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EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

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FY2015 Annual Report · EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc
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ANNUAL REPORT 2015
EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

Contents

1.0 Strategic Review 

Commercial and operational update   

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc 

Point-of-Care: Hematology 

Point-of-Care: Diabetes Care 

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

Central Laboratory 

Chairman’s Statement 

Chief Executive’s Review 

Finance Director’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 to the Members of EKF Diagnostics Holdings Plc 

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 

Notes 

Company Information 

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1 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review 

1.0 Strategic Review

Commercial and operational update  

A challenging year

Green shoots of recovery

2015  was  a  difficult  year  for  EKF  Diagnostics 
Holdings plc. The company faced challenges from 
difficult  global  trading  conditions,  problematic 
customers  and  continuing  demands  from  the 
molecular division. 

Despite  the  overall  picture  there  were  strong 
performances from core products. This, together 
with  a  significant  cost  reduction  program, 
allowed the company to enter 2016 with renewed 
optimism.

•  Revenues  down 
19%  to  £30.0m  (2014 
restated  to  exclude  discontinued  business: 
£37.1m)

•  Restructuring of company

•  Cost  savings  of  £6.7m 
implemented

identified  and 

•  12,879  analysers  sold  and  56m 
manufactured

tests 

•  Disposal of Selah Genomics

•  Large tenders won in :

•  Closure of Walton-on-Thames facility

•  Saudi Arabia (Quo-Test)

•  Closure of Dublin facility and end of     

•  Turkey (Hemo Control)

•  Peru (Hemo Control)

•  Steady performance from core business

EKF’s  focus  in  2016  will  be  on  organic  growth. 
A  number  of  potential  opportunities  are  under 
consideration  including  product  licensing,  entry 
into  new  territories  and  obtaining  regulatory 
approvals in key markets for several products.  

sales of biomarker products

•  Moth-balled EKF Molecular Diagnostics

•  STI in Sanford, USA remains open

•  Reduced headcount by 85 (to 315) 

•  Gross  profit  down  24%  to  £14.7m  (2014 
restated: £19.2m)

•  Adjusted LBITDA* down to £0.3m loss (2014 
restated: £6.7m)

•  Cash  used  in  operating  activities:  £2.9m 
(2014: £3.3m used)

•  Net debt of £8.8m (2014: £2.1m net cash)

•  Write-off  of  Selah  Genomics  with  future 
annual cost saving of £2m

•  Write-off of significant debtors in Mexico

* Excluding exceptional items and share based payments

19% decrease in revenues year-on-year (based on 
restated revenues for 2014)

Turnover (£m)

Gross profit (£m)

Adjusted EBITDA (£m)

2015

£30.0

£14.7

-£0.3

2014

£37.1

£19.2

£6.7

+/-

-19%

-23%

  
1.0 Strategic Review

EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  2

Background

EKF  Diagnostics  is  a  global  medical  diagnostics 
business  with  a  long  history  in  point-of-care 
testing  and  manufacturing  reagents  for  use  in 
central laboratories.

The  EKF  Central  Laboratory  range  includes 
clinical reagents, analysers and centrifuges which 
are manufactured at premises near San Antonio, 
and in Sandford, Florida. 

EKF  Life  Sciences,  based 
in  Elkhart,  USA, 
manufactures diagnostic enzymes and contracted 
custom products for use in medical diagnostics, 
pharmaceuticals and industry.

Our point-of-care (POC) products, most of which 
are designed and manufactured in Germany, have 
a hard earned reputation for ease of use, reliability 
and  accuracy  from  professionals  working  in 
diabetes, blood banking and sports medicine.

The  cornerstone  of  the  POC  business  is  the 
90,000  EKF  analysers  that  have  been  sold 
around  the  world  since  2008.  This  installed 
base  requires  more  than  50  million  tests  to  be 
manufactured every year in order to service the 
existing business.

3 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Point-of-Care: Hematology

Product portfolio

The  hematology  product  range  within  EKF 
Diagnostics,  is  the  largest  in  terms  of  revenues 
and the size of the installed base. 

The  acquisition  of  DiaSpect  and  Separation 
Technology  in  2014  created  the  largest  range 
of  point-of-care  hemoglobin  analysers  on  the 
market.

Hemo ControlTM

DiaSpect Tm

•  Uses ‘gold standard’ 
methodology (reagent filled 
microcuvettes)

•  Data management capability; 
provides a hematocrit calculation

•  Handheld analyser utilising 
reagentless methodology

•  Benefits of speed to result 
(one second), and shelf-life of 
microcuvettes

•  Proven, robust analyser sold 
worldwide

•  Successor to DiaSpect 
Hemoglobin T

STAT-Site® M Hgb

UltraCrit PlusTM

HemataStat IITM

•  Handheld analyser

•  Used with cartridges

•  Hematocrit analyser using 
unique ultrasound technology

•  Laboratory hematocrit 
centrifuge and analyser

•  Strong presence in US blood 
banking sector

•  International version also 
provides hemoglobin calculation

•  Processes multiple samples

Strategy

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

To  approach  these  markets  EKF  has  two 
distinct strategies: firstly, OEM partnerships with 
international  distributor/manufacturers  such  as  
Fresenius  Kabi;  and  secondly  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.

1.0 Strategic Review

Point-of-Care: Diabetes Care

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  4

Product portfolio

Diabetes has been at the core of EKF’s strategy 
for  well  over  10  years  starting  with  the  early 
models  of  the  Biosen  C-Line  and  Biosen  S-Line 
glucose analysers. More recently HbA1c analysers 
have  been  launched  that  address  the  diabetes 
screening market. 

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  significant  contributor  to 
diabetes care worldwide.

BiosenTM

Quo-Lab® A1c

•  Glucose and/or lactate 
measurement

•  HbA1c testing (Glycated 
Hemoglobin)

•  Three models, each aimed at 
different settings

•  Results in four minutes using a 
unique methodology

•  Used as the benchmark for 
blood glucose monitors in China

•  Targeted at developing world 
markets

Quo-Test® A1c

•  HbA1c testing (Glycated 
Hemoglobin)

•  Same methodology as Quo-Lab 
but fully automated 

•  Simple operation requires 
minimal training

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  well  being  and  their 
compliance with the 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. 

2015 saw the completion of the transfer of Quo- 
Test and Quo-Lab to EKF’s Magdeburg site. 

This  change  has  allowed  the  company  to  make 
significant  operational  savings  through  the 
centralisation of manufacturing, warehousing and 
logistics, and customer service.

5 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

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

Product portfolio

Maternal  and  Women’s  Health  focuses  primarily 
on  diagnostics  used  to  address  conditions  and 
complications  associated  with  pregnancy  and 
child birth. 

Women  and  Infant  Clinics,  pregnancy  test  kits 
and HbA1c analysers used to diagnose gestational 
diabetes in pregnant women.

Sales 
from  creamatocrit 
centrifuges  and  hemoglobin  meters  used  in 

revenues 

include 

Creamatocrit PlusTM

Pregnancy kits

•  Small lab centrifuge used in 
Women and Infant Clinics

•  Measure the lipid concentration 
and caloric density of breast milk

•  Allows professionals to guide 
mothers with underweight infants  

•  Cassette rapid tests

•  Marketed for use in hospital 
settings

SensPoint

•  Handheld lactate analyser with 
docking station

•  Results in 10 seconds

•  Developed for use in maternity 
wards

Strategy

EKF’s  Maternal  and  Women’s  Health  market 
strategy is a long-play strategy. 

The  SensPoint  product  team  are  building  key 
opinion  leader  relationships  in  order  to  educate 
the future target market on the need for a protocol 
in the use of lactate in obstetric medicine. 

In  parallel  there  is  a  slowly  building  commercial 
interest  in  this  market  in  Europe.  Some  settings 
are using the Lactate Scout+ to provide accurate 
lactate readings within ten seconds. 

Lactate  Scout+  uses  the  same  strip  system  as 
SensPoint but does not include SensPoint’s data 
management functionality.

1.0 Strategic Review

Central Laboratory

Product portfolio

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  6

EKF, through its wholly owned subsidiary Stanbio 
Laboratory,  has  had  a  presence  within  central 
laboratory 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 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. 

AltairTM 240 

Beta-Hydroxybutyrate

•  Automated bench-top analyser

•  Runs up to 400 tests per hour 
and can handle up to 43 different 
reagents

•  Liquid reagent for the early 
detection of ketosis

•  Primarily sold in USA through 
national distribution networks

•  Calibrated to run the Stanbio 
Chemistry range of reagents 

Procalcitonin

Glycated Serum Protein

•  Liquid reagent for the detection 
of sepsis

•  2-3 week indicator of average 
blood glucose

•  Targeted at certain European 
markets

•  Complementary to HbA1c 
in diagnosis and screening of 
diabetes

Strategy

The  central 
laboratory  market  continues  to 
experience  relatively  low  levels  of  growth.  This 
is  in  part  because  sales  of  chemistry  reagents 
are  inextricably  linked  to  the  provision  of  the 
analysers on which the tests are performed. EKF 
Diagnostics’  approach  to  the  clinical  chemistry 
market  changed  in  late  2015  with  the  launch  of 
the Altair 240, a benchtop analyser calibrated to 
run the Stanbio Chemistry range of reagents. 

Further  opportunities  continue  to  exist 
in 
niche  markets.  Sales  of  Beta-Hydroxybutyrate 
Liquicolor  reagent  continue  to  be  healthy  with 
a  strong  performance  from  US  distributors  who 

have  developed  a  market  capitalising  on  the 
withdrawl  of  a  previous  method  of  testing  for 
ketosis. 

More than 1,000 US hospitals now use EKF’s Beta-
Hydroxybutyrate  reagent.  A  similar  approach 
is  being  used  for  Procalcitonin  (PCT)  in  Europe 
where  EKF  has  undertaken  awareness  activity 
using key opinion leaders in target markets.

7 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Chairman’s Statement

Dear fellow shareholder,

 Outlook

As  we  rebase  the  Company,  it  is  key  that  the 
expectations  are  set  at  a  level  that  reflects  the 
core  business  without  the  inclusion  of  less 
predictable tender business, an aspect which has 
been  an  Achilles  heel  in  the  past.  On  that  basis, 
the  Board  anticipates  2016  revenues,  without 
tender  wins,  being  just  over  £30  million  with  an 
adjusted  EBITDA  of  between  £3  million  and  £4 
million.

I  believe  the  core  operations  of  EKF  are 
fundamentally  sound  with  good  prospects.  My 
desire  now  is  to  restore  the  confidence  of  our 
shareholders  in  our  management  team,  as  they 
rebuild value for all shareholders over the medium 
term.

Christopher Mills
Non-Executive Chairman
2 May 2016

The  Board  of  the  Company  has  considered  its 
strategic  options  and  now  intends  to  rebuild 
shareholder  value  by  stabilising  the  business, 
growing  it  organically  and  implementing  further 
reductions in the cost base.  There is much work 
that still needs to be done but our executive team 
remains confident they can achieve the objectives 
outlined to shareholders.

The  year  under  review  has  seen  a  number  of 
painful  decisions,  including  the  closure  of  the 
loss  making  molecular  business.    Selah  has 
been  divested  and  nearly  all  the  employees 
of  EKF  Molecular  have  been  made  redundant.  
Our  headcount  has  been  reduced  from  400  to 
315  with  this  being  the  main  driver  of  achieved 
savings of £6.7 million on an annualised basis.

There  are,  however,  further  initiatives  in  coming 
years  which  our  management 
team  have 
identified  that  could  add  value  to  the  business.  
Our  executive  team,  freed  from  the  distraction 
of  acquisitions  and  the  problems  of  a  failed 
acquisition,  are  totally  committed  to  optimising 
the  business  platform  through  focussing  on 
profits and driving cash flow.

Cash  remains  tight  due  to  the  impact  of  the 
cost  associated  with  the  restructuring  but  as 
the benefits of the cost reductions flow through, 
the Board expects the Company to be cash flow 
positive through the balance of the current year.

Results overview

Please  refer  to  the  Chief  Executive’s  statement 
which contains a review of the year.

Board

During  2015,  Paul  Foulger,  Tito  Bacarese-
Hamilton, Doris-Ann Williams, and David Toohey 
all left the board. We thank them for their service. 
Sadly, Kevin Wilson who gave loyal service to the 
Group,  passed  away  in  November  after  a  short 
illness,  and  I  offer  my  condolences  to  his  family. 
In  addition,  on  11  April  2016,  we  announced  the 
resignation of Ron Zwanziger as a non-executive 
director. The Board has also been informed that 
Lurene  Joseph  is  not  seeking  re-election  at  the 
AGM  and  accordingly  will  step  down  from  the 
Board at this time. I would like to thank Lurene for 
her work on the Board and in particular as part of 
the Audit Committee.

All the Non-Executive Directors have waived their 
salaries for a three month period (and no fees will 
be paid in the current year).

I  would  also  like  to  thank  David  Evans  who  is 
retiring at the AGM due to health issues.  Despite 
the  problems  of  the  past  year,  he  has  created  a 
valuable business which can prosper in the future.

1.0 Strategic Review

Chief Executive’s Review

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  8

Operational review

This has been a difficult year for EKF Diagnostics. 
However,  after  considerable  focus  being  placed 
on streamlining the business and returning to our 
point-of-care core, we believe we have stabilised 
the business and are in a strong position to grow 
organically.

Restructuring

Molecular diagnostics

The  acquisition  of  Selah  Genomics  was  part 
of  our  molecular  diagnostics  strategy.  The 
value  of  the  business  was,  in  large  part,  based 
on  reimbursement  of  genomic  testing  in  the 
United States. Soon after the acquisition the US 
Government changed their reimbursement policy 
and cancelled the funding of these tests.

for 

On  23  December  2015,  therefore,  we  agreed 
to  sell  Selah  to  its  management  for  nominal 
the 
consideration.  The  consideration 
acquisition of Selah by EKF was US$35.6 million 
paid in shares on 17 April 2014. Selah reported a 
loss  after  tax  for  the  period  from  acquisition  to 
31  December  2014  of  £0.6  million  and  had  an 
unaudited  loss  after  tax  for  the  period  from  1 
January 2015 to 23 December 2015 of £2.8 million. 
As  at  31  December  2014  Selah  was  disclosed  in 
the Company’s balance sheet in intangible assets 
at  a  value  of  £41.4  million,  which  has  now  been 
written off. Selah as at 31 December 2014 had net 
liabilities of £3.6 million.

