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Emmis Acquisition Corp.

emis · NASDAQ Financial Services
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FY2010 Annual Report · Emmis Acquisition Corp.
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EMIS Group plc
Annual Report and 
Accounts 2010

Healthcare 
without boundaries

Business and financial review

A year of strengthening our foundations

EMIS Group plc is the UK’s leading supplier 
of clinical software and related services to 
GPs and other healthcare practitioners, 
with approximately 39 million patient records 
in the UK held on EMIS’ software.

Established in 1987, EMIS’ core activities include software licensing 
and support, hosting, hardware sales and maintenance services, 
third party software sales and training services.

The EMIS software includes all of the functionality as specified 
in NHS accreditation standards for GPs, including holding 
the patient’s cradle-to-grave healthcare record, practice 
appointment booking systems and consultation and intelligent 
prescribing modules.

EMIS was admitted to AIM on 29 March 2010.

Discover more online
Visit our online report for additional features 
and supporting content:
ar10.emis-online.com

Interactive content  
Find the information 
you require at the click 
of a button.

 
GP market share

53.8%

EMIS GP practices

5,576

Pharmacy market share

25%

Number of retail pharmacies 
over

3,000

Revenue

+8%
£62.4m

Adjusted operating profit

+11%
£17.6m

Adjusted cash generated 
from operations(1)

+20%
£18.4m

Total dividend for the year

Adjusted earnings per share

11.2p

+10%
21.78p

(1)  Cash generated from operations less 
internal development costs capitalised.

 IFC  A year of strengthening 

our foundations
   A brief outline of the company’s 
financial and operational 
achievements of the year

 02   Our highlights

   A brief outline of the company’s 
highlights of the year

 03   Our business

   A brief outline of the company’s 
business model

 04   Chief executive’s overview

   The Chief Executive’s overview 
of the performance for the year

 06   Business review

  06  Operational review
       Report on the company’s  
    operational performance

  10  Financial review
       The Finance Director’s report  
    on the company’s operational  
    and financial performance 

 14   Corporate social responsibility
   An account of how the company 
has adhered to its responsibilities 
to its employees, environment 
and the community

 17   Directors

   Brief biographies of all directors 
of the company 

 18   Advisers and shareholder information

 19  Directors’ report

 23   Directors’ remuneration report

 25  Corporate governance report

 28  Independent auditors’ report

 29   Group statement of 

comprehensive income

 30   Group and parent company 

balance sheets

 31   Group and parent company 

statements of changes in equity

 32   Group and parent company 
statements of cash flows

 33   Notes to the financial statements

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Search function 
Use the search facility to find 
the information you need.

read more about how our 
business model works:

 p03

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010
EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

01

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Business and financial review

Our highlights

Financial highlights

Total revenue 
Core activities(1) (EMIS/RX Systems):
– recurring revenue  
– operating profit 
Adjusted operating profit(2) 
Cash generated from operations 
Net cash/(debt) 
EPS 
EPS – adjusted(3) 
Dividends:
– proposed final 
– total dividend for year 

2010 

2009 

Increase

  £62.4m  £57.7m 

8%

  £50.8m  £42.7m 
  £19.6m  £17.0m 
  £17.6m  £15.8m 
  £22.2m  £19.9m 

19%
15%
11%
£2.3m
£(1.7m)  £3.4m
19.88p 
19.88p 

(0.2)%  
10%

£1.7m 
  19.84p 
  21.78p 

5.6p 
11.2p 

— 
— 

— 
—

(1) Excludes the Canadian operation discontinued post year end.

(2) Adjusted operating profit includes flotation and other transaction costs of £1.26m.

(3)  Calculation of 2010 adjusted EPS excludes flotation and other transaction costs of £1.26m less related tax relief of £0.16m.

Operational highlights(1)
A UK GP software market leading position:
  A growth in UK market share to 53.8% (2009: 52.5%)
  A 5,576 EMIS GP practices at year end (2009: 5,377 EMIS GP practices)
  A  market share in Scotland increased from 12.7% to 51.5% by year end

A  EMIS Web accredited September 2010 and controlled roll-out commenced. 

By the year end:

  A  44 GP practices installed
  A  433 orders placed
  A  1,665 orders for the EMIS Web familiarisation service

A RX Systems:
  A  alignment on track 
  A  high street pharmacy market share increased from 20.5% to 25.0%

A Strategic review of Canadian operation concluded and managed exit underway.

A Transformation of healthcare delivery in the UK opening up new markets for EMIS Web:
  A  in January 2011 EMIS won a five year contract, with an initial value of £1.8m, to deliver a shared patient healthcare 

record for primary healthcare teams across Cheshire

  A  EMIS continues to pilot EMIS Web across a variety of healthcare sectors in Liverpool, London and Cumbria

A  EMIS chosen to provide electronic healthcare records for the Australian Department of Defence 

under a five year contract.

(1)  EMIS and RX Systems data estimated based on subsidiary company records showing customers installed or ordered (by contract or letter of intent) 

as at 31 December 2010.

02

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Our business

EMIS Group plc, through its subsidiaries Egton Medical 
Information Systems Limited and RX Systems Limited, 
is the UK’s leading supplier of clinical software and 
related services to GPs and other healthcare practitioners.  
The Group’s core activities include software licensing 
and support, hosting, hardware sales and maintenance 
services, third party software sales and training services.

Our business
Healthcare core products
A   EMIS Web is the first new clinical 
system available to GPs in eleven 
years. Transforming patient care 
and NHS efficiency by allowing 
primary, secondary and community 
healthcare practitioners to view 
and contribute to a patient’s 
cradle‑to‑grave healthcare record.

A   EMIS PCS is a fully integrated, 
intuitive GP clinical system. The 
popular Windows-based system 
is used by general practices 
throughout the UK, helping to 
streamline practice efficiency 
and maximise QOF points. 

Pharmacy
A   RX Systems Limited  

In August 2010, EMIS acquired 78.9% 
of RX Systems Limited (RX Systems), 
a supplier of integrated pharmacy 
and retail systems for community 
pharmacies. RX Systems has a 
significant customer base of over 
3,000 pharmacies and a 25% share 
of this market. 

A   Pharmacy2U is one of the larger 
dedicated mail order and online 
NHS pharmacy companies of 
its type in the UK. EMIS has a 
20% shareholding.

A   EMIS Dental is designed to support 
the detailed care processes involved 
in the encounters between the 
patient and the dental professional, 
as well as the smooth day to day 
running of the dental practice.

A   EMIS LV was originally launched 

in the late 1980s and has been the 
most widely used clinical system 
for over two decades.

A   QUTE brings together primary 

and secondary care records which 
enables GPs to view a continuum 
of care, admin staff to easily reconcile 
cost information and PCTs and 
commissioners to carry out 
detailed searches and reports.

Ministry of Defence (MoD)
A   In 1995 EMIS was selected to 

provide the MoD with their Primary 
Health Care Information System 
software which is now installed 
in over 200 sites worldwide.

A   Awarded a five year contract 
in February 2011, as part of 
prime contractor, CSC’s, bid to 
provide an e-health system to the 
Australian Government for use by 
its armed forces.

Sharing patient data
A   Healthcare Gateway 

 A 50:50 joint venture company was 
established with INPS in June 2010  
to facilitate the sharing of patient 
data via a medical interoperability 
gateway (MIG). 

Read about how our business functions in 
the real world through our case studies:

and on our website:

 p05-13
  www.emis-
online.com

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

03

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Business and financial review

Chief executive’s overview

Sean Riddell
Chief Executive

“    2010 has been a busy year for EMIS Group. In our core business we have 
achieved accreditation and started the controlled roll‑out of EMIS Web, 
our transformational next generation healthcare IT system. Working 
with GPs and commissioning groups to fulfil the objectives described 
in the NHS White Paper, we are already seeing a high level of intent to 
upgrade. Of the first wave of 52 GP consortia announced to date, representing 
22% of England’s GP practices, 77% are already EMIS users. These pathfinder 
organisations will shape the way that GP consortia operate in the future.

   We made the strategic acquisition of RX Systems, significantly increased 
our market share in Scotland, formed a joint venture to deliver wider 
interoperability through Healthcare Gateway, progressed existing and 
new extended primary care and community projects in Liverpool, 
London, Cumbria and Cheshire and extended our international reach 
into Australia.

   We remain focussed on cross‑organisational healthcare and are 
confident that we can help healthcare professionals to deliver clinical 
benefit and improved efficiency through our software and services.”

EMIS Group, through its subsidiary 
companies EMIS and RX Systems, is a 
major provider of healthcare IT, software 
and services in the UK. EMIS is the UK 
GP software market leader with 53.8% 
(5,576) of UK GP practices and over 
60% of the cradle-to-grave electronic 
healthcare records. RX Systems provides 
healthcare IT, software and services to 
25% of UK high street pharmacies.

EMIS Group’s objective is to improve 
patient healthcare via the provision of 
healthcare IT, software and services. 
To achieve this, the group’s strategy 
is to join up the patient’s electronic 
healthcare record across the many 
clinicians and organisations that assist 
in the patient journey. We maintain a 

“healthcare first” ethos in delivering this 
cross‑organisational healthcare.

The NHS in England is undergoing a 
combination of political upheaval and 
austerity challenges and has moved its 
position away from the development 
of centralised national systems to a 
“connect all” strategy. This has been 
further defined in a Government White 
Paper, which confirms the ring fencing 
of the public health budget, the increase 
in real terms of NHS spending, sharing 
of information being the key to better 
care, outcomes and reduced cost, 
and devolved power for commissioning 
services passing to local consortia 
of GP practices. With over 60% of 
cradle‑to‑grave electronic healthcare 

EMIS Group won IPO of the 
Year at the Quoted Company 
Awards 2011.

04

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

20+ years track record of 
organic growth
EMIS was established in 1987 and has since 
grown organically, reinvesting its earnings to 
fund further growth for over 20 years

In Cheshire EMIS Web 
will allow primary 
and secondary care 
clinicians to access vital 
information about their 
patients’ health and 
for the whole team 
to work together to 
provide joined‑up care.

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records in the UK and the  
cross-organisational functionality of 
EMIS Web, EMIS is well positioned for 
future growth in the environment of the 
recently proposed NHS strategic changes. 

The envisaged transformation of 
healthcare delivery opens up new 
markets for EMIS Web. In addition to 
the estimated 157,000 staff currently 
based in GP practices, 292,000 staff 
work in extended primary and community 
healthcare, representing additional 
potential markets for EMIS. EMIS Web 
is already live in these new markets 
with strategic healthcare partners 
including the NHS in Tower Hamlets, 
Cumbria and, latterly, Cheshire where 
EMIS Web will become the main 
clinical information system for the 
whole primary healthcare team of 
approximately 4,000 clinicians working 
across a diverse range of healthcare 
settings. In Liverpool, we have 
successfully linked primary, out of 
hours and secondary healthcare IT 
systems. This improves patient care 
and delivers significant efficiencies 
by providing vital patient information 
at the point of need. With the formal 
accreditation process for EMIS Web 
now complete, this is a model that 
we intend to replicate in other 
healthcare communities.

Sean Riddell
Chief Executive
17 March 2011

The Cheshire initiative will be a major implementation of the 
EMIS Web cross-organisational healthcare system outside 
GP surgeries, with 933 EMIS Web access points installed 
in acute trusts, mental health facilities, clinics and some 
community facilities.

Using EMIS Web, the whole primary healthcare team, 
approximately 4,000 health professionals including 
community nurses and physiotherapists, will be able to 
record their own patient interventions in the software. 
Clinicians across primary and secondary care will also 
be able to view relevant information from the GP patient 
record, subject to patient consent and locally agreed 
data‑sharing protocols.

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

05

 
 
 
 
 
Business and financial review

Business review

Thousands of patients 
in Cumbria are benefiting 
from care closer to home, 
thanks to seamless 
data sharing across 
a large rural area 
using EMIS Web.

Operational review
EMIS’ core business remains stable 
and continues to perform well, 
responding to the ongoing change 
within the NHS. Our overall UK market 
share as a result of gaining 398 GP 
practices in Scotland has increased 
from 52.5% to 53.8%.

During 2010, core recurring income 
from licensing and software support 
increased by 8.9% to £31.7m compared 
with £29.1m in 2009, arising mainly 
from an increase in accredited hosting 
deployments. 608 practices were 
migrated to EMIS-hosted servers 
during the year. 

Income from hardware sales, 
engineering services and training 
reduced to £21.7m (2009: £24.8m). 
Not surprisingly, discretionary spend 
on hardware, engineering services and 
training was affected by pressure on 
NHS budgets and political uncertainty. 
It also appears that some spending is 
being deferred in anticipation of the 
roll-out of EMIS Web. We expect that 
pressure on NHS budgets will continue 
to impact discretionary spend. 

Scotland represents a significant area 
of new business growth for the future. 
NHS Scotland opted to replace the 
legacy GP System (GPASS) used by 
683 practices and, in January 2010, 
selected EMIS as one of only two 
systems to which GPASS practices 

Delivering joined-up care in Cumbria
GP practices in South Lakes are using 
EMIS Web, with patient permission, 
to securely share patient information 
with a range of community health teams.

14 out of 22 GP practices in the area 
– serving 75,000 patients – are now 
streaming patient information via EMIS 
Web, facilitating use by colleagues 
working in other areas of healthcare. 
More GP practices are expected to 
join the scheme, which would bring 
the total patient coverage to 110,000.

06

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

High visibility of earnings 
with recurring revenues
EMIS Group has high visibility of earnings with the 
majority of its income coming from annual licence 
fees and related support contracts.

GP market share(1)

Scotland

Market share

51.5%
530

No. of practices

England

Market share

55.8%
4,736

No. of practices

Northern Ireland

Market share

42.5%
151

No. of practices

Wales

Market share

32.1%
159

No. of practices

could upgrade. Health Boards in 
Scotland that have already recommended 
EMIS software to replace the GPASS 
system include the largest, NHS Greater 
Glasgow and Clyde. EMIS’ market 
share in Scotland grew from 12.7% (132 
practices at 1 January 2010) to 51.5% 
(530 practices, installed or ordered at 
31 December 2010). The additional 
revenue will largely fall into 2011 onwards.

During 2010, EMIS achieved its major 
objective for the year; the accreditation 
of EMIS Web, and then focussed on 
commencement of the controlled 
roll-out of EMIS Web to GP practices. 
At the same time, we began to put in 
place the significant internal resource 
which will be required to accelerate the 
roll-out of EMIS Web whilst continuing 
to meet customer expectations.

As at 31 December 2010, installation 
had been completed at 44 GP practices, 
433 orders had been placed for 
EMIS Web systems and orders had 
been received from 1,665 GP practices 
for the familiarisation service, which 
allows GP practices to run EMIS Web 
alongside their existing system before 
upgrading. Since the year end, 
installation has been completed 
at a further 33 GP practices. 

(1)  EMIS data estimated based on company records showing 
customers installed or ordered (by contract or letter of intent) 
as at 31 December 2010.

“ Using EMIS Web means patient care  
can become safer and more efficient.”

  Dr William Lumb
  Sedbergh Health Centre



For further information 
on this story visit:  
www.emis-online.
com/casestudies

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

07

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Business and financial review

Business review
continued

The acquisition of  
RX Systems represents 
a unique strategic 
opportunity for EMIS 
to develop further 
its presence in this 
adjacent segment 
of the healthcare 
IT market.

Operational review continued
As part of the group’s strategy to 
deliver cross-organisational healthcare, 
we are also in negotiation with a 
number of NHS Primary Care Trusts 
(PCTs) and GP consortia regarding the 
implementation of EMIS Web for use 
in extended primary and community 
healthcare. This has led to a number of 
successes with contracts signed with 
the NHS in Tower Hamlets, Liverpool, 
Cheshire and Cumbria. 

Also in line with our strategy of joining 
up healthcare, in August 2010, the 
group acquired 78.9% of RX Systems, 
a supplier of pharmacy and integrated 
retail systems for a consideration of up 
to £10.1m (including a completion 
accounts net assets adjustment). 
The non‑controlling shareholding has 
been retained by a strategic partner 
that itself runs over 500 high street 
pharmacies in the UK and provides 
invaluable domain knowledge and 
assistance. At acquisition, RX Systems 
had a significant UK-wide customer base 
of 2,500 pharmacies, representing 
a 20.5% share of this market. By 
the end of 2010, during a successful 
integration period, RX Systems’ market 
share in the UK had risen from 20.5% 
to 25%. The group’s alignment team 
had also begun work on a number of 
significant projects that can be exploited 
for the benefit of both businesses. 

Delivering integrated pharmacy systems
Operating throughout the UK, 
RX Systems has developed a range 
of integrated pharmacy and retail 
systems and services for the community 
pharmacy, including its core product, 
ProScript®, a Windows-based dispensary 
management system. The company 
also provides information required under 
the NHS IT programme for pharmacist 
audit and remuneration purposes.

