Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements
year ended 31 March 2020
Company number 1730012 (British Virgin Islands)
Falanx Group Limited
Falanx Group Limited, listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock
Exchange, is a cyber defence and intelligence services provider working with
blue chip and government clients internationally to protect their assets from a range of threats.
The Group has two business divisions:
• Falanx Cyber: Comprehensive offensive and defensive cyber security services encompassing both Managed Services (e.g.
MDR, Managed EDR, Triarii) and Professional Services (e.g. Penetration Testing, Ransomware protection, Red Teaming)
operating as Falanx Cyber
• Falanx Intelligence: Political & Security Risk and Business Intelligence services operating as Falanx Assynt.
Falanx Cyber
Falanx Cyber provides a full range
of professional services and
managed monitoring services to
government and commercial
organisations worldwide.
Falanx Intelligence
Falanx Assynt provides Political &
Security Risk and Business
Intelligence services globally,
providing clients the information they
need to make key decisions.
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Corporate statement
Business overview
Chairman’s statement
Chief Executive Officer’s report
Chief Financial Officer’s report
Directors
Directors’ report
Remuneration & Nomination Committee Report
25 Statement of Directors’ responsibilities
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Corporate Governance report
Independent auditors’ report
Consolidated income statement
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
Consolidated statement of financial position
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
Consolidated cash flow statement
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Business Overview
Financial highlights
Results for the year to 31 March 2020 as per trading update 28 September 2020
• Revenues increased 12% to £5.85m (2019: £5.21m)
• Contribution from monthly recurring revenues consistent with 2019 at 56% of total revenues, with an overall increase
of circa £0.3m in recognitions, attributable to strong growth and long-term recurring contracts
The monthly recurring revenue run rate at 31 March 2020 was £0.26m (2019: £0.24m)
•
•
Large scale rollout of Assynt recurring revenue contracts fuelled its revenue growth of 30% to 2.14m (2019: £1.64m)
• H2 gross margins increased to 43% from 32% following operational restructuring in the Cyber division. Overall gross
margins were 38% (2019: 44%)
• New operational structure in the second half of the year greatly benefited the Cyber division improving divisional gross
margins from 30% to 45%
• Majority of infrastructure investment programme completed in the first half of the year resulting in greatly reduced spend
in the second half
• Adjusted EBITDA* loss £1.56m (2019: £1.25m) following investment in sales and marketing program in the first 6
months
• Overall loss £2.88m (2019: £1.83m)
•
• Shareholders’ funds £4.97m (2019: £7.63m)
Loss per share 0.72p (2019: 0.58p)
Operational highlights
•
•
Furnace platform spun out December 2019 reducing cash spend by c£40,000 per month
In March 2020 the Company moved to a ‘virtual structure’ fully able to support clients in a COVID-19 environment. All
staff safe and protected
Post period highlights
• Monthly Cyber services customer orders now back to pre COVID-19 levels
• Sales pipeline is now stronger and opportunities starting to progress including uptake of new cyber service offerings
•
The move to an online world with remote working post COVID-19 will increase cyber risk and a resultant increase in
the demand for protective cyber security services
• New Cyber Security monitoring service (Triarii) launched August 2020, major new reseller into UK government sector
appointed, contracts won and generating revenue
• Cyber Security monitoring service expanded to include endpoint detection, creating a strong margin and volume growth
•
opportunity into smaller SMEs
Joined SolarWinds TAP programme, Falanx now well positioned with Triarii to address their global base of over 22,000
MSPs
• Assynt division profitable with strong pipeline of new recurring revenue opportunities with some of the world’s largest
•
companies
Total spend** in the six months to 30 September 2020 circa 30% lower than the same period in 2019, two offices
closed with physical presence now at the Reading Security Operations Centre (“SOC”)
• Balance sheet strengthened following £1.25m equity fundraising completed 29 September 2020 and remains debt free
• Stifel appointed sole broker
• Cash of £1.33m at 1 October 2020, following receipt of initial tranche of net proceeds from fundraising, sufficient cash
for organic operations, normal working capital profile
* Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS headline measure used by management to measure the Group’s performance and is based on operating
profit before the impact of financing costs, IFRS16, share based payment charges, depreciation, amortisation, impairment charges and
highlighted items.
** Total spend is the total operating costs, cost of sales, capital expenditure and any highlighted costs.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Business Overview
Mike Read, Chief Executive, said:
“In the second half of the year under review the streamlined business was growing well, and we were on target to achieve
profitability. Clearly the impact of COVID-19 has created some delays, but we have seen a strong resurgence in orders in the
Cyber division since August as organisations need to deal with an increasing cyber security risk, and orders are now very close
to pre pandemic levels. Our new cyber security monitoring service Triarii is getting positive customer uptake in the UK and
US, and it is now part of the SolarWinds global TAP program with its access to over 22,000 Managed Service Providers (“MSPs”)
globally. The Assynt division is profitable and has a solid basis of contracts as well as new prospects with the world’s largest
companies. We continue to tightly control our costs as we push to profitability and we are optimistic about the future”
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Chairman’s Statement
During the period under review and, indeed, subsequent to the financial year end in March 2020 your company has had to develop
and adapt to the unprecedented times we are living in today. The past 12 months have seen the Cyber Security and Intelligence
market evolve rapidly with the need for our cyber audit and monitoring services being paramount in the protection of data and potential
security breaches. Ironically, the more distributed working environment engendered by COVID-19 working practices has increased
the threat of cyber vulnerability at a time when many companies have been forced to cut back their operating expense budgets in
order to ensure they are well resourced to ride out the uncertain business environment. We have been working hard to educate the
SME business community that the need for cyber testing and protection is increasing rather than diminishing and I believe that
message is beginning to gain traction.
The almost daily announcements by companies, both big and small, that they have fallen victim to some form of cyber-crime, whether
by data theft or system ransom, bears testimony to the gulf in understanding between those whose fiduciary duty it is to protect their
corporate assets and those who are out to steal them. At the moment, we believe the threat actors have the upper hand due, in part,
to the embedded complacency of directors about the extent of the cyber risk and vulnerability that exists within their organisations.
We are pleased to report that in the past financial year overall revenues have organically increased by 12% to £5.85m (2019: £5.12m),
this was largely attributable to the increased performance shown in H2. Both divisions were making steady progress before the
Coronavirus outbreak, demonstrating the Company was heading in the right direction and reconfirming the strategy adopted by the
Board.
The structure of Falanx has been adjusted to streamline the operations of the Company. As announced in December 2019, the sale
of the technology platform known as Furnace was completed. This reduced our cash expenditure requirements freeing us to progress
our core Cyber Services and Business Intelligence businesses and provide a solid foundation for the Group to progress. Falanx
Assynt, the Group's strategic intelligence division, has seen consistent progression due to its strong recurring revenue contracts with
global companies. This has allowed the division to develop rapidly and move towards an even greater more recurring revenue model.
Group Strategy
After a positive end to the financial year, we were faced with the potential consequences of COVID-19. With the escalation of the
pandemic, the Board responded quickly by implementing certain measures allowing operations to continue servicing our clients.
One measure introduced was all employees being encouraged to work remotely. This was possible due to the technical infrastructure
and our processes and protocols which have resulted in negligible interruption to service provision. As announced on 31 March 2020,
the Group had also implemented certain measures designed to strengthen the Company's balance sheet and expected cash
performance. One of these measures included voluntary salary sacrifices by the directors, certain senior managers and staff.
Last month we announced that we secured an important contract for the provision of cyber security services to one of the major
suppliers of services to the UK public sector. Whilst client confidentiality restricts the naming of this customer, we are delighted that
such a significant customer has chosen to adopt our services and we hope to conclude similar sized deals in the future. The contract
to supply our new integrated cyber technology platform, Triarii, to several UK public sector organisations has been progressing well
and is gaining traction within that market.
We are pleased that the SolarWinds partnership announced in September 2018 has rapidly regained momentum in recent months.
They have actively supported sales of our new cyber monitoring platform Triarii into the US and we have just been appointed to their
TAP program which gives us access to their 22,000 MSP clients globally.
Corporate Governance
The Board sets out to deliver the highest standards of corporate governance and has remained abreast of developing governance
standards. We have continued to prioritise a safe working environment for our staff across all locations and have improved the quality
of safety across the business. During COVID-19 we have been focussing on our employees mental as well as physical health.
Outlook
This past year has witnessed the significant commercial impact of a global pandemic which has affected all businesses worldwide.
Falanx has not been immune from this. However, whilst order levels for certain of our professional services were much reduced in
the first few months of the pandemic, they have now recovered and are running at approximately double their levels in the first quarter.
The need for organisations to spend on Cyber protection is rising in line with the apparent uncertainty in the world and the ever-
increasing technical capabilities and resources of the cyber threat agents. At the same time the need for timely information on
geopolitical risk has increased the need for Falanx’s business intelligence products which allow organisations operating in overseas
markets to be kept up-to-date and informed. The increase in the spread of the COVID-19, will continue to push the working
environment away form centralised offices and out into the home environment thereby putting businesses at higher risk from cyber-
attacks providing a consequent requirement for enhanced and vigilant protection. Our new platform Triarii and our continuing strategic
relationship with SolarWinds significantly underpins our capability in this growing market.
Falanx’s size and capabilities mean we are well positioned to adapt to changes in the industry and is highlighted by our healthy and
debt-free balance sheet following the raising of £1.25m in September 2020. This should allow us to weather any ongoing macro-
economic disruption as a result of COVID-19. Our order book is strengthening, cyber order levels are close to pre COVID-19 levels
and our sale pipelines are building in terms of quantum and quality. The Company will continue to work towards improving efficiencies
and maintaining tight cash control as well as strengthening our client relationships in order to deliver a successful end to the current
financial year.
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Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Chairman’s Statement
Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our shareholders and everyone at Falanx for their contribution during a volatile
year and for their continued hard work in the face of the uncertain business environment.
Approved by the Board on 30 October 2020 and signed on its behalf by
PP
A Hambro
Chairman
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Chief Executive Officer’s Report
Falanx Group Limited is a provider of Cyber Security and Strategic Intelligence services to over 440 customers. Customer range from
governments and some of the world’s largest companies to SME. These operate as separate divisions and are supported by common
corporate services.
Falanx Cyber
Financial Performance
Our core division recorded increased revenues year on year despite the impact of COVID-19 disruption from mid-February 2020.
Revenues for the year were £3.71m (2019: £3.57m) representing growth of 4%. Revenues in the second half grew by 17% to £2.0m
and this was driven by increased contract momentum from a realigned sales force and also by much improved professional services
utilisation from September 2019 onwards as revised operational management structures were put in place. Average monthly
divisional revenues were £0.33m in the second half of the year. We were pleased to see the commencement of cross selling of our
MDR services into the customer bases acquired with First Base LLP (March 2018) and Securestorm (July 2018).
Following operational management changes in August 2019 professional services utilsiation increased significantly and consequently
gross margins improved to 45% in the second half of the year from 30% in the first half. Overall gross margins were 38% (2019: 49%)
with the change being due to service mix, and the weak utilisation in the first half of the year referenced above.
Investment was made in expanding sales and marketing capacity in the year as well as upgrading infrastructure in anticipation of the
large-scale rollout of the SolarWinds opportunity which had been expected in the year under review. Consequently, the division
generated an adjusted EBITDA loss of £0.41m (2019: profit £0.05m). Improving revenues, a lower operating cost base, and improved
gross margins enabled the division to become profitable on a more consistent basis in the second half of the year prior to the onset
of COVID-19 in February.
Upgraded Manage Detect Respond (“MDR”) Offering
The division has evolved it’s MDR offering into a new service offering, Triarii which is built upon world-class leading technology
solutions. This combined with our highly skilled Security Operations Centre (“SOC”) monitoring team, creates a market-leading
offering to compete with all-comers whilst leveraging the development resources of key technology providers. Triarii has also been
accepted by SolarWinds as an alternate offering to its own Threat Monitor platform. We have successfully joined the SolarWinds
Technology Alliance Partner (“TAP”) Program and can sell Triarii to their entire MSP channel of over 22,000 MSPs globally – as well
as a new Managed Service offering supporting those MSPs with deployments of SentinelOne through the SolarWinds channel. We
anticipate this now being a low touch and high-volume channel and hope to see the benefit of that over the coming months
As part of the release of Triarii MDR we have also now introduced our own new service for monitoring endpoints such as laptops and
desktops. This capability, known as Managed Endpoint Detection and Response (“M-EDR”) can be sold separately, opening up an
entire new market for Falanx Cyber, or as an integral part of our Triarii MDR service. Our own M-EDR service is a leading market
contender in its own right and further illustrates the strength of our full MDR service.
During the year the division relocated its SOC from Birmingham to Reading to support the expected rollout of SolarWinds
opportunities and the expected increase in volumes as the Cyber security market accelerates. This move has enabled a wider talent
pool of skilled staff to be reached.
Professional Services
Falanx Cyber now offers an extended portfolio of professional cyber security services, along with our upgraded Triarii MDR (Managed
Detection and Response) service. We offer a wide range of ethical offensive services designed to simulate real-word cyber criminals
and, in doing so, enable us to identify weaknesses in clients’ defences and advise them as to how they can better protect themselves
and their assets. These services range from specific penetration testing services through to social engineering techniques (such as
phishing and red teaming inter alia) which can then be integrated into tailored security awareness training. We continue to serve
customers in a diverse range of sectors including Government, Finance, Legal, Insurance, Retail, IT and Telecoms.
Route to Market
To accelerate growth beyond the confines of traditional direct sales and cross-selling opportunities between service lines, Falanx
Cyber exploits a ‘Channel’ model, providing security services via its growing network of MSP partners. These IT outsourcing
organisations have a longstanding and trusted status with their customers for the provision of essential business IT functions, as
such they are natural partners for Falanx Cyber and a significant extension of our market reach. The SolarWinds channel remains a
significant opportunity along with some recent additional new partners.
The combination of strong and growing demand for the Falanx Cyber portfolio of services, market pull of the MSP ‘Channel’ model,
the opportunity still offered by SolarWinds and the transformed service offerings for MDR and M-EDR indicate strong growth potential.
In anticipation to that we have launched a completely refreshed website and integrated digital marketing model to better inform visitors
of all backgrounds about what we do and how we can help them. Overall the cyber sector is experiencing strong macro-economic
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Chief Executive Officer’s Report
drivers and is forecast to grow significantly over the next few years (Forbes: 2020 Roundup of Cybersecurity Forecasts and Market
Estimates). To keep pace with this continuing high growth, the division has further invested in people, processes, services
and infrastructure to expand capacity and maximise the revenue growth opportunities of the current year and beyond.
COVID-19 impact
Clearly the current financial year has been impacted by the COVID-19 crisis. As referenced previously this began to affect customer
buying and project cycles from February 2020 onwards as they moved into precautionary modes. The Cyber division moved to a fully
remote model in March 2020 and we have been able to provide the bulk of our services without interruption, although where client
site visits are needed these have been disrupted and delayed. All of our staff are safe, we have some very limited use of furlough
programmes and we have kept a skilled workforce in place ahead of recovery. We have also been able to return limited numbers of
staff to the Reading office in a COVID-safe manner, offering staff a choice between home working and an office environment. We
have maintained investment in sales and marketing and of course service innovation in support of Triarii and its new service offerings,
and we are pleased that this is now gaining customer and partner adoption. We reviewed our physical infrastructure and have closed
a leasehold premise (at very small cost) in Sussex so we can maintain flexibility as the wider office environment remains fluid and
now only have the Reading SOC premises on an operating lease.
Cyber trading performance for the six months to 30 September 2020
The move to remote working opens up inevitable cyber security risks for organisations and we have positioned our offerings to
address this growing market opportunity, and whilst orders and revenues were lower at the start of the year than those pre COVID-
19 as clients were in disaster recovery mode, orders have since recovered strongly from July onwards and this began to flow through
to revenues and margins shortly in September. The Cyber security market is expected to grow strongly with the shift to a more digital
economy and we expect this to benefit Falanx.
We have just joined the SolarWinds TAP program and this will help us address their 22,000 MSPs globally. This partnership has
already delivered revenues and in September, and we have won our first US cyber deal through them. We expect value from this
partnership to grow significantly and are actively working on multiple prospects through this relationship for both the provision of
Triarii monitoring services (including endpoint detection) as well as for professional services such as penetration testing.
In August we announced a significant sale of Triarii to UK public sector clients achieved through a partner who is a major supplier to
the UK government. This partnership is active and is expected to deliver further sales of existing services as well as working with us
to address a much larger market opportunity.
We will migrate some of our existing user base onto Triarii over the coming months. This will not only improve our client delivery but
to also make our delivery more cost effective with significantly lower overall external licencing fees which will enhance our margins.
In the six months to 30 September 2020 the division recorded revenues of circa £1.4m (2019: £1.7m). Orders for penetration testing
which had been most affected by COVID-19 delays recovered strongly from the start of August onwards and since then have been
running at approximately £0.2m per month compared to c£0.1m per month at the start of the current financial year. The initial uplift
in order volumes has already resulted in a much improved financial performance of the division in September and this trend is
expected to continue. This is broadly similar to order levels pre COVID-19. Despite reduced revenues arising from COVID-19 delays
effective cost management has reduced the adjusted EBITDA loss to c£0.3m (2019: £0.4m).
Falanx Assynt
Our strategic Intelligence business unit, Falanx Assynt, provides market-leading geopolitical reporting and analysis focused on key
major emerging markets and overarching global themes. Its client base includes some of the largest and most recognised global
corporate names. Assynt’s two principal business lines are the subscription-based Assynt Report service and the Embedded Analyst
business. These are supplemented by an Intelligence Consulting practice which provides tailored reports to address specific client
requirements.
Annual revenue of £2.14m (2019: £1.64m) was generated, an uplift of 30% on the back of larger recurring revenue contracts rolled
out in the second half of the year. Approximately 94% (2019: 85%) of total revenues were from monthly recurring contracts for Assynt
report subscriptions and embedded analyst services. The balance of revenues was comprised of specific business intelligence
reports. Gross margins consequently improved to 38% (2019: 33%).
Investments in sales and marketing were made in the first half of the year, and this resulted in a positive trading result in the second
half of the year. Overall the division reported an EBITDA profit of £0.01m (2019: loss £0.05m), the second half was profitable, and
this trend has carried on into the current financial year as set out below.
Over the year we continued to consolidate and build on the significant investment we had put into upgrading our flagship product, the
Assynt Report, the previous year, including introducing an App based distribution system. Feedback from customers remains
overwhelmingly positive.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Chief Executive Officer’s Report
For our Assynt Report subscriber base of global corporates (many of which are headquartered outside of the UK),
we have produced over 1,300 reports analysing key geopolitical events in 40 countries, including specialist analysis of international
jihadist trends. Over the course of the year we have expanded our country coverage to include further counties in sub-Saharan Africa
as well as regular reports addressing significant global themes such as the geopolitics of environmental issues, global trade and
great power politics. We continue to look for new reporting areas of significant client interest, including COVID-19 related analysis,
which we introduced just before the end of the financial year.
The reputation of and demand for the Embedded Analyst service, aimed firmly at the FTSE-100 and NASDAQ-100 market, continued
to grow strongly, with two existing clients seeking additional capacity in addition to positions with new clients. As a result, the total
number of embedded analysts increased by 25% over the course of the financial year.
In addition to our increased focus on high quality recurring revenue via the Assynt Report and Embedded Analysts, we are continuing
to undertake Intelligence Consulting projects which are more clearly aligned with our core geopolitical analysis and emerging market
expertise as well as on legal support projects. This has enabled us to pitch at a higher price point and increased share of the ‘value-
add’ components of projects with in-house resources, further improving traditionally high levels of customer retention and account
expansion.
COVID-19 Impact
So far, the Assynt business has successfully weathered the COVID-19 pandemic. To ensure the safety of our staff we have closed
the London office and exited the lease in the new financial year. We have instituted home working with no impact on productivity or
output. We have encountered very little customer churn, and all of our major clients have maintained or increased their spend. We
have also rigorously controlled costs to ensure profitability and cashflow, and to ensure we have headroom should the economic
impact of the pandemic be more sustained or severe than envisaged. Providing clients with analysis of the geopolitical effects
of COVID-19 has been a potential opportunity for the Assynt business, and we have capitalised on this with a series of new reports
focusing on the impact of the pandemic on key emerging markets and the global political economy.
Assynt trading performance for the six months to 30 September 2020.
Revenues for the six months to 30 September 2020 were circa £1.1m (2019: £0.9m) and the division recorded adjusted EBITDA of
circa £0.1m (2019: break even). Recurring revenues were circa 96% of total revenues.
Future Prospects
The Assynt business has a robust platform for growth over the next three years. The significant revenue growth on the previous year
resulting from, the increased marketing spends, and the continuing product refinement all provide a strong underpinning for
developing the business further as a stand-alone division of Falanx Group.
Approved by the Board on 30 October 2020 and signed on its behalf by
M D Read
Chief Executive Officer
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
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Chief Financial Officer’s Report
Revenue
Group revenues grew by 12% to £5.85m (2019: £5.21m). Revenues in the second half of the year were approximately £3.2m and
this represented growth of 22% compared to the first six months. This was as a result of increased contract momentum in
each division as well as much stronger professional services delivery and better utilisation of professional services resources in the
Cyber division combined with the rollout of large recurring revenue client contracts in Assynt. The business was regularly experiencing
monthly revenues in excess of £0.5m in the months before the onset of COVID-19 which impacted from late February onwards due
to customer delays caused by crisis management.
The business has continued to benefit from a strong element generated from the recurring contracts in each division, and overall this
was constant at 56%. At the end of the period monthly recurring revenues across the Group stood at approximately £0.26m per
month (2019: £0.24m). Our future order book of work remained strong with an order book of c£2.7m (2019: £3.2m) as well as deferred
incomes (contract liabilities) of £1.2m (2019: £1.1m). Orders had been growing well in the second half of the year, but there were
inevitable delays as the COVID-19 pandemic commenced, but since August 2020 order momentum has been regained.
During the year we added over 40 new cyber accounts including several larger accounts as well as significantly expanding existing
client spend on professional services. Our churn in acquired customer bases has been low and as an example, the churn for First
Base (acquired March 2018) has been less than 1% although the overall business has grown by circa 15% per annum. The Assynt
division has a different customer profile to the Cyber division with approximately 75% of its clients being international and
approximately 90% of them paying in advance with an average advance period of seven months.
Overall our number of customers invoiced was 284 (2019: 340) with the reduction arising from a move to larger deals from some
customers. Overall the company dealt with over 440 (2019: 400) customers.
Cost of sales
Cost of sales represents cost items which vary more closely as a function of sales demand and therefore revenues.
The Intelligence division’s cost base is largely employment costs for full time and external consultants who produce intelligence
reports for customers as well as certain database access licences. The Cyber division costs include the team who deliver the
monitoring and professional services, external licence fees for technology platform and its support (some of which are fixed and some
of which are variable) as well as certain consultants for delivery of specific client assignments.
Gross margin
The Group’s gross margin was 38% (2019: 44%). The reduction was mainly due to utilisation issues at the start of the year in the
Cyber division, which were resolved in September 2019 by the streamlining of the operational management of that division. Overall
gross margins in the second half were 44% compared with 32% in the first six months, with the Cyber division’s gross margin
improving from 30 to 45% in the second half.
Operational and cash-based costs
Administrative expenses excluding depreciation and amortisation and highlighted costs increased to £3.8m from £3.5m with most of
the increase arising from expansion of sales and marketing costs in the Cyber division. Average headcount in the year was 81
(2019: 72) with a significant proportion of the increase being from additional analysts to support Assynt customer contracts.
Highlighted costs
Highlighted costs were £0.32m (2019: £0.18m) mainly represented certain restructuring and investment in infrastructure which was
not capitalised fees. £0.24m related to investment in the cyber security platform Triarii and general corporate infrastructure around
IT. Restructuring costs included post acquisition integration costs, legal entity restructure and rationalisation, management changes
as well as certain corporate development professional fees around specific projects. Rental costs were normalised to exclude the
impact of IFRS16, reducing the overall adjustment by £76,000 and a further credit adjustment of £67,000 was made in respect of the
disposal of Furnace.
Share Option Charges
Share option charges increased to £0.23m (2019: £0.06m) with the increase due to the option grant in September 2019. The options
were valued on a Monte Carlo basis.
EBITDA
Adjusted EBITDA loss for the year was £1.56m (2019: £1.25m) after adjusting for the items highlighted above. Headline reported
EBITDA loss was £1.88m (2019: £1.48m).
Depreciation and amortisation
Depreciation of fixed assets was broadly flat with 2019 at £87,000, and a further IFRS 16 amortisation charge of £77,000 was recorded
in respect of the right of use asset related to the Reading lease acquired in July 2019. The remainder of the amortisation charge
arose from the amortisation of acquired customer base intangible assets from First Base (ten-year amortisation period, straight line
basis, acquired March 2018) and Secure Storm Limited (three-year amortisation period, straight line basis, acquired July 2018).
£0.26m of investment in Furnace was impaired (2019: nil).
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Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Chief Financial Officer’s Report
Financing costs
Net financing costs were £24,000 (2019: £4,000) and mainly arose from the implementation of IFRS 16 and arrangement fees for the
invoice discounting facility which were unused in the year and remain unused as at the date of this report.
Result for the year
Due to the investment made in the year, higher non cash charges such as amortisation, impairment and share option charges the
loss increased from £1.83m to £2.88m and loss per share increased to 0.72p from 0.58p.
Non-current assets
Investment in Furnace
In December 2019 the group spun out its investment in the Furnace technology platform into a separate entity under the control of
John Blamire who left the board at the same time. Falanx has 20% of the equity carried at £0.6m and a loan note of £1.1m for an
aggregate investment of £1.7m (compared to an original cost of £1.63m). Consequently, previous development costs were no longer
carried. Furnace has won its first sales and is now is actively seeking external investment and is in dialogue with a number of parties
and its directors have prepared a three-year business plan. Falanx’s forward business plans do not have any dependency of
Furnace’s financial performance and Falanx has no obligation to provide further financial support. A small impairment charge of
£0.26m was recorded against this asset.
Goodwill and Customer Intangibles
Goodwill was £1.85m and arose from the acquisitions of First Base in March 2018 and Secure Storm in July 2018. The reduction
compared to the previous year arose from £175,000 of goodwill arising from previous acquisitions to Furnace in December 2019 and
is now included as part of the investment in Furnace referenced above. Customer relationships from First Base and Secure Storm
were carried at a total of £1.97m (2019: £2.26m) with the reduction arising from straight line amortisation referred to above.
The Group’s noncurrent assets include the future value of the lease of the Reading premises of £0.47m (2019: nil) which commenced
in July 2019. A creditor of £0.44m is carried to reflect future liabilities (£89,000 of which are current liabilities).
Working capital
Amounts due from customers (including contract assets), net of bad debt provision increased to £1.6m (2019: £1.4m) due to greater
business volumes and the timing of certain billings. Collections since the year end have been normal and no incidence of bad debt
has been recorded since the previous annual report. Overall debtor days increased from 47 to 66, mainly attributable to large contract
billing in March 2020 thereby increasing the debtor position at year end. Prepayments have decreased due to revised billing
arrangements for certain expenses. Accrued incomes fell during the year with certain items being billed earlier and are therefore
included in the increased amounts due from customers. The Group continued to have a very low incidence of delayed and/or non-
payment of debts by customers and our average losses over the last three years were only 0.06% of revenue and no bad debts were
experienced in the year under review.
Contract liabilities (deferred income) increased to £1.2m (2019: £1.1m) on greater volume of advanced billings. Trade creditors
increased due to the timing of certain supplier invoices. Taxes payable increased due to initial measures to manage cash at the
outset of COVID-19 in March 2020. Since the year end creditors including HMRC are within agreed terms and this is detailed in
below.
Capital structure
The Company did not issue any shares in the year (2019: 138,500,000 ordinary shares) with there being 400,401,185 shares at the
start and end of the year. 26,281,250 warrants lapsed during the year which had an average price of 6p. 30 million options over
ordinary shares were issued under the EMI (and unapproved but similar to EMI schemes) in September 2019 with a price of 1.92p
per share. 5,468,367 options were forfeited during the year primarily as a result of staff changes.
The Group has been rationalising its legal entity structure to best align it with the current opportunity as well as to reduce costs and
streamline tax management. The Groups incorporation status as a BVI entity is a legacy of its pre 2013 IPO business plan and the
Board will review moving it to a UK status at an appropriate moment, clearly taking into account the significant professional fees
which would be associated with such a change. The Group’s memorandum and articles of association were revised in March 2019
to more closely align with UK incorporated entities. The Group is fully resident and registered in the UK from a tax perspective.
At the year-end shareholders’ funds stood at £4.97m (2019: £7.63m).
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
10
Chief Financial Officer’s Report
Statement of Cash Flows
The Company did not issue any shares in the year and consumed £1.6m of cash in operations (2019: £1.9m). This was supported
by a net working capital inflow arising from short term timing differences of £0.3m (2019: outflow £0.4m). Operational cash flow
remained closely aligned with EBITDA performance with operating cash outflow being 80% of EBITDA loss (2019: 123%). Over on
average over the last four years there is a near 100% correlation between these metrics. The business invested £0.44m in its
technology platform (Furnace, which was spun out December 2019) and a further £0.26m in upgrading its infrastructure and the new
SOC in Reading.
No shares were issued in the year (2019: £4.15m). Closing cash balances at 31 March 2020 were £0.08m (2019: £2.44m).
Post balance sheet events
As part of its COVID-19 response plans the company undertook the following actions;
• On 21 April 2020 approximately 31 million new share options and warrants were issued to staff and directors in exchange
for salary reductions for the six months to 30 September 2020. These options were priced at 1p each and have a life of 10
years from the date of grant. Staff and directors waived approximately 25.7m options and a further 9m lapsed in June 2020.
Where options were not at the point of grant qualifying for EMI benefits, they may be cancelled and reissued in the future
under similar terms to optimise the overall tax position.
•
In July 2020 the premises in Sussex and London were closed following the non-renewal of expired leases. The business
moved to remote and home working in March 2020 and the expense of keeping such leases as well as the ongoing office
costs were not justified in the new remote working model.
• A deferred payment plan was agreed with HMRC to reschedule up to £0.64m of payroll taxes outstanding at 30 June 2020
over 2 years as well as taking advantage of published time to pay plans on VAT. The group is fully in compliance with these
plans.
• On 29 September 2020 Falanx announced the completion of a fundraising exercise for £1.25m by issuance of 125,000,000
new ordinary shares of nil nominal value. Of these £1,125,000 (gross) has been received by the date of the accounts with
the remaining £75,000 (7,500,000 shares) intended to be subscribed by the directors and senior managers post the release
of these results and them being allowed to participate under the MAR framework. A significant proportion of this fundraising
is through long-term EIS & VCT investment and overall it included new and existing institutional investors.
Post Balance Sheet Trading
In the six months ended 30 September 2020 the Group recorded revenues of approximately £2.5m (2019: £2.6m) and a much-
reduced adjusted EBITDA loss of £0.6m (2019: £0.9m). Revenues in the cyber division were impacted by reduced professional
services demand in the Cyber division in the first few months with the onset of COVID-19, but since the start of August monthly orders
for these have increased significantly and are now running at circa £0.2m per month compared to £0.1m per month in the first quarter
during the peak of COVID-19. The sales pipeline has strengthened with the launch in August 2020 of the cyber security monitoring
platform Triarii and it is winning important sales orders. The current order run rate of orders for these services is very similar to that
in the second half of the previous financial year to 31 March 2020 and they are broadly back to the pre COVID-19 run rate.
September’s revenues were much stronger following acceleration of client deliveries and the order momentum has continued into
October. These levels are ahead of where the Group had conducted its stress testing. Closing cash at 30 September 2020 was
£0.2m (2019: £0.7m) but this excluded the proceeds of the fundraising announced on 25 September 2020 which were received
alongside the admission of the new shares on 1 October 2020. On that day cash balances stood at circa £1.33m. The Group’s
customers are paying normally, and no bad debt has been experienced, furthermore creditors including HMRC are in agreed terms.
I R Selby
Chief Financial Officer
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
11
Directors
Alex Hambro
Alex Hambro (non-executive Chairman) has been active in the investment sector both in the UK and the USA for some 30 years,
during which time he has acted as a principal investor, manager and sponsor of private equity and venture capital management
teams. As well as his responsibilities at Falanx, Alex is a founder and Chairman of Judges Scientific plc, an AIM listed group of
scientific instrumentation companies. In addition to his two AIM company responsibilities, Alex is also Chairman of Crescent Capital
Ltd and Bapco Closures Holdings Ltd and a Non-Executive Director of Octopus Apollo VCT plc, Hertsford Capital plc, and Whitley
Asset Management Ltd. Alex is currently a principal at Welbeck Capital Partners, a specialist in the creation of secured convertible
loan notes and other hybrid equity solutions to finance growth opportunities for small-cap AIM companies and which has supported
Falanx during 2018 fundraisings.
Mike Read
Mike Read (Chief Executive Officer) has over 30 years’ experience in the global Telecommunications, Media and Technology (TMT)
sector and has been a director of eight public companies. He has held numerous 'C' level roles in the UK and USA, including, CEO
of Pipex Communications, Executive Director at Daisy Group Plc, Non-Executive Director at Nasstar Plc, and Non-Executive
Chairman at IntY Limited. Mike has significant experience helping to build international technology companies, having been involved
on over 50 M&A transactions.
Ian Selby
Ian Selby (Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary) is a Chartered Accountant with significant experience in the technology,
security and business services sectors. He was previously the CFO of AIM listed Westminster Group plc where he supported the
development of their successful managed services business and the raising of the associated financing. Prior to this, he was Group
Finance Director of Zenith Hygiene Group plc, where he was instrumental in executing a successful trade sale and prior to this was
the CFO of a listed software company focused on financial and public sectors. Ian has held international finance roles in listed
technology companies including Halliburton Inc, Sybase Inc and Micro Focus plc. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant with
Coopers & Lybrand Deloitte and holds a degree in Physics from the University of Birmingham. Ian is responsible for finance, premises,
HR and IT infrastructure.
Emma Shaw
Emma Shaw (Non-executive Director) is the Managing Director of Esoteric Limited, an Electronic Sweeping, Counter-Espionage and
Intelligence gathering company. An MBA graduate, and a Chartered Security Professional (CSyP) Emma’s early career was spent
with the Royal Military Police, followed by a career in the Ministry of Defence. Emma is also the former Chairman and Fellow of the
Security Institute; a Board member of the Defence Industry Security Association (DISA); a Fellow of the Chartered Management
Institute and member of the Advisory Council for CSARN.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
12
Directors’ report
The Directors present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 2020.
Business Review
The Group's results for the year are set out in the consolidated statement of comprehensive income on page 33 of these financial
statements.
A review of the business, significant contracts, progress and the Group's future prospects can be found in the Chairman's Statement.
Key Performance Indicators
Performance
Indicator
Description
Group
revenue - £’m
Changes in total revenue
compared to prior year
Gross margin Percentage of total revenue
retained by the Group after
direct costs deduction
EBITDA - £’m A measure of profits
excluding non-cash items
such as share option
charges, depreciation and
amortisation
Why measured
2020
2019 Comment
Revenue growth gives
a quantified indication
of the rate at which the
business
Group’s
activity
is expanding
over time
Provides an indication
of sales profitability
of
and
proportion
to
revenue available
cover other
running
costs
clearer
a
Offers
reflection of the ability
to generate cash
£5.9
£5.2
Growth in both divisions
38%
44% Lower margin in the first half
the cyber division H1,
in
rectified H2. H2 Gross margin
44%
£ (2.0)
£ (1.5)
investment
Increased loss as a result of
in
planned
expansion
against
SolarWinds opportunity in the
Cyber division as well as
increased non capitalised
investment cost on Cyber
platform
group
infrastructure
and
Adjusted
EBITDA - £’m
A measure of profits adjusted
for non-underlying items
such as restructuring, and
acquisition related
Underlying
performance
business operations
of
£ (1.5)
£ (1.2)
investment
Increased loss as a result of
in
planned
expansion
against
SolarWinds opportunity in the
Cyber division
Cash
conversion
Operational cash flow /
EBITDA
Measures the ability of
the business to convert
profit into cash
80%
132% Average over 4 years circa
101%, changes caused by
short term working capital
movements
Recurring
revenue %
Recurring revenue lines /
total revenue
Monthly
recurring
revenue - £’m
Revenue from the provision
of services on a recurring
basis
Number of
Invoiced
customers
Number of customers
invoiced over the preceding
12 months
Headcount
Average headcount during
the year
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Shows
recurring
growth rate
visibility
of
revenue
predictable
Shows
monthly metrics
to
track progress against
objective of becoming
profitable solely on
recurring revenue
Measure of customer
concentration
(includes
customer base)
acquired
Shows
average
number of employees
in the year
56%
56% Growth in the Assynt division
embed contract service
£0.26
£0.24 Growth of circa £0.4m mainly
in the Assynt division
284
340 Move
towards
larger
contracts and
in
each division. Circa 440
(2019:
customers
400)
transacted with
invoices
82
72 Growth in billable consultants
mainly in the Assynt division
13
Directors’ report
Contract
liabilities
(deferred
income) - £’m
Contracted and invoiced
revenue yet to be recognised
(deferred income)
Shows visibility
into
invoiced amounts to be
recognised
future
periods
in
£1.2
£1.1 Growth in contract volumes
and values
Dividends
The consolidated statement of comprehensive income for the year is set out on page 33 and shows the loss for the year.
The Directors do not recommend the proposal of a final dividend in respect of the current year.
Events after reporting date
Information relating to events since the end of the year is disclosed in note 35 to the financial statements.
Directors
The Directors who served the Company during the year and up to the date of this report were as follows:
Executive Directors
J R Blamire (resigned 19 December 2019)
M D Read
I R Selby
Non-Executive Directors
E Shaw
A Hambro
Directors’ interests
The Directors’ interests in the share capital of the Company at the year-end were as stated below:
M D Read^
J R Blamire*
E Shaw
I R Selby
A Hambro
2020
Number of
shares
11,453,940
—
866,667
1,069,348
1,250,000
% Held
2.86%
—
0.22%
0.27%
0.31%
2019
Number of
shares
10,403,940
7,900,000
866,667
1,069,348
250,000
% Held
2.60%
1.97%
0.22%
0.27%
0.06%
^ M D Read has 6,0500,000 warrants, vesting and exercisable as detailed in note 22.
* J R Blamire resigned 19 December 2019
Group’s policy on payment of creditors
It is the Group's policy to pay suppliers in accordance with the terms and conditions agreed between the Group and its suppliers,
provided that the goods and services have been supplied in accordance with the agreed terms and conditions. At the end of the
financial year ended 31 March 2020, creditors’ days were 69 days (2019: 62 days). At present the vast majority of the Group’s
creditors, including taxation are within agreed terms.
Political and charitable donations
There were no political and charitable donations made by the Group during the year.
Financial Instruments
The Group's financial risk management objectives are to control debt levels and to ensure sufficient working capital for the Group's
overheads and capital expenditure commitments.
Financial instruments are disclosed and discussed in note 29 to the financial statements.
Falanx People
Falanx Group employs around 74 employees in the UK and 7 internationally. Our employees are at the very heart of the organisation
and are our most valuable asset. We recognise that, to ensure that we have a competitive advantage, our employees should have
the best opportunity to thrive and succeed. We therefore engage with our team to support motivation, retention and performance.
14
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Directors’ report
As an organisation, we have used our technology infrastructure where we heavily invested in the last year, to enable successful and
secure remote working and effective collaboration across our international workforce, including UK, Dubai, Hong Kong, Italy and the
US. Many of our employees work remotely with the ability to be based in our new and vibrant office space in Reading, UK a hub for
technology. In Reading, we have created a modern and collaborative environment for our employees.
Our remote working model has enabled Falanx to secure the highest calibre of technology talent at more senior levels within the
organisation that require experience and technical skills.
We are proud to provide Internship opportunities into our Security Operations Centre in Reading. We work in partnership with leading
Universities in the UK and employ 3 university students each year on a year industrial placement. We have retained some of these
students following graduation who have progressed onto successful careers in Cyber Security.
Retaining our talent is key and we are keen to ensure that we have a competitive advantage as an employer of choice. We provide
our employees with a benefits package to include Private Medical Insurance, a health cash plan, life insurances, a pension scheme,
an employee benefits platform which includes a Bike to Work scheme.
In April 2020 we are extremely proud to have launched an employee share option where cash remuneration was reduced in exchange
for share options, thus aligning staff with shareholder interests during the peak of the COVID-19 crisis. We are helping our staff keep
well, both physically and mentally during the COVID-19 pandemic.
To ensure that the Company is positioned for projected growth plans; Falanx provides a Management Development Programme to
talented managers to enhance their skills to lead growing teams and take on increased accountability. We have been delighted with
our teams’ progress; it has helped them to make intelligent decisions with confidence, making better use of resources, managing
performance at a team level and working towards business goals through strategic translation. In addition, it has built trust and
stronger working relationships within our leadership team.
We encourage our people to continue to develop their skills and keep up to date with new technology, standards, processes and
regional risks and threats. Training needs are identified through the regular development meetings team members have with their
line managers. The Company are fully supportive of providing training that supports personal development plans, helps retention and
has clear business benefits.
Business Ethics and ways of working
Falanx is committed to ensuring that the business operates in a responsible and ethical manner and we ensure that our employees
are committed to the Falanx ways of working through our robust policies, processes and procedures. Falanx ensures the following
policies are followed and adhered to in respect of business ethics:
Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy
Falanx Group is committed to conducting business in an ethical and honest manner and is committed to implementing and enforcing
systems that ensure bribery is prevented. Falanx has zero-tolerance for bribery and corrupt activities. We are committed to acting
professionally, fairly, and with integrity in all business dealings and relationships, wherever in the country we operate.
Falanx will constantly uphold all laws relating to anti-bribery and corruption in all the jurisdictions in which we operate. We are bound
by the laws of the UK Bribery Act 2010 and the FCPA 1977 (amended 1998), in regard to our conduct both at home and abroad.
Dignity at Work Policy
All employees of Falanx have an important part to play in the overall success of the business and everyone is respected and valued
for their contribution at every level. At Falanx, we foster and promote a healthy, collaborative and supportive environment and
encourage all our colleagues to work together in harmony in a way that encourages self-development, team success and knowledge
sharing.
Falanx is committed to protecting the dignity and wellbeing of everyone and encourages practices that take into account the rights of
all individuals and seeks to eliminate all forms of unacceptable behaviour. It is in our best interests to promote a safe, healthy and
fair environment where people are given every opportunity to excel and thrive in their workplace.
Equality and Diversity Policy
Falanx is committed to promoting a culture that actively values difference and recognises that people from different backgrounds and
experiences can bring valuable insights to the workplace and enhance the way we work.
Falanx aims to be an inclusive organisation, committed to providing equal opportunities throughout employment including in the
recruitment, training and development of employees, and to pro-actively tackling and eliminating discrimination.
Whistleblowing Policy
Falanx is committed to ensuring that practices and procedures in respect of all employees, partners and customers are of the highest
quality. All employees are expected to maintain the highest standards of integrity and good faith.
15
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Directors’ report
The Public Interest Disclosure Act 1998 protects workers who blow the whistle about wrongdoing. The Policy is intended to provide
guidance as to the circumstances under which such protection is available and the steps to be taken should an employee feel that a
matter of public interest is at stake.
Health and safety
Falanx ensures the Health and Safety of its employees by taking all necessary steps in providing a Healthy and safe working
environment. Relevant assessments are carried out and appropriate training is provided to all employees.
Section 172 Statement
Whilst as a BVI incorporated company Falanx Group Limited is outside the scope of s172 of the UK Companies Act 2006 the board
believes that it is highly relevant to Falanx and is therefore reporting under it.
Directors of a company must act in a way that they consider, in good faith, would most likely promote the success of the company for
the benefit of its members as a whole, taking into account the non-exhaustive list of factors set out in Section 172 of the Companies
Act 2006.
Section 172 also requires directors to take into consideration the interests of other stakeholders set out in Section 172(1) in their
decision making.
Engagement with our members and wider stakeholder groups plays an essential role throughout our business. We are cognisant of
fostering an effective and mutually beneficial relationship with each stakeholder group. Our understanding of stakeholder needs and
concerns is factored into boardroom discussions regarding the potential long-term impacts of our strategic decisions on each group.
Post the reporting year end, the Board have continued to have regard to the interests of the Companies stakeholders, including the
potential impact of its future activities on the community, the environment and the company’s reputation when making decisions. The
Board also continue to take all necessary measures to ensure the Company is acting in good faith and fairly between members and
is promoting the success of the company for its members in the long term.
The table below acts as our Section 172 statement by setting out the key stakeholder groups and how the board has engaged with
them over the reporting year.
Stakeholder
Why we engage
How we engage
Our investors
Our employees
We maintain and value regular dialogue
with our investors and place great
importance on our relationship with
them. We know that our investors expect
a comprehensive insight into the
financial performance of the company,
and awareness of long-term strategy
and direction. As such, we aim to
provide high levels of transparency and
clarity about our results and long-term
strategy to build trust in our future plans.
Our people are at the heart of our
business. Effective employee
engagement leads to a happier,
healthier workforce who are invested in
the success of the company and who
are all pulling in the same direction. Our
engagement seeks to address any
employee concerns regarding working
conditions, health and safety, training
and development, as well as workforce
diversity.
• Regular reports and analysis on investors and
shareholders, opinion sought from corporate advisors
and direct engagement where possible.
• Annual Report and interim results
• Company website
• AGM held 3 December 2019
• Stock exchange announcements and press releases.
• Analyst research at the appropriate moment including
research for wider distribution
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Open and regular informal dialogue
Formal annual reviews
Competitive employee benefit packages including
healthcare, discount vouchers and death in service
insurances
Opportunity to participate in share-based incentives
Encouraging ongoing employee training and
development
Employment of a professional HR manager to help
manage and development our human capital
Board level communication and interaction with
roadshows and ‘town hall meetings’
During COVID-19 regular reviews of staff welfare,
mental health, office safety, comprehensive Health
and Safety assessments using external advisors
ahead of office changes
• Weekly/daily contact with all team members to check
on welfare during lockdown
• Monitoring of local safety issues for certain
employees in overseas locations
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
16
Directors’ report
Regulatory bodies
The Group’s operations are subject to a
wide range of laws, regulations, and
listing requirements including data
protection, tax, employment,
environmental and health and safety
legislation, along with contractual terms.
Our customers
Our suppliers
We aim to listen to and engage with our
customers on a regular basis to ensure
that we understand their needs. We
ensure that information is easily
accessible and customer concerns are
dealt with in a timely and professional
manner.
We have a number of key partners and
suppliers with whom we have built
strong relationships with and strongly
value. We establish effective
engagement channels to ensure our
relationships remain collaborative and
forward focused, and to foster
relationships of mutual trust and loyalty.
The environment
We are a low carbon footprint business
and are predominantly office based
(either company, home or client).
Key Decision
Protection of
business and
stakeholders during
COVID-19
Actions Taken
• Move to remote deployment and
homeworking for staff in March
2020 to comply with government
advice
• Upgrading of infrastructure to
ensure continuity of operations
• Adoption of cost and cash
husbanding strategies to protect
business such as salary sacrifice,
spend reductions, furlough and
HMRC time to pay
Full maintenance of cyber
protection capabilities to support
customer and internal operations
•
Premises
realignment
Relocation of SOC from Birmingham to
Reading, exit from leases in London and
Sussex. Use of serviced offices where
relevant
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Company website
Stock exchange announcements
Annual Report
Direct contact with regulators
Compliance updates at Board meetings
Risk reviews
Internal and external audits of key business
processes around cyber security
Ongoing review of customer feedback
Face-to-face meetings with customers to further
develop relationships
Ongoing promotional and advertising activity
Development of long-term recurring contracts and
deep customer relationships
Open two-way dialogue and regular face to face
meetings where possible.
Ongoing performance review and feedback
Formal checks for data security compliance
Due diligence where appropriate, is carried out before
a new supplier is engaged
Revised commercial terms being implemented during
COVID-19
Use of video conferencing where possible to mitigate
the need for travel
Stakeholder considerations
• Employee welfare by reducing the need to travel
to premises and exposure to increased COVID-19
risk. Regularly checking on them during remote
working. Company medical benefits include
access to counselling and support services
• Customer interest by ensuring that their key cyber
protections were in place and fully operational at a
time of increased risk
Investor interest by optimising cash position whilst
ensuring that liabilities could be met in agreed
timescales. Salary sacrifice trading cash
remuneration for directors and staff for share
options to reduce short term cash outflow whilst
engaging staff further with the company through
equity participation
•
• Ability to better service internal and external
customers by moving SOC to Reading to increase
pool of key skills and also to reduce team
members community to Birmingham. Lease has a
5-year term with a 3-year break which allows for
continuity of operations whilst retaining flexibility
• Offices in London and Sussex were closed during
the Summer of 2020 as leases had expired
therefore reducing ongoing cost and liabilities for
shareholders
Lack of need to commute improving work life
balance for staff whilst still being able to deliver
against customers
•
17
Directors’ report
Realignment of
Cyber technology
infrastructure
Spin out of Furnace in December 2019 to
allow it to develop against its greatest
market opportunity outside of Falanx’s
cyber security model. Development of
Triarii platform based on 3rd party
components to deliver against customer
requirements
• Reduction in commuting reducing carbon impact
from either public of private transport and
therefore supporting the environment
•
Improvement of client delivery to help them protect
against cyber threats. This included engagement
with key partners and customers to best align with
the market opportunity, therefore growing long
term shareholder value with increasing revenue
opportunity
• Shareholder value protected by removing
development spend of circa £40,000 per month
whilst protecting possible upside by equity share
in the spin out venture
The above statement should be read in conjunction with the Corporate Governance Statement on pages 26 to 29.
Principal Risks and Uncertainties
The following are the risk factors associated with the Group's business and industry:
Cyber Security
The Group is a high-profile provider of Cyber Security services to governmental and corporate customers. A breach of its own cyber
security could be reputationally highly damaging and could lead to a loss of existing customers and reduced ability to gain new
customers. This could by definition, create pressure on the Group’s cash flows.
The Group mitigates this by a combination of people, processes and technologies. A dedicated DPO is in situ to provide independent
(of operations) oversight of data security and Falanx as a cyber security company embeds it into every aspect of its operations and
makes the relevant investment in infrastructure. Regular training is given to all staff including online courses run by dedicated
providers and this includes refresher training. The DPO is running seminars and briefings around the organisation to advise on
appropriate practices. The business continues to invest in its infrastructure and resources to ensure that its internal systems are
configured to ensure good security. The Group continually reviews its technology infrastructure for delivery of customer services to
align them with market requirements and this includes the use of supported 3rd party and proprietary systems.
Reliance on Key Contracts and Business Relationships
The Group is reducing its customer concentration risk by acquisition of further customers through organic development as well as
M&A. In the 12 months to 31 March 2020, no customer on an annual contract represents more than 10% of revenue. Many customers,
particularly in the Cyber division’s consulting revenues do not have long term agreements but have repeatedly transacted with the
Group for many years. Where the Group uses external licences for its operations it seeks protections such as multiple suppliers and
escrow arrangements for source code.
Pipeline opportunities
The Group has a significant number of small, medium and major contracts in contemplation in the form of a pipeline of opportunities.
However, there is no certainty these opportunities will be entered into or converted into concluded contracts or that the expected level
of work will in fact, if converted to contracts, be awarded to the Group. In addition, there can be no certainty that any contracts
resulting from conversion of the opportunity will be profitable or even not loss-making.
The Company may need additional access to capital in the future
The Group's capital requirements depend on numerous factors, including its ability to expand its business and its strategy of making
complementary acquisitions. If its capital requirements vary materially from its current plans, the Group may require further financing.
Any additional equity financing may be dilutive to shareholders, and debt financing, if available, may involve restrictions on financing
and operating activities and adversely affect the Group's dividend policy. In addition, there can be no assurance that the Group will
be able to raise additional funds when needed or that such funds will be available on terms favourable or acceptable to the Group. If
the Group is unable to obtain additional financing as needed, the Group may be required to reduce the scope of the Group's operations
or anticipated expansion, dispose of assets or to cease trading.
Management of future growth
The Group's plans for growth will challenge the Group's management team, customer support, marketing, administrative and
technological resources. If the Group is unable to manage its growth effectively its business, operations or financial condition may
deteriorate. The Group will consider future acquisition opportunities. If the Group is unable successfully to integrate an acquired
company or business, the acquisition could lead to disruptions to the business. If the operations or assimilation of an acquired
18
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Directors’ report
business does not accord with the Group's expectations, the Group may have to decrease the value afforded to the acquired business
or realign the Group's structure.
Going Concern
The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts to the period to the end of December 2021 which indicate that, taking account of
reasonably possible downsides and the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on the operations and its financial resources, the Group and
Company will have sufficient funds to meet its liabilities as they fall due for that period. Cash flow projections have been taken into
account to reflect the equity raise of £1.25m gross on 29 September 2020. The Group is primarily financed through equity and has
an unused invoice discounting facility of up to £0.5m for use in its Cyber division and this remains a source of additional headroom
should it be needed. The Group has no bank borrowings and is debt free. The Groups operational cash flow usage profile has for the
last four financial years averaged at close to 100% of EBTIDA and the incidence of bad debts is trivial and recurring revenues reflect
approximately 56% of current revenue run rate with the remainder being mainly from repeat revenues. At the date of these accounts
the Group has a broadly normalised working capital position and HMRC are in agreed payment terms with a significant majority of
their debts being paid by equal instalments over 2 years to July 2022.
The Group’s markets in Cyber Security and Strategic Intelligence are showing resilience to the ongoing COVID-19 economic fallout,
particularly with increased Cyber security risks for enterprises as they move to remote operations and online business models, but
clearly, they cannot be immune from wider macro-economic conditions. COVID-19 began to impact operations in February 2020
onwards and reduced certain professional services revenues in the Cyber division (primarily around assessment and penetration
testing) by approximately £100,000 per month compared to where they were between September 2019 and February 2020. At the
start of the COVID-19 crisis sales orders for penetration business fell as a result of delays and deferrals from circa £0.2m per month
in the second half of the year to 31 March 2020 to c£0.1m per month but that has since recovered to c£0.2m per month since the
start of August 2020 and this further supports the groups view that financial performance should start to improve. Furthermore, the
Group has begun to win new orders for its new cyber monitoring platform (Triarii) which was launched in August 2020 and has recently
joined the SolarWinds TAP program which significantly expands Falanx’s customer reach. The general move to remote working is
increasing cyber security risks for organisations, and this is expected to increase demand for Falanx’s services.
However given the ongoing macro-economic uncertainty around COVID-19 and UK recessionary impacts, alternative stress test
scenarios have been examined around an extended downturn in consulting revenues across the full financial years to 31 March 2021
and 31 March 2022 with no recovery in the economic environment, and in context this represents a c20% fall in revenues compared
to the annual run rate achieved in second half of the year to 31 March 2020 which mostly represented the period pre COVID-19
commencement in March 2020. This sensitivity analysis has been conducted at a revenue level only. Even after applying these
stringent sensitivities (which for example ignore the stronger historic revenue performance in the second half of the year) the Group
stays within its existing resources for at least 12 months from the date of signing the annual report.
Should this significantly reduced revenue scenario above occur, further mitigating actions would be carried out to ensure that the
Group remains within its resources and these would include a reduction of planned capital expenditure, headcount reduction, reducing
discretionary spend and sales investment, freezing or reducing pay and cancelling recruitment, and all of these are within the directors
control. Further incremental measures could also involve the potential disposal of assets as well as seeking further support from
shareholders or potential debt providers. These stringent stress tests scenarios show that even without any significant mitigating
actions being implemented show that the Group is able to operate within its current resources, and that therefore the Group will have
sufficient funds to meets its liabilities as they fall due for that period.
Further details of our COVID-19 response and impact are set out in the s172 report on pages 17 to 18.
Information to shareholders - Website
The Group has its own web site (www.falanx.com) for the purposes of improving information flow to its shareholders and potential
investors.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
19
Directors’ report
Substantial shareholdings
On 18 October 2020 the following were holders of 3% or more of the Group’s issued share capital:
Registered holder
Amati AIM VCT plc
Octopus Investments Nominees Limited
Unicorn VCT
Miton Group PLC
Walker Crips Investment Management
Number of Ordinary Shares
Percentage of Issued
Capital
85,000,000
50,000,000
33,333,333
32,554,339
28,135,944
16.41%
9.65%
6.44%
6.29%
5.43%
Auditors
The auditors BDO LLP have indicated their willingness to continue in office and a resolution that they be re-appointed will be proposed
at the annual general meeting of the Company.
Disclosure of information to the auditors
So far as the Directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Group’s auditors are unaware and they have
taken all steps that they ought to have taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit information and
to establish that the Group’s auditors are aware of that information.
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
The Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities can be found on page 25 of these financial statements. The Statement of Directors’
Responsibilities forms part of the Directors’ report.
On behalf of the Board
I R Selby
Director
30 October 2020
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
20
Remuneration & Nomination Committee report
The Remuneration and Nomination Committee (previously two separate committees) comprises Emma Shaw (Chairman), Alex
Hambro and meets as and when necessary but normally at least twice per year. It keeps under review the skill requirements of the
Board and the skill, knowledge, experience, length of service and performance of the Directors. It also reviews their external interests
with a view to identifying any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interests, including the time available to commit to their duties
to the Group. It sets and reviews the scale and structure of the Executive Directors’ remuneration packages, including share options
and the terms of the service contracts. The remuneration and the terms and conditions of the Non-Executive Directors are determined
by the Executive Directors in conjunction with external advisors with due regard to the interests of the shareholders and the
performance of the Group.
The Committee also makes recommendations to the Board concerning the allocation of share options to employees. The Committee
also monitors the independence of each Non-Executive Director and makes recommendations concerning such to the Board. The
results of these reviews are important when the Board considers succession planning and the re-election and reappointment of
Directors. Members of the Committee take no part in any discussions concerning their own circumstances. The Committee and in
conjunction with the CEO are also responsible for keeping under review the senior management team of the organisation to ensuring
the continued ability of the organisation to compete effectively in the marketplace.
The CEO may attend upon invitation, particularly around executive remuneration and the CFO may be asked to attend to discuss
technical matters. The Terms of Reference are reviewed by the Board annually and amended where appropriate.
As a Company whose shares are admitted to trading on AIM, the preparation of a Remuneration & Nomination Committee report is
not an obligation. The Group has, however, sought to provide information that is appropriate to its size and organisation and is will
put the approval of this report to shareholders for an advisory approval at the next AGM. This committee met twice during the year.
The committee, in conjunction with other executives where relevant considers nomination and succession matters.
Executive Directors’ Remuneration Policy
The Remuneration Committee is responsible for establishing a formal and transparent procedure for developing policy on executive
remuneration and to set the remuneration packages of individual Directors. This includes agreeing with the Board the framework for
remuneration of the Chief Executive, all other Executive Directors and such other members of the senior executive management of
the Company as it is designated to consider. It is furthermore responsible for determining the total individual remuneration packages
of each Director, including, where appropriate, bonuses, incentive payments and share options.
The Committee’s policy is to provide a remuneration package which will attract and retain Directors and management with the ability
and experience required to manage the Group and to provide superior long-term performance. It is the aim of the Committee to
reward Directors competitively and on the broad principle that their remuneration should be in line with the remuneration paid to
senior management of comparable companies. There are four main elements of the remuneration package for Executive Directors:
base salary, share options, benefits and annual bonus. Notice periods for Executive Directors are between 6 and 12 months.
Base salary is reviewed annually and in setting salary levels the Remuneration Committee considers the experience and
responsibilities of the Executive Directors and their personal performance during the previous period. The Committee also takes
account of external market data, as well as the rates of increases for other employees within the Group.
Share options are granted having regard to an individual’s seniority within the business and are designed to give Directors and staff
an interest in the increase in the value of the Group and to align them with all shareholders. It is the Group’s policy to use EMI
approved schemes wherever possible, and should an individual not be eligible at a certain point where unapproved options are
granted, then if they subsequently become eligible for EMI criteria then their existing options will be cancelled and reissued on
identical terms under EMI, reducing potential tax charges on the individual and Company.
Benefits primarily comprise the provision of, pension payments, group wide health insurance (or cash equivalent), any wider staff
benefits and participation in the Group life assurance scheme.
All Executive Directors and executive management participate in the Group’s annual bonus scheme, which is based upon the
assessment of individual performance, taking into account the overall groups performance and financial position.
Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration
Non-Executive Directors’ remuneration is determined by the Board as a whole and is in conjunction with external advisors, with each
refraining from determining their own remuneration. The fees paid to Non-Executive Directors are set at a level intended to attract
individuals with the necessary experience and ability to make a significant contribution to the Group.
It is anticipated that Non-Executive Directors will spend an average of 2 days a month undertaking their Role and Duties. This will
include attendance at board meetings, the AGM, and an annual planning day. They also attend periodic Remuneration, Risk and
Audit Committee meetings. They are required to spend time fully considering all relevant papers prior to each meeting. Non-executive
directors have 3-month notice periods in their letters of appointment. Non-executive directors are paid through company payroll
systems.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
21
Remuneration & Nomination Committee report
In addition to the above they may be required to devote additional time to the Company when it is undergoing a period of particularly
increased activity and may be required to support the Company by attending meetings with clients and advisors etc
Directors’ remuneration
Executive Directors:
M D Read
J R Blamire*
I R Selby
Non-executive Directors:
E Shaw**
A Hambro
Salary and fees
Benefits in
kind
Pension
contribution
£
£
£
2020
Total
£
2019
Total
£
108,667
83,333
125,747
23,500
25,288
366,535
—
539
135
—
—
674
—
108,667
1,170
85,042
1,754
127,636
173,333
150,806
150,806
—
—
23,500
25,288
35,000
—
2,924
370,133
509,945
Total board remuneration fell by 28% in the year to £0.37m (2019: £0.51m).
Mike Read did not take any additional remuneration above his Chairman fees of £25,000 per annum in the year ended 31 March
2018 despite taking over duties as full time Chief Executive Officer in November 2017 in order to support the Company’s financial
position and help it husband resources at that point. This additional effort was been recognised by a contingent £100,000 bonus
payable under certain circumstances (such as departure (good leaver), death, redundancy, retirement, change of control) provided
that the Company has achieved certain valuation metrics at that point. This by definition, remains unpaid as at the date of this report.
* J R Blamire resigned 19 December 2019 as part of the Furnace MBO. He entered into a compromise agreement which allowed
him to retain his share options for a further six months but was not eligible to receive any further payment, save for usual
reimbursement of accrued expenses incurred under the Group’s policy.
** E Shaw provided additional services in the previous year relating to Group restructuring and the fee of £15,000 (included in her
remuneration for the prior year).
Directors Interests in Share Options
The interests of Directors’ in options over the share capital of the Company at year end were as stated below:
1.925 pence options
M D Read
I R Selby
2020
Number
5,000,000
5,000,000
2019
Number
—
—
These Share Options were granted at a price 1.925p. All options are exercisable between 1 April 2020 and 31 March 2030. They vest
in three tranches: the first tranche immediately exercisable, the second tranche when the share price reaches 2.89p (50% above
exercise price for 1 month) and the third tranche when the share price reaches 3.85p (100% above exercise price for 1 month), save
for the event of a change of control in the Company, in which case they will vest in full. They were granted under the rules of the EMI
scheme, and where an individual grant does not fall within HMRC EMI rules they are granted as an unapproved option which will
typically be subject to PAYE and NI. It is planned that these will be cancelled in March 2021 and reissued under EMI on identical
terms at that point.
3.50 pence options
M D Read **
J R Blamire*
I R Selby **
E Shaw **
* J R Blamire resigned 19 December 2019 and these options lapsed on 19 June 2020
** options surrendered 21 April 2020
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
2020
Number
1,500,000
—
1,500,000
250,000
2019
Number
1,500,000
1,500,000
1,500,000
250,000
22
Remuneration & Nomination Committee report
These Share Options were granted at a price 19% over the then current share price. They vest in three tranches: the first tranche
when the share price reaches 6.5p (25%), the second tranche when the share price reaches 9p (25%) and the third tranche when
the share price reaches 12p (50%). The Share Options only vest if the average share price has reached the relevant threshold level
for a period of three months, save for the event of a change of control in the Company, in which case they will vest in full. Based on
the mid-market closing price on 20 December 2018 of 2.95p there is no gain at all unless the share price increases by 120% and full
gains are not achieved until a gain of 307% has been achieved. They were granted under the rules of the EMI scheme, and where
an individual grant does not fall within HMRC EMI rules they are granted as an unapproved option which will typically be subject to
PAYE and NI.
5.00 pence options
M D Read **
J R Blamire*
I R Selby **
E Shaw **
2020
Number
5,000,000
—
5,000,000
500,000
2019
Number
5,000,000
4,500,000
5,000,000
500,000
* J R Blamire resigned 19 December 2019 and these options lapsed on 19 June 2020
** options surrendered 21 April 2020
These options were granted on 14 March 2018 at a 10% premium to the prevailing share price, and vest in three tranches: the first
tranche when the share price reaches 7.5p (25%), the second tranche when the share price reaches 10p (25%) and the third tranche
when the share price reaches 12.5p (50%). The Share Options only vest if the average share price has reached the relevant threshold
level for a period of three months, save for the event of a change of control in the Company, in which case they will vest in full. Based
on the mid-market closing price of 4.5p on the date of issue, there is no gain at all unless the share price increases by 66% and full
gains are not achieved until a gain of 178% has been achieved. They were granted under the rules of the EMI scheme, and where
an individual grant does not fall within HMRC EMI rules they are granted as an unapproved option which will typically be subject to
PAYE and NI.
5.875 pence options
J R Blamire*
E Shaw **
* J R Blamire resigned 19 December 2019
** options surrendered 21 April 2020
2020
Number
—
750,000
2019
Number
500,000
750,000
These options were granted on 24th January 2017 and vest as below.
Date from which Options are exercisable
% which can be
exercised
Earlier of 12 months from the Date of Grant and date at which the share price of the Company
has consistently been at 6p or above for 6 months
Earlier of 24 months from the Date of Grant and date at which the Share Price of the Company has
consistently been at 12p or above for 6 months
Earlier of 36 months from the Date of Grant and date at which the Share Price of the Company
has consistently been at 20p or above for 6 months
33.3%
33.3%
33.4%
Salary Sacrifice Scheme
In April 2020 in response to the COVID-19 situation the company implemented a voluntary salary sacrifice scheme whereby cash
renumeration was swapped for share options for staff and executives and warrants for non-executives. Emma Shaw Mike Read and
Ian Selby (as well as other executives and staff) waived certain of their previously granted options (& warrants) as detailed above to
allow for headroom for the new issue. These all have an exercise price of 1p each and a duration of 10 years. Warrants have similar
economic characteristics to the options. The closing price on the night before this scheme was first announced on 31 March 2020
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
23
Remuneration & Nomination Committee report
was c0.55p and the exercise price represented an uplift of 75%. Both the options and warrants have customary good leaver and bad
leaver provisions and acceleration of vesting criteria in certain specified circumstances.
Director
M D Read
I R Selby
The table below sets out details on the issue of the warrants in respect of non-executive directors
Non-Executive Director
A Hambro
E Shaw
Number of options granted
6,600,000
2,520,000
Number of options granted
1,200,000
399,600
In total 31,400,000 options and 1,599,600 warrants were issued to directors, senior managers and staff. In order to reduce the overall
number of options outstanding to mitigate against future dilution approximately 25.7m options were waived and these include the
items marked ** above and on previous pages in this report. The overall scheme saved approximately £0.2m of cash remuneration
costs during the period it operated between 1 April 2020 and 30 September 2020.
Directors' interests in transactions
No director had, during or at the end of the year, a material interest in any contract which was significant in relation to the Group's
business, except in respect of service agreements save for the following transaction the terms of which are set out below.
In December 2019 the Group disposed of part of its interest in the Furnace IP development to Furnace Technologies Limited, a
company founded by John Blamire, a former director of the Group. Mr Blamire stepped down from the board at that point.
The Board viewed that whilst there was a strong potential market opportunity for Furnace, but determined that Furnace, which was
and still is pre-revenue and loss making, is non-core to Falanx's cyber services market. Furnace had consumed approximately £0.4m
of cash resources in the financial year up to its disposal in December 2019.
Falanx sold the business and assets of Furnace for a sale price of £1.1m, to be funded by way of an unsecured loan note, plus the
issue and allotment to Falanx of 20% of the shares in Furnace Technologies Limited. The loan note has a five-year term and carries
a 5% coupon. Furthermore, in the event that Furnace is sold during the five years following the initial sale by Falanx, Falanx will
receive an additional 20% of the proceeds of a sale in the first 12 months, amortising down to zero over the remaining four
years. Falanx also benefits from certain accelerated loan repayment arrangements in the event of a sale or change of control in
Furnace. This resulted in a reclassification of Falanx's current R&D and other intangibles to investments.
Mr Blamire did not participate in board meetings concerning this and was kept offside. The sale of Furnace to Furnace Technologies
Limited, a company in which John Blamire is a substantial shareholder and director, was a related party transaction pursuant to rule
13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. Accordingly, the Directors of Falanx (excluding John Blamire) having consulted with the
Company's nominated adviser, Stifel, and considered that the terms of the transaction are fair and reasonable insofar as the
Company's shareholders are concerned. Mr Blamire waived his contract of employment at that point and entered into a compromise
agreement under which further no monies were payable (save for accrued routine expenses) and he and the other purchaser were
allowed to keep their share options until 19 June 2020.
PP
E Shaw
Chairman
30 October 2020
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
24
Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
The Directors are responsible for preparing the Directors’ report and the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and
regulations and, as regards the Group financial statements, International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the
European Union.
Company law requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial year. Under that law the Directors have elected
to prepare the Group financial statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards as adopted by the European
Union. Under Company law the Directors must not approve the financial statements unless they are satisfied that they give a true
and fair view of the state of affairs of the Group and the financial performance and cash flows of the Group for that year. In preparing
these financial statements, the Directors are required to:
• select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;
• make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;
• state whether, in preparation of the Group financial statements, the Group has complied with IFRS as adopted by the European
Union, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the Group financial statements; and
• prepare the accounts on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Group will continue in business.
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Group’s
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Group and enable them to ensure that
the financial statements comply with all applicable legislation and as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS
Regulation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the
prevention and detection of fraud and other irregularities.
The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Group’s
website.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
25
Corporate Governance Report
Statement by the Chairman on Corporate Governance
As a Company listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange Falanx Group Limited (Falanx) has chosen to comply with
the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code “the Code”.
This report describes how the Group has complied with the Code and explains any departures from the ten principles within the Code.
A description of the Board and its committees, together with the Group’s systems of internal financial control is set out below.
1. Generation of Long-Term Growth and Shareholder Value
The Company is addressing markets which it believes have long term growth potential with industry growth rates of greater than
GDP. The Security sector has traditionally grown ahead of GDP against a backdrop of political, economic, social and technological
drivers. The Company provides highly relevant services to its clients to help them protect their organisations and consistently invests
in innovation. The Company’s strategy is to generate sustainable cash flows and profits from predictable and growing recurring
revenues.
2. The Board
The Board comprises a non-executive Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Financial Officer, and one independent non-
executive director. It is intended that Board will evolve as the Group grows to include at least one more independent non-executive
director including a qualified accountant or similar as audit committee chair with a planned start in 2021.
The Board meets at least 11 times a year. The Chief Executive and the Chief Financial Officer are engaged full-time and the Chairman
and independent non-executive Director are required to spend two days per month considering Company matters and attending the
monthly Board meeting. Executive directors along with senior management meet on at least monthly basis and they are in regular
close communication as a matter of routine. During the COVID-19 pandemic executives formally speak once per week and the board
has biweekly update calls. Senior management regularly attend board meetings and have full right of access to speak with non
executive directors.
In the year ended 31 March 2020 there were 12 board meetings and were attended by all directors save Ian Selby who attended 11.
The audit committee and the remuneration committee each met twice during the year and were attended by Alex Hambro and Emma
Shaw. John Blamire attended 9 out of the 9 meetings he was eligible to attended before he resigned on 19 December 2019.
The Group believes that in its Board it has at its disposal an appropriate range of skills, training and experience to ensure the interests
of all stakeholders in the Group are fully accommodated at this stage in its evolution.
Directors biographies are on https://falanx.com/meet-the-board/.
3. Board matters
The Board has a schedule of matters specifically reserved for its decision. It is responsible for formulating the Group’s corporate
strategy, monitoring financial performance, acquisitions, approval of major capital expenditure, treasury and risk management
policies.
Board papers are sent out to all directors in advance of each Board meeting including management accounts and accompanying
reports from the executive directors. Annual budgets are approved by the Board. Operational control is delegated by the Board to the
executive directors.
The Company Secretary acts as the conduit for all governance related matters and shareholder enquiries and passes them on the
Chairman to respond. The board maintains full and open communications and all members of staff have access to board members
including the Chairman and CEO.
4. Corporate culture
The Board is responsible for ensuring a high standard of corporate conduct. The Board achieves this by ensuring that appropriate
policies on behaviour and ethics are in place and signed up to by all employees. Performance is appraised taking into account not
just the achievement of objectives, but the behaviour’s demonstrated to do so. All managers and the Board lead by example in their
behaviour and ethical values demonstrated. The relevant senior management present to the Board at least quarterly (and mostly
monthly) on their area’s performance The Company has a dedicated and professionally qualified HR manager who works to support
the high standards expected and further details of our people policies are referred to on pages 15 and 16. The Company has a
dedicated Data Protection Officer who manages the specific risks around the Group’s operations. The Group continually invests in
its IT and cyber security infrastructure. The Company seeks to minimise its environmental impact where possible, an example being
the use of video conferencing to reduce travel costs and this is increased since the onset of COVID-19 in March 2020. The group
makes use of electronic as opposed to physical media in its communications and in 2016 changed its articles as allowed under BVI
law, to allow the use of solely electronic media for distribution of annual reports, notices of meetings and other shareholder
communications.
5. Board Performance and Delivering Growth
The performance of the Board is primarily measured by the achievement of certain KPI’s in the business which are aligned with the
growth strategy. These include measures against budgeted gross margins, EBITDA, recurring revenues, forward contract book,
customer satisfaction, debtor performance, cash usage and generation, project deliveries and return on invested capital. The
Directors consider that the Company and Board are not yet of a sufficient size for a full Board evaluation to make commercial and
practical sense. All executive directors have annual performance reviews. In the frequent Board meetings/calls, the Directors can
discuss any areas where they feel a change would benefit the Company and the directors can consult with the Company’s advisors.
As the Company grows, it expects to expand the Board and with the Board expansion, to re-consider the need for Board evaluation.
6. Succession Planning
26
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Corporate Governance Report
The board continually reviews its composition to maximise its effectiveness. This includes determining and reviewing the skills against
current and expected business requirements of executive and non-executive directors as well as those of key senior management.
7. Company Secretary
All directors have access to the advice of the company secretary and the independent director and can take external independent
company secretarial and legal advice on certain matters, if necessary, at the Company’s expense.
The CFO currently acts as the Group’s company secretary as it is appropriate for this stage in Falanx’s evolution. The board does
not see any conflict at this stage but may in the future engage additional resources if appropriate.
8. Board Committees
The Board has a remuneration committee and an audit committee.
The audit committee comprises Alex Hambro (chairman) and Emma Shaw. The committee meets as necessary (but at least twice
per year) to monitor the Group’s internal control systems and major accounting and audit related issues. There are plans to evolve
the Company’s governance structure so that the audit committee has an independent chair who is a professionally qualified
accountant or equivalent.
The remuneration and nomination committee is chaired by Emma Shaw and consists of her and Alex Hambro. It is responsible for
determining the contract terms, remuneration and other benefits for executive directors, including performance-related bonus and
share option schemes. The remuneration of non-executive directors is agreed by the board as a whole and is done in conjunction
with external advisors. It also considers matters of nomination and succession. The Company continues to review the need for further
committees.
9. Engagement with Shareholders
On 27 March 2019 the company announced a variation of its memorandum and articles of association to reduce directors’ powers
to issue shares and to bring it more into line with typical UK structures. These changes were voluntarily done by the company and
were not required under BVI law.
The Board values the views of its shareholders. The company will hold Annual General Meetings which are used to communicate
with all investors (where possible under COVID-19 guidance), and they are encouraged to participate. The directors are available to
answer questions. Separate resolutions are proposed on each issue so that they can be given proper consideration and there is a
formal resolution to approve the Annual Report. Shareholders can also contact the Company Secretary or the Chairman via the
Company’s website.
The Board takes full cognisance of the results of any poll or feedback from shareholders and the Chairman will respond as appropriate
whether by email of by offering a chance to meet with the shareholder to explain the Board’s position.
10. Internal control
Internal control systems are designed to meet the needs of the Group and the risks to which it is exposed, and by their nature can
provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against material misstatement or loss. The key procedures which the directors have
established with a view to providing effective internal financial control are as follows: –
• Management structure
The Board has overall responsibility for the Group and there is a schedule of matters specifically reserved for decisions by the Board.
• Quality and integrity of personnel
The integrity and competence of personnel are ensured through high recruitment standards including vetting of staff under relevant
security standards, and subsequent training courses. High quality personnel are an essential part of the control environment.
Identification of business risks
•
The Board is responsible for identifying the major business risks faced by the Group and for determining the appropriate courses of
action to manage those risks. The boards of our Group businesses also actively identify risks and are reviewed at most board
meetings and are formally reviewed in greater depth on a quarterly basis and ensure mitigating controls and appropriate insurances
are in place. These are done at both a top level and are cascaded down through the organisation.
• Budgetary process
Each year the Board approves the annual budget. Key risk areas are identified. Performance is monitored, and relevant action taken
throughout the year through the monthly reporting to the Board of variances from the budget and preparation of updated forecasts
on at least a quarterly basis for the year (and together with information on the key risk areas).
• Authorisation procedures
Capital and revenue expenditure are regulated by a budgetary process and authority limits for approval of expenditure are in place.
For expenditure beyond specified levels, detailed written proposals are submitted to and approved by the Board. Once authorised,
27
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Corporate Governance Report
such expenditure is reviewed and monitored by the Board. Where the capital expenditure is against the development of software
products or services it is reviewed against expected returns from future sales and delivery against agreed milestones.
Reviews of specific industry and regulatory risk areas (for example maintenance of cyber security accreditations) are carried out on
a periodic basis by staff separate from the operation of those areas.
11. Advisors
The Board selects advisory relationships based on their relevance of expertise, track record of success, ability to add value to the
development of shareholder value and to support the Company in discharging its duties as a listed company.
Statement of Compliance
Save for the Companies Act, there is no mandatory corporate governance regime in the British Virgin Islands with which the Group
must comply. However, the Directors recognise the importance of sound corporate governance and in accordance with AIM Rule 50
complies with the QCA Guidelines for AIM Companies.
Board of Directors
The Board’s principal responsibilities include assisting in the formulation of corporate strategy, reviewing and approving all significant
corporate transactions, monitoring operational and financial performance, reviewing and approving annual budgets and generally
assisting management to enhance the overall performance of the Group in order to deliver maximum value to its shareholders. The
Group holds Board meetings at least eight times each financial year and at other times as and when required. The Group will be
adding additional relevant non-executive Directors in the year to further balance the Board.
Committees
The Group has in operation the following committees: An Audit Committee and a Remuneration & Nomination Committee.
Audit Committee
The Audit Committee comprises Alex Hambro (Chairman) of Emma Shaw (non-executive) and meets at least twice a year. Other
Executive Directors are permitted to attend meetings at the discretion of the Chairman of the Committee. There is an opportunity for
any meeting to be in private between the Non-Executive Director and the Company’s auditor to consider any matter they wish to bring
to the attention of the Committee. The terms of reference and areas of delegated responsibility of the Audit Committee are in the
consideration and approval of the following matters:
• monitoring the quality and effectiveness of the internal control environment, including the risk management procedures
followed by the Group;
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
reviewing the Group’s accounting policies and ensuring compliance with relevant accounting standards;
reviewing the Group’s reporting and accounting procedures;
ensuring that the financial performance of the business is properly measured, controlled and reported on;
reviewing the scope and effectiveness of the external audit and compliance by the Group with statutory and regulatory
requirements;
approving the external auditors’ terms of engagement, their audit plan, their remuneration and any non-audit work;
considering reports from the auditor on the outcome of the audit process and ensuring that any recommendations arising
are communicated to the Board and implemented on a timely basis;
reviewing the Board’s statement on internal control in the Annual Report;
ensuring compliance with the relevant requirements of the AIM Rules; and
It is the intention of the board to recruit a further non executive director at an appropriate moment and they will become the
audit committee chair
Remuneration and Nomination Committee
The Remuneration and Nomination Committee (previously two separate committees) comprises Emma Shaw (Chairman) and Alex
Hambro and meets as and when necessary. Other directors may attend its meetings by invitation from time to time. It keeps under
review the skill requirements of the Board and the skill, knowledge, experience, length of service and performance of the Directors. It
also reviews their external interests with a view to identifying any actual, perceived or potential conflicts of interests, including the time
available to commit to their duties to the Group. It sets and reviews the scale and structure of the Executive Directors’ remuneration
packages, including share options and the terms of the service contracts. The remuneration and the terms and conditions of the Non-
Executive Directors are determined by the Executive Directors with due regard to the interests of the shareholders and the
performance of the Group. The Committee also makes recommendations to the Board concerning the allocation of share options to
employees.
The Committee also monitors the independence of each Non-Executive Director and makes recommendations concerning such to
the Board. The results of these reviews are important when the Board considers succession planning and the re-election and
reappointment of Directors. Members of the Committee take no part in any discussions concerning their own circumstances.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
28
Corporate Governance Report
The Committee is also responsible for keeping under review the senior management team of the organisation to ensuring the
continued ability of the organisation to compete effectively in the marketplace.
Internal Control
The Board has overall responsibility for ensuring that the Group maintains a system of internal control to provide it with reasonable
assurance regarding the reliability of financial information used within the business and for publication. The Board is also responsible
for ensuring that assets are safeguarded, and risk is identified as early as practicably possible. As noted, the Audit Committee has a
significant role in this area. The internal control systems established are designed to manage rather than completely eliminate risk
and can only provide reasonable but not absolute assurance against misstatement or loss. The Group does not currently have an
internal audit function, and this will be kept under review as the Group progresses. The Board reviews the effectiveness of the systems
of internal control and its reporting procedures and augments and develops these procedures as required to ensure that an
appropriate control framework is maintained at all times. The principal control mechanisms deployed by the Group are:
detailed scrutiny of the monthly management accounts with all material variances investigated;
executive review and monitoring of key decision-making processes at subsidiary Board level;
• Board approval for all strategic and commercially significant transactions;
•
•
• Board reports on business performance and commercial developments;
•
•
•
standard accounting controls and reporting procedures; and
regularly liaising with the Group’s auditor and other professionals as required.
periodic risk assessments at each business involving senior executive management;
Shareholder Communication
The Group’s website (www.falanx.com) is the primary source of information on the Group. This includes an overview of the activities
of the Group, information on the Group’s subsidiaries and details of all recent Group announcements. All announcements are
reviewed by the Board and its NOMAD ahead of announcement and the Board continually keeps the need for any regulatory
announcement under review.
Corporate Responsibility
Falanx Group Limited operates responsibly with regards to its shareholders, employees, other stakeholders, the environment and the
wider community. The Group is committed to the well-being of all employees and ensures that their health, safety and general welfare
is paramount at all times. We also maintain open and fair relationships with all clients and suppliers while ensuring that all transactions
are operated on an arm's length, commercial basis.
The Directors are responsible for preparing the financial statements in accordance with applicable law and regulations. Company law
requires the Directors to prepare financial statements for each financial period. The Directors have elected to prepare these financial
statements in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union and applicable
by law.
Approved by the Board on 30 October 2020 and signed on its behalf by
I R Selby
Director
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
29
Independent auditors’ report
to the members of Falanx Group Limited
Opinion
We have audited the financial statements of Falanx Group Limited (the ‘Parent Company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘Group’) for the
year ended 31 March 2020 which comprise the Consolidated Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Consolidated Statement of
Financial Position, the Consolidated Statement of Changes in Equity, the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement and the related notes,
including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation
is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) as adopted by the European Union.
In our opinion the financial statements:
•
•
give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s affairs as at 31 March 2020 and of the Group’s loss for the year then
ended; and
have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union.
Basis for opinion
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our
responsibilities under those standards are further described in the Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
section of our report. We are independent of the Parent Company and the Group in accordance with the ethical requirements that
are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including the FRC’s Ethical Standard, and we have fulfilled our other
ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and
appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion.
Conclusions relating to going concern
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the ISAs (UK) require us to report to you where:
•
•
the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial statements is not appropriate;
or
the Directors have not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant
doubt about the Group’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting for a period of at least twelve
months from the date when the financial statements are authorised for issue.
Key audit matters
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial
statements of the current period and include the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to
fraud) we identified, including those which had the greatest effect on: the overall audit strategy, the allocation of resources in the
audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial
statements as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide a separate opinion on these matters.
Key audit matter
Carrying value of intangibles – customer relationships
Intangible assets, specifically Goodwill and Customer
Relationships, represent a significant part, £3.8m of the
assets of the Group and there are significant judgements
and estimates that need to be made in carrying out the
valuation of these assets, which is therefore considered to
be a significant risk. These judgements are made in
respect of the underlying assumptions, which include
revenue growth rates, revenue multiples, attrition rate,
return on workforce, useful life and the discount factor
applied to present value of the balances.
Management is required to consider whether there are any
indications of impairment but in this case determined to
conduct an impairment review in order to assess carrying
values at the end of the twelve month re-measurement
period.
The valuation was carried out using a value in use model
prepared by an independent third party valuer last year
and this was updated for the current year to reflect actual
results achieved. The accounting policies are disclosed in
Notes 2 and 3 and details of the intangibles assets and
Goodwill including inputs to the valuation model are
disclosed in Note 15.
How we addressed the key audit matter in the audit
In this area our audit work included the following:
•
The inputs and assumptions used in the valuation model
were checked to supporting documentation and industry
benchmarks.
• We considered the significant assumptions, judgements and
key estimates used in the financial model prepared covering
a period of ten years and these were assessed in relation to
the accuracy of historical results achieved, including results
to date.
• We held a discussion with management and external valuer
to challenge
the key assumptions, gain a better
understanding of their independence and quality control
procedures and their approach for the basis of the valuation.
The instructions provided to the valuer were reviewed for
completeness and to check that there was no evidence of
management bias
•
Key observation:
Based on the outcome of the above procedures, we did not identify
any indication that an impairment was required for either Goodwill or
Customer Relationship intangible asset.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
30
Independent auditors’ report
to the members of Falanx Group Limited
Our application of materiality
We set certain thresholds for materiality. These helped us to determine the nature, timing and extent of our audit procedures and to
evaluate the effect of misstatements, both individually and on the financial statements as a whole. We consider materiality to be the
magnitude by which misstatements, including omissions, could influence the economic decisions of reasonable users that are taken
on the basis of the financial statements. Importantly, misstatements below these levels will not necessarily be evaluated as immaterial
as we also take account of the nature of identified misstatements, and the particular circumstances of their occurrence, when
evaluating their effect on the financial statements as a whole.
We determined the materiality for the Group financial statements as a whole to be £144,000 (2019: £87,000), calculated with
reference to a benchmark of the Group’s losses before tax, of which it represents 5%. This benchmark was selected as the group is
AIM listed and this figure is likely to be of the most importance to the users of the accounts.
Whilst materiality for the financial statements as a whole was £144,000, each component of the Group was audited to a much lower
level of materiality. Significant component materiality ranged from £800 to £134,000 (2019: £6,000 to £48,000).
Performance materiality is the application of materiality at the individual account or balance level set at an amount to reduce to an
appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds materiality for the
financial statements as a whole. The Group’s performance materiality was determined as a percentage of materiality for the financial
statement as a whole of 70% (2019: range between 45% to 65%) depending on our assessment of risk.
We reported to the Audit Committee all potential adjustments in excess of £6,900 (2019: £4,300). We also agreed to report differences
below these thresholds that, in our view, warranted reporting on qualitative grounds.
An overview of the scope of our audit
As part of designing our audit, we determined materiality and assessed the risks of material misstatement in the financial statements.
In particular, we looked at where the Directors made subjective judgements, for example in respect of the valuation of customer
relationships which have a high level of estimation uncertainty involved.
We considered the risk of the financial statements being misstated or not prepared in accordance with the underlying legislation or
standards. We then directed our work toward areas of the financial statements which we assessed as having the highest risk of
containing material misstatements.
There are 8 significant components in the Group, which are all registered and operate in the UK, each of which is subject to a full
scope audit by BDO LLP. The audit was carried out for all significant components by the Group audit team. The remaining 5
subsidiaries are outside of the scope of a full audit as they have taken an audit exemption (Falanx Cyber Defence Spain S.L., Falanx
Group US LLC, FG Consulting Services DMCC and Stirling Risk (Asia) Limited), or are dormant (Falanx Protection Limited). The 5
out of full scope entities were subject to an analytical review and desk top review by the Group audit team to provide assurance to
the Group audit opinion on the consolidated financial statements.
Other information
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Report and
financial statements, other than the financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements
does not cover the other information and, except to the extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of
assurance conclusion thereon.
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider
whether the other information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or
otherwise appears to be materially misstated. If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are
required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other
information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a material misstatement of this other information,
we are required to report that fact.
We have nothing to report in this regard.
Responsibilities of Directors
As explained more fully in the Statement of Directors Responsibilities, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial
statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is
necessary to enable the preparation of financial statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
31
Independent auditors’ report
to the members of Falanx Group Limited
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern,
disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors
either intend to liquidate the Group or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so.
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material
misstatement, whether due to fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a
high level of assurance, but is not a guarantee that an audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material
misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are considered material if, individually or in the
aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of these financial
statements.
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s
website at: https://www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report.
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the Parent Company’s members, as a body, in accordance with our engagement letter dated 7 May
2019. Our audit work has been undertaken so that we might state to the Parent Company’s members those matters we are required
to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume
responsibility to anyone other than the Parent Company and the Parent Company’s members as a body, for our audit work, for this
report, or for the opinions we have formed.
PAUL FENNER, FCA
Senior Statutory Auditor
BDO LLP, Chartered Accountants
London, UK
30 October 2020
BDO LLP is a limited liability partnership registered in England and Wales (with registered number OC305127)
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
32
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 March 2020
Continuing operations
Revenue
Cost of sales
Gross profit
Administrative expenses
Operating loss
Analysis of operating loss
Operating loss
Share option expense
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment of Furnace investment
Highlighted costs
Adjusted EBITDA loss
Finance income
Finance costs
Finance costs – net
Loss before income tax
Income tax (credit) / expense
Loss for the year
Loss per share
Basic loss per share
Diluted loss per share
Note
4
2020
£
2019
£
5,851,175
5,212,136
(3,638,105)
(2,924,210)
2,213,070
2,287,926
(5,068,146)
(4,144,508)
6
(2,855,076)
(1,856,582)
(2,855,076)
(1,856,582)
228,366
482,675
260,000
320,173
60,715
369,071
—
180,921
(1,563,862)
(1,245,875)
2,100
(26,029)
(23,929)
1,526
(4,257)
(2,731)
5.1
5.2
9
9
(2,879,005)
(1,859,313)
10
(2,323)
28,442
(2,881,328)
(1,830,871)
12
12
(0.72) p
(0.72) p
(0.58) p
(0.58) p
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
33
Consolidated statement of comprehensive income
for the year ended 31 March 2020
Loss for the year
Other comprehensive income:
Re-translation of foreign subsidiaries
Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax
Total comprehensive income for the year
Attributable to:
Owners of the parent
Total comprehensive income for the year
Note
2020
£
2019
£
(2,881,328)
(1,830,871)
(4,600)
(4,600)
3,053
3,053
(2,885,928)
(1,827,818)
(2,885,928)
(1,827,818)
(2,885,928)
(1,827,818)
Items in the statement above are disclosed net of tax. The income tax relating to each component of other comprehensive income is
disclosed in note 10.
The notes on pages 38 to 66 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
34
Consolidated statement of financial position
as at 31 March 2020
Assets
Non-current assets
Property, plant and equipment
Intangible assets
Right of use asset
Investments with fair value through Profit and Loss
Loan Receivable
Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Total assets
Equity
Capital and reserves attributable to equity holders of the Company
Share capital
Translation reserve
Shares option and warrant reserve
Retained earnings
Total equity
Liabilities
Non-current liabilities
Deferred tax liability
Lease liability
Current liabilities
Trade and other payables
Contract liabilities
Lease liability
Total liabilities
Total equity and liabilities
Note
2020
£
2019
£
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
195,423
111,852
3,893,809
5,386,573
472,253
340,000
1,100,000
6,001,485
—
2,169,635
79,282
2,248,917
—
—
—
5,498,425
3,828
2,112,097
2,443,686
4,559,611
8,250,402
10,058,036
22 / 23
17,903,427
17,903,427
13
24
25
27
26
4
27
(113,180)
587,325
(108,580)
358,959
(13,408,080)
(10,526,752)
4,969,492
7,627,054
9,529
348,872
358,401
1,595,850
1,237,347
89,312
7,593
—
7,593
1,313,558
1,109,831
—
2,922,509
2,423,389
3,280,910
2,430,982
8,250,402
10,058,036
The notes on pages 38 to 66 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
The financial statements on pages 33 to 37 were authorised for issue by the Board of Directors on 30 October 2020 and were signed
on its behalf by:
M D Read
Director
Company number: 1730012 (British Virgin Islands)
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
I R Selby
Director
35
Consolidated statement of changes in equity
for the year ended 31 March 2020
Balance at 1 April 2018
Loss for the year
Re-translation of foreign subsidiaries
Transactions with owners:
Issue of share capital
Costs of issue of share capital
Note
Share
capital
£
Retained Translation
Share option and
earnings
reserve
warrant reserve
£
£
£
Total
£
13,868,734
(8,695,881)
(111,633)
255,483
5,316,703
—
—
4,255,000
(220,307)
(1,830,871)
—
—
—
—
—
3,053
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(1,830,871)
3,053
4,255,000
(220,307)
103,476
103,476
Share based payment charge
13
—
Balance at 31 March 2019
17,903,427
(10,526,752)
(108,580)
358,959
7,627,054
Loss for the year
Re-translation of foreign subsidiaries
Transactions with owners:
Issue of share capital
Costs of issue of share capital
Share based payment charge
13
—
—
—
—
—
(2,881,328)
—
—
(4,600)
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
(2,881,328)
(4,600)
—
—
228,366
228,366
Balance as at 31 March 2020
17,903,427
(13,408,080)
(113,180)
587,325
4,969,492
The share capital account represents the amount subscribed for share capital, net of share issue expenses. Share issue expenses
comprise the costs in respect of the issue by the Company of new shares.
Retained earnings represents the cumulative earnings of the Group attributable to the owners of the parent.
The translation reserve represents the cumulative movement in the translation of foreign subsidiaries into the presentation currency.
The share option and warrant reserve represents the cumulative share option and warrant charges.
The notes on pages 38 to 66 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
36
Consolidated cash flow statement
for the year ended 31 March 2020
Cash flows from operating activities
Loss before tax
Adjustments for:
Depreciation
Amortisation and impairment of intangibles
Amortisation of right of use assets
Impairment of investment in Furnace
Share based payment
Profit on disposal of Furnace IP
Net finance cost recognised in profit or loss
Changes in working capital:
Decrease in inventories
Increase in trade and other receivables
Increase in trade, contract liabilities and other payables
Cash used in operations
Interest paid
Tax paid
Net cash used in continued operating activities
Cash flows from investing activities
Interest received
Acquisition of property, plant and equipment
Expenditure on development cost
Acquisition of investment
Acquisition of subsidiaries net of cash acquired
Net cash used in investing activities
Cash flows from financing activities
Repayment of lease liabilities
Interest on lease interest
Proceeds from issue of shares
Costs of share issuance
Net cash (used in) / generated from financing activities
Net increase in cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of year
Foreign exchange gains on cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents at end of year
Note
2020
£
2019
£
16
17
6 / 13
11
(2,879,005)
(1,859,313)
87,300
318,180
77,195
260,000
228,366
(58,666)
23,929
75,526
293,546
—
—
60,715
—
2,731
(1,942,701)
(1,426,795)
3,828
(57,539)
332,023
554
(588,755)
98,006
(1,664,389)
(1,916,990)
(1,754)
(387)
(4,257)
—
(1,666,530)
(1,921,247)
2,100
(255,070)
(378,484)
(61,820)
1,526
(51,251)
(461,008)
—
—
(19,803)
(693,274)
(530,536)
—
—
—
—
—
(2,359,804)
2,443,686
(4,600)
79,282
—
—
4,155,000
(177,545)
3,977,455
1,525,672
914,961
3,053
2,443,686
The notes on pages 38 to 66 are an integral part of these consolidated financial statements.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
37
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
1. General information
Falanx Group Limited (the “Company” or “Falanx”) and its subsidiaries (together the “Group”) operate in the cyber security and
intelligence markets.
The Company is a public limited company which is listed on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange and is incorporated and
domiciled in the British Virgin Islands. The address of its registered office is PO Box 173, Kingston Chambers, Road Town, Tortola,
British Virgin Islands. The UK registered office The Blade, Abbey Square, Reading, RG1 3BE.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these consolidated financial statements are set out below. These
policies have been applied consistently to all the years presented unless otherwise stated.
2.1 Basis of preparation
These consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (“IFRS”)
as adopted by the European Union and International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”) interpretations. The
functional and presentational currency for the financial statements is Sterling. The financial statements have been prepared under
the historical cost convention, as modified by financial assets and financial liabilities at fair value through profit or loss.
The preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates. It also
requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s accounting policies. The areas involving a
higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the consolidated financial
statements are disclosed in note 3.
2.1.1 Going concern
The Group's activities, together with the factors likely to affect its future development, performance and position, are set out in the
business review. Our financial position, cash and borrowing facilities are described within the Financial Review.
The Directors have acknowledged the COVID-19 Thematic Review published by the Financial Reporting Council in July 2020.
The Financial Statements have been prepared on a going concern basis which the Directors consider to be appropriate for the
following reasons.
The Directors have prepared cash flow forecasts to the period to the end of December 2021 which indicate that, taking account of
reasonably possible downsides and the anticipated impact of COVID-19 on the operations and its financial resources, the Group and
Company will have sufficient funds to meet its liabilities as they fall due for that period. Cash flow projections have been taken into
account to reflect the equity raise of £1.25m gross on 29 September 2020. The Group is primarily financed through equity and has
an unused invoice discounting facility of up to £0.5m for use in its Cyber division and this remains a source of additional headroom
should it be needed. The Group has no bank borrowings and is debt free. The Groups operational cash flow usage profile has for the
last four financial years averaged at close to 100% of EBTIDA and the incidence of bad debts is trivial and recurring revenues reflect
approximately 56% of current revenue run rate with the remainder being mainly from repeat revenues. At the date of these accounts
the Group has a broadly normalised working capital position and HMRC are in agreed payment terms with a significant majority of
their debts being paid by equal instalments over 2 years to July 2022.
The Group’s markets in Cyber Security and Strategic Intelligence are showing resilience to the ongoing COVID-19 economic fallout,
particularly with increased Cyber security risks for enterprises as they move to remote operations and online business models, but
clearly, they cannot be immune from wider macro-economic conditions. COVID-19 began to impact operations in February 2020
onwards and reduced certain professional services revenues in the Cyber division (primarily around assessment and penetration
testing) by approximately £100,000 per month compared to where they were between September 2019 and February 2020. At the
start of the COVID-19 crisis sales orders for penetration business fell as a result of delays and deferrals from circa £0.2m per month
in the second half of the year to 31 March 2020 to c£0.1m per month but that has since recovered to c£0.2m per month since the
start of August 2020 and this further supports the groups view that financial performance should start to improve. Furthermore, the
Group has begun to win new orders for its new cyber monitoring platform (Triarii) which was launched in August 2020 and has recently
joined the SolarWinds TAP program which significantly expands Falanx’s customer reach. The general move to remote working is
increasing cyber security risks for organisations, and this is expected to increase demand for Falanx’s services.
However given the ongoing macro-economic uncertainty around COVID-19 and UK recessionary impacts, alternative stress test
scenarios have been examined around an extended downturn in consulting revenues across the full financial years to 31 March 2021
and 31 March 2022 with no recovery in the economic environment, and in context this represents a c20% fall in revenues compared
to the annual run rate achieved in second half of the year to 31 March 2020 which mostly represented the period pre COVID-19
commencement in March 2020. This sensitivity analysis has been conducted at a revenue level only. Even after applying these
stringent sensitivities (which for example ignore the stronger historic revenue performance in the second half of the year) the Group
stays within its existing resources for at least 12 months from the date of signing the annual report.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
38
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
Should this significantly reduced revenue scenario above occur, further mitigating actions would be carried out to ensure that the
Group remains within its resources and these would include a reduction of planned capital expenditure, headcount reduction, reducing
discretionary spend and sales investment, freezing or reducing pay and cancelling recruitment, and all of these are within the directors
control. Further incremental measures could also involve the potential disposal of assets as well as seeking further support from
shareholders or potential debt providers. These stringent stress tests scenarios show that even without any significant mitigating
actions being implemented show that the Group is able to operate within its current resources, and that therefore the Group will have
sufficient funds to meets its liabilities as they fall due for that period.
2.1.2 New and Revised Standards
Standards in effect in 2020
The following IFRS and IFRIC Interpretations have been issued and have been applied by the Group in preparing these financial
statements for the year beginning 1 April 2019:
•
IFRS 16, 'Leases'
IFRS 16 Leases has introduced a single, on-balance sheet accounting model for lessees, eliminating the distinction between
operating and finance leases.
The Group has applied IFRS 16 using the modified retrospective approach; accordingly, the comparative information presented for
2019 has not been restated – i.e. it is presented, as previously reported, under IAS 17 and related interpretations.
The Group has applied the practical expedient permitted under the modified retrospective approach of IFRS 16 of not recognising
right-of-use assets and liabilities for leases with less than 12 months of the lease term remaining, therefore the Birmingham lease
which had four months remaining at 1 April 2019 has not been accounted for under IFRS 16.
As the only lease recognised under IFRS 16 started after 1 April 2019, the Group has not recognised any right-of-use assets or lease
liabilities on the date of initial application (1 April 2019).
Further details presenting the impact on the Group of adopting IFRS 16 from 1 April 2019 are shown in note 15.
•
IFRIC 23, 'Uncertainty over income tax treatments'
IFRIC 23 clarifies how to recognise and measure current and deferred income tax assets and liabilities when there is uncertainty
over income tax treatments. The Directors have assessed that there is no material impact on the Group or the Company in applying
IFRIC 23 and so it has not been discussed in detail in the notes to the financial statements.
The following standards/amendments to standards have been endorsed by the EU but are effective subsequent to the year end, in
accounting periods beginning 1 January 2020:
•
IAS 1 Presentation of Financial Statements and IAS 8 Accounting Policies, Changes in Accounting Estimates and Errors
(Amendment – Definition of Material)
IFRS 3 Business Combinations (Amendment – Definition of Business)
•
• Revised Conceptual Framework for Financial Reporting
Interest Rate Benchmark Reform (IBOR) reform Phase 1 (Amendments to IFRS 9, IAS 39 and IFRS 7)
The Directors do not expect that the adoption of the Standards listed above will have a material impact on the Group in future periods.
A number of IFRS and IFRIC interpretations are also currently in issue which are not relevant for the Group's activities and which
have not therefore been adopted in preparing these financial statements.
2.1.3 Alternative performance measures (APM)
In the reporting of financial information, the Directors have adopted the APM “Adjusted EBITDA” (APMs were previously termed ‘Non-
GAAP measures’), which is not defined or specified under International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).
This measure is not defined by IFRS and therefore may not be directly comparable with other companies’ APMS, including those in
the Group’s industry.
APMs should be considered in addition to, and are not intended to be a substitute for, or superior to, IFRS measurements.
Purpose
The Directors believe that this APM assists in providing additional useful information on the underlying trends, performance and
position of the Group. This APM is also used to enhance the comparability of information between reporting periods and business
units, by adjusting for non-recurring or uncontrollable factors which affect IFRS measures, to aid the user in understanding the Group’s
performance. Furthermore, the use of EBITDA means a closer correlation with the cash performance of the business. Consequently,
APMs are used by the Directors and management for performance analysis, planning, reporting and incentive setting purposes and
this remains consistent with the prior year.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
39
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
The key APM that the Group has focused on is as follows:
Adjusted EBITDA: This is the headline measure used by management to measure the Group’s performance and is based on operating
profit before the impact of financing costs, IFRS16, share based payment charges, depreciation, amortisation, impairment charges
and other highlighted items. Highlighted items (note 5.1) relate to certain costs that derive from events or transactions that fall within
the normal activities of the Group but which, individually or, if of a similar type, in aggregate, are excluded by virtue of their size and
nature in order to reflect management’s view of the performance of the Group.
2.2 Consolidation
Subsidiaries
Subsidiary undertakings are entities that are controlled by the Company. The definition of control involves three elements: power
over the investee; exposure or rights to variable returns and the ability to use the power over the investee to affect the amount of the
investor’s returns. The Group generally obtains power through voting rights. Subsidiaries are consolidated from the date at which the
Group obtains the relevant level of control and are de-consolidated from the date at which control ceases.
The acquisition method of accounting is used for all business combinations. On acquisition, the cost is measured at the aggregate of
their fair values at the date of exchange, of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued by the Group
in exchange for control of the acquire. Any costs directly attributable to the business combination are expensed as incurred. The
acquiree’s identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities that meet the conditions for recognition under IFRS 3 (Revised),
“Business Combinations” are recognised at fair values at the acquisition date.
Goodwill represents the excess of the consideration transferred, the amount of any non-controlling interest in the acquiree and the
acquisition date fair value of any previous equity interest in the acquiree over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable
net assets acquired is recorded as goodwill. If, after reassessment, the Group’s interest in the net fair value of the acquiree’s
identifiable assets, liabilities and contingent liabilities exceeds the cost of the business combination, the difference is recognised
directly in profit or loss. Any subsequent adjustment to reflect changes in consideration arising from contingent consideration
amendments are recognised in profit or loss.
Inter-company transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between group companies are eliminated. Unrealised
losses are also eliminated. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have been adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the
policies adopted by the Group. All subsidiaries are wholly owned by the Group.
2.3 Segmental reporting
In accordance with IFRS 8, segmental information is presented based on the way in which financial information is reported internally
to the chief operating decision maker. The Group’s internal financial reporting is organised along product and service lines and
therefore segmental information has been presented about business segments. A business segment is a group of assets and
operations engaged in providing products and services that are subject to risks and returns which are different from those of other
business segments.
2.4 Revenue recognition
Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or receivable for the sale of goods and services in the ordinary course
of the Group’s activities. Revenue is shown net of value-added tax, returns, rebates and discounts and after eliminating sales within
the Group.
The Group recognises revenue when the amount of revenue can be reliably measured, 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.
Revenue is recognised on the following bases:
Class of revenue
Subscription fees
Managed services
Consultancy
Vulnerability assessment
Recognition criteria
straight line basis over the life of the contract
straight line basis over the life of the contract
on delivery of service to customers
on delivery of service to customers
Revenue is recognised as the client receives the benefit of the services provided under a commercial contract, in an amount that
reflects the consideration to which the provider expects to be entitled for the transfer of the goods or services.
Performance obligations and timing of revenue recognition
Revenue from the provision of professional services such as penetration testing, consultancy and strategic intelligence assignments
are recognised as services are rendered, based on the contracted daily billing rate and the number of days delivered during the
period. Revenue from pre-paid contracts are deferred in the balance sheet and recognised on utilisation of service by the client.
Revenue from cyber monitoring contracts (including installation), intelligence embedded analyst and report subscriptions includes
advance payments made by the customer is deferred (as a contract liability) and is then subsequently recognised on a straight-line
basis over the term of the contract. Where they are billed periodically in a monthly in arrears basis, revenues are recognised at that
point.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
40
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
Contracts values are typically fixed price and the pricing level is based on management experience of pricing adequate mark up of
prime cost. Where additional services need to be delivered outside of the contract a time and materials basis based on day rates is
used.
Determining the transaction price
The Group’s revenue is derived from fixed price contracts and therefore the amount of revenues to be earned from each contract is
determined by reference to those fixed prices. Costs of obtaining long-term contracts and costs of associated sales commissions are
prepaid and amortised over the terms of the contract on a straight-line basis. Commissions paid to sale staff for work in obtaining the
Prepaid Consultancy are recognised in the month of invoice. The timing and any conditionality for the payment of commissions is
governed under the then applicable sales incentive plan.
Revenues are exclusive of applicable sales taxes and are net of any trade discounts. There are no financing components in any of
our revenue streams.
Contract Assets (accrued incomes) balance were £27,747 (2019: £197,230) and is included in prepayments and accrued income
(note 20) and the change compared to the previous year was due to short term timing differences. Contract Liabilities (deferred
incomes) balance of £1,237,347 (2019: £1,109,831). Included in the Contract Liabilities at the 31 March 2020 were approximately
£40,926 (2019: £154,000) residual balance from prior year. All Contract Assets at the 2020 year end arose towards the end of the
period. All contract assets have short cash conversion periods and all assets at the year end have since been monetised.
The Board considers that the information in note 4 adequately depicts how the nature, amount, timing and uncertainty of revenue
and cash flow are affected by economic factors.
2.5 Taxation
The tax expense for the year represents the total of current taxation and deferred taxation. The charge in respect of current taxation
is based on the estimated taxable profit for the year. Taxable profit for the year is based on the profit as shown in the income
statement, as adjusted for items of income or expenditure which are not deductible or chargeable for tax purposes. The current tax
liability for the year is calculated using tax rates which have either been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date.
Deferred tax is provided in full, using the liability method on temporary differences arising between the tax base of assets and liabilities
and their carrying values in the financial statements. Deferred tax is not accounted for if it arises from initial recognition of an asset
or liability in a transaction other than a business combination that, at the time of the transaction, affects neither accounting nor taxable
profit or loss. Deferred tax is determined using tax rates which have been enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date and
are expected to apply when the related deferred tax asset is realised, or the deferred income tax liability is settled.
Deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry forward of tax assets and unutilised tax losses, to
the extent that it is probable that taxable profits will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and the
carrying forward of tax assets and unutilised tax losses can be utilised.
The carrying amount of deferred tax assets is reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to the extent that it is no longer probable
that sufficient taxable profits will be available to allow all or part of the deferred tax assets to be utilised. Conversely, previously
unrecognised deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that sufficient taxable profit will be available to allow
all or part of the deferred tax asset to be utilised.
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the year when the asset is realised or
the liability is settled, based on tax rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted at the statement of financial
position date.
2.6 Foreign Currency
The Company has determined Sterling as its functional currency, as this is the currency of the economic environment in which the
Company predominantly operates.
Transactions in currencies other than Sterling are recorded at the rates of exchange prevailing on the dates of the transactions. At
each reporting date, the monetary assets and liabilities that are denominated in foreign currencies are retranslated at the rates
prevailing on the reporting date. Non-monetary assets and liabilities are carried at fair value that are denominated in foreign currencies
are translated at the rates prevailing at the date when the fair value was determined. Gains and losses arising on exchange are
included in profit or loss.
Foreign currency differences arising on retranslation are recognised in profit or loss.
In the case of foreign entities, the financial statements of the Group’s overseas operations are translated as follows on consolidation:
assets and liabilities, at exchange rates ruling on reporting date, income and expense items at the average rate of exchange for the
period and equity at exchange rates ruling on the dates of the transactions. Exchange differences arising are classified as equity and
transferred to a separate translation reserve. Such translation differences are recognised in profit or loss in the period in which the
41
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
operation is disposed of. Foreign exchange gains and losses arising from monetary item receivable from or payable to a foreign
operation, the settlement of which is neither planned nor likely within the foreseeable future, are considered to form part of net
investment in a foreign operation and are recognised directly in equity.
Goodwill and fair value adjustments arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity are treated as assets and liabilities of the foreign
entity and translated at the closing rate.
Foreign currency gains and losses ae reported on a net basis.
2.7 Property, plant and equipment
All property, plant and equipment are stated at historical cost less depreciation. Historical cost includes expenditure that is directly
attributable to the acquisition of the items.
All assets are depreciated in order to write off the costs, less anticipated residual values of the assets over their useful economic lives
on a straight-line basis as follows:
• Fixtures and fittings: 5 years
• Computer equipment: 3 years
2.8 Intangible assets
Acquired intangible assets are shown at historical cost. Acquired intangible assets have a finite useful life and are carried at cost,
less accumulated amortisation over the finite useful life. All charges in the year are shown in the income statement in administrative
expenses.
Goodwill
Goodwill arising on acquisition is stated at cost. Goodwill is not amortised, but subject to an annual test for impairment. Impairment
testing is performed by the Directors. Where impairment is identified, it is charged to the income statement in that period.
Software and brand licences
Acquired software and brand licences are shown at historical cost. Software and brand licences have a finite useful life and are
carried at cost less accumulated amortisation. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the cost of software
and brand licences over the period of the licence. The brand and software licences have been fully amortised in previous accounting
periods.
Research and development
Research expenditure is charged to the income statement in the year incurred.
Development costs that are directly attributable to the design and testing of identifiable and unique software products controlled by
the Group are recognised as intangible assets when the following criteria are met:
•
• management intends to complete the software product and use or sell it;
•
• adequate technical, financial and other resources to complete the development and to use or sell the software product are
it can be demonstrated how the software product will generate probable future economic benefits;
it is technically feasible to complete the software so that it will be available for use;
available; and
the expenditure attributable to the software product during its development can be reliably measured.
•
Other development expenditures that do not meet these criteria are charged to the income statement in the year incurred.
Development costs recognised as assets are amortised over their estimated useful life, which does not exceed 5 years.
Government tax credits available on eligible Research and Development expenditure (‘R&D Tax Credits’) and not reclaimable through
other means are recognised in income and treated as a government grant.
Customer relationships
Customer relationships are amortised over the period expected to benefit as follows:
• First Base: 10 years
• Securestorm: 3 years
2.9 Impairment of non-financial assets
Assets that are subject to depreciation or amortisation are reviewed for impairment whenever events or changes in circumstances
indicate that the carrying amount may not be recoverable. A review for indicators of impairment is performed annually. An impairment
loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying amount exceeds its recoverable amount. The recoverable amount is
the higher of an asset’s fair value less costs to sell and value in use. Any impairment charge is recognised in the income statement
in the year in which it occurs. When an impairment loss, other than an impairment loss on goodwill, subsequently reverses due to a
change in the original estimate, the carrying amount of the asset is increased to the revised estimate of its recoverable amount, up
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
42
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
to the carrying amount that would have resulted, net of depreciation, had no impairment loss been recognised for the asset in prior
years.
2.10 Inventories
Inventories mainly comprises finished goods which is stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is based on purchase
price and net realisable value is based on estimated selling price less disposal costs.
2.11 Financial instruments
The Group applies a simplified method of the expected credit loss model when calculating impairment losses on its financial assets
which are measured at amortised cost such as trade receivables, other debtors and prepayments. This resulted in greater judgement
due to the need to factor in forward-looking information when estimating the appropriate amount to provisions. This is not applied to
the loan to Furnace Technologies which is reviewed on an individual basis.
(a) Financial Assets
The Group’s Financial Assets include Cash and Cash Equivalents, Trade Receivables, Loan Receivables and Other Receivables.
•
Initial Recognition and Measurement: Financial Assets are classified as amortised cost and initially measured at fair
value.
• Subsequent Measurement: Financial assets are subsequently measured at amortised cost, using the effective interest
method, less impairment. Interest is recognised by applying the effective interest method, except for short-term receivables
when the recognition of interest would be immaterial. The company only offers short periods of credit to its customers and
recorded average debtor days of 66 at 31 March 2020 (2019: 47)
• Derecognition of Financial Assets: The Company derecognises a Financial Asset only when the contractual rights to the
cash flows from the asset expire, or it transfers the Financial Asset and substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership
of the asset to another entity.
(b) Financial Liabilities and Equity Instruments
The Group’s Financial Liabilities include Trade Payables, Accruals and Other Payables. Financial Liabilities are classified at amortised
cost.
(c) Investments
Investments not in subsidiary undertakings are carried at fair value through profit and loss.
Classification as Debt or Equity. Financial Liabilities and Equity Instruments issued by the Company are classified according to the
substance of the contractual arrangements entered into and the definitions of a Financial Liability and an Equity Instrument.
2.12 Share capital
Ordinary shares (of nil par value) in the Company are classified as equity. By definition all amounts arising from the issue of these
shares are attributable to Share Capital as are any directly attributable (including any warrants issued as commissions) to issue of
new shares are shown in equity as a deduction to the share capital account. The Company does not maintain a separate share
premium account.
2.13 Reserves
The consolidated financial statements include the following reserves: translation reserve, share option reserve and retained earnings.
Premiums paid on the issue of share capital, less any costs relating to these, are posted to the share capital account as referenced
above.
2.14 Trade payables
Trade payables are obligations to pay for goods and 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. If not, they are presented as
non-current liabilities.
Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and are subsequently measured at amortised cost using the effective interest
method. As the payment period of trade payables is short, future cash payments are not discounted as the effect is not material.
2.15 Leases
Lease accounting under IFRS 16 (applicable after 1 April 2019)
When entering into a contract the Group assesses whether or not a lease exists. A lease exists if a contract conveys a right to control
the use of an identified asset under a period of time in exchange for consideration. Leases of low value items and short-term leases
(leases of less than 12 months at the commencement date) are charged to the profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the lease
term in administrative expenses.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
43
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
The Group recognises right-of-use assets at cost and lease liabilities on the statement of financial position at the lease
commencement date based on the present value of future lease payments. The right-of-use assets are amortised on a straight-line
basis over the length of the lease term. The lease liabilities are recognised at amortised cost using the effective interest rate method.
Discount rates used reflect the incremental borrowing rate specific to the lease.
Lease accounting under IAS 17 (applicable before 1 April 2019)
Leases where substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership of assets remain with the lessor are accounted for as operating
leases and are accounted for on a straight-line basis over the term of the lease.
2.16 Pensions
The Company operates a defined contribution pension scheme under which fixed contributions are payable. Pension costs charged
to the income statement represent amounts payable to the scheme during the year.
2.17 Share-based payments
The cost of share-based payment arrangements, which occur when employees receive shares or share options, is recognised in the
income statement over the period over which the shares or share options vest.
The expense is calculated based on the value of the awards made, as required by IFRS 2, ‘Share-based payment’. The fair value of
the awards is calculated by using the Black-Scholes and Monte Carlo option pricing models taking into account the expected life of
the awards, the expected volatility of the return on the underlying share price, vesting criteria, the market value of the shares, the
strike price of the awards and the risk-free rate of return. The charge to the income statement is adjusted for the effect of service
conditions and non-market performance conditions such that it is based on the number of awards expected to vest. Where vesting is
dependent on market-based performance conditions, the likelihood of the conditions being achieved is adjusted for in the initial
valuation and the charge to the income statement is not, therefore, adjusted so long as all other conditions are met.
Where an award is granted with no vesting conditions, the full value of the award is recognised immediately in the income statement.
2.18 Provisions
Provisions are recognised in the statement of financial position where there is a legal or constructive obligation to transfer economic
benefits as a result of a past event. Provisions are discounted using a rate which reflects the effect of the time value of money and
the risks specific to the obligation, where the effect of discounting is material.
Provisions are measured at the present value of expenditures expected to be required to settle the obligation using a pre-tax rate
that reflects current market assessments of the time, value of money and the risks specific to the obligation. The increase in provision
due to the passage of time is recognised as interest expense.
3. Critical accounting estimates and judgements
The preparation of the Group financial statements in conformity with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union requires the use of
certain critical accounting estimates. It also requires management to exercise its judgement in the process of applying the Group’s
accounting policies. Estimates and judgements are continually evaluated and are based on historical experience and other factors,
including expectations of future events that are believed to be reasonable under the present circumstances. The areas involving a
higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas where assumptions and estimates are significant to the Group financial
statements are disclosed below.
Judgements:
Investment in Furnace Technologies Limited
The investment agreement in Furnace Technologies Limited has allocated Falanx Group Limited 20% of its equity. It is considered a
financial as opposed to an operational investment as Falanx does not have the right to appoint a board member and plays no part in
its operations or policymaking. There is no interchange of management personnel and any transactions between the companies are
small and are on an arms length basis. Consequently, it has not been treated as an associated company.
Estimates:
Management do not consider there to be significant accounting estimates in respect of the year ended 31 March 2020.
Impairment of intangible assets
Management have assessed indicators of impairment and conducted an impairment review of intangible assets. They have made
judgements as to the likelihood of them generating future cash flows, the period over which those cash flows will be received and the
costs which are attributable against them. The recoverable amount is determined using the value in use calculation. The use of this
method requires the estimation of future cash flows and the selection of a suitable discount rate in order to calculate the present
value of these cash flows (refer to note 15.2).
In support of the assumptions, management use a variety of sources. In addition, management have undertaken scenario analyses,
including a reduction in sales forecasts, which would not result in the value in use being less than the carrying value of the cash-
generating unit. However, if the business model is not successful, the carrying value of the intangible assets may be impaired and
may require writing down.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
44
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
4. Segmental reporting
As described in note 2, the Directors consider that the Group’s internal financial reporting is organised along product and service
lines and, therefore, segmental information has been presented about business segments. The categorisation of business activities
into segments is analysed per division to be consistent with the views of the chief operating decision maker, as highlighted in the
Chief Executive Officer’s report. The segmental analysis of the Group’s business is derived from its principal activities as set out
below. The information below also comprises the disclosures required by IFRS 8 in respect of products and services as the Directors
consider that the products and services sold by the disclosed segments are essentially similar and therefore no additional disclosure
in respect of products and services is required. The other segment consists of the parent company’s administrative operation.
Reportable segments
The reportable segment results for the year ended 31 March 2020 are as follows:
Assynt report
Professional services
Monitoring managed services
Revenues from external customers
Gross Margin
Segment Reported EBITDA
Highlighted costs (Note 5)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Finance costs-net
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment of Furnace investment
Share option expense
Segment loss before tax for the year
Intelligence
Cyber
£
2,006,220
136,247
—
2,142,467
£
—
2,647,814
1,060,894
3,708,708
804,842
1,408,228
Corporate
segment
£
—
—
—
—
—
Total
£
2,006,220
2,784,061
1,060,894
5,851,175
2,213,070
3,310
7,397
(379,985)
(1,507,360)
(1,884,035)
(34,235)
347,011
320,173
10,707
(414,220)
(1,160,349)
(1,563,862)
377
(764)
(23,542)
(23,929)
(30,723)
(299,623)
(152,329)
(482,675)
—
(38,671)
(65,707)
—
(260,000)
(260,000)
(45,272)
(144,423)
(228,366)
(725,644)
(2,087,654)
(2,879,005)
The reportable segment results for the year ended 31 March 2019 are as follows:
Assynt report
Professional services
Monitoring managed services
Revenues from external customers
Gross margin
Segment Reported EBITDA
Share option expense
Highlighted costs (Note 5)
Segment Adjusted EBITDA
Intelligence
Cyber
£
1,402,196
238,765
—
1,640,961
£
—
2,567,845
1,003,330
3,571,175
548,966
1,738,960
Corporate
segment
£
—
—
—
—
—
Total
£
1,402,196
2,806,610
1,003,330
5,212,136
2,287,926
(54,706)
(88,250)
(1,344,555)
(1,487,511)
5,766
—
13,221
128,997
41,728
51,924
60,715
180,921
(48,940)
53,968
(1,250,903)
(1,245,875)
Finance costs-net
Depreciation and amortisation
Segment loss before tax for the year
(827)
(16,103)
(71,636)
(2,134)
(309,995)
230
(2,731)
(42,973)
(369,071)
(400,379)
(1,387,297)
(1,859,313)
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
45
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
4. Segmental reporting continued
Segment assets consist primarily of property, plant and equipment, intangible assets, inventories, trade and other receivables and
cash and cash equivalents. Unallocated assets comprise deferred tax assets, financial assets held at fair value through profit or loss
and derivatives. Segment liabilities comprise operating liabilities; liabilities such as deferred taxation, borrowings and derivatives are
not allocated to individual business segments.
Segment assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2020 and capital expenditure for the year then ended are as follows:
Contract assets
Other assets
Contract liabilities (deferred income)
Other liabilities
Capital expenditure – Tangible
Capital expenditure – Intangible
Intelligence
£
14,047
Cyber
£
13,700
Corporate
segment
£
—
Total
£
27,747
1,022,230
4,316,992
2,883,433
8,222,655
807,860
335,031
1,262
—
429,487
492,944
32,224
378,484
—
1,237,347
1,215,588
2,043,563
221,584
—
255,070
378,484
Segment assets and liabilities as at 31 March 2019 and capital expenditure for the year then ended are as follows:
Contract assets
Other assets
Contract liabilities (deferred income)
Other liabilities
Capital expenditure – Tangible
Capital expenditure – Intangible
Intelligence
£
Cyber
£
63,528
133,702
Corporate
segment
£
—
Total
£
197,230
2,085,245
5,252,009
2,039,553
9,376,807
679,068
267,139
2,203
76,265
430,763
665,231
54,480
673,483
—
1,109,831
388,781
1,321,151
—
—
56,683
749,748
Geographical information
The Group’s business segments operate in six geographical areas, although all are managed on a worldwide basis from the Group’s
head office in the United Kingdom.
A geographical analysis of revenue and non-current assets is given below. Revenue is allocated based on location of customer; non-
current assets are allocated based on the physical location of the asset.
Revenue by geographical location
United Kingdom
Europe
The Americas
Australasia
Middle East and Africa
Non-current assets
United Kingdom
2020
£
2019
£
4,650,608
4,301,738
508,170
329,390
191,249
171,758
448,169
289,195
78,948
94,086
5,851,175
5,212,136
2020
£
2019
£
6,001,485
5,014,425
6,001,485
5,014,425
Major customers
No customer contributed 10% or more to the Group’s revenue in 2020 (2019: nil). The highest individual customer contributed c6%
of revenues.
46
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
4. Segmental reporting continued
Contract Assets (accrued incomes) balances were £27,747 (2019: £197,230). Included in the Contract Liabilities (deferred incomes)
at the 31 March 2020 were approximately £40,926 (2019: £154,000) residual balance from prior year. All Contract Assets at the 2020
year end arose towards the end of the period and were billed and collected in the normal course of business in the next financial
year.
At 1 April
Contract
Contract
Contract
Contract
Assets
2020
£
Assets
Liabilities
Liabilities
2019
£
2020
£
2019
£
197,230
59,887
(1,109,831)
(748,479)
Transfers in the year from contract assets to trade receivables
(197,230)
(59,887)
—
—
Transfers from contract liabilities to revenue in the year
—
—
1,022,437
663,643
Amount recognised as revenue in the year not yet invoiced
27,747
197,230
—
—
Amount invoiced in advance not recognised as revenue in the
year
—
—
(1,149,953)
(1,024,995)
At 31 March
27,747
197,230
(1,237,347)
(1,109,831)
5. Highlighted costs and Adjusted EBITDA
Operating loss includes the following items which the Directors consider to be one-off in nature, non-cash expenses or necessary
elements of expenditure to derive future benefits for the Group which have not been capitalised on the consolidated statement of
financial position.