I  estimate  the  future  annual  cost  saving  to  EKF 
will  be  in  the  region  of  £2  million.  The  sale  and 
purchase agreement contains provisions whereby 
additional consideration will be paid to EKF.  In the 
event  that  Selah  secures  further  equity  funding 
within  twelve  months  from  23  December  2015, 
EKF  will  obtain  a  10%  equity  interest  in  Selah. 
Alternatively  if  no  external  funding  is  obtained 
during that period and if Selah or its business is 
sold, EKF will receive 10% of the net proceeds of 
such a sale.

The  second  part  of  our  molecular  diagnostics 
strategy  was  PointMan.  We  have  seen  technical 
progress, but commercially it has proven difficult 
to gain market traction quickly enough to justify 
the continued investment required at this stage. 
Further  development  has  been  stopped  and 
the  staff  made  redundant.  There  has  been  third 
party  interest  in  acquiring  the  product  line  and 
discussions are ongoing. However, if an attractive 
enough offer is not received, the Group will retain 
the intellectual property and assess how best to 
return  shareholder  value.  The  intangible  assets 
associated  with  the  business  have  been  written 
off.

Mexican debtors

In  2014  EKF  sold  substantial  quantities  of 
analysers  and  tests  to  its  distributors  in  Mexico. 

We  have  provided  in  full  for  the  amounts  owed 
to  us  by  two  distributors  (£5.1m  compared  to 
the  amount  of  £6.3m  outstanding  at  December 
2014). We are continuing to pursue all legal means 
possible to recover the amounts due to EKF and 
to that end we have recovered stock and we are 
currently  assessing  to  what  extent  that  stock  is 
useable. That stock has no carrying value as of 31 
December 2015.

Redundancies, sites and Board

The  Group  has  refocused  on  point-of-care 
diagnostics  and  central  laboratory  tests.  This  is 
the  core  competency  of  the  whole  group  from 
operations  through  to  sales  and  significantly 
simplifies the business. As part of this the Group 
has  significantly  reduced  its  workforce  with  a 
target reduction of around 20%, including those 
who  have  transferred  with  Selah.  To  facilitate 
this,  the  Group’s  site  at  Walton-on-Thames  is 
being closed, and the entire responsibility for the 
manufacture and support of Quo-Test and Quo-
Lab  has  now  been  moved  to  the  Group’s  main 
production site at Barleben, Germany.

level, 

At  Board 
reassumed  direct 
I  have 
responsibility for the sales function, while Richard 
Evans has reassumed responsibility for the finance 
function. Expenditure that was not going to lead 
to  an  immediate  return  has  been  cut,  including 
research  and  development  expenditure  and  the 
business  unit  teams.  On  8  April  2016  the  Board 
appointed  Christopher  Mills  as  Non-Executive 
Chairman.  Christopher  has  extensive  knowledge 
of our industry.

The restructuring, which has been achieved with 
great  rapidity,  has  meant  that  many  skilful  and 
committed  employees  have  left  the  Group,  and 
to these I wish good luck in their future careers. 
Remaining  staff  have  coped  admirably  with  the 
many  changes  that  have  taken  place  in  a  short 
period, and to these I offer my sincere thanks.

We  have  made  a  strategic  decision  to  switch 
distribution  of  our  HemoPoint  H2  hemoglobin 
analyser  from  Alere  back  to  our  own  Stanbio 
sales  team.  The  Stanbio  team  will  be  working 
with a sub-contracted sales team which operates 
throughout the USA to ensure a smooth transition. 
We  believe  that  this  decision  will  benefit  the 
business in the medium term.

Business update

Point-of-Care and Central laboratory

The  business  has  now  refocused  on  its  core 
business  of  selling  point-of-care  analysers  and 
their  associated  consumables,  and  on  the  sale 
of central laboratory tests. During 2015 EKF sold 
almost 12,000 analysers and over 56 million tests, 
and  was  successful  in  winning  significant  new 
contracts  in  Saudi  Arabia,  Turkey,  and  Peru.  The 
award  in  Saudi  Arabia  in  particular  has  required 
us to enhance our ability to deal with demanding 

Outlook

We believe that the fast action taken to stabilise 
the  business  in  the  last  quarter  of  the  year 
will  bear  fruit  in  the  first  half  of  2016.  We  have 
rebased the business on a more sustainable level 
and  refocussed  on  our  core  areas  of  expertise. 
By simplifying the business and streamlining it is 
clear that the internal focus has returned.

We have simplified the business back to our core 
capabilities.  This  is  reflected  in  a  very  positive 
start to 2016 where we are ahead of budget both 
from a revenue and EBITDA perspective, with Q1 
revenue  expected  to  exceed  £8m.  We  still  have 
a  long  way  to  go  but  we  are  ahead  of  target 
regarding stabilising the business.

In addition, the new Chairman and I are completely 
aligned  in  our  strategic  vision.  We  intend  to 
stabilise  EKF  over  the  course  of  2016  and  to 
show  strong  and  profitable  organic  growth.  We 
are determined to achieve this and we will not be 
making any acquisitions.

By simplifying the business I am confident we can 
deliver high quality sustainable growth.

Julian Baines
Chief Executive Officer
2 May 2016

9 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

government  customers,  but  offers  the  potential 
for  sales  not  just  in  Saudi  Arabia  itself  but  also 
other Gulf countries.

in 

has 

been  mentioned 

As 
previous 
announcements,  all  forecasting  moving  forward 
will exclude significant tenders. Although we fully 
expect to win some tenders, the erratic nature of 
these tenders means that they are impossible to 
forecast accurately and this has been our Achilles 
heel in the past.

We have established our core business over many 
years  and  over  that  time  we  have  an  installed 
base of over 90,000 instruments. We have a high 
quality diabetes range with Biosen, Quo-Test and 
Quo-Lab, all of which are gaining market share. In 
addition, we have a comprehensive haemoglobin 
range and, in our opinion, the DiaSpect Tm is the 
best  point-of-care  haemoglobin  meter  on  the 
market.

Our  Central  Laboratory  business  continues  to 
underpin the business and Beta-Hydroxybutyrate 
liquid reagent (B-HB) continues to grow market 
share. This is continuing into 2016 where we are 
seeing continued growth with B-HB.

New products

As part of the restructuring activity the Group’s 
research  and  development  programmes  have 
been  reassessed  and  progress  halted  on  all 
projects  which  do  not  offer  the  likelihood  of 
immediate reward.

Progress with major projects is as follows:

•  SensPoint,  a  POC  lactate  measuring  system 
designed for use in peri-natal settings. Further 
development is currently paused.

•  Work  is  continuing  and  good  progress  has 
been  made  on  providing  enhancements  to 
major  revenue-generating  product  lines  to 
equip  our  customers  with  data-management 
and  connectivity  capability.  This  is  a  difficult 
and  complex  area  because  of  the  variety  of 
different systems and interfaces available.

•  Procalcitonin. This central laboratory test for 
measuring sepsis is now on sale.

•  sTNFR1/2  biomarkers  that  will  predict  fast 
progressors  to  Chronic  Kidney  Disease  (CKD) 
in  both  Type  1  and  2  diabetics  which  have 
been exclusively licenced from Joslin Diabetes 
Centre  in  Boston.  EKF  is  continuing  to  work 
very closely with a potential partner.

•  Inborn Errors of Metabolism. EKF Diagnostics 
is  developing  a  POC  system  for  monitoring 
Phenyalanine  levels  in  PKU  (a  rare  genetic 
condition that is present from birth). Again, we 
are continuing to work closely with a proposed 
partner.

1.0 Strategic Review

Finance Director’s Review

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  10

Results

2014  results  have  been  restated  to  treat  Selah 
Genomics as a discontinued business.

Revenue

Revenue for the year was £30.0m (2014 restated: 
£37.1m).  Within  Point-of-Care,  revenue  was 
impacted by tender activity in Mexico which had 
been  substantial  in  previous  years  but  suffered 
from  government  driven  delays  in  2015.  In 
addition,  changes  to  the  regulatory  framework 
in China for medical devices, which obliged us to 
suspend  sales  of  two  major  product  lines,  have 
limited  the  scope  for  growth  in  2015.  One  of 
these, plus the consumable for the other, are now 
able to be sold once again, and we anticipate the 
second analyser will be re-registered in 2016.

This excludes the effects of share-based payments 
of £0.2m (2014: £0.5m) and exceptional losses of 
£5.7m (2014: £3.3m).

Finance costs

Finance  costs  have  decreased  to  £1.4m  (2014 
restated:  £1.5m).  This  is  mainly  because  of  a 
lower  level  of  unwinding  charges  relating  to  the 
discounting of deferred consideration.

Tax

There  is  an  income  tax  credit  of  £2.2m  (2014: 
charge  of  £1.4m).  This  is  largely  a  result  of  a 
deferred  tax  credit  relating  to  the  write  off  of 
intangible assets.

Balance sheet

Gross profit

Property, plant and equipment

Gross  profit  reduced  to  £14.7m  (2014  restated: 
£19.2m),  reflecting  the  reduced  revenue.  As 
a  percentage  of  sales,  2015  showed  a  small 
decrease  to  48.8%  (2014  restated:  51.9%)  as  a 
result  of  provisions  taken  against  obsolete  and 
excess stock.

Administration 
development costs

costs 

and 

research 

and 

Gross  administration  costs  are  £29.2m  (2014 
restated: £21.6m). The increase in costs is largely 
a  result  of  exceptional  items  and  increased 
depreciation and amortisation expenses resulting 
from the acquisitions in 2014. Net of these items 
administration  costs  are  £15.4m  (2014  restated: 
£13.5m),  with  the  increase  largely  a  result  of 
increased 
infrastructure, 
technical and regulatory staff. R&D costs included 
in  administration  expenses  were  £2.3m  (2014: 
£1.3m)  with  a  further  £3.1m  being  capitalised  as 
an intangible asset (2014: £1.5m).

investment 

in  sales 

The charge for amortisation of intangible assets 
and  the  depreciation  of  fixed  assets  is  £8.1m 
(2014: £4.8m).

Ireland 

The exceptional items are mainly the impairment 
of  assets  relating  to  EKF  Molecular  Diagnostics, 
EKF 
  and  capitalised  research  and 
development  costs  (£5.9m),  and  DxEconomix 
(£0.8m), and the write off of debtors relating to 
certain  customers  in  Mexico  (£5.1m),  offset  by 
reductions  in  deferred  consideration  on  Stanbio 
and 360 Genomics (£7.4m).

Operating  profit  and  adjusted  earnings  before 
interest tax and depreciation

The Group has made an operating loss of £14.3m 
(2014  restated:  loss  of  £1.9m)  for  the  reasons 
outlined  above.  Adjusted  EBITDA  for  2015 
showed a loss of £0.3m (2014 restated: profit of 
£6.7m). 

The  Group  has  invested  £2.3m  (2014:  £1.0m)  in 
property, plant and equipment during the year, of 
which £1.5m is related to building projects at the 
Group’s main manufacturing site at Barleben.

Intangible assets

Intangible  assets  have  reduced  from  £93.5m  to 
£42.9m,  largely  as  a  result  of  the  impairment  of 
the investment in EKF Molecular Diagnostics and 
the  disposal  of  Selah  Genomics.  The  carrying 
value  of  some  R  &  D  projects  has  also  been 
reassessed leading to their impairment.

Deferred consideration

the  disposal  of  Selah,  deferred 
Following 
consideration  totalling  £10m  has  been  written 
back.  This  has  been  included  in  the  loss  on 
discontinued  business  in  the  income  statement 
Deferred consideration relating to the acquisition 
of 360 Genomics has been reassessed following 
the  mothballing  of  EKF  Molecular,  and  reduced 
by £4.7m to zero. The final deferred consideration 
of £2.7m under the contract for the acquisition of 
Stanbio Laboratory expired on 31 December 2015 
and this has also been written back. These have 
been treated as exceptional items in the income 
statement.

Agreement  has  been  reached  with  the  former 
owner  of  EKF-Diagnostic  GmbH  under  which 
the remaining deferred consideration, which is in 
shares,  will  not  be  paid  to  him  but  will  revert  to 
the Group. In addition, prior to the sale of Selah 
it  was  agreed  that  shares  in  escrow  would  be 
transferred  to  the  Group  and  sold.  This  has  not 
been  completed  largely  because  the  Group  has 
been unable to trade in its shares for regulatory 
reasons.

11 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Cash and working capital

Cash and cash equivalents have fallen during the 
year from £8.3m to £2.0m, while borrowings have 
increased from £6.2m to £10.8m, as a result of the 
investments made during the year, and the losses 
sustained.  Inventory  has  risen  to  £8.2m  (2014: 
£5.8m) and efforts are being made to reduce this.

During  the  year  a  secured  convertible  loan  was 
received  from  Zwanziger  Family  Ventures  LLC, 
(ZFV) a company which is wholly owned by the 
Zwanziger  Family  Irrevocable  2012  Trust,  the 
beneficiaries  of  which  are  the  Zwanziger  family. 
The  entire  amount  of  the  convertible  loan  was 
used  for  repayment  of  part  of  EKF’s  borrowing 
with HSBC.

On  15  April  2016  the  Group  announced  that 
it  had  given  notice  of  redemption  of  the  ZFV 
loan, and that North Atlantic Smaller Companies 
Investment Trust PLC, a company associated with 
Christopher  Mills  had  agreed  to  provide  a  non-
convertible loan on broadly similar terms.

Richard Evans
Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer
2 May 2016

1.0 Strategic Review

Board of Directors

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  12

Executive Directors

Julian Baines

Chief Executive Officer (aged 51)

Julian was Group CEO of BBI where he undertook a management buyout in 2000, a flotation 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.

Richard Evans

Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director (aged 58)

Richard qualified 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  finally  Global  Account  Director  at  Hitachi 
Data Systems GmbH. He has also held positions at Fisher Scientific, TRW Seat Belt Systems, Maxtor 
Corporation, United Technologies Carrier and Abbott Diagnostics GmbH in Germany.