08

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

Targeted acquisitive growth
EMIS Group plc acquired 78.9% of the issued 
share capital of RX Systems Limited, a pharmacy 
software and services company.

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The development of this healthcare 
gateway has been driven by demand 
from the NHS and other healthcare 
providers to move to a “connect all” 
ethos. The need for wider access 
to a critical mass of cradle‑to‑grave 
electronic healthcare records is 
increasingly important given the drive 
to deliver more NHS services in the 
community. It is expected that both 
the NHS and other software providers 
seeking to further connect computer 
systems in the NHS will buy services 
from Healthcare Gateway and product 
development and marketing are 
well underway. 

In 2010, we have delivered on key 
promises we made at the time of our 
IPO, namely the successful accreditation 
and commencement of controlled 
roll-out of EMIS Web, the significant 
increase in our market share in Scotland, 
and progress in facilitating the delivery 
of cross‑organisational healthcare 
through the acquisition of RX Systems 
and our joint venture with INPS.

Close interoperability between pharmacy 
and GP software systems will enable 
streamlining of the prescription process 
and links into the patient electronic 
healthcare record. Provision of EMIS’ 
proprietary patient information leaflets 
and drugs information leaflets will also 
broaden the healthcare knowledge 
available to pharmacists and patients 
in the high street.

As stated at the half year, EMIS Inc., 
the group’s Canadian subsidiary, 
had not made the progress previously 
anticipated. Action was taken, staff 
numbers reduced and a strategic 
review commenced. Since the year 
end, the strategic review has been 
concluded and a managed exit is 
now underway. 

Healthcare Gateway Limited, a 50:50 
joint venture company, was established 
with In Practice Systems Limited (INPS) 
to facilitate the sharing and transfer 
of patient data. This allows real time 
interoperability between GPs using 
EMIS Web, those using INPS software 
and other healthcare professionals 
within the NHS. It has the potential to 
significantly increase efficiency in the 
NHS as well as help practitioners to 
improve patient care. EMIS and INPS 
software users in the UK represent circa 
75% of GP practices and together hold 
approximately 46 million electronic 
healthcare records. 

“ RX Systems software has a strong reputation and a 
loyal community pharmacy customer base. Joining 
forces enables both EMIS and RX Systems to identify 
the best way to provide GPs and pharmacists with 
appropriate levels of interoperability to further improve 
patient care and efficiencies in the prescribing 
environment. This means real benefits for patients, 
GPs and pharmacists alike.”



For further information 
on this story visit:  
www.emis-online.
com/investors

  Sean Riddell
  Chief Executive
  EMIS Group plc

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

09

 
 
 
 
 
 
Business and financial review

Business review
continued

‘‘ EMIS Group is in a period of transition from a locally hosted healthcare 
IT software company, with servers predominantly based at the user’s 
premises, typically those of GPs, to a business that will primarily provide 
hosted software and services from its own data centres and with a variety 
of users across primary, extended primary and community care settings.

   A key area of focus of the group during 2010 was to start to put in place 
the infrastructure that will facilitate this transition. This will continue 
during 2011.’’

Phillip Woodrow
Finance Director

Financial review
With this background of investment 
and at this early stage, it is pleasing 
to report increased pre-tax profits 
for the year amounting to £16.1m 
(2009: £14.5m).

Revenue
Total group revenue was £62.4m, 
an increase of £4.7m over 2009.

As indicated above, core business 
recurring revenue, which excludes 
Canada, increased by £8.1m (19%) 

to £50.8m (2009: £42.7m). This includes 
hosting to Connecting for Health 
standards, which commenced at the 
end of December 2009 and generated 
revenues of £4.5m in 2010.

The increased core recurring revenue 
was partly offset by a reduction in 
PCT spending on hardware and other 
services being generally lower margin 
revenue streams. As a result, recurring 
revenue was 82% of core revenue, 
up from 74% for 2009.

Selected financial extracts 

Core business(1) 

Revenue 
Including: 
Core recurring revenue 

Core business operating profit: 
– add amortisation  
– deduct capitalised development costs 

Adjusted core business operating profit 

Cash and receivables less current bank debt and payables   

EPS – basic and diluted(1) 
EPS – adjusted(2)    

(1) Excluding EMIS Inc.

2010 

2009

EMIS  
and RX  
Systems 
combined 
£m 

RX 
Systems 
£m 

5.0 

61.9 

EMIS  
£m 

56.9 

EMIS 
£m

57.7

46.6 

4.2 

50.8 

42.7

19.4 
2.1 
(3.8) 

17.7 

0.2 
0.3 
 — 

0.5 

19.6 
2.4 
(3.8) 

18.2 

Group

2010 
£m 

5.0 

17.0
2.1
(4.6)

14.5

2009 
£m

4.6

Pence 

Pence

19.84 
21.78 

19.88
19.88

(2)  Calculation of 2010 adjusted EPS excludes flotation and other transaction costs of £1.26m less related tax relief of £0.16m.

10

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profitable and cash generative
The group is profitable, generating an operating 
profit of approximately £16.4m on turnover 
of approximately £62.4m for the financial 
year ended 31 December 2010.

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(before deduction of intangibles 
amortisation) of £0.55m to the group’s 
2010 results. RX Systems’ market 
share has now grown to 25% and the 
group’s alignment team has identified 
a number of significant synergies to be 
exploited by both businesses in 2011 
and beyond. 

Dividend
The directors have adopted a progressive 
dividend policy. Subject to shareholder 
approval at the Annual General Meeting 
on 24 May 2011, the board proposes 
paying a final dividend of 5.6p per 
ordinary share on 30 May 2011 to 
shareholders on the register at the 
close of business on 26 April 2011. 
This would make a total dividend of 
11.2p per ordinary share for 2010. 

Profitability
Operating profit, adjusted to add back 
flotation and other transaction costs of 
£1.26m, was £17.6m (2009: £15.8m), 
an increase of 11.4%. Excluding Canada, 
core business operating profit increased 
by £2.6m to £19.6m (2009: £17.0m). 

Stripping out the capitalised internal 
development costs and amortisation 
of intangibles, the adjusted operating 
profit from our core business was 
£18.2m (2009: £14.5m).

The increase of £359,000 in the 
intangibles amortisation charge this 
year to £2.4m (2009: £2.1m) arises 
mainly on the RX Systems’ acquisition.

Taxation
Our percentage tax charge is high as 
the losses of the group’s Canadian 
subsidiary cannot be offset against UK 
profits for tax purposes. The overall 
rate reduced over the second half of 
2010 as the benefit of the recent 
restructuring of the Canadian subsidiary 
took effect. It also reflects the reduction 
of the anticipated future corporation 
tax rate, from 28% to 27%, on the year 
end deferred taxation provision held 
to offset the future amortisation of 
intangible assets.

Earnings per share (EPS)
Basic and diluted EPS was 19.84p as 
against 19.88p for 2009. EPS, adjusted 
for flotation and other transaction costs, 
net of applicable tax relief, amounting 
to £1.1m was 21.78p (2009: 19.88p).

Since the flotation in March 2010, the 
group has been funded principally by 
equity, whereas previously it had a 
shareholder loan of £23m.

Cash
The flotation in March 2010 raised £50m 
gross, £25m for the group (£23.2m net 
of costs) and £25m less costs for 
existing shareholders. The group net 
proceeds were used principally to repay 
loans made available by the group’s 
founder shareholders of £23m. Other 
principal cash movements are shown 
in the table below.

RX Systems acquisition
In August 2010 the group acquired 
78.9% of RX Systems Limited, a 
supplier of integrated pharmacy and 
retail systems for high street pharmacies. 
RX Systems has performed in line with 
management expectations since 
acquisition, contributing revenue 
of £4.98m and operating profit 

Cash movements in year

Cash from operations:
Generated 
Less internal development costs capitalised 

Used for/other movements:
Acquisition of 78.9% of RX Systems (net of RX own cash) 
Net spending on computers, cars, etc.   
Bank term loan repayments   
Share issues 
Repayment of shareholder loans 
Bank and other interest 
Tax paid  
Interim dividend paid 

Cash increase/(decrease) in year 

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

2010 
£m 

2009 
£m

22.2 
(3.8) 

18.4 

(3.1) 
(5.3) 
(1.2)  
24.0 
(23.0) 
(0.4)  
(3.9)  
(3.3) 

19.9
(4.6)

15.3

—
(3.8)
(6.6)
—
—
(2.6)
(3.1)
—

(16.2) 

(16.1)

2.2  

(0.8)

11

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
Business and financial review

Business review
continued

Healthcare 
Gateway Limited, 
a joint venture 
company between 
leading GP software 
providers EMIS and 
INPS, has been 
awarded NHS  
Interoperability 
Toolkit (ITK) 
accreditation 
for its Medical 
Interoperability 
Gateway (MIG) 
product.

Our people and the board
EMIS Group remains at heart a people 
business with a “healthcare first” ethos 
and reputation built on the efforts of its 
employees. We would like to take this 
opportunity to thank all our employees 
for their commitment and hard work 
without which this year could not 
have been such a success. 

In particular, we would like to thank 
founder Tony Jones who stepped down 
as chair of the board of directors 
on 17 March 2011 after making a 
20 year contribution to the group. 
We would also like to welcome 
Mike O’Leary who was appointed 
in his place on the same day.

Current trading and outlook
Since the year end, trading has continued 
in line with management expectations.

As stated at the time of our IPO, EMIS 
supplies GP software and certain other 
services in England under a framework 
agreement extended in June 2009 until 
August 2011. It is expected that this will 
be further extended until August 2013 
in accordance with provisions contained 
in the agreement.

Strong revenue visibility, subject to the 
anticipated extension of the GPSoC 
agreement, continues into 2011 with 
recurring revenues expected to rise.

Delivering efficiencies
The MIG – one of the first products 
to receive ITK accreditation – is a 
new secure gateway that will open up 
access to the patient records held by 
the 75% of GP practices using EMIS 
and INPS systems. It will provide 
two-way access to the records for 
relevant NHS professionals.

By sharing real-time patient information 
at the point of need, it has the potential 
to significantly increase NHS efficiency 
as well as to improve patient care.

12

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

History of successful product 
development
EMIS Web is evidence of the group’s ongoing 
ability to innovate and lead the market with 
new product developments.

The controlled roll-out of EMIS Web 
is progressing as planned and the 
additional resources are being put in 
place in anticipation of a managed 
acceleration in the roll‑out rate in the 
second half of the year. The intention 
remains to maximise deployment while 
minimising customer impact. 33 GP 
sites have been installed so far in 2011, 
with 247 further install dates given.

We believe that there will be further growth 
in revenues from the accelerated roll‑out 
of EMIS Web, increasing hosting revenues 
and greater RX Systems’ revenues, but 
that current pressure on customers’ 
discretionary hardware and engineering 
services spend will continue during 2011. 
We therefore expect revenues in 2011 to 
be weighted towards the second half of 
the year. 

As already indicated, EMIS Inc., having 
not made the progress previously 
anticipated, a managed exit is now 
underway. We expect that the 2011 
Canadian loss, including the costs of the 
managed exit, will amount to £1.1m of 
which £0.9m will be a cash cost. 
There will also be an impairment 
charge of £1.4m.

Anticipating the recent White Paper on 
the NHS, EMIS’ product strategy, coupled 
with its extensive and loyal GP user base 
and “healthcare first” ethos, places EMIS 
in a strong position to benefit from the 

transfer of PCT budgets to GP consortia 
and the focus on patients rather than 
administrative organisations. 

In the case of extended primary and 
community healthcare systems, NHS 
organisations in Liverpool and Cumbria 
both signed pathfinder agreements in 
May 2010 from which revenues of £58k 
arose and this is expected to increase 
throughout 2011. Furthermore, 
in January 2011, we signed a five year 
contract with a minimum value of £1.8m 
to deliver a shared care record for primary 
healthcare teams across Cheshire. In 
March 2011, through Healthcare Gateway, 
we also began to pilot the transfer 
of discharge summaries and sharing 
of detailed electronic healthcare 
records in London and Cumbria.

EMIS continues to supply healthcare 
software to the MoD in the UK and has 
built on this success with a contract win, 
in February 2011, as part of prime 
contractor, CSC’s, bid to provide an 
e-health system to the Australian 
Government for use by its armed forces. 
It is expected that development 
customisation work will take place in 
2011, with implementation starting in 
2012. This has been described by the 
Commander of Australia’s Joint Health 
Command as “…a significant milestone 
in the delivery of an electronic health 
information system”.

Finally, RX Systems brings the opportunity 
to link GP practices with high street 
pharmacists and so help pharmacists 
to expand their services, work more 
efficiently, and play a greater role in the 
wider healthcare team. The alignment of 
RX Systems is proceeding in accordance 
with management expectations and 
significant synergies have been identified 
which will offer opportunities during 2011 
and beyond.

We are confident that we have put in 
place solid foundations for future growth. 
We will continue to build on these 
foundations and are pleased with 
progress and performance to date, 
of which our employees can rightfully 
be proud.

Sean Riddell
Chief Executive
17 March 2011

Phillip Woodrow
Finance Director
17 March 2011

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“ We are excited about the potential of the 
MIG to transform NHS efficiency and patient 
care by seamlessly connecting different 
healthcare professionals. Receiving ITK 
accreditation demonstrates the robustness 
of the technology and will provide extra 
reassurance for our customers.”



For further information 
on this story visit:  
www.emis-online.
com/news

  Peter Anderson
  Commercial Director
  Healthcare Gateway Limited

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

13

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Corporate social responsibility

Healthcare software 
is a business where 
relationships are key. 
Delivering better 
services for patients 
and reducing NHS 
costs underpins 
everything we do.

We have a clear strategy for further growth 
and this cannot be achieved without 
a commitment to retain, engage and 
develop our people as well as developing 
key relationships with customers, 
suppliers, shareholders and the 
communities in which we work and live.

Following admission to AIM, the company 
has taken the opportunity to review 
the many examples of good CSR 
practice already in place and the key 
aim in the coming year is to build the 
framework and implement a sound 
CSR strategy. 

The EMIS Group Corporate Social 
Responsibility Policy was approved by 
the board during the year and is available 
on the group’s website. The Policy covers 
the key areas of:

A  Employees

A  Health and Safety

A  Engagement with the Wider Community

A  Environment

A  Ethical Business Practices

Employees
Employees are central to the sustained 
success of the business. It is essential 
we recruit and retain the right candidates 
to support the development of the 
business. To better equip managers 
who are recruiting new employees, 
a series of recruitment workshops 
have been delivered. 

QResearch
QResearch® is a large consolidated 
database derived from the anonymised 
health records of over twelve million 
patients. This is a not-for-profit health 
research project. 

The data currently comes from 602 
general practices using the EMIS 
clinical computer system. The practices 
are spread throughout the UK and 
include data from patients who are 

14

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

A framework for 
responsible business
The group is committed to working in 
collaboration with employees, customers, 
suppliers, shareholders and communities.

All employees attend a comprehensive 
induction programme shortly after 
joining the company to gain a wider 
understanding of the business. 
Sean Riddell, our Chief Executive, 
attends these courses and personally 
welcomes all new starters when available.

After twelve months’ employment, 
all UK employees can participate in 
The EMIS Group plc Share Incentive 
Plan (the “SIP”). The SIP enables 
employees to buy shares out of pre-tax 
salary each month and receive one 
matching share for every four purchased. 
172 employees currently participate 
which is 23% of the eligible workforce.

Employee development is a key factor 
in attracting and retaining the right 
people. In 2010 over 500 staff attended 
training courses. There are more than 
60 on-line e-learning solutions and a 
number of face-to-face courses available 
to employees covering not only technical 
areas but also professional development. 

Health and Safety
EMIS is committed to the promotion 
of a positive safety culture. A health 
and safety committee meets on a regular 
basis to discuss all relevant health and 
safety issues and the EMIS Group 
board receives quarterly health and 
safety reports. The committee has 
access to specialist external health 
and safety advice as required. 

All accidents and incidents are monitored 
and reviewed so that action can be 
taken where necessary. 

All employees attend a tailored health 
and safety induction which includes 
manual handling training and how to 
undertake display screen equipment 
assessments. The results of all risk 
assessments are recorded and any 
required actions followed up by 
the competent person.

Fleet drivers are issued with a safety 
pack and a comprehensive handbook 
covering the health and safety 
guidelines for employees driving 
company vehicles.

Community
Employees engage in a wide range 
of activities to raise money for local 
and national charities. These include 
sporting events, raffles and dress 
down days. The company makes a 
number of charitable donations each 
year and sponsors sports kit for local 
school football teams. 

The company provides work experience 
for students, supports college 
apprenticeships, provides extended 
work placements and has attended a 
recruitment fair held at a local school.

The company facilitates the giving 
of blood by arranging for the National 
Blood Service to visit the head office 
once a quarter. 