5.1 Highlighted costs
Acquisition costs
Restructuring costs
Infrastructure upgrade
Rent
Gain on furnace operations
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
2020
£
—
227,535
235,705
(75,993)
(67,074)
320,173
2019
£
16,024
164,897
—
—
—
180,921
a) Acquisition costs
Advisory and introduction costs incurred on acquisition of subsidiaries not capitalised.
b) Restructuring costs
Cost of corporate development and professional services associated with the restructuring. Prior year cost related to cost of
restructuring the key management including severance payment and transition costs for integration of acquired subsidiary (First
Base). This did not include any impact of COVID-19.
c) Infrastructure upgrade
Cost of technology, infrastructure and upgrade of applications for internal use and customer delivery.
d) Rent
Re-instatement of accounting charge in respect of rental payments on the Reading lease not reflected under IFRS 16. There were
no leases in 2019 which IFRS16 was applicable to and hence no adjustment was reflected.
e) Gain on furnace operations
Gain on the spin out of furnace IP disposed of in the year (refer to note 11).
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
47
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
5. Highlighted costs and Adjusted EBITDA continued
5.2 Adjusted EBITDA
Operating loss
Depreciation and amortisation
Impairment of Furnace investment
EBITDA
Share option expense
Highlighted costs (note 5.1)
Adjusted EBITDA
6. Operating loss
Operating loss for the year is stated after charging the following:
Depreciation of owned property, plant and equipment
Amortisation of right of use asset
Amortisation and impairment of intangible fixed assets
Impairment of investment in Furnace
Operating lease rentals – Land & Buildings
Share based payment expense
Foreign exchange loss
R&D tax credit
7. Auditors’ remuneration
During the year the Group obtained the following services from the Company’s auditors:
Remuneration receivable by the Company’s auditors for the audit of consolidated and
Company financial statements
Remuneration receivable by the Company’s auditors and its associates for the supply of other
services to the Company and its associates, including remuneration for the audit of the
financial statements of the Company’s subsidiaries:
– the audit of the Company’s subsidiaries pursuant to legislation
– tax services
8. Employee benefit expense
Wages and salaries, including termination benefits
Social security costs
Other pension costs
Share options granted to employees
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
2020
£
2019
£
(2,855,076)
(1,856,582)
482,675
260,000
369,071
—
(2,112,401)
(1,487,511)
228,366
320,173
60,715
180,921
(1,563,862)
(1,245,875)
2020
£
83,654
77,195
318,181
260,000
124,461
228,366
14,118
(74,516)
2019
£
75,526
—
293,546
—
180,193
60,715
4,587
(96,000)
2020
£
2019
£
17,500
17,500
38,500
6,000
62,000
30,500
6,000
54,000
2020
£
2019
£
4,047,628
3,951,007
425,516
95,612
231,325
435,292
57,773
60,715
4,800,081
4,504,787
48
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
8. Employee benefit expense continued
The average monthly number of employees, including Directors, employed by the Group during the year was:
2020
2019
Operations
Development team
Sales and marketing
Administration and management
Directors’ emoluments
Emoluments, including benefits in kind
Pension costs
The emoluments of the highest paid Director were as follows:
Emoluments, including benefits in kind
Pension costs
The Directors consider that the only key management personnel of the Group are the Directors only.
9. Finance income and costs
Interest receivable
Interest payable – IFRS 16
Interest payable – other
Net finance expense recognised in profit/(loss)
10. Income tax expense
Current tax
Current tax on loss for the year
Over provision in prior year
Total current tax
Deferred tax
Deferred tax credit for the year
Total deferred tax
Income tax expense / (credit)
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
50
2
12
17
81
2020
£
367,209
2,924
370,133
2020
£
125,882
1,754
127,636
2020
£
2,100
(24,275)
(1,754)
(23,929)
2020
£
—
2,323
2,323
—
—
2,323
42
4
10
16
72
2019
£
508,333
1,612
509,945
2019
£
173,333
—
173,333
2019
£
1,526
—
(4,257)
(2,731)
2019
£
—
1,494
1,494
(29,936)
(29,936)
(28,442)
49
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
10. Income expense continued
The parent Company is resident in the UK for tax purposes together with certain subsidiaries. Other subsidiaries are resident in
foreign tax jurisdictions; however, no group company currently has taxable profits.
Potential deferred tax asset
The extent to which deferred tax assets can be recognised is based on an assessment of the probability of the Group’s future taxable
income against which the deferred tax assets can be utilised. This is based on projected forecasts and budgets which are reviewed
by the Directors and judgement is made as to whether the deferred tax asset can be recognised. At 31 March 2020, a deferred tax
asset has not been recognised (2019: £nil). Accumulated tax losses (subject to HMRC) agreement stood at approximately £12.9m
(2019: £10.9m). No asset in respect of these losses has been recognised.
The tax charge for the year is different from the standard rate of corporation tax in the United Kingdom of 19% (2019: 19%). The
difference can be reconciled as follows:
Loss before tax
2020
£
2019
£
(2,879,005)
(1,859,313)
Tax calculated at the applicable rate based on the loss for the year 19% (2019: 19%)
(547,011)
(353,269)
Tax effects of:
Creation of tax losses
Expenses not deductible for tax purposes
Non taxable income
Deferred tax not recognised
Current tax on loss for the year
11. Disposal of IP
414,304
102,584
(21,975)
52,098
—
278,064
21,535
—
53,670
—
During the year, the Board took the decision to dispose of the business assets of Furnace, a pre-revenue component of the Group.
The component was sold on 19 December 2019.
Details of the sale of Furnace
Consideration received or receivable:
Loan receivable
20% share capital in Furnace Technologies Limited (“Furnace Technologies”)
Total disposal consideration
Carrying amount of net assets sold
Gain on sale before income tax
Income tax expense on gain
Gain on sale after income tax
Note
18
17
2020
£
1,100,000
600,000
1,700,000
(1,641,334)
58,666
—
58,666
In the event that Furnace is sold on during the five years following the initial sale, the Group will receive an additional variable amount
of consideration not exceeding 20% of the proceeds of a sale in the first 12 months, amortising down to zero over the remaining four
years.
The Group have assessed the likelihood of Furnace being sold on in the next 5 years, alongside the projected cashflows and
estimated fair value of the company and have concluded that the likelihood of a sale occurring in which a profit is realised and inflow
of economic resources occurs is not probable. The Group have therefore not disclosed a contingent consideration asset.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
50
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
11. Disposal of IP continued
The carrying amounts of assets and liabilities as at the date of the sale (19 December 2019) were:
Goodwill
Research and Development
Working capital
NBV of tangible fixed assets
Carrying amount of net assets sold
12. Basic and diluted earnings per share
19 December 2019
£
174,366
1,378,702
80,000
8,266
1,641,334
Basic loss per share is calculated by dividing the loss attributable to equity holders of the Company by the weighted average number
of ordinary shares in issue during the year. There are no dilutive share options at present as these would currently increase the loss
per share.
2020
2019
Loss from continuing operations attributable to equity holders of the Company
(2,881,328)
(1,830,371)
Total basic and diluted loss per share (pence per share)
(0.72)
(0.58)
Weighted average number of shares used as the denominator
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used as the denominator in the calculating
basic earnings per share
2020
2019
400,401,185
313,614,123
Diluted earnings per share is calculated by adjusting the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue to assume the
conversion of all dilutive potential ordinary shares. The Company’s dilutive potential ordinary shares arise from warrants and share
options. In respect of the warrants, a calculation is performed to determine the number of shares that could have been acquired at
fair value, based upon the monetary value of the subscription rights attached to the outstanding warrants. The number of shares
calculated as above is compared with the number of shares that would have been issued assuming the exercise of the warrants.
At 31 March 2020, the potentially dilutive ordinary shares were anti-dilutive because the Group was loss-making. The basic and
diluted earnings per share as presented on the face of the income statement are therefore identical. All earnings per share figures
presented above arise from continuing and total operations and, therefore, no earnings per share for discontinued operations is
presented. If the placing and subscription announced on 29 September 2020 had taken place on 1 April 2019, loss per share would
have been reduced to 0.55p.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
51
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
13. Share based payment
The Company operates share-based payment arrangements to remunerate Directors and key employees in the form of a share
option scheme. Vesting of the options is conditional on the completion of three years’ service from the date of grant of the options
(the vesting period) as well as share price performance. Most options vest on change of control such as an acquisition of the
Company. The exercise price of the option is normally equal to the market price of an ordinary share in the Company at the date of
grant. The options may be exercised over periods ranging from one to ten years from the date of grant and lapse if not exercised by
that date
At 1 April
Granted
Granted
Granted
Forfeited
Forfeited
Forfeited
At 31 March
2020
Average exercise
price (pence)
6.13
1.925
—
—
7.38
5.00
3.50
4.55
2019
Average exercise
price (pence)
7.25
3.50
5.00
7.125
6.13
5.00
4.00
6.13
Options
31,838,100
13,550,000
4,249,999
2,000,000
(150,000)
(2,500,000)
(33,333)
48,954,766
Options
48,954,766
30,000,000
—
—
(50,000)
(2,918,367)
(2,500,000)
73,486,399
Share options outstanding at the end of the year have the following expiry date and exercise prices:
Expiry date
28 July 2024
2 June 2025
16 May 2026
30 September 2026
7 October 2026
24 January 2027
3 July 2027
17 July 2027
22 August 2027
19 September 2027
20 November 2027
14 March 2028
17 July 2028
7 January 2029
24 September 2029
1 November 2029
Exercise price (pence)
2020
2019
Shares
44.5
14.5
4.13
4.00
5.00
5.875
7.125
6.50
6.13
7.38
5.13
5.00
5.0
3.50
1.925
1.925
1,699,440
1,699,440
100,000
605,326
266,667
1,000,000
1,933,334
2,000,000
500,000
1,000,000
150,000
200,000
100,000
605,326
266,667
1,000,000
1,933,334
2,000,000
500,000
1,000,000
200,000
200,000
21,650,000
21,650,000
1,331,632
11,050,000
28,500,000
1,500,000
4,249,999
13,550,000
—
—
73,486,399
48,954,766
At the balance sheet date, the average life outstanding on options was 7.57 years (2019: 8.93 years). All options had a 10-year life
from date of grant. All options outstanding at the relevant period ends had price-based vesting criteria which had not been achieved
and were therefore unvested.
During the year 30,000,000 share options were granted. They were granted under the rules of the EMI scheme, and where an
individual grant does not fall within HMRC EMI rules they are granted as an unapproved option which will typically be subject to PAYE
and NI.
30,000,000 share options were granted at 1.925p. All options are exercisable between 1 April 2020 and 1 November 2029. They vest
in three tranches: the first tranche immediately exercisable, the second tranche when the share price reaches 2.89p (50% above
exercise price for 1 month) and the third tranche when the share price reaches 3.85p (100% above exercise price for 1 month), save
for the event of a change of control in the Company, in which case they will vest in full.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
52
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
13. Share based payment continued
The weighted average fair value of the 30,000,00 (2019: 17,799,999) options granted during the year was determined using the
Monte Carlo option pricing model. This resulted in a cost of 1.75 pence per option and £1.70 pence per options for the options granted
in September 2019 and November 2019 respectively (2019: 0.84p). The significant inputs to the model were exercise price as shown
above, an expected option life between 2.25 years and 3.08 years, expected volatility of 63% (2019: 70%) and a risk-free rate of
return estimated between 0.68% (2019: 1.02%) and 0.86% (2019: 0.92%). The volatility is based on analysis of the volatility of the
company’s historical share price. At 31 March 2020 10,000,000 of the 1.925p options were vested but not were exercisable.
The total share-based payment expense recognised in the income statement in respect of employee share options granted to
Directors and employees is £228,366 (2019: £103,476).
14. Property, plant and equipment
Cost
At 1 April 2019
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2020
Depreciation
At 1 April 2019
Charge for the year
Released on disposal
At 31 March 2020
Net book value
At 31 March 2020
Cost
At 1 April 2018
Additions through business combinations
Additions
At 31 March 2019
Depreciation
At 1 April 2018
B/fwd through business combinations
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2019
Net book value
At 31 March 2019
Leasehold
Improvements
£
Fixtures
and fittings
£
Computer
equipment
£
Total
£
—
143,823
—
143,823
—
16,779
—
16,779
66,401
9,631
(43,917)
32,115
45,199
12,929
(43,917)
14,211
257,158
25,683
323,559
179,137
(161,597)
(205,514)
121,244
297,182
166,508
211,707
57,592
87,300
(153,331)
(197,248)
70,769
101,759
127,044
17,904
50,475
195,423
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
62,948
—
3,453
66,401
32,293
—
12,906
45,199
203,928
266,876
5,432
47,798
257,158
102,039
1,849
62,620
166,508
5,432
51,251
323,559
134,332
1,849
75,526
211,707
21,202
90,650
111,852
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
53
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
15. Intangible assets
Cost
At 1 April 2019
Additions
Disposals
At 31 March 2020
Goodwill
Software and Website
Development
Customer
Total
brand licences
costs
costs
relationships
£
£
£
£
£
£
2,078,538
916,301
1,029,554
2,613,308
6,721,300
—
(174,366)
1,904,172
83,599
29,336
—
—
349,148
—
(1,378,702)
916,301
112,935
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 April 2019
53,438
916,301
Amortisation charge for year
Impairment in the year
At 31 March 2020
Net book value
At 31 March 2020
—
—
—
—
9,382
27,391
—
53,438
916,301
36,773
1,850,734
—
76,162
—
—
378,484
(1,553,068)
2,613,308
5,546,716
355,606
1,334,727
290,789
318,180
—
—
646,395
1,652,907
1,966,913
3,893,809
—
—
—
—
—
—
At 1 April 2018
1,021,992
916,301
IFRS 3 re-measurement
Additions
926,199
130,347
—
At 31 March 2019
2,078,538
916,301
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 April 2018
Amortisation charge for year
At 31 March 2019
53,438
—
53,438
912,743
3,558
916,301
—
83,599
83,599
—
9,382
9,382
Net book value at 31 March 2019
2,025,100
—
74,217
652,145
2,915,000
5,505,438
(460,085)
377,409
158,393
466,114
749,748
1,029,554
2,613,308
6,721,300
—
—
—
1,029,554
75,000
1,041,181
280,606
293,546
355,606
1,334,727
2,257,702
5,386,573
15.1 Goodwill
As detailed in note 2.8 to the consolidated financial statements, the Directors test goodwill annually for impairment by calculating the
value in use of each cash generating unit using discounted cash flow techniques and comparing it to the carrying amount of goodwill.
In the previous year ended 31 March 2019, and as required under IFRS 3, the allocation of the fair value of the purchase consideration
across the tangible and intangible assets acquired on 23 March 2018 was reassessed within 12 months of purchase. The main
changes were around the discount rate used which was increased from 12.75% to 15.00% and also adjustments made to reflect the
value of an assembled workforce and full tax charges (ignoring the Group’s £10.9m of tax losses). This resulted in a reduction in the
potential value of the acquired customer base from £2.84m as originally recorded to £2.37m. This is shown as an adjustment on
opening balances in the tabular note above
The Directors have undertaken an impairment review of the goodwill at the reporting date relating to the acquisition of Falanx Cyber
Defence Limited, the trade and assets of First Base Technologies LLP and Securestorm Limited.
Goodwill on acquisition of Falanx Cyber Defence, the trade and assets of First Base Technologies LLP and Securestorm Limited,
relates to the professional services line of business brought in to enhance the Cyber division’s service offering. As of 1 April 2019,
the operations of all the entities have been amalgamated into Falanx Cyber Defence Limited to streamline operations.
The purchase of Cloudified Limited led to the development of the Group’s technology platform Project Furnace which was disposed
of in December 2019 and further detailed in note 11.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
54
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
15. Intangible assets continued
Analysis of development cost and goodwill allocated to the Cyber segment:
Project Furnace
Professional cyber security services
Total
2020
£
—
1,850,734
1,875,734
2019
£
1,203,920
1,850,734
3,054,654
a) Recoverability of development costs – Project Furnace
The intangible asset created from the R&D investment in Project Furnace was disposed of on 19 December 2019, see note 11
Disposal of IP above. Other development costs relate to items which were not yet ready for market at the balance sheet date.
b) Other elements of Cyber Segment
The recoverable amount of the CGU is based on fair value less costs of disposal estimated using discontinued cash flows. The
measurement was categorised as Level 3 on the inputs used in the valuation technique.
The cash generating unit’s value in use has been assessed using the following assumptions:
Discount rate
Average forecast EBITDA growth next 5 years
Growth rate 5-10 years
Perpetuity thereafter
15%
7%
10%
10%
15%
7%
10%
10%
In determining value in use, the Directors have prepared financial and business forecasts. These forecasts indicate growth rates that
increase by various rates throughout the 10-year forecast period (excluding any periods beyond this). The discount rate applied is an
estimate based on industry weighted average cost of capital.
Goodwill of First Base has been evaluated by reviewing similar inputs save for growth scenario reflecting current growth rates of 10%
over the 10-year horizon to reflect overall growth in the asset from new customers, and then comparing the excess of the NPV of
future cash flows to the overall intangible including the customer relationships asset. This testing indicates that NPV will be less than
carrying value if a discount rate in excess of 24% is used.
The estimated recoverable amount of the CGU exceeded its carrying amount (including developments costs and customer
relationship intangibles) by £2.4m (2019: £0.4m) The Directors have prepared a sensitivity analysis which shows that scenarios
including:
•
•
an increase in the discount rate from 15% to 26%
a reversal of a growth rate of +10% to a net shrinkage of -1%. Recent Cyber security industry statistics indicated growth
rates of 10-15% CAGR being expected
a fall in expected net EBTIDA contribution from 35% of revenues to 24% of revenues
•
would result in the value in use falling below the carrying value but do not consider these likely so no adjustment is reflected.
Following the impairment review the Directors do not consider that the carrying value of goodwill detailed above is impaired at the
reporting date.
15.2 Customer relationships
The customer relationships intangible assets arise on the acquisition of subsidiaries when accounted for as a business combination
and relate to the expected value to be derived from contracted and non-contractual relationships. These customer assets are valued
on a value in use basis. The value placed on the contractual customer relationships, as per the third-party valuation carried out, is
based on the expected cash revenue inflows over the estimated remaining life of each existing contract. The value placed on the
non-contractual customer relationships is based on past revenue performance by virtue of the customer relationships; but using the
0.82% average annual attrition rate since acquisition in March 2018. Associated cash outflows have been based on historically
achieved margins. The net cash flows are discounted at a rate of 15% which the Directors consider is commensurate with the risks
associated with capturing returns from customer relationships and reflects the group’s WACC. This is further described in note 3 to
these accounts.
The Directors consider that the period expected to benefit in respect of the customer relationships acquired with the trade and assets
of First Base Technologies LLP is ten years. The Directors consider that the period expected to benefit in respect of the customer
relationships acquired with Securestorm Limited is three years as it is a smaller and newer business than First Base and has a
significant level of customer concentration.
55
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
15. Intangible assets continued
Whilst certain sales orders received by the business fell in the first few months of the financial year ended 31 March 2021 this is due
to the ongoing COVID-19 situation. Orders fell in March, April and May but have been since recovering well and further growth is
expected from new and old clients. This growth has been reflected in the overall assessment of the intangibles (both goodwill and
customer list) and more than supports their carrying values against a range of sensitivity tests carried out around expected growth
rates and discount rates. The following other sensitivities have been applied to the determination of the value of the customer base.
This was carried out by a multi period excess earnings model and was based on a 10-year horizon. A stress test has been carried
out on the same basis as the overall going concern testing which assumes that there is no recovery in cyber consulting revenues
until 1 April 2022 and this shows that there is still sufficient headroom. This assumes that post the COVID-19 scenario Cyber revenues
return to their previous growth rate of c15%.
Growth rate (long term economic average) 1.5% (achieved growth rate c15%)
EBITDA Margin
Return on Workforce
Tax Rate
24.0 - 35.0%
1.81%
17-19%
A similar analysis has been carried out on the intangibles arising from the purchase of Securestorm Limited in July 2018. This has
generated a customer intangible of £0.16m and a goodwill balance of £0.1m. The customer base will be amortised on a straight-line
basis over a period of 3 years due to high customer concentration (although the main customer is under a multi-year contract which
has recently renewed in July 2020) and relatively short existence (founded 2014).
Similar tests to those performed on the First Base intangibles have been applied to the intangibles arising from this transaction and
no impairment of goodwill has been identified. An analysis has been conducted which shows that the NPV of the customer bases
commences to fall below the carrying value when a discount rate of 24% is used.
16. Right of use assets
Cost
At 1 April 2019
Additions
At 31 March 2020
Amortisation and impairment
At 1 April 2019
Amortisation charge for year
At 31 March 2020
Net book value
At 31 March 2020
This asset relates to the Reading office lease, refer to note 27.
2020
£
2019
£
—
549,448
549,448
—
77,195
77,195
472,253
—
—
—
—
—
—
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
56
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
17. Investments with fair value through profit and loss
Opening balance
Additions
Impairment
Closing balance at 31 March 2020
2020
2019
£
—
600,000
(260,000)
340,000
£
—
—
—
—
On 19 December 2019, the Group disposed of the business and assets of Furnace. The total consideration received was £1,700,000,
which included the issue and allotment of 20% of the share capital in Furnace Technologies, the buyer’s company. The equity value
at completion was £600,000. In April 2020 Furnace Technologies received an external equity investment of £30,000 at the same
valuation.