13 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

1.0 Strategic Review

Non-Executive Directors

Chistopher Mills

Non-Executive Chairman (aged 63)

Christopher  founded  Harwood  Capital  Management  in  2011,  a  successor  from  its  former  parent 
company J.O. Hambro Capital Management, which he co-founded in 1993. He is Chief Executive and 
Investment Manager of North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust plc and Chief Investment 
Officer of Harwood Capital LLP. He is a Non-Executive Director of several companies. Christopher was 
a Director of Invesco MIM, where he was Head of North American Investments and Venture Capital, 
and of Samuel Montagu International.

Adam Reynolds

Non-Executive Director (aged 53)

Adam is a former stockbroker specialising in corporate finance. He has built, rescued and re-financed 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.

2.0 Governance

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  14

2.0 Corporate Governance

Strategic Report

Review of the business

Principal risks and uncertainties

A  review  of  the  business  is  contained  in  the 
Chairman’s Statement on page 7, and in the Chief 
Executive’s  Review  on  pages  8  and  9  and  the 
Finance Director’s Review on pages 10 and 11.

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 fit for purpose. We are in 
the process of enhancing and formalising our risk 
management processes and continue our journey 
of maturing our approach to how we identify and 
manage  risks  across  the  Group,  in  a  consistent 
and  robust  manner  and  enhance  our  control 
environment. 

risk  management 
Below  we  describe  our 
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 identified and assessed 
by  all  business  areas  on  a  periodic  basis,  and 
are  measured  against  a  defined  set  of  criteria, 
considering 
likelihood  of  occurrence,  and 
potential impact. The Executive Board members 
also  conduct  a  strategic  risk  identification  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  significant 
risks identified form our Group Risk Profile, which 
is  reported  to  the  Executive  Board  for  review 
and  challenge,  ahead  of  it  being  submitted  to 
the  Group  Board  for  final  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. 

In  2015  the  Group  faced  a  number  of  issues.  In 
response to these the Group has reduced its risk 
profile by returning to a strategy based on point-
of-care  and  clinical  chemistry  and  reducing  its 
cost base.

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

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,  profit  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 significant proportion of the Group’s revenues 
are  accounted  for  by  agreements  in  developing 
countries.  Any  instability  in  these  countries 
could significantly affect the operations and the 
revenue  of  the  Group.  In  particular  the  Group 
has significant revenue from customers in Russia 
which  are  ultimately  largely  funded  by  the 
government.

The  Group  spreads  the  risk  through  seeking 
a  portfolio  of  diversified  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  significant 
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 

15 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

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. 

The  Group  seeks  to  reduce  this  risk  by 
manufacturing 
recognised 
the  products 
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.

to 

overseas  operations  could  adversely 
impact 
the  financial  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

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 confidentiality agreements 
regarding the Group’s know-how and technology, 
monitoring  technological  developments  and  by 
selecting  leading  businesses  in  their  respective 
fields  as  distribution  partners  capable  of 
addressing  significant  competition,  should  it 
arise.

There  is  no  guarantee  that  the  Group  may  be 
able  to  sell  its  products  or  services  profitably  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 difficult  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.

Intellectual property risk

Financial reporting and disclosure

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 sufficiently 
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 
confidentiality  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  filed  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 

Due to the growth of the Group there is a constant 
pressure to report accurate financial information 
in  compliance  with  accounting  standards  and 
applicable legislation. 

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

Review of strategy and busi-
ness model

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

EKF’s  strategy  is  to  create  a  world  class  IVD 
business  through  organic  growth.  IVD  has  a 
wide  spectrum,  and  within  this  spectrum  we 
have  chosen  to  concentrate  on  point-of-care, 
while maintaining our existing central laboratory 
business.  During  2015  the  group  has  sold  or 
mothballed its molecular diagnostics business.

We  have  identified  and  acquired  businesses 
in  these  areas  with  strong  product  lines  and 
distribution  networks  which  can  benefit  from 
better,  more  professional  management,  greater 
resources,  and  from  the  synergistic  benefits  of 
being part of a larger group.

2.0 Corporate Governance

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  16

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  product  to 
selected  appropriate  charities  which  operate 
within its area, and encourages staff to take 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 2 May 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Richard Evans
Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer
2 May 2016

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  product 
support centres in the USA and Germany.

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  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  page  7  and  the 
Chief Executive’s Review on pages 8 and 9 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 is working 
to  establish  other  key  performance  indicators 
including  non-financial  measures.  KPIs  are 
discussed in more detail in the Finance Directors 
review on pages 10 and 11.

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 keep at 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 
specific 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.

17 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Report of the Directors

for the year ended 31 December 2015

The Directors have pleasure in submitting this report together with the audited consolidated financial 
statements of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc for the year ended 31 December 2015.

Corporate details

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

Directors

The Directors who held office during the year and as at the date of signing the financial statements 
were as follows:

•  Ron Zwanziger (appointed 11 November 2015, resigned 11 April 2016)

•  David Evans

•  Julian Baines

•  Richard Evans

•  Adam Reynolds

•  Lurene Joseph (appointed 21 December 2015)

•  Tito Bacarese-Hamilton (resigned 10 December 2015)

•  Paul Foulger (resigned 2 December 2015)

•  David Toohey (resigned 30 November 2015)

•  Doris-Ann Williams (resigned 30 November 2015)

•  Kevin Wilson (deceased 20 November 2015)

•  Christopher Mills (appointed 8 April 2016)

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.  Future  developments  and 
research  and  development  activities  are  discussed  in  the  Chairman’s  Statement  on  page  7  and  the 
Chief Executive’s Review on pages 8 and 9 and the Finance Director’s Review on pages 10 and 11.

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 
financial  statements.  This  included  the  review  of  internal  budgets  and  financial  results  which  show, 
taking into account reasonably probable changes in financial performance, that the Group should be 
able to operate within the level of its current funding arrangements.

During  2015,  the  write  down  of  trade  debtors  in  Mexico  caused  the  Group  to  breach  covenants 
relating to its banking facilities in the USA. This breach has been waived by the bank, however as a 
result certain borrowings have been reclassified as current. A convertible loan was provided by the 
Zwanziger Family Trust and used to reduce bank borrowing. 

The loss making molecular business has been sold or mothballed, the sites in Dublin and Walton-on-
Thames have been closed, and a redundancy programme put in place. These have together generated 
annualised cost savings of £6.7m.

Taking  these  changes  into  account,  and  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 financial statements.

Financial risk management

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

Employee policies

Employee policies are discussed in the Strategic Report on pages 14 to 16.

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  18

2.0 Corporate Governance

Directors’ interests

The interests of those Directors serving at 31 December 2015 and as at the date of signing of these 
financial statements, all of which are beneficial, in the share capital of the Company were as follows:

On 31 December 2015 
Ordinary Shares of 1p each

On 31 December 2014 
Ordinary Shares of 1p each

Ron Zwanziger

David Evans

Julian Baines

Richard Evans

Adam Reynolds

Christopher Mills

33,661,694

1,805,753

1,721,955

178,842

3,229,724

33,200,000

33,661,694

1,805,753

1,721,955

178,842

3,229,724

-

*or at the date of appointment where later.

There have been no transactions by directors during their period of office during the year. Mr Zwanziger’s 
shares are held in the name of Zwanziger Family Ventures LLC. On 18 March 2016 Harwood Capital LLP 
and  North  Atlantic  Smaller  Companies  Investment  Trust  plc,  which  are  associated  with  Christopher 
Mills, acquired 48,000,000 shares, bringing their total holding to 81,200,000 shares.

Substantial shareholdings

As at 28 April 2016, the following interests in 3% or more of the issued Ordinary Share capital had been 
notified to the Company:

Number of shares

Percentage of issued share capital

N.Y. Nominees Limited

The Bank Of New York (Nominees) Limited

Securities Services Nominees Limited

Nortrust Nominees Limited

HSBC Global Custody Nominee (Uk) Limited

Vidacos Nominees Limited

Pershing Nominees Limited

Statement of Directors’ responsibilities

48,041,369

46,440,300

35,375,000

31,751,615

27,990,369

25,673,139

20,641,388

11.38%

11.00%

8.38%

7.52%

6.63%

6.08%

4.89%

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

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

•  select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

•  make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable 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 financial statements; and

•  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume 
that the Company and the Group will continue in business.

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

The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the Company’s website. Legislation 
in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ 
from legislation in other jurisdictions.

19 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Directors’ liability insurance

The Company has entered into deeds of indemnity for the benefit 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 financial year and up to the date of approval of the financial statements.

Independent auditors

PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP has expressed their willingness to continue in office 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 office at the date of approval of this report confirm 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  20  to  22  of  these  financial  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 69 and 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.

Richard Evans
Finance Director and Chief Operating Officer

2 May 2016

2.0 Corporate Governance

Corporate Governance Statement

for the year ended 31 December 2015

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  20

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  2015  sought  to  address  the 
principles underlying the Code.

Board composition and responsibility

The Board currently comprises two Executive Directors and four Non-Executive Directors. During the 
year Paul Foulger and Tito Bacarese-Hamilton resigned as Executive Directors, and David Toohey and 
Doris-Ann Williams resigned as Non-Executive Directors, Kevin Wilson passed away. Ron Zwanziger 
joined  as  Non-Executive  Chairman,  at  which  time  David  Evans  became  Non-Executive  Deputy 
Chairman, and Lurene Joseph joined as Non-Executive Director, Christopher Mills was appointed Non-
Executive Chairman on 8 April 2016. Ron Zwanziger resigned as a director on 11 April 2016.  Lurene 
Joseph  and  David  Evans  are  not  seeking  re-election  at  the  next  AGM.  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  Christopher  Mills  and  Adam  Reynolds  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 
satisfied 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 
revised 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 Board 
composition at present.

There is a division of responsibilities between the Non-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 Richard Evans, who is the Finance 
Director and Chief Operating Officer.

All  Directors  are  subject  to  election  by  shareholders  at  the  first  Annual  General  Meeting  after  their 
appointment,  and  are  subject  to  re-election  at  least  every  three  years.  Non-Executive  Directors  are 
appointed  for  a  specific  term  of  office  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 identified, 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

10 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:

Ron Zwanziger (Non-Executive Chairman)

David Evans (formerly Executive Chairman, now Non-Executive Deputy Chairman)

Julian Baines (Chief Executive Officer)

Richard Evans (Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director)

Adam Reynolds (Non-Executive Director)

Lurene Joseph (Non-Executive Director)

Tito Bacarese-Hamilton (formerly Chief Technology Officer)

Paul Foulger (formerly Finance Director and Company Secretary)

David Toohey (formerly Non-Executive Director)

Doris-Ann Williams (formerly Non-Executive Director)

Kevin Wilson (formerly Non-Executive Director)

1

9

9

9

9

-

10

10

10

9

8

(1)

(10)

(10)

(10)

(10)

-

(10)

(10)

(10)

(10)

(9)

21 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Audit Committee

From January 2015 until November 2015 this comprised three Non-Executive Directors, Kevin Wilson 
(Chairman),  David  Toohey  and  Adam  Reynolds.  Following  Board  changes  the  commitee  comprises 
David Evans (Chairman), Adam Reynolds and Lurene Joseph. David Evans is the Senior Independent 
Director  and  has  recent  and  relevant  finance  experience.  The  principal  duties  of  the  committee  are 
to  review  the  half-yearly  and  annual  financial  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.  The  terms  of  reference  of  the  Committee  reflect  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 twice during 2015.

Remuneration Committee

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

The  remuneration  committee  is  made  up  of  David  Evans  (Chairman),  and  Adam  Reynolds.  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 met once during 2015.

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 financial 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 financial 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  reflect  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 definition of the above organisation structure and authority levels and the 
identification of the major business risks.

The  Group  has  continued  its  project  to  enhance  and  formalise  its  internal  controls  including  the 
establishment of a Risk Steering Committee.

Internal financial 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 financial performance is 
measured in a timely and correct manner and that risks are identified 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.

2.0 Corporate Governance

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  22

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 2 May 2016 and signed on its behalf by:

Richard Evans
Finance Director and COO

23 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Report of the Remuneration Committee

for the year ended 31 December 2015

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, benefits 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, benefits and share option incentives.

Directors’ remuneration - Audited

The remuneration of the Directors for the year ended 31 December 2015 is shown below:

Executive Directors

David Evans 1

Tito Bacarese-Hamilton 3

Julian Baines

Paul Foulger 3

Richard Evans

Non-Executive Directors

Ron Zwanziger 2

Lurene Joseph 2

David Toohey 3

Doris-Ann Williams 3

Kevin Wilson  4

Adam Reynolds

Gordon Hall

Total fees and emoluments

Salary and 
fees
£’000

Pension 
£’000

Benefits in 
kind
£’000

Bonus 
£’000

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

42

336

245

212

170

1,005

-

-

28

28

27

30

113

1,118

-

10

12

8

5

35

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

11

12

9

26

58

-

-

-

-

-

3

-

3

35

61

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

42

357

269

229

201

1,098

-

-

28

28

27

33

-

116

45

193

262

182

201

883

-

-

11

11

25

28

12

87

1,214

970

1.

2.

3.

4.

David Evans’ remuneration is paid through his personal consultancy, MBA Consultancy. Mr Evans became
a Non-Executive Director on 11 November 2015. Mr Evans waived salary totalling £20,000 during the year.
Remuneration for Ron Zwanziger and Lurene Joseph is shown from their date of appointment. Both have
waived any salary for the period until March 2016.
Paul Foulger, Tito -Bacarese-Hamilton, David Toohey, and Doris-Ann Williams’ remuneration is shown up
to their date of resignation. In addition to his emoluments disclosed above, Paul Foulger received £42,000
for his loss of office.
Kevin Wilson’s remuneration is shown up to the date of his death.

2.0 Corporate Governance

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  24

Directors’ share options and Long-Term Incentive Plan

As  at  31  December  2015  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

Julian Baines

Richard Evans

Option price per ordinary 
share

Ordinary Shares under 
option

Exercise period

15p

15p

20p

8,545,638

1 January 2014 – 31 December 2020

8,545,638

1 January 2014 – 31 December 2020

4,260,000

1 January 2014 – 31 December 2020

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.

• 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 30 pence. This condition has now been
met.

• 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 37.5 pence.

• 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 45 pence.

• 1,709,128 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 52.5 pence.

• 1,709,126 notional shares will vest if the share price attains 60 pence.

On 10 December 2015 Tito Bacarese-Hamilton was granted an option to acquire 1,300,000 ordinary 
shares in the company at an exercise price of 22.5p. The option can be exercised at any time up to 31 
December 2016.

3.0 Financial Statements

25 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

2.0 Corporate Governance

Independent Auditors’ Report to the Members 
of EKF Diagnostics Holdings Plc

Report on the financial statements

Our opinion

In our opinion:

• EKF Diagnostics Holdings Plc’s group financial statements (the “financial statements”) give a true
and fair view of the state of the group’s and of the company’s affairs as at 31 December 2015 and 
of the group’s loss and the group’s and the parent company’s cash flows for the year then ended;

• the  group  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  International
Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRSs”) as adopted by the European Union;

• the  company  financial  statements  have  been  properly  prepared  in  accordance  with  IFRSs  as
adopted by the European Union and as applied in accordance with the provisions of the Companies 
Act 2006; and

• the  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  in  accordance  with  the  requirements  of  the
Companies Act 2006.

What we have audited

The financial statements, included within the Annual Report 2015 (the “Annual report”), comprise:

• the consolidated and company’s statements of financial position as at 31 December 2015;

• the consolidated income statement and the consolidated statement of comprehensive income for
the year then ended;

• the consolidated and company’s statements of cash flows 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 financial statements, which include a summary of significant accounting policies
and other explanatory information.

Certain required disclosures have been presented elsewhere in the Annual Report, rather than in the 
notes to the financial statements. These are cross-referenced from the financial statements and are 
identified as audited.

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

In  applying  the  financial  reporting  framework,  the  directors  have  made  a  number  of  subjective 
judgements,  for  example  in  respect  of  significant  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  financial  year  for  which  the  financial  statements  are  prepared  is  consistent  with  the  financial 
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 financial 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 specified by law are not made. We have no exceptions to report arising from 
this responsibility. 

2.0 Corporate Governance

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  26

Responsibilities for the financial 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 17, the directors 
are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a 
true and fair view.

Our responsibility is to audit and express an opinion on the financial 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.

What an audit of financial statements involves

We conducted our audit in accordance with ISAs (UK & Ireland). An audit involves obtaining evidence 
about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable assurance 
that the financial 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 significant accounting estimates made by the directors; and

• the overall presentation of the financial 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 financial 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  financial  and  non-financial  information  in  the  Annual  Report  to  identify 
material inconsistencies with the audited financial 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.

Jason Clarke (Senior Statutory Auditor)
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 
Cardiff 2 May 2016

27 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

3.0 Financial Statements

Consolidated Income Statement

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Other income

Operating loss

Depreciation and amortisation

Share-based payments

Exceptional items

LBITDA before exceptional items and share-based payments

Finance income

Finance costs

Loss before income tax

Income tax  credit/(expense)

Notes

2015
£’000

Restated
2014
£’000

5

6

6

6

5

7

5

12

12

13

30,045

37,106

(15,376)

(17,860)

14,669

19,246

(29,156)

(21,557)

139

371

(14,348)

(1,940) 

(8,052)

(4,819)

(226)

(512)

(5,722)

(3,268)

(348)

35

(1,457)

(15,770)

2,206

6,659

18

(1,509)

(3,431)

(1,440)

Loss for the year from continuing operations

(13,564)

(4,871) 

Loss for the year from discontinued operations attributable to the 
equity holders of the Company

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

From discontinued operations

Diluted

From continuing operations

From discontinued operations

21

(23,369)

(597)

(36,933)

(5,468)

(37,123)

(5,689)

190

221

(36,933)

(5,468)

Pence

Pence

14

14

14

14

(3.26)

(5.54)

(8.80)

(3.26)

(5.54)

(8.80)

(1.34)

(0.16)

(1.50)

(1.34)

(0.16)

(1.50)

The notes on pages 33 to 68 are an integral part of these consolidated financial 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 £31,595,000 (2014: £2,882,000).

 
 
3.0 Financial Statements

Consolidated Statement Of Comprehensive Income

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  28

Loss for the year - continuing

Loss for the year - discontinued

Loss for the year

Other comprehensive income:

Notes

2015
£’000

Restated
2014
£’000

(13,564)

(4,871)

(23,369)

(597)

(36,933)

(5,468)

Items that will not be reclassified to profit or loss

Movement on pension scheme

31

-

48

Items that may be subsequently reclassified to profit or less

Recycling of currency translations in respect of previously held interest 
in Selah Genomics Inc

32

(4,479)

Currency translation differences

Other comprehensive (loss)/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

-

546

594

792

(3,687)

(40,620)

(4,874)

(40,756)

(4,890)

136

16

(40,620)

(4,874)

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 33 to 68 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

 
 
 
29 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

Consolidated and Company’s Statements of 
Financial Position

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

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

Group 
2015 
£’000

Group 
2014 
£’000

Company 
2015 
£’000

Company 
2014 
£’000

Notes

16

17

18

20

22

28

23

22

28

24

29

29

32

32

31

26

27

28

25

27

28

26

10,680

         10,568 

1,547

1,576

42,927

93,522 

-

                  - 

-

                  - 

402

           1,152 

-

-

30,521

402

18,550

61,043

1,152

17,799

340

              238

340               238

54,349

105,480

51,360

81,808

8,234

7,242

47

2,017

17,540

71,889

4,221

91,276

41

(3,607)

(45,438)

46,493

261

46,754

1,167

-

3,559

4,726

8,331

485

1,087

831

9,675

20,409

25,135

71,889

5,793

16,115

45

8,346

30,299

135,779

4,221

91,276

41

26

(8,541)

87,023

353

87,376

2,492

9,536

13,258

25,286

7,943

8,493

2,171

756

3,754

23,117

48,403

135,779

-

                  - 

14,549

18,508

-

11

14,560

65,920

4,221

91,276

                  - 

4,390

22,898

104,706

4,221

91,276

-

-

                  - 

                  - 

(40,419)

(9,050)

55,078

86,447

-

-

55,078

86,447

-

-

-

-

4,308

485

-

-

6,049

10,842

10,842

                  - 

3,165

                  - 

3,165

3,758

8,493

-

-

2,843

15,094

18,259

65,920

104,706

The notes on pages 33 to 68 are an integral part of these financial statements.
The financial statements were approved and authorised for issue by the Board on 2 May 2016

Julian Baines
Chief Executive Officer

Richard Evans
Finance Director & Chief Operating Officer

3.0 Financial Statements

Consolidated and Company’s Statements of Cash 
Flows

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  30

Notes

Group
2015
£’000

Group
2014
£’000

Company
2015
£’000

Company
2014
£’000

Cash flow from operating activities

Cash used in operations

35

(2,914)

(3,262)

(5,970)

(12,011)

Interest paid

Income tax paid

(370)

(241)

(1,001)

(1,241)

(143)

(14)

(69)

(21)

Net cash used in operating activities

(4,285)

(4,744)

(6,127)

(12,101)

Of which discontinued

Cash flow from investing activities

Purchase of investments

(2,412)

(3,630)

-

(902)

-

-

Purchase of property, plant and equipment (PPE)

(2,296)

(1,038)

(33)

Purchase of intangibles

Purchase of subsidiaries (net of cash required)

Proceeds from sale of PPE 

Interest received

(3,096)

(1,595)

-

42

35

(12,379)

22

18

-

-

-

-

(902)

(17)

-

(10,248)

-

4

Net cash used in investing activities

(5,315)

(15,874)

(33)

(11,163)

Of which discontinued

Cash flow from financing activities

(136)

(286)

Proceeds from issuance of Ordinary Shares

-

25,007

-

-

-

25,007

New loans

7,922

3,764

6,206

2,843

Repayments on borrowings

(3,000)

(1,855)

(3,000) 

Dividend payment to non-controlling interest

(228)

(171)

-

-

-

Payment of deferred consideration

(1,425)

(355)

(1,425)

(355)

Net cash generated by financing activities

3,269

26,390

1,781

27,495

Of which discontinued

2,426

3,893

-

-

Net (decrease)/increase in cash and cash 
equivalents

(6,331)

5,772

(4,379)

4,231

Cash and Cash equivalents at beginning of year

8,346

2,551

4,390

Exchange gains/losses on cash and cash equivalents

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year

2

23

2,017

8,346

-

11

159

-

4,390

 
31 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

Consolidated and Company’s Statements of 
Changes in Equity

Consolidated

Share  
Pre-
mium 
Account
£’000

Share 
Capital
£’000

Other 
Reserve
£’000

Foreign 
Cur-
rency 
Reserve
£’000

Re-
tained 
Earnings
£’000

Non 
Con-
trolling 
Interest
£’000

Total 
Equity
£’000

Total
£’000

At 1 January 2014

2,727

41,783

41 

(725)

(3,412)

40,414

508

40,922

Comprehensive income

(Loss)/profit for the year - 
continuing

(Loss)/profit for the year - 
discontinued

Other comprehensive income

Movement on pension

Currency translation 
differences

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

Proceeds from shares issued

1,494

49,493

Dividends to non-controlling 
interest

Share-based payments

Total contributions by and 
distributions to owners

-

-

-

-

1,494

49,493

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

751

(5,092)

(5,092)

221

(4,871)

(597)

(597)

-

-

(597)

48

48

48

-

751

(205)

546

751

(5,641)

(4,890)

16

(4,874)

-

-

-

-

-

-

50,987

-

50,987

-

(171)

(171)

512

512

-

512

512

51,499

(171)

51,328

At 1 January 2015

4,221

91,276

41

26

(8,541)

87,023

353

87,376

Comprehensive income

(Loss)/profit for the year - 
continuing

(Loss)/profit for the year - 
discontinued

Other comprehensive income

Recycling of currency 
translations in respect of 
previously held interest in 
Selah Genomics Inc

Currency translation 
differences

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners

Dividends to non-controlling 
interest

Share-based payments

Total contributions by and 
distributions to owners

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(13,754)

(13,754)

190 (13,564)

(23,369) (23,369)

- (23,369)

(4,479)

846

-

-

(4,479)

-

(4,479)

846

(54)

792

(3,633)

(37,123) (40,756)

136 (40,620)

-

-

-

-

226

226

-

(228)

(228)

226

-

226

(228)

226

(2)

At 31 December 2015

4,221

91,276

41

(3,607) (45,438)

46,493

261

46,754

3.0 Financial Statements

Company

At 1 January 2014

Comprehensive income

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners

Proceeds from shares issued

Share-based payments

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  32

Share 
capital
£’000

Share 
Premium
£’000

Retained
Earnings
£’000

Total
£’000

2,727

41,783

(6,680)

37,830

-

-

-

-

(2,882)

(2,882)

(2,882)

(2,882)

Total contributions by and distributions to owners 

1,494

49,493

1,494

49,493

-

-

-

512

512

50,987

512

51,499

At 1 January 2015

Comprehensive income

Loss for the year

Total comprehensive income

Transactions with owners

Share-based payments

Total contributions by and distributions to owners 

4,221

91,276

(9,050)

86,447

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

(31,595)

(31,595)

(31,595)

(31,595)

226

226

226

226

At 31 December 2015

4,221

91,276

(40,419)

55,078

33 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

Notes to the financial statements

for the year ended 31 December 2015

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 office is Avon House, 19 Stanwell Road, Penarth, Cardiff CF64 2EZ.

The  principal  activity  of  the  Group  is  the  development,  manufacture  and  supply  of  products  and 
services  into  the  in-vitro  diagnostic  (IVD)  market  place.  The  Group  discontinued  its  service  based 
molecular  diagnostics  business  during  the  year.  This  has  been  accounted  for  as  a  discontinued 
operation. 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 financial 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 significant accounting policies

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

Basis of preparation

The  consolidated  financial  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  financial  statements  have  been  prepared  under  the  historical  cost  convention,  as 
modified by the revaluation of certain financial liabilities at fair value through profit and loss.

The  preparation  of  financial  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 significant to the consolidated financial statements are 
disclosed in note 4.

(a) New standards, amendments and interpretations adopted by the group. The following standards 
have been adopted by the group for the first time for the financial year beginning on or after 1 January 
2015. They do not materially impact on the group results: 

• Annual improvements 2011 - 2013 

(b)  New  standards,  amendments  and  interpretations  issued  but  not  effective  for  the  financial  year 
beginning 1 January 2015 and not early adopted 

A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations have been endorsed 
for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2015 (noted below), and have not been early adopted in 
preparing these consolidated financial statements. None of these are expected to have a significant 
effect on the consolidated financial statements of the group. 

•  Annual improvements 2014 (2012-2014 cycle) 

•  Amendment to IFRS 11, ‘Joint arrangements’ on acquisition of an interest in a joint operation 

•  Amendments to IAS 16, ‘Property, plant and equipment’ 

•  Amendments to IAS 27, ‘Separate financial statements’ on the equity method 

•  Amendment to IAS 1, ‘Presentation of financial statements’ on the disclosure initiative 

•  Amendment to IFRS 10, 11 and 12 on transition guidance 

•  Amendments to IAS 32 and IFRS 7 Financial instruments on asset and liability offsetting 

•  IAS 28 (revised), ‘Investments in associates and joint ventures’ 

•  IFRS 13, ‘Fair value measurement’ 

•  Amendment to IAS 12,’Income taxes’ on deferred tax 

•  Amendment  to  IAS  16,  ‘Property,  plant  and  equipment’  and  IAS  38,’Intangible  assets’,  on 
depreciation and amortisation 

•  Amendment to IAS 36, ‘Impairment of assets’ on recoverable amount disclosures. 

A number of new standards and amendments to standards and interpretations have been issued but 
are not yet endorsed for annual periods beginning after 1 January 2015 (noted below), and have not 
been adopted in preparing these consolidated financial 

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  34

statements. 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 quantified estimate of the effects of IFRS 9 
and IFRS 15. This will be provided once the Group has completed the detailed reviews. 

•  IFRS 15 Revenue from contracts with customers (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 
1 January 2018) 

•  IFRS 9 Financial instruments (effective for annual periods beginning on or after 1 January 2018)

Going concern

The Group meets its day-to-day working capital requirements through the use of cash reserves and 
existing bank facilities. 

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

During  2015,  the  write  down  of  trade  debtors  in  Mexico  caused  the  Group  to  breach  covenants 
relating to its banking facilities in the USA. This breach has been waived by the bank, however as a 
result certain borrowings have been reclassified as current. A convertible loan was provided by the 
Zwanziger Family Ventures LLC and used to reduce bank borrowing. 

On 15 April 2016 the Group announced that it had given notice of redemption of the ZFV loan, and that 
North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC, a company associated with Christopher Mills 
had agreed to provide a non-convertible loan on broadly similar terms.

The loss making molecular business has been sold or mothballed, the sites in Dublin and Walton-on-
Thames have been closed, and a redundancy programme put in place. These have together generated 
annualised cost savings of £6.7m.

The  Directors  believe  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 financial statements.

Basis of consolidation

The  consolidated  financial  statements  incorporate  the  financial  statements  of  the  Company  and  its 
subsidiary undertakings. Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has the power to govern 
their  financial  and  operating  policies  generally  accompanying  a  shareholding  of  more  than  fifty 
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.  Identifiable  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 identifiable 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  financial  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 financial statements are presented in British Pounds Sterling, which is the Company’s 
functional and presentational currency.

35 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

(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 financial position of all the Group entities (none of which has the currency of a hyper-
inflationary economy) that have a functional currency different from the 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 identified 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  benefits  associated  with  the  asset  will 
flow  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 financial 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. 

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

2%–2.5%

Fixtures and fittings

20%–25%

Plant and machinery

20%–33.3%

Motor vehicles

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.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  36

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  identifiable  assets  of  the  acquired  subsidiary  at  the  date  of  the  acquisition.  Goodwill  on 
acquisitions of subsidiaries is included in ‘intangible assets’. Goodwill has an infinite 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 benefit 
from the business combination in which the goodwill arose, identified 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 finite 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 finite 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 
finite  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 finite 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  satisfies  the  criteria  for  capitalisation,  including  the 
project’s technical feasibility and likely commercial benefit. 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 identified the deferred development 
costs are immediately charged to the income 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 finite 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.

Impairment of non-financial assets

Assets  that  have  an  indefinite  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 

37 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

assessing value in use, the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a 
pre-tax discount rate that reflects current market assessments of the time value of the money and the 
risks specific to the asset for which the estimates of future cash flows have not been adjusted.

For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the lowest levels for which there are 
separately identifiable cash flows. 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 financial 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

Classification

The  Company  classifies  its  financial  assets  in  the  following  categories:  loans  and  receivables  and 
available-for-sale financial assets. The classification depends on the purpose for which the financial 
assets  were  acquired  and  management  determines  the  classification  of  its  financial  assets  at  initial 
recognition.

(a) Loans and receivables

Loans and receivables are non-derivative financial assets with fixed 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 classified 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 financial assets

Available-for-sale assets are non-derivatives that are either designated in this category or not classified 
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  financial  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 financial 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 period.

Inventories

Inventories  and  work  in  progress  are  stated  at  the  lower  of  cost  and  net  realisable  value.  Cost  is 
calculated on a first in and first 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 specific financial or commercial reasons that lead 
management to conclude that the customer will default. Older debts are considered to be impaired 

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  38

unless there is sufficient 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 
flows. 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.

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 flow statement, cash and cash equivalents consist of cash 
and short-term deposits as defined above net of outstanding bank overdrafts where there is a right 
of offset.

Share capital

Ordinary Shares are classified as equity. Proceeds in excess of the nominal value of shares issued are 
allocated to the share premium account and are also classified 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 financial liability at fair value through profit 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  classified  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 classified 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 ‘finance 
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 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 financial 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 sufficient taxable profits against 
which the future reversal of the underlying temporary differences can be 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 sufficient taxable profit 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 

39 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

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 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 outflow of resources will be required to settle the 
obligation and the amount can be reliably measured.

Leases

Leases which transfer substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of an asset are treated as 
a  finance  lease.  Assets  held  under  finance  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 finance charges are allocated to the income statement in proportion to the capital amount 
outstanding.

All other leases are classified 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. 

Employee benefits

(a) Pension obligations

Group  companies  operate  various  pension  schemes  all  of  which  are  defined  contribution  plans.  A 
defined  contribution  plan  is  a  pension  plan  under  which  the  Group  pays  fixed  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.

The Group no longer has any defined benefit schemes.

The service cost of providing retirement benefits to employees during the year is charged to operating 
profit.  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 specified 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  and  others  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 
reflects 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 
net of sales taxes, rebates and discounts. Revenue from the sale of goods is recognised when a Group 

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  40

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 services is measured at the fair value of the consideration received or receivable 
and represents the invoiced value for the sale of the services net of sales taxes, rebates and discounts. 
Revenue from the sale of services is recognised when a Group Company has completed the services 
and  collectability of the related receivables is reasonably assured.

(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 financial 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 
financial 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 financial risks: market risk (foreign exchange risk and 
cash flow 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 financial markets and seeks to 
minimise the potential adverse effects on the Group’s financial performance. The Group does not use 
derivative financial instruments to hedge risk exposures.

Risk management is carried out by the head office finance team. It evaluates and mitigates financial risks 
in close co-operation with the Group’s operating units. The Board provides principles for overall risk 
management whilst the head office finance team provides specific 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 flow 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 flows are affected by fluctuations 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 Poland.

Management do not use derivative financial 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 profits and net assets 
into GBP are set out in the table below.

41 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

Rate compared to GBP

Average rate 
2015

Average rate 
2014

Year end rate 
2015

Year end rate 
2014

Euro

Russian Rouble

Polish Zloty

US Dollar

1.376

94.362

5.766

1.528

1.244

64.048

5.206

1.647

1.359

108.480

5.808

1.476

1.287

91.264

5.465

1.559

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 £3,000 and £149,000 respectively.

(iii) Cash flow and fair value interest rate risk

The Group has interest-bearing assets in the form of cash and cash equivalents and interest-bearing 
liabilities which relate to borrowings and finance lease obligations in the Group’s UK, US and German 
subsidiaries. Interest rates on cash and cash equivalents are floating whilst interest rates on certain 
borrowings have been fixed 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  financial  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 confirmed 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 financial 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 financial instruments and deposits 
with banks and financial institutions, as well as credit exposures to customers.

(c) Liquidity risk

Cash flow forecasting is performed in the individual operating entities of the Group and is aggregated 
by Group finance. Group finance monitors cash and cash flow forecasts and it is the Group’s liquidity 
risk management policy to maintain sufficient 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 office finance team aims to maintain flexibility in funding 
by keeping sufficient cash and cash equivalents available to fund the requirements of the Group.

The Group’s policy in relation to the finance of its overseas operations requires that sufficient 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 flexibility.

The table below analyses the Group’s non-derivative financial 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 flows. In the case of deferred 
consideration the amount shown as payable between 2 and 5 years for 31 December 2015 is the total 
gross contractual liability should all performance criteria be met, not the estimated liability based on 
current and forecast performance

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  42

Less than 
1 year
£’000

Between 
1 & 2 years
£’000

Between 
2 & 5 years
£’000

More than 
5 years
£’000

9,917

485

8,028

3,862

1,425

7,731

431

-

-

343

3,943

-

573

-

-

709

1,522

-

234

-

-

1,576

5,101

-

Total
£’000

11,155

485

8,028

6,490

11,991

7,731

At 31 December 2015:

Borrowings (inc. finance leases)

Deferred consideration 

Trade and other payables

At 31 December 2014:

Borrowings (inc. finance leases)

Deferred consideration 

Trade and other payables

(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  benefits  for  other  stakeholders  and  to 
maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of 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.

(e) Fair value estimation

The Group has no Level 1, 2 or 3 classified financial assets as at 31 December 2015 (2014: 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 significant effect on the 
amounts recognised in the financial statements.

(a) Going concern

The  Directors  believe  that  the  Group  has  adequate  resources  to  conduct  normal  business  for  the 
foreseeable future and as a result the Group continues to adopt the going concern basis of preparation 
for its consolidated financial statements. 

In  order  to  reach  this  conclusion,  the  Directors  have  prepared  month-by-month  forecasts  for  the 
period  to  31  December  2017.  These  forecasts  are  based  on  sales  and  profitability  being  in  line  with 
those  disclosed  in  the  Chairman’s  statements,  along  with  estimates  for  capital  expenditure  and 
other balance sheet items which the Directors consider to be reasonable. Working capital estimates 
assume  that  inventory  levels  reduce  during  the  period  as  a  proportion  of  sales.  The  Directors  have 
applied sensitivities to these forecasts to model the effect of lower sales and a lower level of inventory 
reduction.  The forecasts assume the continued support of the Group’s lenders.

(b) Legal disputes

A  dispute  has  arisen  between  EKF-diagnostic  GmbH  and  a  distributor  involving  disputed  invoices 
from the distributor, relating mainly to the period prior to the acquisition of the company by the Group. 
The dispute is not covered by any outstanding warranty from the former owner. Earlier litigation in the 
UK has been settled in EKF’s favour. Having taken legal advice the Directors believe that no provision 
is required in relation to this dispute.

A dispute has arisen with a second distributor in relation to issues with the registration of a product, 
for which the distributor is claiming damages. EKF contend that the registration was the distributor’s 
responsibility  and  that  in  any  case  there  is  no  liability  for  damages.  The  dispute  is  likely  to  go  to 
mediation in the UK. Having taken legal advice, the Directors believe that no provision is required in 
relation to this dispute.

(c) 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.

43 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

(d) 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.

(e) 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 financial circumstances of the counterparty. Trade receivables 
with a gross value of £5.1m are considered to have no value.

(f) Deferred tax assets

Deferred tax assets are only recognised to the extent that it is probable that future taxable profits 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 insufficient future taxable 
profit in the Company is currently forecast. The carrying amount of deferred tax assets at the balance 
sheet date was £387,000 (2014: £283,000). In addition there were £2,532,000 (2014: £1,141,000) of 
deferred tax assets not recognised.

(g) Tax warranties

The  Group  has  been  assessed  for  and  has  paid  taxation  in  Germany  relating  to  the  periods  prior 
to  acquisition  by  the  Group.    Under  the  warranties  of  the  acquisition  agreement  EKF  has  withheld 
payment  of  part  of  the  deferred  consideration.  The  warranty  claim  effect  has  reduced  as  a  result 
of  reduction  in  the  Company’s  share  price.  The  reduction  of  the  potential  claim  is  included  within 
administration costs and has been disclosed as an exceptional item. The determination of the related 
warranty claim, is 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. The  new matrix structure 
for revenue based partly on disease states introduced in 2015 has been discontinued and this structure  
has not therefore been reflected in the segmental analysis.

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..

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

3.0 Financial Statements

2015

Income statement

Revenue

Inter segment

External revenue

Adjusted EBITDA*

Share based payment

Exceptional items

EBITDA

Depreciation

Amortisation

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  44

5. Segmental reporting continued

The segment information provided to the Board for the reportable segments for the year ended 31 
December 2015 is as follows:

Germany
£’000

UK
£’000

USA
£’000

Ireland
£’000

Poland
£’000

Russia
£’000

Discont.
£’000

Other
£’000

Total
£’000

 12,931 

 5 

 16,399 

 88 

 1,228 

 2,243 

 (4,075)

 (2)

 (40)

 (58)

 (20)

 - 

 8,856 

 3 

 16,359 

 30 

 1,208 

 2,243 

 1,870 

 (1,968)

 2,879 

 (904)

 544 

 598 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 (351)

 (449)

 (2,413)

 (16)

 1,519 

 (2,417)

 466 

 (920)

 (523)

 (99)

 (367)

 (1,855)

 (681)

 (2,378)

 (5)

 (37)

 - 

 - 

 544 

 (32)

 (102)

 410 

 10 

 - 

 - 

 598 

 (20)

 (20)

 558 

 12 

 (70)

 (113)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 2,175 

 35,069 

 (829)

 (5,024)

 1,346 

 30,045 

 (3,367)

 (348)

 (226)

 (226)

 (2,493)

 (5,722)

 - 

 (6,086)

 (6,296)

 (127)

 (1,173)

 (1,806)

 (6,879)

 (8,019)

 (14,348)

 (165)

 (1,422)

 (115)

 2,206 

Operating profit/(loss)

 (859)

 (3,197)

 (2,279)

 (962)

Net finance costs

Income tax

Discontinued operations

 (101)

 (1,054)

 (124)

 75 

 - 

 739 

 1,672 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 18 

 - 

Retained profit/(loss)

 (885)

 (3,512)

 (731)

 (944)

 350 

 457 

 (23,369)

 (8,299)

 (36,933)

 - 

 - 

 (23,369)

 - 

 (23,369)

Segment assets

Operating assets

 25,977 

 10,717 

 43,472 

 969 

 1,250 

Inter segment assets

 (454)

 (4,957)

 (19)

 (59)

 (446)

External operating assets

 25,523 

 5,760 

 43,453 

 1,239 

 2 

 83 

 26,762 

 5,762 

 43,536 

 910 

 86 

 996 

 804 

 154 

 958 

Cash

Total assets

Segment liabilities

Operating liabilities

 12,306 

 9,707 

 18,401 

 4,760 

 96 

Inter segment liabilities

 (9,065)

 (8,884)

 (16,053)

 (4,420)

External operating liabilities

Borrowings

Total liabilities

Other segmental information

Non current assets - PPE

Non current assets - Intangibles

Intangible assets - additions

PPE - additions

 3,241 

 2,408 

 823 

 182 

 2,348 

 2,070 

 340 

 - 

 5,649 

 1,005 

 4,418 

 340 

4,724

11,372

1,225

1,768

53

4,066

5,561

13,978

558

18

576

427

-

619

697

-

 96 

 - 

 96 

127

348

-

2

*Adjusted EBITDA excludes exceptional items and share-based payments

 470 

 (4)

 466 

 398 

 864 

 91 

 (4)

 87 

 1 

 88 

68

125

-

41

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

-

-

-

-

 50,456 

 133,311 

 (57,500)

 (63,439)

 (7,044)

 69,872 

 55 

 2,017 

 (6,989)

 71,889 

 10,181 

 55,542 

 (2,823)

 (41,249)

 7,358 

 14,293 

 6,181 

 10,842 

 13,539 

 25,135 

1,642

10,680

10,924

42,927

40

40

3,096

2,296

45 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

5. Segmental reporting continued

2014

Income statement

Revenue

Inter segment

External revenue

Adjusted EBITDA*

Share based payment

Exceptional items

Germany
£’000

UK
£’000

USA
£’000

Ireland
£’000

Poland
£’000

Russia
£’000

Discont.
£’000

Other
£’000

Restated 
Total
£’000

 15,520 

 2,539 

 21,544 

 373 

 1,770 

 3,162 

 (7,297)

 (1,849)

 (29)

 - 

 (22)

 8,223 

 690 

 21,515 

 4,460 

 4,746 

 4,758 

 - 

 - 

 (481)

 (663)

 - 

 - 

 373 

 (42)

 - 

 (170)

 1,748 

 1,079 

 - 

 - 

EBITDA

Depreciation

 3,979 

 4,083 

 4,758 

 (212)

 1,079 

 (609)

 (117)

 (328)

 (11)

 (35)

Exceptional impairment

-

-

-

 (1,162)

-

Amortisation

 (603)

 (624)

 (1,464)

 (229)

 (108)

Operating profit/(loss)

 2,767 

 3,342 

 2,966 

 (1,614)

Net finance costs

Income tax

 (21)

 (58)

 (694)

 (714)

 (167)

 (687)

Discontinued operations

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 141 

 - 

Retained profit/(loss)

 2,688 

 1,934 

 2,112 

 (1,473)

 936 

 5 

 (189)

 (131)

 - 

 752 

 - 

 (597)

 - 

 (597)

 539 

 (597)

 (11,423)

 (5,468)

Segment assets

Operating assets

 26,655 

 21,147 

 92,578 

 1,667 

 956 

Inter segment assets

 (1,703)

 (5,469)

 - 

 - 

 - 

External operating assets

 24,952 

 15,678 

 92,578 

 1,667 

 956 

 1,586 

 378 

 240 

 86 

 1,037 

 26,538 

 16,056 

 92,818 

 1,753 

 1,993 

 1,176 

Cash

Total assets

Segment liabilities

Operating liabilities

Inter segment liabilities

 (10,665)

 (7,165)

 (18,985)

External operating liabilities

 4,499 

 3,928 

 5,860 

 15,164 

 11,093 

 24,845 

 655 

 - 

 655 

 - 

 157 

 52 

 209 

 - 

Borrowings

Total liabilities

Other segmental information

 441 

 174 

 2,591 

 4,940 

 4,102 

 8,451 

 655 

 209 

Non current assets – PPE

 3,685 

 135 

 4,753 

Non current assets – Intangibles

 13,130 

 11,141 

 55,502 

Intangible assets - additions

PPE - additions

Investments - additions

 419 

507

-

 696 

22

-

 - 

418

-

 14 

 759 

 480 

-

-

 167 

 478 

-

13

-

* Adjusted EBITDA excludes exceptional items and share-based payments. ‘Other’ primarily relates to the holding company and head office costs.

 - 

 3,162 

 717 

 - 

 - 

 717 

 (23)

-

 (24)

 670 

 - 

 623 

 - 

 623 

 553 

 119 

 - 

 119 

 - 

 119 

 59 

 173 

-

23

-

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

-

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 1,738 

 46,646 

 (343)

 (9,540)

 1,395 

 37,106 

 (9,059)

 6,659 

 (512)

 (512)

 (792)

 (2,106)

 (10,363)

 4,041 

 (115)

 (1,238)

-

 (1,162)

 (529)

 (3,581)

 (11,007)

 (1,940)

 (614)

 (1,491)

 198 

 (1,440)

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

 - 

-

-

-

 20,086 

 163,712 

 (29,107)

 (36,279)

 (9,021)

 127,433 

 4,466 

 8,346 

 (4,555)

 135,779 

 26,887 

 78,920 

 - 

 (36,763)

 26,887 

 42,157 

 3,040 

 6,246 

 29,927 

 48,403 

 1,755 

 10,568 

 12,339 

 93,522 

-

55

902

1,595

1,038

902

 
 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  46

3.0 Financial Statements

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

6. Expenses – analysis by nature

Inventories consumed in cost of sales

Employee benefit expense (note 10)

Employee costs capitalised as intangible assets

Depreciation and amortisation

Transaction costs relating to business combinations (note 7)

Exceptional items

Research and development expenses

Foreign exchange

Operating lease payments

Other expenses

Total cost of sales and administrative expenses

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

2015
£’000

10,857

1,004

2,390

5,057

238

2,637

2,259

1,676

916

677

2,242

92

30,045

2015
£’000

 6,856 

20,127

(837)

 8,052 

178   

 5,722 

 2,346 

 432 

 1,263 

393

44,532

Restated
2014
£’000

9,755

7,560

2,440

4,848

287

2,791

3,174

687

1,315

2,304

1,892

53

37,106

Restated
2014
£’000

8,327

15,346

(549)

4,819

809

3,268

1,275

446

492

4,635

39,417

47 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

7. Exceptional items

Included within Administrative expenses are exceptional items as shown below:

Warranty claim

Restructuring costs

Transaction costs relating to business combinations

Impairment charges - goodwill

Impairment charges - other

Release of deferred consideration provisions

Impairment of investment

Bad debts written off

Cost of closure and transfer of Quotient manufacturing to Germany

Cost of closure and transfer of EKF Ireland to UK

Note

a

b

c

d

d

e

f

g

2015
£’000

(349)

(727)

(178)

-

(5,948)

7,353

(750)

(5,123)

-

-

2014
£’000

(281)

-

(809)

(254)

(908)

79

-

-

(925)

(170)

Exceptional items

(5,722)

(3,268)

a.  Estimated warranty claim in relation to the acquisition of EKF-diagnostic GmbH reduced because of lower 

share price

b.  Transaction costs in 2015 relate to additional costs of acquisition in the previous year
c.  Restructuring costs mainly redundancy and notice costs
d. 

Impairment of EKF Molecular Diagnostics Ltd, and the remaining value of EKF Ireland and capitalised 
R&D.

e.  Reductions in carrying value of deferred contingent consideration associated with EKF Molecular 

Diagnostics and Stanbio.
Impairment of investment in Dx Economix Inc.

f. 
g.  Write off of bad debts associated with certain customers in Mexico 

8. Auditor remuneration

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

Fees payable to Company’s auditor and its associates for the audit of 
the parent Company and consolidated financial 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 defined contribution pension scheme

2015
£’000

38

87

32

13

170

2015
£’000

1,179

35

1,214

2014
£’000

38

111

71

28

248

2014
£’000

941

29

970

Retirement benefits are accruing to 2 (2014: 4) current directors under a defined contribution scheme.
See further disclosures within the Remuneration Report on page 23.

 
 
  
3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  48

10. Employee benefit expense

Wages and salaries

Social security costs

Share options granted to Directors and senior management

Pension costs – defined contribution plans (note 33)

2015
£’000

16,920

2,663

226

318

Restated
2014
£’000

13,242

1,368

512

224

20,127

15,346

Employee costs of £0.8m (2014: £0.5m) 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 2015 was 365 (2014: 395).

12. Finance income and costs

Finance costs:

– Bank borrowings

– Other interest

– Financial liabilities at fair value through profit 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 finance costs 

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

80

35

87

195

397

2015
£’000

312

50

(395)

1,482

8

1,457

34

1

35

66

32

78

192

368

Restated
2014
£’000

226

-

(476)

1,751

8

1,509

18

-

18

1,422

1,491

 
  
 
 
 
49 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

13. Income tax

Group

Current tax:

Current tax on loss for the year

Adjustments for prior periods

Total current tax

Deferred tax (note 28):

Origination and reversal of temporary differences

Total deferred tax

Income tax (credit)/charge

2015
£’000

220

(76)

144

(2,350)

(2,350)

(2,206)

2014
£’000

1,677

(263)

1,414

26

26

1,440

The Finance Act 2015 which was substantially enacted on 26 October 2015 included legislation to reduce the main 
rate  of  corporation  tax  to  19%  from  1  April  2019  and  18%  from  1  April  2020.  On  16  March  2016,  the  government 
announced that the corporation tax rate applicable from 1 April 2020 will be 17%. The proposed reductions in the rate 
of corporation tax are expected to be enacted, and the impact accounted for in 2016.

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 profits of the consolidated entities as follows:

Loss before tax

Tax calculated at domestic tax rates applicable to UK standard rate of 
tax of 20% (2014: 21.5%)

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

- Impact of utilisation of deferred tax asset

– Other movements

Tax charge

2015
£’000

(15,770)

(3,154)

5,518

(4,628)

76

(272)

-

254

(2,206)

Restated
2014
£’000

(3,431)

(738)

748

696

(263)

163

1,079

(245)

1,440

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

 
3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  50

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.

Loss attributable to owners of the parent

Loss from continuing operations attributable to equity holders of the 
company

Loss from discontinued operations attributable to equity holders of 
the company

2015
£’000

(37,123)

Restated
2014
£’000

(5,689)

(13,754)

(5,092)

(23,369)

(597)

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue

422,057,074

379,633,724

Basic loss per share

(8.80) pence

(1.50) pence 

Basic loss per share from continuing operations

(3.26) pence

(1.34) pence

Basic loss per share from discontinued operations

(5.54) pence

(0.16) pence

(b) Diluted

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 2015 or 2014 as the Group has made a loss per 
share.

Loss attributable to owners of the parent

Loss from continuing operations attributable to equity holders of the 
company

Loss from discontinued operations attributable to equity holders of 
the company

2015
£’000

(37,123)

Restated
2014
£’000

(5,689)

(13,754)

(5,092)

(23,369)

(597)

Weighted average dilutive number of Ordinary Shares 

422,057,074

379,633,724

Diluted loss per share

(8.80) pence

(1.50) pence 

Basic loss per share from continuing operations

(3.26) pence

(1.34) pence

Basic loss per share from discontinued operations

(5.54) pence

(0.16) pence

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue

422,057,074

379,633,724

Adjustment for:

– Assumed conversion of share awards

4,272,819

9,833,892

– Assumed payment of equity deferred consideration

4,043,940

4,043,940

Weighted average number of Ordinary Shares including potentially 
dilutive shares

430,373,833

393,511,556

15. Dividends

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

51 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

16. Property, plant and equipment

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2014

Additions

Acquired with subsidiaries

Transfers

Exchange differences

Disposals

5,985

127

35

-

147

-

Lands & 
buildings
£’000

Fixtures & 
fittings
£’000

Plant & 
machinery
£’000

Motor
vehicles
£’000

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

Total
£’000

14,442

1,038

1,198

-

(223)

(112)

16,343

4,657

1,368

67

(221)

(96)

5,775

At 31 December 2014

6,294

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2014 

Charge for the year

Exceptional impairment

Exchange differences

Disposals

At 31 December 2014

Net book value

418

171

-

13

-

602

At 31 December 2014

5,692

412

4,400

64

10,568

Cost

At 1 January 2015

Additions

Disposal with subsidiaries

Transfers

Exchange differences

Disposals

At 31 December 2015

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2015 

Charge for the year

Charge - discontinued business

Disposal with subsidiaries

Transfers

Exchange differences

Disposals

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

6,294

1,476

(40)

-

147

-

7,877

602

171

-

(9)

-

18

-

782

954

146

-

57

2

(79)

1,080

542

152

-

-

29

(5)

(63)

655

9,013

634

(1,009)

(57)

(260)

(250)

8,071

4,613

825

232

(299)

(29)

(141)

(225)

4,976

82

40

-

-

(16)

(9)

97

18

25

-

-

-

(8)

(3)

32

16,343

2,296

(1,049)

-

(127)

(338)

17,125

5,775

1,173

232

(308)

-

(136)

(291)

6,445

At 31 December 2015

7,095

425

3,095

65

10,680

Depreciation  expense  of  £742,000  (2014:  £878,000)  has  been  charged  to  cost  of  sales  and  £431,000  (2014: 
£557,000) has been charged to administrative expenses.

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  52

3.0 Financial Statements

16. Property, plant and equipment continued

Company

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

Cost

At 1 January 2015

Additions

At 31 December 2015

Accumulated depreciation

At 1 January 2015

Charge for the year

At 31 December 2015

Net book value

At 31 December 2015

Lands & 
buildings
£’000

Fixtures & 
fittings
£’000

Total
£’000

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

1,673

-

1,673

122

41

163

56

33

89

31

21

52

1,729

33

1,762

153

62

215

1,510

37

1,547

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) (2014: €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 finance lease arrangement:

Group

Cost – capitalised finance leases

Accumulated depreciation

Net book value

2015
£’000

372

(71)

301

2014
£’000

879

(162)

717

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

The Company has no finance lease agreements.

53 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

17. Intangible assets

Group

Cost

At 1 January 2014

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

Cost

At 1 January 2015

Additions

Disposal

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Accumulated amortisation

At 1 January 2015

Exchange differences

Impairment charge

Disposal

Charge for the year

At 31 December 2015

Net book value 

At 31 December 2015

Non Compete
agreements
£’000

Trademarks
Tradenames &
Licences
£’000

Goodwill
£’000

Customer
relationships
£’000

Trade
secrets
£’000

Development
costs
£’000

14,641

30,899

880

46,420

 750

(50)

254

-

954

1,596

2,335

76

4,007

412

(5)

-

295

702

8,479

9,672

367

13,652

16,985

260

18,518

30,897

2,094

(18)

-

1,268

3,344

3,120

(136)

287

1,706

4,977

2,976

1,897

(44)

4,829

295

(5)

621

290

1,201

Total
£’000

41,414

61,788

1,539

104,741

6,689

(214)

1,162

3,582

11,219

45,466

3,305

15,174

25,920

3,628

93,522

46,420

4,007

18,518

30,897

-

30

-

-

4,829

3,066

104,741

3,096

(23,541)

(1,355)

(5,142)

(14,282)

-

(44,320)

839

23,718

954

(50)

1,178

-

-

2,082

(189)

2,493

702

(2)

-

(194)

872

1,378

439

13,815

3,344

50

53

(492)

1,600

4,555

263

16,878

4,977

(132)

3,225

(1,366)

2,162

8,866

(113)

7,782

1,201

(31)

1,486

1,239

64,756

11,219

(165)

5,948

-

(2,052)

2,222

4,878

6,879

21,829

70

-

-

70

18

-

-

23

41

29

70

-

-

-

70

41

-

6

-

23

70

-

21,636

1,115

9,260

8,012

2,904

42,927

The  amortisation  charge  of  £6,879,000  (2014:  £4,744,000)  has  been  charged  to  administrative  expenses  in  the 
income statement. Loss on disposal of £42,268,000 has been charged to discontinued operations and the impairment 
charge of £5,948,000 has been charged to exceptional items in administrative expenses.

Goodwill  is  allocated  to  the  Group’s  cash–generating  units  (CGU’s)  identified  according  to  geographic  operating 
segment. An operating segment-level summary of the goodwill allocation is presented below.

UK

Germany

Poland

Russia

US

Other (primarily relating to DiaSpect)

Total

2015
£’000

3,390

3,504

288

72

6,122

8,260

21,636

2014
£’000

4,568

3,700

306

85

28,085

8,722

45,466

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  54

Goodwill is tested for impairment at the balance sheet date. The recoverable amount of goodwill at 31 
December 2015 was assessed on the basis of value in use. The assessed value exceeded the carrying 
value and no impairment loss was recognised, other than for EKF Molecular Diagnostics. The carrying 
value  of  the  goodwill  associated  with  EKF  Molecular  Diagnostics  has  been  impaired  by  £1,178,000 
to  reflect  a  reduction  in  the  assessed  recoverable  amount  following  the  mothballing  of  the  unit.  In 
addition Goodwill and other intangible assets relating to Selah Genomics were de-recognised on its 
sale.

The key assumptions in the calculation to assess value in use are the future revenues and the ability 
to generate future cash flows. The most recent financial results and initial budgets approved by the 
Board for the next year were used and forecasts for a further four years, followed by an extrapolation 
of expected cash flows 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 reflects current market assessments of the 
time value of money and the risks specific to the cash-generating units.

The key assumptions used for value in use calculations in 2015 are as follows:

EKF Germany 
%

EKF Poland 
%

EKF Russia 
%

Stanbio 
%

Longer-term 
growth rate

Discount rate

3

12

3

26

3

26

5

12

STI 
%

3

12

DiaSpect 
%

2

12

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 reflect the additional risk.

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 and STI. 

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

For DiaSpect, the impairment assessment has been carried out over a 10 year period. The Directors 
estimate that the long term growth from the DiaSpect products will be high because it is a relatively 
new product which will bring market benefits. In Year 1 a growth rate of 10% has been used, followed 
by 20% for years 2-5, then falling to 2% thereafter. The Directors believe that the market benefits will 
allow the product to be sold at a margin in excess of other products sold by the Group. If revenues or 
margins are lower than forecast, then impairment will be required.

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

Trade name

Customer relations

Trade secrets

Development costs

The Company has no intangible assets.

3–9 years

1–14 years

1–14 years

 11 years

55 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

18. Investments in subsidiaries

Company

1 January 

Additions

Disposal

Impairment

31 December

2015
£’000

61,043

-

(28,922)

(1,600)

30,521

2014
£’000

16,630

46,013

--

(1,600)

61,043

The disposal relates to Selah Genomics Inc. The impairment relates to the investment in EKF Molecular Diagnostics 
Limited.
Investments in Group undertakings are recorded at cost, which is the fair value of the consideration paid, less any 
impairment. The subsidiaries of EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc are as follows:

Name of Company

Note

Proportion Held

EKF Diagnostics Limited (UK)

Quotient Diagnostics Limited

360 Genomics Limited

EKF Molecular Diagnostics 
Limited

DiaSpect Medical AB

DiaSpect Medical GmbH

EKF-diagnostic GmbH

Senslab GmbH

EKF Diagnostyka Sp.z.o.o.

000 EKF Diagnostika

EKF Diagnostics Inc

Stanbio Laboratory LP

EKF Life Sciences LP

Separation Technology, Inc

1261 N Main LP

Stanlab Management LLC

1261 N Main Management LLC

Argutus Intellectual Property 
Limited

EKF Diagnostics Limited 
(Ireland)

1

1

1

1

2

3

3

3

4

5

6

6

6

6

6

6

6

7

7

100%

100%

100%

100%

Class of 
Shareholding

Ordinary

Nature of Business

Head Office

Ordinary

Sale of diagnostic equipment

100% (indirect)

Ordinary

Ordinary

Manufacture and sale of 
diagnostic equipment

Manufacture and sale of 
diagnostic equipment

Ordinary

Head office and IP licencing

100% (indirect)

Ordinary

100%

Ordinary

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 

100% (indirect)

Partnership

100%

100%

100%

100%

Ordinary

Partnership

Ordinary

Ordinary

100% (Indirect)

Ordinary

Manufacture and sale of 
diagnostic equipment

Manufacture and sale of 
diagnostic equipment

Manufacture and sale of 
diagnostic equipment

Dormant

Dormant

Dormant

Dormant

100%

Ordinary

Manufacture and sale of 
diagnostic equipment

Notes
1. 
2. 
3. 
4. 
5. 
6. 
7. 

Incorporated and registered in the United Kingdom.
Incorporated in Sweden.
Incorporated and registered in Germany.
Incorporated and registered in Poland.
Incorporated and registered in Russia.
Incorporated and registered or formed in the United States of America.
Incorporated and registered in Ireland. 

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  56

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  file  audited  accounts  by  virtue  of  section  479A  of  the 
Companies Act 2006. As part of this process, the Company has provided statutory guarantees to these subsidiaries

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

(a) Liabilities

31 December 

Liabilities as per balance sheet

Borrowings (excluding finance lease 
liabilities)

Finance lease liabilities

Trade and other payables

Deferred consideration

Total

Group
2015
£’000

Group 
2014
£’000

Company
2015
£’000

Company
2014
£’000

6,403

2,017

8,420

14,947

32,970

36,155

8,346

23,293

11

32,981

4,390

40,545

Group 
2015
£’000

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

10,439

5,348

6,049

403

8,028

485

19,355

898

7,731

18,029

32,006

-

4,076

485

10,610

2,843

–

3,679

11,658

18,180

Liabilities  in  the  analysis  above  are  all  categorised  as  ‘other  financial  liabilities  at  amortised  cost’  for  the  Group 
and  Company,  with  the  exception  of  deferred  equity  consideration  totalling  £485,000  (2014:  £880,000)  that  is 
categorised as a financial liability at fair value through profit and loss.

(c) Credit quality of financial assets

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

The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk, due to the failure of counterparties to perform their 
obligations  as  at  31  December  2015  and  31  December  2014,  in  relation  to  each  class  of  recognised 
financial  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.

57 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

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

1 January 

Additions

Impairments

31 December

2015
£’000

13

2,004

2,017

2015
£’000

1,152

-

(750)

402

2014
£’000

4,749

3,597

8,346

2014
£’000

250

902

-

1,152

The investment consists of a 2.63% (2014: 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 which has been 100% impaired; and 
a 0.67% holding in Epinex Diagnostics Inc., a US based privately held company operating in the medical diagnostics 
industry.

21. Disposal

On 23 December 2015 the Company disposed of all of its 100% shareholding in Selah Genomics Inc. 
(“Selah”) for a consideration of $10, paid in cash. The purchasers were the founder directors. Selah, 
whose business is developing molecular diagnostics for personalised medicine, was purchased in April 
2014 for a total consideration (including contingent consideration) of £28.9m. On the occurrence of 
certain future events, the Group is entitled to participate in future profits from Selah.

During the year up to the date of disposal Selah’s income statement was:

Revenue

Cost of sales

Gross profit

Administrative expenses

Operating loss

Depreciation and amortisation

LBITDA before exceptional items and share-based payments

Finance costs

Loss before income tax

Income tax credit/(expense)

Loss for the year

2015
£’000

2,400

(1,008)

1,392

(4,126)

(2,734)

(232)

(2,502)

(40)

(2,774)

-

(2,774)

2014
£’000

2,956

(2,253)

703

(1,236)

(533)

(131)

(402)

(64)

(597)

-

(597)

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  58

3.0 Financial Statements

On disposal Selah had the following assets and liabilities:

Fixed assets

Current assets excluding cash

Cash

Current liabilities excluding intercompany

Borrowings

Amounts due to the parent and co-subsidiaries

Net liabilities

The loss on discontinued items is made up of:

Operating result

Write down of assets

Deferred consideration written back

Deferred tax written back

Recycling of currency translations

Loss on discontinued business

22. Trade and other receivables

2015
£’000

741

1,220

13

(638)

(326)

(7,188)

(6,178)

2015
£’000

(2,774)

(42,775)

9,998

7,703

4,479

2014
£’000

(597)

-

-

-

-

(23,369)

(597)

Group 
2015
£’000

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

Non-current

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings

-

–

18,550

17,799

Current

Trade receivables

Less: provision for impairment of trade receivables

Trade receivables – net

Prepayments

Amounts owed by subsidiary undertakings 

Corporation tax receivable

Other receivables

9,640

(5,575)

4,065

229

-

610

2,338

7,242

12,763

(978)

11,785

331

-

837

3,162

16,115

-

-

-

129

14,376

-

44

-

-

-

152

18,315

-

41

14,549

18,508

The  Directors  consider  that  the  carrying  amount  of  trade  and  other  receivables  approximates  to  their  fair  value. 
The  provision  of  trade  recievables  includes  £5,123,000  relating  to  Mexican  debtors  which  has  been  treated  as  an 
exceptional item. As of 31 December 2015, trade receivables of £490,000 (2014: £6,842,000) 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 
2015
£’000

266

223

1

490

Group 
2014
£’000

4,498 

2,330

14

6,842

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

- 

-

-

-

–

-

-

-

 
59 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

As of 31 December 2015, trade receivables of £5,575,000 (2014: £978,000) 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 one year

Greater than one year

Total

Group 
2015
£’000

-

23

429

5,123

5,575

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

6

329

643

-

978

–

–

–

-

-

–

–

–

-

-

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

At 1 January

Provision for receivables impairment

Acquired with subsidiaries

Unused amounts reversed

Disposal of Selah Genomics

Exchange differences

At 31 December

Group 
2015
£’000

978

5,191

-

(178)

(419)

3

5,575

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

91

613

349

(70)

-

(5)

978

–

–

-

–

-

-

–

–

–

-

–

-

-

–

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 
2015
£’000

277

4,460

2,199

44

262

7,242

Group 
2015
£’000

3,892

1,466

2,876

8,234

Group 
2014
£’000

356

4,739

10,712

70

238

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

9,007

8,193

15,899

-

-

7,359

9,458

19,490

-

-

16,115

33,099

36,307

Group 
2014
£’000

3,225

553

2,015

5,793

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’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 £1,641,000 (2014: 
£969,000).
The  cost  of  inventories  recognised  as  expense  and  included  in  ‘cost  of  sales’  amounted  to  £6,856,000  (2014: 
£8,327,000).
The Company had no inventories.

 
 
3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  60

24. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank and in hand

Short-term bank deposits

Cash and cash equivalents (excluding bank 
overdrafts)

Group 
2015
£’000

2,017

--

2,017

Group 
2014
£’000

4,422

3,924

8,346

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

11

-

11

595

3,795

4,390

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

26. Borrowings

Non-current

Bank borrowings

Convertible loan

Finance lease liabilities

Current

Bank borrowings

Other borrowing

Finance lease liabilities

The maturity profile 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

(a) Bank borrowings

Group 
2015
£’000

2,090

-

303

1,129

4,809

8,331

Group 
2015
£’000

665

182

320

1,167

6,592

3,000

83

9,675

Group 
2015
£’000

9,675

401

549

217

10,842

Group 
2014
£’000

1,500

-

212

2,354

3,877

7, 943

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

489

2,812

232

-

775

209

2,913

79

-

557

4,308

3,758

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

1,668

174

650

2,492

3,506

-

248

–

–

–

–

3,049

3,000

-

3,754

6,049

–

–

–

–

2,843

–

2,843

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

3,754

320

653

1,519

6,246

6,049

2,843

-

-

-

–

–

–

6,049

2,843

Bank borrowings have maturity profiles from 2015 through to 2022 and bear an average fixed coupon 
of 3.21% annually (2014: 3.19%).

Bank  borrowings  are  secured  against  certain  assets  of  the  Group.  The  Parent  Company  has  also 

 
 
 
61 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

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. At 31 December 2015 the group was in breach of the covenants associated with its US borrowing 
as a result of the exceptional impairment of Mexican debtors. The breach was subsequently waived.

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 fixed in nature.

The fair value of both current and non-current borrowings equals their carrying amount, as the impact 
of discounting is not significant. The fair values are based on cash flows discounted using a rate based 
on the borrowing rate of 5% (2014: 5%).

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

Euros

US Dollar

GBP

Total

(b) Convertible loans

Group 
2015
£’000

2,440

4,817

3,000

10,257

Group 
2014
£’000

398

4,776

-

5,174

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

-

3,049

3,000

6,049

–

2,843

–

2,843

Andrew Webb has loaned £200,000 to EKF Molecular Diagnostics Limited in return for a convertible 
loan note. The note is redeemable on 31 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.

Zwanziger Family Ventures LLC has loaned £3,000,000 by way of a convertible loan. The loan has 
a term of two years from 21 December 2015, with interest payable at 5% above LIBOR. The loan can 
be converted at either (a) 14.75p per share or (b) a 15% discount to the next substantial fundraising. 
The  Zwanziger  Family  2012  Irrevocable  Trust  (ZFT)  holds  a  controlling  interest  in  the  lender.  The 
beneficiaries of the ZFT are the Zwanziger family. The loan is secured by a debenture.

On 15 April 2016 the Group announced that it had given notice of redemption of the ZFV loan, and that 
North Atlantic Smaller Companies Investment Trust PLC, a company associated with Christopher Mills 
had agreed to provide a non-convertible loan on broadly similar terms.

