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Inghams Group Limited

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FY2021 Annual Report · Inghams Group Limited
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1 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021  
 
Registered number: 00837205 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
2 
Directors and advisers 
 
 
 
Executive Directors 
 
G S Winner, Chief Executive Officer 
J R Sheffield, Chief Financial Officer 
 
Non-Executive Directors 
 
M C Rose, Chairman  
M A Rowse 
N W Kirton  
S J G White 
B H Holmström (resigned 30 June 2021) 
 
Company Secretary 
 
J R Sheffield 
 
Registered Office 
 
Suite 2, Whichford House 
Parkway Court 
John Smith Drive 
Oxford 
OX4 2JY 
 
Auditor 
 
Grant Thornton UK LLP  
Registered Auditor  
Seacourt Tower 
Botley 
Oxford 
OX2 0JJ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Banker 
 
HSBC Bank plc  
71 Queen Victoria Street  
London 
EC4V 4AY 
 
Solicitor 
 
Memery Crystal LLP 
165 Fleet Street  
London 
EC4A 2DY  
 
Registrar 
 
Link Group 
10th Floor 
Central Square 
29 Wellington Street 
Leeds 
LS1 4DL 
 
Nominated Adviser and Broker 
 
Cenkos Securities plc  
6-8 Tokenhouse Yard  
London 
EC2R 7AS 
 
 
 

 
3 
 
Contents 
 
 
Strategic Report 
 
Ingenta at a glance ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 
Highlights ......................................................................................................................................................................... 5 
Product review................................................................................................................................................................. 6 
Chairman’s statement ...................................................................................................................................................... 10 
Financial review ............................................................................................................................................................... 11 
Section 172 statement ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 
Risks and uncertainties .................................................................................................................................................... 15 
Corporate Governance 
 
Board members ............................................................................................................................................................... 16 
Directors’ report .............................................................................................................................................................. 17 
Corporate governance statement .................................................................................................................................... 19 
Directors’ remuneration report ....................................................................................................................................... 22 
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Ingenta plc .......................................................................................... 23 
Financial Statements 
 
Group statement of comprehensive income .................................................................................................................... 32 
Group statement of financial position ............................................................................................................................. 33 
Group statement of changes in equity ............................................................................................................................. 34 
Group statement of cash flows ........................................................................................................................................ 35 
Notes to the Group financial statements ......................................................................................................................... 36 
Company statement of financial position ........................................................................................................................ 64 
Company statement of changes in equity ........................................................................................................................ 65 
Notes to the Company financial statements .................................................................................................................... 66 
 
The Directors submit to the members their report and accounts of the Group for the year ended  
31 December 2021. Pages 1 to 22, including the Chairman's statement, Corporate governance  
statement and Directors’ remuneration report, form part of the Directors’ report. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
4 
Ingenta at a glance 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Who we are 
 
Born from the publishing industry, Ingenta provides mission critical 
software designed to solve the unique problems faced by information 
and content providers. We tailor our suite of industry-specific 
technology products to create robust solutions to manage our 
customers IP and content requirements. 
 
What we do 
Ingenta provides websites to distribute and control online content along 
with back-end software to handle the complexities of Intellectual 
Property rights management. We support a full spectrum of clients 
ranging between global publishing giants and academic and trade 
publications, right through to prestigious NGO’s and established music 
record labels. 
Why we stand out 
Whether through our back-end systems or front-end delivery, our 
technology is format agnostic, enhances discoverability through 
metadata best practices or semantic enrichment, and enables new 
opportunities to monetise intellectual property - from full rights 
management to Patron Driven Acquisition to content fragmenting and 
bundling. 
 
We pride ourselves in understanding our clients’ markets and 
customers, and work with them to implement solutions to the 
problems, not just selling technology. Our software and services are 
designed to harness evolving technology and exploit future 
opportunities and this, combined with our extensive industry 
knowledge, makes Ingenta the complete business partner. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
5 
 
Highlights 
 
 
Annual Recurring Revenue 
Adjusted EBITDA 
Net profit 
Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR)* of £8.9m 
representing 88% of total revenue  
(2020: £8.7m, 86% 2019: £8.4m,77%) 
Adjusted EBITDA** of £1.5m 
(2020: £1.2m 2019: £1.3m) 
Net profit*** of £1.8m 
(2020: £0.4m 2019: loss £1.4m) 
 
 
 
Revenues 
Operating 
cash 
Cash 
balance 
Proposed final 
dividend 
Earnings 
per share 
Revenues stable at 
£10.1m  
(2020: £10.2m 2019: 
£10.9m) reflecting a 
focus on core software 
offerings 
Operating cash inflows 
of £2.0m in the year 
(2020: £0.8m 2019: 
£1.7m) 
Cash balances at year 
end of £3.0m (2020: 
£2.3m 2019: £2.6m) 
Proposed final dividend 
of 2 pence per share, 
subject to shareholder 
approval at the 2022 
AGM (2021: 1.5 pence) 
Earnings per share of 
10.93 pence (2020: 2.67 
pence 2019: loss 7.98 
pence) 
 
Operational Key Points 
 
First 
Go-live 
Completion 
First music customer won and deployed onto 
our conChord IP management platform, 
leading to increasing interest from other 
music publishers within this substantial 
target market. 
4 customer go-lives across the product 
portfolio during the year. 
Completion of internal infrastructure plan 
with improved resilience and operational 
flexibility. 
 
 
* ARR – Revenue generated and recognised in the year from annually recurring software support contracts, hosting services and managed services. 
** Adjusted EBITDA – EBITDA before impairment, amortisation, gain / loss on disposal of fixed assets, foreign exchange gain / loss and exceptional non-
recurring costs. A calculation is provided in note 5 to the accounts. Adjusted EBITDA is a key performance measure included within published broker 
forecasts. 
*** Net profit in 2021 includes a £1.2m deferred tax credit 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
6 
 
 
Product Review 
 
 
 
 
Ingenta Commercial 
The Ingenta Commercial framework provides a range of applications designed to move your content forward 
in today’s marketplace, combining the best business solutions for both print and digital products including full 
management of IP assets. 
 
• 
Royalties 
• 
Product management 
• 
Online Sales & Marketing 
• 
Digital & Print Distribution 
• 
Subscription Management 
 
 
 
 
 
Ingenta Content 
Our Ingenta suite of content distribution platforms enable publishers of any size, discipline or technical 
proficiency to convert, store, deliver and monetise digital content. 
 
• 
Online Platforms 
• 
Semantic Enrichment 
• 
Mobile 
• 
E-commerce 
• 
Access Entitlement 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Ingenta Advertising 
Our advertising solution is a complete, browser-based multimedia advertising, CRM and sales management 
platform for content providers. With the ability to sell and track digital and print ads in a single system, 
maximise the value of your audience with streamlined ad sales, packaged ad buys and multi-channel 
campaigns, generating new revenues from previously untapped sources. 
 
• 
Multimedia bookings 
• 
Packages and bundles 
• 
Inventory management 
• 
Finance/credit control 
• 
CRM 
 
The Ingenta Audience data management platform (DMP) processes enriched data to gain valuable insights on 
your users. These insights empower advertisers to ensure that their creative advertising campaigns reach and 
engage with their target audiences. 
Ingenta Services 
 
 
 
Publishers Communication Group 
Publishers Communication Group (PCG), is an internationally recognised sales and marketing consulting firm 
providing a range of services designed to support and drive clients’ sales strategy. PCG has advocated for 
scholarly publications and digital content around the world for over a quarter of a century. 
 

 
7 
 
Ingenta Commercial 
 
The Ingenta Commercial suite is an ERP solution for publishers which supports any product from ideation, contract management through to order fulfilment 
and cash collection. The following components of the Commercial system can be purchased separately, in any combination, or as a complete enterprise 
system: 
 
Content lifecycle manager (CLM) 
This module helps manage product processes and control workflow. It provides a central repository in which core bibliographic data, associated assets and 
rights can be stored and organised. 
 
Contracts, Rights and Royalties (CRR) 
Managing electronic rights, sub rights, fragments and permissions, the Rights element of CRR ensures that content owners get the most from their assets, 
no matter the size, format, or fine details of the transaction. 
• 
Real-time visibility of rights inventory 
• 
Complete tracking of expiration, publication, and sales histories 
• 
Support for chapter, image, and fragment sales 
• 
Full downstream management of rights income 
 
In addition, CRR manages the full IP lifecycle, ensuring legal issues, from territorial rights and marketing obligations to supply chain management and 
insurance, are properly considered and consistently administered. Contracts management within CRR underpins the system and enables consistency and 
compliance across your organisation, to avoid potentially costly disputes. 
 
The Royalties element of the CRR application enables publishers to calculate complex royalties quickly, easily and with confidence, and provides authors 
with a self-service interface. This allows publishers to better serve their authors, contributors, illustrators, and other rights owners from initial contract to 
final payment. CRR is considered the only system on the market able to handle the complexities and nuances of today’s most creative deals. 
• 
Complex royalty calculations 
• 
Support for multiple currencies and international tax reporting 
• 
Streamlined operations and cash flow forecasting 
• 
Improved author care with user-friendly interface 
 
Order to Cash (O2C) 
The Order to Cash application allows publishers to package, market, sell and deliver content in the formats that readers demand across all aspects 
of processing and integration. 
 
Ingenta Aperture 
Launched in 2018, Ingenta Aperture allows customers to create a view into their data which can be accessed on demand, regardless of where the 
information is stored. Access rights can be set to make sure sensitive information is shared on a ‘need to know’ basis. This allows business to share insights, 
securely, on their own terms. Typical uses include: 
• 
Authors accessing royalty statements 
• 
Detailed product, pricing, bundling and order information; on demand for bookstores 
• 
Metadata access for project contributors 
• 
On-the-go access for representatives 
 
Ingenta conChord 
Ingenta conChord is a configurable browser-based platform that helps manage the complexities of music contracts, copyright, and associated royalties. It 
provides a complete solution for music publishers wanting more control and better visibility over licenced content. It also allows you to sell the music rights 
onto third parties and track earnings received. Music can be experienced in different ways and Ingenta conChord provides the flexibility to handle: 
• 
Mechanical royalties 
• 
Print royalties 
• 
Performance royalties 
• 
Sync royalties 
 
Vista 
Vista, a legacy enterprise level product family, provides a range of applications enabling Book Fulfilment, Subscription Management, Third Party Distribution 
and Royalties Management, delivered through several managed services, including: 
• 
Applications Implementation Services (AIS) 
• 
Applications Support and Updates (ASU) 
• 
Applications Management Services (AMS) 
• 
Applications Hosting Services (AHS) 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
8 
Ingenta Content 
 
Our Content products deliver over 700 million page views and data requests per year through our fully outsourced Ingenta Connect scholarly portal, our 
custom, semantically enriched, multi-format Ingenta Edify platform and E-commerce solution. 
 
These products enable publishers of any size, discipline, or technical proficiency to convert, store, deliver, and monetise digital content. 
 
Ingenta Edify 
The Ingenta Edify platform is a custom hosting solution that supports and delivers all the information a data provider will publish. The result of a multi-year 
research and development program, our solution has been built from the ground up using a powerful combination of industry standard architecture and 
semantic web technologies. Ingenta Edify maximises the visibility, usage, and value of publishers’ content via semantic enrichment while optimising content 
licensing around flexible E-commerce and access controls regardless of format or type. 
• 
Provides seamless access to all content in all its formats 
• 
Harnesses semantic discovery and drives usage with intuitive routes into research 
• 
Allows content to be repackaged easily to experiment with new business models 
• 
Delivers content via desktop, tablet, or smartphone 
• 
Uses sophisticated access control 
 
Ingenta Connect 
Ingenta Connect hosts content for around 140 publishers and is the home of scholarly research. Academics and students from over 25,000 registered 
institutions around the world have access to tens of thousands of publications, leading to an average of 32 million page views per year, delivering over 
200,000 downloads per month. Our fully outsourced e-publishing package is a turn-key platform solution and a proven channel to get content online 
quickly, easily and affordably. 
 