The Group are satisfied that it does not have a significant influence over Furnace Technologies and have recognised the shareholding
as a financial asset. At the reporting date, the Group continued to hold 20% in Furnace Technologies. The Group consider the carrying
value of the asset satisfactory at 31 March 2020 and no fair value adjustment is required.
18. Loan Receivable
Loan receivable from Furnace Technologies Ltd
2020
£
1,100,000
1,100,000
2019
£
—
—
On 19 December 2019, the Board disposed of the business and assets of Furnace. The total consideration received was £1,700,000,
partly funded by the way of an unsecured loan note for £1,100,000 to Furnace Technologies Ltd, the buyer. The loan note has a five-
year term and carries a 5% coupon.
The Group are satisfised that the loan has been recognised at fair value in line with the requirements of IFRS 9 and are satisfied that
the loan interest of 5% represents a market rate.
The Loan together with all accrued interest is repayable on the earlier of the following circumstances:
•
•
•
•
if the Borrower reaches an enterprise value (as determined by subsequent financing rounds of the Borrower) of £16 million
and the Seller may request a valuation of the Borrower (at the Borrower's expense) to determine the enterprise value at any
time after the third anniversary of the date of this Agreement;
an Event of Default occurs; or
a Change of Control of the Borrower occurs (and for these purposes “Control” means the beneficial ownership of more than
50% of the issued share capital of the Borrower or the legal power to direct or cause the direction of the general management
of the Borrower, and the expression “Change of Control” shall be construed accordingly)
the 19th December 2024
Furnace is currently undergoing an investment round and it is possible that within 12 months of the balance sheet date that it could
achieve an enterprise value of £16m or greater.
Therefore, Group is satisfised that the loan has been recognised at fair value in line with the requirements of IFRS 9 and is satisfied
that the loan interest of 5% represents a market rate and therefore it is valued at an amortised cost.
The Directors have completed high-level analysis, which considers both qualitative and quantitative information, including reviewing
shareholder quarterly reports received from Furnace management, to determine if the loan receivable is low credit risk. The Directors
have concluded that there has not been an increase in credit risk since the loan was initially granted. Estimations regarding the credit
risk of Furnace Technologies Ltd and the underlying probability of a default were deemed low as Furnace management have prepared
a 3-year business plan. It has therefore been concluded that no ECL is necessary at 30 March 2020.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
57
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
19. Inventories
Finished goods
20. Trade and other receivables
Trade receivables - gross
Allowance for credit losses
Trade receivables
Contract assets
Other receivables
Prepayments
Trade and other receivables are stated at amortised cost.
21. Cash and cash equivalents
Cash and cash equivalents in statement of cash flows
22. Share capital
Allotted, called up and fully paid at 1 April
New shares issued
Allotted, called up and fully paid at 31 March
2020
£
—
—
2020
£
2019
£
3,828
3,828
2019
£
1,536,775
1,181,433
(2,800)
(2,800)
1,533,975
1,178,633
27,747
331,897
276,016
197,230
261,957
474,277
2,169,635
2,112,097
2020
£
2019
£
79,282
2,443,686
2020
2019
Number of
shares
400,401,185
—
400,401,185
Nil par value
—
—
—
Number of
shares
259,678,964
140,722,221
400,401,185
Nil par value
—
—
—
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
58
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
22. Share capital (continued)
At 31 March 2020 a total of 14,780,001 warrants issued to various shareholders remained outstanding. No residual value has been
allocated to the warrants as the issue price of the subscribed shares equated to their fair values. Of the total amount, 4,196,667
warrants had a 3 year time to expiry condition at the time of issue, 4,583,334 warrants had a 5 year time to expiry condition at the
time of issue and the remaining 4,500,000 had an exercise period ending 36 months after each vesting period at the time of issue.
Expiry
4 May 2019
10 May 2019*
15 January 2021
15 January 2021
15 January 2021
6 March 2021
23 March 2021
5 May 2021
M D Read**
Exercise price (pence)
6.0
6.0
10.0
15.0
20.0
4.50
4.50
6.0
Warrants
2020
—
—
250,000
250,000
250,000
2,646,667
800,000
4,583,334
8,780,001
6,000,000
2019
24,156,250
2,125,000
250,000
250,000
250,000
2,646,667
800,000
4,583,334
35,061,251
6,000,000
14,780,001
41,061,251
* Of the total warrants expired in 2019 with an exercise price of 6 pence, 1,250,000 were held by M D Read.
** The 6,000,000 warrants have an exercise period ending 36 months after each vesting period. Vesting is conditional on the share
price being equal to or greater than the relevant minimum share price during each corresponding vesting period. The warrants shall
vest in 4 tranches as set out below:
Vesting period
Proportion of warrant shares
Minimum
share
price
The first period of 6 months commencing on 22 August 2016 (“First Vesting
Period”)
25% (equivalent to 1,500,000
4 pence
warrant shares)
A second period of 6 months immediately following the expiry of the First
Vesting Period (“Second Vesting Period”)
25% (equivalent to 1,500,000
10 pence
warrant shares)
A third period of 6 months immediately following the expiry of the Second
Vesting Period (“Third Vesting Period”)
25% (equivalent to 1,500,000
15 pence
warrant shares)
A fourth period of 6 months immediately following the expiry of the Third
Vesting Period (“Fourth Vesting Period”)
25% (equivalent to 1,500,000
20 pence
warrant shares)
23. Reconciliation of share capital
At 1 April
Premium on issue of nil par value ordinary shares
Costs of share issues
At 31 March
2020
£
17,903,427
—
—
17,903,427
2019
£
13,868,734
4,255,000
(220,307)
17,903,427
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
59
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
24. Retained earnings
At 1 April
Loss for the year
At 31 March
25. Deferred taxation
Group
Balance at 1 April
(Expense)/Credit to income statement
Deferred tax liability recognised through business combinations
Utilisation of tax losses
Balance at 31 March
The deferred tax liability represents:
Accelerated capital allowances
2020
£
2019
£
(10,526,752)
(8,695,881)
(2,881,328)
(1,830,871)
(13,408,080)
(10,526,752)
2020
£
(7,593)
(1,936)
—
—
(9,529)
2019
£
(9,529)
1,936
(28,000)
28,000
(7,593)
2020
£
2019
£
(9,529)
(7,593)
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured at the tax rates that are expected to apply to the period when the asset is realised or
the liability is settled, based on the tax rates (and tax law) that have been enacted or substantively enacted by the reporting date.
The above deferred tax liability was calculated based on the expected UK corporation tax rate of 19% (2019: 19%), being the rate,
which is expected to apply in the future when the liability is settled. The Group has losses of c£12.9m (subject to HMRC agreement),
available to offset against future taxable profits. A deferred tax asset has not been recognised on these losses due to the uncertainty
of sufficient future taxable profits against which the losses can be utilised.
26. Trade and other payables
Trade payables
Other payables
Taxation and social security
Accruals
2020
£
781,168
53,500
499,246
261,936
2019
£
680,441
30,484
411,706
190,927
1,595,850
1,313,558
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
60
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
27. Lease liability
Nature of leasing activities
In July 2019 the Company entered into a lease for premises in Reading primarily for the SOC of Falanx Cyber. This was done after
an extensive review of the optimal position to locate the Cyber Security Operations Centre (SOC) from an access to relevant skills
perspective and to help the overall expansion of the business. This premises will be operationally leveraged for maximum utilisation.
This has been recognised under IFRS 16. Leases exempt from IFRS 16 include rentals payable by the Group and its subsidiaries for
the office premises at Five Kings House in London (expired 8 March 2020), Fazeley Studios in Birmingham (expired 31 August 2019),
King Business Centre in Hassocks (expired 24 March 2020) and a serviced office at the Leeming Building in Leeds (lapsed 31
January 2020) respectively.
The Group at the date of this report only has one property lease and this is for the Reading office which is now the Group’s registered
office.
Lease terms are negotiated on an individual basis and contains separate terms and conditions.
Number of active leases
Lease liability at year end
Non-current
Lease liability
Current
Lease liability
Total Lease liability
Analysis of lease liability
At 1 April 2019
Additions
Interest expense
Lease payments
At 31 March 2020
Analysis of gross value of
liabilities
lease
Maturity of the lease liabilities is analysed
as follows:
Within 1 year
Later than 1 year and less than 5 years
At 31 March 2020
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
2020
1
2019
4
2020
£
2019
£
348,872
348,872
89,312
89,312
438,184
—
438,516
24,275
(24,607)
438,184
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
—
2020
2019
89,937
348,872
438,809
122,239
625
123,864
61
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
28. Subsidiaries
The Company holds more than 50% of the share capital of the following companies:
Country of
Name
incorporation
Nature of business
Falanx Cyber Defence Limited
England and Wales
Cyber defence solution
Falanx Cyber Holdings Limited
England and Wales
defence
Cyber
solution,
becoming dormant with all assets
liabilities
being
transferred
to Falanx Cyber
Defence Limited
trade
and
First Base Technologies (London) Limited England and Wales
defence
Cyber
solution,
becoming dormant with all assets
and liabilities and trade being
transferred
to Falanx Cyber
Defence Limited
Securestorm Limited
England and Wales
security
consultancy,
Cyber
becoming dormant with all assets
liabilities
being
transferred
to Falanx Cyber
Defence Limited
trade
and
Falanx Cyber Technologies Limited
England and Wales
Research and development
Falanx Cyber Defence Spain S.L.
Spain
Cloudified Limited
England and Wales
Falanx Assynt Limited
England and Wales
In process of liquidation as no
longer needed
Software development in
telecommunications, security and
data analytics, becoming
dormant
Business intelligence
consultancy
Falanx Group US LLC
United States
America
of
Business intelligence
consultancy
FG Consulting Services DMCC
United Arab Emirates Management consultancy
Stirling Risk (Asia) Limited
Hong Kong
Provision of risk assessments and
investigation services
Falanx Protection Limited
Penetration Testing Ltd
British Virgin Islands Dormant
England and Wales
Dormant
Proportion of shares
Shares held by parent
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
100%
29. Financial instruments
The Group is exposed through its operations to one or more of the following financial risks that arise from its use of financial
instruments. A risk management programme has been established to protect the Group against the potential adverse effects of these
financial risks.
Market risk
The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments are liquidity risk, credit risk and foreign currency risk. The Directors
regularly review and agree policies for managing each of these risks and are set out in the subsections below. The totals for each
category of financial instruments and the carrying amounts, measured in accordance with IFRS 9 as detailed in the policies, are as
follows:
Financial assets
Loan Receivabale
Trade and other receivables
Cash and cash equivalents
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
2020
£
1,100,000
1,865,872
79,282
3,045,154
2019
£
—
1,440,590
2,443,686
3,884,276
62
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
29. Financial instruments continued
Financial liabilities
Trade and other payables
Lease liability
Accruals
2020
£
834,668
438,184
261,936
1,534,788
2019
£
710,925
—
190,927
901,852
Liquidity risk
Liquidity risk is the risk that the Group will encounter difficulty in meeting these obligations associated with financial liabilities.
The responsibility for liquidity risks management rests with the Board of Directors, which has established an appropriate liquidity risk
management framework for the management of the Group's short term and long-term funding and liquidity requirements.
The Group manages liquidity risks by maintaining adequate reserves by continuously monitoring monthly expected forecasts and
actual cash flows, and by matching the maturity profiles of financial assets and liabilities.
The trade, lease liability and other payables maturity profile, based on contractual undiscounted cash flows, of the Group is as follows:
Trade and other payables due in:
Less than one month
One month to six months
Six months to one year
Greater than one year
Total
2020
£
2019
£
612,305
101,577
210,098
348,872
510,113
—
200,812
—
1,272,852
710,925
The Company has sufficient working capital to meet these liabilities as they fall due.
Credit risk
Credit risk is the risk that a counterparty will cause a financial loss to the Group by failing to discharge its obligation to the Group.
The Group manages its exposure to this risk by applying Board approved limits to the amount of credit exposure to anyone
counterparty and employs strict minimum credit worthiness criteria as to the choice of counter-party thereby ensuring that there are
no significant concentrations of credit risk. The average credit period is 30 days from date of invoice, but non-standard terms may be
agreed with certain larger or strategic customers. The bulk of the Group’s cash assets were held with HSBC and the Board has
considered the associated risk as minimal. On average 50% of the Cyber business is billed in advance of the service and circa 70%
of the Assynt business is billed in advance. This significantly reduces our credit risk.
The carrying amount of financial assets represents the maximum credit exposure; therefore, the maximum exposure to credit risk at
the statement of financial position date was £3,045,154 (2019: £3,884,276). The amount represents the total of the carrying amount
of current assets.
The maximum amount exposure to credit risk for trade receivables at the statement of financial position date was £1,536,775 (2019:
£1,181,433). As at the date of signing these financial statements, the Group does not expect to incur material credit losses of its
financial assets or other financial instruments and therefore credit exposure is considered minimal.
As at 31 March 2020, trade receivables past due for the Group totalled £345,800 (2019: £288,805) of which £2,800 (2019: £2,800)
have been impaired. As at 31 March 2020, trade receivables past due but not impaired are as follows:
Up to 3 months
3 months to 6 months
Expected credit loss provision at 31 March
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
2020
£
330,300
12,700
343,000
2019
£
285,424
581
286,005
63
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
29. Financial instruments continued
The provision of £2,800 is against a specific item and no incidence of bad debt has been recorded between the balance sheet date
and the date of this report and the overdue receivables have been collected in the usual course of business.
Credit quality of financial assets
The Group’s credit risk is mainly attributable to trade receivables. The Group’s customers are spread across a wide range of industries
and service sectors and consequently the Group is not exposed to material concentrations of credit risk on trade receivables with
there being a preponderance of blue-chip companies.
The credit quality of financial assets is assessed by reference to external credit ratings (if available) or to historical information about
counterparty default rates:
The Group applies IFRS 9 simplified approach to measure expected losses using a lifetime expected credit loss provision for trade
receivables and contract assets. The expected loss rates are based on a view of forward-looking information as well as the Group’s
historical credit losses experienced in a two-year period.
There is no indication of non repayment of the Furnace loan of £1.1m at the date of this report. This will be kept under regular review
for its ability to be repaid and evidence of any credit risk.
A reconciliation of the movement in the impairment allowance for trade receivables is a shown below:
Provision for bad and doubtful debts at 1 April
Amount released
Amount provided
Expected credit loss provision at 31 March
2020
£
2,800
—
—
2,800
2019
£
8,000
(8,000)
2,800
2,800
Foreign currency risk
The Group has limited exposure to foreign currency risk. More than {97%} of revenue and associated activity is generated and settled
in the functional (and presentational) currency of the respective group entities. More than 80% of Group revenue is earned from the
UK market in sterling with the balance earned in USD, Euro, Hong Kong dollars and Emirati Dirham. The Group’s investment in
foreign operations exposes it to foreign currency risk on the net assets of subsidiaries denominated in these currencies. However,
the risk is currently low because the underlying net assets held in the non-UK parts of the Group are low.
A ten percent weakening of sterling against the relevant currencies for example, would decrease the loss by £2,215 (2019: increase
by £8,847) in the coming year and would decrease equity by £15,902 (2019: increase by £11,980).
The Group currently does not utilise swaps or forward contracts to manage its currency exposures, although such facilities are
considered and may be used where appropriate in the future.
30. Capital risk management
Total capital managed in the Group is the shareholders’ funds as shown in the statement of financial position.
The Group aims to manage its overall capital to ensure that it continues to operate as a going concern, whilst providing an adequate
return to its shareholders.
The Group set the amount of capital in proportion to its overall financing structure, i.e. equity and financial liabilities. The Group
manages the capital structure and makes adjustments to it in the light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics
of the underlying assets. In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to
shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debts.
The Group is not subject to any externally imposed capital requirements.
Other risks management
The Group operations expose it to a variety of financial risks that include the effects of changes in interest rates, liquidity risk and
credit risk. Given the size of the Group, the Directors have not delegated the responsibility of monitoring financial risk management
to a sub-committee of the Board. The policies set by the Board of Directors are implemented by the Group’s finance department.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
64
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
31. Pension
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme in accordance with the Government Directive on Work Place Pensions.
The total contributions for the year were £95,612 (2019: £57,773).
32. Capital and Financial commitments
The Group had no capital or financial commitments in any of the periods presented.
33. Control
No ultimate party controls Falanx Group Limited.
34. Related party transactions
•
In December 2019 the Group disposed of part of its interest in the Furnace IP development to Furnace Technologies Limited,
a company founded by John Blamire, a former director of the Group. Mr Blamire stepped down from the board at that point.
The Board viewed that whilst there was a strong potential market opportunity for Furnace, but determined that Furnace,
which was and still is pre-revenue and loss making, is non-core to Falanx's cyber services market. Furnace had consumed
approximately £0.4m of cash resources in the financial year up to its disposal in December 2019.
Falanx sold the business and assets of Furnace for a sale price of £1.1m, to be funded by way of an unsecured loan note,
plus the issue and allotment to Falanx of 20% of the shares in Furnace Technologies Limited. The loan note has a five-year
term and carries a 5% coupon. Furthermore, in the event that Furnace is sold during the five years following the initial sale
by Falanx, Falanx will receive an additional 20% of the proceeds of a sale in the first 12 months, amortising down to zero
over the remaining four years. Falanx also benefits from certain accelerated loan repayment arrangements in the event of
a sale or change of control in Furnace. This resulted in a reclassification of Falanx's current R&D and other intangibles to
investments.
• Mr Blamire did not participate in board meetings concerning this and was kept offside. The sale of Furnace to Furnace
Technologies Limited, a company in which John Blamire is a substantial shareholder and director, was a related party
transaction pursuant to rule 13 of the AIM Rules for Companies. Accordingly, the Directors of Falanx (excluding John
Blamire) having consulted with the Company's nominated adviser, Stifel, and considered that the terms of the transaction
are fair and reasonable insofar as the Company's shareholders are concerned. Mr Blamire waived his contract of
employment at that point and entered into a compromise agreement under which further no monies were payable (save for
routine expenses) and he was allowed to keep his share options until June 2020.
•
Falanx Group Limited provided head office and management services to subsidiary companies and supported them with
working capital during the year ended 31 March 2020 and in total advanced £0.6m to its subsidiaries, all of which are wholly
owned.
35. Events after the reporting period
• On 21 April 2020 approximately 31 million new share options and warrants were issued to staff and directors in exchange
for salary reductions for the 6 months to 30 September 2020. These options were priced at 1p each and have a life of 10
years from the date of grant. Staff and directors waived approximately 25.7m options and a further 9m lapsed in June 2020.
Where options were not at the point of grant qualifying for EMI benefits, they may be cancelled and reissued in the future
under similar terms to optimise the overall tax position.
•
In July 2020 the premises in Sussex and London were closed following the non-renewal of expired leases. The business
moved to remote and home working in March 2020 and the expense of keeping such leases as well as the ongoing office
costs were not justified in the new remote working model.
• A deferred payment plan was agreed with HMRC to reschedule up to £0.64m of payroll taxes outstanding at 30 June 200
over 2 years as well as taking advantage of published time to pay plans on VAT. The group is fully in compliance with these
plans.
• On 29 September 2020 Falanx announced the completion of a fundraising exercise for £1.25m by issuance of 125,000,000
new ordinary shares of nil nominal value. Of these £1,125,000 (gross) has been received by the date of the accounts with
the remaining £75,000 (7,500,000 shares) due from the directors and senior managers post the release of these results and
them being allowed to participate under the MAR framework. A significant proportion of this fundraising is through long-term
EIS & VCT investment and overall it included new and existing institutional investors.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
65
Notes to the consolidated financial statements
for the year ended 31 March 2020
•
In the six months ended 30 September 2020 the Group recorded revenues of approximately £2.46m (2019: £2.64m) and
an adjusted EBITDA loss of £0.6m (2019; £0.93m). Revenues in the cyber division were impacted by reduced professionals
services demand in the first few months with the onset of COVID-19, but since the start of August monthly orders for these
have increased significantly and are now running at c£0.2m per month compared to £0.1m per month in the first quarter.
September’s revenues were much stronger, and the order momentum has continued into October. These levels are ahead
of where the Group had conducted its stress testing. Closing cash at 30 September 2020 was £0.2m (2019: £0.71m) but
this excluded the proceeds of the fundraising which were received on 1 October 2020. The Group’s customers are paying
normally, and no bad debt has been experienced, furthermore creditors are in agreed terms.
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
66
Advisers
Company number
1730012 (British Virgin Islands)
Registered office
PO Box 173
Kingston Chambers, Road Town
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Registered Agents
Maples Corporate Services (BVI) Limited
PO Box 173
Kingston Chambers, Road Town
Tortola, British Virgin Islands
Auditors
BDO LLP
55 Baker Street Street
London W1U 7EU
Nominated adviser and Sole Broker
Stifel Nicolaus Europe Limited
150 Cheapside
London EC2V 6ET
Bankers
HSBC Bank PLC
8 Canada Square
London E14 5HQ
Solicitors
DWF LLP
20 Fenchurch Street
London EC3M 3AG
Blake Morgan LLP
6 New St Square
Holborn
London EC4A 3DJ
Registrars
Computershare Investor Services (BVI) Limited
Woodbourne Hall
PO Box 3162
Road Town, Tortola
British Virgin Islands
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
67
Falanx Group Limited
The Blade
Abbey Square
Reading
RG1 3BE
Telephone: 0207 856 9457
Email: info@falanx.com
Falanx Group Limited
Report and financial statements year ended 31 March 2020
68