(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 finance 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 finance charges on finance leases

Present value of finance lease liabilities

The present value of finance lease liabilities is as follows:

No later than 1 year

Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

Later than 5 years

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

99

85

363

547

(144)

403

2015
£’000

83

67

253

403

294

442

308

1,044

(146)

898

2014
£’000

248

408

242

898

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  62

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

Group 
2015
£’000

18,029

-

1,482

(395)

(17,350)

(1,425)

144

485

485

-

Group 
2014
£’000

Company 
2015
£’000

Company 
2014
£’000

7,249

9,785

1,751

(475)

(79)

(355)

153

18,029

8,493

9,536

11,658

-

644

(395)

(9,997)

(1,425)

-

485

485

-

1,778

9,785

1,004

(475)

(79)

(355)

-

11,658

8,493

3,165

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 2015 of £485,000. While this agreement has been reached in principle 
that this will not be paid, the contract amendment has not yet been signed.

•  The deferred consideration in respect of Selah and EKF Molecular have been released during the 
year.

•  The contingent consideration payable as part of the consideration for DiaSpect Medical AB has 
been satisfied in full during the year.

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 

Discontinued

Income statement movement (note 13)

At 31 December

2015
£’000

(47)

(340)

(387)

3,559

831

4,390

4,003

2015
£’000

13,731

325

-

(7,703)

(2,350)

4,003

2014
£’000

(45)

(238)

(283)

13,258

756

14,014

13,731

2014
£’000

2,873

438

10,394

-

26

13,731

 
 
63 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

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 2014

Credited to the income statement

On acquisition of subsidiaries

Impact of deferred tax rate change

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2014

At 1 January 2015

Credited to the income statement

Discontinued business

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Deferred tax assets

At 1 January 2014

Charged to the income statement

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2014

At 1 January 2015

Charged to the income statement

Exchange differences

At 31 December 2015

Accelerated tax depreciation 
£’000

3,822

(638)

10,394

-

436

Total
£’000

3,822

(638)

10,394

-

436

14,014

14,014

14,014

(2,247)

(7,703)

326

4,390

Other
£’000

(96)

(142)

-

14,014

(2,247)

(7,703)

326

4,390

Total
£’000

(949)

664

2

(238)

(283)

(238)

(102)

-

(283)

(103)

(1)

(387)

Tax losses
£’000

(853)

806

2

(45)

(45)

(1)

(1)

(47)

(340)

Deferred income tax assets are recognised to the extent that the realisation of the related tax benefit 
through future taxable profits is probable. The Group did not recognise deferred income tax assets 
of  £2,532,000  (2014:  £1,141,000)  mainly  in  respect  of  tax  losses  amounting  to  £12,298,000  (2014: 
£5,707,000) 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 

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

387

387

238

238

29. Share capital and premium

Group and Company

At 1 January 2015 and 31 December 
2015

Number of 
Shares

Share 
Capital
£’000

Share 
Premium
£’000

Total
£’000

422,057,074

4,221

91,276

95,497

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  64

30. Share options and share-based payments

The share options and share incentive schemes in existence were as follows:

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

At 1 January 2015 and 31 December 2015

17,091,276

17,091,276

2015 
Number of notional shares

2014 
Number of notional shares

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 follows.

•  1,709,128 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price 
attains 30 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.

•  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 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.

•  1,709,128 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price 
attains 45 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.

•  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 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.

•  1,709,126 notional shares, with an exercise price of 15p will vest if the Company’s mid-market closing share price 
attains 60 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.

•  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 December 2010. For these purposes EBITDA shall mean EBITDA (earnings before interest, 
taxes, depreciation and amortisation) as shown in the audited financial 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

2015

Average exercise 
price per share 
£

0.27

0.218

-

0.3175

0.254

2014

Average exercise 
price per share 
£

0.224

0.359

Options 
(Number)

7,735,000

3,600,000

Options 
(Number)

10,210,000

1,800,000

-

0.18

(225,000)

(1,500,000)

10,510,000

0.264

(900,000)

0.27

10,210,000

At 1 January

Granted

Exercised

Forfeited

At 31 December

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 financial statements for the period in question. This condition has been met.

•  1,200,000 options were in issue to senior employees of the Group at an exercise price of 25.25p 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. 

65 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

For these purposes EBITDA shall mean EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation) as 
shown in the audited financial statements for the period in question. This condition has now been met.

•  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.

•  1,300,000  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. In accordance with the scheme 
rules these options vested on the termination of the director’s service contract on 31 December 2015, and can be 
exercised at any time before 31 December 2016.

•  1,300,000 options were issued to a former director on 9 December 2015 at an exercise price of 22.5p. These 
options vested immediately and are exercisable at any time before 31 December 2016.

•  500,000 options were issued to a third party on 17 May 2015 at an exercise price of 20.0p. The shares will vest 
from 6 April 2016 subject to the completion of certain contractual obligations, and to the Company’s mid-market 
closing share price attaining 35p or higher. The maximum term is 10 years from grant.

All  share  option  awards  are  equity  settled.  Out  of  the  10,510,000  (2014:  10,210,000)  outstanding 
options 8,060,000 (2014: 5,960,000) were exercisable.

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

Expiry date

31.12.2016

31.12.2016

16.06.2021

28.09.2021

19.04.2022

07.07.2023

21.01.2024

17.04.2024

30.05.2024

06.04.2025

2015

2014

Average exercise 
price per share 
£

0.35

0.225

0.200

0.252

-

0.2725

0.37625

-

-

Options 
(Number)

1,300,000

1,300,000

4,260,000

1,200,000

-

650,000

1,300,000

-

-

0.200

500,000

-

10,510,000

Exercise 
price per share 
£

Options 
(Number)

-

-

0.200

0.252

-

-

-

4,260,000

1,700,000

-

0.2725

650,000

0.37625

1,300,000

0.35

0.35

-

1,000,000

1,300,000

-

10,210,000

The weighted average fair value of options granted during 2015 determined using the Black-Scholes 
valuation model was £0.048 (2014: £0.109). 

The significant inputs into the model are detailed below:

Weighted average share price

Weighted average option exercise price

Expected volatility

Risk-free interest rate

Expected option life

Dividend yield

2015

13.7p

21.8p

76.8%

0.50

2014

31.44p

36.31p

41.3%

0.50

3.5 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.

 
3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  66

31. Retained earnings

At 1 January 2014

Loss for the year

Share-based payment

Movement on pension scheme 

At 31 December 2014

At 1 January 2015

Loss for the year

Share-based payment

At 31 December 2015

32. Other reserves

Group

At 1 January 2014

Currency translation differences

At 31 December 2014

At 1 January 2015

Currency translation differences

Recycling of reserves in respect of previously held 
interest in Selah Genomics

At 31 December 2015

Group
£’000

(3,412)

(5,689)

512

48

(8,541)

(8,541)

Company
£’000

(6,680)

(2,882)

512

-

(9,050)

(9,050)

(37,123)

(31,595)

226

226

(45,438)

(40,419)

Foreign currency 
£’000

Other 
£’000

(725)

751

26

26

846

(4,479)

(3,607)

41

-

41

41

-

-

41

Total 
£’000

(684)

751

67

67

846

(4,479)

(3,566)

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 benefit obligations

Pension benefits

The Company operates a defined 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  £318,000  (2014: 
£224,000).

34. Commitments

a) Capital commitments

The Group has contracted approximately £606,000 (2014 – £nil) capital expenditure at the end of the 
reporting period that had not yet been incurred.

b) Operating lease commitments

The Group leases various offices and manufacturing buildings under non-cancellable operating lease 
agreements. The lease terms are between one and five years.

The  Group  also  leases  various  office  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:

67 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

3.0 Financial Statements

Group

No later than 1 year

Later than 1 year and no later than 5 years

Later than 5 years

Total

35. Cash used in operations

Loss before tax

Loss on discontinued business

Adjustments for:

– Depreciation

– Amortisation

– Impairment of intangibles, excluding 
discontinued business

- Impairment of investment

– Warranty claim

– Loss/(Profit) on disposal of fixed assets

– Restructure of operations

– Share-based payments

– Release of deferred consideration

– Fair value adjustment

– Bad debt write down

– Net finance costs

Changes in working capital

– Inventories

– Trade and other receivables

– Trade and other payables

Land & buildings

Other

2015
£’000

219

661

123

1,003

2014
£’000

303

1,344

609

2,256

2015
£’000

114

146

-

260

2014
£’000

126

243

34

403

Group

Company

2015
£’000

(15,770)

-

1,173

6,879

5,948

750

349

5

(2,055)

226

(7,353)

(395)

5,123

1,817

(2,607)

2,025

971

Restated
2014
£’000

(3,431)

(597)

1,368

3,582

1,229

-

281

(6)

-

512

(79)

(476)

-

2,031

728

(8,467)

63

2015
£’000

2014
£’000

(27,791)

(3,003)

-

62

-

-

-

-

18,838

-

226

-

-

141

(1,029)

-

3,033

550

-

57

-

1,600

-

-

-

-

512

(79)

-

(678)

(132)

-

(9,829)

(459)

Net cash used in by operations

(2,914)

(3,262)

(5,970)

(12,011)

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

Group

Net book value

(Loss)/profit on disposal of property, plant and equipment

Proceeds from disposal of property, plant and equipment

2015

2014

47

(5)

42

16

6

22

Non-cash transactions

The principal non-cash transactions are transactions associated with the disposal of Selah Genomics 
Inc.; the release of  deferred consideration provisions; the fair value adjustment relating to the deferred 
equity  consideration  in  respect  of  EKF  Germany,  the  warranty  claim,  and  impairment  charges  in 
relation to capitalised R&D and the write off of trade debtors relating to customers in Mexico.

3.0 Financial Statements

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  68

36. Related Party Disclosures

Directors

Ron  Zwanziger,  a  Director  of  the  company  during  the  year,  is  a  substantial  shareholder  in  Lumira 
Diagnostics  Limited  (“Lumira”)  and  in  the  Company,  through  the  Zwanziger  Family  Ventures  LLC. 
From January 2016 to April 2016 the Group shared certain human resources and their associated costs 
with  Lumira.  The  Zwanziger  Family  Ventures  LLC  has  lent  £3,000,000  to  the  Group,  secured  by  a 
debenture.

The Group was invoiced £18,000 (2014: £18,000) by J & K (Cardiff) Limited for property rent. Julian 
Baines, a Director of the Company, 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 includes all the Directors only.

Salaries and other short-term employee benefits 

Share-based payments

Employer contribution to pension scheme

2015

1,179

116

35

1,330

2014

941

414

29

1,384

The Company

During the year the Company invoiced management charges of £1,799,000 (2014 – £2,526,000) and 
interest of £1,421,000 (2014 – £726,000) to its subsidiary companies. It purchased goods and services 
from subsidiaries totalling £228,000 (2014 – £619,000). At 31 December 2015 the Company was owed 
£32,926,000  (2014  –  £36,307,000)  by  its  subsidiaries  and  owed  £2,812,000  (2014  –  £2,913,000)  to 
other subsidiaries.

 
69 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

4.0 Additional Information

4.0 Additional Information

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 offices of Harwood Capital, 6 Stratton Street, Mayfair, London, W1J 8LD on 2 June 2016 at 11.00 
a.m. for the following purposes:

Ordinary Resolutions

1. To receive and adopt the statement of accounts for the year ended 31 December 2015 together with the reports 
of the Directors and the auditors thereon.

2. To re-elect Christopher Mills, who retires by rotation, as a Director.

3. To re-elect Adam Reynolds, who retires by rotation, as a Director.

4. 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 fix their remuneration.

5. 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,   up to a maximum nominal amount of £276,012.76 (in pursuance of the exercise of outstanding share  

options granted by the Company but for no other purpose);

ii,  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 2017, 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.

Special Resolution

That,  subject  to  the  passing  of  the  above  Resolution  the  Directors  be  given  the  general  power  to  allot  equity 
securities (as defined 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) the allotment of equity securities on the exercise of the share options granted by the Company;

(ii) 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 2017, 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 Office 

Avon House 
19 Stanwell Road  
Penarth
Cardiff, CF64 2EZ

By order of the Board

Salim Hamir
Company Secretary
4 April 2016

 
4.0 Additional Information

Notes

Notes

 EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc | Annual Report 2015  70

1. 

2. 

The Company specifies that only those members registered on the Company’s register of members at 
close of business on 31 May 2016 or if this general meeting is adjourned, at close of business on the day 
two days prior to the adjourned meeting shall be entitled to attend and vote at the General Meeting.
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 repre-

sent 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.

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

i,  completed and signed;
ii, sent or delivered to Capita Registrars, The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Kent BR3 4TU; and
iii, received by Capita Registrars, at the address provided in paragraph 5(b) above no later than 11.00 a.m. 

on 31 May 2016.

7. 

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 officer of the company or an attorney for the company.

8.  Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the Proxy Form is signed (or a duly certified 

copy of such power or authority) must be included with the Proxy Form.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 first-named 
being the most senior).

9.  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.

11. 

10.  Where you have appointed a proxy using the hard-copy proxy form and would like to change the instruc-
tions using another hard-copy proxy form, please contact Capita Registrars 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.
11. 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 Registrars 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 officer of the company or an attor-
ney for the company. Any power of attorney or any other authority under which the revocation notice is 
signed (or a duly certified copy of such power or authority) must be included with the revocation notice.

12. 

13.  The revocation notice must be received by Capita Registrars no later than 11.00 a.m. on 31 May 2016.
14. 

If you attempt to revoke your proxy appointment but the revocation is received after the time specified 
then, subject to the paragraph directly below, your proxy appointment will remain valid.

15.  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.

16.  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 exercis-
es power over the same share.

17.  Voting on all resolutions will be conducted by way of a poll rather than on a show of hands.
18.  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.

71 Annual Report 2015  |  EKF Diagnostics Holdings plc

4.0 Additional Information

Company Information

Directors:

Solicitors to the Company:

Berry Smith LLP

Haywood House 
Dumfries Place 
Cardiff, CF10 3GA

Registrars:

Capita Asset Services

The Registry
34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham
Kent, BR3 4TU

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

Christopher Mills
(Non-Executive Chairman)
David Evans 
(Non-Executive Deputy Chairman)
Julian Baines 
(Chief Executive Officer)
Richard Evans 
(Chief Operating Officer and Finance Director)
Lurene Joseph 
(Non-Executive Director)
Adam Reynolds 
(Non-Executive Director)

Company Secretary:

Salim Hamir

Registered Office and Head Office:

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
1 New Change
London, EC4M 9AF

 
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