It is recognised that there is a desire 
amongst staff to engage with the wider 
community and that a community 
engagement programme can be a 
factor in the recruitment and retention 
of employees. A key focus in the 
coming year will be looking to what 
more the company can do to enable 
wider community engagement by 
developing key strategic partnerships 
and a structured approach.

Environment
As a responsible employer, the company 
is committed to the minimisation of waste 
and the reduction of the amount of energy 
consumed. Recycling, in particular of 
IT equipment, is encouraged wherever 
possible. Any disposal of IT waste is 
carried out in an appropriate manner 
in accordance with the Hazardous 
Waste Directive. 

The company promotes a purchasing 
policy which gives preference, as far as 
practicable, to those products and 
services which cause the least harm 
to the environment. When conducting 
supplier reviews, the company ensures 
that all suppliers adhere wherever 
possible to recommended environmental 
policy regulations.

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currently registered with the practices 
as well as patients who have died or left. 

Historical records extend back to the 
early 1990s making it one of the largest 
and richest general practice databases 
in the world. The aim is to develop and 
maintain a high quality database of 
general practice derived data for 
use in ethical medical research.



For further 
information on 
corporate governance: 
www.emis-online.
com/investors

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

15

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Corporate social responsibility
continued

Environment continued
The environmental policy seeks to 
ensure compliance with environmental 
legislation and that waste production 
is minimised. A review of this activity 
to identify new opportunities for 
waste reduction will be undertaken.  
A paper-light policy is in force 
throughout the company to 
reduce deforestation.

A review of the car fleet led to the 
introduction of vehicles with low carbon 
emissions to reduce the environmental 
impact of business travel.

Ethical business practices
All the group’s policies detail the 
standards expected throughout the 
group, including free and fair competition, 
the prohibition of bribery, the honest 
and fair dealing with suppliers, to 
ensure the welfare of workers and that 
employment conditions within the supply 
chain meet or exceed internationally 
recognised standards.

Objectives for 2011

A  To work with Business in the Community to 
complete an audit of current CSR activity.

A  To develop a tailored action plan for integrating 

responsible business practice throughout 
the business.

A  To develop an employee engagement plan 
to help employees gain an understanding 
of their importance in the successful 
implementation of the CSR action plan.

A  To increase employee awareness of 

environmental issues and their role in 
reducing environmental impacts.

A  To ensure compliance with legal requirements 
and good practice by further reviewing the 
current processes in place for recording and 
monitoring accidents and risk assessments.

A  To devise new processes to facilitate and 

support volunteering opportunities.

A  To introduce a policy whereby EMIS commits, 

within defined parameters, to match charitable 
contributions raised by staff.

Accident record(1)

RIDDOR reportable accidents 
Minor recorded injuries 
Accident rate per 100 employees 

(1) Excluding RX Systems.

2010 

0 
68 

9 9

2009

0
69

16

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Directors

Anthony (Tony) Jones (63) A, R(c), N(c)
Non-executive Chairman
A co-founder of EMIS, Tony headed up the commercial and 
strategic direction of EMIS from its inception until 2006 and 
remained as Executive Chairman until April 2008. Tony was 
appointed Non-executive Chairman of EMIS Group in 
May 2008. Prior to establishing EMIS, Tony was a Northern 
Regional Director for Compass Group. Tony retired from 
the board on 17 March 2011.

Sean Riddell (46)
Chief Executive
Sean has 20 years’ experience of IT within the healthcare 
sector, all gained with the group. Sean joined EMIS in 1989 
as a Field Support Manager. Sean’s initial role then developed 
into a broader sales and marketing role for the group.

Sean was initially appointed to the EMIS board in 1999 and 
became Managing Director of EMIS in September 2006. 
He was then appointed Managing Director of EMIS Group 
upon its incorporation in April 2008 and became 
Chief Executive on the group’s admission to AIM. Sean 
worked for Provident Financial Group as a Business 
Information Analyst prior to joining EMIS and has a degree 
in Psychology. Sean is also a non-executive director of 
Pharmacy2U Limited and Healthcare Gateway Limited.

Robin Taylor (59) A(c), R, N
Non-executive Director
Robin joined EMIS Group as an independent non-executive 
director on 1 March 2010. He was formerly Finance Director 
of Intec Telecom Systems plc (Intec), a main market publicly 
listed company which he joined on 1 March 2007 from 
YFD Ltd, a provider of financial director services. During 
2005 and 2006, Robin worked as an independent 
consultant. From 2000 to 2005, Robin was Group Finance 
Director of ITNET plc and previously he was Chief Financial 
Officer and Director of Business Development of JBA Holdings plc. 
Prior to that, Robin held a variety of financial and general 
management roles in both Europe and North America.

Robin is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants 
of Scotland and a non-executive director of Covalent 
Software Ltd.

From 18 March 2011, Robin will become the chair of the 
remuneration committee.

Phillip Woodrow (63)
Finance Director 
Phillip joined EMIS Group as Finance Director in April 2008 
on completion of the management buy-out. Prior to joining 
EMIS, Phillip was a partner in Baker Tilly and from 1988 to 
1993, Phillip acted as Secretary to the Inspectors in relation 
to a major DTI investigation.

Phillip joined Smith & Hayward, a predecessor firm of Baker 
Tilly, in 1965 qualifying as a Chartered Accountant in 1970 
and becoming a partner of that firm in 1972. Phillip is 
also a non-executive director of Bradford City Challenge 
Foundation Limited, a charitable organisation providing 
funding to local charities in the Bradford area. Phillip is a 
Fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England 
and Wales.

Dr David Stables (52)
Director of Development Strategy
David has over 25 years’ experience in healthcare IT. 
A co-founder of EMIS he developed an electronic medical 
record system to alert GPs to potential prescribing errors 
and to help with diagnosis and, in 1987, was instrumental 
in the development of the first EMIS system that managed 
patient records within a GP practice. David was appointed 
Medical Director of EMIS in the same year. In 2009, David 
was appointed Director of Development Strategy.

David qualified in Medicine at Dundee University in 1981, 
entered general practice in 1984 at Egton Surgery and 
was a partner in that practice from 1987 to 1991.

Mike O’Leary (58) 
Non-executive Chairman
Mike was appointed to the board of EMIS Group 
on 17 March 2011. He has 20 years of main board 
experience in a public company environment, including 
both FTSE100 and FTSE250. On appointment Mike 
became a member of the audit and remuneration 
committee and chair of the nomination committee.

Mike is currently a non-executive director of Headlam Group plc, 
Psion plc and he is also Chairman of Digital Healthcare 
Limited (a Cambridge based supplier of software to the 
UK Diabetic Retinopathy Screening Programme).

He was formerly Chief Executive of Marlborough Stirling plc, 
Chief Executive of Huon Corporation and an executive 
director of MISYS plc.

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A – Audit committee member

R – Remuneration committee member

 N – Nomination committee member

 (c) – Chair

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

17

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Advisers and shareholder information

Registered office
EMIS Group plc 
Fulford Grange 
Micklefield Lane 
Rawdon 
Leeds LS19 6BA 
Tel: 0113 380 3000 
www.emis-online.com

Company registration number
6553923 

Nominated adviser and broker 
Evolution Securities Limited 
Kings House 
1 King Street 
Leeds LS1 2HH

Auditors 
Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP 
2 Whitehall Quay 
Leeds LS1 4HG 

Registrars 
Capita Registrars Limited 
The Registry 
34 Beckenham Road 
Beckenham BR3 4TU

Financial PR 
MHP Communications  
60 Great Portland Street 
London W1W 7RT

Legal advisers to the company 
as to English law 
Cobbetts LLP 
No. 1 Whitehall Riverside 
Leeds LS1 4BN

Internet
The group operates a website which can be found at 
www.emis-online.com. This site is regularly updated to 
provide information about the group. In particular, the share 
price and all of the group’s press releases and 
announcements can be found on the site.

Registrar
Any enquiries concerning your shareholding should be 
addressed to the company’s registrar. The registrar 
should be notified promptly of any change in a shareholder’s 
address or other details: Capita Registrars Limited, 
The Registry, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham BR3 4TU, 
Tel: 0871 664 0300. The registrar’s website is  
www.capitaregistrars.com. This will give you access to 
your personal shareholding by means of your investor code 
which is printed on your share certificate or statement of 
holding. A user ID and password will be sent to you once 
you have registered on site. 

Shareholder security
Shareholders are advised to be wary of any unsolicited 
advice, offers to buy shares at a discount, or offers of free 
reports about the company. Details of any share dealing 
facilities that the company endorses will be included in 
company mailings or on our website. More detailed inform ation 
can be found at www.moneymadeclear.fsa.gov.uk.

Payment of dividends
Shareholders may find it more convenient to make 
arrangements to have dividends paid directly to their bank 
account. The advantages of this are that the dividend is 
credited to a shareholder’s bank account on the payment 
date, there is no need to present cheques for payment and 
there is no risk of cheques being lost in the post. To set up a 
dividend mandate or to change an existing mandate, please 
contact Capita Registrars, our registrar, whose contact 
details appear above.

Share dealing services
The sale or purchase of shares must be done through 
a stockbroker or share dealing service provider. 
The London Stock Exchange provides a “Locate a broker” 
facility on its website which gives details of a number of 
companies offering share dealing services. For more 
information, please visit the private investors section at 
www.londonstockexchange.com. Please note that the 
directors of the company are not seeking to encourage 
shareholders to either buy or to sell shares. Shareholders 
in any doubt about what action to take are recommended 
to seek financial advice from an independent financial 
adviser authorised pursuant to the Financial Services 
and Markets Act 2000.

Share price information
The latest information on the share price is available at 
www.emis-online.com/investors.

18

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

Directors’ report

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The directors have pleasure in presenting their report and audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2010. 

General information and principal activities
EMIS Group plc (“the company” or “the parent company”) converted to public limited company status on 19 March 2010 
and acquired a listing on AIM on 29 March 2010. The company was formerly called EMIS Group Limited. The company 
is the parent company of trading subsidiary companies (together “the group”), the principal trading subsidiaries being 
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited (“EMIS”) and RX Systems Limited (“RX Systems”). 

The company is incorporated in England and Wales and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 
Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds LS19 6BA.

The principal activity of the group is the design of computer software for healthcare professions, mainly general 
practitioners and, following the acquisition of RX Systems during the year, pharmacists also, together with the supply 
and support of computer systems for the healthcare profession and other users. 

A review of the development of the group’s business during the year, including KPIs, the principal risks and uncertainties 
facing the group and its future prospects are included in the Chief Executive’s operational review and the Financial review 
which should be read in conjunction with this report.

The directors have monitored the performance of the group by reference to certain financial and non-financial key 
performance indicators (KPIs). The financial indicators include profitability, revenues, cash generation and basic and diluted 
earnings per share. Non-financial KPIs include the number of deployments, customer satisfaction and staff turnover.

Acquisitions
The group acquired 78.9% of the issued capital of RX Systems, a pharmacy software and services company; further 
details of the acquisition are given in the Financial review.

Joint venture
The group established a 50:50 joint venture, Healthcare Gateway Limited with In Practice Systems Limited. Further details 
of the joint venture are given in the Operational review.

Dividends
The directors have adopted a progressive dividend policy. Subject to shareholder approval at the Annual General Meeting 
(AGM) on 24 May 2011, the board proposes paying a final dividend of 5.6p per ordinary share on 30 May 2011 to 
shareholders on the register at the close of business on 26 April 2011. This would make a total dividend of 11.2p per ordinary 
share for 2010.

Directors and their interests
The directors of the company who served during the year ended 31 December 2010 are as follows: 

Anthony (Tony) Jones 
Sean Riddell
Phillip Woodrow
Dr David Stables
Robin Taylor

Biographies of the directors can be found on page 17. 

The board was pleased to announce the appointment, as Non-executive Chairman, on 17 March 2011, of 
Michael (Mike) O’Leary and his biography is on page 17. With the appointment of Mike O’Leary, Tony Jones 
retired from the board.

The company’s Articles of Association require that any director appointed since the last AGM shall only hold office until 
the next AGM and shall then be subject to election. Therefore, Mike O’Leary will seek election at the AGM to be held on 
24 May 2011.

Directors are subject to re-election at intervals of not more than three years and as each of the directors were re-elected 
at the AGM in 2010, no director will be required to retire at the 2011 AGM. 

Details of directors’ remuneration, service agreements and interests in the share capital of the company, are given in the 
Directors’ remuneration report.

No director has had any material interest in any contract of significance with the company or any of its subsidiaries during 
the year under review. 

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

19

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Directors’ report
continued

Research and development
Development work continued during the year on EMIS Web, a next generation clinical software system which enables GPs 
and other healthcare practitioners to connect with each other and securely share real time access to a patient’s 
cradle-to-grave electronic health record. 

Formal accreditation of EMIS Web, for use in primary care, was obtained on 7 September 2010. Development work continues both 
on EMIS Web for GPs and to further develop EMIS Web into extended primary care and community/cross-organisational settings. 

Development expenditure in the year amounted to £5.1m (2009: £6.5m) of which £3.8m (2009: £4.5m) was capitalised. 

Creditor payment policy and practice
It is the policy and normal practice of the group to make payments due to suppliers in accordance with agreed terms 
and conditions, generally within 30 days. This policy will also be applied for 2011. 

Trade payables at 31 December 2010 represent an average of 40 days’ goods and services supplied (2009: 58 days).

Share capital
As at 17 March 2011, the company had 58,550,017 ordinary shares of one penny each in issue. The shares are traded 
on AIM, a market operated by the London Stock Exchange plc. The rights and obligations attached to the shares are 
set out in the company’s Articles of Association which are available on the company’s website.

During the year the company established an Employee Benefit Trust (EBT) to hold shares in the company to facilitate 
share-based emolument payments. As at 31 December 2010 the EBT held 32,377 ordinary shares of one penny each, 
on which it has waived its right to dividends. 

Substantial interests in shares
As at 17 March 2011, the company had been notified of the following substantial interests in 3% or more in its ordinary shares:

Number of 
shares 
 8,292,605 
 7,189,623 
 5,508,580 
 4,422,724 
 4,394,090 
 4,193,430 
 3,623,694 
 2,728,961 

% issued 
capital
14.16
12.28
9.41
7.55
7.50
7.16
6.19
4.66

Sean Riddell 
Dr Peter Sowerby 
Andrew Whitwam 
Dr David Stables(1) 
Phillip Woodrow 
Standard Life Investments Limited 
Tony Jones(2) 
Gary Shuckford 
(1) 

 The shares indicated alongside Dr David Stables are held on trust and legally owned by the Dr P R Sowerby No. 2 Discretionary Settlement (as to 2,211,362) 
and by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 4 Discretionary Settlement (as to 2,211,362). The trustees are Tony Jones, Dr David Stables and Rachel Stables.

(2) 

 The shares indicated alongside Tony Jones are held on trust and legally owned by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 1 Discretionary Settlement (as to 1,811,847) 
and by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 3 Discretionary Settlement (as to 1,811,847). The trustees are Phillip Woodrow, Tony Jones, Dr David Stables and 
Victoria Jones.

Directors’ indemnities
As permitted by the Articles of Association, the directors would be indemnified in respect of proceedings which might 
be brought by a third party.

Principal risks and uncertainties
The UK Government is undertaking a programme of major change within healthcare, and although this will provide significant 
growth opportunities for the company, due to the present uncertainties within the NHS, it could also introduce some future 
risk of delay to the roll-out of EMIS Web in the later stages. As stated at the time of the company’s listing on AIM, EMIS 
supplies GP software and certain other services in England under a framework agreement extended in June 2009 until 
August 2011. The directors expect that this will be further extended until 2013 in accordance with provisions contained 
in the agreement. Whilst the directors consider that renegotiation may represent an opportunity to retain or improve the 
present position, they recognise that there is a risk that this will not be possible in the present climate of austerity.  

The previous Government’s policy of a single supplier, now in the course of being abandoned, has given competitors opportunity, 
within certain areas in England, to try to erode the company’s market share in those areas. This risk is being mitigated by growth in 
other parts of the UK, the development of the interoperability agenda through Healthcare Gateway, and the development of EMIS Web. 

20

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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Principal risks and uncertainties continued
The further development and roll-out of EMIS Web presents both opportunities and risks. Any major software development 
is inherently subject to risk. However, by using extensive internal and external testing procedures and controls, the company 
has mitigated the risk of delay or failure as far as is possible. 

The principal financial risks are disclosed in note 4 to the accounts.

Employees
The group’s policy is to ensure the adequate provision for the welfare, health and safety of its employees and of other 
people who may be affected by its activities.

The group encourages the involvement of its employees and employees are made aware of significant matters through 
informal briefings, team meetings and the company’s website and intranet.

During the year the board established The EMIS Group plc Share Incentive Plan and further details are contained in the 
Directors’ remuneration report and note 29 to the accounts. 