On Ingenta Connect, there is a broad spectrum of cost-effective services to choose from, whether a publisher is taking content online for the first time, 
looking to increase revenues through online activity or thinking of creating a custom-branded website. 
• 
Data conversion & enhancement 
• 
Secure web hosting 
• 
Flexible E-commerce 
• 
Linking and distribution 
• 
Ahead-of-publication solutions 
• 
Continuous publishing models 
• 
Collection bundling and Virtual Publication creation 
• 
Archival Digitisation and delivery 
 
Ingenta Connect Unity  
The Ingenta Connect Unity option provides publishers with a branded view of Ingenta Connect. It is ideal for publishers wanting to utilise all the features the 
Ingenta Connect platform offers through their own website. 
 

 
9 
 
Ingenta Advertising 
 
Ingenta Advertising is the division of products which caters for advertising and media products which are used by a variety of consumer, media, broadcast 
and media organisations:  
 
Ingenta ad DEPOT 
Ingenta ad DEPOT is a complete, browser-based multimedia advertising, CRM and sales management platform for content providers. With the ability to sell 
and track digital and print ads in a single system, publishers can maximise the value of their audience with streamlined ad sales, packaged ad buys and 
multi-channel campaigns, generating new revenues from previously untapped sources. 
 
Ingenta ad DEPOT manages: 
 
• 
CRM 
• 
Multimedia bookings 
• 
Packages and bundles 
• 
Inventory management 
• 
Traffic 
• 
Finance/credit control 
 
Ingenta Market Place 
Ingenta Market Place provides a means for suppliers to book advertising space(s) on a retailer’s website. This enables the retailer to easily view, select and 
confirm optimum suppliers’ product(s) for each position, to maximise revenues. One of our customer’s, J Sainsbury plc, is successfully using this platform. 
 
 
 
 
Publishers Communication Group 
 
Publishers Communication Group (PCG), an Ingenta company, is an internationally recognised sales and marketing consulting firm providing a range of 
services designed to support and drive clients’ sales strategy. PCG has advocated for scholarly publications and digital content around the world for over a 
quarter of a century. 
 
Experience 
Now in its third decade, PCG has helped publishers launch sales and marketing efforts in new regions, shore up existing business, conduct market research 
and analysis, and negotiate lucrative consortia deals. Our established network of faculty, library selectors, consortia leaders and end-users, paired with our 
seasoned, multilingual sales teams makes us an ideal partner for a publisher of any size. 
 
Connections 
PCG team members have held positions at academic and medical libraries, subscription agents and publishers including, Wiley, Mango Languages, OCLC, 
Ingram, Lyrasis, LexisNexis, the MIT Press, Elsevier, Cengage, NEJM, JBJS, Forrester Research, Sage, and Taylor & Francis, resulting in over 200 years of 
collective industry experience. Their extensive global network includes tens of thousands of library selectors from academic, corporate, medical libraries 
and consortia worldwide. 
 
Trusted Partner 
PCG clients include commercial publishers, non-profit associations and electronic services providers. Publishers trust that we will promote their content to 
the right people and in the most impartial manner possible by providing measurable results and explicit data to help justify marketing expenditure. 
 
Global Reach 
PCG’s multilingual team consistently develops new relationships with key decision-makers across the world. 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
10 
Chairman’s statement 
 
Overview 
I’m pleased to report on the Group’s continued progress in 2021 and in particular, the actions taken to improve operational efficiency as we strive to 
generate improved margins, profitability and cashflow. With sound fundamentals in place, the Group is well positioned to broaden its reach beyond the 
traditional publishing sphere of Intellectual Property management and into a variety of adjacent vertical markets. As previously announced, the first target 
for expansion is within the music sector and the Group won and successfully deployed its first customer onto its multitenancy music IP management 
platform, which has been designed to meet the ever-increasing challenges faced by those operating in this sector. 
 
Elsewhere, our web-based content platform business has also performed well, and we successfully deployed three new customers to our Edify solution. 
Encouragingly, two of these go lives were for prestigious NGO’s which represents a growing opportunity for the Group and a diversification away from 
scholarly content providers. 
 
As outlined above, the main success story for the year was the improved margin and profitability driven from our loyal customer base. To a large extent this 
is due to the expansion of our service offering which has been designed, in part, as a solution for customers who do not want to manage the peripheral or 
technology related requirements of running and maintaining a software package. In addition to the widened service offering, the Group has maintained a 
close focus on internal processes to ensure all services are designed, contracted and delivered in an efficient fashion. Our utilisation levels for professional 
service staff have been on an upward trend in 2021 and this remains a key focus going forwards. 
 
Ingenta has a wealth of experience in both technology and its use within content delivery and IP management, providing a foundation for growth in an 
increasingly complicated environment where customers are continually searching for new and improved ways of managing their business processes. 
 
Operational flexibility 
It has been over two years since Covid impacted on us all and I’m proud of the resilience, flexibility and dedication of all the teams at Ingenta. In rapid time, 
the whole Group successfully migrated to remote working whilst continuing to service our loyal customer base, many of whom experienced additional 
support requirements as they adapted their own business processes. However, whilst this initial change was enforced, the Group has taken the initiative 
and looked to fundamentally adapt and remodel our infrastructure within physical premises, IT or internal working processes. Everyone should be proud of 
their contributions to this, the new and agile Ingenta.  
 
Shareholders’ returns and dividends 
During the year, the Company completed a share buyback programme and repurchased a further 440,826 ordinary shares. At the year end, the Company 
had 16,919,609 ordinary shares in issue, with a total of 587,930 shares held in treasury. 
 
The Directors declare their intention to pay a dividend in 2022 of 2 pence per share (2021: 1.5 pence) subject to approval at the forthcoming AGM. 
 
Outlook 
The Group’s core Commercial and Content software solutions provide a mission critical service enabling publishers to run their business and manage their IP 
assets. With our newly established operating fundamentals firmly in place and generating returns, the Group can look forward with optimism to the next 
stage of its development – generating revenue growth and leveraging our expertise in the wider IP management arena. The Group has taken its first step 
into the music IP sector and will look to expand on this whilst continuing to drive growth in our existing core markets.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
M C Rose  
Chairman 
24 June 2022 
 
 
 

 
11 
 
Financial review 
 
Business Strategy 
Ingenta is a provider of mission critical software and services to the publishing sector, with growth aspirations in adjacent industries. Operationally, the 
Group has moved to a product agnostic services architecture enabling it to offer an integrated approach to servicing customers whereby service levels and 
software are standardised, and as a result, resources are utilised more efficiently. The Group’s focus is to accelerate growth in recurring revenue via the sale 
of software as a service wherever possible. 
 
Product review 
 
Ingenta Commercial 
Ingenta Commercial provides a variety of modular publishing management systems for both print and digital products. A core area of expertise is within 
Intellectual Property and the Group is looking to leverage its existing expertise in contracts, rights and royalties management by expanding into adjacent 
verticals. conChord, a solution designed for the music industry, has already been released and successfully deployed and we believe there are further 
opportunities in other verticals where IP management is an increasing concern for customers. 
 
Reported revenues increased marginally to £6.7m (2020: £6.6m) with the Group remaining focussed on driving recurring revenues by offering ongoing 
peripheral services in addition to the standard software support. In this respect, the hosted service offering has been well received and has helped increase 
managed services revenues in the division. The revenues reported in the year that are recurring in nature increased from £5.4m to £6.1m. Reported 
earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (EBITDA - see note 4) declined slightly from £0.85m to £0.78m and was largely the result of 
enhanced post go live support on a number of customers as they transition from implementation to normalised support. 
 
Ingenta Content 
The Ingenta Content suite of products enable publishers of any size, discipline or technical proficiency to convert, store, deliver and monetise digital content 
on the web. 
 
Annual revenue increased from £2.3m to £2.4m helped by three new customer go lives on the Edify platform during the year and an active base of 
customer change request work. Importantly, the Group continues to successfully diversify into new markets with the addition of 2 further NGO customers. 
Divisional EBITDA (see note 4) increased from £0.32m to £0.52m and was driven by the efficient deployment of the new customers sites which moved onto 
support during the year. 
 
Ingenta Advertising 
Ingenta Advertising provides a complete browser-based multimedia advertising, CRM and sales management platform for content providers. 
 
The business anticipates that the Group’s Advertising offering will become a component of the larger Commercial and Content Products divisions and, in 
time, its revenues will be less clearly distinguished as a separate CGU. Reported revenue remained stable at £0.8m (2020: £0.8m). Segmental EBITDA for the 
advertising division (note 4) increased marginally from £0.2m to £0.24m, largely as a result of improved support efficiency plus additional project work 
undertaken in the year. 
 
PCG 
The PCG consulting arm provides a range of non-software services designed to support and drive a business’s sales strategy. Strategically, the team’s skills 
are being increasingly used to drive sales pipeline for the wider Group in addition to their own customer portfolio work. 
 
Annual revenue declined slightly to £0.3m (2020: £0.4m) and was a result of a challenging sales market. Part of the divisions business is driven from sales 
commission and activity was somewhat depressed as buyers held off making purchases during Covid restrictions. Segmental EBITDA (note 4) improved from 
a loss of £0.2m to a loss of £0.1m driven by the Group’s policy of reallocating PCG resources to the wider Group marketing function in order to improve 
sales pipeline growth across the business. Going forward, it is envisaged that PCG and Advertising will no longer be reported as separate divisions. 
 
Financial Performance 
Group revenue was stable at £10.1m (2020: £10.2m) but encouragingly, the recurring revenue base has been expanded slightly to £8.9m or 88% of the 
reported total (2020: £8.7m and 86%). This increase in recurring revenues is due to the uptake of ongoing managed services where the business is  
expanding its offering. 
 
Although revenue was stable, the Group’s cost of sales declined from £5.7m to £5.5m as the previous actions taken to streamline operational efficiency 
begin to take hold.  Consequently, gross profit increased to £4.7m (2020: £4.4m). Further operational efficiencies have been generated within 
administration overheads helping yield profit from operations of £0.8m (2020: £0.5m).  
 
Sales and marketing spend was stable at £0.7m but it masks a conscious switch in tactics as the Group looks to embrace digital marketing strategies rather 
than traditional in person event attendance. These efforts are starting to build a broader pipeline of opportunities that the Group is looking to exploit going 
forward. Administrative costs have declined from £3.3m to £3.2m again largely as a result of the previously reported efficiency drive including removal of 
operational silos and a change in infrastructure mix within the business.  
 
No tax charge is anticipated for 2021 as the Group continues to utilise brought forward tax losses. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
12 
Financial Position 
Non-current assets include goodwill and intangibles recognised on historic acquisitions. In 2021, Goodwill relates solely to the core Content platform 
software which will be used to drive growth in the future. Goodwill relating to historic acquisitions is tested for impairment each year using discounted 
cashflows. No impairment was identified in 2021. Property, plant and equipment reductions are a direct result of the Group’s infrastructure strategy which 
has seen us move IT and personnel out of physical business premises. 
 
Current assets have increased from £4.5m to £4.8m which is the result of improved profitability driving cash generation. Additionally, throughout the Covid 
pandemic there have been very few instances of bad debt as the Group’s customer base remains relatively shielded in an operational sense from the 
impacts of social restriction and the Groups services remain business critical to end users.  
 
Total liabilities have declined from £4.8 to £4.6m as prior year finance lease commitments undertaken for our hosting infrastructure are paid down. 
 
Cashflow 
The Group generated a cash inflow from operations of £2.0m compared to £0.8m in 2020. Critically, the Groups restructuring has improved efficiency and 
margins which flows through to cash generation as all research and development efforts are expensed. Outside of normal operational activity, the Group 
has paid dividends of £0.4m (2020: £0.3m) and completed a share buyback programme which amounted to an outflow of £0.3m (2020: £0.1m). Closing cash 
balances were £3.0m (2020: £2.3m)  
 
Key Performance Indicators 
The Board and senior management review a number of KPI’s continually throughout the year, all of which form part of the monthly management accounts 
process and include: 
 
• 
Revenue versus budget and monthly reforecast 
• 
Adjusted EBITDA (see note 5 for calculation) versus budget 
• 
Group cashflow versus budget 
• 
Sales pipeline growth and conversion analysis 
• 
Time utilisation statistics 
 
Any deviations or anomalies are investigated, and corrective action taken where appropriate. 
 
Full year revenues were below budget largely because of shortfalls on new sales targets as the Covid pandemic restricted activity. As has been widely 
publicised elsewhere, the pandemic has slowed sales cycles and occasionally delayed implementations. However, interest for our products and services 
remains high. 
 
Adjusted EBITDA was higher than budget driven by acceleration of certain planned savings in infrastructure, delayed hiring of staff and restricted marketing 
activity. 
 
Year-end cash balances were £0.7m above budget reflecting increased profitability and timing of receipts around year end.  
 
The Group monitor sales activity with reference to monthly sales pipeline reports. These reports detail sales opportunities by product with metrics around 
expected project timelines and revenue recognition estimates so that management can deploy resources adequately to ensure the best chance of success in 
the bidding process. When any items are removed from the pipeline due to either a successful sale or a lost opportunity, management carry out a detailed 
analysis to ensure the reasons are understood and any actions required are taken. 
 
The business monitors time utilisation at a contract level to enable accurate pricing decisions to be made ensuring profitable service delivery. Internal 
development costs are also reviewed to ensure the appropriate effort is spent supporting the products and deliver an effective product roadmap. 
 
Going concern 
The core fundamentals of the Group remain strong with cash reserves of £3m and no debt beyond leasing arrangements. In addition, further cost saving 
opportunities have been identified as the Group look to reduce their physical premises cost and associated overheads as leases naturally expire over the 
coming years. Management are satisfied that cash is sufficient for the needs of the business based on the cash flow forecast. The going concern review 
covered the period to the end of June 2023. 
 
The Covid outbreak continues to add some uncertainty to financial forecasting and modelling. However, at an operating profit level, the Group’s results for 
the first quarter of 2022 have been better than budget. New sales activity remains subdued with the timing of any uplift difficult to predict. The Group 
continues to embrace established remote working practices without any significant impact to services. Any ongoing implementations and professional 
services can also be delivered remotely by Ingenta personnel. The internal business infrastructure is contracted with large multinational corporations and 
remains resilient. The Group has modelled various downside scenarios and consider it appropriate to use the going concern basis to compile these financial 
statements. Further details on going concern are included in the accounting policies section of the financial statements. 
 

 
13 
 
Outlook 
Ingenta achieved a key milestone in 2021 by successfully deploying its first music customer onto conChord which significantly provides us with a 
referenceable client and independent validation that our IP engine is flexible enough to step into adjacent verticals. Our marketing effort is now targeted on 
enhancing the messaging in this sector in order to build momentum and boost sales pipeline growth. 
 
The Group is also actively exploring further opportunities to drive expansion of the newly invigorated managed services division which is a key offering that 
provides real value to customers who no longer wish to be encumbered with peripheral activities as they relate to software infrastructure. 
 
Pleasingly, 2022 has started well, with reported profits ahead of budget and the prior year, giving the Board optimism for the future. 
 
On behalf of the Board. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
J Sheffield  
Chief Financial Officer 
24 June 2022 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
14 
Section 172 Statement 
 
The Directors continually monitor the operations of the business and take decisions to promote the success of the Group for the benefit of all its members. 
As described in the Business Strategy section of the Financial Review, the Directors have selected a business model and operational structure designed to 
maximise the effectiveness of the business for all stakeholders. The likely consequences of any decisions are modelled to provide assurance that they are in 
the long-term interest of stakeholders and, as detailed in the Corporate Governance Report included in the 2021 Annual Report, risk management and 
internal controls are a key oversight to ensure objectives are met. The Group have also adopted the QCA Corporate Governance code which is designed to 
foster strong relations with all stakeholders and details are included on the Group’s website. In addition to our shareholders, the Board considers the 
employees, customers and suppliers to be critical to the long-term success of the business. 
 
Shareholder engagement 
The Board is committed to maintaining active dialogue with its shareholders to ensure that its strategy, business model and performance are understood. 
The AGM is the main forum for dialogue between retail shareholders and the Board. The notice of the AGM is sent at least 21 days before the meeting 
which is held at the Group’s Head Office and all Board members routinely attend. For each vote, the number of proxy votes received for, against and 
withheld is announced at the meeting. During the meeting, the Board members are available to answer any questions raised by shareholders. The results of 
the AGM are subsequently published via a Regulatory Information Service and on the Company’s corporate website. The Chief Executive Officer and Chief 
Financial Officer are primarily responsible for shareholder liaison and can be contacted on 01865 397 800. The executive management make presentations 
to institutional and retail shareholders and analysts each year following the release of full year and half year results. Conversations, when requested, are 
also held at other points in the year. The corporate website also includes details of recent annual and interim results and all of the Group’s RNS and RNS 
Reach announcements. The Board and Executive management team have shareholdings and share options in the Group which are designed to align the 
goals and decisions made on behalf of all shareholders. Dividend policy and strategies to increase shareholder value are key considerations. 
 
Employee engagement 
Staff are invited to Companywide meetings where the Executive Team share information and updates on strategy and recent news. At these meetings, 
there is also a forum where all members of staff can ask questions. Ingenta also retain an independent HR resource to ensure all HR issues are dealt with in 
accordance with best practice and all rules and regulations are adhered to. Decisions made which affect staff are opened up to feedback. An example of this 
being the return-to-work policy after Covid restrictions which promoted a consideration of individual circumstances and requests. 
 
Customer engagement 
The Group has many customers of differing sizes and complexity with a variety of requirements. To best service them, the business has rolled out a new 
operating model to standardise its approach to all customers and provide a consistent level of service and support. The business also keeps regular contact 
with customers via account managers and user groups where demand exists so that our customers can feed back any issues, share experiences and help 
shape the development of our products. Each quarter software releases are made available and the Group considers the impact on customers by scheduling 
in convenient times for upgrades and also allowing change requests where appropriate. To ensure the business is keeping abreast of wider industry 
challenges, we actively participate in a variety of annual trade events. 
 
Supplier engagement 
The Group makes every effort to ensure our suppliers are treated fairly and paid on time and on average they are paid within 26 days. Ingenta opposes 
modern slavery in all its forms and endeavours to make sure any concerns raised are investigated. Where offshore resourcing is used, the business meets 
the suppliers prior to contract signing to satisfy itself that they are operating in a responsible manner. Where appropriate, the Group have contracts in place 
which ensure clarity over the terms of the engagement. 
 
Company culture 
The Board and senior management expect everyone in the company to act in a responsible and ethical manner because the reputation of the business is 
key to our success. The Group does not let cost concerns override its ethics and behaviour. For example, we only contract with offshore resourcing entities 
who commit to fair working practices. The Company is committed to minimising negative environmental impact in terms of energy usage at our offices, 
digitising our content and using responsible methods to dispose of electrical equipment. The Company and staff are also active in the local community 
supporting charities and sponsoring good causes. Feedback from all stakeholders allow the Board to monitor the Company’s culture, as well as the ethical 
values and behaviours within the business. 
 

 
15 
 
Risks and uncertainties 
 
COVID-19 
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to be considered a principal risk to the business bringing with it many significant uncertainties although to date they 
have been successfully mitigated. The Group has analysed the potential impacts and tailored its business continuity plan in response to the anticipated 
threats. All staff within the business have remote working capabilities and for many this is a normal operating procedure. In addition, the Group’s new 
operating structure has fostered teams with interchangeable skills across the product offerings and technology stacks which, along with remote working, 
provides a more flexible staffing model better equipped to deal with illness and absence. The Group’s IT infrastructure is hosted on resilient platforms using 
large corporate providers ideally suited to providing uninterrupted service. 
 
The Group’s customer base is reasonably diverse including trade and academic publishers who are not deemed to be at high risk at the present time. The 
Group also considers over 80% of its revenue to be recurring in nature with many customers on multiyear contracts. The Ingenta systems are central to the 
operations of its customer base and not deemed to be a discretionary spend although some project work may be impacted as customers wait to see what 
the implications of COVID-19 hold for them. The key concern identified by management is the inevitable delay in new sales as major investment decisions 
are put off. However, the Group has modelled various potential future scenarios including customer attrition and restrictions in new sales activity and 
predict the business will continue to operate profitably with sufficient working capital headroom. Also, a significant amount of the Group’s renewals and 
cash are received in the first quarter of each year and at 31 March 2022 cash balances remained over £3m. 
 
Sales risk 
The major risks for future trading are converting sales of the Ingenta Content and Commercial product suite. Most of the business costs are fixed in the 
medium-term, being people and premises costs, and therefore there is a risk to Group profitability when budgeted revenue is not delivered as cost 
reductions will lag behind revenue reductions. To mitigate against this, management have reduced the fixed cost elements of the business by streamlining 
physical location costs. Management also undertakes detailed monthly revenue forecasting and assesses risk on an ongoing basis. Customer procurement 
processes remain difficult to predict, and any delays during contract negotiation will impact on the timing of project commencement and the level of 
revenue that can be recognised in the year. This is considered a principal risk for the business. 
 
Project risk 
There are two principal project risks: risk of fixed priced projects running over and the risk on all projects where there is development required that we are 
unable to deliver to the specification agreed. 
 
Fixed price project risk relates to the accuracy of project estimates and the time it will take to complete the tasks as specified in the customer contract. 
Management mitigate this risk by hiring the best staff who are able to estimate projects accurately and by building in a contingency to fixed priced 
contracts. Management also closely monitor contracts to ensure all work performed is in accordance with the agreement and any new requests are 
separately contracted for. Management further mitigate the risk by taking on new projects on a time and materials basis wherever possible. 
 
Projects requiring bespoke development also carry the risk that the development will not be able to be delivered in the way envisaged at the time of 
contract. Management take care to fully scope these development projects and use developers who understand the products and the complexities of 
building bespoke elements. This is considered a principal risk for the business. 
 
IT risk 
Internal IT services are deployed onto fault tolerant platforms and spread over multiple locations including the Group’s offices, co-location facilities, 
Infrastructure as a Service (IAAS) and Office365. Regular backups and securing of data offer multiple restore points in the event of a critical failure outside of 
the scope of the in-built resilience. E-mail is a cloud-based deployment that staff can access from any working PC/smart phone. Staff have access to cloud-
based storage (OneDrive) in addition to co-location deployed file servers where data cannot be stored in e-mail. Key staff have mobile phones and access to 
resilient telephony services for the purposes of contacting each other and customers. Through remote working staff can access their data and customer 
sites in the event that it was not possible to gain access to our offices. 
 
Customer facing services are monitored for both stability and performance, wherever possible proactive maintenance is undertaken to avoid performance 
problems and/or downtime. All customer deployments are done to fault tolerant hardware either in one of our co-location facilities or to a cloud-based 
service, both offering high levels of resiliency and multiple, redundant access. Cyber security and data protection are considered within the Group’s IT risk. A 
rolling quarterly cyber security training program has been rolled to all employees making them aware of current threats and guiding them on the correct 
actions to take. Data protection considerations are built into the IT infrastructure with internal data held securely and access restricted as necessary. For 
customer deployment risks, where Ingenta host data, the Group build in standard protection which can be further tailored for individual customer 
requirements. The Group’s business continuity plan is available from multiple locations and is regularly updated to cover new services and deployments. 
 
Foreign exchange risk 
The Group operates internationally creating an exposure to changes in foreign currency exchange rates. The risk is mitigated by matching of foreign 
currency receipts and payments wherever possible. 
  
HR risk 
In a company with a high proportion of people-based revenue there is a risk of key staff leaving or being absent through sickness. This is mitigated by having 
appropriate notice periods built into employee contracts and ensuring there is adequate coverage for all staff roles with no individual solely responsible for 
significant revenue generation. Further, the Group now embraces a flexible working policy designed to augment basic pay and conditions which is seen as 
an important retention incentive. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
16 
Board members 
 
Scott Winner 
Chief Executive Officer 
 
Jonathan Sheffield 
Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary 
As CEO, Scott Winner builds and drives the organisation to deliver successfully 
across all areas of Professional Services, Research and Development, Customer 
Service and Service Delivery.  Scott is responsible for overseeing and evolving how 
Ingenta creates and delivers new products, for deploying its innovations to 
customers and managing the overall operational execution, all with a strong 
metrics and analytics driven approach. Prior to his role as COO, Scott was EVP, 
Global Projects for Ingenta, but has previously held roles managing product line 
P&L, driving product development efforts and building successful organizations to 
deliver. He has worked across several different industries, including educational 
publishing, manufacturing and financial services, and has held roles at Pearson 
Education, Amplify Learning, McGraw-Hill and the Fireman’s Fund insurance 
company. 
As Chief Financial Officer, Jon is responsible for the financial well-being and 
stability of the organisation, as well as communicating with the investor 
community. Jon leads the Enterprise Services division of Ingenta with 
responsibility for HR, Facilities and Technology Infrastructure. Prior to his 
appointment as CFO, as Group Financial Controller, Jon managed the Ingenta 
Finance function, including all aspects of compliance, forecasting and reporting. 
An ACA qualified accountant, Jon spent the early part of his career in practice, 
latterly at PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, managing audits and compliance over a 
broad range of companies and market sectors. Prior to joining Ingenta, he held 
similar finance roles in the IT and Retail industry. Jon qualified as a chartered 
accountant in 2001 before joining Ingenta in 2010. 
 
Martyn Rose 
Chairman 
 
Mark Rowse, 
Non-executive Director 
Martyn Rose is an entrepreneur specialising in refinancing and restructuring 
smaller companies and Chairman and a non-executive director of Ingenta. Martyn 
has helped steer the company toward its continued growth, stability and success 
since 1999 before the merger of Ingenta and VISTA International Limited to 
become Ingenta in 2007. Martyn is also a qualified barrister and became Chairman 
of his first publicly listed company at the age of 34. Since that time, he has been 
Chairman of over twenty five public and private companies with a present 
involvement in publishing software, online academic research, financial services, 
manufacturing, recruitment and commercial radio. In addition to his other 
commercial interests, Martyn has been a trustee of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust since 
2000, a school governor and co-chaired the National Citizen Service. 
Mark Rowse is a media and publishing entrepreneur who specialises in creating 
and developing businesses where content meets the internet, particularly in the 
areas of digital publishing and online television. After graduation from the 
University of Cambridge with a first-class honours degree in Law, Mark worked at 
investment bank NM Rothschild & Sons Limited in mergers and acquisitions. 
Following this he entered the media industry and since the mid 1990’s Mark has 
principally worked in the areas of the internet and digital television, pioneering 
digital interactive TV on airlines, co-founding Yes TV, now one of the major 
operators of on-demand TV in Asia, and launching Luxury Life, an international 
digital satellite TV channel. In 1998 he founded Ingenta plc, taking the company to 
a £120m flotation in 2000 and is now a non-executive director of Ingenta as a 
result of the merger of Ingenta and VISTA International Limited in 2007. 
 
Neil Kirton 
Non-executive Director 
 
Sebastian White 
Non-executive Director 
Neil Kirton is currently a Managing Director and Head of Business Intelligence in 
the London office of Kroll, a global leader in corporate investigations and risk 
consultancy. Prior to joining Kroll he was a Group Board Director at The Arbuthnot 
Banking Group plc having been Head of Corporate Finance and Chief Executive 
Officer of its securities business. Previously he held a range of senior equity 
market positions with Bridgewell Securities and ABN AMRO Hoare Govett Limited 
(now known as RBS HG (UK) Limited) where he was Deputy Chief Executive and 
Global Head of Equity Sales. 
Sebastian is an Investment Director at Kestrel Partners. Prior to joining Kestrel, he 
had 14 years as head of corporate development at UK AIM listed Alternative 
Networks plc, a communications and hosting provider to the mid-market. 
Sebastian’s responsibilities included business planning, M&A process 
management, commercial due diligence and acquisition integration. 
 

 
17 
 
Directors’ report 
 
The Directors present their report and the audited financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2021. 
 
Directors 
The Directors of the Company who held office during the year were: 
 
Executive Directors 
G S Winner, Chief Executive Officer 
J R Sheffield, Chief Financial Officer 
 
Non-Executive Directors 
M C Rose, Chairman 
M A Rowse 
N W Kirton 
B H Holmström (resigned 30 June 2021) 
S J G White 
 
The interests of Directors in the shares of the Company at 31 December 2021 are disclosed in the Directors’ remuneration report. 
 
Corporate governance 
Details of corporate governance for the year to 31 December 2021 are disclosed in the corporate governance statement. The Directors of the company pay 
particular attention to maintain good working relationships with the Group’s shareholders, customers, employees and suppliers. Further details are 
included on the Company website. The main effort in the year has been embedding the new Group structure which has the benefit of removing risk from 
the business ensuring a stable foundation is in place for the benefit of all stakeholders.  
 
Research and development activities 
The Group carries out research and development activities in connection with administration systems, web delivery, access control and linking technologies. 
All costs relating to these activities are charged to profit and loss within the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income as incurred. The charge to the 
Group Statement of Comprehensive Income was £1.0m (2020: £1.4m) in the year to 31 December 2021. 
 
Substantial shareholdings 
At the latest shareholder register update for the quarter ended March 2022, the Company had been notified of the following shareholders who are 
interested, directly or indirectly, in three percent or more of the issued share capital of the Company: 
 
 
Name 
Number of ordinary 10p 
shares 
Percentage of issued  
ordinary share capital 
M C Rose 
4,645,412 
28.44% 
Kestrel Partners LLP 
4,635,273 
28.38% 
Criseren Investments Limited 
827,785 
5.07% 
Canaccord Genuity Wealth Management 
1,543,207 
9.45% 
Emslie Family 
679,250 
4.16% 
Premier Miton Group plc 
670,049 
4.10% 
 
Financial risk management 
Details of the Group’s financial risks are given in note 25. 
 
Employment policy 
Group employees are regularly consulted by Management and kept informed of matters affecting them and the overall development of the Group. The 
Group’s policy is to give disabled people full and fair consideration for job vacancies, having due regard for their abilities and the safety of the individual. In 
the event of members of staff becoming disabled every effort is made to ensure that their employment with the Group continues and appropriate training 
is arranged. 
 
Directors’ and officers’ liability insurance 
The Group, as permitted by sections 234 and 235 of the Companies Act 2006, maintains insurance cover on behalf of the Directors and Company Secretary 
indemnifying them against certain liabilities which may be incurred by them in relation to the Group. 
 
Future developments 
The business is looking to leverage its expertise in rights and royalty’s management into other adjacent vertical markets. The Group’s first venture is into the 
music industry with its conChord product. If this proves successful, then other verticals will also be explored. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
18 
Strategic report 
Disclosures have been made in relation to section 172 on page 14, Principal risks on page 15 and key performance indicators within the Financial review on 
page 12.  
 
Going concern 
The Directors have prepared the financial statements on the going concern basis. In assessing whether this assumption is appropriate, management have 
taken into account all relevant available information about the future including a revenue, profit and cash forecast, and management’s ability to affect costs 
and revenues. Management regularly forecast profit, financial position and cash flows for the Group and a rolling forecast is updated monthly. Revenue is 
forecast in detail with all revenue items categorised as being contractual, variable fees, other or forecasted new sales. Management have reviewed forecast 
costs for reasonableness against prior years in light of known changes and have concluded that forecast costs are robust. Additionally, Management have 
modelled downside scenarios deemed to be reasonably possible to ensure the going concern assessment is robust. Further details on going concern are 
included within note 1 to the accounts (principal accounting policies). 
 
Auditor 
Grant Thornton UK LLP, offer themselves for re-appointment as auditor. A resolution to re-appoint Grant Thornton UK LLP will be proposed at the 
forthcoming Annual General Meeting. 
 
On behalf of the Board. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
G S Winner 
Director 
24 June 2022 
 
 

 
19 
 
Corporate governance statement 
 
The Board of Ingenta plc have adopted the Quoted Companies Alliance Corporate Governance Code (the QCA Code). 
 
It is the Board’s responsibility to ensure that the Ingenta Group is managed in the long-term interests of all shareholders and stakeholders in the business. 
The Board believes a strong and effective corporate governance culture is critical in this respect as we endeavour to grow a resilient and sustainable 
business for the benefit of our shareholders, customers, people and suppliers.  
 
The QCA code is constructed around 10 broad principles which are detailed in full on the Company’s website. 
 
Strategy and business model 
Ingenta seeks to solve the unique problems faced by information providers. We tailor our suite of industry-specific technology products to create robust 
solutions to manage our customers’ IP, content and advertising requirements. 
 
Our business model is to deliver profitable services enabling us to invest in the development of software solutions that help our customers manage and 
monetise their content. We generate revenue via professional service fees for implementing our solutions, providing ongoing licence, hosting and support 
services plus a range of ancillary consulting services. We then reinvest some of these profits into our products and the development of next generation 
solutions to ensure we have the required product capabilities to deliver revenue and profit into the future. 
 
The Group financial review provides further information on the results of the business. 
 
Risk management 
The Board of Directors acknowledges its responsibility for the Group’s system of risk management and internal control, including suitable monitoring 
procedures. There are inherent limitations in any system of risk management and internal control and accordingly, even the most effective system can 
provide only reasonable, and not absolute, assurance with respect to the preparation of financial information and the safeguarding of assets. The Group’s 
control environment is the responsibility of the Group’s Directors and managers at all levels. 
 
The Directors and management have considered the risks facing the business with the key items discussed in the Group Risks and uncertainties section of 
the financial statements. These are assessed on an ongoing basis. Other risks which come under the direct control of the Directors include treasury 
management, capital expenditure, insurance, health and safety and regulatory compliance. Risk assessment includes the review of potential mitigations. 
 
The Company has an established framework of internal controls covering the following areas: 
 
• 
The Board reviews and approves company strategy and the associated annual budgets. 
• 
Monthly management information packs are produced which report performance to the Board and management team. These include income 
statements, balance sheets and cash flows. Actual results are reported against budget, latest forecast and prior year with an updated forecast for 
the expected full year outcome. 
• 
Any new business goes through a deal review meeting to determine expected profitability and identify any risks and how they can be mitigated 
in the contract. New contracts must be signed by a member of the Board and where material they are reviewed by the Company’s advisors. 
• 
A Company-wide timesheet system is in place to enable management to effectively monitor projects, both internal and external, and report on 
profitability throughout the duration of the work. 
• 
A clear organisational structure with defined levels of authority and approval. 
• 
Close supervision of the daily operations by the Executive Directors and management team. 
• 
Central control over banking facilities with defined authority limits. 
• 
The Audit Committee reviews the independent audit findings report each year to ensure compliance with financial reporting regulations and that 
its internal control procedures are being adhered to and remain effective.  
 
The Group continues to review its internal controls and will be including further key performance indicators into the monthly reporting cycle to assist 
management and the Board in understanding the performance of the business. The Board considered the usefulness of appointing a dedicated legal counsel 
and internal audit function but decided in view of the size of the Group it was not effective to do so. This will be kept under review. 
 
Further detail on the key risks faced by the business are set out in the Group risk and uncertainties section of the financial statements. 
 
Management framework 
Ultimate responsibility for corporate governance lies with the Chairman of the Board. At present the Board comprises the Non-Executive Chairman, three 
Non-Executive Directors and two Executive Directors. N W Kirton is deemed to be an independent Board member. 
 
The Board is satisfied that it has the right mix of skills covering finance, investor relations, technology and industry experience to enable it to discharge its 
duties and responsibilities effectively and is supported by an Audit and a Remuneration Committee which meet separately through the year. Any conflicts of 
interest at Board level are reviewed regularly through the year and disclosed at the Board meeting as appropriate. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
20 
There are normally eleven Board meetings scheduled as standard through the year with further meetings set up as required. In the year to 31 December 
2021 there were 11 Board meetings held with attendance records below: 
 
Name 
Attendance 
G S Winner 
11 out of 11 
J R Sheffield 
11 out of 11 
M C Rose 
11 out of 11 
M A Rowse 
11 out of 11 
N W Kirton 
11 out of 11 
B H Holmström 
6 out of 6 
S J G White 
11 out of 11 
 
Each month the Board is supplied with a comprehensive management information pack covering financial performance for the month and forecast for the 
full year. The management team also provide an in-depth commentary on the divisional operations of the business to ensure the Board is kept abreast of 
the latest developments. 
 
Board of Directors 
Between them, the Board members provide skills in finance and reporting, public markets, investor relations, technology and the publishing industry. These 
skills are kept up to date via training courses and current on the job experience. The Company’s Nomad strengthens the Board’s professional development 
by providing guidance and updates on corporate governance and regulatory matters as required. 
 
The Board composition is under regular review and has widened over recent years to include specialists in public markets and technology where the Board 
felt there was a need for additional expertise. All Directors can take independent professional advice in order that they can effectively carry out their duties 
and have access to the services of the Company secretary as required. 
 
Each board member’s biography is available on the Company’s website and in the financial statements where it details their skills, experience and 
capabilities. 
 
The Company secretary is responsible for guiding the Chairman and Board on their responsibilities and how those responsibilities should be discharged. This 
includes ensuring good information flows within the Board and its committees and also between senior management. Other responsibilities include 
shareholder relations, administration of the Company’s records and ensuring compliance with legal and statutory requirements. 
 
Board performance 
The Chairman continually monitors performance of the Board at the regular board meetings. The Executive Director roles of Chief Executive Officer and 
Chief Financial Officer are clearly defined with performance targets relating to Revenue, EBITDA, Earnings per share and cash balances set each year. The 
Company’s auditors provide an annual finding report which is used as a tool to identify any areas of improvement for the Board, and these are reviewed and 
acted upon as appropriate. Where further training requirements have been identified, the Company then ensures that these are carried out. 
 
In terms of succession planning, the Board are encouraged to maintain dialogue regarding individual member’s future plans to enable the Company to 
complete an orderly transition. The succession process involves a thorough review of potential internal and external candidates to ensure the best person is 
selected. While no formal nomination committee has been established, board and other senior management appointments are regularly considered at a 
board level. 
 
Corporate culture 
The Board and senior management expect everyone in the company to act in a responsible and ethical manner because the reputation of the business is 
key to our success. The company does not let cost concerns override its ethics and behaviour. For example, we only contract with offshore resourcing 
entities who commit to fair working practices. The Company is committed to minimising negative environmental impact in terms of energy usage at our 
offices, digitising our content and using responsible methods to dispose of electrical equipment. 
 
The Company and staff are also active in the local community supporting charities and sponsoring good causes. Feedback from all stakeholders, as 
described in further detail on the Company’s website, allow the Board to monitor the Company’s culture, as well as the ethical values and behaviours within 
the business. 
 
Remuneration Committee 
The Remuneration Committee is composed of three Non-Executive Directors: M C Rose (Chairman), M A Rowse and N W Kirton. It is responsible for the 
terms, conditions and remuneration of the Executive Directors and senior management. The Remuneration Committee may consult external agencies when 
ascertaining market salaries. The Chairman of the Remuneration Committee will be available at the AGM to answer any shareholder questions. 
 
Audit Committee 
The Audit Committee is comprised of three Non-Executive Directors: M C Rose (Chairman), M A Rowse and N W Kirton. It monitors the adequacy of the 
Group’s internal controls and provides the opportunity for the external auditor to communicate directly with the Non-Executive Directors. 
 
The Audit Committee also ensures that the external auditor is independent via the segregation of audit related work from other accounting functions and 
non-audit related services provided and measures applicable fees with similar auditors. The Group only use the auditing firm for compliance and 
corporation tax related work when fees are competitive. Any significant project work would be awarded to an independent firm of accountants. 
 

 
21 
 
Relations with shareholders 
The Group gives high priority to its communication with shareholders. This is achieved through the Group’s website, correspondence and extensive 
corporate information. In addition, the Group visits its main institutional investors on an ongoing basis and makes available to all shareholders, free of 
charge, its Interim and Annual Reports online, from the Group’s head office or via the Financial Times Annual Report Service. At the AGM the shareholders 
are given the opportunity to question members of the Board. The notice of the AGM is sent to shareholders at least 21 business days before the meeting. 
 
Statement of Directors’ responsibilities 
The directors are responsible for preparing the Group Strategic Report and Directors’ 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 to prepare the financial 
statements in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards (IASs). 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 and 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 IASs as adopted by the UK have been followed, subject to any material departures disclosed and explained in the 
financial statements; 
• 
prepare the financial statements on the going concern basis unless it is inappropriate to presume that the Company will continue in business. 
 
The Directors are responsible for keeping adequate accounting records that are sufficient to show and explain the Company’s transactions and disclose with 
reasonable accuracy at any time the financial position of the Company and enable them to ensure that the financial statements comply with the Companies 
Act 2006. They are also responsible for safeguarding the assets of the Company and hence for taking reasonable steps for the prevention and detection of 
fraud and other irregularities. 
 
The Directors confirm that: 
 
• 
so far as each Director is aware, there is no relevant audit information of which the Company’s auditor is unaware; and 
• 
the Directors have taken all the steps that they ought to have taken as Directors in order to make themselves aware of any relevant audit 
information and to establish that the auditors are aware of that information. 
 
The Directors are responsible for the maintenance and integrity of the corporate and financial information included on the Company’s website. Legislation 
in the United Kingdom governing the preparation and dissemination of financial statements may differ from legislation in other jurisdictions. 
 
On behalf of the Board. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
M C Rose 
Chairman of the Audit Committee 
24 June 2022 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
22 
Directors’ remuneration report 
 
The AIM Rules for Companies require the disclosure of certain information regarding the remuneration earned by each director. The Remuneration 
Committee comprises M C Rose (Chairman), M A Rowse and N W Kirton who are Non-Executive Directors. The Remuneration Committee decides the 
remuneration policy that applies to Executive Directors and senior management. The Remuneration Committee meets regularly in order to consider and set 
the annual remuneration for the Executive Directors, having regard to personal performance and industry remuneration rates. 
 
In determining that policy, it considers a number of factors including: 
• 
the basic salaries and benefits available to Executive Directors of comparable companies, 
• 
the need to attract and retain Directors of an appropriate calibre, and 
• 
the need to ensure Directors’ commitment to the success of the Group. 
 
Non-Executive Directors are appointed on a contract with a three-month notice period and may be awarded fees in relation to the Board and committee 
meetings attended. Any fee awards to Non-Executive Directors are determined by the Board. Non-Executive Directors do not participate in the Company’s 
share option scheme and do not receive the benefit of pension contributions. 
 
The Group made contributions to externally administered defined contribution pension schemes for two Executive Directors. 
 
The interests of the Directors at 31 December 2021 in the shares of the Company were as follows: 
 
Name 
Number of ordinary shares of 10p in Ingenta plc 
31 December 2021 
Number of ordinary shares of 10p in Ingenta plc 
31 December 2020 
M C Rose 
4,645,412 
4,645,412 
M A Rowse 
440,277 
440,277 
N W Kirton 
44,250 
44,250 
S J G White 
4,635,273 
4,601,754 
G S Winner 
22,000 
22,000 
J R Sheffield 
13,872 
13,872 
S J G White is a member of Kestrel Partners LLP 
 
Directors’ interests 
The Directors at 31 December 2021 had an interest in 648,912 options over the ordinary shares. The Directors had no post-employment benefits, other 
long-term benefits, termination benefits or share-based payments in the year. 
 
The market price of the Company’s shares at the end of the year was 72.5p and the price ranged in the year between 63.5p and 85.0p. 
 
Directors’ remuneration 
 
M M E Royde resigned in 2020 and B H Holmström resigned in 2021.   
 
On behalf of the Remuneration Committee. 
 
 
 
 
M C Rose 
Chairman 
24 June 2022 
 
Name 
Salary 
and 
fees  
£’000 
Benefits  
£’000 
Sums paid 
to a third-
party for 
Directors’ 
services 
 £’000 
 
Pension 
contribution  
£’000 
 
Total 
remuneration 
£’000 
Group 
National 
Insurance 
costs 
 £’000 
2021 Total 
cost of 
employment 
 £’000 
 
2020 Total 
remuneration 
 £’000 
2020 Total 
cost of 
employment 
 £’000 
G S Winner 
251 
13 
- 
4 
268 
18 
286 
216 
228 
J R Sheffield 
120 
- 
- 
64 
184 
15 
199 
156 
171 
M C Rose 
36 
- 
48 
- 
84 
4 
88 
84 
88 
M A Rowse 
22 
- 
8 
- 
30 
2 
32 
30 
30 
N W Kirton 
30 
- 
- 
- 
30 
3 
33 
30 
33 
S J G White 
- 
- 
30 
- 
30 
- 
30 
22 
22 
B H Holmström 
- 
- 
22 
- 
22 
- 
22 
30 
30 
M M E Royde 
- 
- 
- 
- 
-  
- 
-  
8 
8 
459 
13 
108 
68 
648 
42 
690 
576 
610 

 
23 
 
Independent auditor’s report to the members of Ingenta 
plc 
 
Opinion 
 
Our opinion on the financial statements is unmodified 
We have audited the financial statements of Ingenta plc (the ‘parent company’) and its subsidiaries (the ‘group’) for the year ended 31 December 2021, 
which comprise the Group statement of comprehensive income, the Group statement of financial position, the Group statement of changes in equity, 
the Group statement of cash flows, the Company statement of financial position, the Company statement of changes in equity and notes to the financial 
statements, including a summary of significant accounting policies. The financial reporting framework that has been applied in the preparation of the 
group financial statements is applicable law and UK-adopted international accounting standards. The financial reporting framework that has been 
applied in the preparation of the parent company financial statements is applicable law and United Kingdom Accounting Standards, including Financial 
Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ (United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting Practice). 
 
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 December 2021 and 
of the group’s profit for the year then ended; 
• 
the group financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with UK adopted international accounting standards; 
• 
the parent company financial statements have been properly prepared in accordance with United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice; and 
• 
the financial statements have been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006. 
 
 
Basis for opinion 
We conducted our audit in accordance with International Standards on Auditing (UK) (ISAs (UK)) and applicable law. Our responsibilities under those 
standards are further described in the ‘Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements’ section of our report. We are independent of the 
group and the parent company in accordance with the ethical requirements that are relevant to our audit of the financial statements in the UK, including 
the FRC’s Ethical Standard as applied to listed entities, and we have fulfilled our other ethical responsibilities in accordance with these requirements. We 
believe that the audit evidence we have obtained is sufficient and appropriate to provide a basis for our opinion. 
 
Conclusions relating to going concern 
We are responsible for concluding on the appropriateness of the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting and, based on the audit evidence 
obtained, whether a material uncertainty exists related to events or conditions that may cast significant doubt on the group’s and the parent company’s 
ability to continue as a going concern. If we conclude that a material uncertainty exists, we are required to draw attention in our report to the related 
disclosures in the financial statements or, if such disclosures are inadequate, to modify the auditor’s opinion. Our conclusions are based on the audit 
evidence obtained up to the date of our report. However, future events or conditions may cause the group or the parent company to cease to continue as a 
going concern. 
 
Our evaluation of the Directors’ assessment of the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue to adopt the going concern basis of accounting 
included: 
 
• 
obtaining management’s going concern assessment for the period to June 2023, which included a base case forecast, a sensitised forecast and a 
relative stress test, and obtaining an understanding of how these forecasts were compiled; 
• 
testing the reliability of management’s forecasting by comparing the accuracy of the actual financial performance with forecast information 
obtained in the prior period; 
• 
assessing the reasonableness of the assumptions used in management’s forecasts approved by the board; 
• 
challenging the assumptions used within the going concern forecasts, such as the assumptions in respect of revenue, and considering whether 
they are consistent with other evidence obtained during the audit; 
• 
performing sensitivity analysis on the key assumptions and estimates to determine the impact of reasonably possible movements; and 
• 
assessing the adequacy of the going concern disclosures included within the strategic report and accounting policies for compliance with the 
requirements of IAS 1 ‘Presentation of financial statements’ (IAS 1). 
 
In our evaluation of the Directors’ conclusions, we considered the inherent risks associated with the group’s and the parent company’s business model 
including effects arising from Covid-19 and the conflict in Ukraine, we assessed and challenged the reasonableness of estimates made by the Directors and 
the related disclosures and analysed how those risks might affect the group’s and the parent company’s financial resources or ability to continue operations 
over the going concern period. 
 
Based on the work we have performed, we have not identified any material uncertainties relating to events or conditions that, individually or collectively, 
may cast significant doubt on the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going concern for a period of at least twelve months from when 
the financial statements are authorised for issue. 
 
In auditing the financial statements, we have concluded that the Directors’ use of the going concern basis of accounting in the preparation of the financial 
statements is appropriate. 
 
The responsibilities of the Directors with respect to going concern are described in the ‘Responsibilities of Directors for the financial statements’ section of 
this report. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
24 
Our approach to the audit 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Overview of our audit approach 
Overall materiality:  
Group: £253,600, which represents approximately 2.5% of the group’s revenue. 
 
Parent company: £247,300, which represents approximately 3% of the parent company’s net assets. 
Key audit matters were identified as: 
 
• 
The revenue cycle includes fraudulent transactions, same as previous year (occurrence of 
revenue); and 
• 
Valuation of investments in subsidiary undertakings (parent company only), same as previous 
year (impairment of investments). 
 
Our auditor’s report for the year ended 31 December 2020 included two key audit matters that have not 
been reported as key audit matters in our current year’s report. These relate to the impairment (valuation) 
of intangible assets and going concern (the risk of the going concern assumption being inappropriate). This is 
based on the improved performance of the group in the year and an increased understanding of how the 
group was impacted by Covid-19 resulting in these matters being determined as less significant in the 
context of the audit. 
 
We have performed an audit of the financial information of the parent company, Ingenta plc, and of the 
financial information of Ingenta (UK) Limited and Vista International Limited using component materiality 
(‘full scope audit’). 
 
We performed an audit of one or more account balances of the financial information of Ingenta Inc and PCG 
Inc (‘specific scope procedures’) and analytical procedures on the financial information of the other non-
significant components. 
 
Our full scope and specific-scope audit procedures provided coverage of 100% of the group’s consolidated 
revenue and 100% of the group’s consolidated total assets. 
 
 
 
 
Key audit 
matters
Scoping
Materiality

 
25 
 
Key audit matters 
Key audit matters are those matters that, in our professional 
judgement, were of most significance in our audit of the financial 
statements of the current period and include the most significant 
assessed risks of material misstatement (whether or not due to fraud) 
that we identified. These matters included those that had the greatest 
effect on the overall audit strategy; the allocation of resources in the 
audit; and directing the efforts of the engagement team. These matters 
were addressed in the context of our audit of the financial statements 
as a whole, and in forming our opinion thereon, and we do not provide 
a separate opinion on these matters 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
In the graph below, we have presented the key audit matters, the other assertion level significant risk and the risk of the going concern assumption being 
inappropriate. We also identified a significant financial statement level risk due to management override of controls.  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Key audit matter 
 
Other assertion level 
significant risk  
 
Going concern 
assumption 
Description
Audit response
Disclosures
Our results
KAM
High 
Low 
Potentia
financia
statemen
impac
High 
Low
Extent of management judgement 
Going concern 
assumption 
The revenue cycle includes 
fraudulent transactions 
(occurrence of revenue) 
Valuation of investments in 
subsidiary undertakings (parent 
company only) 
Valuation of intercompany 
receivables (parent company 
only) 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
26 
Key Audit Matter - Group 
How our scope addressed the matter – Group 
 
 
The revenue cycle includes fraudulent transactions (occurrence of 
revenue) 
We identified the risk that the revenue cycle includes fraudulent 
transactions as one of the most significant assessed risks of material 
misstatement due to fraud. 
 
Under ISA (UK) 240 ‘The Auditor’s Responsibilities Relating to Fraud in 
an Audit of Financial Statements’, there is a presumed risk that there are 
risks of fraud in recognition of revenue. 
Revenue is the most significant item in the group statement of 
comprehensive income and impacts several key performance indicators, 
and key strategic indicators, as set out in the Strategic Report. 
 
Group revenue of £10.1m has been recognised in the year ended 31 
December 2021, arising substantially from the sales of services.  
The application of International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 15 
‘Revenue from Contracts with Customers’ is an area requiring 
judgement by management.  We have determined that, due to pressure 
to meet market expectations, there is a significant risk that management 
may record revenue fictitiously or in advance of the criteria for revenue 
recognition being satisfied. 
 
For revenue recognised in relation to Managed Services, Hosting, 
Maintenance, Pay Per View (PPV), Third Party Software and Time-Based 
(provision of services and licenses over a period of time) the significant 
risk has been assigned to transactions which do not follow the standard 
pattern observed for revenue (‘outliers’) from these services as 
identified by our data analytics software. For revenue earned from 
Content, Implementation and Licenses we have assessed the significant 
risk of material misstatement over the full revenue population, where 
material to the group.  
 
 
 
In responding to the key audit matter, we performed the following audit 
procedures: 
 
• 
obtaining an understanding of the relevant controls that 
management have implemented over the process for evaluating 
the occurrence of revenue; 
• 
assessing whether the accounting policies adopted by the Directors 
are in accordance with the requirements of IFRS 15, and whether 
management are accounting for revenue in accordance with the 
accounting policies; 
• 
performing analytical procedures through comparing revenue 
earned in the year to the prior year, corroborating management’s 
explanation for significant or unusual variances outside of our 
expectation; 
• 
using data analytics software to determine ’outliers’ in the revenue 
population and agreeing all ’outliers’ identified to supporting 
documentation; 
• 
performing tests of controls over bank reconciliations to support 
the use of data analytics; 
• 
performing substantive testing across material revenue streams by 
agreeing a sample of transactions to supporting documentation 
and vouching that income has been appropriately recognised, 
including the reperformance of management’s calculation of 
deferred and accrued income where the contract type indicate this 
is relevant;  
• 
obtaining an understanding of the identified manual journals 
posted to revenue to confirm revenue recognised was appropriate 
against supporting documentation and appropriate business 
rationale; and 
• 
obtaining an understanding of credit notes raised post year end 
and confirming that the associated revenue was appropriately 
recognised. 
 
Relevant disclosures in the Annual Report and Accounts 2021 
• 
Financial statements: Note 2, Revenue 
• 
Strategic report: Key performance indicators, page 12  
 
Our results 
Based on our procedures performed, we have not identified any 
material misstatement relating to the occurrence of revenue. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
27 
 
Key Audit Matter – Parent company 
How our scope addressed the matter – Parent company 
 
Valuation of investments in subsidiary undertakings 
We identified the valuation of investments in subsidiary undertakings as 
one of the most significant assessed risks of material misstatement due to 
error. 
Investments in subsidiaries are carried at cost less necessary impairments 
and valued on an individual basis. The investments in subsidiaries are 
included within the company only statement of financial position of 
Ingenta plc and recorded at £3.3m. 
Management perform an annual assessment to determine whether there 
are indicators that the balances may be impaired.  
The determination of whether there are indicators of impairment under 
International Accounting Standard (IAS) 36 ‘Impairment of assets’  
includes the consideration of internal and external factors such as 
changes in technology; below expected economic performance; and a 
consideration of the carrying amount of the investment compared with 
the subsidiaries’ assets.  
 
 
In responding to the key audit matter, we performed the following audit 
procedures: 
• 
obtaining an understanding of the relevant controls that 
management has implemented over the process for evaluating the 
valuation of investments in subsidiaries; 
• 
obtaining and challenging management’s assessment of whether 
impairment indicators exist; 
• 
where indicators of potential impairment were noted, or where 
management have based their primary consideration of 
impairment indicators on an assessment of future economic 
performance, obtaining and challenging management’s impairment 
calculation, discounted cash flows, and key assumptions supporting 
the carrying value of investments in subsidiary undertakings: 
• 
performing a sensitivity analysis in respect of understanding how 
changes to the key assumptions impact on the level of headroom in 
management’s calculation;  
• 
considering management’s historic forecasts against actual results 
as part of other audit testing, to obtain an indicator of the reliability 
and reasonability of management’s forecasts; and 
• 
assessing the adequacy of the accounting disclosures made in the 
financial statements to determine compliance with the 
requirements of IAS 36. 
 
Relevant disclosures in the Annual Report and Accounts 2021 
• 
Parent Company Financial statements: Note 4, Investments 
 
Our results 
Based on our procedures performed we have not identified any material 
misstatement relating to the valuation of investments in subsidiary 
undertakings. 
 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
28 
Our application of materiality 
We apply the concept of materiality both in planning and performing the audit, and in evaluating the effect of identified misstatements on the audit and of 
uncorrected misstatements, if any, on the financial statements and in forming the opinion in the auditor’s report. 
 
Materiality was determined as follows: 
 
Materiality measure 
Group  
Parent company 
 
Materiality for 
financial statements 
as a whole  
 
 
We define materiality as the magnitude of misstatement in the financial statements that, individually or in the aggregate, 
could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of the users of these financial statements. We use 
materiality in determining the nature, timing and extent of our audit work. 
 
 
 
Materiality threshold 
£253,600, which is approximately 2.5% 
of the group’s revenue. 
£247,300, which is approximately 3% of the parent company’s net assets. 
 
 
 
Significant 
judgements made by 
auditor in 
determining the 
materiality 
In determining materiality, we made 
the following significant judgements: 
• Revenue is considered to be the 
most appropriate benchmark 
because there is volatility in profit 
before tax, along with revenue 
being a key performance metric for 
the group; 
 
Materiality for the current year is higher 
than the level that we determined for 
the year ended 31 December 2020 to 
reflect the more stable environment in 
which the group operates, and the 
lower assessed level of complexity in 
operations. 
 
In determining materiality, we made the following significant judgements: 
 
• Net assets is considered to be the most appropriate benchmark based 
on the parent company being a holding company with the intention of 
realising its assets through the underlying performance of investments 
held. 
 
Materiality for the current year is higher than the level that we determined 
for the year ended 31 December 2020 to reflect the more stable 
environment in which the entity operates, and the lower assessed level of 
complexity in operations. 
 
Performance 
materiality used to 
drive the extent of 
our testing 
 
 
We set performance materiality at an amount less than materiality for the financial statements as a whole to reduce to an 
appropriately low level the probability that the aggregate of uncorrected and undetected misstatements exceeds 
materiality for the financial statements as a whole. 
 
 
 
Performance 
materiality threshold 
 
£190,000, which is 75% of financial 
statement materiality. 
£185,500, which is 75% of financial statement materiality. 
 
Significant 
judgements made by 
auditor in 
determining the 
performance 
materiality 
In determining performance materiality 
for the group, we considered the 
following significant matters in forming 
our judgements: 
• 
whether there were any 
significant adjustments made to 
the financial statements in prior 
years; 
• 
whether there were any 
significant control deficiencies 
identified in prior years; 
• 
whether there were any 
significant changes in business 
objectives and strategy. 
 
In determining performance materiality for the parent company, we 
considered the following significant matters in forming our judgements: 
 
 
• 
whether there were any significant adjustments made to the financial 
statements in prior years; 
• 
whether there were any significant control deficiencies identified in 
prior years; 
• 
whether there were any significant changes in business objectives 
and strategy. 
 
 
 
 
Specific materiality 
We determine specific materiality for one or more particular classes of transactions, account balances or disclosures for 
which misstatements of lesser amounts than materiality for the financial statements as a whole could reasonably be 
expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of the financial statements. 
 
 
 
 
Specific materiality 
We determined a lower level of specific 
materiality for the following areas: 
• Directors’ remuneration; and 
• related party transactions outside of 
the normal course of the business. 
We determined a lower level of specific materiality for the following areas: 
• Directors’ remuneration; and 
• related party transactions outside of the normal course of the business. 
 
 
 

 
29 
Materiality measure 
Group  
Parent company 
Communication of 
misstatements to the 
audit committee 
 
We determine a threshold for reporting unadjusted differences to the audit committee. 
 
 
 
Threshold for 
communication 
£12,700 and misstatements below that 
threshold that, in our view, warrant 
reporting on qualitative grounds. 
 
£12,400 and misstatements below that threshold that, in our view, warrant 
reporting on qualitative grounds. 
 
 
 
 
 
The graph below illustrates how performance materiality interacts with our overall materiality and the tolerance for potential uncorrected misstatements. 
 
Overall materiality – Group 
Overall materiality – Parent company 
 
 
FSM: Financial statements materiality, PM: Performance materiality 
 
An overview of the scope of our audit 
We performed a risk-based audit that requires an understanding of the group’s and the parent company’s business and in particular matters related to: 
 
Understanding the group, its components, and their environments, including group-wide controls 
• 
Our audit approach was a risk-based approach founded on a thorough understanding of the group’s and parent company’s business, its environment 
and risk profile. The group’s accounting process is primarily resourced through its central group finance function in the UK, with a local finance function 
in the US. The US local finance function reports into the central group finance function based at the group’s head office in the UK. The engagement 
team obtained an understanding of the group and its environment, including group-wide controls, and assessed the risks of material misstatement at 
the group level. 
 
Identifying significant components 
• 
We determined the scope of the Group audit based on our understanding of the group structure, materiality and the relative contribution of revenue, 
profit before tax and total assets of each component to the group. 
• 
We have performed a full scope audit of the financial information using component materiality for the parent company, Ingenta plc, and of the financial 
information of Ingenta (UK) Limited, which were considered to be significant components. Other components were not considered to be significant 
components within the scope of our audit. 
 
Type of work to be performed on financial information of parent and other components (including how it addressed the key audit matters) 
• 
We identified the risk of fraud in the revenue cycle (occurrence of revenue) and the valuation of investments in subsidiary undertakings (parent 
company only) as the key audit matters and a description of the procedures performed in respect of these have been included in the key audit matters 
section of our report. 
• 
Based on our assessment of the group as above, we focused our group audit scope primarily on the components assessed as significant, performing a 
full scope audit on these components. We also performed a full scope audit on the financial information of Vista International Limited. 
• 
We performed an audit of one or more account balances of the financial information of Ingenta Inc and PCG Inc (’specific scope procedures’). 
• 
At group level, we also tested the consolidation process and carried out analytical procedures on the financial information of the other non-significant 
components to confirm our conclusion that there were no significant risks of material misstatement to the group financial statements arising from 
those remaining components. 
Revenue
£10,145,000
PM 
£190,000  
75%
FSM
£253,600
2.5%
Net Assets
£8,246,000
PM 
£185,500  
75%
FSM
£247,300
3%

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
30 
Performance of our audit 
• 
The group engagement team was unable to visit any of the locations due to travel restrictions imposed and a lack of physical presence, and therefore 
the audit procedures were performed remotely. 
• 
Our full-scope and specific scope audit procedures provided coverage of 100% of the group’s consolidated revenue and 100% of the group’s 
consolidated total assets. 
• 
No separate component auditors were used, with the group engagement team undertaking all audit work to support the group audit opinion. 
 
Audit  
approach 
No. of components 
% coverage 
Total assets 
% coverage Revenue 
Full-scope audit 
3 
86% 
77% 
Specific-scope procedures 
2 
14% 
23% 
Analytical procedures 
11 
0% 
0% 
 
Changes in approach from previous period 
The scope of the current year audit was similar to that in the prior year other than the changes resulting from having two fewer key audit matters this year, 
as discussed above. 
 
Other information 
The Directors are responsible for the other information. The other information comprises the information included in the Annual Report, other than the 
financial statements and our auditor’s report thereon. Our opinion on the financial statements does not cover the other information and, except to the 
extent otherwise explicitly stated in our report, we do not express any form of assurance conclusion thereon. 
  
In connection with our audit of the financial statements, our responsibility is to read the other information and, in doing so, consider whether the other 
information is materially inconsistent with the financial statements or our knowledge obtained in the audit or otherwise appears to be materially misstated. 
If we identify such material inconsistencies or apparent material misstatements, we are required to determine whether there is a material misstatement in 
the financial statements or a material misstatement of the other information. If, based on the work we have performed, we conclude that there is a 
material misstatement of this other information, we are required to report that fact.  
 
We have nothing to report in this regard. 
 
Our opinion on other matters prescribed by the Companies Act 2006 is unmodified 
In our opinion, based on the work undertaken in the course of the audit: 
• 
the information given in the strategic report and the Directors’ report for the financial year for which the financial statements are prepared is 
consistent with the financial statements; and 
• 
the strategic report and the Directors’ report have been prepared in accordance with applicable legal requirements. 
 
 
Matter on which we are required to report under the Companies Act 2006 
In the light of the knowledge and understanding of the group and the parent company and its environment obtained in the course of the audit, we have not 
identified material misstatements in the strategic report or the Directors’ report.  
 
Matters on which we are required to report by exception 
We have nothing to report in respect of the following matters in relation to which the Companies Act 2006 requires us 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 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.  
 
Responsibilities of Directors for the financial statements 
As explained more fully in the Directors’ responsibilities statement, the Directors are responsible for the preparation of the financial statements and for 
being satisfied that they give a true and fair view, and for such internal control as the Directors determine is necessary to enable the preparation of financial 
statements that are free from material misstatement, whether due to fraud or error. 
 
In preparing the financial statements, the Directors are responsible for assessing the group’s and the parent company’s ability to continue as a going 
concern, disclosing, as applicable, matters related to going concern and using the going concern basis of accounting unless the Directors either intend to 
liquidate the group or the parent company or to cease operations, or have no realistic alternative but to do so. 
 
Auditor’s responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements 
Our objectives are to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements as a whole are free from material misstatement, whether due to 
fraud or error, and to issue an auditor’s report that includes our opinion. Reasonable assurance is a high level of assurance but is not a guarantee that an 
audit conducted in accordance with ISAs (UK) will always detect a material misstatement when it exists. Misstatements can arise from fraud or error and are 
considered material if, individually or in the aggregate, they could reasonably be expected to influence the economic decisions of users taken on the basis of 
these financial statements. 
 
A further description of our responsibilities for the audit of the financial statements is located on the Financial Reporting Council’s website at: 
www.frc.org.uk/auditorsresponsibilities. This description forms part of our auditor’s report. 
 

 
31 
 
Explanation as to what extent the audit was considered capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud 
Irregularities, including fraud, are instances of non-compliance with laws and regulations. We design procedures in line with our responsibilities, outlined 
above, to detect material misstatements in respect of irregularities, including fraud. Owing to the inherent limitations of an audit, there is an unavoidable 
risk that material misstatements in the financial statements may not be detected, even though the audit is properly planned and performed in accordance 
with ISAs (UK).  
 
The extent to which our procedures are capable of detecting irregularities, including fraud, is detailed below: 
o 
We obtained an understanding of the legal and regulatory frameworks that are applicable to the parent company and the group and sector in which 
they operate through our commercial and sector experience, making enquiries of management and those charged with governance; and inspection of 
the parent company’s and the group’s key external correspondence.  We corroborated our enquiries through our inspection of board minutes and 
other information obtained during the course of the audit. 
o 
Through the understanding that we obtained, we determined the most significant legal and regulatory frameworks which are directly relevant to 
specific assertions in the financial statements are those related to the reporting frameworks, including United Kingdom Generally Accepted Accounting 
Practice (the parent company), UK-adopted international accounting standards (the group); AIM Rules for Companies; the Companies Act 2006 and the 
relevant taxation regulations in the jurisdictions in which the parent company and group operates. 
o 
We assessed the susceptibility of the parent company’s and the group’s financial statements to material misstatement, including how fraud might 
occur, by considering management's incentives and opportunities for manipulation of the financial statements. This included the evaluation of the risk 
of management override of controls. We determined that the principal risks were in relation to the estimation and judgemental areas with a risk of 
fraud, including potential management bias, of revenue occurrence and through management override of controls. 
o 
Our audit procedures included: 
o 
Gaining an understanding of the controls that management has in place to prevent and detect fraud; 
o 
Journal entry testing, with a focus on journals indicating large or unusual transactions or account combinations based on our understanding of 
the business;  
o 
Gaining an understanding of and testing significant identified related party transactions; and 
o 
Performing audit procedures to consider the compliance of disclosures in the financial statements with the applicable financial reporting 
requirements. 
o 
These audit procedures were designed to provide reasonable assurance that the financial statements were free from fraud or error. The risk of not 
detecting a material misstatement due to fraud is higher than the risk of not detecting one resulting from error and detecting irregularities that result 
from fraud is inherently more difficult than detecting those that result from error, as fraud may involve collusion, deliberate concealment, forgery or 
intentional misrepresentations. Also, the further removed non-compliance with laws and regulations is from events and transactions reflected in the 
financial statements, the less likely we would become aware of it. 
o 
The engagement partner’s assessment of the appropriateness of the collective competence and capabilities of the engagement team included 
consideration of the engagement team’s: 
o 
Understanding of, and practical experience with audit engagements of a similar nature and complexity through appropriate training and 
participation; 
o 
Knowledge of the industry in which the parent company and the group operates; and 
o 
Understanding of the legal and regulatory requirements specific to the parent company and the group including; the provisions of the applicable 
legislation, the regulators rules and the applicable statutory provisions. 
o 
Communications within the audit team in respect of potential non-compliance with laws and regulations and fraud included the estimation and 
judgemental areas with a risk of fraud, including potential management bias, of revenue occurrence and through management override of controls in 
the preparation of the financial statements. 
 
Use of our report 
This report is made solely to the company’s members, as a body, in accordance with Chapter 3 of Part 16 of the Companies Act 2006. Our audit work has 
been undertaken so that we might state to the company’s members those matters we are required to state to them in an auditor’s report and for no other 
purpose. To the fullest extent permitted by law, we do not accept or assume responsibility to anyone other than the company and the company’s members 
as a body, for our audit work, for this report, or for the opinions we have formed. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Paul Holland BSc BFP FCA 
Senior Statutory Auditor 
for and on behalf of Grant Thornton UK LLP 
Statutory Auditor, Chartered Accountants 
Oxford 
24 June 2022 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
32 
Group statement of comprehensive income 
 
 
note 
 
Year ended 
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended 
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Group revenue 
2 
10,145 
10,177 
Cost of sales 
 
(5,487) 
(5,741) 
 
 
 
Gross profit 
 
4,658 
4,436 
 
 
 
Sales and marketing expenses 
 
(690) 
(671) 
Administrative expenses 
 
(3,214) 
(3,301) 
 
 
 
Profit from operations 
5 
754 
464 
 
 
 
Finance costs 
7 
(27) 
(22) 
 
 
 
Profit before income tax 
 
727 
442 
Income tax 
8 
1,074 
7 
 
 
 
Profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent 
 
1,801 
449 
 
 
 
Other comprehensive expenses which will be reclassified subsequently to profit or loss: 
 
 
 
Exchange differences on translation of foreign operations 
 
56 
(137) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total comprehensive profit for the year attributable to equity holders of the parent 
 
1,857 
312 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Basic profit per share (pence) 
9 
10.93 
2.67 
Diluted profit per share (pence)  
9 
10.50 
2.56 
 
 
See note 28 for further details on the prior period adjustment 
 
All activities are classified as continuing. 
 
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 
 
 

 
33 
 
Group statement of financial position 
 
 
note 
 
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Restated 
1 Jan 20 
£’000 
Non-current assets 
 
Goodwill 
10 
2,661 
2,661 
2,661 
Other intangible assets 
11 
- 
58 
158 
Property, plant and equipment 
12 
665 
1,119 
473 
Deferred tax asset 
19 
1,163 
- 
- 
 
4,489 
3,838 
3,292 
Current assets 
 
 
 
 
Trade and other receivables 
13 
1,810 
2,226 
3,219 
Cash and cash equivalents 
15 
3,006 
2,323 
2,600 
 
4,816 
4,549 
5,819 
Total assets 
 
9,305 
8,387 
9,111 
 
 
 
 
Equity 
 
 
 
 
Share capital 
21 
1,692 
1,692 
1,692 
Merger reserve 
 
11,055 
11,055 
11,055 
Reverse acquisition reserve 
 
(5,228) 
(5,228) 
(5,228) 
Share option reserve 
 
88 
61 
23 
Translation reserve 
 
(605) 
(661) 
(524) 
Retained earnings 
 
(2,278) 
(3,353) 
(3,487) 
Total equity 
 
4,724 
3,566 
3,531 
 
 
 
 
Non-current liabilities 
 
 
 
 
Deferred tax liability 
19 
88 
12 
32 
Leases 
20 
192 
430 
206 
 
280 
442 
238 
Current liabilities 
 
 
 
 
Trade and other payables 
16 
1,991 
2,061 
2,459 
Deferred income 
 
2,310 
2,318 
2,883 
 
4,301 
4,379 
5,342 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities 
 
4,581 
4,821 
5,580 
Total equity and liabilities 
 
9,305 
8,387 
9,111 
 
See note 28 for further details on the prior period adjustment 
 
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 24 June 2022 and were signed on its behalf by: 
 
 
 
 
J R Sheffield 
Director 
 
 
 
G S Winner 
Director 
 
Registered number: 00837205 
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements.  
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
34 
Group statement of changes in equity 
 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
Share 
 capital 
 £’000 
Merger 
 reserve 
 £’000 
Reverse 
acquisition 
 reserve 
 £’000 
Translation 
 reserve 
 £’000 
Retained  
earnings 
 £’000 
Share 
option 
reserve 
£’000 
Total  
attributable to 
owners of 
parent  
£’000 
At 1 January 2021 on prior basis 
1,692 
11,055 
(5,228) 
(839) 
(3,175) 
61 
3,566 
Impact of restatement (note 28) 
- 
- 
- 
178 
(178) 
- 
- 
Restated balance at 1 January 2021 
1,692 
11,055 
(5,228) 
(661) 
(3,353) 
61 
3,566 
Dividends paid 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(410) 
- 
(410) 
Shares bought back into treasury 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(316) 
- 
(316) 
Share options granted in the year 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
27 
27 
Transactions with owners 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(726) 
27 
(699) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit for the year 
- 
- 
- 
- 
1,801 
- 
1,801 
Foreign exchange differences on translation 
foreign operations 
- 
- 
- 
56 
- 
- 
56 
Total comprehensive income for the year 
- 
- 
- 
56 
1,801 
- 
1,857 
Balance at 31 December 2021 
1,692 
11,055 
(5,228) 
(605) 
(2,278) 
88 
4,724 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 December 2020 
Share 
capital 
£’000 
Merger 
reserve 
£’000 
Reverse 
acquisition 
reserve 
£’000 
Translation 
reserve 
£’000 
Retained  
earnings 
£’000 
Share 
option 
reserve 
£’000 
Total  
attributable to 
owners of 
parent  
£’000 
At 1 January 2020 on prior basis 
1,692 
11,055 
(5,228) 
(880) 
(3,131) 
23 
3,531 
Impact of restatement (note 28) 
- 
- 
- 
356 
(356) 
- 
- 
Restated balance at 1 January 2020 
1,692 
11,055 
(5,228) 
(524) 
(3,487) 
23 
3,531 
Dividends paid 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(252) 
- 
(252) 
Shares bought back into treasury 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(63) 
- 
(63) 
Share options granted in the year 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
38 
38 
Transactions with owners 
- 
- 
- 
- 
(315) 
38 
(277) 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Profit for the year 
- 
- 
- 
- 
449 
- 
449 
Foreign exchange differences on translation 
foreign operations 
- 
- 
- 
(137) 
- 
- 
(137) 
Total comprehensive expense for the year 
- 
- 
- 
(137) 
449 
- 
312 
Restated balance at 31 December 2020 
1,692 
11,055 
(5,228) 
(661) 
(3,353) 
61 
3,566 
 
 
 

 
35 
 
Group statement of cash flows 
 
note 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended 
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Profit before taxation 
727 
442 
Adjustments for 
 
 
 
Depreciation and amortisation 
632 
439 
Profit on disposal of fixed assets 
- 
(2) 
Interest expense 
27 
22 
Unrealised foreign exchange differences 
56 
(137) 
Share based payment charge 
27 
39 
Decrease in trade and other receivables 
416 
954 
Increase / (decrease) in trade and other payables and deferred income 
131 
(953) 
Cash inflow from operations 
2,016 
804 
 
 
Tax paid 
(13) 
(13) 
Net cash inflow from operating activities 
2,003 
791 
 
 
 
Cash flow from investing activities 
 
 
 
Purchase of property, plant and equipment 
(119) 
(200) 
Net cash used in investing activities 
(119) 
(200) 
 
 
 
Cash flows from financing activities 
 
 
 
Interest paid 
 
(21) 
(5) 
Payment of lease liabilities 
 
(453) 
(550) 
Dividend paid 
 
(410) 
(252) 
Costs of buy back of shares into treasury 
 
(316) 
(63) 
Net cash used in financing activities 
 
(1,200) 
(870) 
 
 
 
Net increase / (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents 
 
684 
(279) 
 
 
 
Cash and cash equivalents at the beginning of the year 
15 
2,323 
2,600 
Exchange difference on cash and cash equivalents 
 
(1) 
2 
Cash and cash equivalents at the end of the year 
15, 23 
3,006 
2,323 
 
See note 28 for further details on the prior period adjustment 
 
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
36 
Notes to the Group financial statements
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
General information and nature of operations 
Ingenta plc (the ‘Company’) and its subsidiaries (together the ‘Group’) is a 
provider of content management, advertising and Commercial enterprise 
solutions and services to publishers, information providers, academic 
libraries and institutions. The nature of the Group’s operations and its 
principal activities are set out in the Chairman’s statement and Group 
Strategic report. 
 
The Company is incorporated in the United Kingdom under the 
Companies Act 2006. The Company’s registration number is 00837205 
and its registered office is Suite 2, Whichford House, Parkway Court, John 
Smith Drive, Oxford, OX4 2JY. The consolidated financial statements were 
authorised by the Board of Directors for issue on 24 June 2022. 
 
1. Principal accounting policies 
 
New Standards adopted as at 1 January 2021 
 
There are no IASs that are not yet effective that would be expected to 
have a material impact on the Group. 
 
Going concern 
The accounts are prepared on a going concern basis. In assessing 
whether the going concern assumption is appropriate, management have 
taken into account all relevant available information about the future 
including revenue, profit and cash forecast and management’s ability to 
affect costs and revenues. 
 
Management regularly forecast profit, financial position and cash flows 
for the Group. The rolling annual forecast is normally updated monthly. 
 
Having reviewed the latest forecast to the end of June 2023, 
management regard the forecast to be robust. Revenue streams are 
forecast in detail with all items categorised as being contractual, variable 
fees, other or forecasted new sales. As part of the review, management 
stress tested the forecast model for alternative potential scenarios 
including the loss of key contracts and the impact of making no new 
sales. Management believes these risks can be managed and do not 
impact on the going concern assessment.  
 
Management have reviewed forecast costs for reasonableness against 
prior years and with knowledge of expected movements and concluded 
that forecast costs are robust. 
 
As at 31 December 2021 the Group had net current assets of £0.5m 
(2020: £0.2m), of which £2.3m (2020: £2.3m) relates to deferred income 
which will be recognised in the year ending 31 December 2022. 
 
The Group has positive cash balances of £3.0m as at 31 December 2021 
(2020: £2.3m). Management have assured themselves that cash is 
sufficient for the needs of the business based on the cash flow forecast. 
 
The major risks for future trading are the uptake of new generation 
products within the Ingenta Content and the Commercial product suite, 
which to some extent is reliant on the macro-economy and the 
willingness of data providers to commit to capital expenditure projects. 
 
COVID remains a risk factor although the Group has well established 
operating procedures designed to limit the impact of future outbreaks on 
the businesses ability to serve its customers. These include fully remote 
working capabilities for all employees along with a resilient internal 
business infrastructure.  
 
The Group have modelled various downside scenarios and consider it 
appropriate to use the going concern basis to compile these financial 
statements. 
 
Basis of preparation 
The principal accounting policies applied in the preparation of these 
consolidated financial statements are set out below. These policies have 
been consistently applied to all years presented. 
 
The accounting policies applied have been applied consistently 
throughout the Ingenta Group. The financial statements have been 
prepared under the historical cost convention. 
 
Statement of compliance 
The consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance 
with UK adopted international accounting standards (“IASs”) in 
conformity with the requirements of the Companies Act 2006, the 
International Financial Reporting Interpretations Committee (“IFRIC”), 
interpretations issued by the International Accounting Standards Boards 
(“IASB”) that are effective or issued and adopted as at the time of 
preparing these financial statements, and in accordance with the 
provisions of the Companies Act 2006 that are relevant to companies 
that report under UK adopted IASs. 
 
Significant accounting estimates and judgements 
When preparing the financial statements management make estimates, 
judgements and assumptions about recognition and measurement of 
assets, liabilities, income and expenses. The actual results are likely to 
differ from the judgements, estimates and assumptions made by 
management, and will seldom equal the estimated results. Information 
about the significant judgements, estimates and assumptions that have 
the most significant effect on the recognition and measurement of 
assets, liabilities, income and expenses are discussed below. 
 
Consulting service revenue 
Please refer to the Revenue section of the accounting policies note for 
detailed disclosure. The area where significant management judgement is 
applied is in estimating project percentage complete assessments for any 
fixed price elements of work. 
 
Deferred tax assets 
The assessment of the probability of future taxable income against which 
deferred tax assets can be utilised is based on the Group’s latest 
approved forecast, which is adjusted for significant non-taxable income 
and expenses and specific limits to the use of any unused tax loss or 
credit. The tax rules in the numerous jurisdictions in which the Group 
operates are also carefully taken into consideration. If a positive forecast 
of taxable income indicates the probable use of a deferred tax asset, 
especially when it can be utilised without a time limit, that deferred tax 
asset is usually recognised in full. The recognition of deferred tax assets 
that are subject to certain legal or economic limits or uncertainties are 
assessed individually by management based on the specific facts and 
circumstances. 
 
Research and development expenditure 
Research and development expenditure is fully written off to the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income as costs are incurred. The Board 
have taken into account the inherent risks in all research and 
development expenditure and specifically the expenditure being incurred 
by the business in the year and have concluded that the requirements of 
IAS 38 to capitalise development expenditure have not been met. 
 
Basis of consolidation 
The Group financial statements consolidate those of the parent Company 
and all of its subsidiaries as of 31 December 2021. All subsidiaries have a 
reporting date of 31 December. 
 
All transactions and balances between Group companies are eliminated 
on consolidation, including unrealised gains and losses on transactions 
between Group companies. Where unrealised losses on intra-group asset 
sales are reversed on consolidation, the underlying asset is also tested for 
impairment from a Group perspective. Amounts reported in the financial  

 
37 
 
statements of subsidiaries have been adjusted where necessary to 
ensure consistency with the accounting policies adopted by the Group. 
 
Profit or loss and other comprehensive income of subsidiaries acquired 
or disposed of during the year are recognised from the effective date of 
acquisition, or up to the effective date of disposal, as applicable. 
 
The Group attributes total comprehensive income or loss of subsidiaries 
between the owners of the parent and the non-controlling interests 
based on their respective ownership interests. 
 
Unrealised gains on transactions between the Group and its subsidiaries 
are eliminated. Unrealised losses are also eliminated unless the 
transaction provides evidence of an impairment of the asset transferred. 
 
The financial statements of subsidiaries are included in the consolidated 
financial statements from the date that control commences until the date 
that control ceases. 
 
Acquisitions of subsidiaries are dealt with by the purchase method. The 
purchase method involves the recognition at fair value of all identifiable 
assets and liabilities, including contingent liabilities of the subsidiary, at 
the acquisition date, regardless of whether or not they were recorded in 
the financial statements of the subsidiary prior to acquisition. The 
acquisition cost is calculated as the sum of the acquisition date fair values 
of the assets transferred by the acquirer and excludes any transaction 
costs. On initial recognition, the assets and liabilities of the subsidiary are 
included in the consolidated statement of financial position at their fair 
values, which are also used as the bases for subsequent measurement in 
accordance with the Group accounting policies. Goodwill is stated after 
separating out identifiable intangible assets. Goodwill represents the 
excess of acquisition cost over the fair value of the Group’s share of the 
identifiable net assets of the acquired subsidiary at the date of 
acquisition. 
 
Investments in Joint Ventures are initially recognised at cost and 
subsequently accounted for using the equity method. Any goodwill or fair 
value adjustment attributable to the Group’s share in the Joint Venture is 
not recognised separately and is included in the amount recognised as 
investment in Joint Ventures. The carrying amount of the investment in 
Joint Ventures is increased or decreased to recognise the Group’s share 
of the profit or loss and other comprehensive income of the Joint 
Venture, adjusted where necessary to ensure consistency with the 
accounting policies of the Group. Unrealised gains and losses on 
transactions between the Group and its Joint Ventures are eliminated to 
the extent of the Group’s interest in those entities. