,655 

21,147 

92,578 

1,667 

Inter-segment assets 

(1,703) 

(5,469) 

- 

- 

24,952 

 15,678  

 92,578  

 1,667  

 1,586  

 378  

 240  

 86  

 26,538  

 16,056  

 92,818 

 1,753  

Inter-segment liabilities 

 (10,665) 

 (7,165) 

 (18,985) 

External operating liabilities 

 4,499  

 3,928  

 5,860  

 15,164  

 11,093  

 24,845  

 441  

 174  

 2,591  

 655  

 -  

 655  

 -  

External operating assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Segment liabilities 

Operating liabilities 

Borrowings 

Total liabilities 

Other segmental information 

Non-current assets – PPE 

Non-current assets – Intangibles 

Non-current assets – additions 

* Adjusted EBITDA excludes exceptional items and share-based payments.

 4,940  

 4,102  

 8,451  

 655  

 209  

 119  

 29,927  

 48,403 

 3,685  

 13,130  

927 

 135  

 4,753  

 11,141  

55,502  

718 

418 

 14  

 759  

480 

 167  

 478  

13 

 59  

 173  

23 

 1,755  

 12,339  

957 

 10,568 

 93,522 

3,536

717  

   -  

-  

717 

(23) 

- 

 (9,282) 

6,257 

 (792) 

 (512) 

(10,586) 

(115) 

- 

 (2,106)

 (512)

3,639

(1,368)

(1,162)

(24)             (529) 

(3,582)

670 

(11,230) 

- 

(131) 

(614) 

198 

(2,473)

(1,555)

(1,440)

539 

(11,646) 

(5,468)

623 

20,086 

163,712

- 

(29,107) 

(36,279)

 623  

 553  

(9,021) 

127,433

 4,466  

 8,346 

 1,176  

(4,555) 

 135,779

 119  

 -  

 119  

 -  

 26,887  

78,920 

 -  

 (36,763)

 26,887  

 3,040  

 42,157 

 6,246 

- 

(108) 

936 

5 

(189) 

752 

956 

- 

 956  

 1,037  

 1,993  

 157  

 52  

 209  

 -  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

45

Germany 
£’000 

UK 
£’000 

USA 
£’000 

Ireland 
£’000 

Poland 
£’000 

Russia 
£’000 

Other 
£’000 

Total
£’000 

Profi t/(loss) for the year 

2,393 

(1,568) 

3,011 

(645) 

2013 

Income statement 

Revenue 

Inter-segment 

External revenue 

Adjusted EBITDA*  

Exceptional costs 

Share-based payment 

EBITDA 

Depreciation 

Exceptional impairment 

Amortisation 

Operating profi t/(loss) 

Net fi nance costs 

Income tax 

Segment assets 

Operating assets 

Inter-segment assets 

External operating assets 

Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 

Segment liabilities 

Operating liabilities 

13,091 

3,143 

17,338 

(6,191) 

(1,099) 

– 

6,900 

2,044 

17,338 

3,492 

(1,341) 

4,576 

1,575 

– 

5,067 

(662) 

– 

757 

– 

(584) 

(180) 

– 

258 

– 

4,834 

(299) 

– 

(650) 

(495) 

(728) 

3,755 

(247) 

(1,115) 

(1,259) 

(488) 

179 

3,807 

(256) 

(540) 

389 

– 

389 

237 

– 

– 

237 

(45) 

(750) 

(218) 

(776) 

– 

131 

16,858 

14,147 

21,101 

2,347 

(314) 

(43) 

– 

– 

16,544 

14,104 

21,101 

2,347 

1,123 

244 

42 

– 

17,667 

14,348 

21,143 

2,347 

7,335 

9,891 

13,525 

Inter-segment liabilities 

(4,663) 

(6,350) 

(9,981) 

External operating liabilities 

Borrowings 

Total liabilities 

Other segmental information 

Non-current assets – PPE 

Non-current assets – Intangibles 

Non-current assets – additions 

2,672 

481 

3,541 

166 

3,544 

1,789 

3,153 

3,707 

5,333 

3,386 

9,188 

1,034 

688 

11,068 

5,851 

3,769 

11,758 

78 

* Adjusted EBITDA excludes exceptional items and share-based payments.

402 

– 

402 

– 

402 

23 

1,738 

394 

1,241 

(8) 

3,900 

– 

1,233 

3,900 

– 

– 

– 

418 

746 

(3,304) 

– 

– 

746 

(15) 

– 

(41) 

– 

(709) 

(4,013) 

(65) 

– 

– 

690 

(4,078) 

– 

(131) 

(802) 

12 

39,102

(7,298)

31,804

4,824

2,590

(709)

6,705

(1,304)

(750)

(2,250)

2,401

(1,794)

(1,500)

559 

(4,868) 

(893)

1,052 

26,325 

82,966

– 

(24,437) 

(24,794)

1,052 

727 

1,779 

1,888 

159 

58,172

2,551

2,047 

60,723

179 

– 

179 

– 

179 

87 

331 

77 

6,962 

38,168

– 

(20,807)

6,962 

– 

17,361

2,440

6,962 

19,801

1,626 

– 

27 

9,785

34,725

7,480

– 

– 

418 

(38) 

– 

(118) 

262 

(1) 

(36) 

225 

1,136 

– 

1,136 

256 

1,392 

(126) 

187 

61 

4 

65 

206 

642 

19 

‘Other’ primarily relates to the holding company and head offi ce costs, and to the operations of DiaSpect which is headquartered in 

Sweden.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
46

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

5. Segmental reporting continued

Disclosure of Group revenues by geographic location is as follows:

Americas 

United States of America 

Mexico 

Rest of Americas 

Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA) 

Germany 

United Kingdom 

Rest of Europe 

Russia 

Middle East 

Africa 

Rest of World 

China 

Asia 

New Zealand/Australia 

Total revenue 

Revenues of approximately £6.0m (2013: £2.5m) are derived from a single external customer located in Mexico.

6. Expenses - analysis by nature

Inventories consumed in cost of sales 

Employee benefi t expense (note 10) 

Depreciation and amortisation 

Transaction costs relating to business combinations (note 7) 

Research and development expenses 

Foreign exchange 

Operating lease payments 

Other expenses 

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

12,711 

7,560 

2,440 

4,848 

287 

2,791 

3,174 

687 

1,315 

2,304 

1,892 

53 

9,873

3,434

1,755

4,002

251

2,702

3,905

763

1,114

2,050

1,913

42

40,062 

31,804

2014 
£’000 

 8,726  

 16,524  

 4,950  

 809  

 1,253  

 446  

492 

9,706 

2013 
£’000 

7,515

13,389

3,554

93

1,241

10

258

3,838

Total cost of sales and administrative expenses 

42,906 

29,898

Included within the above expenses are exceptional items as set out in note 7.

7. Exceptional items

Included within Administrative expenses are exceptional items as shown below:

– Warranty claim 

– Exceptional release of provision 

– Transaction costs relating to business combinations 

– Impairment charges - goodwill 

– Impairment charges - other 

– Release of deferred consideration provisions 

– Cost of closure and transfer of Quotient manufacturing to Germany 

– Cost of transfer of EKF Ireland to UK 

Exceptional items – continuing 

Note 

a 

a 

b 

b 

c 

d 

e 

2014 
£’000 

(281) 

- 

(809) 

(254) 

(908) 

79 

(925) 

(170) 

2013 
£’000 

1,241

334

(93)

(750)

-

1,108

–

–

(3,268) 

1,840 

(a)  Estimated warranty claim in relation to the acquisition of EKF-diagnostic GmbH and the release of a previously held provision  

associated with the tax(cid:162)claim.

(b)  Impairment of goodwill and other intangible assets associated with EKF Diagnostics Limited, Ireland.
(c)  Release of deferred consideration provisions associated with Quotient Diagnostics Limited.
(d) Costs associated with the move of Quo-Test and Quo-Lab production from the UK to Germany and the closure of the 
  manufacturing operation in the UK. Costs include severance pay of £303,000, and asset write off of £155,000.
(e) Costs associated with the move of Irish biomarker products to the UK and the closure of the majority of the operations in Ireland. 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

47

8. Auditor remuneration

During the year the Group (including its overseas subsidiaries) obtained the following services from the Company’s auditor and its 
associates:

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

Fees payable to Company’s auditor and its associates for the audit of the parent Company 

and consolidated fi nancial statements 

Fees payable to the Company’s auditor and its associates for other services: 

– The audit of Company’s subsidiaries 

– Other services 

– Tax compliance services 

9. Directors’ emoluments

Aggregate emoluments 

Contribution to defi ned contribution pension scheme 

Retirement benefi ts are accruing to 4 (2013: 2) Directors under a defi ned contribution scheme.