The group treats applications for employment for disabled persons equally with those of other applicants having regard to 
their ability, experience and the requirements of the job. Where existing employees become disabled every effort is made 
to provide them with continuing suitable work within the group.

Charitable and political donations 
The group made charitable donations amounting to £7,986 (2009: £12,803) during the year. No political donations were 
made in either year.

Post balance sheet events
During the year, EMIS Inc., the group’s Canadian subsidiary, had not made the progress previously anticipated. Action 
was taken, staff numbers reduced and a strategic review commenced. Since the year end, the strategic review has been 
concluded and a managed exit is now underway.

Going concern
After careful enquiry and review of available financial information, including projections of profitability and cash flows for the 
two years to 31 December 2012, the directors have formed the conclusion that the company and the group have adequate 
resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future and that it is therefore appropriate to continue to adopt the 
going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the consolidated and company financial statements.

AGM notice
The notice convening the AGM to be held on 24 May 2011, together with an explanation of the resolutions to be proposed 
at the meeting, is contained in a separate circular to shareholders.

Statement of directors’ responsibilities
The directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable 
law and regulations.

Company law requires the directors to prepare group and company financial statements for each financial year. The directors 
have elected under company law to prepare group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union (EU) and have elected under company law to prepare the company 
financial statements in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the EU.

The financial statements are required by law and IFRS adopted by the EU to present fairly the financial position of the group 
and the company and the financial performance of the group. The Companies Act 2006 provides in relation to such financial 
statements that references in the relevant part of that Act to financial statements giving a true and fair view are references 
to their achieving a fair presentation.

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 and the company 
for that period. 

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

21

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Directors’ report
continued

Statement of directors’ responsibilities continued
In preparing the group and company financial statements, the directors are required to:

a. select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

b. make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

c. state whether they have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs adopted by the EU; and

d.  prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the group 

and the company will continue in business.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the group’s 
and the company’s transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the group and 
the company 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 group and the company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention 
and detection of fraud and other irregularities.

Auditors and statement as to disclosure of information to auditors
The directors who were in office on the date of approval of these financial statements have confirmed, as far as they are 
aware, that there is no relevant audit information of which the auditors are unaware. Each of the directors has confirmed 
that they have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as directors in order to make themselves aware of any 
relevant audit information and to establish that it has been communicated to the auditors.

The auditors, Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP, have indicated their willingness to be re-appointed and a resolution that they be 
re-appointed will be proposed at the AGM.

Corporate governance
The company’s statement on corporate governance can be found in the Corporate governance report on pages 25 to 27 
of this annual report and accounts. The Corporate governance report forms part of this Directors’ report and is incorporated 
into it by cross-reference. 

By order of the board

Chris Spencer
Company Secretary
17 March 2011

22

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

Directors’ remuneration report

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This report sets out the remuneration policy of EMIS Group plc (“the company” or “the parent company”) and its 
subsidiaries (together “the group”). As a company listed on AIM, the company is not required to comply with the Directors’ 
Remuneration Regulations 2002 (“the Regulations”). The board has, however, adopted many of the best practice 
provisions set out in the Regulations and these are referred to in the report below.

Remuneration committee
After the appointment of Mike O’Leary, the remuneration committee will be chaired by Robin Taylor. It has been chaired 
to date by Tony Jones. The committee has clearly defined written terms of reference which are reviewed annually by the 
board. These are available on the website, www.emis-online.com/investors. The committee may invite anyone it deems 
appropriate to attend and advise at meetings and the committee chairman attends the AGM to answer any shareholder 
questions on the activities of the committee. The Company Secretary acts as secretary of the committee. 

The committee is responsible for establishing a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on executive 
remuneration and to set the remuneration of the directors. This includes agreeing with the board the framework for 
remuneration of the Chief Executive, all other executive directors, the Company Secretary and such other members of 
the executive management as it is designated to consider. 

The overall policy of the board is to ensure that members of the board and executive management are provided with 
appropriate incentives to encourage enhanced performance and are, in a fair and responsible manner, rewarded for their 
contribution to the success of the group, including where appropriate, bonuses, incentive payments and the award 
of share options. The committee annually considers the need to appoint external consultants to help define overall 
remuneration policy.

The principal elements of relevant executive remuneration packages are detailed below:

Basic salary – basic salaries are reviewed annually by the committee, taking into account changes in individual position 
and responsibility and individual and group performance. Salaries are compared against the market level for companies 
of a similar size and complexity. 

Benefits – benefits principally include a car (or allowance).

Performance related bonus – bonus arrangements are determined by the committee. There is no unconditional right 
to receive a bonus. The committee can also make one off bonus payments to reflect exceptional performance or 
special circumstances. 

Pensions – there are no obligatory group-wide pension arrangements. A director of one subsidiary company participates 
in a subsidiary company pension plan and contributions are made to the personal pension plans of other executives. 
The group makes contributions to the private pension schemes of the executive directors as identified in the remuneration 
table overleaf. The group provides access to a stakeholder pension scheme which all staff are eligible to join on 
commencing employment. 

Share option schemes – during the year the group established The EMIS Group plc Share Incentive Plan (“the SIP”) for 
UK employees employed by the group for at least twelve months. The SIP enables employees to buy shares out of pre-tax 
salary each month and receive one matching share for every four purchased. None of the company’s executive directors 
participate in the SIP because they have been advised this would not be appropriate.

Further details on the SIP are contained in note 29 to the accounts. 

The directors believe it is important to motivate and reward senior key employees and executives and to do so in a proper 
manner that aligns their interests with those of the shareholders. Accordingly the company is seeking approval at the AGM 
on 24 May 2011 for a Company Share Option Plan subject to HMRC approval and an unapproved share option scheme in 
which certain key executives and employees will be invited to participate at the discretion of the committee. It is anticipated 
that grants will be made under the new share schemes in 2011.

Shares subscribed or subscription options granted under any share incentive arrangements proposed by the group will 
be limited, in total, to no more than 10% of the company’s issued share capital from time to time in any ten year period. 
Options under these arrangements will be subject to specified performance criteria, thereby linking remuneration to 
the performance of the group. Further details of the proposed schemes are contained in the Notice of Meeting and 
Guidance to Shareholders.

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

23

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Directors’ remuneration report
continued

Service contracts
The company entered into service agreements with the executive directors on 24 March 2010. In all cases these can be 
terminated by either party on twelve months’ notice. No service contract provides for the payments of pre-determined 
amounts in the event of early termination. Copies of the executive directors’ service contracts will be available for 
inspection prior to and during the AGM. 

Non-executive directors
The Chairman and senior non-executive director do not have service agreements and were appointed by letter of 
appointment. The appointments commenced on 1 March 2010 and both are terminable by six months’ notice on either 
side (with Tony Jones’ contract also being terminable forthwith on the appointment of an independent non-executive 
chairman). The Chairman and senior non-executive director are not eligible for pensions, share incentives or bonus.

Mike O’Leary’s appointment, on 17 March 2011, was also by letter of engagement, for an initial term of three years unless 
terminated earlier by either party giving not less than three months’ written notice.

Directors’ interests
The interests of the directors over the ordinary shares of the company are as follows:

 The shares indicated alongside Dr David Stables are held on trust and legally owned by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 2 Discretionary Settlement (as to 2,211,362) 
and by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 4 Discretionary Settlement (as to 2,211,362). The trustees are Tony Jones, Dr David Stables and Rachel Stables.

(2) 

 The shares indicated alongside Tony Jones are held on trust and legally owned by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 1 Discretionary Settlement (as to 1,811,847) 
and by the trustees of the Dr P R Sowerby No. 3 Discretionary Settlement (as to 1,811,847). The trustees are Phillip Woodrow, Tony Jones, Dr David Stables and 
Victoria Jones.

Directors’ remuneration

Number of 
shares at 
 17 March  
2011 
8,292,605 
4,422,724(1) 
4,394,090 
3,623,694(2) 

— 

% issued 
 capital
14.16
7.55
7.50
6.19
—

2010 

2009

Salary/ 
fees 
£ 

	 Benefits	in	 
kind/car  
allowance 
£ 

Bonus 
£ 

Total1 
£ £

Total1 

  164,560 
  154,275 
  154,275 

  64,500 
  27,083 

—  10,738  175,298  302,320
—  26,472  180,747  255,087
—  12,342  166,617  290,759

— 
— 

934  65,434  154,901

—  27,083 —

Sean Riddell 
Dr David Stables 
Phillip Woodrow 
Tony Jones 
Robin Taylor 
(1) 

Executive directors 
Sean Riddell 
Dr David Stables 
Phillip Woodrow 
Non-executive directors 
Tony Jones 
Robin Taylor 
(1) 

 In addition to the above, in each year the company has made contributions to executive directors’ pension arrangements of £15,000 for Sean Riddell 
and Phillip Woodrow respectively and £15,775 for David Stables.

On behalf of the remuneration committee

Tony Jones
Chairman
17 March 2011

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Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
	
	
	
	
	
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance report

EMIS Group plc (“the company” or “the parent company”) and its subsidiaries (together “the group”) is committed to 
high standards of corporate governance and the board acknowledges the importance of the principles set out in the UK 
Corporate Governance Code published by the Financial Reporting Council in June 2010 (formerly the Combined Code (2008) 
(“the Code”)).

Although the Code is not mandatory for companies admitted to AIM, following admission in March 2010, the company 
has made significant progress by establishing a framework and adopting and implementing of policies and procedures 
designed to comply with the Code as far as reasonably practicable and appropriate for a company of this size and 
complexity. The report below sets out how the principles in the Code have been applied during the year under review.

The board
At the start of the year the board of EMIS Group (“the board”) consisted of: Anthony (Tony) Jones, Non-executive Chairman; 
Sean Riddell, Chief Executive; Phillip Woodrow, Finance Director; and Dr David Stables, Director of Development Strategy. 
Robin Taylor was appointed as a non-executive director on 1 March 2010. He is the Senior Non-executive Director and 
the board considers him to be independent as defined in the Code. 

Tony Jones served as Executive Chairman until April 2008 and following a brief sabbatical stepped back from day-to-day 
executive responsibility and became Non-executive Chairman. As referred to in the AIM admission document, the intention 
has been to appoint an experienced independent non-executive chairman. After a detailed and stringent recruitment process, the 
board is pleased to announce the appointment, as Non-executive Chairman, on 17 March 2011, of Michael (Mike) O’Leary, 
who, on appointment, met the Code requirements for independence. The Chairman’s other significant commitments are 
disclosed in his biography on page 17. 

With the appointment of Mike O’Leary, Tony Jones duly retired from the board. The board extends its thanks to Tony 
for his unique and outstanding contribution to the success of the group as a founder, CEO and, latterly, Chairman.

The board considers the current balance of skills and experience appropriate for the business following its admission 
to AIM.

The roles of the Chairman and Chief Executive are separate and defined in writing. 

The Chairman is responsible for the leadership and effectiveness of the board. 

The board is responsible to shareholders for the overall strategy and direction of the group. It has a schedule of matters 
reserved to it including but not limited to, decisions on strategy and risk management, approval of budgets, acquisitions 
and disposals, major capital expenditure, legal and insurance issues, board structure and the appointment of advisers. 
In some areas responsibility is delegated to committees of the board within clearly defined terms of reference. The terms 
of reference for the board can be found at www.emis-online.com/investors. 

Once the strategic and financial objectives of the company have been set by the board it is the role of the Chief Executive 
to ensure that, through the day-to-day management of the group’s business, they are achieved.

All directors are subject to election by the shareholders at the next general meeting following appointment to the board 
and to re-election at intervals of not more than three years. 

Biographies of the directors are on page 17. 

The directors have access to the advice and services of the Company Secretary, who is responsible for ensuring that 
board procedures and applicable rules and regulations are complied with. There is a procedure for the directors to take 
independent professional advice at the company’s expense if required in the performance of their duties and appropriate 
insurance cover is in place in respect of legal action against the directors. The company has adopted a share dealing 
code for directors and senior employees. 

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

25

 
 
 
 
 
Corporate governance

Corporate governance report
continued

The board continued
The number of board and committee meetings attended by each of the directors during the period from admission on 
29 March 2010 to 31 December 2010 was as follows:

Number of meetings in period 
Attendance: 
Executive directors 
Sean Riddell 
Phillip Woodrow 
Dr David Stables 
Non-executive directors 
Tony Jones 
Robin Taylor 

Full 
board 
9 

9/9 
9/9 
9/9 

9/9 
9/9 

Audit   Remuneration  Nomination 
committee
2

committee 
2 

committee 
2 

— 
2/2 
— 

2/2 
2/2 

— 
— 
— 

2/2 
2/2 

—
—
—

2/2
2/2

Board effectiveness
The board has extensive operational experience and, of the directors, Sean Riddell and Dr David Stables have extensive 
knowledge of the healthcare IT sector. After the recent admission to AIM a succession matrix was produced and 
considered. Following the appointment of the new Non-executive Chairman, a formal appraisal of the effectiveness of 
the board and each board committee will be carried out in the next financial year. The Chairman will be responsible for 
the evaluation process which will consider any training or development needs of individual directors and the overall 
effectiveness of the board. The process will also give consideration to environmental, social and governance issues as 
appropriate. New directors receive a comprehensive pack of information, attend a tailored induction programme and 
meet senior managers and all directors are encouraged to attend other relevant training courses and events. 

Investor relations
Meetings with analysts and institutional shareholders are held following the interim and preliminary results announcements 
and on an ad hoc basis. Feedback from these meetings and regular market updates prepared by the company’s 
broker are presented to the board. The Chairman and the Senior Non-executive Director are available to shareholders to 
discuss strategy and governance issues. In accordance with AIM Rule 26, there is an investors section on the company’s 
website, www.emis-online.com/investors, which is kept up to date. 

Annual General Meeting (AGM)
At the AGM, separate resolutions will be proposed for each substantially different issue. Proxy votes are disclosed by 
means of an announcement on the London Stock Exchange and via the group’s website.

Board committees
The board has formally established three committees during the year, with clearly defined written terms which are reviewed 
annually by the board. Membership is as shown in the table above. The terms of reference of the committees are available 
on the company’s website. The role and work of the committees is outlined below.

Audit committee
The audit committee is chaired by Robin Taylor, who is considered to have relevant financial experience. Robin’s biography 
is included on page 17. Other directors and representatives of the external auditor attend by invitation. 

In discharging its responsibilities as outlined in the terms of reference, the role of the committee has included the reviewing 
and monitoring of:

A   the annual report and accounts and preliminary and interim results statements of the company; 

A   the appropriateness of accounting policies and the critical accounting estimates and judgements; 

A   the relevance of developments in accounting and reporting requirements;

A   the effectiveness of internal controls and risk management systems;

A   the auditors’ plan for the year-end audit;

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Board committees continued
Audit committee continued
A     the formal engagement terms, performance, objectivity and independence of the auditors, including the extent 

of non-audit work undertaken by the auditors; and

A   the audit and non-audit fees of the auditors. These are set out in note 10 to the accounts. 

The committee has recommended to the board that a resolution re-appointing Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP as external 
auditors be put to the shareholders at the AGM. 

Remuneration committee
After the appointment of Mike O’Leary, the remuneration committee will be chaired by Robin Taylor. It has been chaired to 
date by Tony Jones and has met twice during the year. The committee is responsible for establishing a formal and 
transparent procedure for developing policy on executive remuneration and for setting the remuneration of individual 
directors. Full details of the work of the committee, the directors’ remuneration and remuneration policy are set out in 
the Directors’ remuneration report on pages 23 and 24.

Nomination committee
The nomination committee has been chaired to date by Tony Jones and has met twice in the year. The committee is 
responsible for leading the board appointments process and for considering the size, structure and composition of the board. 

Robin Taylor, the other member of the committee, was recruited as an independent non-executive director as part of a 
formal recruitment process, from a list proposed by the company’s advisers. Robin has many years’ experience as a 
public company finance director and his biography is shown on page 17. 

Non-executive directors are subject to re-election in the same way as executive directors. The former Chairman and the 
Senior Non-executive Director were appointed on 1 March 2010 by letters of engagement terminable by six months’ notice 
on either side. 

Mike O’Leary’s appointment, on 17 March 2011, was also by letter of engagement, for an initial term of three years unless 
terminated earlier by either party giving not less than three months’ written notice.

As previously stated, Tony Jones retired from the board and Mike O’Leary was appointed as Non-executive Chairman, 
with effect from 17 March 2011. The services of an independent external recruitment consultant were utilised to identify 
the most suitable candidates, using a detailed specification taking account of the current balance of skills, knowledge 
and experience of the board.

The committee has also considered succession planning for the board and senior managers within the group. 

Internal control and risk management
The board is responsible for the group’s system of internal controls, including reviewing the effectiveness of these controls 
and the processes in place for risk management. The processes and procedures in place are designed to manage rather 
than eliminate risk and can therefore only provide a reasonable and not an absolute assurance against material misstatements 
or losses. 

Executive directors of each group company have a close involvement with all day-to-day operations and also meet with staff 
on a regular basis to identify and review business risks, the controls needed to minimise those risks and the effectiveness 
of controls in place. Business risks are monitored and updated on a regular basis. Insurance is in place where appropriate.

The group has extensive quality assurance processes by virtue of its internal quality assurance department which audits 
all non-financial processes and procedures. There are clearly defined roles, responsibilities and limits on authority in place. 
The group has five current ISO registrations including ISO27001 – Information Security. 

During the year the board, independently and through the audit committee, has reviewed and is satisfied with the adequacy 
of the group’s internal financial controls. These include an annual budgetary process which is reviewed and approved by the 
board. The actual results are monitored against budget at each board meeting and forecasts are revisited on a rolling basis. 
The committee has also considered the need for a whistle blowing policy and, in the light of the company’s current training 
for the Bribery Act and operational framework, has deferred proposing such a policy until further review. 

Financial policies and approval procedures are in place which cover a number of key areas such as credit control and 
expenditure authorisation. A comprehensive monthly financial reporting system is in place which covers, amongst other 
things, operating results, cash flow, assets and liabilities and comparisons against budgets.

There is currently no internal audit function and this will be reviewed on an annual basis as the group evolves.

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

27

 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Independent auditors’ report 
to the members of EMIS Group plc

We have audited the group and parent company financial statements (“the financial statements”) which comprise the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Group and Parent Company Balance Sheets, the Group and Parent Company 
Statements of Cash Flow, the Group and Parent Company Statements of Changes in Equity and the related notes. The financial 
reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and, as regards the parent company financial statements, as applied in accordance 
with the provisions of the Companies Act 2006.

This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies 
Act 2006. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are 
required to state to them in an auditors’ report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not 
accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members as a body, for our audit 
work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As more fully explained in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on pages 21 and 22, 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). Those standards require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s (APB’s) Ethical Standards 
for Auditors.

Scope	of	the	audit	of	the	financial	statements
A description of the scope of an audit of financial statements is provided on the APB’s website at http://www.frc.org.uk/
apb/scope/private.cfm.

Opinion	on	the	financial	statements
In our opinion:

A   the financial statements give a true and fair view of the state of the group’s and the parent’s affairs as at 31 December 2010 

and of the group’s profit for the year then ended;

A   the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union;

A   the parent financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union 

and as applied in accordance with the Companies Act 2006; and

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

Opinion on other matter prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion the information given in the Directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are 
prepared is consistent with the financial statements.

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters where the Companies Act 2006 requires us to report to you if, 
in our opinion:

A   adequate accounting records have not been kept by the parent company, or returns adequate for our audit have not 

been received from branches not visited by us; or

A   the parent company financial statements are not in agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

A   certain disclosures of directors’ remuneration specified by law are not made; or

A   we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit. 

Richard King (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
For and on behalf of BAKER TILLY UK AUDIT LLP
Statutory Auditor 
Chartered Accountants
2 Whitehall Quay
Leeds LS1 4HG
17 March 2011

28

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

Group statement of comprehensive income 
for the year ended 31 December 2010

Continuing operations  

Revenue 
Costs: 
Changes in inventories 
Cost of goods and services 
Staff costs 
Flotation and other transaction costs  
Other operating expenses:  
– including contract asset depreciation 

Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA)  
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Amortisation of intangible assets 

Operating profit 
Finance income 
Finance costs 
Share of profit of associate 

Profit before taxation 
Income tax expense 

Total comprehensive income/profit for the year    

Attributable to:  
– equity holders of the parent  
– non-controlling interest in subsidiary company 

Total comprehensive income for the year 

Earnings per share 
Basic and diluted 
The notes on pages 33 to 56 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

Notes 

2010  
£’000  

2009 
£’000

5  62,393 

57,696 

(40) 
(9,174) 

(498)
(9,022)
11  (23,390)  (21,820)
— 

(1,258) 

6 

(8,278) 

(6,209)

  20,253 
(1,448) 
(2,433) 

17 
16 

20,147 
(2,299)
(2,074)

7  16,372 
51 
8 
(426) 
9 
109 

15,774
62 
(1,572)
198 

  16,106 
(4,868) 

12 

14,462 
(4,521) 

  11,238 

9,941 

  11,194 

9,941 

44 —

  11,238 

9,941

13  19.84p   19.88p 

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29

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Group and parent company balance sheets 
as at 31 December 2010

 Group 

Company

Notes  

2010  
£’000  

2009 
£’000  

2010  
£’000  

2009  
£’000 

ASSETS 
Non-current assets
Goodwill 
Other intangible assets 
Property, plant and equipment 
Investments in subsidiaries 
Investment in associates  

Current assets 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables 
Amount owed by subsidiary company 
Cash and cash equivalents 

Total assets 
LIABILITIES 
Current liabilities 
Trade and other payables 
Current tax liabilities 
Bank loans  
Amount owed to subsidiary company 
Contingent consideration re acquisition 
Deferred income 

Non-current liabilities 
Bank and other loans 
Contingent consideration re acquisition 
Other loans 
Deferred tax liability 

15  21,951   15,853  
16  29,284   21,055  
17  12,058  
9,506  
— 
18 
2,661  
19 

— 
— 
— 
—  
— 
—  
—   48,165   38,034 
— 
—  
  65,954   48,966   48,165   38,034 

2,552  

20 
21 

22 

668  
9,082  
—  
7,442  

— 
674  
611 
7,500  
239 
—  
25 
5,221  
  17,192   13,395  
875 
  83,146   62,361   48,578   38,909 

—  
399  
—  
14  
413  

24 
25 
26 

33 

—  
(5,169) 
— 
(5,103) 
(1,184) 
(1,184)  
(9,100) 
—  
(189) 
(189) 
  (10,888) 
— 
  (22,533)  (15,694)   (10,473) 

(3,381) 
(3,516) 
(1,184) 
—  
—  
(7,613) 

(571)
— 
(1,184)
— 
— 
— 
(1,756) 

26 
33 
26 
27 

(4,580) 
(757) 
—  
—  

(4,580) 
(757) 
—  
(8,494) 

(5,764)
(5,763) 
— 
—  
(23,000)
(23,000) 
— 
(6,524) 
  (13,831)  (35,287) 
(5,337)  (28,763)
  (36,364)   (50,981)   (15,810)  (30,519)
8,390 
  46,782   11,380   32,768  

Total liabilities 
NET ASSETS 
EQUITY 
Ordinary share capital 
Share premium 
Own shares held in trust 
Retained earnings 
Equity attributable to owners of the parent 
Non-controlling interests 
TOTAL EQUITY 
The notes on pages 33 to 56 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

28 
 586  
28  24,767  
(120) 
29 

2,753  

500  

586  

500 

—   24,767  —
(120) —
—  
7,535  
  18,796   10,880  
  44,029   11,380   32,768  
—  
  46,782   11,380   32,768  

—  

7,890 
8,390 
— 
8,390 

The financial statements on pages 29 to 56 were approved by the board of directors and authorised for issue on 17 March 2011 
and are signed on its behalf by:

Sean Riddell 
Chief Executive  

Phillip Woodrow 
Finance Director

30

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Group and parent company statements of changes in equity 
for the year ended 31 December 2010

Group 

Balance at 1 January 2009 
Total comprehensive income  
– profit for the year 
Balance at 1 January 2010 
Arising on acquisition of RX Systems 
Share acquisitions less sales in year 
Transactions with owners  
– proceeds from shares issued  
Total comprehensive income  
– profit for the year 
Dividend (note 14) 
Balance at 31 December 2010 

Share 
premium 
£’000  

Retained 
earnings 
£’000  

Non- 
controlling 
interest 
£’000  

Own  
shares  
held 
in trust 
£’000  

Total  
equity  
£’000 

— 

— 
— 
— 
— 

939  

— 

— 

1,439 

9,941  
10,880  
— 
— 

— 
— 
2,709  
— 

— 
— 
— 
(120) 

9,941 
11,380 
2,709 
(120)

Share 
capital 
£’000  

500  

— 
500  
— 
— 

86   24,767  

— 

— 

— 

24,853 

— 
— 

11,194  
— 
(3,278) 
— 
586   24,767   18,796  

44  
—  
2,753  

— 
— 

11,238 
(3,278)
(120)  46,782 

Company 

Share 
capital 
£’000  

Share 
premium 
£’000  

— 

500  

Balance at 1 January 2009 
Total comprehensive income  
– profit for the year 
Balance at 1 January 2010 
Share acquisitions less sales in year 
Transactions with owners  
– proceeds from shares issued  
Total comprehensive income  
– profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the company  
Dividend (note 14) 
Balance at 31 December 2010 
The notes on pages 33 to 56 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.

— 
— 
586   24,767  

— 
500  
— 

86   24,767  

— 
— 
— 

— 
— 

Retained 
earnings 
£’000  

(1,872) 

9,762  
7,890  
— 

Own  
shares  
held 
in trust 
£’000  

Total  
equity  
£’000 

— 

(1,372)

— 
— 
(120) 

9,762 
8,390 
(120)

— 

— 

24,853 

2,923  
(3,278) 
7,535  

— 
— 

2,923 
(3,278)
(120)   32,768 

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

31

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Group and parent company statements of cash flows 
for the year ended 31 December 2010

Cash flows from operating activities 
Cash generated from operations 
Interest paid 
Settlement of financial derivative 
Interest received 
Tax (paid)/received 
Net cash generated from/(used in) operating activities 

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment 
Internally developed software  
Loans from subsidiary company – increase/(decrease) 
Dividends received 
Purchase of subsidiary (group – net of cash acquired) 
Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities 

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issue of ordinary shares 
Transactions in own shares held in trust 
Bank term loan repayments  
Shareholder loans repaid 
Dividend paid 
Net cash used in financing activities 

 Group 

Company

Notes  

2010  
£’000  

2009 
£’000  

2010  
£’000  

2009  
£’000 

32  22,181 
(409) 
— 
51 
(3,889) 
  17,934 

19,864  
(2,161) 
(524) 
62  
(3,127) 
14,114  

(2,162) 
(373) 
— 
— 
611 
(1,924) 

(31)
(2,132)
(524)
— 
575 
(2,112) 

(5,611) 
291 
(3,801) 
— 
— 
(3,144) 
  (12,265) 

33 

  24,146 
(116) 
(1,200) 
  (23,000) 
(3,278) 
(3,448) 

(4,113)  
295  
(4,520) 
—  
—  
—  

— —
—  
—  
9,339 
4,500 
(8,478) 
(8,338)   5,361 

— 
— 
(17,950)
26,700 
— 
8,750 

—  24,146 —
(116) —
— 
(6,625) 

(1,200) 
—   (23,000) 
— 
(6,625) 

(3,278) —
(3,448) 

(6,625)
— 

(6,625)

13 
12 

25 

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year 

2,221 
5,221 

(849) 
6,070  

(11) 
25 

Cash and cash equivalents at end of year 
The notes on pages 33 to 56 form an integral part of these consolidated financial statements. 

7,442 

 5,221  

14 

32

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Notes to the financial statements

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1. General information 
EMIS Group plc (“the company” or “the parent company”) converted to plc status on 19 March 2010 and acquired a listing 
on AIM on 29 March 2010. The company was formerly called EMIS Group Limited. 

The company is the parent company of subsidiary companies (together “the group”) whose activities consist of the design 
of computer software for healthcare professions, principally general practitioners and pharmacists, together with the supply 
and support of computer systems for the healthcare profession and other users. 

The company is incorporated in England and Wales and domiciled in the UK. The address of its registered office is 
Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds LS19 6BA.

2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies 
have been applied consistently to all periods presented.

2.1 Basis of preparation
The financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention and in accordance with International 
Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as endorsed by the European Union, International Financial Reporting Interpretations 
Committee (IFRIC) interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting 
under IFRS.

The preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles requires the use of 
critical accounting estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and of revenues 
and expenses. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the application of accounting policies. The areas 
involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the 
company or group financial statements are disclosed in note 3.

2.1.1 Going concern
After careful enquiry and review of available financial information, including projections of profitability and cash flows 
for the two years to 31 December 2012, the directors have formed the conclusion that the company and the group 
have adequate resources to continue to operate for the foreseeable future and that it is therefore appropriate to continue 
to adopt the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the consolidated and company financial statements.

2.2 Parent company statement of comprehensive income
As permitted by Section 408 of the Companies Act 2006, the parent company has not presented its own statement 
of comprehensive income. The profit of the parent company for the year was £2,923,000 (2009: £9,762,000).

2.3 Changes in accounting policy and disclosure
(a) New and amended standards adopted by the group 
The following new standards and amendments to standards are mandatory for the first time for the financial year beginning 
1 January 2010: 

IFRS 3 (revised) “Business combinations” and consequential amendments to IAS 27 “Consolidated and separate financial 
statements”, IAS 28 “Investments in associates”, and IAS 31 “Interests in joint ventures”, are effective prospectively to 
business combinations for which the acquisition date is on or after the beginning of the first annual reporting period 
beginning on or after 1 July 2009.

The revised standard continues to apply the acquisition method to business combinations but with some significant changes 
compared with IFRS 3. For example, all payments to purchase a business are recorded at fair value at the acquisition date, with 
contingent payments classified as debt subsequently re-measured through the statement of comprehensive income. There is a 
choice on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis to measure the non-controlling interest in the entity acquired either at fair value or 
at the non-controlling interest’s proportionate share of the acquiree’s net assets. All acquisition-related costs are expensed.

The revised standard was applied to the acquisition of the controlling interest in RX Systems Limited (“RX Systems”) during 
the year. Acquisition-related costs of £299,000 have been recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income, 
which previously would have been included in the consideration for the business combination. The group has chosen 
to recognise the non-controlling interest at fair value of £2,709,000 for this acquisition rather than the proportionate share 
of net assets of £1,423,000, which is also allowed. Previously there was no choice, and the non-controlling interest would 
have been recognised at the proportionate share (21.1%) of the net assets of RX Systems of £1,423,000. See note 33 for 
further details of the RX Systems business combination.

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

33

 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
2.3 Changes in accounting policy and disclosure continued
(a) New and amended standards adopted by the group continued
IAS 27 (revised) requires the effects of all transactions with non-controlling interests to be recorded in equity if there is no 
change in control and these transactions will no longer result in goodwill or gains and losses. The standard also specifies 
the accounting when control is lost. There have been no transactions with non-controlling interests and IAS 27 (revised) 
has had no impact on the current period.

IAS 38 (amendment) “Intangible assets”, effective 1 January 2010, clarifies guidance in measuring the fair value of an 
intangible asset acquired in a business combination and permits the grouping of intangible assets as a single asset if each 
asset has a similar useful economic life.

(b)  New and amended standards, and interpretations mandatory for the first time for the financial year beginning 1 January 2010 
but not currently relevant to the group (although they may affect the accounting for future transactions and events) 

Standard/interpretation 
IFRIC 17  
IFRIC 18 
IFRIC 9 

IFRIC 16 
IAS 36 (amendment) 
IFRS 2 (amendments) 
IAS 1 (amendment) 
IFRS 5 (amendment)  

“Distribution of non-cash assets to owners” 
“Transfers of assets from customers” 
“ Re-assessment of embedded derivatives” and IAS 39  
“Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement” 
“Hedges of a net investment in a foreign operation” 
”Impairment of assets”  
“Group cash-settled share-based payment transactions” 
“Presentation of financial statements” – note of clarification 
 “ Non-current assets held for sale and discontinued operations”  
– note of clarification 

Effective date: 
periods commencing  

on or after
1 July 2009
1 July 2009
1 July 2009

1 July 2009
1 January 2010
1 January 2010

(c)  New standards, amendments and interpretations issued but not effective for the financial year beginning 1 January 2010 

and not early adopted

None of the following changes would have had any material impact on the group and the parent company financial 
statements had they been in force during the period under review and adopted:

Standard  
IFRS 9 
IAS 24 (revised)  

Amendment to IAS 32 

IFRIC 19 

Amendments to IFRIC 14 

“Financial instruments” – issued November 2009 
“ Related party disclosures”  
– issued November 2009 
“ Classification of rights issues” 
– issued October 2009 
“ Extinguishing financial liabilities with  
equity instruments”  
“Prepayments of a minimum funding requirement” 

Effective date: 
periods commencing 
on or after 

Endorsed
1 January 2013   Not yet endorsed 
1 January 2011   Not yet endorsed 

1 February 2010 

1 July 2010  Not yet endorsed 

1 January 2011 

2.4 Basis of consolidation
The consolidated financial statements of the group incorporate the financial statements of the parent company together 
with those of its trading subsidiary companies, Egton Medical Information Systems Limited (EMIS), EMIS Inc. (a company 
registered in Canada) and RX Systems Limited (acquired during the year), the two non-trading subsidiaries, EMIS 
Professional Publishing Limited and Pathway Trust Limited and the newly formed joint venture company, Healthcare 
Gateway Limited.

34

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
2.4 Basis of consolidation continued
Subsidiaries
Subsidiaries are entities over which the group has the power to govern the financial and operating policies so as to obtain 
economic benefits from their activities.

The group has used the acquisition method of accounting to account for business combinations. The consideration 
transferred for the acquisition of a subsidiary is the fair value 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 arrangement. 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 value at 
the acquisition date. 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 on an acquisition-by-acquisition basis. 

The excess of the consideration transferred and the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree over the fair 
value of the separable identifiable net assets acquired and liabilities incurred or assumed at the acquisition date is 
recorded as purchased goodwill. Provision is made for any impairment.

Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains and losses on transactions between group companies are 
eliminated on consolidation. Accounting policies previously applied by acquired subsidiaries are changed as necessary 
to comply with accounting policies adopted by the group.

In the parent company balance sheet, investments in subsidiaries are recorded at the fair value cost and are tested for 
impairment when there is objective evidence of impairment. Any such impairment losses are recognised in the income 
statement in the period they occur. 

Associates
An associate is an entity over which the group is in a position to exercise significant influence, but not control or joint 
control, through participation in financial and operating policy decisions. 

Investments in associates are recognised in the group financial statements using the equity method of accounting and 
initially carried in the balance sheet at cost. The carrying value of investments (including any goodwill) is tested for 
impairment when there is objective evidence of impairment and is stated net of any impairment loss. The group’s share 
of post acquisition profits or losses is recognised in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income and its share 
of post acquisition movements in reserves is recognised in reserves. Unrealised gains and losses on group transactions 
with the associates are eliminated to the extent of the group’s interest in the associate. Where necessary, adjustments 
are made to bring the accounting policies used into line with those used by the group.

Interest in joint venture
A joint venture is a contractual arrangement whereby the group and other parties undertake economic activities that are 
subject to “joint control”, which requires that the strategic financial and operating policy decisions relating to the activities 
require the unanimous consent of the parties sharing control. 

The group reports its interest in the jointly controlled entity using proportionate consolidation, the group’s share of the 
assets, liabilities, income, expenses and cash flows being combined with the equivalent items in the results on 
a line-by-line basis. 

2.5 Operating and geographical segments
Operating and geographical 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 and geographical segments, has been identified as the parent company board of directors. 

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

35

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
2.6 Revenue recognition
Revenue is recognised at the fair value of the right to the consideration received or receivable for goods sold and services 
provided in the normal course of business during the year. Revenue is shown net of value added tax, returns, rebates and 
discounts and after eliminating sales within the group.

The group recognises revenue when the amount can be reliably measured and when it is probable that future economic 
benefits will flow to the entity and when specific criteria have been met for each of the group’s activities, as described below:

A  revenue from licences, maintenance, support and similar services is credited to deferred income and released on a 

straight-line basis over the period of supply;

A   revenue from training and other similar services is recognised when the service is delivered;

A   revenue from system installations and upgrades is recognised when delivery to a customer has occurred with no significant 
vendor obligations remaining and where the collection of the resulting receivable is considered probable. In instances where 
a significant vendor obligation exists, revenue recognition is delayed until the obligation has been satisfied; and

A   revenue from other hardware and consumables sales is recognised when ownership passes.

EMIS has a contract in relation to the provision of General Practitioner Systems of Choice (GPSoC), as extended to include 
the supply of data centre hosted services to National Health Service Connecting for Health (NHS CfH) standards. The group 
recognises revenue from this contract as follows:

A   provision of infrastructure and hardware – in line with and approximates to the anticipated life of the related assets as 

capitalised within property, plant and equipment; and

A   other services are recognised when delivered or over the period of supply as appropriate.

Invoices raised in advance of the provision of services to customers are recorded in the balance sheet as deferred income 
and included within current liabilities. 

Where group recognition criteria exists but no invoice to the customer has been raised at the period end, revenue is 
recognised as normal and included as accrued income within trade and other receivables on the balance sheet.

2.7	Operating	profit	
Operating profit relates to profit before finance income, finance costs, share of profit of associate and income tax expense.

2.8 Intangible assets
(a) Goodwill
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition of a subsidiary compared with the fair value at the date of 
acquisition of the net identifiable assets acquired. Goodwill does not have a finite life, is not subject to amortisation and 
is reviewed annually for impairment and whenever there is an indication that there may be impairment. 

Any impairment is recognised immediately in the income statement and is not subsequently reversed. For the purpose 
of impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to those cash generating units or groups of cash generating units that are 
expected to benefit from the business combination and which represent the lowest level within the entity at which the 
goodwill is monitored for internal management purposes.

(b) Computer software
The costs of maintaining computer software are recognised as expenses of the period in which incurred.

Development costs that are directly attributable to the design, development and testing of identifiable and unique software 
products controlled by the group are recognised as intangible assets from the point in time that:

A   it becomes probable a project will be a success; 

A   the project or product is technically and commercially feasible;

A   the development costs can be measured reliably; and

A   sufficient resources are available to complete the development and use the asset.

Development costs that have previously been recognised as an expense are not recognised as an asset in a 
subsequent period.

36

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
2.8 Intangible assets continued
(b) Computer software continued
Software acquired by the group on the purchase of subsidiary undertakings that meets the above criteria is included 
initially in intangible assets at fair value at the acquisition date. In relation to EMIS, the multi-period excess earnings 
method was used, and as regards RX Systems the income (relief from royalty) basis was applied. The capitalised costs 
of internally developed software consist only of the directly attributable development employee costs.

All capitalised software has a finite useful life and is carried at the amount recognised initially less accumulated 
amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. 

Amortisation of software acquired on business combinations is calculated using the straight-line method over a six year 
estimated useful life in relation to EMIS and over a four year estimated useful life in relation to RX Systems. 

Expenditure on internally developed software principally consists of the costs to date of EMIS Web, a “next generation” 
clinical software product, the costs of which have been capitalised to the extent of the criteria set out above. Accreditation 
for use within the GP market was obtained on 7 September 2010, allowing the product to become available over time for 
use by GPs and following which the group has commenced a controlled roll-out programme. 

Amortisation of EMIS Web software will follow the roll-out programme so as to reflect the availability of the software to GPs 
and the pattern of the future economic benefits that are expected to flow from its use, using an amortisation period of 
eight years from installation.

(c) Customer relationships
Customer relationships acquired with subsidiary companies are recognised at fair value at the acquisition date using 
the multi-period excess earnings method. 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. Customer relationship assets are impaired if the relationship with the customer ceases.

EMIS customer relationships are being amortised over 15 years and those of RX Systems over ten years. 

(d) Amortisation
Each of the amortisation provisions charged against the profits of the year is included in the “Amortisation of intangible 
assets” line item of the income statement.

2.9 Property, plant and equipment 
Fixed assets acquired with subsidiary companies are recognised at the fair value cost at the date of acquisition. 
Subsequent acquisitions are stated at historical cost. Depreciation is provided on all tangible fixed assets other than 
freehold land to write assets down to their estimated residual value over their estimated useful lives at the following 
annual rates:

Freehold property  

Leasehold property 

Computer equipment 

2% straight-line

20% straight-line

33% straight-line 

Fixtures, fittings and equipment 

25% reducing balance

Fixtures, fittings and equipment – RX Systems 

20% straight-line

Motor vehicles 

20% straight-line

Those fixed assets acquired with EMIS and EMIS Inc. on 4 April 2008 and depreciated using the straight-line basis have 
the above annual rates applied using each asset’s original cost and original date of acquisition. 

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

37

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
2.10 Impairment of property, plant and equipment and intangible assets excluding goodwill 
At each year end, the group reviews the carrying amounts of its property, plant and intangible assets to determine whether 
there is any indication that those assets have suffered an impairment loss. If any such indication exists, the recoverable 
amount of the asset is estimated in order to determine the extent of the impairment loss (if any). 

An impairment loss is recognised whenever the carrying amount of an asset, or its cash generating unit, exceeds the 
asset’s recoverable amount. Impairment losses are recognised as an expense. 

The recoverable amount of assets is the greater of fair value less costs to sell and value in use. In assessing value in use, 
the estimated future cash flows are discounted to their present value using a pre-tax discount rate that reflects current 
market assessments of the time value of money and the risks specific to the asset. For an asset that does not generate 
largely independent cash inflows, the recoverable amount is determined for the cash generating unit to which the 
asset belongs. 

2.11 Taxation
The taxation expense charged in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income represents the sum of the current 
tax expense and the deferred tax expense.

The tax currently payable is based on the taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit differs from accounting profit as reported 
in the income statement because it excludes items of income or expense that are taxable or deductible in other years and 
it further excludes items that are never taxable or deductible. The group liability for current tax is measured using tax rates 
that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date.

Deferred tax is the tax expected to be payable or recoverable on differences between the carrying amount of assets and 
liabilities in the financial statements and the corresponding tax bases used in the computation of taxable profit, and is 
accounted for using the balance sheet liability method. Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for all taxable temporary 
differences and deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available 
against which deductible temporary differences can be utilised. Such assets and liabilities are not recognised if the 
temporary difference arises from the initial recognition of goodwill or from the initial recognition (other than in a business 
combination) of other assets and liabilities in a transaction which affects neither the taxable profit nor the accounting profit. 

Deferred tax liabilities are recognised for taxable temporary differences arising on investments in subsidiaries and 
associates, except where the group is able to control the reversal of the temporary difference and it is probable that the 
temporary difference will not reverse in the foreseeable future. 

Deferred tax is calculated at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realised or the liability 
is settled based upon tax rates that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the balance sheet date. Deferred tax is 
charged or credited in the comprehensive income statement, except when it relates to items credited or charged directly to 
equity, in which case the deferred tax is also dealt with in equity. 

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are offset where there is a legally enforceable right to offset current tax assets and 
liabilities and the deferred tax relates to income tax levied by the same tax authorities on either: 

A   the same taxable entity; or

A   different taxable entities which intend to settle current tax assets and liabilities on a net basis or to realise and settle 
them simultaneously in each future period when the significant deferred tax assets and liabilities are expected to be 
realised or settled. 

2.12 Leasing
Operating lease annual rentals are charged in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on a straight-line 
basis over the term of each lease.

2.13 Share incentive plan 
The fair value of free shares allocated to members of the share incentive plan (see note 29) is accounted for within 
staff costs. 

2.14	Retirement	benefit	costs	
The costs charged in the financial statements represent contributions payable by the group during the period into publicly 
or privately administered defined contribution pension plans on a mandatory, contractual or voluntary basis. The group has 
no further payment obligations once the contributions have been paid. Differences between contributions payable in the 
period and contributions actually paid are shown as either accruals or prepayments in the balance sheet.

38

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

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2.	Summary	of	significant	accounting	policies	continued
2.15 Functional and presentational currency
The financial statements are presented in sterling, which is also the functional currency of the parent company. 

2.16 Foreign currencies
Assets and liabilities denominated in currencies other than the functional currency of the parent company are translated 
at the rate of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Transactions in foreign currencies are recorded at the rate ruling 
at the date of the transaction. All differences are taken to the consolidated statement of comprehensive income.

As regards EMIS Inc., on consolidation the assets and liabilities have been translated into the group’s presentational 
currency at the rate ruling at the balance sheet date and the results have been translated at the average rate for the period. 
Material exchange differences arising are dealt with through reserves. 

2.17 Inventories 
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Net realisable value is based upon estimated 
selling price less further costs expected to be incurred to completion and disposal. Provision is made for obsolete 
and slow-moving items.

2.18 Own shares held in trust
The shares in the company held by The EMIS Group plc Employee Benefits Trust are stated at fair value and presented as 
a reduction of shareholders’ equity (see note 29). Gains and losses on transaction in the company’s own shares are not 
recognised in the income statement. 

2.19 Financial instruments
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised in the group balance sheet when the group becomes a party to the 
contractual provisions of the instrument.

(a) Financial assets
Trade receivables
Trade receivables are amounts due from customers for goods sold and services provided in the ordinary course of business. 
Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective 
interest method, less provision for impairment. A provision for impairment of trade receivables is established when the 
carrying value of the receivable exceeds the present value of the future cash flows discounted using the original effective 
interest rate.

Investments
Investments in subsidiaries, associates and joint ventures are recorded at cost in the company balance sheet. They are 
tested for impairment when there is objective evidence of impairment. Any impairment losses are recognised in the income 
statement in the period they occur.

Cash and cash equivalents
In the consolidated statement of cash flows, cash and cash equivalents include cash in hand and at bank. There are no 
bank deposits with maturity dates of more than three months.

(b) Financial liabilities
The group’s financial liabilities, all of which are held for trading, are classed as level one financial instruments in the fair 
value hierarchy.

Trade 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. Trade payables 
are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 

Bank and other borrowings 
Bank and other loans are recorded initially at their fair value, net of issue costs. Issue costs are charged to the statement 
of comprehensive income over the term of the instrument at a constant rate on the carrying amount. Such instruments are 
subsequently carried at their amortised cost.

Equity instruments
Equity instruments issued by the company are recorded at fair value on initial recognition net of transaction costs. 

2.20 Dividends
Interim dividends are recognised as distributions in the accounts when paid. Final dividends are recognised in the 
accounts in the year in which they are approved by shareholders.

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

39

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

3. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
Accounting estimates and judgements are based on past experience together with expectations relating to and evaluation 
of future events that are believed to be reasonable at the present time. Due to the inherent uncertainty involved in making 
these estimates and judgements, actual outcomes could be different. The critical estimates, assumptions and judgements 
made in arriving at the amounts recognised in the group financial statements that have a significant risk of causing a 
material adjustment to the carrying values of assets and liabilities within the next financial year are as follows:

3.1 Intangible assets acquired through business combinations
The company has made two significant acquisitions to date. On 4 April 2008 it acquired all of the share capital of EMIS 
together with its subsidiary, EMIS Inc. and on 1 August 2010 it acquired 78.9% of the share capital of RX Systems. As part 
of the fair value exercises in relation to those acquisitions, intangible assets not separately recognised in the accounts of 
the acquiree were identified and measured at fair value. The valuation of these assets relies on various assumptions, including 
future revenues and costs derived from those assets and the selection of appropriate discount rates in order to calculate 
acquisition values. Amortisation rates are as set out in the Summary of significant accounting policies (notes 2.8 and 2.9). 

3.2 Development costs
As set out in the accounting policy note 2.8(b), software development costs are capitalised and are amortised over their 
estimated useful lives in accordance with the policies set out in that note. Useful lives are based on management 
estimates of the period that assets are expected to generate revenue. These estimates are reviewed periodically for 
continued appropriateness. Changes to estimates can result in variations in carrying values and amounts charged to 
the consolidated statement of comprehensive income from period to period.

4. Financial risk management
4.1 Financial risk factors 
The group’s activities expose it to financial risks including credit risk, liquidity risk, interest rate risk, foreign currency risk 
and price risk. The group manages these risks through an effective risk management programme that seeks to minimise 
potential adverse effects on the group’s performance. 

Exposure to financial risks is monitored by the finance/administration department under policies approved by the board. 
An assessment of the risks is provided to the board at regular intervals and is discussed to ensure that the risk mitigation 
procedures are compliant with group policy and that any new risks are appropriately managed.

Credit risk
The group’s credit risk is primarily attributable to its trade receivables, balance sheet amounts for which are stated net 
of allowances for any estimated irrecoverable amounts. 

There is some concentration of risk, as EMIS has significant dealings with Connecting for Health (an agency of the 
National Health Service) and with Primary Care Trusts. However, EMIS has long standing relationships with its large 
number of end users and in addition to the normal credit management processes, the nature of these relationships 
assist management in controlling its credit risk.

Credit risk also arises on cash and cash equivalents placed with the group’s two main banks, both of which are within the UK. 

Liquidity risk 
Management controls and monitors the group’s cash flow on a regular basis, including forecasting future cash flows, 
to ensure that it has sufficient financial resources to meet the obligations of the group as they fall due. 

A detailed analysis of group debt together with the maturity profile is disclosed in note 26.

Interest rate risk
The company has exposure to interest rate risk in relation to its bank debt amounting to £5.8m. Details of the interest rates 
and repayment terms are disclosed in note 26.

The group current assets include cash and cash equivalents at the year end amounting to £7.4m, on which interest 
received is subject to fluctuations in market rates.

40

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

4. Financial risk management continued
4.1 Financial risk factors continued
Foreign currency risk 
A foreign currency risk arises in relation to the funding of EMIS Inc., which operates in Canadian dollars. The group has 
developed software for the Canadian market and EMIS Inc. was formed in 2005 to take this forward. The company is not 
yet profitable and is funded by periodic transfers of sterling from the UK.

Price risk
As at the year end the group has only limited exposure to price risk. However, significant changes are being made within 
the NHS and at some time during the period 2011 to 2013 there will be price renegotiations.

4.2 Capital risk management
 The group defines the capital that it manages as the group’s total equity, including non-controlling interests.

The group’s objectives when managing capital are:

A   to safeguard the group’s ability to continue as a going concern, so that it can continue to provide returns to investors 

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

A   to provide an adequate return to shareholders based on the level of risk undertaken;

A   to have financial resources available to allow the group to invest in areas that may deliver future benefits and returns 

to shareholders and other stakeholders; and

A   to maintain financial resources sufficient to mitigate against risks and unforeseen events.

The group is profitable and has high cash conversion. As a result, capital risk is not significant for the group and measurement 
of capital management is not a tool used in the internal management reporting procedures of the group.

5. Operating segments
IFRS 8 “Operating segments” provides for segmental information disclosure on the basis of information reported internally 
to the chief operating decision-maker for decision-making purposes. The group considers that this role is performed by the 
main board of directors.

Following the acquisition of RX Systems during the year, the group now has two principal operating segments, both involved 
with the supply and support of software and related services, namely (a) the EMIS business principally relating to GP practices 
and (b) the RX Systems business, relating to community pharmacies.

Healthcare Gateway Limited (HGL) was formed during the year and is a joint venture with In Practice Systems Limited to 
enable the sharing of patient data via a medical interoperability gateway. Although the project is still in its development 
stage, it is a distinct activity from which significant revenue flows are anticipated, and the board has concluded that, 
although it does not meet the quantitative thresholds required by IFRS 8, it closely monitors this segment and should 
be reported.

The board also regards the Canadian operation (Emis Inc.) as a distinct geographical operating segment. EMIS Inc. is 
engaged in an economic environment that is subject to risks and returns that are different to those of the rest of the group 
and although it does not meet the quantitative thresholds required by IFRS 8, the board has concluded that, as it is closely 
monitoring this segment, it should also be reported.

Each operating segment is assessed by the board based on a measure of adjusted EBITDA. This measurement basis 
excludes the effects of non-recurring expenditure from the operating segments such as restructuring costs and goodwill 
impairments. Interest income and expenditure, cash and cash equivalents and bank and other loans are not allocated to 
segments, as this type of activity is managed by the board.

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

41

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

5. Operating segments continued
Segmental reporting

Continuing operations 
EMIS 
RX Systems (five month period) 
EMIS Inc. – Canada 
HGL – joint venture expenses 
Total segments 
Flotation and other transaction costs  
Total operating profit 
Finance costs less finance income 
Share of profit of associate 
Profit for the financial year before taxation 

 2010 

2009

Revenue	
£’000  

  Operating  
profit	 
£’000  

Revenue  
£’000  

Operating 
profit  
£’000 

—  
462  
—  

4,978  
493  
—  

195  
(1,961) 
(37) 

  56,922   19,433   57,234   17,042 
— 
(1,268)
— 
  62,393   17,630   57,696   15,774 
— 
15,774 
(1,510)
198 
14,462 

(1,258) 
  16,372 
(375) 
109 
  16,106 

Depreciation and amortisation is charged in the above segmental analysis as follows:
– EMIS 
– RX Systems 
– EMIS Inc. – Canada 
Revenue excludes inter-group transactions.

4,869  
385  
130  

4,323 
— 
135 

Revenue within the EMIS segment of approximately £52.2m (2009: £51.5m) is derived from the NHS and related bodies. 

Total segmental assets 
Total segmental liabilities 

2010 

2009

EMIS 
£’000 
  70,365  
  (24,652) 
  45,713  

RX  
£’000 
2,184  
(4,915) 
(2,731)  

EMIS Inc.  
Total  
EMIS  
£’000 
£’000 
£’000 
494   73,043   53,935  
(87)  (29,654)  (20,762) 
407   43,389   33,173  

EMIS Inc.  
Total  
£’000 
£’000 
653   54,588 
(272) 
(21,034)
381   33,554 

Unallocated assets: 
– investment in associate 
– cash and equivalents 
Unallocated liabilities: 
– bank and other loans 
– contingent consideration 
Shareholders’ equity 
The company’s 50% share of the HGL current assets and current liabilities amount to £19,000 and £65,000 respectively. 

(5,764) 
(946) 
  46,782  

2,661  
7,442  

 —

(29,947)

11,380 

2,552 
5,221 

42

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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6. Other operating expenses by function 

Administration costs 
Establishment costs 
Motor, travel and selling costs 
Contract asset depreciation 
Total other operating expenses 

7.	Operating	profit	

2010  
£’000  
3,505 
1,134 
2,136 
1,503 
8,278 

2009 
 £’000 
3,125 
1,098 
1,901 
85 
6,209 

2010  
£’000  

2009 
 £’000 

The following have been included in arriving at operating profit: 
Research and development expenditure 
Development expenditure capitalised 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment: 
– depreciation of owned assets  
Amortisation of intangible assets: 
– arising on business combinations 
– internally generated 
Operating lease rentals: 
– land and buildings 
– plant and equipment 
Net foreign exchange losses  
The total research and development cost shown above of £5,124,000 (2009: £6,521,000) consists of the direct salary and 
national insurance costs of relevant UK and Canadian staff and the costs of Australian based staff. Software development 
costs amounting to £3,801,000 (2009: £4,520,000) have, in accordance with the criteria set out in IAS 38, been capitalised.

5,124 
(3,801) 

444 
40 
16 

2,431 
2 

2,951 

372 
12 
29 

2,074 
— 

6,521 
(4,520)

2,384 

8. Finance income 

Bank interest 
Profit on sale of own shares 

9. Finance costs

Bank loans 
Other loans 
Exchange loss 
Amortisation of bank loan issue costs 
Interest rate swap fair value gain 

2010  
£’000  
48 
3 
51 

2010  
£’000  
159 
197 
54 
16 
— 
426 

2009 
 £’000 
62 
— 
62 

2009 
 £’000 
469 
1,081 
29 
16 
(23)
1,572 

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

43

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

10. Auditors’ remuneration 

Baker Tilly UK Audit LLP 
Audit services: 
– statutory audit of parent and consolidated accounts 
– audit of accounts of subsidiary 
– audit of associated pension scheme 
Other services:
– review of interim results 
Baker Tilly Tax and Advisory Services LLP 
Taxation services: 
– compliance services 
– advisory services 
Other services: 
– accounting services 
Baker Tilly Corporate Finance LLP 
Transaction services 

2010  
£’000  

2009 
 £’000 

22 
42 
— 

10 

16 
43 

— 

190 
323 

10 
30 
2 

— 

9 
18 

3 

— 
72 

11. Employee costs
The average monthly number of persons (including directors) employed by the group during the year was as follows:

Management and administration 
Software support and development 
Maintenance 
Others 

Staff costs for above persons: 
– wages and salaries 
– social security costs 
– pension costs – defined contribution plans 
– share-based payments 

2010  
Number 

2009  
Number 

107 
344 
299 
73 
823 

2010  
£’000 

139 
304 
283 
71 
797 

2009  
£’000 

  24,653 
2,335 
193 
10 
  27,191 

24,047 
2,217 
76 
— 
26,340 

Staff costs includes amounts charged to the income statement and amounts capitalised as part of development costs.

44

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12. Income tax expense 

Income tax: 
– current tax charge 
– prior year tax charge 
Total current tax 
Deferred taxation: 
– current period  
Total deferred tax 
Total tax charge in consolidated statement of comprehensive income 
Factors affecting the tax charge for the year: 
– profit before tax 
Profit before taxation multiplied by the domestic income tax rate in the UK of 28% (2009: 28%)  
Tax effects of: 
– expenses not deductible for tax purposes  
– future relief not provided for on Canadian loss 
– exchange rate loss 
– profit of associate company 
– adjustments for the prior period 
– deferred tax rate change 
Tax charge for the year 

2010  
£’000 

2009  
£’000 

4,841 
(14) 
4,827 

41 
41 
4,868 

3,632 
(80)
3,552 

969 
969 
4,521 

  16,106 
4,510 

14,462 
4,049 

174 
549 
— 
(31) 
(14) 
(320) 
4,868 

10 
690 
(93)
(55)
(80)
—
4,521

13. Earnings per share
The basic earnings per share (EPS) has been calculated by dividing the net profit attributable to ordinary shareholders by 
the weighted average number of shares in issue during the relevant period as follows:

Basic EPS: 
–  earnings attributable  

to ordinary shareholders 

2010 

2009

Earnings  
£’000 

Number of  Amount per 
share 

shares 

Earnings  
£’000 

Number of 
shares 

Amount per 
per share

11,194   56,426,582  19.84p 

9,941 

50,000,000 

19.88p

The issued ordinary share capital of the company was subdivided from £1 shares into one penny shares on 29 March 2010. 
However, for consistency, the number of shares shown above assumes that one penny shares were in issue throughout. 

The number of shares stated for 2010 is a weighted average, taking into account the issue of 8,333,334 shares on 29 March 2010 
and 216,683 shares on 19 August 2010. 

There has been no dilution of shareholders interests during the year. 

14. Dividends

Interim dividend for the year to 31 December 2010 of 5.6p 
A final dividend for the year ended 31 December 2010 of 5.6p amounting to £3,278,800 will be proposed at the 2011 
Annual General Meeting. If approved, this dividend will be paid on 30 May 2011 to shareholders on the register on 
26 April 2011. The dividend is not accounted for as a liability in these accounts and will be accounted for as an 
appropriation of revenue reserves in the year to 31 December 2011.

3,278 

2010  
£’000 

2009  
£’000 

— 

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

45

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

15. Goodwill
Group 
Cost and net book amount 
2009 
As at 1 January 2009 
Movements in year 
As at 31 December 2009 
2010 
As at 1 January 2010 
Arising on acquisition of RX Systems 

£’000

15,853 
— 
15,853 

15,853 
6,098 
  21,951 

Allocated to the group’s cash generating units as follows:  
15,853
– EMIS 
– RX Systems 
6,098
The carrying value of goodwill represents the excess of the acquisition cost over the fair value of the net identifiable assets 
of the acquired subsidiaries at the date of acquisition.

Impairment tests for goodwill
Goodwill is allocated to the group’s cash generating units (CGUs) identified according to operating segment.

An operating segment-level summary of the goodwill is presented below:

EMIS 
RX Systems 

2010  
£’000 
  15,853 
6,098 
  21,951 
Each allocation is tested annually for impairment and to confirm that no impairment of the goodwill is necessary, 
management has compared the carrying value to the value in use.

2009  
£’000 
15,853 
— 
15,853 

The value in use for each allocation has been calculated using internal group budgets for the three years ending 
31 December 2013 to forecast pre-tax cash flows from each CGU. These cash flows have then been extrapolated for 
a further two years assuming average annual growth rates of 3.5% for EMIS (2009: 10%) and 4.0% for RX Systems, until 
31 December 2015 and then in perpetuity. The pre-tax cash flows for the five year period have been discounted back to 
31 December 2010 using weighted average costs of capital of 9% in relation to EMIS (2009: 9%) and 13% for RX Systems. 
The exercise has confirmed that there has been no impairment. Sensitivity analysis has then been performed on the inputs, 
which continues to indicate that no impairment is required.

46

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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16. Other intangible assets

Computer  

Customer 
software   relationships 
£’000  

£’000  

Total 
£’000 

—  

Group 
Cost 
As at 1 January 2009 
2009 additions – internally developed 
As at 31 December 2009 
2010 additions – internally developed  
 – acquisition of RX Systems 
As at 31 December 2010 
Amortisation and impairment 
As at 1 January 2009 
In year to 31 December 2009 
As at 31 December 2009 
In year to 31 December 2010 
As at 31 December 2010 
Net book value 
As at 31 December 2010 
As at 31 December 2009 
As at 1 January 2009 
Customer relationships have a remaining amortisation period of 13 years (2009: 14 years) for EMIS and 9.6 years for 
RX Systems.

7,700   13,100   20,800 
4,520 
4,520  
12,220   13,100   25,320 
3,801 
6,861 
  17,118   18,864   35,982 

  13,471   15,813   29,284 
9,974   11,081   21,055 
18,609 
6,737   11,872 

(963) 
(1,283) 
(2,246) 
(1,401) 
(3,647) 

(1,228) 
(791) 
(2,019) 
(1,032) 
(3,051) 

(2,191)
(2,074)
(4,265)
(2,433) 
(6,698)

3,801  
1,097  

—  
5,764  

The accounting policy for internally developed software is set out in note 2.8. The remaining amortisation period is 
approximately eight years (2009: eight years). The EMIS and RX Systems acquired software have remaining amortisation 
periods of 3.3 years (2009: 4.3 years) and 3.6 years respectively.

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

47

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

17. Property, plant and equipment 

Land and  
buildings  
£’000  

Computer 
equipment 
£’000  

Fixtures, 
fittings and 
equipment 
£’000  

Motor 
vehicles 
£’000  

Total 
£’000 

3,432  
108  
—  
3,540  
19  
20  
— 
3,579  

830  
294  
—  
1,124  
102  
137  
— 
1,363  

2,658  
2,957  
(215) 
5,400  
4,422  
24  
(2) 
9,844  

9,656 
2,736  
4,113 
754  
(478) 
(693)
3,012   13,076 
5,611 
1,068  
181 
—  
(1,075) 
(1,077)
3,005   17,791 

Group 
Cost  
As at 1 January 2009 
Additions in 2009 
Disposals in 2009 
As at 31 December 2009 
Additions in 2010 
Acquisition of RX Systems 
Disposals in 2010 
As at 31 December 2010 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment losses 
As at 1 January 2009 
Charged in 2009 
On disposals in 2009 
As at 31 December 2009 
Charged in 2010 
On disposals in 2010 
As at 31 December 2010 
Net book value 
As at 31 December 2010 
As at 31 December 2009 
As at 1 January 2009 
Included within property, plant and equipment are assets (“contract assets”) allocated to the data centre hosting services 
contract (see note 2.6 – Revenue recognition for further details) with an original cost of £6,858,000 and accumulated depreciation 
of £2,171,000, including depreciation of £1,503,000 charged in the year. The net book value amounts to £4,687,000.

702  
894  
(332) 
1,264  
574  
(786) 
1,052  

669  
1,248  
(95) 
1,822  
2,144  
—  
3,966  

1,953  12,058 
9,506 
1,748  
8,073 
2,034  

144  
196  
—  
340  
153  
—  
493  

68  
76  
—  
144  
78  
—  
222  

1,583 
2,414 
(427)
3,570 
2,949 
(786) 
5,733 

3,357  
3,396  
3,364  

5,878  
3,578  
1,989  

870  
784  
686  

18. Investments in subsidiaries
Company 
Cost and net book value 
53,871
As at 1 January 2009 
(15,837)
Deduct intra-group dividend paid in 2009 out of pre-acquisition profits   
38,034 
As at 31 December 2009 
10,131 
Addition in 2010 – RX Systems (note 33) 
As at 31 December 2010 
  48,165 
The company’s investments in its subsidiaries (and those investments of EMIS) are recorded at fair value cost, which is the 
fair value of the consideration paid and payable. 

£’000 

48

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
100

78.9

100

100 

100

2009  
£’000 
2,354 
— 
198 
2,552 

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18. Investments in subsidiaries continued
Details of the subsidiary companies are as follows:

Name and nature of business 
Egton Medical Information Systems Limited (EMIS)
– medical IT systems  
RX Systems Limited 
– pharmacy IT systems 
Subsidiary companies of EMIS: 
EMIS Inc. 
– medical systems 
EMIS Professional Publishing Limited
– dormant 
Pathway Trust Limited
– dormant 
All subsidiary undertakings are included in the consolidation.

Country of 
registration 
and operation  

Class of share 

% of voting 
 power held

England 

£1 ordinary 

England 

£1 ordinary 

Canada 

$1 Class A  

England 

£1 ordinary  

England 

£1 ordinary 

19. Investment in associates

Group 
As at 1 January  
Acquisition in year 
Share of profit for year 
As at 31 December  
The company has two associates, Pharmacy2U Limited (P2U) and Multepos Computer Systems Limited (Multepos). 
Both are unlisted companies incorporated in the UK.

2010  
£’000 
2,552  
—  
109  
2,661  

The principal activity of P2U is the operation of an internet mail order pharmacy and the group has a 20% ownership and 
voting interest.

Multepos was acquired as part of the RX Systems transaction and is in the process of developing a pharmacy electronic 
point of sale system, which would enable RX to enhance the services it provides to its user base. The trading results for 
the period to date and the net assets of Multepos are not material and have not been recognised in the group accounts. 
The investment is owned by RX Systems and the group has a 20% ownership and 25% voting interest.

2010  
£’000 

2009  
£’000 

Aggregate amounts relating to P2U are as follows: 
Assets 
Liabilities 
Revenues 
Profit before taxation 
Profit after taxation 

20. Inventories

Group 
Finished goods  
No inventory write downs have been required.

6,114  
(3,369) 

5,401 
(3,201)
  18,780   16,869 
973 
989 

758  
545  

2010  
£’000 
668  

2009  
£’000 
674 

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

49

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

21. Trade and other receivables

Current 
Trade and other receivables 
Prepayments and accrued income 
Income tax 

22. Cash and cash equivalents

Cash at bank  

 Group 

Company

2010  
£’000  

2009 
£’000  

2010 
£’000  

6,946  
2,136  
—  
9,082  

5,764  
1,736  
—  
7,500  

—  
48  
351  
399  

2009 
£’000 

— 
— 
611 
611 

 Group 

Company

2010  
£’000  
7,442  

2009 
£’000  
5,221  

2010 
£’000  
14  

2009 
£’000 
25 

23.	Credit	quality	of	financial	assets
The group’s financial assets, all of which are held for trading, are classed as level one financial instruments in the fair value 
hierarchy. The amounts of the maximum exposure to credit risk at the reporting date are as follows:

Trade and other receivables 
Cash at bank  

No collateral security is held.

Trade and other receivables 
Reporting date balances fall within the following categories:

EMIS 
UK governmental health bodies: 
–  agencies (e.g. Connecting for Health) 
– others (e.g. Primary Care Trusts) 
RX Systems 
–  group and independent high street pharmacies   
– distributors 
Other third party debtors across the group 

 Group 

Company

2010  
£’000  
6,946  
7,442  

2009 
£’000  
5,764  
5,221  
  14,388   10,985  

2010 
£’000  
—  
14  
14  

2009 
£’000 
— 
25 
25 

Group

2010 
£’000  

2009 
£’000 

3,220  
818  

3,726 
1,007 

1,282  
591  
1,035  
6,946  

— 
— 
1,031 
5,764 

Trade and other receivables are mainly due one month following the date of the invoice. At the reporting date the aged 
analysis of trade and other receivables is as follows:

December 
November 
October and earlier 

Other than trivial amounts, no provision for impairment of trade receivables has been required.

Group

2010 
£’000  
6,257  
415  
274  
6,946  

2009 
£’000
4,023 
941 
800 
5,764 

50

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
23.	Credit	quality	of	financial	assets	continued
Cash at bank
The Moody’s long term credit ratings and balances are as follows: 

A1  
Aa3 
Other balances 

24. Trade and other payables

Current 
Trade payables 
Accrued expenses  

25. Current tax liabilities

Corporation tax 
Other tax and social security 

26. Borrowings

Company and group 
Non-current 
Bank loans – secured  
Other loans  

Current 
Bank loans – secured  

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Group

2010 
£’000  
2,402  
4,945  
95  
7,442  

2009 
£’000 
5,194 
— 
27 
5,221 

 Group 

Company

2010  
£’000  

2009 
£’000  

2010 
£’000  

3,531  
1,638  
5,169  

2,192  
1,189  
3,381  

—  
—  
—  

 Group 

Company

2010  
£’000  
2,572  
2,531  
5,103  

2009 
£’000  
1,634  
1,882  
3,516  

2010 
£’000  
—  
—  
—  

2009 
£’000 

— 
571 
571 

2009 
£’000 
— 
— 
— 

2010 
£’000  

2009 
£’000 

4,580  

5,763 
—   23,000 
4,580   28,763 

1,184  
1,184 
5,764   29,947 

Bank loans consist of a term loan to March 2013 amounting to £2,800,000 at 31 December 2010, repayable by equal 
monthly instalments of £100,000, and a mortgage loan of £3,000,000 repayable on 31 March 2014. The term loan bears 
interest at 2% over LIBOR and the mortgage loan is at 1.75% over LIBOR.

The bank loans are secured by mortgage debentures providing fixed and floating charges over the group’s assets 
and undertaking.

Other loans, which were subordinated in favour of the bank and bore interest at 2% over LIBOR, were repaid in full on 
29 March 2010.

The fair value of non-current borrowings carried at £4,580,000 (2009: £28,763,000) as shown above is estimated to have 
a fair value of £4,527,000 (2009: £28,292,000). The fair values are based on cash flows discounted using a rate based on 
the borrowing rate of 2.87% (2009: 2.78%). 

The fair value of current borrowings equals their carrying amount, as the impact of discounting is not significant. 

EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

51

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

26. Borrowings continued
Analysis of debt maturity: 

2010 
£’000  

2009 
£’000 

Amounts payable: 
In one year or less  
In more than one year but not more than two years 
In more than two years but not more than five years 
In five years or more 
Debt issue costs to be amortised over outstanding term 

1,200 
1,200 
4,600 
—   23,000 
(53)
5,764   29,947 
The company has an undrawn bank revolving credit facility, arranged at the time of the RX Systems acquisition, of £5,000,000 
which expires on 19 August 2012.

1,200  
1,200  
3,400  

(36) 

27. Deferred tax 

Plant and  
equipment  
£’000  
286  
(147) 
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
139  

Intangible 
assets 
£’000  
(5,210) 
—  
581  
(1,266) 
—  
—  
—  
(5,895) 

Derivative 
financial 
instruments 
£’000  
153  
—  
—  
—  
(147) 
(6) 
—  
—  

Property 
£’000  
(784) 
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
16  
(768) 

As at 1 January 2009 
Charge to income 
Intangibles amortisation 
Development costs 
Settlement of derivative 
Derivative fair value gain 
Depreciation on building 
As at 31 December 2009 
Business combination: 
– acquired provision 
– intangibles fair value 
Charge to income 
Intangibles amortisation 
Development costs 
Depreciation on building 
Effect of rate change 
As at 31 December 2010 
Certain deferred tax assets and liabilities have been offset. The following is the analysis of the deferred tax balances 
(after offset) for financial reporting purposes:

—  
(1,921) 
—  
681  
(1,064) 
—  
293  
(7,906) 

—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
16  
27  
(725) 

(8) 
—  
6  
—  
—  
—  
— 
137  

—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
—  
— 
—  

Total 
£’000 
(5,555)
(147)
581 
(1,266)
(147)
(6)
16 
(6,524)

(8)
(1,921)
6 
681 
(1,064)
16 
320 
(8,494)

Deferred tax liabilities 
Deferred tax assets 

2010 
£’000  
(8,634) 
140  
(8,494) 

2009 
£’000 
(6,663)
139 
(6,524) 

52

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
28. Share capital and premium

As at 1 January 2009 and 1 January 2010 
29 March 2010: 
Conversion from £1 shares to shares of one penny  
Proceeds from shares issued: 
– 29 March 2010 
Acquisition of subsidiary (note 33) 

Ordinary shares  

Number 
500,000 

49,500,000 

8,333,334 
216,683 
58,550,017 

Share 
premium 
£’000 
— 

— 

Total 
£’000
500

—

24,063 
704 
24,767 

24,146
707
25,353

£’000 
500 

— 

83 
3 
586 

The company was admitted to the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) on 29 March 2010. As part of that process the 
existing ordinary shares of £1 each were converted into 50,000,000 ordinary shares of one penny each. A further 8,333,334 
shares of one penny each (representing 14.29% of the enlarged equity) were issued at £3.00 a share, raising a gross 
amount of £25,000,000 less related costs charged to the share premium account of £854,359. The net proceeds were 
used to repay founders loans of £23,000,000 (note 26).

The company issued 216,683 ordinary shares of one penny each at 326.3p (representing 0.37% of the enlarged equity) 
on 19 August 2010 in connection with the acquisition of RX Systems (note 33). 

All issued shares are fully paid. There were no movements in the share capital of the company during 2010.

29. Share-based payments
The company operates an Inland Revenue approved share incentive plan, which commenced October 2010 and is open 
to all UK employees. Those joining contribute a maximum of £1,500 a year, or 10% of salary, whichever is smaller, which 
is used to acquire shares in the company at market price from the EMIS Group plc Employee Benefits Trust, which was 
established during the year to hold shares in the company to facilitate share-based emolument payments.

For every four shares acquired by employees the company adds one free share. The free shares allocated to members 
of the scheme during the period October to December 2010 had a value of £10,000.

30. Operating lease commitments
The future aggregate minimum lease commitments under non-cancellable operating leases as follows:

Group 
Land and buildings: 
– due within one year 
– due between two and five years 
– due in more than five years 
Plant and machinery: 
– due within one year 
– due between two and five years 
– due in more than five years 

2010 
£’000  

462  
617  
—  

2009 
£’000 

281 
456 
501 

88  
164  
29  
1,360  

10 
14 
— 
1,262 

31. Capital commitments
At 31 December 2010 the group had capital commitments in respect of motor vehicles amounting to £50,000 (2009: £336,000).

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

53

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

32. Cash generated from operations

Profit before tax  
Amortisation of intangible assets 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment 
Decrease in inventory 
(Increase) in trade and other receivables 
Decrease in trade and other payables 
Increase in deferred income 
Finance income 
Finance costs 
Share of profit of associate 
Profit on transactions in own shares 
Net cash flow from operating activities 

 Group 

Company

2010  
£’000  
  16,106 
2,433 
2,949 
40 
(35) 
(1,142) 
1,568 
(51) 
426 
(109) 
(4) 
  22,181 

2009 
£’000  
14,462  
2,074  
2,384  
498 
(1,959) 
(2,235) 
3,328  
(62) 
1,572  
(198) 
— 
19,864  

2010 
£’000  
2,573 
— 
— 
— —
(48) —

(572) 

— —

2009 
£’000 
8,757 
— 
— 

(14)

(4,500)  (10,864)
2,090 

389 

— —
(4) —

(2,162) 

(31)

33. Business combinations
During the year EMIS Group plc acquired 78.9% of the called up ordinary share capital of RX Systems Limited (“RX Systems”), 
an unlisted company. The transaction was finalised on 19 August 2010. The economic benefits passed with effect from 
1 August 2010, which has been regarded as the acquisition date.

RX Systems is a pharmacy software and services company and the acquisition of RX represents a strategic opportunity 
for EMIS to develop into this adjacent segment of the healthcare IT market to further its objective of joining up healthcare IT.

The goodwill of £6,098,000 arising from the acquisition principally relates to the inherent workforce and market share. 
None of the goodwill recognised is expected to be deductible for income tax purposes.

The table below summarises the consideration paid for RX Systems and the fair value amounts as at the acquisition date 
of the assets acquired and liabilities assumed, as well as the fair value at that date of the non-controlling interest in RX. 

Consideration 
Cash 
Equity instruments (216,683 ordinary shares) 
Contingent consideration: 
– current 
– non-current 
Total consideration 
Recognised amounts of identifiable assets acquired and liabilities assumed 
Customer contracts and relationships (included in intangibles) (note 16) 
ProScript Technology (included in intangibles) (note 16) 
Property, fixtures, fittings and equipment (note 17)  
Investment in associates (note 19) 
Inventories 
Trade and other receivables  
Trade and other payables  
Deferred income  
Deferred tax liabilities (note 27)  
Cash and cash equivalents 
Total identifiable net assets  
Non-controlling interest  
Goodwill 

Acquisition-related costs 

£’000 
8,478 
707 

189 
757 
10,131 

5,764 
1,097 
181 
— 
34 
1,547 
(3,579)
(1,707)
(1,929)
5,334 
6,742 
(2,709)
6,098 
10,131 
299 

54

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
33. Business combinations continued
Acquisition-related costs are included in flotation, acquisition and other transaction costs in the consolidated statement 
of comprehensive income for the year ended 31 December 2010. 

The fair value attributed to the 216,683 ordinary shares in the company issued as equity consideration was based on the 
average closing price for the 30 day period prior to the transaction. There were no material identifiable issuance costs.

The contingent consideration arrangement requires the company to pay the RX Systems vendor shareholders a maximum 
of £0.95m. The contingent consideration is based on a formula and accrues on achievement of annualised operating profits 
within the range of between £1,680,000 and £2,400,000 for the five month period and the succeeding twelve month period 
following completion. It is fully expected that the maximum amount will become payable and this has accordingly been 
regarded as the fair value as at 1 August 2010. 

RX Systems has an associated company investment which has a cost and book value of £150,000 (note 19), the fair value 
of which is nil.

The trade and other receivables amounting to £1,547,000 consist principally of trade debtors. The only fair value adjustment 
required is with regard to a loan of £38,000 to the associated company, which has been included at a fair value of nil.

The fair value of the acquired identifiable intangible assets of £6,861,000 is provisional pending receipt of the final 
valuations for those assets.

RX Systems has a non-controlling interest (NCI). The amount recognised, amounting to £2,709,000, uses the “fair value 
method” of measurement. This method recognises the amount of the proportionate share of the whole of the goodwill of 
RX within that figure as well as the proportion of the identifiable net assets attributable to the NCI. 

The total consideration payable for RX Systems amounting to £10,131,000 was based on the proportion of RX acquired 
in relation to the value of RX as a whole and accordingly did not include any control premium. 

It is considered that no difference exists between the per share value of the company’s controlling interest and that of the NCI. 

A deferred taxation provision of £1,921,000 arises on the intangible assets acquired and this amount also forms part of the 
goodwill recognised on this acquisition. No other fair value adjustments have been required. 

The revenue included in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income is for the period 1 August to 31 December 2010, 
amounting to £4,978,000, with a profit contribution (after deduction of amortisation of intangibles) of £215,000. 

Had RX Systems been part of the EMIS Group throughout 2010, unaudited pro forma figures for the year to 31 December 2010 
would have shown revenue of £11,648,000, profit after amortisation of intangibles and before taxation of £954,000, a tax 
charge of £140,000 and a post tax profit of £814,000. 

With regard to the EMIS acquisition on 4 April 2008, the fair values of acquired assets and liabilities, including goodwill, 
previously disclosed as provisional, have been finalised in the current year with no material changes to the fair values 
disclosed in the 2008 Directors’ report and accounts.

34. Pension commitments
The group defined contribution pension scheme was wound up during 2009, no contributions to that scheme having been 
made during that year. 

The total costs charged to income consist of £98,000 (2009: £56,000) representing EMIS contributions payable to individual 
personal pension plans, £34,000 in relation to RX Systems group and personal pension arrangements and £53,000 
(2009: £63,000) in relation to employees of the group’s subsidiary in Canada.

Canadian employees are members of a federally-managed retirement benefit plan operated by the Government of Canada, 
known as the Canada Pension Plan (CPP). EMIS Inc. is required to contribute 4.95% of gross pensionable earnings to the 
retirement benefit plan to fund the benefits. The only obligation of the group with respect to the retirement benefit plan is 
to make the specified contributions.

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EMIS Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2010

55

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Financial statements

Notes to the financial statements
continued

35. Related party transactions
Key management compensation
Key management includes directors (executive and non-executive) of the parent and UK subsidiary companies, 
the Company Secretary and certain departmental heads. The compensation paid or payable to key management for 
employee services is shown below:

Salaries and other short-term employee benefits 
Post retirement benefits 

Directors’ emoluments 

Aggregate emoluments 
Pension costs – defined contribution plans 

2010 
£’000  
1,638  
76  

2010 
£’000  
770  
53  
823  

Retirement benefits are accruing to three (2009: five) directors under defined contribution personal pension schemes.

Highest paid director:  
– aggregate emoluments 
– pension costs – defined contribution plans 

Transactions between the group and its associate – Pharmacy2U Limited: 

Sales of goods in period  
Amounts owed by/to related party at period end 

199  
15  
214  

2010 
£’000  
32  
—  

2009 
£’000 
2,376 
76 

2009 
£’000 
1,754 
76 
1,830 

347 
15 
 362 

2009 
£’000 
47 
— 

Transactions with directors
During the period certain directors had transactions with the group resulting in the following outstanding debtors:

W A Jones 

 31 December 
2010 
£’000 
— 

Maximum 
in period 
£’000 
2 

1 January 
2010 
£’000
2

36. Post balance sheet event
Discontinued operation
EMIS has caused to be developed, and configured, software specifically for the Canadian healthcare market. However, 
EMIS Inc. the group’s Canadian subsidiary, through which this activity has been conducted, has not made the progress 
that had been hoped for. This resulted in a reduction of staff numbers during the year and a strategic options review going 
through into 2011. That process has now been concluded and EMIS has commenced a managed exit.

It is anticipated at the present time that the 2011 Canadian fair value losses will be in the region of £1.1m. There will also 
be an impairment charge of £1.4m.

56

Annual Report and Accounts 2010 EMIS Group plc

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The group’s commitment to environmental issues is reflected in this 
Annual Report which has been printed on Revive 50 White Silk, a recycled 
paper stock containing 50% recovered waste and 50% virgin fibre.

This report was printed by Pureprint Group using their environmental print 
technology which minimises the impact of printing on the environment. 
Vegetable based inks have been used and 99% of dry waste is diverted 
from landfill. Pureprint Group is a CarbonNeutral® company.

EMIS Group plc
Fulford Grange 
Micklefield Lane 
Rawdon 
Leeds LS19 6BA 
Tel: 0113 380 3000 
www.emis-online.com