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Horizon Gold Limited
Annual Report 2010

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FY2010 Annual Report · Horizon Gold Limited
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Annual Report & Accounts 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010

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Hornby PLC
Westwood,
Margate,
Kent
CT9 4JX
www.hornby.com

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Contents

Financial Highlights
Chairman’s Statement
Chief Executive’s Report
Directors and Corporate Information
Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Statement

1  
2  
4  
8  
9  
13  
19   Directors’ Remuneration Report
25  
26  

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
 Independent Auditors’ Report to the  
Members of Hornby Plc
 Group and Company Statement of Comprehensive 
Income

28  

29   Group and Company Balance Sheet
30  
Statement of Changes in Equity
31   Group and Company Cash Flow 

Statement

32   Notes to the Cash Flow Statement
33   Notes to the Financial Statements
69   Notice of Annual General Meeting
72  

Five Year Summary

SHAREHOLDERS’
INFORMATION
SERVICE

HORNBY WELCOMES CONTACT

WITH ITS SHAREHOLDERS.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE GROUP OR

ITS PRODUCTS, PLEASE CONTACT:

A J MORRIS, FINANCE DIRECTOR

HORNBY PLC

WESTWOOD

MARGATE

KENT CT9 4JX

 
Financial Highlights

•  Revenue up by 5% to £64.7m

•   Underlying operating profit 

down 9% to £6.5m

•   Underlying profit before 

taxation down 10% to £5.7m

•   Tax charge down from 31.2% to 

29.3%

•   Net debt down from £11.8m to 

£3.2m

•  Final dividend per share 5.0p

Revenue 
Underlying*:
Operating profit
Profit before taxation
Profit after taxation
Basic earnings per share
Reported:
Operating profit
Profit before taxation
Profit after taxation
Basic earnings per share 
(pence)
Net debt
Total dividend per share 
(pence)

2010
£’000
64,736

6,497
5,708
4,151
11.0

6,004
5,215
3,685

%

5%

2009
£’000
61,569

(9%)
(10%)
(8%)
(8%)

(13%)
(15%)
(13%)

7,109
6,331
4,498
11.9

6,899
6,121
4,212

9.8
(3,154)

(13%)
(73%)

11.2
(11,760)

5.0

85%

2.7

*  Underlying figures are before amortisation of intangibles, net foreign exchange 
adjustments on intercompany loans, abortive due diligence and restructuring 
costs.

2 0 1 0

2 0 0 9

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 9

2 0 1 0

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 6

2 0 0 8

2 0 0 7

2 0 0 6

2 0 1 0

2 0 0 9

REVENUE
£’000

UNDERLYING PROFIT BEFORE
£’000

DIVIDEND PER SHARE
£’000

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  1

 
 
Chairman’s Statement
The Group is emerging from a difficult trading period 
in sound financial health. The Board is pleased with 
the performance of the Group which gives us renewed 
confidence for the future. The Group now has significantly 
improved prospects for future growth. 

Introduction
Over the past year we experienced 
challenging conditions, with adverse hedged 
exchange rates from rates achieved in 
2009 between Sterling and the Hong Kong 
Dollar, the currency in which most of our 
purchases are made. We also experienced, 
in the early part of the period under review, 
heavy de-stocking amongst our UK retailers 
and International distributors. Consumer 
demand for our products during the year 
continued to be strong. This demonstrated 
once again the resilience of our portfolio of 
hobby-based brands in times of economic 
uncertainty. The very solid sell-through 
of our products prior to Christmas 2009 
resulted in lower levels of inventory within 
the Group and amongst our customers. 
This, coupled with new, creative product 
innovation, has resulted in increased order 
intake since the beginning of January 2010, 
and a resilient finish to our financial year 
ended 31 March 2010.

Throughout the course of the year, we have 
maintained a close and positive relationship 
with our largest supplier in China. We have 
also diversified our sourcing successfully, 
particularly of model railway products, in 
order to reduce our overall dependency on 
a single supplier.

Results
Against a difficult economic background in 
most of our markets, sales grew by 5% to 
£64.7 million (2009 – £61.6 million).

The first half sales increase of 5% was 
maintained in the second half against a 
strong prior year performance (when sales 
were 20% up on 2008). The UK in particular 
had an encouraging second half, reflecting 
buoyant demand in the pre-Christmas 

period. Sales by our Continental European 
subsidiaries were more muted in the second 
half. This reflected in part, the continuing 
recession, in particular in Spain. With this in 
mind, following the strong UK performance 
pre-Christmas, we took the decision to 
prioritise UK supplies in the final quarter 
of the financial year in order to refill the 
product pipeline as quickly as possible.  

Pre-tax profit before amortisation of 
intangibles and net foreign exchange 
adjustments on intercompany loans 
(hereafter referred to as underlying pre-
tax profits) was £5.7 million (2009 – £6.3 
million) (see note 1). Basic earnings per 
share calculated on underlying pre-tax profit 
(hereafter referred to as underlying basic 
earnings per share) were 10.99p (2009 – 
11.92p). Statutory pre-tax profit was £5.2 
million (2009 – £6.1 million) and statutory 
basic earnings per share were 9.76p (2009 
– 11.17p).

Cash generation was strong, which has 
enabled the Group to bring down debt 
levels considerably. Net debt as at  
31 March 2010 was £3.2 million (2009 – 
£11.8 million).

Dividend
In view of the excellent progress that has 
been made in reducing Group borrowings 
and the improved prospects for growth, the 
Board is pleased to recommend a dividend 
for the year of 5.0p per ordinary share 
(2009 – 2.7p). This will be paid on  
20 August 2010 to shareholders on the 
register at 16 July 2010.

2   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Our supply chain is now more diversified, 
thus reducing the risk of product shortages. 
Given the strong start we have made to 
the new financial year in terms of order 
intake across the Group, we look forward 
with renewed confidence to the short and 
medium term.

Finally, I would like to thank our Chief 
Executive Frank Martin and through him, all 
our staff, for their continuing commitment 
to growing the business, and ensuring that 
future return to shareholders is maximised.

Neil Johnson 
Chairman

4 June 2010

Banking Facilities
The Group continues to have access to 
secured banking facilities of £21.5 million in 
the UK. These facilities comprise an £11.5 
million amortising Term Loan which expires 
in July 2014 and a £10.0 million Secured 
Money Market Loan with an unexpired term 
of more than two years. Borrowings in the 
year ended 31 March 2010 peaked at £16.0 
million. The Group remained within all of its 
covenants comfortably during the year. 

Product Development
Our product development programme 
continues to be a key driver of our business. 
We continue to increase our resources in 
this area in order to cope with the additional 
demands of our subsidiaries and the increase 
in product categories. 

Outlook
Over recent years the Group has built 
a formidable portfolio of premier hobby 
brands such as Corgi, Airfix, Lima, Rivarossi 
and Jouef, in addition to Hornby and 
Scalextric. During the past year it has 
become clear that to survive and thrive 
in our markets such brand strength is 
essential. We have also seen how we have 
been able to leverage the strength of our 
brands in securing licenses with Disney/
Pixar, the McLaren and Mercedes Formula 
One teams and perhaps most significantly 
the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic 
Games. This latter relationship will, we 
believe, begin to have a significant positive 
impact on our performance in the financial 
year to 31 March 2012 and of course during 
the following financial year to March 2013. 
However, we are already seeing significant 
interest in our existing and proposed 
London 2012 product ranges both from 
retailers and consumers. 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  3

Chief Executive’s Report

The Group’s principal business is the development, 
production and supply of hobby and toy products. The 
Group distributes its products through a network of 
specialist and multiple retailers throughout the UK and 
overseas. The Group markets its products under a number 
of brands well known in their respective markets. These 
brands include Hornby, Scalextric, Electrotren, Lima, Jouef, 
Rivarossi, Arnold, Airfix, Humbrol and Corgi. 

Financial Review
Consolidated revenue for the year ended 
31 March 2010 was £64.7 million, an 
increase of 5% compared to the previous 
year’s £61.6 million. 

Underlying profit before tax 
margin*
Reported profit before tax 
margin
Underlying basic earnings 
per share*
Statutory basic earnings 
per share

2010

2009

8.8%

10.3%

8.1%

9.9%

10.99p

11.92p

9.76p

11.17p

*  Stated before amortisation of intangibles and net 

foreign exchange adjustments on intercompany loans

Reported full year gross profit margin was 
49.6% (2009 – 47.8%), which does not 
take into account the impact of margin 
related hedged foreign exchange transaction 
gains and losses that are required to 
be reported within operating income / 
expense. The adjusted gross profit margin 
after incorporating net exchange losses was 
48.4% (2009 – 49.7% after incorporating net 
exchange gains). The reduction in adjusted 
gross profit margin was primarily a result of 
higher product costs and adverse foreign 
exchange movements between Sterling 
and the Hong Kong Dollar hedge rate. We 
were able to mitigate some of the adverse 
currency effects by increasing our prices, but 
chose not to raise prices to a level at which 
market demand would be compromised.

Net debt at 31 March 2010 was £3.2 
million compared with £11.8 million at 
31 March 2009. The reduction of £8.6 
million reflected profit attributable to 
equity holders (which was not impacted 
by dividend payments this year) and lower 
working capital. In particular, inventories 
reduced by £2.1 million compared to 
a year earlier. Expenditure on product 
development and capital projects continued 
and this investment will result in increased 
sales and margins in the new financial year 
and beyond. In particular, the development 
of a lower priced entry level Scalextric 
“Start” system will, we believe, provide 
the Group with a powerful competitive 
advantage in the 1:32 slot car market.

Hornby produces the majority of its 
products in China and India, via third-party 
contract manufacturers. Some packing 
operations remain in the UK where this 
strategy provides greater flexibility in 
meeting market needs. The problems the 
Group has faced in respect of its largest 
supplier in China have been referred to 
previously. Over the course of the past 
year we have brought on stream two 
alternative suppliers of model railway 
products. This reduces our dependence 
on our largest supplier and provides more 
flexibility to increase production volumes if 
required. We continue to work closely with 
our largest supplier and expect that this 
relationship will continue to the benefit of 
both parties, for many years to come.

4   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

All purchases from our Chinese suppliers 
are either in US or Hong Kong Dollars. 
It is the Group’s policy to enter into 
forward currency contracts in anticipation 
of purchases for up to 12 months in the 
future. During the year to March 2010 we 
experienced exchange rates substantially 
less favourable than during the year to 
March 2009 as the hedged rates were 
worse in 2010 than 2009. This has had a 
negative effect on our earnings for the year 
to March 2010. For the year to March 2011 
we have secured a substantial portion of our 
currency requirements by means of forward 
currency contracts at more favourable rates 
than full year 2010.

The Group retains intellectual property 
rights in its products and controls all sales of 
its products.

United Kingdom
UK retailers continued to de-stock during 
the first half of the financial year but by 
Christmas the continued demand for our 
products from consumers resulted in a 
late surge in orders and deliveries to our 
retailers. This positive trend continued 
after Christmas into the final quarter of our 
financial year, resulting in sales for the full 
year 7% above the previous year at £46.5 
million (2009 £43.5 million). However, 
primarily as a result of the negative effects 
of foreign exchange on our product costs, 
underlying profit before tax fell to £4.8 
million compared to £5.9 million the 
previous year. Reported profit before tax 
was £4.4 million (2009 – £5.9 million). This 

result includes export sales to third parties 
of £5.7 million (2009 – £5.2 million). 

Sales via our independent retail channel 
were in line with the previous year whilst 
sales via our network of concessions 
showed encouraging growth. Whilst our 
major retailers performed well immediately 
prior to Christmas, the effects of destocking 
earlier in the year resulted in sales just 
slightly above the previous year. It is now 
clear that our larger retail customers 
recognise that they failed to fulfil their sales 
potential in 2009. We are now receiving 
much stronger indications of commitment 
from these retailers for the new financial 
year.

Sales of Hornby model railways were 
slightly lower than the previous year due 
to retailer destocking. Order intake since 
January 2010 has been strong, bolstered by 
product innovations including the Disney/
Pixar Toy Story 3 film–related train set. We 
are expecting a healthy growth in Hornby 
model railway sales in the new financial year.

Sales of Scalextric were ahead of the 
previous year. For the new financial year 
Scalextric will also benefit from the Disney 
/Pixar Toy Story 3 franchise as we will 
be producing Micro Scalextric sets based 
on the film. This will build on our highly 
successful “Cars” movie–related Scalextric 
merchandise launched in 2009. 

Sales of both Airfix and Corgi were 
substantially ahead of the previous 
year as we continue to rebuild product 
development and sales momentum in these 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  5

Chief Executive's Report (continued)

on sales of £15.5 million, compared with 
an underlying profit before tax of £0.4 
million in the previous year on sales of 
£14.8 million. Reported profit before tax 
was £0.9 million (2009 – £0.3 million). Our 
strong European brands continue to attract 
increasing support from the model railway 
communities in each of our key territories. 
The product development initiatives with 
Disney/Pixar in model railways will also have 
a positive effect on sales in mainland Europe.

America 
Sales in Hornby America were lower 
at $4.4 million (2009 – $5.6 million), 
producing a loss before tax of $(90,000) 
(2009 – profit $13,000). Upon translation 
into Sterling, due to the stronger US 
dollar, sales were £2.8 million (2009 – 
£3.3 million) with a loss before tax of 
£(57,000) (2009 – profit £8,000). However, 
Hornby Hobbies in the UK benefits from 
a gross margin contribution of £398,000 
(2009 – £565,000) generated on sales 
made to Hornby America, which has the 
effect of increasing significantly the overall 
contribution to Group profit of our US 
operation. The US market remains difficult, 
and whilst this persists, the focus for Hornby 
America will continue to be on overhead 
control and working capital management. 
In this respect, inventories in Hornby 
America were 23% lower at 31 March 2010 
compared to a year previously. 

iconic brands. The launch of the widely 
acclaimed 1:24 scale Airfix Mosquito kit 
has set a new standard of quality and detail 
in model kits. This has helped to provide 
a focal point for the regeneration of Airfix 
sales. In Corgi the process of re-investment 
continues. The introduction of an orderly 
release programme for new models across 
the year has encouraged previous customers 
to recommence their collections and has 
attracted new collectors to the brand.

The strength in depth of our product and 
brand portfolio has stood us in good stead 
in difficult economic times and Hornby is 
now in an excellent position to continue to 
build on this strong position, at the expense 
of our competitors who have a much 
narrower product and market focus. 

Continental Europe
Overall, our subsidiaries in mainland 
Europe recorded sales ahead of the prior 
year, although there were significant 
differences in performance between the 
individual markets. Italy had an excellent 
year, recording sales of £5.5 million, 24% 
up on the previous year. The remaining 
subsidiaries in Europe (Spain, France and 
Germany) recorded sales slightly below the 
previous year, due in part to the general 
economic climate, particularly in Spain, and 
also to the prioritisation of production to 
fulfil UK requirements towards the end of 
the financial year. All European subsidiaries 
enter the new financial year with order 
intake levels well ahead of the previous year. 
Hornby Italy reported a profit before tax 
for the year of £0.6 million compared to a 
loss of £(0.1) million in the previous year. 
In total, our subsidiaries in mainland Europe 
contributed an underlying profit before tax 
higher than the year before at £1.0 million 

6   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Outlook
In my report last year I said that we 
expected to grow sales despite the difficult 
economic environment. We have achieved 
sales growth and, based on our current 
levels of order intake, we are forecasting 
a significant further increase in sales in the 
new financial year. I also said a year ago 
that we would lay the foundations for 
significantly stronger financial performance 
in future years. Each of our core brands 
is expected to show substantial growth 
this year. Our subsidiaries in Continental 
Europe are all expected to deliver further 
improvements in performance. We now 
have the brands, the products and the 
distribution network required to grow 
consistently over the coming years.

Frank Martin 
4 June 2010

London 2012 Olympic and 
Paralympic games
We are pleased to have secured a wide 
range of product rights related to the 2012 
London Olympic and Paralympic games. 
The first mass market products related to 
the London 2012 games have been released 
in recent weeks and we are delighted with 
the initial rates of sale. We have recently 
appointed a Project Director to manage our 
London 2012 product development and 
marketing. Our London 2012 products will 
be drawn from across our brand portfolio 
and it is therefore important to ensure 
that the range is presented as a cohesive 
proposition to retailers and consumers, 
whilst ensuring that the core brand ranges 
are not neglected as the London 2012 
momentum builds over the coming two 
years. During 2010 we will be launching a 
wide selection of products based on the 
London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic 
games. Price points will range from below 
£5 for collectable Corgi vehicles to over 
£100 for limited edition Hornby train sets. 
We expect that sales of our die cast replicas 
of the two London 2012 mascots will be 
particularly popular. We believe that the 
London Olympics will provide a significant 
opportunity to drive incremental sales and 
profits over the next two years. We also 
believe that there is clear potential to open 
additional channels of distribution which 
will continue to provide incremental sales 
opportunities for our core business after the 
games have finished.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  7

 
 
Directors and Corporate Information

DIRECTORS
N A Johnson
Non-Executive Chairman

F Martin
Chief Executive

A J Morris
Finance Director 

N M Carrington
Non-Executive Director

M E Rolfe
Non-Executive Director

SECRETARY
J W Stansfield

REGISTERED OFFICE
Westwood
Margate
Kent CT9 4JX

COMPANY REGISTERED NUMBER
Registered in England No. 01547390

AUDITORS
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
First Point
Buckingham Gate
Gatwick
RH6 0PP

SOLICITORS
Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP
Adelaide House
London Bridge
London EC4R 9HA

PRINCIPAL BANKERS
Barclays Bank PLC
9 St George’s Street
Canterbury
Kent CT1 2JX

FINANCIAL ADVISERS AND BROKERS
Numis Securities Limited
The London Stock Exchange Building
10 Paternoster Square
London EC4M 7LT

REGISTRARS AND TRANSFER AGENTS
Capita Registrars
Northern House
Woodsome Park
Fenay Bridge
Huddersfield
West Yorkshire HD8 0GA

8   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Directors' Report

The directors submit their Annual Report together with the 
audited financial statements for the year ended 31 March 
2010.

PRINCIPAL ACTIVITIES
The Company is a holding company registered in England 
No. 01547390 with a Spanish branch and has six operating 
subsidiaries: Hornby Hobbies Limited in the United Kingdom, 
Hornby America Inc. in the USA, Hornby España S.A. in 
Spain, Hornby Italia s.r.l. in Italy, Hornby France S.A.S. in 
France and Hornby Deutschland GmbH in Germany. Hornby 
Plc is a public limited company incorporated and operating in 
the United Kingdom. Its registered office is set out on page 8.

The Group is principally engaged in the development, design, 
sourcing and distribution of hobby and interactive home 
entertainment products.

BUSINESS REVIEW
The Group’s business review is included in the ‘Results’ 
section of the Chairman’s Statement, and the ‘Financial 
review’ section in the Chief Executive’s Report.

Future developments are included both in the ‘Outlook’ 
section of the Chairman’s Statement and the ‘Outlook’ 
section in the Chief Executive’s Report.

The principal business risks and uncertainties facing the Group 
are set out in the Corporate Governance Statement on pages 
16 and 17.

RESULTS AND DIVIDENDS
The results for the year ended 31 March 2010 are set out in 
the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income on page 28. 
Revenue for the year was £64.7 million compared to £61.6 
million last year. The profit for the year attributable to equity 
holders amounted to £3.7 million (2009 – £4.2 million). The 
position of the Group is set out in the Group Balance Sheet 
on page 29.

No interim dividend was declared in the year (2009 – 2.7p 
per ordinary share amounting to £1,018,136).

The directors recommend a final dividend of 5.0p (2009 – nil) 
per ordinary share amounting to £1,903,205 (2009 – £nil) 
payable on 20 August 2010 to those shareholders on the 
Register at 16 July 2010.

This represents a total dividend paid in respect of the year 
ended 31 March 2010 of 5.0p per ordinary share (2009 – 
2.7p).

KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs)
The directors are of the opinion that the KPIs are revenues, 
gross margins, underlying profit before tax, earnings per share 
and cash generation, the information for which is available in 
these financial statements and summarised on the financial 
highlights section at the beginning of this report. The Group 
maintains a robust planning system with individual targets 
for subsidiaries in terms of growth and profits. The Board 
monitors progress against plan on a regular basis adjusting 
future objectives annually in line with current circumstances.

RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
The Board considers that research and development into 
new products continues to play an important role in the 
Group’s success.

All costs incurred in the year have been charged to the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income and are as set out in 
note 4. 

PROPERTY VALUES
In the opinion of the directors, and given current planning use 
approvals, there is no significant difference between the book 
amount and the current market value of interests in land and 
buildings.

Land and buildings are valued according to the provisions 
of IAS 16’s cost model. Assets are carried at cost less 
accumulated depreciation and impairment. 

CHARITABLE DONATIONS
During the year the Group made donations of £20,200 (2009 
– £21,635) for charitable purposes to include the Theatre 
Royal Margate (£20,000). There were no political donations 
in the year (2009 – £nil).

DIRECTORS
The persons who were directors during the year are listed 
below:

Neil A Johnson, aged 61, was originally appointed a non-
executive director on 1 July 1998. On 22 December 2000 
he assumed the responsibilities of Chairman. He is currently 
a member of the Metropolitan Police Authority. Neil served 
for five years as a member of the Prime Minister’s Advisory 
Panel for the Citizen’s Charter. He is a member of a number 
of private company Boards and Trusts, Chairman of Motability 
Operations Group Plc and on 19 October 2009 Mr Johnson 
was appointed Chairman of Umeco Plc.

Frank Martin, aged 58, was appointed Chief Executive on 
3 January 2001. Frank was previously Chief Executive of 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  9

Directors' Report (continued)

Humbrol Limited, and formerly Managing Director of Denby 
Pottery Limited and Group Marketing Director of Hasbro 
(UK) Limited. His conditions of employment include a notice 
period of one year to be given by the Company and of six 
months to be given by him.

SUBSTANTIAL SHAREHOLDINGS
The Company has been notified that at close of business 
on 28 May 2010 the following parties were interested in 
three per cent or more of the Company’s ordinary share 
capital.

Andrew J Morris, aged 47, was appointed Group Finance 
Director on 26 November 2007. Andrew was previously 
CFO of Speedo International and formerly Finance Director, 
Africa Glaxo Smithkline plc. His conditions of employment 
include a notice period of one year to be given by the 
Company and of six months to be given by him. 

Nigel M Carrington, aged 54, was appointed a non-executive 
director on 1 December 2007. Nigel is currently Rector of 
University of the Arts London and a member of the board of 
a number of charities. He was formerly a corporate lawyer 
and Managing Partner at Baker & McKenzie and Managing 
Director and Deputy Chairman of McLaren Group Limited.

Mark E Rolfe, aged 51, was appointed a non-executive 
director on 1 January 2008. After qualifying as a chartered 
accountant with Coopers and Lybrand, Mark joined Gallaher 
Group plc in 1986, where he was Finance Director for seven 
years retiring in 2007. He is a non-executive director of The 
Sage Group Plc and Barratt Developments Plc, and Chairman 
of Lane Clark & Peacock LLP.

The interests of the directors in the shares of the Company 
and in options granted over such shares are disclosed in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 22 to 24.

The number of Board meetings held during the year and 
attendance by the directors is set out on page 13.

DIRECTORS’ INDEMNITIES
The Company maintains liability insurance for its directors and 
officers. The Company has also provided an indemnity for its 
directors and the secretary, which is a qualifying third party 
indemnity provision for the purposes of the Companies Act 
2006.

Shareholder

Phoenix Asset Management 
Partners Limited
P J Wood
Electra Quoted Partners 
Aberdeen Asset Management
Legal & General Investment 
Management
J J Hosking

Number of 
Ordinary
 Shares

Percentage 
held

4,037,573
4,012,500
2,995,150
2,990,220

2,251,725
1,664,200

10.61
10.54
7.87
7.86

5.92
4.37

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Group’s financial instruments, other than derivatives, 
comprise borrowings, some cash and liquid resources, and 
various items, such as trade debtors, trade creditors, etc. 
that arise directly from its operations. The Group’s financial 
liabilities comprise borrowings, trade creditors, other creditors 
and finance leases, the main purpose of which is to raise 
finance for the Group’s operations. The Group also has 
financial assets comprising cash, trade and other debtors.

The Group also enters into derivatives transactions 
(principally forward foreign currency contracts). The purpose 
of such transactions is to manage the currency risks arising 
from the Group’s operations. The Group has a FX collar in 
place to minimise risk on translation of Euro denominated 
intercompany loans.

It is, and has been throughout the period under review, 
the Group’s policy that no speculative trading in financial 
instruments shall be undertaken.

The main risks arising from the Group’s financial instruments 
are interest rate risk, liquidity risk, credit risk and foreign 
currency risk. The Board reviews and agrees policies for 
managing each of these risks and they are summarised below. 
These policies have been reviewed and remain unchanged.

Interest rate risk
The Group finances its operations through a mixture of 
retained profits and bank borrowings. The Group borrows, 
principally in Sterling, at floating rates of interest to meet short 
term funding requirements. At the year end the Group’s only 
borrowings were finance leases, a revolving credit facility, bank 
overdrafts and a fixed term loan agreement. An interest rate 

10   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

hedge is in place to protect the Group against future interest 
rate rises.

Credit risk
The Group manages its credit risk through a combination 
of internal credit management policies and procedures and 
external credit insurance.

Liquidity risk
The Group re-arranged its borrowings into a revolving credit 
facility (£10 million – expiring July 2012) and a fixed-term 
loan agreement (£12 million – expiring July 2014). Previously 
the Group had a fixed term loan (£10 million) and an 
overdraft facility (£12 million). The Group’s policy on liquidity 
risk is to ensure that sufficient cash is available to fund future 
operations. The peak level of net debt in the year to March 
2010 was £16.0 million (2009 – £19.2 million). The Board 
manages exposure to liquidity risk by maintaining adequate 
facilities to meet the future needs of the business. Those 
needs are determined by monitoring forecast and actual cash 
flows. The Group regularly monitors its performance against 
its banking covenants to ensure compliance. 

Foreign currency risk
The Group purchases substantially all of its products from the 
Far East in Hong Kong and US Dollars. The Group’s policy 
is to reduce currency exposure arising from its purchases 
and anticipated orders by using forward foreign exchange 
contracts of up to 12 months. All sales and other purchases 
originating in the UK are denominated in Sterling.

The Company has subsidiaries in the USA, Spain, Italy, France 
and Germany. At present the Company does not consider 
the balance sheet translation exposure significant enough 
to warrant matching the net currency assets with currency 
borrowings but the position will be reviewed annually going 
forward.

The Group has granted Euro denominated intercompany 
loans to subsidiary companies that are translated to Sterling 
at statutory period ends thereby creating exchange gains or 
losses. In order to mitigate the exchange exposure the Group 
has entered a foreign exchange collar contract to sell an equal 
number of Euros in October 2011 that will be revalued by 
an approximately similar but opposite Sterling value at each 
period end.

PERSONNEL POLICIES
It is the policy of the Group to follow equal opportunity 
employment practices and these include the full consideration 
of employment prospects for the disabled.

Applications for employment by disabled persons are always 
fully considered, bearing in mind the aptitudes of the applicant 
concerned. It is the policy of the Group that the training, 
career development and promotion of disabled persons 
should, as far as possible, be identical with that of other 
employees. Arrangements are made, wherever possible, for 
retraining employees who become disabled, to enable them 
to perform work identified as appropriate to their aptitudes.

The Group places importance on the contributions to 
be made by all employees to the progress of the Group 
and aims to keep them informed by the use of formal and 
informal meetings.

CREDITOR PAYMENT POLICY
The Group has agreed a variety of payment terms with its 
suppliers. It is and will remain the general policy of the Group 
that payments to a supplier are made in accordance with 
the general conditions of purchase agreed with that supplier, 
providing the supplier complies with all relevant terms and 
conditions and also that the invoice is presented in a timely 
fashion. 

The average creditor payment period for the main trading 
subsidiary at 31 March 2010 was 42 days (2009 – 24 days). 
The Company itself does not trade and therefore has no 
external trade creditors.

AUDITORS
A resolution to re-appoint the auditors, 
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, will be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting. 

ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
The notice of Annual General Meeting is important and 
requires your immediate attention. If you are in any doubt 
as to what action to take in relation to the Annual General 
Meeting, you should consult appropriate independent 
advisers.

The notice of the Annual General Meeting is set out on pages 
69 to 71.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  11

Directors' Report (continued)

expansion and its overall financial position. The directors 
would exercise the authority to purchase ordinary shares only 
if they considered it to be in the best interest of the members 
and they believe that the effect of such purchases will be to 
increase earnings per share.

The Company (Acquisition of Own Shares) (Treasury Shares) 
Regulations 2003 came into force on 1 December 2003. 
These regulations allow shares repurchased by the Company 
to be held as treasury shares. Treasury shares may be 
cancelled, sold for cash or used for the purpose of employee 
share schemes but all rights attaching to them, including 
voting rights and any right to receive dividends, are suspended 
whilst they are held in treasury. The authority to be sought 
by this resolution is intended to apply equally to shares to 
be held by the Company as treasury shares. The Company 
currently holds no treasury shares.

The authority sought at the Annual General Meeting will 
expire at the earlier of the date which falls eighteen months 
from the date the resolution is passed and the conclusion of 
the next annual general meeting of the Company.

By order of the Board

A J Morris 
Finance Director 
Westwood  
Margate 
Kent CT9 4JX

4 June 2010

Resolution 9
Under section 551 of the Companies Act 2006 (the ‘Act’), 
the directors may allot unissued shares only if authorised to 
do so. This resolution will give the directors authority to issue 
new ordinary shares in the capital of the Company up to a 
nominal value of £125,000, which is equal to approximately 
33% of the Company’s issued ordinary capital as at the date 
of the notice. This authority will expire on 28 July 2015. The 
directors do not have any present intention of exercising the 
authority granted by this resolution except in connection with 
the Company’s share schemes.

Under the guidelines of the Association of British Insurers on 
authority to allot shares companies may seek basic authority 
to allot new shares in an amount of up to one-third of the 
existing issued share capital and this request will be regarded 
as routine under guidelines.

Resolution 10
It is proposed to renew the authority to the directors to allot 
equity securities for cash without first being required to offer 
such securities to existing members. This will include the 
sale for cash on a non pre-emptive basis of any shares which 
the Company holds in treasury. The authority relates to up 
to £19,000 of nominal capital representing 5% of the issued 
ordinary share capital of the Company as at the date of the 
notice. The authority sought at the Annual General Meeting 
will expire at the conclusion of the next annual general 
meeting of the Company.

The directors do not intend to issue more than 7.5% of 
the issued ordinary share capital of the Company in any 
rolling three year period without prior consultation with the 
Institutional Investment Committee. Members will note that 
this resolution also relates to the sale of treasury shares.

Resolution 11
The Company is seeking authority to purchase approximately 
10% of the Company’s issued ordinary share capital at, 
or between, the minimum and maximum prices specified 
in the resolution. As at the date of the notice the total 
number of options to subscribe for shares in the Company 
was 2,176,467 (approximately 5.7% of the Company’s 
issued ordinary share capital and approximately 6.4% of the 
Company’s issued ordinary share capital if the full authority 
proposed by resolution 11 was used and the shares 
purchased were cancelled). This power would be used only 
after careful consideration by the directors, having taken 
into account market conditions prevailing at that time, the 
investment needs of the Company, its opportunities for 

12   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Corporate Governance Statement

The Company is committed to the principles of corporate 
governance contained in the Combined Code of Corporate 
Governance issued in 2008 by the Financial Reporting Council 
(‘the Code’) (which can be found at www.frc.org.uk) for 
which the Board is accountable to shareholders.

Statement of Compliance with the Combined Code
Throughout the year ended 31 March 2010, the Company 
has been in compliance with the Code provisions set out in 
section 1 of the Code.

are complied with. The executive directors have all received 
appropriate training for their appointment to the Board of a 
listed company. The non-executive directors bring a broad 
expertise to the Board. N A Johnson, N M Carrington and 
M E Rolfe are all experienced company directors. Biographical 
details of each director are shown on pages 9 and 10.

The Board has formal and informal procedures to monitor its 
performance both as individuals at annual appraisals and as a 
Board.

Statement about applying the principles of the 
Code
The Company has applied the principles set out in section 1 
of the Code, including both the main principles and the 
supporting principles. Further explanation of how the 
principles and supporting principles have been applied is set 
out below.

DIRECTORS

Board effectiveness
The Board has ultimate responsibility and accountability for 
the Group’s operations.

During the year the Board comprised the non-executive 
Chairman, Chief Executive, Finance Director, and two non-
executive directors. 

During the year 11 Board meetings were held. All directors 
attended all meetings during their period of office.

The Board believes its current structure is appropriate for the 
scale of the business and to enable the Group to be managed 
efficiently.

The Board has adopted a formal schedule of matters 
specifically reserved to it for decisions including the 
determination of the strategy, the approval of business plans, 
budgets, acquisitions and disposals, major capital purchases, 
Board appointments, accounting policies and treasury 
arrangements.

The Board also delegates specific responsibilities to 
committees as described below. The Board meets monthly 
and monitors progress against plan at each meeting.

The directors have the authority of the Board to obtain 
external legal or other independent professional advice in 
the furtherance of their duties at the Company’s expense. 
All directors have access to the advice and services of the 
Company Secretary, who is responsible for ensuring Board 
procedures are followed and applicable rules and regulations 

Chairman and Chief Executive
The roles of Chairman and Chief Executive are separate 
and there is a clear division of responsibility. The Chairman 
is responsible for leading the Board and ensuring its 
effectiveness. The Chairman and the Board are satisfied that 
effective communication, principally by the Chief Executive 
and Group Finance Director, is undertaken with the 
shareholders.

The Chief Executive is responsible for running the business 
and ensuring that accurate, timely and clear information is 
presented at monthly Board meetings or when appropriate.

Senior Independent Director
The Board has appointed N M Carrington to the role of 
Senior Independent Director. This role provides a point of 
contact to those shareholders who wish to raise issues with 
the Board, other than through the Chairman.

Board balance and independence
The Board considers the non-executive directors who served 
during the year to be independent of management and free 
from any business or other relationship which could interfere 
with the exercise of their independent judgement. Code 
provision A.3.2 requires at least half the Board, excluding the 
Chairman, to be independent non-executive directors and 
smaller companies are only required to have only two non-
executive directors.

N A Johnson has served on the Board for more than eleven 
years and has been its Chairman for nine years. In line with 
the Combined Code the Senior Independent Director, 
N M Carrington, has undertaken a rigorous review of the 
effectiveness of the performance of the Chairman as well 
as a review of his contribution to the Board, based on a 
questionnaire and discussion with other members of the 
Board, and has concluded that the Chairman continues 
to be an effective non-executive director and to execute 
commitment to the role.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  13

Corporate Governance Statement (continued)

Appointments to the Board

Nominations Committee
There have been no appointments to the Board during the 
year ended 31 March 2010. Appointments to the Board 
require the Board’s authorisation and are conducted by the 
Nominations Committee. The Nominations Committee 
comprises the Chairman, executive and non-executive 
directors. During the year there were no meetings held.

The duties of the Nominations Committee are available 
from the terms of reference and include regularly reviewing 
the structure, size and composition required of the Board 
and making recommendations to the Board with regard to 
any changes, giving full consideration to succession planning 
for directors and other senior executives, identifying and 
nominating candidates to fill board vacancies and evaluating 
the balance of skills, knowledge and experience on the Board 
before an appointment is made. 

The potential candidates are interviewed by either the 
Nominations Committee or a panel appointed by that 
Committee. An appointment requires the final approval of 
the Board prior to an offer being forwarded.

The Nominations Committee are also required to review 
annually the time required from non-executive directors to 
assess whether the non-executive directors are spending 
enough time to fulfil their duties.

Terms of reference of the Nominations Committee and 
terms and conditions of appointment for non-executive 
directors are available on request from the Company 
Secretary.

Information and professional development
The Chief Executive is responsible for ensuring that directors 
receive accurate, timely and clear information. Management 
has an obligation to provide such information but directors 
should seek clarification or amplification where necessary.

The Chairman is responsible for ensuring that directors 
continually update their skills and the knowledge and 
familiarity with the Company required to fulfil their role. 
Resources are available on request to develop and update 
the directors’ knowledge and capabilities.

Performance Evaluation
During the year a performance evaluation of the Board and 
its committees has taken place by way of a performance 
evaluation questionnaire. The results of this questionnaire 
were summarised in a report which was presented to the 
Board. 

14   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

In the year under review the report identified no areas of 
concern.

Re-election
N A Johnson, having served for more than ten years, will 
retire and offer himself for re-election at the Annual General 
Meeting and annually thereafter in accordance with the 
Combined Code.

The Company’s Articles of Association currently require one 
third of the directors to retire by rotation at each Annual 
General Meeting. Thereby A J Morris and M E Rolfe offer 
themselves for re-election at the forthcoming Annual General 
Meeting. In accordance with the Combined Code, the non-
retiring directors have conducted a review of A J Morris and 
M E Rolfe’s contribution to the Board and the Chairman can 
confirm that they continue to be effective directors and to 
execute commitment to the role.

Remuneration Committee
The Remuneration Committee comprises N M Carrington 
and M E Rolfe. N M Carrington is the Chairman of the 
Remuneration Committee.

The Committee met four times during the year with all 
members being present. The Committee is responsible 
for establishing formal and transparent procedures for 
determining policy on executive remuneration and advising 
the Board on executive remuneration and in particular for 
ensuring that executive remuneration packages are sufficient 
to attract, retain and motivate executive directors of the 
required quality whilst avoiding paying more than necessary. 
It also endeavours to establish performance related elements 
of remuneration which align the interests of the directors with 
those of the shareholders. No director is involved in deciding 
his own remuneration and the Board itself determines the 
remuneration of the non-executive directors.

Further details of directors’ remuneration is provided in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report.

Audit Committee and Auditors
The Audit Committee comprises N M Carrington and 
M E Rolfe. M E Rolfe became Chairman of the Audit 
Committee on 28 July 2008. Mark is a Fellow of the Institute 
of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales and is 
considered by the Board to have recent and relevant financial 
experience. N M Carrington has a wide range of business 
experience, which is evidenced by his biography set out in the 
Directors’ Report.

The Committee meets at least three times a year and the 
Chairman, Chief Executive, Finance Director, Company 
Secretary and other managers attend by invitation. The 
Group’s Auditors attend meetings and have direct access to 
the Committee.

The Audit Committee’s terms of reference include all matters 
indicated by the Combined Code. The terms of reference are 
considered annually by the Audit Committee and are then 
referred to the Board for approval. 

The main duties of the Committee, set out in its terms of 
reference, are to:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Make recommendations on the appointment and 
remuneration of the external auditors and monitor their 
performance. 

Review the nature and scope of the work to be 
performed by the external auditors, the results of their 
audit work and management’s responses.

Monitor the independence of the external auditors 
and recommend policy for any non-audit services 
they provide to ensure that their independence is not 
compromised.

Review and advise the Board on the Company’s 
interim and annual financial statements and related 
announcements, its accounting policies and on the 
control and mitigation of its financial and business risks.

Review and advise the Board on the effectiveness of the 
Company’s internal control environment, including its 
procedures for detecting fraud and ‘whistle blowing’.

Activity during the year
During the year, three Audit Committee meetings were 
held. All members attended all meetings during their period 
in office. The Committee met privately with the external 
auditors without executives present, and with the Finance 
Director.

The Committee reviewed the Company’s interim and annual 
financial statements and related announcements, along with 
a report from the external auditors setting out the findings 
from their audit work. 

The Committee has adopted a specific policy on auditor 
independence, setting out restrictions on specific non-audit 
activities such as bookkeeping, payroll services and advocacy, 
and procedures and authority levels for audit and non-audit 
fees. The authority levels beyond which prior approval 
from the Audit Committee is required are set as 1:1 for the 

audit / non audit fee ratio. Hornby believes that it receives 
particular benefit from the external auditors’ advice on 
potential acquisitions and the tax consequences thereof, 
given its auditors’ detailed knowledge of the Group. The 
Board considers alternative providers if practical and seeks 
confirmation prior to engaging services that independence will 
not be compromised.

In the current financial year the level of non audit fees 
was well within the 1:1 ratio. In the previous financial year 
the level of non audit fees exceeded the ratio due to due 
diligence activities, undertaken with the prior approval of the 
Committee.  

To assess the effectiveness of the external auditors, the 
Committee reviewed their fulfilment of the agreed audit 
plan; the robustness and perceptiveness of the auditors in 
their handling of key accounting and audit judgements, the 
content of their letter to management on control matters 
and adherence to service standards set out in Hornby’s 
Audit Charter policy. There are no contractual restrictions 
on the choice of the Committee as to external audit and, 
having considered the services provided by the current 
external auditors, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, their 
independence and knowledge of the Group, the Committee 
has recommended to the Board the reappointment of the 
auditors at the Annual General Meeting in July 2010. In 
reaching this decision the Committee has taken into account 
the tenure of the auditors and considered whether there 
should be a full tender process. The Committee also had 
regard to the likelihood of a withdrawal of the auditor from 
the market.