See further disclosures within the Remuneration Report on page 26.

Highest paid Director 

Aggregate emoluments 

Contribution to defi ned contribution pension scheme 

10. Employee benefi t expense

Wages and salaries 

Social security costs 

Share options granted to Directors and Senior Management 

Pension costs – defi ned contribution plans (note 33) 

Employee costs of £0.5m (2013: £0.3m) have been capitalised as part of development costs.

11. Monthly average number of people employed

Monthly average number of people (including Executive Directors) employed was: 

Administration 

Research and development 

Sales and marketing 

Manufacturing, production and after sales 

The total number of employees at 31 December 2014 was 395 (2013: 330).

38 

111 

71 

28 

248 

2014 
£’000 

941 

29 

970 

2014 
£’000 

250 

12 

2014 
£’000 

14,865 

1,472 

512 

225 

39

69

29

16

153

2013 
£’000 

672

8

680

2013 
£’000 

299

7

2013 
£’000 

11,091

1,672

709

208

17,074 

 13,680

2014 
Number 

2013 
Number 

66 

32 

78 

192 

368 

59

29

72

160

320

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
  
48

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

12. Finance income and costs

Finance costs: 

– Bank borrowings 

– Finance lease liabilities 

– IAS 19 interest expense (note 33) 

– Other interest 

– Financial liabilities at fair value through profi t or loss – (gains)/losses 

– Deferred consideration-unwinding of discount (note 27) 

– Convertible debt 

Finance costs 

Finance income 

– Interest income on cash and short-term deposits 

– Other interest 

Finance income 

Net fi nance costs  

13. Income tax

Group 

Current tax: 

Current tax on loss for the year 

Adjustments in respect of prior years 

Total current tax 

Deferred tax (note 28): 

Origination and reversal of temporary differences 

Adjustment arising in previous period 

Impact of deferred tax rate change 

Total deferred tax 

Income tax charge 

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

290 

- 

- 

- 

(476) 

1,751 

8 

135

6

4

212

750

685

7

1,573 

1,799

18 

- 

18 

2

3

5 

1,555 

1,794

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

1,677 

(263) 

1,602

1,022

1,414 

2,624

26 

- 

- 

26 

1,440 

(701)

–

(423)

 (1,124)

 1,500

On 21 March 2013 the UK Government announced a reduction in the rate of corporation tax to 21% with effect from 1 April 2014, and 

to 20% with effect from 1 April 2015. 

The tax on the Group’s loss before tax differs from the theoretical amount that would arise using the standard tax rate applicable to 

the profi ts of the consolidated entities as follows:

(Loss)/profi t before tax 

Tax calculated at domestic tax rates applicable to UK standard rate of tax of 21.5% (2013: 23.25%) 

Tax effects of: 

– Expenses not deductible for tax purposes 

– Losses carried forward 

– Adjustment in respect of prior years 

– Impact of different tax rates in other jurisdictions 

– Utilisation of previously unrecognised tax losses 

– Effect of reduction in tax rate 

– Impact of utilisation of deferred tax asset 

– Other movements 

Tax charge 

There are no tax effects on the items in the statement of other comprehensive income.

2014 
£’000 

(4,028) 

(866) 

748 

696 

(263) 

163 

- 

- 

1,079 

(117) 

1,440 

2013 
£’000 

607

141

398

531

1,022

467

(173)

(423)

-

(463)

1,500

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014 49

14. Loss per share

(a) Basic
Basic  loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to owners of the parent by the weighted average number of 
Ordinary Shares in issue during the year.

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

Loss attributable to owners of the parent 

(5,689) 

(1,126)

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue 

379,633,724 

271,695,776

Basic loss per share 

(b) Diluted

(1.50) pence   (0.41) pence

Diluted loss per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares outstanding assuming conversion 

of all dilutive potential Ordinary Shares. The Company has two categories of dilutive potential ordinary share: equity-based long-term 

incentive plans and share options. The potential shares are not dilutive in either 2014 or 2013 as the Group has made a loss per share.

Loss attributable to owners of the parent 

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

(5,689) 

(1,126)

Weighted average diluted number of Ordinary Shares  

393,511,556  286,302,764

Diluted loss per share 

(1.50) pence   (0.41) pence

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue 

Adjustment for: 

– Assumed conversion of share awards 

– Assumed payment of equity deferred consideration 

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares for diluted loss per share 

15. Dividends

There were no dividends paid or proposed by the Company in either year.

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

379,633,724 

271,695,776

9,833,892 

10,563,048

4,043,940 

4,043,940

393,511,556  286,302,764

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
50

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

16. Property, plant and equipment

Group 

Cost 

At 1 January 2013 – restated 

Additions 

Transfers 

Exchange differences 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2013 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 January 2013 – restated 

Charge for the year 

Exchange differences 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2013 

Net book value

At 31 December 2013 

Cost 

At 1 January 2014 

Additions 

Acquired with subsidiaries 

Transfers 

Exchange differences 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2014 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 January 2014  

Charge for the year 

Exceptional impairment 

Exchange differences 

Disposals 

At 31 December 2014 

Net book value

At 31 December 2014 

Land and 
buildings 
£’000 

Fixtures 
and fi ttings 
£’000 

Plant and 
machinery 
£’000 

Motor 
Vehicles 
£’000 

5,689 

344 

– 

(48) 

– 

5,985 

260 

155 

3 

– 

418 

746 

101 

– 

3 

(17) 

833 

281 

170 

4 

(17) 

438 

6,931 

669 

(114) 

120 

(87) 

7,519 

2,873 

956 

10 

(45) 

3,794 

Total
£’000

13,431

1,185

(114)

72

(132)

14,442

3,417

1,304

15

(79)

65 

71 

– 

(3) 

(28) 

105 

3 

23 

(2) 

(17) 

7 

4,657

5,567 

395 

3,725 

98 

9,785

5,985 

127 

35 

- 

147 

- 

6,294 

418 

171 

- 

13 

- 

602 

833 

141 

7 

15 

(11) 

(31) 

954 

438 

154 

- 

(21) 

(29) 

542 

7,519 

748 

1,156 

(15) 

(314) 

(81) 

9,013 

3,794 

1,015 

67 

(196) 

(67) 

4,613 

105 

22 

- 

- 

(45) 

 - 

82 

7 

28 

- 

(17) 

- 

18 

14,442

1,038

1,198

-

(223)

(112)

16,343

4,657

1,368

67

(221)

(96)

5,775

5,692 

412 

4,400 

64 

10,568

In 2013 opening cost and accumulated depreciation were restated to account for transfers between classifi cations. The restatement 
has had no impact in either year on the net book value of property, plant and equipment or the current or prior year income 
statements.

Property, plant and equipment includes assets under construction which are not depreciated until they are brought into use. In 2013 
an asset previously classifi ed as plant and machinery under construction was reclassifi ed as capitalised development expenditure. 
The effect of this is shown as a transfer.

Depreciation expense of £878,000 (2013: £716,000) has been charged to cost of sales and £557,000 (2013: £588,000) has been 
charged to administrative expenses, of which £67,000 is included in exceptional items.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16. Property, plant and equipment continued

Company 

Cost 

At 1 January 2013 

Additions

At 31 December 2013 

Accumulated depreciation 

At 1 January 2013 

Charge for the year 

At 31 December 2013 

Net book value

At 31 December 2013 

Cost 

At 1 January 2014 

Additions

At 31 December 2014 

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2014 

Charge for the year 

At 31 December 2014 

Net book value

At 31 December 2014 

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

51

Land and 
buildings 
£’000

Fixtures
and fi ttings 
£’000 

1,670 

3 

1,673  

40 

40 

80  

16 

23

39  

5 

11 

16  

Total
£’000

1,686

26

1,712 

45

51

96 

1,593  

23  

1,616 

1,673  

- 

1,673 

80  

42 

122 

39  

17

56 

16  

15 

31 

1,712 

17

1,729

96 

57

153

1,551 

25 

1,576

The Company’s freehold property is in Germany and occupied by its subsidiary undertaking, EKF-diagnostic GmbH Germany. 
EKF-diagnostic GmbH is paying rental income of ¤13,900 (£10,800) per month to the parent Company. ¤167,000 (£130,000) 
(2013: ¤167,000 (£139,000)) was paid to the parent Company for the year.

Plant and machinery includes the following amounts where the Group is a lessee under a fi nance lease arrangement:

Cost – capitalised fi nance leases 

Accumulated depreciation 

Net book value 

2014
£’000

879

(162)

(717)

2013
£’000

262

(74)

188

The Group leases various assets under non-cancellable fi nance lease agreements. The lease terms are between 2 and 6 years.

The Company has no fi nance lease agreements.

 
 
 
52

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

17. Intangible assets

Group 

Cost 

At 1 January 2013 

Transfer from PPE 

Additions 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2013 

Accumulated amortisation 

At 1 January 2013 

Exchange differences 

Impairment charge 

Charge for the year 

At 31 December 2013 

Net book value 

At 31 December 2013 

Cost 

At 1 January 2014 

Transfer from PPE 

Additions 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2014 

Accumulated amortisation 

At 1 January 2014 

Exchange differences 

Impairment charge 

Charge for the year 

At 31 December 2014 

Net book value 

At 31 December 2014 

Non-compete 
agreements 
£’000 

Goodwill 
£’000 

Trademarks, trade 
name and licences 
£’000 

Customer 
relationships 
£’000 

Trade  Development 
costs 
£’000 

secrets 
£’000 

Total
£’000

– 

– 

70 

– 

70 

– 

– 

– 

18 

18 

13,442 

– 

1,178 

21 

14,641 

– 

– 

750 

– 

 750 

1,575 

– 

36 

(15) 

8,612 

9,548 

1,788 

34,965

– 

– 

(133) 

– 

3,950 

154 

114 

114

1,061 

6,295

13 

40

1,596 

8,479 

13,652 

2,976 

41,414

261 

24 

– 

127 

412 

1,323 

(18) 

– 

789 

2,000 

(32) 

– 

1,152 

131 

– 

– 

3,715

(26)

750

164 

2,250

2,094 

3,120 

295 

6,689

52 

13,891 

1,184 

6,385 

10,532  

2,681 

34,725

70 

14,641 

1,596 

8,479 

13,652 

2,976 

41,414

- 

- 

30,899 

880 

2,335 

76 

9,672 

16,985 

367 

260 

1,897 

(44) 

61,788

1,539

70 

46,420 

4,007 

18,518 

30,897 

4,829 

104,741

18 

- 

- 

23 

41 

 750 

(50) 

254 

- 

954 

412 

(5) 

- 

295 

702 

2,094 

(18) 

- 

1,268 

3,120 

(136) 

287 

1,706 

295 

(5) 

621 

290 

6,689

(214)

1,162

3.582

3,344 

4,977 

1,201 

11,219

29 

45,466 

3,305 

15,174 

25,920 

3,628 

93,522

The amortisation charge and impairment of £4,744,000 (2013: £3,000,000) has been charged to administrative expenses in the income statement.
Goodwill is allocated to the Group’s cash–generating units (CGU’s) identifi ed according to geographic operating segment. 
An operating segment-level summary of the goodwill allocation is presented below.

UK 

Germany 

Poland 

Russia 

Ireland 

US 

Other (primarily relating to DiaSpect) 

Total 

2014 
£’000 

4,568 

3,700 

306 

85 

- 

28,085 

8,722 

45,466 

2013 
£’000 

4,568

3,959

335

142

272

4,615

-

 13,891

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the balance sheet date. The recoverable amount of goodwill at 31 December 2014 was assessed 
on the basis of value in use. With the exception of the Irish unit, the assessed value exceeded the carrying value and showed 
signifi cant head room over it and no impairment loss was recognised. The carrying value the Irish unit has been impaired by 
£254,000 to refl ect a reduction in the assessed recoverable amount.

The key assumptions in the calculation to assess value in use are the future revenues and the ability to generate future cash fl ows. The 
most recent fi nancial results and initial budgets approved by management for the next year were used and forecasts for a further four 
years, followed by an extrapolation of expected cash fl ows at a constant growth rate for each unit and the calculation of a terminal value 
based upon the longer term growth rates set out below. The projected results were discounted at a rate which is a prudent evaluation of 
the pre-tax rate that refl ects current market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specifi c to the cash-generating units.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

53

The key assumptions used for value in use calculations in 2014 are as follows:

Molecular   Quotient  EKF Germany  EKF Poland  EKF Russia  Stanbio 
% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

% 

STI  Selah 
% 

% 

DiaSpect 
%

Longer-term growth rate  

Discount Rate 

3 

20 

3 

14 

3 

13 

3 

26 

3 

26 

3 

12 

3 

12 

4 

12 

5

10

The discount rates used are primarily based on those used in the initial purchase price appraisal of the acquisitions. The Group’s 
Russian operations are being indirectly affected by economic sanctions and budget cuts by the Russian government, but are 
expected to return to normal operations in the near future. A higher discount rate has been used for appraisal of the goodwill 
associated with EKF Russia to refl ect the additional risk. During the year the Group announced that its Irish operations would be 
closed and the operations transferred elsewhere within the Group, with some R & D projects being reassessed for viability. As a result 
the goodwill and intangible assets associated with the Irish operations other than for certain specifi c customer relationships have 
been impaired in full. 

The UK includes the cash generating units Quotient Diagnostics Limited and EKF Molecular Diagnostics Limited (which includes 
360 Genomics). The Directors estimate that long-term growth from the EKF Molecular businesses will be high because of the 
characteristics of its markets. EKF Molecular is a start-up business operating in a high growth segment of the diagnostics market. 
Revenues and cash fl ows have been assessed over a six year period. Year 1 of the revenue forecast is the fi rst year of signifi cant 
revenue. In Years 2 and 3 growth rates of 100% have been used, falling to 17% in Year 4. Because of the low starting base and the 
potential for this business a long-term growth rate of 10% has been used for Year 5 onwards. If revenues are lower than those 
forecast by approximately 10%, then impairment will be required.

The main business and assets of Quotient Diagnostics have been transferred to the Group’s main German subsidiary. 

The US includes the cash generating units Stanbio, STI and Selah. The Selah business is at a fairly early stage of its development and 
again is starting from a low base. The Group is confi dent about its future prospects as it is in a high growth sector and there are 
signifi cant opportunities for PrecisionPath and other products. Revenue and cash fl ows have been assessed over a six year period.  
The growth rates used are as follows:

Revenue growth rate 

Year 1 

Base 

Year 2 

67% 

Year 3 

124% 

Year 4 

84% 

Year 5 

17% 

Year 6

3%

A long term growth rate of 4% has been used because of the high growth rate of the sector in which the business operates. There is 
no signifi cant headroom using these rates so if revenues are lower than forecast then impairment will be necessary. 

The impairment assessments for Germany, Poland, Russia, Stanbio and STI showed assessed values that exceeded the carrying value 
and showed signifi cant headroom.

The remaining average useful lives of the intangibles are as follows:

Trade name 

Customer relations 

Trade secrets 

Development costs 

Non-compete agreements 

The Company has no intangible assets.

  4–9 years

  2–15 years

  2–15 years

12 years

2 years

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
54

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

18. Investments in subsidiaries

Company Shares in Group undertakings 

1 January  

Additions 

Impairment 

31 December 

2014 
£’000 

16,630 

46,013 

(1,600) 

2013 
£’000 

15,613

1,600

(583)

61,043 

16,630

The additions in 2014 relate to the acquisitions of Diaspect Medical AB, and Selah Genomics Inc. (see note 21). The impairment relates 

to the investment in EKF Diagnostics Limited (Ireland).

Investments in Group undertakings are recorded at cost, which is the fair value of the consideration paid, less any impairment.

The principal subsidiaries of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc are as follows:

Name of Company 

Note 

Proportion Held 

EKF Diagnostics Limited  

Quotient Diagnostics Limited 

360 Genomics Limited 

EKF Molecular Diagnostics Limited 

DiaSpect Medical AB 

DiaSpect Medical GmbH 

EKF-diagnostic GmbH Germany 

Senslab GmbH 

EKF Diagnostyka Sp.z.o.o. 

000 EKF Diagnostika 

EKF Diagnostics Inc 

Stanbio Laboratory LP 

Stanbio Life Sciences LP 

Separation Technology, Inc 

Selah Genomics Inc 

EKF Diagnostics Limited 

1 

1 

1 

1 

2 

3 

3 

3 

4 

5 

6 

6 

6 

6 

6 

7 

100%   

100%   

Class of
Shareholding 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Nature of Business

Head Offi ce

Sale of diagnostic equipment

100%  (indirect)  Ordinary 

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

100%   

100%   

100%   

100%   

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Ordinary 

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

Head offi ce and IP licencing

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

100%   (indirect)  Ordinary 

Diagnostic testing

100%   (indirect)  Ordinary 

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

60%    (indirect)  Ordinary 

Sale of diagnostic equipment

100%   

Ordinary 

Intermediate holding company

100%   (indirect) 

Partnership  

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

100%   (indirect) 

Partnership 

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

100%   

Ordinary 

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

100%   (Indirect)  Ordinary 

Supply of molecular diagnostic services

100%   

Ordinary 

Manufacture and sale of diagnostic equipment

Notes
1.  Incorporated and registered in the United Kingdom.
2.  Incorporated in Sweden.
3.  Incorporated and registered in Germany.
4.  Incorporated and registered in Poland.
5.  Incorporated and registered in Russia.
6.  Incorporated and registered in the United States of America.
7.  Incorporated and registered in Ireland. 

All subsidiaries are included in the consolidation. The proportions of voting shares held by the parent Company do not differ from the 
proportion of Ordinary Shares held.

All UK subsidiaries are exempt from the requirement to fi le audited accounts by virtue of section 479A of the Companies Act(cid:162)2006. 
As part of this process, the Company has provided statutory guarantees to these subsidiaries.

 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

55

19. Financial instruments by category

(a) Assets

31 December  

Assets as per balance sheet 

Trade and other receivables excluding prepayments and corporation tax 

Cash and cash equivalents  

Total 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

14,947 

8,346 

23,293 

6,406 

2,551 

8,957 

36,155 

4,390 

24,996

159

40,545 

25,155

Receivables in the analysis above are all categorised as ‘loans and receivables’ for the Group and Company.

(b) Liabilities

31 December  

Liabilities as per balance sheet 

Borrowings (excluding fi nance lease liabilities) 

Finance lease liabilities 

Trade and other payables 

Deferred consideration 

Total 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

5,348 

898 

7,731 

18,029 

32,006 

2,071 

369 

4,023 

7,249 

13,712 

2,843 

- 

3,679 

11,658 

-

-

4,166

1,778

18,180 

5,944

Liabilities in the analysis above are all categorised as ‘other fi nancial liabilities at amortised cost’ for the Group and Company, with 
the exception of deferred equity consideration totalling £880,000 (2013: £1,355,000) that is categorised as a fi nancial liability at fair 
value through profi t and loss.

(c) Credit quality of fi nancial assets

The Group is exposed to credit risk from its operating activities (primarily for trade receivables and other receivables) and from 
its fi nancing activities, including deposits with banks and fi nancial institutions, foreign exchange transactions and other fi nancial 
instruments.

The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk, due to the failure of counterparties to perform their obligations as at 31(cid:162)December 
2014 and 31 December 2013, in relation to each class of recognised fi nancial assets, is the carrying amount of those assets as 
indicated in the accompanying balance sheets.

Trade receivables
The credit quality of trade receivables that are neither past due nor impaired have been assessed based on historical information 
about the counterparty default rate. The Group does not hold any other receivable balances with customers, whose past default has 
resulted in the recovery of the receivables balances.

Cash at bank
The credit quality of cash has been assessed by reference to external credit ratings, based on reputable credit agencies’ long-term 
issuer ratings:

AA- 

Ratings lower than AA- or unrated 

Total 

20. Investments

Group and Company 

1 January 

Additions 

31 December 

2014 
£’000 

4,749 

3,597 

8,346 

2014 
£’000 

250 

902 

1,152 

2013 
£’000

42

2,509

2,551

2013 
£’000 

250

–

250

The investment consists of a 2.63% (2013: 2.63%) shareholding in Arcis Biotechnology Holdings Limited, a UK based privately held 
company operating in the biotechnology industry;  a 19.90% holding in DX Economix, Inc., a Canadian based privately held company 
operating in the healthcare consultancy industry; and a 0.67% holding in Epinex Diagnostics Inc., a US based privately held company 
operating in the medical diagnostics industry.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
56

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

21. Business combinations

Acquisition of Separation Technology Inc. 
On 11 March 2014 the Group acquired, through its subsidiary company EKF Diagnostics Inc., 100% of the share capital of Separation 
Technology Inc. (STI), a US based company which manufactures and sells devices for the hematology testing market.

The goodwill of £833,000 arising from the acquisition is attributable to the expected future benefi ts arising from the acquired 
business.

The following table summarises the provisional fair values of the consideration paid for STI and the amounts of the assets acquired 
and liabilities assumed recognised at the acquisition date. Acquisition related costs of £50,000 have been written off against income 
and disclosed as an exceptional item.

Provisional fair values

Consideration 

Cash 

Recognised amounts of identifi able assets acquired and liabilities assumed 

Trade name – included within intangibles 

Customer relationships – included in intangibles 

Trade secrets – included in intangibles 

Plant, property and equipment 

Cash 

Inventories 

Trade and other debtors 

Trade and other payables 

Deferred tax 

Total identifi able net assets 

Goodwill 

£’000

2,400

2,400

228

1,074

210

177

72

353

310

(267)

(590)

1,567

833

The revenue included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since 11 March 2014 contributed by STI was £2.1m. STI 
also contributed a loss of £0.2m after tax and management charges over the same period.

Had STI been consolidated from 1 January 2014 the consolidated statement of income would show pro forma revenue of £40.5m and 
loss of £5.2m.

Acquisition of DiaSpect Medical AB
On 17 April 2014 the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of Diaspect Medical AB (DiaSpect), a group based in Sweden and 
Germany which manufactures and sells point-of-care hemoglobin analysers and their associated consumables.

The goodwill of £9,239,000 arising from the acquisition is attributable to the expected future benefi ts arising from the acquired 
business.

The following table summarises the provisional fair values of the consideration paid for DiaSpect and the amounts of the assets 
acquired and liabilities assumed recognised at the acquisition date. Acquisition related costs are disclosed below.

Consideration 

Cash 

Equity instruments 

Deferred contingent consideration 

Provisional fair values

£’000

10,248

5,555

1,288

17,091

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

57

21. Business combinations continued

Recognised amounts of identifi able assets acquired and liabilities assumed 

Trade name – included within intangibles 

Customer relationships – included in intangibles 

Trade secrets – included in intangibles 

Development costs – included in intangibles 

Plant, property and equipment 

Cash 

Inventories 

Trade and other debtors 

Trade and other payables 

Borrowings 

Deferred tax 

Total identifi able net assets 

Goodwill 

840

4,049

4,140

370

443

39

841

216

(633)

(186)

(2,267)

7,852

9,239

A revision to the deferred consideration was agreed in December 2014. A single payment of £1,425,000 will be made in 2015. The 
amount has been discounted to take account of the time value of money.

The revenue included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since 17 April 2014 contributed by DiaSpect was 
£1.4m. DiaSpect also contributed £nil after tax and management charges over the same period.

Had Diaspect been consolidated from 1 January 2014 the consolidated statement of income would show pro forma revenue of 
£40.7m and loss of £5.4m.

Acquisition of Selah Genomics Inc.
On 17 April 2014 the Group acquired 100% of the share capital of Selah Genomics Inc. (Selah), a US company which develops 
molecular diagnostics for personalised medicine.

The goodwill of £20,827,000 arising from the acquisition is attributable to the expected future benefi ts arising from the acquired 
business.

The following table summarises the provisional fair values of the consideration paid for Selah and the amounts of the assets acquired 
and liabilities assumed recognised at the acquisition date. Costs relating to the acquisitions of both DiaSpect and Selah of £759,000 
have been written off against income and disclosed as an exceptional item. Because the acquisitions of DiaSpect and Selah were 
simultaneous it is not possible to split the costs.

Provisional fair values

Consideration 

Equity instruments 

Deferred contingent consideration 

Recognised amounts of identifi able assets acquired and liabilities assumed 
Recognised amounts of identifi able assets acquired and liabilities assumed 

Trade name – included within intangibles 

Customer relationships – included in intangibles 

Trade secrets – included in intangibles 

PPE 

Cash 

Inventories 

Trade and other debtors 

Trade and other payables 

Borrowings 

Deferred tax 

Total identifi able net assets 

Goodwill 

£’000

20,425

8,497

28,922

1,199

4,549

12,635

578

158

149

628

(2,978)

(1,286)

(7,537)

8,095

20,827

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
58

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

The deferred contingent consideration is payable over a period of up to two years, and is contingent upon the achievement of certain 
revenue milestones.  The maximum contingent consideration payable is $35,000,000 however the Board’s judgement based on 
revenue forecasts is that the deferred consideration relating to revenue in the fi rst year after acquisition ($17,500,000) will not be paid 
and this has not been provided. The amount has been discounted at a rate of 13.2% to take account of the time value of money.

The revenue included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income since 17 April 2014 contributed by Selah was £3.0m. 
Selah also contributed a loss of £0.6m after tax and management charges over the same period.

Had Selah been consolidated from 1 January 2014 the consolidated statement of income would show pro forma revenue of £41.4m 
and loss of £5.6m.

Had all three acquisitions been consolidated from 1 January 2014 the consolidated statement of income would show pro forma 

revenue of £42.4m and loss of £5.3m.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

59

22. Trade and other receivables

Non-current 

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

- 

- 

17,799 

17,799

Group 
2014 
£’000 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

Current 

Trade receivables 

Less: provision for impairment of trade receivables  

Trade receivables – net 

Prepayments  

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings  

Corporation tax receivable  

Other receivables 

12,763 

(978) 

11,785 

331 

- 

837 

3,162 

16,115 

4,896 

(91) 

4,805 

270 

- 

479 

1,601 

7,155 

- 

- 

- 

152 

18,315 

- 

41 

-

-

-

78

7,142

-

55

18,508 

7,275

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

As of 31 December 2014, trade receivables of £6,842,000 (2013: £62,000) were past due but not impaired. These relate to a number

of independent customers for whom there is no recent history of default. The ageing analysis of these trade receivables is as follows:

Up to 3 months 

3 to 6 months  

6 months to 12 months  

Group 
2014 
£’000 

4,498 

2,330 

14 

6,842 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000

62 

- 

- 

62 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

-

-

As of 31 December 2014, trade receivables of £978,000 (2013: £91,000) were impaired and provided for. The ageing of these 

impaired receivables is as follows:

Up to 3 months 

3 to 6 months  

6 months to 12 months  

Movements on the provision for impairment of trade receivables are as follows:

At 1 January 

Provision for receivables impairment  

Acquired with subsidiaries 

Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible  

Unused amounts reversed 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

6 

329 

643 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

91 

613 

349 

- 

(70) 

(5) 

978 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

- 

- 

91 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

334 

41 

- 

(284) 

- 

- 

91 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

-

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
60

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

22. Trade and other receivables continued

The other classes within trade and other receivables do not contain impaired assets.

The carrying amounts of the Group’s trade and other receivables denominated in foreign currencies were as follows:

UK Sterling 

Euros 

US dollar 

Russian rouble 

Polish zloty 

23. Inventories

Raw materials 

Work in progress 

Finished goods 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

356 

4,739 

10,712 

70 

238 

16,115 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

3,225 

553 

2,015 

5,793 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

682 

2,452 

3,716 

104 

201 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

7,359 

9,458 

19,490 

- 

- 

6,483

7,146

11,445

-

-

7,155 

36,307 

25,074

Group 
2013 
£’000 

3,615 

501 

1,192 

(cid:162)5,308 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

- 

- 

- 

- 

-

-

-

-

The Directors are of the opinion that the replacement values of inventories are not materially different to the carrying values stated 
above. The carrying values above are stated net of impairment provisions of £969,000 (2013: £445,000).
The cost of inventories recognised as expense and included in ‘cost of sales’ amounted to £8,726,000 (2013: £7,515,000).
The Company held no inventories.

24. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand 

Short-term bank deposits 

Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts) 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

4,422 

3,924 

8,346 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

2,275 

276 

(cid:162)2,551 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

595 

3,795 

4,390 

159

-

159

The Directors consider that the carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents approximates to their fair value.

25. Trade and other payables

Trade payables 

Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings 

Social security and other taxes 

Other payables 

Accrued expenses and deferred income 

Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank overdrafts) 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

1,500 

- 

212 

2,354 

3,877 

7,943 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

959 

- 

166 

412 

2,652 

(cid:162)4,189 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

209 

2,913 

79 

- 

557 

3,758 

145

2,837

51

-

1,184

4,217

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
26. Borrowings

Non-current 

Bank borrowings 

Convertible loan  

Finance lease liabilities  

Current 

Bank borrowings 

Finance lease liabilities  

The maturity profi le of borrowings was as follows:

Amounts falling due

Within 1 year 

Between 1 and 2 years 

Between 2 and 5 years 

More than 5 years 

Total borrowings 

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

61

Group 
2014 
£’000 

1,668 

174 

650 

2,492 

3,506 

248 

3,754 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

3,754 

320 

653 

1,519 

6,246 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

1,614 

166 

328 

2,108 

291 

41 

332 

- 

- 

- 

- 

2,843 

- 

2,843 

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Group 
2013 
£’000 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

332 

246 

512 

1,350 

2,440 

2,843 

- 

- 

- 

2,843 

-

-

-

-

-

(a) Bank borrowings
Bank borrowings have maturity profi les from 2015 through to 2022 and bear an average fi xed coupon of 3.19% annually 
(2013:(cid:162)4.79%).

Bank borrowings are secured against certain assets of the Group. The Parent Company has also provided guarantees against those 
bank borrowings which are denominated in foreign currencies.

The Group facility, and the US Dollar and Euro denominated borrowings have covenants attached to them. The Group has been 
compliant with these covenants throughout the year.

The bank borrowings are repayable by either monthly or quarterly instalments, or at the end of a six month loan period.

The Group is not exposed to interest rate changes or contractual re-pricing dates at the end of the reporting period, as the 
borrowings are fi xed in nature.

The fair value of both current and non-current borrowings equals their carrying amount, as the impact of discounting is not 
signifi cant. The fair values are based on cash fl ows discounted using a rate based on the borrowing rate of 5% (2013: 5%).

The carrying amounts of the Group’s bank borrowings are denominated in the following currencies:

Euros 

US Dollar 

Polish Zloty 

Group 
2014 
£’000 

398 

4,776 

- 

5,174 

Group 
2013 
£’000 

413 

1,488 

4 

(cid:162)1,905 

Company 
2014 
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

- 

2,843 

- 

2,843 

-

-

-

-

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
62

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

26. Borrowings continued

(b) Convertible loan
Andrew Webb has loaned £200,000 to EKF Molecular Diagnostics Limited in return for a convertible loan note. The note is redeemable on
31(cid:162)December 2017 or convertible under certain circumstances on or before 30 November 2017 into shares representing 20% of the share
capital of EKF Molecular Diagnostics Limited. Interest only becomes payable in the event of a default. The principal has been split into a
debt element and an equity element. The equity element is disclosed in Other Reserves. The note is denominated in sterling.

(c) Finance lease liabilities
Lease liabilities are effectively secured as the rights to the leased asset revert to the lessor in the event of default.

Gross fi nance lease liabilities – minimum lease payments

No later than 1 year 

Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years 

Later than 5 years 

Future fi nance charges on fi nance leases 

Present value of fi nance lease liabilities 

The present value of fi nance lease liabilities is as follows:

No later than 1 year 

Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years 

Later than 5 years 

27. Deferred consideration

At 1 January 

On acquisition of subsidiaries 

Unwinding of discount (note 12) 

Fair value adjustment 

Reduction of provisions 

Payments made 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 

Current portion 

Non-current portion 

2014
£’000

294

442

308

1,044

(146)

898

2014
£’000

248

408

242

898

2013
£’000

45

68

263

376

(7)

369

2013
£’000

44

66

259

369

Group
2014
£’000 

7,249

9,785

1,751

(475)

(79)

(355)

153 

18,029 

8,493 

9,536 

Group 
2013
£’000

5,714

2,639

685

750

(1,108)

(1,429)

(2)

(cid:162)7,249 

(cid:162)(cid:162)1,778 

(cid:162)5,471 

Company 
2014
£’000 

Company
2013
£’000 

1,778

9,785

1,004

(475)

(79)

(355)

- 

11,658

8,493

3,165

2,439

-

55

750

(850)

(616)

- 

1,778

1,778

-

The deferred consideration is made up as follows:
•  4,043,940 Ordinary Shares originally valued at £605,000 to be issued as part of the consideration paid for acquisition of EKF-diagnostic

GmbH Germany. The value of the shares has been adjusted to its fair value at 31 December 2014 of £880,000.

•  $4,000,000 contingent consideration payable in respect of the acquisition of Stanbio Laboratory LP. The discounted value at the year-end
amounted to £2,566,000 (2013: £2,352,000). The contingent consideration is mainly based on achieving targets prior to 31 December 2015.
•  £8,000,000 contingent consideration payable in respect of the acquisition of 360 Genomics Limited. The discounted value at the year end
amounted to £3,805,000 (2013: £3,119,000). The contingent consideration is based on achieving revenue targets or a sale of the business.

•  £1,425,000 consideration for the acquisition of DiaSpect Medical AB. The discounted value at the year end amounted to £1,410,000

(2013: £nil). This was paid in January 2015.

•  $17,500,000 contingent consideration payable in Ordinary Shares of the Company as part of the consideration for acquisition of Selah

Genomics, Inc. The contingent consideration is based on achieving revenue targets in the period to 31 March 2016. The discounted value at the
year-end amounted to £9,368,000 (2013: £nil). 

•  The contingent consideration payable as part of the consideration for Quotient Diagnostics Limited has been satisfi ed in full during the year.

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

63

28. Deferred income tax

Deferred income tax assets and liabilities are offset when there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets against 
current tax liabilities and when deferred income tax assets and liabilities relate to income taxes levied by the same taxation authority 
on either the taxable entity or different taxable entities where there is an intention to settle the balances on a net basis. The amounts 

concerned are as follows:

Group 

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax asset to be recovered within 12 months 

Deferred tax asset to be recovered after more than 12 months 

Deferred tax liabilities

Deferred tax liability to be recovered after more than 12 months 

Deferred tax liability to be recovered within 12 months 

Deferred tax liabilities – net 

The gross movement on the deferred income tax account is as follows:

At 1 January 

Exchange differences 

On acquisition of subsidiaries  

Effect of reduction in tax rate  

Income statement movement (note 13)  

At 31 December 

2014 
£’000 

(45) 

(238) 

(283) 

13,258 

756 

14,014 

13,731 

2014 
£’000 

2,873 

438 

10,394 

- 

26 

13,731 

The movement in deferred income tax assets and liabilities during the year, without taking into consideration the offsetting of 

balances within the same tax jurisdiction, is as follows:

Deferred tax liabilities 

At 1 January 2013 

Credited to the income statement 

On acquisition of subsidiaries 

Impact of deferred tax rate change 

Exchange differences  

At 31 December 2013 

At 1 January 2014 

Credited to the income statement 

On acquisition of subsidiaries 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2014 

Accelerated tax
depreciation 
£’000 

4,210 

(652) 

804 

(539) 

(1) 

3,822 

3,822 

(638) 

10,394 

436 

14,014 

2013 
£’000 

(46)

(903)

(cid:162)(949)

3,442

380

(cid:162)3,822

(cid:162)(cid:162)2,873

2013 
£’000 

3,193

-

804

(423)

(701)

2,873

Total 
£’000 

4,210

(652)

804

(539)

(1)

3,822

3,822

(638) 

10,394

436

14,014

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
64

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

28. Deferred income tax continued

Deferred tax assets 

At 1 January 2013 

Charged to the income statement 

Impact of deferred tax rate change 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2013 

At 1 January 2014 

Charged to the income statement 

Exchange differences 

At 31 December 2014 

Tax losses 
£’000 

(935) 

(35) 

116 

1 

(853) 

(853) 

806 

2 

(45) 

Other 
£’000 

(82) 

(14) 

– 

Total
£’000

(1,017)

(49)

116

1

(96)  

(949) 

(96) 

(142) 

- 

(238) 

(949)

664

2

(283)

Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that the realisation of the related tax benefi t through future taxable profi ts 
is probable. The Group did not recognise deferred income tax assets of £1,141,000 (2013: £872,000) mainly in respect of tax losses 
amounting to £5,707,000 (2013: £4,154,000) that can be carried forward against future taxable income.

Company 

Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax asset to be recovered after more than 12 months 

Deferred tax  

29. Share capital and premium

Group and Company 

At 1 January 2014 

Issue of shares 

At 31 December 2014 

The shares issued during the year were as follows:

Reason 

Exercise of share options by former employee 

Exercise of share options by Mr G Hall 

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

238 

238 

96

96

Number of 
shares 

Share capital 
£’000 

Share 
premium 
£’000 

Total
£’000 

272,717,369 

149,339,705 

422,057,074 

2,727 

1,494 

4,221 

41,783 

49,493 

44,510

50,987

91,276 

95,497

Date 

Number of 
Shares 

 27 January 2014 

  26 March 2014 

225,000 

600,000 

Price 

18p

1p

35p 

35p

In association with the acquisitions of Diaspect Medical AB and Selah Genomics Inc 

  26 March 2014 

14,285,714 

In association with the acquisitions of Diaspect Medical AB and Selah Genomics Inc 

17 April 2014 

134,228,991 

149,339,705 

Transaction costs in respect of the equity fund raising associated with the acquisitions of Diaspect and Selah of £1,040,000 have 

been offset against the share premium account.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

65

30. Share options and share-based payments

The shares issued during the year were as follows:

(a) Long-term Incentive Plans (‘LTIP’)

At 1 January 2014 and 31 December 2014 

2014 number  2013 number
of notional
shares

of notional 
shares 

17,091,276 

17,091,276

Long-term incentive plan share awards over notional shares totalling 17,091,276 have been granted to two Executive Directors. The 
key terms of the awards were revised on 11 June 2013. The key terms of the awards relating to the grants noted above are as(cid:162)follows.

a)  1,709,128 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains 30(cid:162)pence 
or higher per share for a period of 20 consecutive days (on which The London Stock Exchange is open for business) at any time 
during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2016. This condition has been met.

b)  1,709,128 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains 37.5(cid:162)pence 
or higher per share for a period of 20 consecutive days (on which The London Stock Exchange is open for business) at any time 
during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2016.

c)  1,709,128 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains 45(cid:162)pence 
or higher per share for a period of 20 consecutive days (on which The London Stock Exchange is open for business) at any time 
during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2016.

d)  1,709,128 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains 52.5(cid:162)pence 
or higher per share for a period of 20 consecutive days (on which The London Stock Exchange is open for business) at any time 
during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2016.

e)  1,709,126 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price attains 60(cid:162)pence 
or higher per share for a period of 30 consecutive days (on which The London Stock Exchange is open for business) at any time 
during the period commencing on 1 January 2011 and ending on 31 December 2016.

f)  8,545,638 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s EBITDA for the year to 31 December 2013 is at 
least 52.0875% (being growth at 15% per annum compounded) higher than twice the EBITDA for the six months to 31(cid:162)December 
2010. For these purposes EBITDA shall mean EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) as shown in the 
audited fi nancial statements for the period in question, as adjusted to remove any adjustment, accrual or expense in respect of the 
grant of or exercise of the Award granted to the Award holder. This condition has been met.

(b) Unapproved share option scheme

Group and Company 

At 1 January 

Granted 

Exercised 

Forfeited 

At 31 December 

2014

2013

Av. Exercise price 
per share (£) 

Options 
(Number) 

Av. Exercise price 
per share (£) 

Options
(Number) 

0.224 

0.359 

0.180 

0.264 

7,735,000 

3,600,000 

(225,000) 

(900,000) 

0.221 

0.273 

- 

7,085,000

1,150,000

-

0.252 

(500,000)

0.270 

10,210,000 

0.224 

7,735,000

The unapproved share options include the following:

•  4,260,000 options were in issue at an exercise price of 20p per share. The shares will vest if the Company’s EBITDA for the year  

to 31 December 2013 is at least 52.0875% (being growth at 15% per annum compounded) higher than the target adjusted EBITDA   

  of £777,408. All EBITDA contribution from current and future acquisitions of the Company will be used in assessing if the annual  
  compound growth rate is achieved. For these purposes EBITDA shall mean EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation    
  and amortisation) as shown in the audited fi nancial statements for the period in question. This condition has been met.
•  1,700,000 options were in issue to senior employees of the Group at an exercise price of 25.25p(cid:162)per share. The shares will vest if 
the Company’s EBITDA for the year to 31 December 2013 is at least 52.0875% (being growth at 15% per annum compounded) 
  higher than the target adjusted EBITDA of £777,408. All EBITDA contribution from future acquisitions of the Company will be 
  excluded in assessing if the annual compound growth rate is achieved. For these purposes EBITDA shall mean EBITDA (earnings    
  before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) as shown in the audited fi nancial statements for the period in question. This    
  condition has now been met.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
66

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

30. Share options and share-based payments continued

• 650,000 options were issued on 7 July 2013 to senior employees at an exercise price of 27.25p per share. These options are

exercisable from the third anniversary of grant with a maximum term of 10 years.

• 1,300,000 options were issued on 21 January 2014 to senior employees at an exercise price of 37.625p per share. These options are

exercisable from the third anniversary of grant with a maximum term of 10 years.

• 1,000,000 options were issued to a director on 17 April 2014 at an exercise price of 35p. The options granted will vest if the

Company’s mid-market closing share price attains the required price or higher for a period of 20 consecutive days at any time
during the period commencing on 17 April 2014 and ending on 17 April 2024.
a) 333,333 of the notional shares will vest if the share price attains 50 pence.
b) 333,333 of the notional shares will vest if the share price attains 60 pence.
c) 333,334 of the notional shares will vest if the share price attains 70 pence.

• 1,300,000 options were issued to a director on 30 May 2014 at an exercise price of 35p. These options are exercisable from the

third anniversary of grant with a maximum term of 10 years.

All share option awards are equity settled. Out of the 10,210,000 (2013: 7,735,000) outstanding options 5,960,000 (2013:(cid:162)4,485,000) 
were exercisable.

Share options outstanding at the end of the year have the following expiry date and exercise prices:

Expiry Date 

29.01.2014 

16.06.2021 

28.09.2021 

19.04.2022 

07.07.2023 

21.01.2024 

17.04.2024 

30.05.2024 

2014

2013

Exercise price 
per share (£) 

Options
(Number) 

Exercise price
per share (£) 

Options
(Number) 

- 

0.200

0.252

- 

0.2725

0.37625

0.35

0.35

-

4,260,000

1,700,000

-

650,000

1,300,000

1,000,000

1,300,000

10,210,000

0.180 

0.200 

0.252 

0.252 

0.2725 

-

-

-

225,000

4,260,000

1,700,000

400,000

1,150,000

-

-

-

7,735,000

 
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

67

The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2014 determined using the Black-Scholes valuation model was £0.109 

(2013: £0.113). The signifi cant inputs into the model are detailed below:

Weighted average share price 

Weighted average option exercise price 

Expected volatility 

Risk-free interest rate 

Expected volatility 

Dividend yield 

2014 

2013 

31.44p 

36.31p 

41.3% 

0.50 

27.25p

27.25p

44.6% 

0.70

6.5 years 

6.5 years 

- 

-

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the volatility in the historic share price over a period consistent with the expected 
exercise period of the option. This level of volatility has then been benchmarked by comparing the level of share price volatility for 
other quoted medical diagnostic businesses over a three to ten year period.

The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2014 determined using the Monte Carlo valuation model was  
£0.095 (2013: nil). The signifi cant inputs into the model are detailed below:

Share price at date of grant 

Exercise price 

Expected volatility 

Risk-free interest rate 

Expected option life (years) 

Dividend yield 

2014 

2013 

35p 

35p 

47.1% 

0.40% 

1.06 

- 

-

-

-

-

-

-

Expected volatility was determined by calculating the volatility in the historic share price over a period consistent with the expected 
exercise period of the option. This level of volatility has then been benchmarked by comparing the level of share price volatility for 

other quoted medical diagnostic businesses over a three to ten year period. 

(c) Bonus and share incentive scheme (‘BAPSI’)

At 1 January 

Exercised 

At 31 December 

The remaining 600,000 BAPSI options were exercised during the year.

31. Retained earnings

At 1 January 2013 

Loss for the year 

Share-based payment 

Actuarial gain on pension scheme 

At 31 December 2013 

At 1 January 2014

Loss for the year 

Share-based payment 

Movement on pension scheme 

At 31 December 2014 

2014 number 
of notional 
shares 

2013 number
of notional
shares

600,000 

(600,000) 

600,000

-

- 

600,000 

Group 
£’000 

Company 
£’000 

(3,004) 

(1,126) 

(5,899)

(1,490)

709 

9 

709 

-

(3,412) 

(6,680) 

(5,689) 

(2,882)

512 

48 

512

-

(8,541) 

(9,050)

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
68

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notes to the Financial Statements continued
for the year ended 31 December 2014

32. Other reserves

Group 

At 1 January 2013 

Currency translation differences 

Issue of convertible loan notes in subsidiary 

At 31 December 2013 

At 1 January 2014 

Currency translation differences 

At 31 December 2014 

Foreign
currency
£’000

Other
£’000 

(961)

236

- 

(725)

751 

26

- 

-

41 

41 

-

41

In return for a payment of £200,000, Andrew Webb has been granted a loan note convertible into equity in EKF Molecular 

Diagnostics Limited. The equity element has been included in other reserves. The debt element is included in borrowings.

33. Retirement benefi t obligations

Group 

Liability in the balance sheet for pension benefi ts 

Income statement charge for: 

Pension benefi ts 

Actuarial (gains)/losses recognised in the statement of other comprehensive income in the year 

Cumulative actuarial losses recognised in the statement of other comprehensive income 

2014
£’000

-

-

(48)

-

Total
£’000

(961)

236

41 

(684)

751

67

2013
£’000

103

4

(9)

21

Pension benefi ts

The Group operated a funded defi ned benefi t plan for Berthold Walter, the former owner of EKF-diagnostic GmbH Germany. This 

has now been closed.

The Group operates a defi ned contribution pension scheme the assets of which are held separately from those of the Company in 

an independently administered fund. The pension cost for the year represents contributions made by the Company to the fund and 

amounted to £225,000 (2013: £208,000). 

34. Commitments

a) Capital commitments

The Group has contracted approximately £nil (2013 – £0.1m) capital expenditure at the end of the reporting period that had not yet

been incurred.

b) Operating lease commitments

The Group leases various offi ces and manufacturing buildings under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The lease terms are

between one and fi ve years.

The Group also leases various offi ce equipment and assets under non-cancellable operating lease agreements. The lease terms are 

between one and ten years.

The future aggregate minimum lease payments under non-cancellable operating leases are as follows:

Group 

No later than 1 year 

Later than 1 year no later than 5 years 

Later than 5 years 

Total 

Land and buildings

2014 
£’000 

303

1,344

609

2,256

2013 
£’000 

29

175

665

869

Other

2014
£’000

126

243

34

403

2013
£’000

-

89

-

89

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

69

35. Cash used in operations

(Loss)/profi t before tax 

Adjustments for:

Depreciation 

Amortisation 

Impairment 

Warranty claim 

Profi t on disposal of fi xed assets 

Profi t on disposal of available-for-sale assets 

Share- based payments 

Release of deferred consideration 

Fair value adjustment 

Release of provision 

Exchange movements on operating activities 

Net fi nance costs/(income) 

Changes in working capital

Inventories 

Trade and other receivables 

Trade and other payables 

Net cash (used in)/generated by operations 

Group

2014 
£’000 

(4,028) 

1,368 

3,582 

1,229 

281 

(6) 

- 

512 

(79) 

(476) 

- 

- 

2,031 

728 

(8,467) 

63 

(3,262) 

2013 
£’000 

607 

1,304 

2,250 

750 

(1,241) 

(8) 

- 

709 

(1,108) 

750 

(334) 

- 

1,044 

(298) 

(1,930) 

677 

3,172 

In the statement of cash fl ows, proceeds from the sale of property, plant and equipment comprise:

Group 

Net book value 

Profi t on disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment 

Company

2013 
£’000 

2013
£’000 

(3,003) 

(1,458)

57 

- 

1,600 

- 

- 

- 

512 

(79) 

- 

- 

(678) 

(132) 

- 

(9,829) 

(459) 

(12,011) 

51 

- 

583

-

- 

-

709

(850)

750

-

-

55

-

(404)

629

65

2014 
£’000 

2013 
£’000 

16 

6 

22 

53

8

61

Non-cash transactions
The principal non-cash transactions are the issue of Ordinary shares in relation to the acquisition of DiaSpect Medical AB and Selah 
Genomics Inc.; the release of the deferred consideration provision; the fair value adjustment relating to the deferred equity 
consideration in respect of EKF Germany, the warranty claim, and the impairment charge in relation to Ireland.

36. Related Party Disclosures

Directors
The Group was invoiced £18,000 (2013: £18,000) by J & K (Cardiff) Limited for property rent. Julian Baines is a Director of J & K (Cardiff) Limited.

Directors’ emoluments are set out in the Remuneration Committee report and in note 9.

Key management compensation

Key management compensation for the year was as follows:

Salaries and other short-term employee benefi ts 

Share- based payments 

Employee contribution to pension scheme 

Key management includes all the Directors only.

2014 
£’000 

941 

414 

29 

1,384 

2013 
£’000 

627

663 

8

1,298

The Company
During the year the Company invoiced management charges of £2,526,000 (2013 – £1,485,000) and interest of £726,000 (2013(cid:162)– £1,180,000) to
its subsidiary companies. It purchased goods and services from subsidiaries totalling £619,000 (2013(cid:162)–(cid:162)£303,000). At 31 December 2014 the
Company was owed £36,307,000 (2013 – £24,941,000) by its subsidiaries and owed £2,913,000 (2013 – £2,837,000) to other subsidiaries.

  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
70

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Notice of Annual General Meeting
EKF Diagnostics Holdings PLC (Company)

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the Annual General Meeting (Meeting) of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc (Company) will be held at the offi ces 

of Panmure Gordon & Co, One New Change, 1 New Change, London EC4M 9AF on 19 May 2015 at 2.00 p.m. for the following purposes:

Ordinary Resolutions

1.

2.

3.

 To receive and adopt the statement of accounts for the year ended 31 December 2014 together with the reports of

 the Directors and the auditors thereon.

 To re-elect Richard Evans, Tito Bacarese-Hamilton, David Toohey, and Doris-Ann Williams, who retire by rotation,

 as Directors.

 To re-appoint Messrs PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as auditors to act as such until the conclusion of the next General Meeting

 of the Company at which the requirements of section 437 of the Companies Act 2006 are complied with and to authorise the

 Directors of the Company to fi x their remuneration.

4.

 That in substitution for any existing such authority, the Directors be and are hereby generally and unconditionally authorised

 pursuant to section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “2006 Act”) to allot Relevant Securities of the Company:

(i)

(ii)

 up to a maximum nominal amount of £273,012.76 (in pursuance of the exercise of outstanding share options granted

by the Company but for no other purpose);

 up to an aggregate nominal amount of £422,057.07 (in addition to the authorities conferred in sub-paragraphs

 (i) above) representing approximately 10% of the Company’s Issued Share Capital,

 such authorities (unless previously renewed, revoked or varied) to expire at the conclusion of the next Annual General 

 Meeting of the Company to be held in 2016, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement  

 which would or might require Relevant Securities to be allotted after such expiry and the directors may allot Relevant  

 Securities in pursuance of such an offer or agreement as if the authority conferred hereby had not expired.

5.

 To approve the Directors remuneration report for the fi nancial year ending 31 December 2014.(cid:162)Shareholders should note that

 this vote is advisory only and does not affect the actual remuneration paid to any individual director. The Directors’

 remuneration report is set out in full in the Annual Report.

6.

 Special Resolution

 That, subject to the passing of the above Resolution the Directors be given the general power to allot equity securities (as

 defi ned in section 560 of the 2006 Act) pursuant to the authority conferred by the Resolution above as if section 561(1) of the

 2006 Act did not apply to any such allotments provided that this power shall be limited to:

(i)

(ii)

 the allotment of equity securities on the exercise of the share options granted by the Company;

 the allotment of equity securities (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraphs (i) above) for cash in connection with

any  rights issue or pre-emptive offer in favour of holders of equity securities generally; and

(iii)

 the allotment (otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraphs (i) and (ii) above) of equity securities for cash up to

an aggregate  nominal amount of £422,057.07 representing approximately 10% of the Company’s Issued Share Capital;

 provided that such power (unless previously renewed, revoked or varied) shall expire at the conclusion of the Annual 

 General Meeting of the Company to be held in 2016, save that the Company may, before such power expires, make an offer or 

 enter into an agreement which would or might require equity securities to be allotted after such power expires and the  

 Directors may allot equity securities in pursuance of any such offer or agreement notwithstanding that the power conferred    

 by this resolution has expired.

Registered Offi ce 

Avon House 
19 Stanwell Road  
Penarth 
CF64 2EZ
16 March 2015

BY ORDER OF THE BOARD
Paul Foulger
Director and Company Secretary

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc  |  ANNUAL REPORT 2014

71

Notes:

(1) 

The Company specifi es that only those members registered on the Company’s register of members at 6.00 p.m. on 17 May 2015 or if 

this general meeting is adjourned, at 6.00 p.m. on the day two days prior to the adjourned meeting shall be entitled to attend and

vote at the General Meeting.

(2) 

If you are a member of the Company at the time set out in note 1 above, you are entitled to appoint a proxy to exercise all or any

of your rights to attend, speak and vote at the General Meeting and you should have received a Proxy Form with this notice. You can

only appoint a proxy using the procedures set out in these notes and the notes to the Proxy Form.

(3) 

A proxy does not need to be a member of the Company but must attend the General Meeting to represent you. Details of how to

appoint the chairman of the General Meeting or another person as your proxy using the Proxy Form are set out in the notes to the

Proxy Form. If you wish your proxy to speak on your behalf at the General Meeting you will need to appoint your own choice of proxy

(not the chairman) and give your instructions directly to them.

(4) 

You may appoint more than one proxy provided each proxy is appointed to exercise rights attached to different shares. You may not 

appoint more than one proxy to exercise rights attached to any one share. To appoint more than one proxy, please contact the

Company’s registrars at the address set out in note 5.

(5) 

The notes to the Proxy Form explain how to direct your proxy how to vote on each resolution or withhold their vote.

To appoint a proxy using the Proxy Form, the Proxy Form must be:

(a) 

(b) 

(c) 

completed and signed;

sent or delivered to Capita Asset Services, PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Kent BR3 4TU; and

received by Capita Asset Services, at the address provided in paragraph 5(b) above no later than 2.00 p.m. on 17 May 2015.

In the case of a member which is a company, the Proxy Form must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf

by an offi cer of the company or an attorney for the company.

Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the Proxy Form is signed (or a duly certifi ed copy of such power or

authority) must be included with the Proxy Form.

(6) 

In the case of joint holders, where more than one of the joint holders purports to appoint a proxy, only the appointment submitted by 

the most senior holder will be accepted. Seniority is determined by the order in which the names of the joint holders appear in the

Company’s register of members in respect of the joint holding (the fi rst-named being the most senior).

(7) 

To change your proxy instructions simply submit a new proxy appointment using the methods set out above. Note that the cut-off 

time for receipt of proxy appointments (see above) also apply in relation to amended instructions; any amended proxy appointment 

received after the relevant cut-off time will be disregarded.

Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the instructions using another hard-

copy proxy form, please contact Capita Asset Services at the address noted in note 5 above.

If you submit more than one valid proxy appointment, the appointment received last before the latest time for the receipt of proxies 

will take precedence.

(8) 

In order to revoke a proxy instruction you will need to inform the Company by sending a signed hard copy notice clearly stating your 

intention to revoke your proxy appointment to Capita Asset Services at PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Kent, BR3 4TU. In the case of a

member which is a company, the revocation notice must be executed under its common seal or signed on its behalf by an offi cer of

the company or an attorney for the company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is

signed (or a duly certifi ed copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice.

The revocation notice must be received by Capita Asset Services no later than 2.00 p.m. on 17 May 2015.

If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specifi ed then, subject to the 

paragraph directly below, your proxy appointment will remain valid.

Appointment of a proxy does not preclude you from attending the general meeting and voting in person. If you have appointed a 

proxy and attend the general meeting in person, your proxy appointment will automatically be terminated.

(9) 

A corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise, on its behalf, all its powers as

a member provided that no more than one corporate representative exercises power over the same share.

(10) 

Voting on all resolutions will be conducted by way of a poll rather than on a show of hands.

(11) 

As at 5.00 p.m. on the day immediately prior to the date of posting of this notice, the Company’s issued share capital comprised

422,057,074 Ordinary Shares of 1p each. Each ordinary share carries the right to one vote at a general meeting of the Company and,

therefore, the total number of voting rights in the Company as at 5.00 p.m. on the day immediately prior to the date of posting of this 

notice is 422,057,074.

 
If you have a query regarding your shareholding please call 0871 

664 0300 (calls cost 10p per minute plus network extras) or e-mail 

ssd@capitaregistrars.com

Public relations:

Walbrook PR Limited

4 Lombard Street

London

EC3V 9HD

Investor relations email:

investors@ekfdiagnostics.com

72

ANNUAL REPORT 2014  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Company Information
EKF Diagnostics Holdings PLC (Company)

Directors:

David Evans (Executive Chairman)

Julian Baines (Chief Executive Offi cer)

Richard Evans (Chief Operating Offi cer)

Paul Foulger (Finance Director and Company Secretary)

Tito Bacareses-Hamilton (Chief Technology Offi cer)

David Toohey (Non-Executive Director)

Doris-Ann Williams (Non-Executive Director)

Kevin Wilson (Non-Executive Director)

Adam Reynolds (Non-Executive Director)

Registered Offi ce and Head Offi ce:

Avon House 

19 Stanwell Road 

Penarth

Cardiff 

CF64 2EZ

Place of incorporation:

England and Wales (Company number – 4347937)

Independent Auditors:

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP

Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors

One Kingsway

Cardiff

CF10 3PW

Nominated Advisor and Broker:

Panmure Gordon & Co

One New Change

London

EC4M 9AF

Solicitors to the Company:

Berry Smith LLP

Haywood House

Dumfries Place

Cardiff

CF10 3GA

Registrars:

Capita Asset Services

PXS

34 Beckenham Road

Beckenham

Kent

BR3 4TU

Designed by Washington Design Consultants
www.washdesign.co.uk  |  +44 (0)29 20 711911

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
Avon House, 
19 Stanwell Road, 
Penarth, 
Cardiff 
CF64 2EZ

Tel: +44 (0)29 20 710570
Fax: +44 (0)29 20 705715
Email: investors@ekfdiagnostics.com

ekfdiagnostics.com