The Committee considers annually the need for an internal 
audit function, but currently believes that this is not justified 
given the size, nature of the Group and a programme of visits 
to Hornby locations carried out by senior Group financial 
management. 

Arrangements exist for staff of the Group to raise concerns, 
in confidence, about possible improprieties in matters of 
financial reporting or other matters. During the year, the 
Audit Committee has continued to strengthen the policy in 
this area in recognition of the Group’s growing international 
presence. 

Internal Control and Risk Management
The Board is responsible for the operation and effectiveness 
of the Group’s system of internal controls and risk 
management. There is a continuous process for identifying, 
evaluating and managing the significant risks the Group faces. 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  15

Corporate Governance Statement (continued)

This process has been in place throughout the year and 
complies fully with the Turnbull guidance.

the Company and the UK subsidiary attend the meeting to 
respond to specific questions.

The Board regularly reviews the effectiveness of the Group’s 
system of internal control. The Board’s monitoring covers 
all controls, including financial, operational and compliance 
controls and risk management. It is based principally on 
reviewing reports from management to consider whether 
significant risks are identified, evaluated, managed and 
controlled and whether any significant weaknesses are 
promptly remedied and indicate a need for more extensive 
monitoring.

The internal control systems are designed to meet the 
Group’s particular needs and the risks to which it is exposed 
and by their nature can only provide reasonable but not 
absolute assurance against misstatement or loss. During the 
year, the Group continued to take action to enhance these 
control systems, based upon its own process improvement 
initiatives and auditors’ recommendations. 

The Audit Committee reviews and reports to the Board 
on the effectiveness of the Group’s systems of internal 
control on an ongoing basis during the year and no significant 
weaknesses have been identified. 

Control Environment
The Board has put in place an organisational structure with 
clearly defined and understood lines of responsibility and 
delegation of authority. The Board promotes a strong control 
environment with a strong ethical climate.

RELATIONS WITH SHAREHOLDERS
The Company communicates regularly with its institutional 
shareholders and encourages communication with private 
investors through the Annual General Meeting.

N M Carrington is the senior independent non-executive 
director. The senior independent non-executive director 
welcomes direct discussion with shareholders.

The executive directors update major shareholders at 
institutional visits and analyst presentations immediately after 
the interim and final announcements. The Chairman attends 
a selection of these meetings. The meetings facilitate open 
discussion and direct face-to-face contact and the views of 
shareholders are reported to the Board by the Chairman and 
Chief Executive.

The Board uses the Annual General Meeting as an occasion 
for communication with its shareholders. All proxy votes 
are counted by the Company’s registrars and the voting on 
each resolution is made available to the meeting. Directors of 

16   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

IDENTIFICATION OF BUSINESS RISKS
The Board has the primary responsibility for identifying 
the major business risks facing the Group and developing 
appropriate policies to manage those risks. The Board has 
completed a risk assessment programme in order to identify 
the major business risks and has reviewed and determined 
any mitigating actions required.

BUSINESS RISKS

UK Market Dependence
The UK market represents a significant part of Group 
revenue; 63% in 2010 (2009 – 62%). In order to reduce the 
proportional exposure to the UK market the Board’s strategy 
continues to be to expand overseas sales. The acquisitions 
of the brands Airfix, Humbrol, Corgi, Electrotren, Rivarossi, 
Lima and Jouef have provided the Group significant market 
shares of the model railway, model and die cast markets in 
UK, Spain, Italy, France and Germany to facilitate European 
expansion.

Market Conditions
The Group’s products are sold in the main to its retail 
customers. The performance of the market is affected by 
the general economic climate including overall consumer 
and retailer confidence, interest rates and the level of 
unemployment. In reviewing the future forecasts for the 
business the directors consider reasonable changes in macro 
economic and associated market conditions, albeit any 
significant downturn could negatively impact Group sales and 
margins. 

Foreign Exchange
The Group purchases goods in Hong Kong and US Dollars 
and is therefore exposed to exchange rate fluctuations. 
The Group hedges the short-term exposure by establishing 
forward currency purchases using fixed rate and participating 
forward contracts up to twelve months ahead. It is deemed 
impractical to hedge exchange rate movements beyond that 
period. Translation risk on intercompany loans is managed 
through a foreign exchange collar.

Overseas Suppliers
The Group purchases goods, in the main from third party 
Chinese suppliers. The principal supplier to the Group, 
Sanda Kan, is owned by Kader Holdings Company Limited a 
Hong Kong based company with interests in the model train 

sectors in Europe and the US. The purchase of products from 
lower-wage economies provides the Group with a significant 
cost advantage when competing with locally-manufactured 
products in Europe. However the Group does not have 
exclusive arrangements with its suppliers and there is a risk 
that competition for manufacturing capacity can lead to delays 
in introducing new products or servicing existing demand. 
Furthermore, there is a risk that input price escalation could 
reduce or remove the Group’s pricing advantage. 

The Group seeks to mitigate these risks by continuing to 
develop and diversify the Group’s supplier portfolio, which 
includes a supplier in India, and through closely monitoring 
production through locally-based employees (who also 
ensure the maintenance of quality standards).

Product compliance
The Group’s products are subject to compliance with toy 
safety legislation around the world. The Group manages 
compliance through active monitoring of legislation, robust 
internal processes and procedures, and policy debate and 
lobbying with the relevant authorities. 

Competition
The Group has competition in the model railway, slot racing, 
model kits, die cast and paint market but in many of our 
markets the group enjoys a strong market position due to the 
continued development of our brands. 

Brands are all important in the models sector. In addition 
market entry capital cost is prohibitive to new entrants even 
for individual models but especially as they would need to 
offer an entire branded system.

Main control procedures
Management establishes control policies and procedures 
in response to each of the key risks identified. Control 
procedures operate to ensure the integrity of the Group’s 
financial statements, designed to meet the Group’s 
requirements and risks identified in each area of the business. 
Control procedures are documented where appropriate and 
reviewed by management and the Board on an ongoing basis 
to ensure control weaknesses are mitigated.

The Group operates a comprehensive annual planning 
and budgeting system. The annual plans and budgets are 
approved by the Board. The Board reviews the management 
accounts at its monthly meetings and financial forecasts are 
updated monthly and quarterly. Performance against budget is 
monitored and where any significant deviations are identified 
appropriate action is taken.

Monitoring system used by the Board
The Board as a whole monitors the operation of the system 
of internal control through management reviews of the 
effectiveness of the system of internal control each year. The 
Board has adopted a schedule of matters which are required 
to be brought to it for decision in order to ensure that it 
maintains full and effective control over appropriate strategic, 
financial, organisational and compliance issues, including 
procedures for seeking and obtaining approval for major 
transactions and capital purchases.

The Board reviews the effectiveness of the system of internal 
controls on a continuous basis and considers it appropriate 
for the size of the Group. The review comprises regular 
scrutiny of monthly accounts and reports prepared by 
individual subsidiary companies. The Board also regularly 
reviews and formalises financial authority limits throughout 
the Group. 

Corporate Social Responsibility
The Board considers the social, environmental and ethical 
matters pertinent to the Group, and will review items 
of significance where appropriate. The risk assessment 
procedures in place are designed to highlight any key areas of 
concern including health and safety considerations, employee 
recruitment and retention and environmental issues, with 
controls put in place as necessary.

The Group is pro-active in working with all suppliers to 
ensure compliance with the International Council of Toy 
Industries (ICTI) Code of Business Practices to include child 
and forced labour, working conditions, hours of work, pay, 
non-discrimination and health and safety. Compliance is 
managed through an annual audit process.

Environmental Responsibility
Hornby Group believes that protection of the environment 
is an integral part of good practice and that it satisfies itself 
that all of its operations are conducted with reasonable 
proper regard for the environment. It is committed to 
maintaining, and wherever possible improving, the quality 
of this environment both for the people who work in the 
Group, and for the wider community now and in the future. 
The Group seeks to make the most effective and efficient use 
of all resources, encouraging all members of the Group to 
develop an ecologically sound approach to their work. 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  17

Corporate Governance Statement (continued)

Going Concern
A review of Group business activities and future outlook are 
set out on pages 4 to 7 of the Chief Executive’s Report. The 
financial position of the Group, its cash flows and liquidity 
position are shown in the balance sheet, cash flow statement 
and accompanying notes to the financial statements. The 
principal business risks associated with the business are shown 
on pages 16 to 17, whilst the risks arising from the Group’s 
financial instruments are covered on pages 10 to 11. 

The Company’s Articles of Association (the ‘Articles’) give 
the Board power to appoint directors, but also require 
directors to retire and submit themselves for election at the 
first Annual General Meeting following their appointment. A 
director who retires in this way is eligible for election but is 
not taken into account when deciding how many directors 
should retire by rotation at the Annual General Meeting. The 
Articles themselves may be amended by special resolution of 
the shareholders.

The directors, in their consideration of going concern, have 
reviewed the Group’s future cash flow forecasts and revenue 
projections, which they believe are based on a realistic 
assessment of future business performance.

The Group’s forecasts and projections, taking account of 
reasonable possible changes in trading performance, show 
that the Group should be able to operate within the levels 
of its agreed facilities. Accordingly the directors believe it 
appropriate to prepare the financial statements of the Group 
on a going concern basis.

Takeovers Directive
Pursuant to S992 of the Companies Act 2006, which 
implements the EU Takeovers Directive, the Company 
is required to disclose certain additional information. The 
following gives those disclosures which are not covered 
elsewhere in this Annual Report.

Pursuant to the Articles, at every Annual General Meeting, 
one third of the current directors must retire by rotation.

The Board of Directors is responsible for the management of 
the business of the Company and may exercise all the powers 
of the Company subject to the provisions of the Company’s 
Memorandum of Association and the Articles.

The Articles contain specific provisions and restrictions 
regarding the Company’s power to borrow money. Powers 
relating to the issuing and buying back of shares are also 
included in the Articles and shareholders are asked to renew 
such authorities each year at the AGM. A copy of the Articles 
is available on request from the Company Secretary.

There are a number of agreements that take effect, alter 
or terminate upon a change of control of the Company 
following a takeover, such as commercial contracts, bank 
agreements, property lease arrangements and employees’ 
share plans. None of these are deemed to be significant in 
terms of their potential impact on the business of the Group 
as a whole.

18   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Directors' Remuneration Report

For the year ended 31 March 2010

Introduction
This report has been prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006 and Schedule 8 of the Large and 
Medium Sized Companies and Groups (Accounts and 
Reports) Regulations 2008. The report also meets the 
relevant requirements of the Listing Rules of the Financial 
Services Authority and describes how the Board has applied 
the principles relating to directors’ remuneration in the 
Combined Code. A resolution to approve the report will be 
proposed at the Annual General Meeting of the Company at 
which the financial statements will be approved.

The report has been divided into separate sections for 
audited and unaudited information.

UNAUDITED INFORMATION

Remuneration Committee
The Company has established a Remuneration Committee 
(the ‘Committee’) which is constituted in accordance with the 
recommendations of the Combined Code. The Committee 
is comprised of independent non-executive directors. The 
current members of the Committee are N M Carrington 
(Committee Chairman) and M E Rolfe, both of whom served 
throughout the financial year. 

The Committee meets regularly but more frequently if 
required. During the year four Remuneration Committee 
meetings were held, with both members present at each 
meeting.

Neither of the Committee members has any personal 
financial interest (other than as shareholders), conflicts of 
interests arising from cross-directorships or day-to-day 
involvement in running the business. The Committee makes 
recommendations to the Board. No director plays a part 
in any discussion about their remuneration. The terms of 
reference of the Committee are available from the Company 
Secretary on request.

In determining the directors’ remuneration for the year, 
the Committee consulted F Martin (Chief Executive) about 
its proposals. Hewitt New Bridge Street (‘HNBS’), the 
Committee’s appointed remuneration adviser, continues to 
provide advice to the Committee. HNBS provides no other 
services to the Company.

Remuneration policy for the Executive Directors

General policy
Executive remuneration packages are designed to attract, 
motivate and retain directors of the high calibre needed 
to maintain the Group’s position as a market leader and 

to reward them for enhancing value to shareholders. The 
performance measurement of the executive directors is 
undertaken by the Committee.

There are five main elements of the remuneration package 
for executive directors and senior management:

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

Base salary

Benefits-in-kind

Pension arrangements

Performance-related annual bonus

Performance Share Plan

The Company’s policy is that a substantial proportion of 
the remuneration of the executive directors should be 
performance related. 

Salary and benefits
Executive directors’ base salaries are reviewed annually by the 
Committee taking into account the responsibilities, skills and 
experience of each individual, pay and employment conditions 
within the Company and salary levels within listed companies 
of a similar size. Base salary levels as at 1 April 2009 and 2010 
are as follows:

Director

Role

Salary at
1 April 2010

Salary at
1 April 2009

F Martin
A J Morris

Chief Executive
Finance Director

£256,250
£169,125

£250,000
£165,000

Base salary levels were reviewed during the first quarter of 
2010 and, consistent with the average increase awarded 
across the Group, increased by 2.5% from 1 April 2010.

Policies concerning benefits, including the Group’s company 
car policy, are reviewed periodically. Currently, benefits in 
kind comprise of motor cars and private health cover.

Pension
The executive directors and senior managers are members 
of defined contribution pension schemes and annual 
contributions are calculated by reference to base salaries, with 
neither annual bonuses nor awards under the share incentive 
schemes taken into account in calculating the amounts due. 
The contribution level continues to be 20% of base salary for 
executive directors.

Performance-related annual bonus
Executive directors participate in a performance-related 
bonus scheme. The maximum bonus continues to be capped 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  19

Directors' Remuneration Report (continued)

at 100% of base salary for the Chief Executive and 75% of 
salary for the Finance Director. 

Performance targets are designed both to stretch and 
encourage individuals whilst aligning their interests with that 
of the Group. The performance conditions are divided 80:20 
between Group profit before tax and personal objectives. 
For the Group profit before tax condition, a sliding scale 
range is set around a target level (designed to be stretching 
but realistically achievable). The personal objectives are set at 
the start of the year and are designed to be as objective and 
measurable as possible.

In respect of the year ended 31 March 2010 both of the 
executive directors were entitled to a bonus, details of which 
appear in the table of directors’ emoluments.

Performance Share Plan
The Performance Share Plan (‘PSP’), which was approved 
by shareholders at the 2008 AGM, was introduced as the 
Company’s primary long-term incentive plan to replace the 
short-term incentive plan (‘STIP’). No further awards will be 
made under the STIP although legacy awards continue to vest 
on their original terms.

Under the PSP, awards are made to executive directors and 
selected other executives on the following basis: 

•	

•	

•	

•	

The maximum award level is 150% of base salary per 
annum although awards up to 200% of base salary may 
be granted to an individual in exceptional circumstances 
(e.g. recruitment or retention). The current policy is to 
grant awards over shares worth 100% of salary. 

An award is subject to a total shareholder return (‘TSR’) 
condition and a range of normalised underlying earnings 
per share growth targets, each applying to a separate 
50% of an award and measured over a period of three 
financial years. 

The TSR condition is based on the Company’s underlying 
performance against the constituents of the FTSE 
Small Cap (excluding investment trusts) as at the date of 
grant. 25% of this part of the award will vest if Hornby’s 
TSR is equal to the TSR of the median company, with 
full vesting for top quartile performance. A sliding scale 
operates between these points.

For the EPS part of the award, 25% vests for average 
annual underlying EPS growth of RPI+3% p.a., with full 
vesting for average annual EPS growth of RPI+10% p.a. A 
sliding scale operates between these points.

•	

•	

•	

•	

The Committee is comfortable that the blend of TSR 
and EPS targets continues to provide a good balance 
between incentivising and rewarding strong financial 
performance on the one hand whilst, on the other hand, 
providing a strong and direct alignment with the interests 
of institutional shareholders by rewarding stock market 
outperformance. 

Performance conditions are calculated by independent 
advisers and verified by the Committee.

Executives benefit, in the form of additional cash or 
shares, from the value of dividends paid over the vesting 
period, to the extent that awards vest.

It is currently intended that market purchased shares 
are used to satisfy awards although there is flexibility to 
use new issue and treasury shares within institutional 
shareholder dilution limits. 

Shareholding guidelines
A policy for share ownership guidelines is operated for the 
executive directors and senior executives. For the executive 
directors, the required threshold of share ownership is 100% 
of base salary. Until such time as this level of shareholding is 
achieved, 50% of the net of tax value of awards which vest 
under the PSP are required to be retained. 

Executive Directors’ Service Contracts
The executive directors do not have fixed period contracts.

Frank Martin’s service contract dated 26 February 2001 
includes a notice period of one year to be given by the 
Company and of six months to be given by F Martin. In lieu 
of giving notice the Company may terminate the agreement 
on payment of a lump sum (subject to tax and national 
insurance) equal to the salary and other benefits to which he 
is entitled under this agreement.

Andrew J Morris’s service contract dated 23 November 
2007 includes a notice period of one year to be given by the 
Company and of six months to be given by A J Morris. In lieu 
of giving notice the Company may terminate the agreement 
on payment of a lump sum (subject to tax and national 
insurance) equal to the salary and other benefits to which he 
is entitled under this agreement.

Non-Executive Directors’ Contracts
The remuneration of the non-executive directors is 
determined by the Board (except the Company Chairman’s 
fee, which is set and reviewed by the Remuneration 
Committee) based on the level of fees paid to non-

20   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

executive directors of similar companies and by considering 
independent external advice.

Neil A Johnson was appointed non-executive Chairman 
on 22 December 2000 having initially joined the Board on 1 
July 1998 and receives salary and fees for his services to the 
Company of £90,000 per annum effective 1 April 2007. 80% 
is paid to a third-party consultancy company and 20% treated 
as earnings. N A Johnson’s service contract dated 13 February 
2006, amended March 2007, is subject to termination on 
six months notice to be given by either the Company or 
N A Johnson. In lieu of giving notice the Company may 
terminate the agreement on payment of a lump sum (subject 
to tax and national insurance) equal to the salary to which he 
is entitled under this agreement.

Nigel M Carrington, non-executive director, was 
appointed to the Board on 1 December 2007, and receives 
fees for his services to the Company of £35,000 per annum 
effective 1 December 2007. N M Carrington’s service 

contract dated 3 November 2007 is subject to termination 
on six months notice to be given by either the Company or 
N M Carrington. In lieu of giving notice the Company may 
terminate the agreement on payment of a lump sum (subject 
to tax and national insurance) equal to the fee to which he is 
entitled under this agreement.

Mark E Rolfe, non-executive director, was appointed to the 
Board on 1 January 2008, and receives fees for his services 
to the Company of £35,000 per annum effective 1 January 
2008. M E Rolfe’s service contract dated 22 November 2007 
is subject to termination on six months notice to be given 
by either the Company or M E Rolfe. In lieu of giving notice 
the Company may terminate the agreement on payment of a 
lump sum (subject to tax and national insurance) equal to the 
fee to which he is entitled under this agreement.

None of the non-executive directors receives any pension or 
performance-related pay from the Company. 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  21

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

AUDITED INFORMATION
Directors’ Interests

Interests in shares
The interests of the directors in the shares of the Company in the year were:

At
31 March
2010
number

At
31 March
2009
number

N A Johnson
F Martin
A J Morris
N M Carrington
M E Rolfe

50,000

50,000
236,151 236,151
–
10,000
10,000

5,000
10,000
10,000

All the interests detailed above are beneficial. Apart from the interests disclosed above no directors were interested at any time 
in the year in the share capital of any other group company.

There have been no other changes in the interests set out above between 31 March 2010 and 4 June 2010.

Aggregate Directors’ remuneration
The total amount for directors’ remuneration was as follows:

Emoluments
Money purchase pension contributions

Directors’ detailed emoluments
The emoluments of the directors were as follows:

Chairman:
N A Johnson
Executive:
F Martin
A J Morris
Non-executive:
N M Carrington
M E Rolfe
Former director:
N J Cosh 

2010
£’000

809
84

893

2009
£’000

666
84

750

Salary &
Fees
£

Bonus1
£

Taxable
Benefits2
£

Pension
Contri-
bution
£

2010
Total
£

2009
Total3
£

90,000

–

–

–

90,000

90,000

250,000
165,000

141,500
70,043

13,090
9,382

50,000 454,590 349,563
33,845 278,270 226,803

35,000
35,000

–

–
–

–

–
–

–

–
–

–

35,000
35,000

35,000
35,000

–

13,333

575,000

211,543

22,472

83,845 892,860 749,699

1. 

 The Directors bonus award is based on performance targets. The targets are based on Group underlying profit before tax (80%) and personal objectives 
(20%). Both executive directors achieved 47% (out of a maximum 100%) for the profit before tax element and 95% (out of a maximum 100%) for the 
personal objectives element. 

2. 

 Taxable benefits relate to the provision of a company car and health assurance. 

 The 2009 total column includes pension contributions which were F Martin (£50,000) and A J Morris (£33,845).

3. 
No directors waived emoluments in respect of the year ended 31 March 2010 (2009 – nil).

22   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Performance Share Plan
At 31 March 2010, outstanding awards to directors under the Performance Share Plan were as follows:

Director

F Martin

A J Morris

Award
date

July 2008
July 2009
July 2008
July 2009

Vesting
date

July 2011
July 2012
July 2011
July 2012

Market
price at
Award
date

149.6p
136.0p
149.6p
136.0p

At
1 April
2009

167,112
–
110,924
–

Awarded
during
year

–
183,824
–
121,324

Lapsed
during
year

Vested
during
year

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

At
31 March
2010

167,112
183,824
110,924
121,324

For the awards granted to date, 50% of an award is subject to a TSR condition and 50% is subject to an EPS performance 
condition, both of which are measured over a period of three financial years. For the TSR condition, 25% of this part of the award 
will vest if Hornby’s TSR is equal to the TSR of the median company of the constituents of the FTSE Small Cap (struck at the 
date of grant), with full vesting for top quartile performance, with a sliding scale operating between these points. For the EPS part 
of the award, 25% vests for average annual underlying EPS growth of RPI+3% p.a., with full vesting for average annual EPS growth 
of RPI+10% p.a. with a sliding scale operating between these points. 

Interests in share options
Details of options held by directors at 31 March 2010 are set out below:

Director

Date
of Grant

Options
held at
1 April
2009

Options
granted
during
the year

Options
exercised
during
the year

Options
lapsed
during
the year

Options
held at
31 March
2010

Exercise
price

Exercise
period

F Martin

28 Mar 2002

1,000,000

A J Morris

3 Dec 2007

118,110

–

–

–

–

–

1,000,000

76.8p

(118,110)

–

254.0p

28/03/2005
-28/03/2012
3/12/2010
-3/12/2017

F Martin’s options granted March 2002 were subject to performance criteria requiring profit before interest and tax to exceed 
£4.0 million in the year ended 31 March 2003. This condition has been satisfied.

Performance criteria for options granted to A J Morris required aggregated profit before tax for years ending 31 March 2008 to 
2010 to exceed £32.7 million. This condition has not been satisfied.

The directors above did not exercise any share options during the year and thus no gains were realised (2009 – no gains 
realised).

The market price of the Company’s shares at 31 March 2010 was 126.25p and the range during the year ended 31 March 2010 
was 67.5p to 170.0p.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  23

Directors’ Remuneration Report (continued)

Short Term Incentive Plan
At 31 March 2010, outstanding awards to directors under the Short Term Incentive Plan were as follows:

Director

F Martin

Award
date

Vesting
dates

June 2005
June 2006
June 2008

June 2009
June 2009/10
June 2010/1/2

Market
price at
Award
date

221.0p
266.0p
156.1p

Number
of shares

–
9,424
81,572

A J Morris

June 2008

June 2010/1/2

156.1p

5,106

Value of
entitlement
31 March
2010
£’000

Value of
entitlement
31 March
2009
£’000

–
12
103

115

6

14
13
56

83

3

On 22 June 2009, 20,812 shares of the 2005 Award and 9,423 shares of the 2006 Award were vested to F Martin. The share 
price on this date was 102.1p.

Value of entitlement at 31 March 2010 is based on the closing market price of the Company’s shares of 126.25p (2009 – 68.25p).

Performance graph
The following graph shows the Company’s total shareholder return compared to the TSR of the FTSE Small Cap (excluding 
investment trusts) over the five year period to 31 March 2010. This index has been selected given that the Company is a 
constituent of the FTSE Small Cap.

Total shareholder return 
Source: Datastream

)
£
(
e
u
l
a
V

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

0

31-Mar-05

31-Mar-06

31-Mar-07

31-Mar-08

31-Mar-09

31-Mar-10

This graph shows the value, by 31 March 2010, of £100 invested in Hornby on 31 March 2005 compared with the value of £100 invested in the FTSE 
SmallCap (excluding investment trusts). The other points plotted are the values at intervening financial year-ends.

Hornby

FTSE SmallCap (excluding Investment Trusts)

N M Carrington 
Remuneration Committee Chairman

4 June 2010

24   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 

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

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

•	

•	

•	

select suitable accounting policies and then apply them consistently;

make judgements and accounting estimates that are reasonable and prudent;

state whether applicable IFRSs as adopted by the European Union have been followed, subject to any material departures 
disclosed and explained in the financial statements.

The directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s 
transactions and disclose with reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and the Group and enable 
them to ensure that the financial statements and the Directors’ Remuneration Report comply with the Companies Act 2006 
and, as regards the Group financial statements, Article 4 of the IAS Regulation. They are also responsible for safeguarding the 
assets of the Company and the Group and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of fraud and other 
irregularities.

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

Each of the directors, whose names and functions are listed in the Directors and Corporate Information section, confirm that, to 
the best of their knowledge:

•	

•	

the Group financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the EU, give a true and 
fair view of the assets, liabilities, financial position and profit of the Group; and

the Chief Executive’s Report includes a fair review of the development and performance of the business and the position of 
the Group, together with a description of the principal risks and uncertainties that it faces.

So far as the directors are aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditors are unaware; and each 
director has taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as a director in order to make themself aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the Company’s auditors are aware of that information.

By order of the Board

J W Stansfield 
Company Secretary

4 June 2010

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  25

Independent Auditors’ Report to the 
Members of Hornby Plc

We have audited the financial statements of Hornby Plc for the year ended 31 March 2010 which comprise the Group and 
Company Statement of Comprehensive Income, the Group and Company Balance Sheet, the Statement of Changes in Equity, 
the Group and Company Cash Flow Statement, the Notes to the Cash Flow Statement and the related notes. The financial 
reporting framework that has been applied in their preparation is applicable law and International Financial Reporting Standards 
(IFRSs) as adopted by the European Union.

Respective responsibilities of directors and auditors
As explained more fully in the Directors’ Responsibilities Statement set out on page 25, the directors are responsible for the 
preparation of the financial statements and for being satisfied that they give a true and fair view. Our responsibility is to audit the 
financial statements in accordance with applicable law and International Standards on Auditing (UK and Ireland). Those standards 
require us to comply with the Auditing Practices Board’s Ethical Standards for Auditors.

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

Scope of the audit of the financial statements
An audit involves obtaining evidence about the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements sufficient to give reasonable 
assurance that the financial statements are free from material misstatement, whether caused by fraud or error. This includes an 
assessment of: whether the accounting policies are appropriate to the Group’s and the Parent Company’s circumstances and have 
been consistently applied and adequately disclosed; the reasonableness of significant accounting estimates made by the directors; 
and the overall presentation of the financial statements.

Opinion on financial statements
In our opinion the financial statements:

•	

•	

•	

give a true and fair view of the state of the Group’s and of the Parent Company’s affairs as at 31 March 2010 and of the 
Group’s and the Parent Company’s profit and cash flows for the year then ended;

have been properly prepared in accordance with IFRSs as adopted by the European Union; and

have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006 and, as regards the Group financial 
statements, Article 4 of the lAS Regulation.

Opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006
In our opinion:

•	

•	

•	

the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited has been properly prepared in accordance with the 
Companies Act 2006;

the information given in the Directors’ Report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the financial statements; and

the information given in the Corporate Governance Statement set out on pages 
and risk management systems and about share capital structures is consistent with the financial statements.

13 to 18 with respect to internal control 

26   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Matters on which we are required to report by exception
We have nothing to report in respect of the following:

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

•	

•	

•	

•	

•	

adequate accounting records have not been kept by the Parent Company, or returns adequate for our audit have not been 
received from branches not visited by us; or

the Parent Company financial statements and the part of the Directors’ Remuneration Report to be audited are not in 
agreement with the accounting records and returns; or

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

we have not received all the information and explanations we require for our audit; or

a corporate governance statement has not been prepared by the Parent Company.

Under the Listing Rules we are required to review:

•	

•	

the directors’ statement, set out on page 

18, in relation to going concern; and

the parts of the Corporate Governance Statement relating to the Company’s compliance with the nine provisions of the June 
2008 Combined Code specified for our review.

Graham Lambert (Senior Statutory Auditor) 
for and on behalf of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP 
Chartered Accountants and Statutory Auditors 
Gatwick

4 June 2010

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  27

 
Group and Company Statement 
of Comprehensive Income

for the year ended 31 March 2010

  Group

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

  Company
2010
£’000

2009
£’000

Note

2

64,736
(32,636)

61,569
(32,168)

1,361
–

32,100
(2,702)
(13,602)
(8,243)
(1,549)

29,401
(2,454)
(13,641)
(7,976)
1,569

6,004
20
(809)

6,899
27
(805)

1,361
–
–
(892)
(112)

357
228
(201)

1,540
–

1,540
–
–
(1,147)
(60)

333
5,930
(280)

5,215

6,121

384

5,983

4

2
3
3

4

5,708
(98)
(395)
–

6,331
535
(370)
(375)

5,215

6,121

384
–
–
–

384

6,240
–
–
(257)

5,983 

5

(1,530)

(1,909)

(102)

(118)

3,685

4,212

282

5,865

848
19

867

(813)
(336)

(1,149)

4,552

3,063

–
221

221

503

–
(835)

(835)

5,030

7
7

9.76p
9.60p

11.17p
10.98p

Revenue
Cost of sales

Gross profit
Distribution costs
Selling and marketing costs
Administrative expenses
Other operating (expenses)/income

Operating profit
Finance income
Finance costs

Profit before taxation

Analysed as:
Underlying profit before taxation
Net foreign exchange impact on intercompany loans
Amortisation of intangibles
Restructuring and abortive due diligence costs

Profit before taxation

Taxation

Profit for the year after taxation

Other comprehensive income
Cash flow hedges, net of tax
Currency translation differences

Other comprehensive income for the year, net of tax

Total comprehensive income for the year

Earnings per ordinary share
Basic
Diluted

All of the activities of the Group are continuing.

28   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
 
 
Group and Company Balance Sheet 

at 31 March 2010

  Group

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

  Company
2010
£’000

2009
£’000

Note

Assets
Non-current assets
Goodwill
Intangible assets
Property, plant and equipment
Investments
Deferred tax assets

Current assets
Inventories
Trade and other receivables
Derivative financial investments
Current tax assets
Cash and cash equivalents

Liabilities
Current liabilities
Borrowings
Derivative financial instruments
Trade and other payables
Provisions
Current tax liabilities

Net current assets/(liabilities)

Non-current liabilities
Borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets

Equity attributable to owners of the parent
Share capital
Share premium
Capital redemption reserve
Translation reserve
Hedging reserve
Other reserves
Retained earnings

Total equity

8
9
10
11
20

12
13
19
17
14

13,416
5,227
10,020
–
140

13,624
5,689
10,523
–
67

–
–
1,387
33,758
30

–
–
1,433
32,989
18

28,803

29,903

35,175

34,440

12,273
13,291
750
175
8,998

14,368
13,119
–
124
427

35,487

28,038

(1,718)
18
19
(3,342)
15 (10,363)
(391)
16
(1,020)
17

(5,138)
(3,960)
(8,270)
(538)
(999)

(16,834)

(18,905)

18,653

9,133

–
40
–
141
45

226

–
–
(308)
–
(144)

(452)

(226)

–
8
–
9
8

25

–
–
(158)
–
–

(158)

(133)

18 (10,547)
(281)
20

(7,181)
(301)

(5,373)
(196)

(5,580)
(201)

(10,828)

(7,482)

(5,569)

(5,781)

36,628

31,554

29,380

28,526

21

380
5,340
55
(514)
168
1,688
29,511

380
5,278
55
(533)
(680)
1,688
25,366

380
5,340
55
(1,369)
–
19,145
5,829

380
5,278
55
(1,590)
–
19,145
5,258

36,628

31,554

29,380

28,526

The financial statements on pages 28 to 32 were approved by the Board of directors on 4 June 2010 and were signed on its 
behalf by:

F Martin 
Director

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  29

Statement of Changes in Equity

Years ended 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2009

Group

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
£’000

Capital
redemp-
tion
reserve
£’000

Trans-
lation
reserve
£’000

Hedging
reserve
£’000

Other
reserves
£’000

Retained
earnings
£’000

Total
equity
£’000

Balance at 1 April 2008

380

5,278

55

(197)

133

1,688

24,125 31,462

Total comprehensive income for the year

Share-based payments
Purchase of own shares for employee 
benefit trust
Shares vested from employee benefit trust
Dividends

–

–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–

(336)

(813)

–

–
–
–

–

–

–
–
–

–

–

–

–
–
–

–

4,212

3,063

224

224

(284)
294
(3,205)

(284)
294
(3,205)

(2,971)

(2,971)

Balance at 31 March 2009

380

5,278

55

(533)

(680)

1,688

25,366 31,554

Total comprehensive income for the year
Issue of shares
Share-based payments
Shares vested from employee benefit trust

–
–
–
–

–

–
62
–
–

62

–
–
–
–

–

19
–
–
–

–

848
–
–
–

–

–
–
–
–

–

3,685
–
289
171

4,552
62
289
171

460

522

Balance at 31 March 2010

380

5,340

55

(514)

168

1,688

29,511 36,628

Retained earnings includes £655,000 at 31 March 2010 (2009 – £672,000) which is not distributable and relates to a 1986 
revaluation of land and buildings.

Company

Share
capital
£’000

Share
premium
£’000

Capital
redemp-
tion
reserve
£’000

Trans-
lation
reserve
£’000

Other
reserves
£’000

Retained
earnings
£’000

Total
equity
£’000

Balance at 1 April 2008

380

5,278

55

(755) 19,145

2,374 26,477

Total comprehensive income for the year
Share-based payments
Dividends

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

(835)
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

5,865
224
(3,205)

5,030
224
(3,205)

(2,981)

(2,981)

Balance at 31 March 2009

380

5,278

55

(1,590) 19,145

5,258 28,526

Total comprehensive income for the year
Issue of shares
Share-based payments

–
–
–

–

–
62
–

62

–
–
–

–

221
–
–

–

–
–
–

–

282
–
289

289

503
62
289

351

Balance at 31 March 2010

380

5,340

55

(1,369) 19,145

5,829 29,380

30   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
 
 
 
Group and Company Cash Flow Statement

for the Year Ended 31 March 2010

Cash flows from operating activities
Cash generated from operations
Interest received
Interest paid
Tax (paid)/received

Net cash generated from operating activities

Cash flows from investing activities
Purchase of trade assets and related costs
Proceeds from sale of property, plant and equipment
Purchase of property, plant and equipment
Dividends received

Net cash (used in)/generated from investing activities

Cash flows from financing activities
Proceeds from issuance of ordinary shares
Proceeds from issue of loans
Purchase of own shares by Short Term Incentive Plan
Finance lease capital payments
Dividends paid to Company’s shareholders
Loans to subsidiary undertakings

  Group

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

  Company
2010
£’000

2009
£’000

14,385
20
(809)
(1,653)

11,377
27
(805)
(2,594)

633
228
(201)
(107)

350
190
(280)
49

11,943

8,005

553

309

–
2
(3,827)
–

(8,495)
2
(4,763)
–

(3,825)

(13,256)

–
–
–
–

–

62
3,333
–
(19)
–
–

–
8,684
(284)
(19)
(3,205)
–

62
–
–
–
–
(592)

–
–
(51)
5,740

5,689

–
–
–
–
(3,205)
(2,737)

Net cash generated from/(used in) financing activities

3,376

5,176

(530)

(5,942)

Effect of exchange rate movements

Net increase/(decrease) in cash and cash equivalents
Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at beginning of the year

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at end of year

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts consist of:
Cash and cash equivalents
Bank overdrafts

Cash, cash equivalents and bank overdrafts at end of year

445

(1,717)

11,939
(3,060)

(1,792)
(1,268)

8,879

(3,060)

8,998
(119)

427
(3,487)

8,879

(3,060)

14

37
8

45

45
–

45

(56)

–
8

8

8
–

8

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  31

Notes to the Cash Flow Statement 

Cash flow from operating activities

Profit before taxation
Interest payable
Interest receivable
Dividends receivable
Amortisation of intangible assets
Depreciation
(Profit)/loss on disposal of property, plant and equipment
Share-based payments
(Gain)/loss on financial derivatives
(Decrease)/increase in provisions
Decrease/(increase) in inventories
(Increase)/decrease in trade and other receivables
Increase/(decrease) in trade and other payables

  Group

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

  Company
2010
£’000

2009
£’000

5,215
809
(20)
–
395
4,376
(1)
289
(24)
(147)
2,095
(167)
1,565

6,121
805
(27)
–
370
4,315
25
224
6
38
(1,735)
(2,535)
3,770

384
201
(228)
–
–
46
–
112
–
–
–
(29)
147

5,983
280
(190)
(5,740)
–
44
–
60
–
–
–
21
(108)

Cash generated from operations

14,385

11,377

633

350

32   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Notes to the Financial Statements 

1.  SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Accounting policies for the year ended 31 March 2010
The principal accounting policies adopted in the preparation of these financial statements are set out below. These policies have 
been consistently applied to all the years presented, unless otherwise stated.

BASIS OF PREPARATION
The financial information for the year ended 31 March 2010 has been prepared in accordance with International Financial Reporting 
Standards (‘IFRS’) as adopted by the European Union (‘EU’), International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (‘IFRIC’) 
interpretations and with those parts of the Companies Act 2006 applicable to companies reporting under IFRS. The consolidated 
financial statements have been prepared under the historical cost convention, as modified by the revaluation of certain financial 
liabilities (including derivative instruments) at fair value.

The  preparation  of  financial  statements  in  conformity  with  IFRS  requires  the  use  of  estimates  and  assumptions  that  affect  the 
reported amounts of assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses 
during the reporting period. Although these estimates are based on management’s best knowledge of the amount, event or actions, 
actual results ultimately may differ from those estimates.

BASIS OF CONSOLIDATION
Subsidiaries are all entities over which the Group has the power to govern the financial and operating policies generally accompanying 
a shareholding of more than one half of the voting rights. Subsidiaries are fully consolidated from the date on which control is 
transferred to the Group. They are de-consolidated from the date that control ceases.

The purchase method of accounting is used to account for the acquisition of subsidiaries by the Group. The cost of an acquisition is 
measured as the fair value of the assets given, equity instruments issued and liabilities incurred or assumed at the date of exchange, 
plus costs directly attributable to the acquisition. Identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and contingent liabilities assumed in a 
business combination are measured initially at their fair values at the acquisition date, irrespective of the extent of any minority 
interest. The excess of the cost of acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the identifiable net assets acquired is 
recorded as goodwill.

Intercompany transactions, balances and unrealised gains on transactions between Group companies are eliminated. Unrealised 
losses are also eliminated but considered an impairment indicator of the asset transferred. Accounting policies of subsidiaries have 
been changed where necessary to ensure consistency with the policies adopted by the Group.

ADOPTION OF NEW AND REVISED STANDARDS

Interpretations effective in the current year
IAS  1  (revised),  ‘Presentation  of  financial  statements’.  The  revised  standard  prohibits  the  presentation  of  items  of  income  and 
expenses (that is ‘non-owner changes in equity’) in the statement of changes in equity, requiring ‘non-owner changes in equity’ to be 
presented separately from owner changes in equity. All ‘non-owner changes in equity’ are required to be shown in a performance 
statement.

Entities can choose whether to present one performance statement (the statement of comprehensive income) or two statements 
(the income statement and statement of comprehensive income).

The Group has elected to present one statement: a statement of comprehensive income.

IFRS  8,  ‘Operating  segments’.  IFRS  8  replaces  IAS  14,  ‘Segment  reporting’.  It  requires  a  ‘management  approach’  under  which 
segment information is presented on the same basis as that used for internal reporting purposes. This has resulted in an increase 
in the number of reportable segments presented, as the previously reported rest of Europe segment has been split into Spain, Italy 
and rest of Europe segments.

Other segments are reported in a manner consistent with the internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. 
The chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the Board that makes strategic decisions.

IFRS 2 (amendment) ‘Share-based payment’. This revision of an existing standard deals with vesting conditions and cancellations. It 

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  33

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

clarifies that vesting conditions are service conditions and performance conditions only. Other features of a share-based payment 
are not vesting conditions.

Amendment to IFRS 7, ‘Financial instruments: Disclosures’ – The amendment increases the disclosure requirements about fair value 
measurement and reinforces existing principles for disclosure about liquidity risk. The amendment introduces a three-level hierarchy 
for fair value measurement disclosure and requires some specific quantitative disclosures for financial instruments in the lowest level 
of the hierarchy. In addition, the amendment clarifies and enhances existing requirements for the disclosure of liquidity risk primarily 
requiring a separate liquidity risk analysis for derivative and non-derivative financial liabilities.

Amendment to IAS 23 ‘Borrowing costs’ – The amendment requires that borrowing costs incurred in the construction of qualifying 
assets commenced after 1 April 2009 are capitalised.

Interpretations effective in the current year but not relevant
The following interpretations to published standards are mandatory for accounting periods beginning on or after 1 April 2009 but 
are not relevant to the Group’s operations:

IFRIC 13 ‘Customer loyalty programmes’

IFRIC 15 ‘Agreements for the construction of real estate’

Amendment to IAS 32 ‘Financial Instruments’ and IAS 1 ‘Presentation of financial statements’

Standards, amendments and interpretations to existing standards that are not yet effective and have not been early adopted by the 
Group
The following standards and amendments to existing standards have been published and are mandatory for the Group’s accounting 
periods beginning on or after 1 April 2010 or later periods, but the Group has not early adopted them:

IFRS 3 Revised (Business combinations)

IAS 39 Amendment (Financial instruments: Recognition and measurement on ‘Eligible hedged items’)

IAS 38 Amendment (Intangible assets)

The directors anticipate that the adoption of these Standards and Interpretations in future periods will have no material impact on 
the financial statements of the Group.

34   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

RECONCILIATION OF STATUTORY TO NON STATUTORY INFORMATION IN THE CHAIRMAN’S 
STATEMENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE’S REPORT
Underlying/adjusted profit before taxation is shown to present a clearer view of the trading performance of the business. Management 
has identified the following non-trivial adjustments, whose inclusion in earnings could distort underlying trading performance: net 
foreign exchange gains/losses on intercompany loans which are dependent on exchange rates from time to time and can be volatile, 
amortisation of intangibles which result from historic acquisitions and restructuring and in 2009 abortive due diligence costs which 
are not expected to recur.

Profit before taxation
Foreign exchange on intercompany loans

including impact of foreign exchange collar*

Amortisation of intangibles (note 9)
Restructuring costs
Abortive due diligence costs
Underlying/adjusted profit before taxation

  Group

2010 
£’000
5,215

98
395
–
–
5,708

2009 
£’000
6,121

(535)
370
154
221
6,331

The Statement of Comprehensive Income discloses foreign exchange movements and amortisation of intangibles in other operating 
income/(expenses). Restructuring and abortive due diligence costs were disclosed in administrative expenses.

Reconciliation of net debt:

Cash
Total borrowings (note 18)
Net debt

8,998

427
(12,152) (12,187)
(3,154) (11,760)

Hornby Hobbies Limited, the Group’s UK trading subsidiary, has granted Euro denominated intercompany loans to sister subsidiary 
companies that are translated into Sterling at statutory period ends thereby creating exchange gains or losses. In order to mitigate 
the exchange exposure Hornby Hobbies Limited has entered a foreign exchange collar contract to sell an equal number of Euros 
in October 2011 that will be revalued by an approximately similar but opposite Sterling value at each period end.

* The foreign exchange collar is for a principal amount of Euro 16.5 million and is in place to minimise exposure to Euro denominated intercompany loans.

The amount shown above comprises losses on translation of intercompany loans of £593,000 (2009 – gain of £2,459,000), offset 
by a gain on marking to market the foreign exchange collar of £495,000 (2009 – loss of £1,924,000).

Beneficial  impact  of  the  collar  as  at  3  October  2011  is  expected  to  be  a  minimum  of  £340,000  if  the  exchange  rate  exceeds 
the strike rate of €1.4300:£, increasing to a maximum of £823,000 at the participation cap rate of €1.3725:£ compared to the 
intercompany loans Sterling valuation at 31 March 2007 (€1.4734:£).

As at 31 March 2010 the profit impact is a gain of £749,000. Therefore in the period 1 April 2010 to 30 September 2011 there will 
be an adjustment to the Statement of Comprehensive Income between a £74,000 profit and £409,000 charge. The derivative will 
become an increasingly efficient hedge as the contract approaches maturity.

The fluctuation of foreign exchange and resultant impact on intercompany loans and foreign exchange collar is set out below:

Date
06 Aug 2007 Transaction
31 Mar 2008
31 Mar 2009
31 Mar 2010
Total gain/(loss) to profit before tax

Foreign 
Exchange 
Rate 
€ : £
1.47
1.25
1.08
1.12

€16.5 million 
intercompany 
loan in 
Sterling 
£’000
11,199
13,156
15,288
14,722

Gain/(loss) 
on loan 
£’000
–
1,957
4,089
3,523

Fair value 
collar 
£’000
–
(1,346)
(3,270)
(2,774)

Net  
gain/(loss)  
in Profit 
before tax  
£’000
–
611
208
(70)
749

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  35

 
Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

REVENUE RECOGNITION
Revenue comprises the fair value of the sale of goods net of value added tax, rebates and discounts, royalty income and after 
eliminating sales within the Group.

Revenue is recognised as follows:

(a)  Sales of goods

Sales of goods are recognised when a Group entity has despatched products to the customer.

(b) Royalty income

Royalty income is recognised on an accruals basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreements.

(c)  Sales returns

 The Group establishes a sales returns provision at the period end that reduces income in anticipation of customer returns of 
goods sold in the period.

Dividend income in the Company is recognised upon receipt.

Management  fees  are  recognised  in  the  Company  on  an  accruals  basis  in  relation  to  costs  incurred  on  behalf  of  subsidiary 
companies.

OPERATING SEGMENTS
Operating  segments  are  reported  in  a  manner  consistent  with  the  internal  reporting  provided  to  the  chief  operating  decision-
maker. The chief operating decision-maker, who is responsible for allocating resources and assessing performance of the operating 
segments, has been identified as the Board of the Group that makes strategic decisions.

Operating  profit  of  each  reporting  segment  includes  revenue  and  expenses  directly  attributable  to  or  able  to  be  allocated  on 
a  reasonable basis. Segment assets and  liabilities are those operating  assets and  liabilities  directly attributable  to  or that can  be 
allocated on a reasonable basis.

BUSINESS COMBINATIONS
Goodwill arising on a business combination before 1 April 2004, the date of transition to IFRS, is not subject to amortisation but 
tested  for  impairment  on  an  annual  basis.  Intangible  assets  arising  on  a  business  combination  subsequent  to  1  April  2004,  are 
separately identified and valued, and subject to amortisation over their estimated economic lives. The carrying value of goodwill is 
reduced by any impairment amount recorded.

GOODWILL
Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the Group’s share of the net identifiable assets of 
the acquired subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is tested annually for impairment and carried at cost less accumulated 
impairment losses. Impairment losses on goodwill are not reversed. Gains and losses on the disposal of an entity include the carrying 
amount of goodwill relating to the entity sold.

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

36   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
 
 
INTANGIBLES

(a)  Brand names

Brand names are capitalised at fair value as at the date of acquisition. They are carried at their fair value less accumulated 
amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the 
fair value of trade names over their estimated economic life of 15-20 years.

(b) Customer lists

Customer lists are capitalised at fair value as at the date of acquisition. They are carried at their fair value less accumulated 
amortisation and any accumulated impairment losses. Amortisation is calculated using the straight-line method to allocate the 
fair value of customer relationships over their estimated economic life of 10 years.

(c)  Research and development

Research  expenditure  is  recognised  as  an  expense  as  incurred.  Costs  incurred  on  development  projects  (relating  to  the 
design and testing of new products) are recognised as intangible assets when it is probable that the project will be a success, 
considering its commercial and technological feasibility, and costs can be measured reliably. Other development expenditures 
are recognised as an expense as incurred.

The following useful lives have been determined for the intangible assets acquired:

Brand names
Customer lists
Rent free period

15-20 years
10 years
0.5 years

Brand names have been valued on a “relief from royalty” basis.

Customer lists have been valued according to discounted incremental operating profit expected to be generated from each of them 
over their useful lives.

Rent free period has been valued over the outstanding rental period.

PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT
Land and buildings are shown at cost less accumulated depreciation. Assets revalued prior to the transition to IFRS use this valuation 
as deemed cost at this date. Other fixed assets are shown at historical cost less accumulated depreciation. Cost includes the original 
purchase price of the asset and the costs attributable to bringing the asset to its working condition for its intended use.

Depreciation  is  provided  at  rates  calculated  to  write  off  the  cost  or  valuation  of  each  asset,  on  a  straight-line  basis  (with  the 
exception of tools and moulds) over its expected useful life to their residual values, as follows:

Freehold buildings
Plant and equipment
Motor vehicles

–
–
–

30 to 50 years
5 to 10 years
4 years

Freehold land is not depreciated.

Tools and moulds are depreciated at varying rates in line with the related estimated product sales on an item-by-item basis up to 
a maximum of 4 years.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  37

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

IMPAIRMENT OF NON-CURRENT ASSETS
Assets that have an indefinite useful life, for example goodwill, are not subject to amortisation and are tested annually for impairment. 
Assets that are subject to amortisation are reviewed for impairment when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the 
carrying value may not be recoverable. An impairment loss is recognised for the amount by which the asset’s carrying value exceeds 
its recoverable amount, which is considered to be the higher of its value in use and fair value less costs to sell. In order to assess 
impairment, assets are grouped into the lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash flows (cash-generating units). 
Cash flows used to assess impairment are discounted using appropriate rates taking into account the cost of equity and any risks 
relevant to those assets.

INVESTMENTS
In the Company’s financial statements, investments in subsidiary undertakings are stated at cost less any impairment. Investments 
revalued using the equity method of valuation prior to the transition to IFRS use this valuation as deemed cost at this date.

INVENTORIES
Inventories are stated at the lower of cost and net realisable value. Cost is predominantly determined using the first-in, first-out 
(FIFO) method. Alternative methods may be authorised when proven to generate no material difference. The cost of finished goods 
and work in progress comprises raw materials, direct labour, other direct costs and related production overheads (based on normal 
operating capacity).

Net realisable value is based on anticipated selling price less further costs expected to be incurred to completion and disposal. 
Provisions are made against those stocks considered to be obsolete or excess to requirements on an item-by-item basis.

The replacement cost, being based upon latest invoice prices before the balance sheet date, is considered to be higher than the 
balance sheet value of inventories at the year end due to price rises and exchange fluctuations. It is not considered practicable to 
provide an accurate estimate of the difference at the year end date.

FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
Financial  assets  and  financial  liabilities  are  recognised  in  the  Group’s  balance  sheet  when  the  Group  becomes  a  party  to  the 
contractual provisions of the instrument.

FINANCIAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Financial liabilities and equity instruments are classified according to the substance of the contractual arrangements entered into.

An equity instrument is any contract that evidences a residual interest in the assets of the Group after deducting all of its liabilities. 
Equity instruments issued by the Group are recorded at the proceeds received, net of direct issue costs.

TRADE RECEIVABLES
Trade receivables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently measured at amortised cost less provision for impairment. 
A provision for impairment is established when there is objective evidence that the Group will not be able to collect all amounts 
due according to the original terms of receivables. The amount of the provision is recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income.

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

TAXATION INCLUDING DEFERRED TAX
Corporation tax, where payable, is provided on taxable profits at the current rate.

The taxation liabilities of certain Group undertakings are reduced wholly or in part by the surrender of losses by fellow Group 
undertakings.

Deferred tax is provided on all temporary differences at the balance sheet date between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and 
their carrying amounts for financial reporting purposes.

38   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Deferred tax assets are recognised for all deductible temporary differences, carry-forward of unused tax assets and unused tax 
losses, to the extent that it is probable that taxable profit will be available against which the deductible temporary differences, and 
the carry-forward of unused tax assets and unused tax losses can be utilised. The carrying amount of deferred income tax assets 
is reviewed at each balance sheet date and reduced to the extent that it is no longer probable that sufficient taxable profit will be 
available to allow all or part of the deferred income 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 balance sheet date. 
Tax relating to items recognised directly in equity is recognised in equity and not in the Statement of Comprehensive Income.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities have not been discounted.

KEY AREAS OF JUDGEMENT
The Group makes estimates and assumptions concerning the future. The resulting accounting estimates will, by definition, seldom 
equal the related actual results. The estimates and assumptions that may have an element of risk causing an adjustment to the 
carrying amounts of assets and liabilities within the next financial year include provisions for stock obsolescence, customer returns, 
doubtful debts, impairment reviews, fair values of share-based payments, fair values of derivatives and recoverability of deferred tax 
assets. All of the above are estimated with reference to historical data, expectation of future events and reviewed regularly.

Further details in relation to impairment reviews are in note 8 and in relation to share-based payments in note 22.

Liabilities and provisions are recognised when the Group has a present legal or constructive obligation as a result of past events 
and it is more likely than not that an outflow of resources will be required to settle the obligation and the amount has been reliably 
estimated. The expense relating to any liability or provision is presented in the Statement of Comprehensive Income net of any 
reimbursement.

Provisions are measured at the present value of management’s best estimate of the expenditure required to settle the present 
obligation at the balance sheet date. If material, provisions are determined by discounting the expected future cash flows of the 
Group at rates that reflect current market assessments of the time value of money.

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS
Cash and cash equivalents includes cash in hand, deposits at all banks, other liquid investments with original maturities of three 
months or less and bank overdrafts. Bank overdrafts or loans where there is no right of set off are shown within borrowings in 
current or non-current liabilities on the balance sheet as appropriate.

SHARE-BASED PAYMENT
Hornby Plc operates three share-based plans:

–  Share Option Scheme

–  Short Term Incentive Plan

–  Performance Share Plan

The Group issues equity-settled share-based payments to certain employees. Equity-settled share-based payments are measured at 
fair value (excluding the effect of non market-based vesting conditions) at the date of grant. The fair value determined at the grant 
date of the equity-settled share-based payments is expensed on a straight-line basis over the vesting period, based on the Group’s 
estimate of shares that will eventually vest and adjusted for the effect of non market-based vesting conditions.

Share Option Scheme
Fair  value  is  measured  by  use  of  the  Black  Scholes  model.  The  expected  life  used  in  the  models  has  been  adjusted,  based  on 
management’s best estimate, for the effects of non-transferability, exercise restrictions, and behavioural considerations.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  39

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

Short Term Incentive Plan
The Short Term Incentive Plan (STIP) investment is carried at the cost of the shares held. This investment in own shares is presented 
as a deduction from shareholders’ funds.

The matched element of the STIP which has a condition of employment attached to it is recorded at fair value and spread over the 
vesting period of the shares and recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income over this period.

Performance Share Plan
Awards are granted to executive directors in shares worth 100% of salary, with lower levels of grant for less senior executives.

The Performance Share Plan (PSP) incorporates two 3-year performance conditions

–  Total Shareholder Return (TSR)

–  Earnings per share (EPS) growth targets

each applying to a separate 50% of the award and vest on the 3rd anniversary of grant as appropriate.

The TSR fair value and the projected EPS award fair value are spread over the vesting period of the shares and recognised in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income in the appropriate year.

EMPLOYEE BENEFIT COSTS
During the year the Group operated a defined contribution money purchase pension scheme under which it pays contributions 
based upon a percentage of the members’ basic salary. The scheme is administered by trustees either appointed by the Company 
or elected by the members (to constitute one third minimum).

Contributions to defined contribution pension schemes are charged to the Statement of Comprehensive Income according to the 
year in which they are payable.

Further information on pension costs and the scheme arrangements is provided in note 24.

SHARE CAPITAL AND SHARE PREMIUM
Ordinary shares issued are shown as share capital at nominal value. The premium received on the sale of shares in excess of the 
nominal value is shown as share premium within shareholders’ equity.

LEASES
The Group enters into operating and finance leases.

Assets  held  under  finance  leases  are  initially  reported  at  the  fair  value  of  the  asset  with  an  equivalent  liability  categorised  as 
appropriate under creditors due within or after one year. The assets are depreciated over the shorter of the lease term and their 
useful economic lives. Finance charges are allocated to accounting periods over the period of the lease to produce a constant rate of 
return on the outstanding balance. Rentals are apportioned between finance charges and the reduction of the liability, and allocated 
to net interest.

Assets  under  operating  leases  are  charged  on  a  straight-line  basis  to  the  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income  over  the  lease 
term.

40   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

BORROWING COSTS
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs incurred. Borrowings are subsequently carried at amortised 
cost; any difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the redemption value is recognised in the Statement of 
Comprehensive Income over the period of the borrowings using the effective interest method.

Fees paid on the establishment of loan facilities are recognised as transaction costs of the loan to the extent that it is probable that 
some or all of the facility will be drawn down. In this case, the fee is deferred until the draw-down occurs. To the extent that there is 
no evidence that it is probable that some or all of the facility will be drawn down, the fee is capitalised as a prepayment for liquidity 
services and amortised over the period of the facility to which it relates.

FINANCIAL RISK MANAGEMENT

Financial risk factors
The Group’s operations expose it to a variety of financial risks that include the effects of changes in foreign currency exchange 
rates, market interest rates, credit risk and its liquidity position. The Group has in place a risk management programme that seeks 
to limit adverse effects on the financial performance of the Group by using foreign currency financial instruments. In addition other 
instruments are used to manage the Group’s interest rate exposure.

(a)  Foreign exchange risk

The Group is exposed to foreign exchange risks against Sterling primarily on transactions in Hong Kong Dollars and US Dollars. 
It enters into forward currency contracts to hedge the cash flows of its product sourcing operation (ie it buys HK Dollars 
forward in exchange for Sterling) and looks forward 6-12 months on a rolling basis at forecasted purchase volumes. The policy 
framework requires hedging between 80 per cent and 100 per cent of anticipated import purchases that are denominated in 
HK Dollars.

The  Group  has  granted  Euro  denominated  intercompany  loans  to  subsidiary  companies  that  are  translated  to  Sterling  at 
statutory period ends thereby creating exchange gains or losses. In order to mitigate the exchange exposure the Group has 
entered  a foreign exchange collar contract to sell  an  equal number of Euros in October 2011  that will be revalued by an 
approximately similar but opposite Sterling value at each period end.

(b) Interest rate risk

The Group finances its operations through a mixture of retained profits and bank borrowings. The Group borrows, principally 
in Sterling, at floating rates of interest to meet short term funding requirements. At the year end the Group’s only borrowings 
were finance leases, a revolving credit facility, bank overdrafts and a fixed term loan agreement. An interest rate hedge is in place 
to protect the Group against future interest rate rises.

(c)  Credit risk

The Group manages its credit risk through a combination of internal credit management policies and procedures and external 
credit insurance.

(d) Liquidity risk

The Group re-arranged its borrowings into a revolving credit facility (£10 million – expiring July 2012) and a fixed-term loan 
agreement (£12 million – expiring July 2014). Previously the Group had a fixed term loan (£10 million) and an overdraft facility 
(£12 million). The Group’s policy on liquidity risk is to ensure that sufficient cash is available to fund future operations. The 
peak level of net debt in the year to March 2010 was £16 million. The Board manages exposure to liquidity risk by maintaining 
adequate facilities to meet the future needs of the business. Those needs are determined by monitoring forecast and actual cash 
flows. The Group regularly monitors its performance against its banking covenants to ensure compliance.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  41

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
To manage exposure to foreign currency risk, the Group uses foreign currency forward contracts and a foreign exchange collar, and 
to manage interest rate risk, the Group uses an interest rate swap, also known as derivative financial instruments.

Derivatives are initially recognised at fair value on the date a derivative contract is entered into and are subsequently re-measured at 
their fair value. The Group documents at the inception of the transaction the relationship between hedging instruments and hedged 
items, as well as its risk management objective and strategy for undertaking various hedge transactions. The Group also documents 
its assessment, both at hedge inception and on an ongoing basis, of whether the derivatives that are used in hedging transactions 
are highly effective in offsetting changes in fair values of the hedged items.

(a)  Cash flow hedge

The effective portion of changes in the fair value of derivatives that are designated and qualify as cash flow hedges are recognised 
in equity. The gain or loss relating to the ineffective portion is recognised immediately in the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income within operating expenses.

Amounts accumulated in equity are recycled in the Statement of Comprehensive Income in the periods when the hedged 
item affects profit or loss (for instance when the forecast purchase that is hedged takes place). The gain or loss relating to 
the  effective  portion  of  forward  foreign  exchange  contracts  hedging  import  purchases  is  recognised  in  the  Statement  of 
Comprehensive Income within ‘cost of sales’. However, when the forecast transaction that is hedged results in the recognition 
of a non-financial asset (for example, inventory) the gains and losses previously deferred in equity are transferred from equity 
and included in the initial measurement of the cost of the asset. The deferred amounts are ultimately recognised in cost of 
goods sold in the case of inventory.

When  a  hedging  instrument  expires  or  is  sold,  or  when  a  hedge  no  longer  meets  the  criteria  for  hedge  accounting,  any 
cumulative  gain  or  loss  existing  in  equity  at  that  time  remains  in  equity  and  is  recognised  when  the  forecast  transaction  is 
ultimately  recognised  in  the  Statement  of  Comprehensive  Income.  When  a  forecast  transaction  is  no  longer  expected  to 
occur, the cumulative gain or loss that was reported in equity is immediately transferred to the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income.

(b) Derivatives that do not qualify for hedge accounting

Certain derivative instruments including the foreign exchange collar are not considered effective and do not qualify for hedge 
accounting. Such derivatives are classified as at fair value through the Statement of Comprehensive Income, and changes in the 
fair value of derivative instruments that do not qualify for hedge accounting are recognised immediately in the Statement of 
Comprehensive Income.

FAIR VALUE ESTIMATION
The fair values of short-term deposits, loans and overdrafts with a maturity of less than one year are assumed to be approximate 
to their book values.

The fair values of the derivative financial instruments used for hedging purposes are disclosed in note 19.

42   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

FOREIGN CURRENCY
Transactions denominated in foreign currencies are recorded in Sterling at the exchange rates ruling at the date of the transaction. 
Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting from such transactions are recognised in the Statement of Comprehensive Income, 
except when deferred in equity as qualifying cash flow hedges. Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies 
are translated at the exchange rates ruling at the balance sheet date and any exchange differences are taken to the Statement of 
Comprehensive Income.

Foreign  exchange  gains/losses  relating  to  foreign  currency  loans  and  other  foreign  exchange  adjustments  are  included  within 
operating profit and shown separately as part of operating income/expenses.

On consolidation, Statement of Comprehensive Income and cash flows of foreign subsidiaries are translated into Sterling using 
average rates that existed during the accounting period. The balance sheets of foreign subsidiaries are translated into Sterling at the 
rates of exchange ruling at the balance sheet date. Gains or losses arising on the translation of opening and closing net assets are 
recognised in the Statement of Changes in Equity.

DIVIDEND DISTRIBUTION
Final dividends are recorded in the financial statements in the period in which they are approved by the Company’s shareholders. 
Interim dividends are recorded in the period in which they are approved and paid.

2.  SEGMENTAL REPORTING
Management has determined the operating segments based on the reports reviewed by the Board (chief operating decision-maker) 
that are used to make strategic decisions.

The Board considers the business from a geographic perspective. Geographically, management considers the performance in the 
UK, US, Spain, Italy and rest of Europe.

Although the US segment does not meet the quantitative thresholds required by IFRS 8, management has concluded that this 
segment should be reported, as it is closely monitored by the Board as it is outside Europe.

The Company is a holding company operating in the UK with its results given in the Company Statement of Comprehensive Income 
on page 28 and its assets and liabilities given in the Company Balance Sheet on page 29. Other Company information is provided 
in the other notes to the accounts.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  43

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

Year ended 31 March 2010

Revenue 

– External
– Other segments

Operating profit/(loss)
– External
Finance cost 

  – Other Segments

Finance income – External

– Other segments

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Analysed as:
Underlying profit before taxation
Net foreign exchange impact on 

intercompany loans

Amortisation of intangibles

Profit before taxation

Taxation
Profit/(loss) for the year

Segment assets
Less intercompany receivables
Add tax assets
Total assets
Segment liabilities
Less intercompany payables
Add tax liabilities
Total liabilities
Other segment items
Capital expenditure
Depreciation
Net foreign exchange on
intercompany loans

Amortisation of intangible assets
Share-based payment
– charge to Statement of
  Comprehensive Income (note 22)

UK 
£’000
46,451
2,972

4,574
(768)
(230)
17
804
4,397

USA 
£’000
2,763
–

(47)
–
(10)
–
–
(57)

Spain 
£’000
3,559
914

440
(19)
(201)
2
–
222

Rest of 
Europe 
£’000
6,443
–

Total 
Reportable
 Segments 
£’000
64,736
6,478

135
(16)
(95)
–
–
24

6,004
(809)
(804)
20
804
5,215

Italy 
£’000
5,520
2,592

902
(6)
(268)
1
–
629

Intra 
Group 
£’000
–
(6,478)

–
–
804
–
(804)
–

4,758

(57)

222

727

58

5,708

(98)
(263)
4,397

(1,115)
3,282

57,175
(18,645)
116
38,646
23,653
(788)
960
23,825

2,816
2,984

98
263

289

–
–
(57)

1
(56)

1,755
–
–
1,755
1,819
(1,742)
–
77

16
15

–
–

–

–
–
222

(71)
151

10,194
(1,314)
141
9,021
8,536
(7,085)
96
1,547

798
572

–
–

–

–
(98)
629

(285)
344

12,274
(802)
24
11,496
8,703
(7,569)
241
1,375

384
788

–
98

–

–
(34)
24

(98)
(395)
5,215

(60)
(36)

(1,530)
3,685

–

–
–
–

–
–

3,353
(15)
34
3,372
4,426
(3,592)
4
838

84,751
(20,776)
315
64,290
47,137
(20,776)
1,301
27,662

(20,776)
20,776
–
–
(20,776)
20,776
–
–

11
17

–
34

4,025
4,376

98
395

–

289

–
–

–
–

–

Group 
£’000
64,736
–

6,004
(809)
–
20
–
5,215

5,708

(98)
(395)
5,215

(1,530)
3,685

63,975
–
315
64,290
26,361
–
1,301
27,662

4,025
4,376

98
395

289

All transactions between Group companies are on normal commercial terms and an arm’s length basis.

44   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
 
 
 
Year ended 31 March 2009

Revenue –
 –

 External
 Other segments

Operating profit
Finance cost –

 External

 –  Other Segments

Finance income – External

– Other segments

Profit/(loss) before taxation

Analysed as:
Underlying profit before taxation
Net foreign exchange impact
  on intercompany loans 
Amortisation of intangibles
Restructuring and abortive due
  diligence costs
Profit before taxation

Taxation
Profit/(loss) for the year

Segment assets
Less intercompany receivables
Add tax assets
Total assets
Segment liabilities
Less intercompany payables
Add tax liabilities
Total liabilities
Other segment items
Capital expenditure
(including acquisitions)
Depreciation
Net foreign exchange on
intercompany loans

Amortisation of intangible assets
Share-based payment
– charge to Statement of
  Comprehensive Income (note 22)

UK 
£’000
43,497
3,582

5,773
(749)
(230)
22
1,042
5,858

5,909

535
(247)

(339)
5,858

(1,694)
4,164

52,209
(21,045)
67
31,231
22,591
(367)
1,189
23,413

4,422

2,839

(535)
247

224

USA 
£’000
3,253
–

21
–
(16)
3
–
8

8

–
–

–
8

(4)
4

2,065
(2)
–
2,063
2,252
(2,198)
1
55

23

11

–
–

–

Rest of 
Europe 
£’000
6,456
–

Total 
Reportable
 Segments 
£’000
61,569
6,911

110
(30)
(130)
–
–
(50)

6,899
(805)
(1,042)
27
1,042
6,121

Italy 
£’000
4,434
2,553

327
(14)
(386)
2
–
(71)

Intra 
Group 
£’000
–
(6,911)

–
–
1,042
–
(1,042)
–

Spain 
£’000
3,929
776

668
(12)
(280)
–
–
376

412

21

(19)

6,331

–
(92)

–
(71)

(16)
(87)

–
(31)

–
(50)

535
(370)

(375)
6,121

(75)
(125)

(1,909)
4,212

–

–
–

–
–

–
–

12,967
(1,024)
83
12,026
9,997
(8,686)
22
1,333

3,655
(35)
32
3,652
4,601
(3,707)
14
908

80,595
(22,845)
191
57,941
47,932
(22,845)
1,300
26,387

(22,845)
22,845
–
–
(22,845)
22,845
–
–

492

1,200

448

989

–
–

–

–
92

–

21

28

–
31

6,158

4,315

(535)
370

–

224

–

–

–
–

–

–
–

(36)
376

(120)
256

9,699
(739)
9
8,969
8,491
(7,887)
74
678

Group 
£’000
61,569
–

6,899
(805)
–
27
–
6,121

6,331

535
(370)

(375)
6,121

(1,909)
4,212

57,750
–
191
57,941
25,087
–
1,300
26,387

6,158

4,315

(535)
370

224

All transactions between Group companies are on normal commercial terms and an arm’s length basis.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  45

 
 
 
Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

3.  FINANCE (COSTS)/INCOME

Finance costs:
Interest paid on bank borrowings
Interest paid on intercompany borrowings
Interest paid on finance leases

Finance income:
Bank interest
Interest received on intercompany loans
Dividend received

Net finance (costs)/income

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

(798)
–
(11)
(809)

20
–
–
20
(789)

(793)
–
(12)
(805)

27
–
–
27
(778)

–
(201)
–
(201)

–
228
–
228
27

–
(280)
–
(280)

–
190
5,740
5,930
5,650

46   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

4.  OTHER OPERATING (INCOME)/EXPENSE

The following items have been included in arriving at profit before taxation:
Staff costs (note 23)
Inventories:
– Cost of inventories recognised as an expense (included in cost of sales)
– Write down (release)/charge
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment:
– Owned assets
– Under finance leases
(Profit)/loss on disposal of assets
Other operating lease rentals payable:
– Plant and machinery
– Property
Repairs and maintenance expenditure on
 property, plant and equipment
Research and development expenditure
Foreign exchange losses/(gains):
– On trading transactions
– Net impact on intercompany loans
Impairment of trade receivables

Other operating expenses/(income):
– Foreign exchange on trading transactions
– Net impact of foreign exchange on intercompany loans
– Movement on fair value of ineffective hedge
– Share-based payment charge
– Amortisation of intangible assets

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009 
 £’000

9,875

9,059

947

834

33,814
(34)

32,490
502

4,356
20
(1)

175
411

4,293
22
25

175
417

236
1,220

208
1,429

767
98
95

(1,634)
(535)
202

791
98
(24)
289
395
1,549

(1,634)
(535)
6
224
370
(1,569)

–
–

46
–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
112
–
112

–
–

44
–
–

–
–

–
–

–
–
–

–
–
–
60
–
60

Services provided by the Group’s auditor and network firms
During  the  year  the  Group  (including  its  overseas  subsidiaries)  obtained  the  following  services  from  the  Group’s  auditors  and 
network firms as detailed below:

Fees payable to the Company’s auditors for the audit of parent company and 
consolidated accounts
Fees payable to the Company’s auditors and its associates for other services:
– The auditing of accounts of subsidiaries of the Company pursuant to legislation
– Other services pursuant to legislation
– Services relating to corporate finance transactions
– Services relating to taxation

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

87

88

58
19
–
29
193

68
20
173
38
387

12

–
19
–
10
41

12

–
20
147
16
195

In the current financial year the level of non audit fees was well within the 1:1 ratio to audit fees as per Audit committee policy. In 
the previous financial year the level of non audit fees exceeded the ratio due to due diligence activities, undertaken with the prior 
approval of the Committee.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  47

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

5.  TAXATION

Analysis of tax charge in the year

Current tax
– UK taxation
   adjustments in respect of prior years
– overseas taxation
   adjustment in respect of prior years

Deferred tax (note 20)
– current year
– overseas taxation

Total tax charge to the Statement of Comprehensive Income

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

1,203
(27)
436
9
1,621

(61)
(30)
(91)
1,530

1,671
1
228
–
1,900

22
(13)
9
1,909

144
(29)
(5)
9
119

(17)
–
(17)
102

104
(2)
(8)
–
94

24
–
24
118

The tax for the year differs to the standard rate of corporation tax in the UK (28%). Any differences are explained below:

Profit before taxation
Profit on ordinary activities multiplied by rate of corporation tax in UK of  
28% (2009 – 28%)
Effects of:
Adjustment to tax in respect of prior years
Income not taxable
Difference on overseas rates of tax
Impact of overseas losses not recognised
Other
Total taxation

6.  DIVIDENDS

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000
5,215

2009 
£’000
6,121

2010 
£’000
384

2009  
£’000
5,983

1,460

1,714

108

1,675

(18)
–
76
42
(30)
1,530

1
–
24
118
52
1,909

(20)
–
–
–
14
102

(2)
(1,607)
–
–
52
118

No final paid per share in relation to year ended 31 March 2009 (2009 – paid 5.8p per share in relation to 
year ended 31 March 2008)
No interim paid per share in relation to year ended 31 March 2010 (2009 – paid 2.7p per share in relation 
to year ended 31 March 2009)

Group and Company

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

–

–
–

2,187

1,018
3,205

In addition, the directors are proposing a final dividend in respect of the financial year ended 31 March 2010 of 5.0p per share which 
will absorb £1,903,205 of shareholders’ funds to be paid on 20 August 2010 to shareholders who are on the register of members 
on 16 July 2010.

48   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

7.  EARNINGS PER SHARE
Basic earnings per share is calculated by dividing the earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders by the weighted average number 
of ordinary shares outstanding during the year, excluding those held in the employee share trust (note 22) which are treated as 
cancelled.

For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all 
dilutive potential ordinary shares that have satisfied the appropriate performance criteria at 31 March 2010.

Reconciliations of the earnings and weighted average number of shares used in the calculations are set out below.

Reported
Basic EPS
Earnings attributable to ordinary shareholders
Effect of dilutive securities
Options
Diluted EPS

Underlying
Earnings attributable to shareholders
Amortisation of intangibles
Net foreign exchange translation adjustments net of tax
Restructuring and abortive due diligence costs
Underlying basic EPS
Underlying diluted EPS

2010 
Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares 
000’s

Earnings 
£’000

Per-share 
amount 
pence

Earnings 
£’000

2009 
Weighted 
average 
number of 
shares 
000’s

Per-share  
amount 
pence

3,685

37,772

9.76

4,212

37,724

11.17

602
38,374

(0.16)
9.60

3,685

627
38,351

(0.19)
10.98

4,212

3,685
395
71
–
4,151
4,151

37,772

37,772
38,374

9.76
1.04
0.19
–
10.99
10.82

4,212
370
(385)
301
4,498
4,498

37,724

37,724
38,351

11.17
0.98
(1.02)
0.79
11.92
11.73

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  49

 
Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

8.  GOODWILL
GROUP
COST
At 1 April 2009
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March 2010
AGGREGATE IMPAIRMENT
At 1 April 2009 and 31 March 2010
Net book amount at 31 March 2010

GROUP
COST
At 1 April 2008
Additions
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March 2009
AGGREGATE IMPAIRMENT
At 1 April 2008 and 31 March 2009
Net book amount at 31 March 2009

£’000

13,624
(208)
13,416

–
13,416

£’000

9,925
2,915
784
13,624

–
13,624

Annual impairment reviews performed have not identified any impairment of goodwill.

The goodwill has been allocated to cash-generating units and a summary of carrying amounts of goodwill by geographical segments 
(representing cash-generating units) at 31 March 2010 is as follows:

GROUP
At 31 March 2010
At 31 March 2009

UK 
£’000
3,992
3,992

USA 
£’000
8
10

Spain 
£’000
3,990
3,990

Italy 
£’000
4,846
5,032

Rest of 
Europe 
£’000
580
600

Total  
£’000
13,416
13,624

Goodwill allocated to the above cash-generating units of the Group has been measured based on synergies each geographical 
segment is expected to gain from the business combination.

The key assumptions in the value in use calculation:

– 

– 

– 

 Budgeted revenue growth was based on expected levels of activity given results to date, together with growth based upon 
internal improvements, marketing initiatives, and expected economic and market conditions.

 Budgeted operating profit was calculated based upon management’s expectation of operating costs appropriate to the growing 
business.

 The relative risk adjusted (or ‘beta’) discount rates applied to reflect the risk inherent in hobby based product companies. In 
determining the risk adjusted discount rate, management has applied an adjustment for risk of such companies in the industry 
on average determined using the betas of comparable hobby based product companies.

The forecasts are based on approved budgets for the year ending 31 March 2011. Subsequent cash flows have been increased in 
line with historic local territory gross domestic product. For cash flows after 5 years, growth is no higher than long-term growth 
rate for each country. No reasonable probable change in assumptions would give rise to any impairment. The cash flows were 
discounted using a pre-tax discount rate of around 12% which management believes is appropriate for all territories due to a similar 
risk profile.

50   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

9. 

INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GROUP
ACQUIRED INTANGIBLE ASSETS
COST
At 1 April 2009
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March 2010
ACCUMULATED AMORTISATION
At 1 April 2009
Charge for the year
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March 2010
Net book amount at 31 March 2010

COST
At 1 April 2008
Acquisitions
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March 2009
ACCUMULATED AMORTISATION
At 1 April 2008
Charge for the year
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March 2009
Net book amount at 31 March 2009
Net book amount at 31 March 2008

Brand 
names
 £’000

Customer 
lists 
£’000

Rent free 
period 
£’000

Total  
£’000

5,083
(68)
5,015

574
250
(13)
811
4,204

2,151
2,676
256
5,083

290
234
50
574
4,509
1,861

1,473
(18)
1,455

293
145
(6)
432
1,023

679
729
65
1,473

136
136
21
293
1,180
543

37
(1)
36

37
–
(1)
36
–

32
–
5
37

32
–
5
37
–
–

6,593
(87)
6,506

904
395
(20)
1,279
5,227

2,862
3,405
326
6,593

458
370
76
904
5,689
2,404

All amortisation charges in the year have been charged through other operating expenses.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  51

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

10.  PROPERTY, PLANT AND EQUIPMENT

GROUP
COST
At 1 April 2009
Exchange adjustments
Additions at cost
Disposals
At 31 March 2010

ACCUMULATED 
At 1 April 2009
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2010
Net book amount at 31 March 2010

GROUP
COST
At 1 April 2008
Exchange adjustments
Additions at cost
Acquisitions
Disposals
At 31 March 2009

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2008
Exchange adjustments
Charge for the year
Disposals
At 31 March 2009
Net book amount at 31 March 2009

Freehold
 land 
and
 buildings 
£’000

Plant and 
equipment 

£’000

Motor 
vehicles 
£’000

Tools and 
moulds 
£’000

3,057
(24)
–
–
3,033

1,100
(4)
56
–
1,152
1,881

4,681
(38)
294
(12)
4,925

2,945
(21)
380
(11)
3,293
1,632

382
(2)
45
(7)
418

223
(1)
36
(7)
251
167

Total 
£’000

45,452
(318)
4,025
(181)
48,978

37,332
(254)
3,686
(162)
40,602

DEPRECIATION
34,929
(167)
4,376
(180)
38,958
10,020

30,661
(141)
3,904
(162)
34,262
6,340

Freehold
 land
 and
 buildings
 £’000

Plant and
equipment 

£’000

Motor 
vehicles 
£’000

Tools and 
moulds 
£’000

2,919
87
51
–
–
3,057

1,032
14
54
–
1,100
1,957

5,137
130
549
–
(1,135)
4,681

3,643
84
353
(1,135)
2,945
1,736

268
8
114
–
(8)
382

194
2
35
(8)
223
159

31,176
739
4,012
1,432
(27)
37,332

26,271
517
3,873
–
30,661
6,671

Total 
£’000

39,500
964
4,726
1,432
(1,170)
45,452

31,140
617
4,315
(1,143)
34,929
10,523

At 31 March 2008

1,887

1,494

74

4,905

8,360

Freehold land amounting to £786,000 (2009 – £786,000) has not been depreciated.

52   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
Assets held by the Group under finance leases have the following net book amount:

Cost
Aggregate depreciation
Net book amount

2010 
£’000
167
(61)
106

2009  
£’000
167
(41)
126

Assets held by the Group under finance leases are motor vehicles.

The Group has taken advantage of the exemption under IFRS 1 to use the valuation of certain land and buildings at the date of 
transition as deemed cost. All other assets are stated at cost.

COMPANY
COST
At 1 April 2009
Additions
At 31 March 2010

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2009
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2010
Net book amount at 31 March 2010

COMPANY
COST
At 1 April 2008
Additions
At 31 March 2009

ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION
At 1 April 2008
Charge for the year
At 31 March 2009
Net book amount at 31 March 2009

At 31 March 2008

The Company does not hold any assets under finance leases.

Freehold
 land and
 buildings
 £’000

Plant and
equipment 

£’000

2,428
–
2,428

996
45
1,041
1,387

4
–
4

3
1
4
–

Freehold
 land and
 buildings
 £’000

Plant and
equipment
 £’000

2,377
51
2,428

952
44
996
1,432

1,425

4
–
4

3
–
3
1

1

Total  
£’000

2,432
–
2,432

999
46
1,045
1,387

Total  
£’000

2,381
51
2,432

955
44
999
1,433

1,426

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  53

 
Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

11.  INVESTMENTS
COMPANY
The movements in the net book value of interests in subsidiary undertakings are as follows:

At 1 April 2009
Capital contribution relating to share-based payment
Net increase in loans to subsidiary undertakings
At 31 March 2010

At 1 April 2008
Capitalisation of subsidiary
Capital contribution relating to share-based payment
Net increase in loans to subsidiary undertakings
At 31 March 2009

Interests in 
subsidiary 
undertakings 
at valuation 
£’000
27,931
177
–
28,108

Loans to 
subsidiary 
undertakings 
at cost
£’000
5,058
–
592
5,650

25,985
1,782
164
–
27,931

4,103
–
–
955
5,058

Total  
£’000
32,989
177
592
33,758

30,088
1,782
164
955
32,989

Interest was charged on loans to subsidiary undertakings at Euribor + 2% pa, subsequently increased to Sterling 3-month Libor + 
3.6%.

Loans are unsecured and exceed five years maturity.

PRINCIPAL GROUP SUBSIDIARY UNDERTAKINGS
Details of the principal subsidiary undertakings of the Company, which are included in the consolidated financial statements, are 
set  out  below.  Hornby  Hobbies  Limited,  Hornby  España  S.A.  and  Hornby  Italia  s.r.l.  are  engaged  in  the  development,  design, 
sourcing and distribution of models. Hornby America Inc., Hornby France S.A.S. and Hornby Deutschland GmbH are distributors 
of models.

Hornby Hobbies Limited
Hornby America Inc.
Hornby España S.A
Hornby Italia s.r.l.
Hornby France S.A.S.
Hornby Deutschland GmbH

Country of 

incorporation Description of shares held

Proportion of nominal value 
of issued shares held

Group

Company

Great Britain
USA
Spain
Italy
France
Germany

Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares
Ordinary shares

%
100
100
100
100
100
100

%
100
100
100
100
100
100

54   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

12.  INVENTORIES

Raw materials
Work in progress
Finished goods

13.  TRADE AND OTHER RECEIVABLES

CURRENT:
Trade receivables
Less: provision for impairment of receivables
Trade receivables – net
Other receivables
Prepayments

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000
287
38
11,948
12,273

2009 
£’000
534
103
13,731
14,368

2010 
£’000
–
–
–
–

2009  
£’000
–
–
–
–

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

11,859
(284)
11,575
343
1,373
13,291

12,370
(338)
12,032
171
916
13,119

–
–
–
–
40
40

–
–
–
–
8
8

Concentrations  of  credit  risk  with  respect  to  trade  receivables  are  limited  due  to  the  Group’s  customer  base  being  large  and 
unrelated. Due to this, management believes there is no further credit risk provision required in excess of the normal provision for 
doubtful receivables. Credit insurance policies are in place in Hornby Hobbies Limited, Hornby America Inc., Hornby España S.A., 
Hornby Italia s.r.l., Hornby France S.A.S. and Hornby Deutschland GmbH covering trade receivables at 31 March 2010 to the value 
of £9.5 million (2009 – £10.4 million).

Gross trade receivables can be analysed as follows:

Fully performing
Past due
Impaired
Trade receivables

2010 
£’000
10,250
1,263
346
11,859

2009  
£’000
10,199
1,701
470
12,370

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  55

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

As of 31 March 2010, trade receivables of £1,263,000 (2009 – £1,701,000) were past due but not impaired. These relate to a 
number of independent customers for whom there is no recent history of default. The ageing analysis of these trade receivables is 
as follows:

1 – 120 days
> 120 days

2010 
£’000
1,135
128
1,263

2009  
£’000
1,549
152
1,701

As of 31 March 2010, trade receivables of £346,000 (2009 – £470,000) were impaired and provided for. The amount of provision 
was £284,000 (2009 – £338,000) as of 31 March 2010.

Significant financial difficulties of the receivable, probability that the receivable will enter bankruptcy or financial reorganisation are 
considered indications that the trade receivable is impaired.

The ageing of these receivables is as follows:

1 – 120 days
> 120 days

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

At 1 April
Provision for receivables impairment
Receivables written off during the year as uncollectible
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March

2010 
£’000
90
256
346

2010 
£’000
338
95
(139)
(10)
284

2009  
£’000
190
280
470

2009  
£’000
203
202
(107)
40
338

The charge relating to the increase in provision has been included in ‘administrative expenses’ in the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income.

The carrying amounts of the Group and Company trade and other receivables are denominated in the following currencies:

Sterling
Euro
US dollar
HK dollar

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000
7,862
4,780
536
113
13,291

2009 
£’000
6,638
5,791
457
233
13,119

2010 
£’000
40
–
–
–
40

2009  
£’000
7
1
–
–
8

56   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

14.  CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS

Cash at bank and in hand

15.  TRADE AND OTHER PAYABLES

CURRENT:
Trade payables
Other taxes and social security
Other payables
Accruals

16.  PROVISIONS

Sales returns
At 1 April
Charged to Statement of Comprehensive Income revenue
Utilised in year
At 31 March

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000
8,998

2009 
£’000
427

2010 
£’000
45

2009  
£’000
8

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

5,246
1,359
1,940
1,818
10,363

3,935
1,024
1,955
1,356
8,270

–
10
–
298
308

–
15
–
143
158

  Group
2010 
£’000

  Company

2009 
£’000

2010 
£’000

2009  
£’000

538
927
(1,074)
391

500
1,050
(1,012)
538

–
–
–
–

–
–
–
–

Provision is made for future sales returns based on historical trends. The provision is expected to be utilised within one year from 
the balance sheet date.

17.  CURRENT TAX ASSETS & LIABILITIES

Current tax assets
Corporation tax recoverable – overseas

Current tax liabilities
UK Corporation tax liability
Overseas Corporation tax liability

  Group

  Company

2010 
£’000

2009
 £’000

2010
 £’000

2009  
£’000

175

124

141

693
327
1,020

910
89
999

–
144
144

9

–
–
–

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  57

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

18.  BORROWINGS

Secured borrowing at amortised cost
Bank overdrafts
Bank loan
Finance leases
Loan from subsidiary undertakings

Total borrowings
Amount due for settlement within 12 months
Amount due for settlement after 12 months

The Group complied with all loan covenants during the year.

Analysis of borrowings by currency:

Group
31 March 2010
Bank overdrafts
Bank loan
Finance leases

31 March 2009
Bank overdrafts
Bank loan
Finance leases

  Group

  Company

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

119
12,033
113
–
12,265

1,718
10,547
12,265

3,487
8,700
132
–
12,319

5,138
7,181
12,319

–
–
–
5,373
5,373

–
5,373
5,373

–
–
–
5,580
5,580

–
5,580
5,580

Sterling
£’000

Euros
£’000

Total
£’000

–
11,500
113
11,613

3,432
8,700
132
12,264

119
533
–
652

55
–
–
55

119
12,033
113
12,265

3,487
8,700
132
12,319

The other principal features of the Group’s borrowings are as follows:

At 31 March 2010 the Group had a revolving credit facility of £10 million expiring July 2012 and a 5-year fixed term loan agreement 
of  £12  million  with  repayments  scheduled  to  July  2014.  The  future  interest  rates  of  these  facilities  are  Libor  +  2.85%  for  the 
revolving credit facility and Libor + 3.6% for the fixed term loan.

The average effective interest rate on bank overdrafts approximated to 2.35% (2009 – 4.52%) per annum and is determined based 
on 1.0% above 3-month Libor.

The weighted average interest rates paid during the year were as follows:

Bank overdrafts

2010
%
2.35

2009
%
4.52

Undrawn borrowing facilities
At 31 March 2010, the Group had available £10.3 million (2009 – £4.1 million) of undrawn committed borrowing facilities in respect 
of which all conditions precedent had been met. In addition, European subsidiaries had available £3.7 million (2009 – £3.1 million) 
of undrawn import credit line facilities that could be obtained with security being given against trade receivables.

58   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

19.  FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS
The Group’s policies and strategies in relation to risk and financial instruments are explained in the Directors’ Report. Accounting 
policies used to account for financial instruments are detailed in note 1. 

Group
Carrying values of derivative financial instruments
Foreign exchange collar
Forward foreign currency contracts – cash flow hedges
– cash flow hedge
Interest rate swap  

  Assets

  Liabilities

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

–
750
–
750

–
–
–
–

(2,774)
(51)
(517)
(3,342)

(3,270)
(259)
(431)
(3,960)

The hedged forecast transactions denominated in foreign currency are expected to occur at various dates during the next 12 months. 
Gains and losses recognised in reserves on forward foreign exchange contracts as of 31 March 2010 are recognised in the Statement 
of Changes in Equity in the period or periods during which the hedged forecast transaction affects the Statement of Comprehensive 
Income, which is within 12 months from the balance sheet date.

At 31 March 2010 outstanding forward currency contracts were as follows:

Hong Kong $
US$
Euros

2010
000’s
145,986
5,190
871

2009
000’s
125,000
116
445

The notional principal amount of the outstanding interest rate swap contract at 31 March 2010 was £4.6 million (2009 – £8.7 
million). At 31 March 2010, the interest rate swap fixes the interest rate on £4.6 million of the bank loan disclosed in note 18 to 
6.22%. The loss recognised in the interest rate swap included in the hedging reserve as of 31 March 2010 will be continuously 
released to the Statement of Comprehensive Income until the maturity of the swap. The £6.9 million remainder of the bank loan 
disclosed in note 18 incurs interest based on 3-month Libor established quarterly in advance.

The total fair value above for forward foreign currency contracts and the interest rate swap comprises £182,000 asset (2009 – 
£690,000 liability), £168,000 asset (2009 – £680,000 liability) has been effectively hedged at 31 March 2010 and therefore charged 
to reserves in accordance with IAS 39. The asset balance of £14,000 (2009 – £10,000 liability) was the ineffective hedged portion 
and was included within operating expenses.

In  accordance  with  IAS  39,  the  Group  has  reviewed  all  contracts  for  embedded  derivatives  that  are  required  to  be  separately 
accounted for if they do not meet certain requirements set out in the standard. No embedded derivatives have been identified.

All derivative financial investments are Level 2 in the Fair Value Hierarchy.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  59

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

Fair values of non-derivative financial assets and liabilities
For the Group and the Company, as at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2009, there is no difference between the carrying amount and 
fair value of each of the following classes of financial assets and liabilities, principally due to their short maturity: investments, trade 
and other receivables, cash at bank and in hand, trade and other payables and current borrowings. Bank deposits attract interest 
within 0.5% of the ruling market rate. There is no significant difference between the fair value and carrying amount of non-current 
borrowings as the impact of discounting is not significant.

The Company has no derivative financial instruments.

Maturity of non-current financial liabilities

GROUP
Between one and two years (note 18)
Between two and five years (note 18)

Between one and two years (note 18)
Between two and five years (note 18)

COMPANY
More than five years (note 18)

The minimum lease payments under finance leases fall due as follows:

GROUP
Not later than one year
Later than one year but not more than five

Future finance charges on finance leases
Present value of finance lease liabilities

Bank
loan
£’000
2,724
7,757
10,481

Bank
loan
£’000
2,176
4,892
7,068

Finance
leases
£’000
18
48
66

Finance
leases
£’000
47
66
113

2010
Debt
£’000
5,373

2010
£’000
52
68
120
(7)
113

2010
Total
£’000
2,742
7,805
10,547

2009
Total
£’000
2,223
4,958
7,181

2009
Debt
£’000
5,580

2009
£’000
30
120
150
(18)
132

60   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Financial Instruments

Interest rate sensitivity
The Group is exposed to interest rate risk as the Group borrows funds at both fixed and floating interest rates. The exposure to 
these borrowings varies during the year due to the seasonal nature of cash flows relating to sales.

In order to measure risk, floating rate borrowings and the expected interest cost is forecast on a monthly basis and compared to 
budget using management’s expectations of a reasonably possible change in interest rates.

The effect on both income and equity based on exposure to borrowings at the balance sheet date for a 1% increase in interest rates 
is £117,000 (2009 – £132,000), before tax. A 1% fall in interest rates give the same but opposite effect.

1% increase in interest rates

Borrowings

Income and Equity 
Sensitivity

2010
£’000
117

2009
£’000
132

Foreign currency sensitivity
The Group is primarily exposed to US Dollars, Hong Kong Dollars and the Euro. The following table details how the Group’s income 
and equity would increase on a before tax basis, given a 10% revaluation in the respective currencies against £ and in accordance 
with IFRS 7 all other variables remaining constant. A 10% devaluation in the value of £ would have the opposite effect.

The 10% change represents a reasonably possible change in the specified foreign exchange rates in relation to £.

US and HK dollars
Euros

Income and Equity 
Sensitivity

2010
£’000
911
343
1,254

2009
£’000
1,131
215
1,346

Capital risk management
The Group’s objectives when managing capital are to safeguard the Group’s ability as a going concern in order to provide returns 
for shareholders and benefits for other stakeholders and to maintain an optimal capital structure to reduce the cost of capital.

In order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amount of dividends paid to shareholders, return 
capital to shareholders, issue new shares or sell assets to reduce debt.

The Group monitors capital on the basis of the gearing ratio. The ratio is calculated as net debt divided by total capital. Net debt is 
calculated as total borrowings as shown in the consolidated balance sheet less cash and cash equivalents. Total capital is calculated 
as ‘equity’ as shown in the balance sheet plus net debt.

Total borrowings (note 18)
Less:
Total cash and cash equivalents (note 14)
Net Debt
Total Equity
Total Capital
Gearing

2010
£’000
12,265

2009
£’000
12,319

(8,998)
3,267
36,628
39,895
8%

(427)
11,892
31,554
43,446
27%

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  61

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

20.  DEFERRED TAX
Deferred tax is calculated in full on temporary differences under the liability method using a tax rate of 28% (2009 – 28%).

The movement on the deferred tax account is as shown below:

At 1 April
Charge to Statement of Comprehensive Income (note 5)
– origination and reversal of temporary differences
Exchange adjustments
At 31 March

  Group

  Company

2010
£’000
234

(91)
(2)
141

2009
£’000
223

9
2
234

2010
£’000
183

(19)
2
166

2009
£’000
159

24
–
183

Deferred tax assets have been recognised in respect of all tax losses and other temporary differences giving rise to deferred tax 
assets because it is probable that those assets will be recovered.

No  deferred  tax  is  provided  for  tax  liabilities  which  would  arise  on  the  distribution  of  profits  retained  by  overseas  subsidiaries 
because there is currently no intention that such profits will be remitted.

The movements in deferred tax assets and liabilities during the year are shown below.

Deferred tax assets and liabilities are only offset where there is a legally enforceable right of offset.

Deferred tax liabilities

At 1 April 2009
Credit to Statement of Comprehensive 
Income
At 31 March 2010
At 1 April 2008
Credit to Statement of Comprehensive 
Income
At 31 March 2009

Group

Accelerated
capital
allowances
£’000
91

Revaluation
£’000
188

Other
£’000
22

Total
£’000
301

Revaluation
£’000
188

Company

Accelerated
capital
allowances
£’000
13

(5)
183
193

(5)
188

(7)
84
120

(29)
91

(8)
14
33

(11)
22

(20)
281
346

(45)
301

(5)
183
193

(5)
188

–
13
13

–
13

Total
£’000
201

(5)
196
206

(5)
201

Of the total deferred tax liability of £281,000, £5,000 was due within one year for the Group (2009 – £5,000) and £5,000 for the 
Company (2009 – £5,000).

62   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Deferred tax assets

GROUP
At 1 April 2009
Credit to Statement of Comprehensive Income
At 31 March 2010
At 1 April 2008
Charge/(credit) to Statement of Comprehensive Income
At 31 March 2009
Net deferred tax liability
At 31 March 2010
At 31 March 2009

Short-term
incentive
plan
£’000

Group

Aquisition
intangibles
£’000

Company
Short-term
incentive
plan
£’000

Other
£’000

Total
£’000

(45)
(23)
(68)
(122)
77
(45)

–
(48)
(48)
–
–
–

(22)
(2)
(24)
(1)
(21)
(22)

(67)
(73)
(140)
(123)
56
(67)

141
234

(18)
(12)
(30)
(47)
29
(18)

166
183

The deferred tax liability arising on the revaluation of freehold land and buildings in 1986 cannot be offset against deferred tax 
assets. Therefore, the deferred tax asset and deferred tax liability at 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2009 have been recognised 
separately.

GROUP
Deferred tax comprises:
Accelerated capital allowances
Other temporary differences
Overseas taxation
Deferred tax liability

COMPANY
Deferred tax comprises:
Accelerated capital allowances
Other timing differences
Deferred tax liability

2010

2009

Recognised
£’000

Not
recognised
£’000

Recognised
£’000

Not
recognised
£’000

84
67
(10)
141

–
–
–
–

91
121
22
234

–
–
–
–

2010

2009

Recognised
£’000

Not
recognised
£’000

Recognised
£’000

Not
recognised
£’000

13
153
166

–
–
–

13
170
183

–
–
–

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  63

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

21.  SHARE CAPITAL

GROUP AND COMPANY
Authorised:
50,000,000 (2009 – 50,000,000) ordinary shares of 1p each

Allotted and fully paid:

Ordinary shares of 1p each
At 1 April
Allotted under share option schemes
At 31 March

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

500

500

2010

2009

Number of
shares
37,989,100
75,000
38,064,100

£’000
380
–
380

Number of
shares
37,989,100
–
37,989,100

£’000
380
–
380

At 31 March 2010 options granted under the Company’s share option schemes were outstanding as follows:

Date granted
28 March 2002
19 June 2002
09 June 2005
14 September 2007
03 December 2007

 Number of options

2010
1,000,000
547,500
400,000
228,967
–
2,176,467

2009
1,000,000
622,500
550,000
300,395
118,110
2,591,005

Exercise price

Period of option
76.8p March 2005 – March 2012
June 2005 – June 2012
83.4p
June 2008 – June 2012
201.0p
Sept 2010 – Sept 2017
252.0p
Dec 2010 – Dec 2017
254.0p

The total number of options outstanding as at the date of this document represent approximately 5.7% (2009 – 6.8%) of the issued 
share capital of the Company.

If  Resolution  11  is  passed  at  the  Annual  General  Meeting  and  the  Company  were  to  exercise  the  full  authority  to  buy–back 
approximately 10% of the issued ordinary shares of the Company, such options would represent 6.4% (2009 – 7.6%) of the issued 
share capital of the Company.

64   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
22.  SHARE-BASED PAYMENTS
Hornby Plc operates three share-based plans – Share Option Scheme (‘SOS’), Short Term Incentive Plan (‘STIP’) and Performance 
Share Plan (‘PSP’).

SOS awards
The SOS awards are a reward of share options to executive directors and senior management that vest after 3 years and must be 
exercised in a 4 or 7 year exercise window.

The  awards  are  subject  to  a  performance  measure  of  Profits  before  Interest  and  Tax  (‘PBIT’)  or  Profit  before  Tax  (‘PBT’)  as 
disclosed by the Group’s accounts for any of the years ended 31 March 2006, 31 March 2007, 31 March 2008, 31 March 2009 or 
31 March 2010 excluding (i) any profit or loss in relation to property transactions, (ii) any restructuring and abortive due diligence 
costs and (iii) any profits or losses arising from businesses acquired by the Group after the date of grant of the Option. Some awards 
are subject to achieving a PBIT that is equal to or greater than £8 million, or to PBT being equal to or greater than £9 million or 
aggregate PBT for 3 years ending 31 March 2008, 2009 and 2010 being equal to or greater than £32.7 million. The awards are 
equity settled.

Activity relating to share options for the year ended 31 March 2010 and 31 March 2009 was as follows:

Outstanding at 1 April
Exercised
Lapsed
Outstanding at 31 March

2010

2009

Weighted
average
exercise price
133.1p
83.4p
230.2p
119.7p

Number
2,591,005
(75,000)
(339,538)
2,176,467

Weighted
average
exercise price
133.1p
–
–
133.1p

Number
2,591,005
–
–
2,591,005

Options were exercised on 4 August 2009. The weighted average share price during the year was 128.3p (2009 - 129.3p).

The following table summarises information relating to the number of shares under option (SOS awards) and those which were 
exercisable at 31 March 2010.

Range of exercise prices
£0.70 – £0.80
£0.80 – £0.90
£2.00 – £2.10
£2.50 – £2.60

Weighted
average
remaining
contractual
life
Months
24
27
27
88

Options
exercisable
at 31 March
2010
Number
1,000,000
547,500
400,000
–
1,947,500

Options
exercisable
at 31 March
2009
Number
1,000,000
622,500
550,000
–
2,172,500

Total shares
under option
Number
1,000,000
547,500
400,000
228,967
2,176,467

Exercisable
weighted
average
exercise
price for
options
exercisable
at 31 March
2010
76.8p
83.4p
201.0p

104.2p

STIP awards
The STIP is a reward of shares to executive directors and senior management.

Vesting of the awards occurs in equal amounts on the second, third and fourth anniversaries of the award date provided that the 
participant remains employed by the Group. These awards are not subject to any performance conditions. The awards are equity 
settled.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  65

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

Performance Share Plan
All  Performance  Share  Plan  (PSP)  awards  outstanding  at  31  March  2010  vest  only  if  performance  conditions  are  met.  Awards 
granted under the PSP must be exercised within one year of the relevant award vesting date.

The Group operates the PSP for executive directors and senior executives. Awards under the scheme are granted in the form of 
a nil-priced option, and are satisfied using market-purchased shares. The awards vest in full or in part dependent on the satisfaction 
of specified performance targets. 50% of the award vests dependent on TSR performance over a three year performance period, 
relative to the constituents of the FTSE Small Cap Index (excluding investment trusts) from the time of grant, and the remaining 
50% vests dependent on performance against earnings per share targets.

All plans are subject to continued employment. To the extent that such shares in the above plans are awarded to employees below 
fair value, a charge calculated in accordance with IFRS 2 ‘Share-based payment’ is included within other operating expenses in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income. This charge for the Group amounted to £289,000 in the year ended 31 March 2010 (2009 
– £224,000) and the Company £112,000 in the year ended 31 March 2010 (2009 – £60,000).

The following table summarises the key assumptions used for grants during the year:

Fair value (p)
Options pricing model used
Share price at grant date (p)
Exercise price (p)
Expected volatility (%)
Risk-free rate (%)
Expected option term (years)
Expected dividends (per year, %)

* Assumptions for TSR component only.

 2010

  2009

SOS
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

STIP
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

PSP*
110.1p
Stochastic
136.3p
n/a
44.0%
n/a
3
0%

SOS
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

STIP
–
–
–
–
–
–
–
–

PSP*
81.5p
Stochastic
150.0p
n/a
33.0%
n/a
3
0%

Assumptions on expected volatility and expected option term have been made on the basis of historical data, wherever available, 
for the period corresponding with the vesting period of the option. Best estimates have been used where historical data is not 
available in this respect.

The Group reported a provision for National Insurance and other social security taxes of £4,087 (2009 – £5,324) in respect of 
liabilities arising from the above share-based payment transactions.

GROUP – SHORT TERM INCENTIVE PLAN

At 1 April
Shares acquired in Company
Shares vested
At 31 March

2010
£’000
497
–
(171)
326

2009
£’000
507
284
(294)
497

Details of the Short Term Incentive Plan are given in the Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 19 to 24.

The Employee Benefit Trust acquired no ordinary shares in the year.

On 22 June 2009, the final third of the 2005 allocation (52,346 ordinary shares) and the second third of the 2006 allocation (20,833 
ordinary shares) were vested.

At 31 March 2010, a total of 194,131 (2009 – 267,310) ordinary shares are held by the Trust and allotted to the directors and senior 
management under the plan with a nominal value of £1,941 (2009 – £2,673) and a market value of £245,090 (2009 – £182,439). 
The costs of the plan are borne by Hornby Plc. The Trust has waived its right to dividends.

66   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
 
23.  EMPLOYEES AND DIRECTORS

Staff costs for the Group during the year:
Wages and salaries
Share-based payments (note 23)
Social security costs
Other pension costs (note 24)
Redundancy and compensation for loss of office

  Group

  Company

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

7,735
289
1,135
682
34
9,875

7,360
224
781
540
154
9,059

674
112
103
58
–
947

611
60
69
58
36
834

Average monthly number of people (including executive directors) employed by the Group:

Operations
Sales, marketing and distribution
Administration

Key management compensation:

Salaries and short-term benefits
Share-based payments
Post-employment benefits

  Group

  Company

2010
Number
99
103
37
239

2009
Number
94
99
47
240

2010
Number
–
1
3
4

2009
Number
–
1
4
5

  Group

  Company

2010
£’000
2,091
276
192
2,559

2009
£’000
2,071
206
185
2,462

2010
£’000
600
112
58
770

2009
£’000
492
60
51
603

Key  management  comprise  the  individuals  involved  in  major  strategic  decision  making  and  includes  all  Group  and  subsidiary 
directors.

A detailed numerical analysis of directors’ remuneration and share options showing the highest paid director, number of directors 
accruing benefit under money purchase pension schemes and gains realised on the exercise of share options, is included in the 
Directors’ Remuneration Report on pages 19 to 24 and forms part of these financial statements.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  67

Notes to the Financial Statements  (continued)

24.  PENSION COMMITMENTS
The Group operates a defined contribution pension scheme by way of a Stakeholder Group Personal Pension Plan set up through 
the Friends Provident Insurance Group.

Alexander Forbes Financial Services Limited is appointed as Independent Financial Advisers to work in liaison with the Company.

The level of contributions to the Group Personal Pension Plan for current members is fixed by the Company.

The Group pension cost for the year was £682,000 (2009 – £540,000) representing the actual contributions payable in the year 
and certain scheme administration costs. The Company pension cost for the year was £58,000 (2009 – £58,000).

25.  FINANCIAL COMMITMENTS
CAPITAL COMMITMENTS

At 31 March commitments were:
Contracted for but not provided for

The Company does not have any capital commitments.

The commitments relate to the acquisition of property, plant and equipment.

  Group

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

1,245

1,292

CONTINGENT LIABILITIES
The Company and its subsidiary undertakings are, from time to time, parties to legal proceedings and claims, which arise in the 
ordinary course of business. The directors do not anticipate that the outcome of these proceedings and claims, either individually 
or in aggregate, will have a material adverse effect upon the Group’s financial position.

26.  OPERATING LEASE COMMITMENTS
The total of future minimum lease payments in respect of non-cancellable plant and motor vehicle operating leases falling due are 
as follows:

GROUP
Not later than one year
Later than one year but not more than five years
More than five years

2010
£’000
505
639
–
1,144

2009
£’000
472
1,115
64
1,651

27.  RELATED PARTY DISCLOSURES
There were no contracts with the Company or any of its subsidiaries existing during or at the end of the financial year in which a 
director of the Company was materially interested. The Group has taken advantage of the exemption available under IAS 24 ‘Related 
party disclosures’ not to disclose transactions and balances between Group entities that have been eliminated on consolidation.

The  Company  received  management  fees  from  subsidiaries  of  £1,361,000  (2009  –  £1,540,000),  interest  of  £228,000  (2009  – 
£190,000) and dividends from subsidiaries of £nil (2009 – £5,740,000).

68   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Notice of Annual General Meeting

If you have sold or otherwise transferred all of your Ordinary Shares in Hornby Plc, please forward this document as soon as 
possible to the purchaser or transferee, or to the stockbroker, bank or other agent through or to whom the sale or transfer was 
effected for transmission to the purchaser or transferee of your Ordinary Shares.

NOTICE OF ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
Notice is hereby given that the twenty-ninth Annual General Meeting of Hornby Plc (the “Company”) will be held at Hornby Plc, 
Ramsgate Road, Westwood, Margate, Kent CT9 4JX on Thursday 29 July 2010 at 11.00am for the following purposes:

To consider and if thought fit, to pass the following resolutions, of which numbers 1 to 9 will be proposed as ordinary resolutions 
and numbers 10 and 11 as special resolutions.

ORDINARY RESOLUTIONS
1. 

 To receive and adopt the Annual Report and Accounts for the financial year ended 31 March 2010 together with the Report 
of the Directors and Auditors.

2. 

 To approve the Directors’ Remuneration Report, as set out on pages 19 to 24 of the Company’s Annual Report and Accounts, 
for the financial year ended 31 March 2010.

3.  To re-elect N A Johnson as a Director. 

4.  To re-elect A J Morris, who retires by rotation, as a Director.

5.  To re-elect M E Rolfe, who retires by rotation, as a Director.

6. 

 To re-appoint PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, the retiring auditors, as auditors of the Company to hold office from conclusion 
of the Annual General Meeting to the conclusion of the next meeting at which accounts are laid before the Company.

7.  To authorise the Directors to agree the auditors’ remuneration.

8. 

 That, in accordance with section 366 of the Companies Act 2006 (the “Act”), the Company and all companies that are its 
subsidiaries at any time during the period for which this resolution has effect be authorised to:

(a)  make political donations to political parties and/or independent election candidates, not exceeding £10,000 in total; 

(b)  make political donations to political organisations, other than political parties, not exceeding £10,000 in total; and

(c)  incur political expenditure, not exceeding £10,000 in total,

 during the period beginning with the date of the passing of this resolution and ending on the date of the Company’s next Annual 
General Meeting.

 For  the  purpose  of  this  resolution,  the  terms  ‘political  donations’,  ‘political  expenditure’,  ‘independent  election  candidates’, 
‘political parties’ and ‘political organisations’ shall have the meaning given to them by Part 14 of the Act.

9. 

 THAT, in place of the equivalent authority given to the Directors at the last AGM (but without prejudice to the continuing 
authority of the Directors to allot shares pursuant to an offer or agreement made by the Company before the expiry of the 
authority pursuant to which such offer or agreement was made), the Directors be generally and unconditionally authorised 
in accordance with section 551 of the Act to allot shares in the Company or grant rights to subscribe for or to convert any 
security into shares in the Company up to a maximum aggregate nominal amount of £125,000, such authority shall expire on 28 
July 2015 but so that the Company may, before the expiry of such period, make an offer or agreement which would or might 
require relevant securities to be allotted after the expiry of such period and the Directors may allot relevant securities pursuant 
to such an offer or agreement as if the authority had not expired.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  69

 
 
 
 
 
Notice of Annual General Meeting (continued)

SPECIAL RESOLUTIONS
10.   THAT, subject to and conditional on the passing of resolution 9, the Directors be empowered, pursuant to section 570 of the 
Act, to allot equity securities (within the meaning of section 560 of the Act) for cash pursuant to the authority conferred by 
resolution 9 as if section 561 of the Act did not apply to any such allotment, provided that this power shall be limited to the 
allotment of equity securities:

(a)  in connection with an offer of such securities by way of rights issue; and

(b)  otherwise than pursuant to sub-paragraph 10(a) above up to an aggregate nominal amount of £19,000,

 and shall expire at the conclusion of the Company’s next Annual General Meeting following the date of the passing of the 
resolution, save that the Company may, before such expiry, make an offer or agreement which would or might require equity 
securities  to  be  allotted  after  such  expiry  and  the  Directors  may  allot  equity  securities  in  pursuance  of  any  such  offer  or 
agreement as if the power had not expired.

 This power applies in relation to a sale of treasury shares as if all references in this resolution to an allotment included any such 
sale and in the first paragraph of the resolution the words ‘pursuant to the authority conferred by resolution 9’ were omitted 
in relation to such sale.

 In this resolution, ‘rights issue’ means an offer of equity securities open for acceptance for a period fixed by the Directors to 
holders of Ordinary Shares in the capital of the Company on the register on a record date fixed by the Directors in proportion 
as  nearly  as  may  be  to  the  respective  numbers  of  Ordinary  Shares  held  by  them,  but  subject  to  such  exclusions  or  other 
arrangements as the Directors may deem necessary or expedient to deal with any treasury shares, fractional entitlements or 
legal or practical issues arising under the laws of, or the requirement of any recognised regulatory body or any stock exchange 
in any territory or any other matter.

11.   THAT, subject to and in accordance with Article 9 of the Company’s articles of association, the Company be generally and 
unconditionally authorised to make market purchases (within the meaning of section 693(4) of the Act) of Ordinary Shares on 
such terms as the Directors think fit and where such shares are held as treasury shares, the Company may use them for the 
purposes set out in Section 727 of the Act, including for the purpose of its employee share schemes, provided that:

(a)   the maximum number of Ordinary Shares hereby authorised to be purchased is 3,800,000 being an amount equal to 10% 

of the Ordinary Shares in issue at the date of this Notice;

(b)  the minimum price, exclusive of any expenses, which may be paid for an Ordinary Share is 1 pence;

(c)   the maximum price, exclusive of any expenses, which may be paid for each Ordinary Share is an amount equal to the 

higher of:

(i) 

 105 per cent of the average of the middle market quotations for an Ordinary Share as derived from the London Stock 
Exchange Daily Official List, for the five business days immediately preceding the day on which the Ordinary Share is 
contracted to be purchased; and

(ii)  the amount stipulated by Article 5(1) of the Buy-back and Stabilisation Regulation 2003; and

(d)   the authority hereby conferred shall, unless previously revoked or varied, expire at the conclusion of the Company’s next 
Annual General Meeting following the date of the passing of the resolution, or, if earlier, on the expiry of 18 months from 
the date of the passing of the resolution, (except in relation to the purchase of Ordinary Shares, the contract for which was 
concluded before the expiry of the authority and which will or may be executed wholly or partly after that expiry).

By order of the Board

John Stansfield 
Company Secretary 
Dated: 4 June 2010 
Registered office; Westwood, Margate, Kent CT9 4JX 
Registered in England and Wales with number 01547390

70   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
NOTES

1. 

2. 

3. 

4. 

5. 

6. 

7. 

8. 

9. 

10. 

11. 

 This notice is being sent to all members and to any person nominated by a member of the Company under section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 to enjoy 
information rights.

 Only holders of Ordinary Shares, or their duly appointed representatives, are entitled to attend, vote and speak at the AGM. A member so entitled may appoint 
(a) proxy/(ies), who need not be (a) member(s), to attend, speak and vote on his/her behalf. A member may appoint more than one proxy, provided that each 
proxy is appointed to exercise the rights attached to different shares. A Proxy Form is enclosed with this Notice.

 Proxies may only be appointed by completing and returning the form of proxy enclosed with this Notice to the Company’s Registrars, Capita Registrars Limited 
PXS, 34 Beckenham Road, Beckenham, Kent BR3 4TU.

 To  be  valid  a  proxy  appointment  must  reach  the  office  of  the  Company’s  Registrars  not  less  than  48  hours  before  the  time  fixed  for  the  AGM  or  any 
adjournment thereof. Therefore, the form of proxy must be received by the Company’s Registrars by 11am on 27 July 2010.

 Return of the form of proxy will not preclude a member from attending the meeting and voting in person. You may not use any electronic address provided 
in the Notice of this meeting to communicate with the Company for any purposes other than those expressly stated.

 The right to appoint a proxy does not apply to persons whose shares are held on their behalf by another person and who have been nominated to receive 
communications from the Company in accordance with section 146 of the Companies Act 2006 (‘nominated persons’). Nominated persons may have a 
right under an agreement with the registered shareholder who hold shares on their behalf to be appointed (or to have someone else appointed) as a proxy. 
Alternatively, if nominated persons do not have such a right, or do not wish to exercise it, they may have a right under such an agreement to give instructions 
to the person holding the shares as to the exercise of voting rights.

 The Company, pursuant to Regulation 41 of the Uncertified Securities Regulations 2001, specifies that only those Shareholders on the register of members of 
the Company as at 11am on 27 July 2010 (or, if the AGM is adjourned, Shareholders on the register of members not later than 48 hours before the time fixed 
for the adjourned meeting) are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM in respect of the shares registered in their names at that time. Subsequent changes to 
the register shall be disregarded in determining the rights of any person to attend and vote at the AGM.

 Any corporation which is a member can appoint one or more corporate representatives who may exercise on its behalf all of its powers as a member provided 
that they do not do so in relation to the same shares.

 Copies of contracts of service and letters of appointment between the Directors and the Company will be available for inspection at the registered offices of 
the Company and the offices of Berwin Leighton Paisner LLP at Adelaide House, London Bridge, EC4R 9HA during normal business hours from the date of 
this Notice, until the conclusion of the AGM, and at the place of the AGM for at least 15 minutes prior to the AGM until its conclusion.

 In order to facilitate voting by corporate representatives at the meeting, arrangements will be put in place at the meeting so that (i) if a corporate member has 
appointed the Chairman of the meeting as its corporate representative with instructions to vote on a poll in accordance with the directions of all of the other 
corporate representatives for that member at the meeting, then on a poll those corporate representatives will give voting directions to the Chairman and the 
Chairman will vote (or withhold a vote) as corporate representative in accordance with those directions; and (ii) if more than one corporate representative for 
the same corporate member attends the meeting but the corporate member has not appointed the Chairman of the meeting as its corporate representative, 
a designated corporate representative will be nominated, from those corporate representatives who attend, who will vote on a poll and the other corporate 
representatives will give voting directions to that designated corporate representative. Corporate members are referred to the guidance issued by the Institute 
of Chartered Secretaries and Administrators on proxies and corporate representatives - http://www.icsa.org.uk/ - for further details of this procedure. The 
guidance includes a sample form of representation letter if the Chairman is being appointed as described in (i) above.

 Under section 527 Companies Act 2006 members meeting the threshold requirements set out in that section have the right to require the Company to 
publish on a website a statement setting out any matter relating to: (i) the audit of the Company’s accounts (including the auditor’s report and the conduct of 
the audit) that are to be laid before the AGM; or (ii) any circumstances connected with an auditor of the Company ceasing to hold office since the previous 
meeting at which annual accounts and reports were laid in accordance with section 437 Companies Act 2006. The Company may not require the members 
requesting any such website publication to pay its expenses in complying with sections 527 or 528 Companies Act 2006. Where the Company is required 
to place a statement on a website under section 527 Companies Act 2006, it must forward the statement to the Company’s auditor not later than the time 
when it makes the statement available on the website. The business which may be dealt with at the AGM includes any statement that the Company has been 
required under section 527 Companies Act 2006 to publish on a website.

12. 

 A copy of this Notice, and other information regarding the meeting, as required by section 311A Companies Act 2006, is available from www.hornby.com

13. 

 Any member attending the meeting has the right to ask questions. The Company must cause to be answered any such question relating to the business being 
dealt with at the meeting but no such answer need be given if (a) to do so would interfere unduly with the preparation for the meeting or involve the disclosure 
of confidential information, (b) the answer has already been given on a website in the form of an answer to a question, or (c) it is undesirable in the interests 
of the Company or the good order of the meeting that the question be answered.

14. 

 As at 3 June 2010 (being the latest practicable date prior to the publication of this Notice), the Company’s issued share capital consists of 38,064,100 ordinary 
shares, carrying one vote each. Therefore, the total voting rights in the Company as at 4 June 2010 are 38,064,100.

HORNBY PLC  Annual Report &  Accounts 2010  71

Five Year Summary

Turnover

Profit on ordinary activities before taxation
Taxation

2010
£’000

2009
£’000

2008
£’000

2007
£’000

2006 
£’000

64,736

61,569

55,692

46,849

44,113

5,215
(1,530)

6,121
(1,909)

9,017
(2,940)

7,662
(2,149)

8,164
(2,306)

Profit on ordinary activities after taxation

3,685

4,212

6,077

5,513

5,858

Assets employed:
Non-current assets
Net current assets
Non-current borrowings
Deferred tax liabilities

Net assets

Total capital employed

Earnings per share
–  basic
–  diluted
Dividend per share (net)
Net assets per share

28,803
18,653
(10,547)
(281)

29,903
9,133
(7,181)
(301)

20,812
11,037
(41)
(346)

19,406
8,850
(53)
(358)

15,632
9,501
(39)
(231)

36,628

31,554

31,462

27,845

24,863

36,628

31,554

31,462

27,845

24,863

9.8p
9.6p
5.0p
96.2p

11.2p
11.0p
2.7p
83.1p

16.2p
15.6p
8.5p
82.8p

14.6p
14.1p
8.1p
73.6p

15.6p
15.1p
7.7p
66.2p

72   HORNBY PLC  Annual Report & Accounts 2010  

Contents

Financial Highlights
Chairman’s Statement
Chief Executive’s Report
Directors and Corporate Information
Directors’ Report
Corporate Governance Statement

1  
2  
4  
8  
9  
13  
19   Directors’ Remuneration Report
25  
26  

Statement of Directors’ Responsibilities
 Independent Auditors’ Report to the  
Members of Hornby Plc
 Group and Company Statement of Comprehensive 
Income

28  

29   Group and Company Balance Sheet
Statement of Changes in Equity
30  
31   Group and Company Cash Flow 

Statement

32   Notes to the Cash Flow Statement
33   Notes to the Financial Statements
69   Notice of Annual General Meeting
72  

Five Year Summary

SHAREHOLDERS’
INFORMATION
SERVICE

HORNBY WELCOMES CONTACT

WITH ITS SHAREHOLDERS.

IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS OR

ENQUIRIES ABOUT THE GROUP OR

ITS PRODUCTS, PLEASE CONTACT:

A J MORRIS, FINANCE DIRECTOR

HORNBY PLC

WESTWOOD

MARGATE

KENT CT9 4JX

 
Annual Report & Accounts 
FOR THE YEAR ENDED 31 MARCH 2010

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Hornby PLC
Westwood,
Margate,
Kent
CT9 4JX
www.hornby.com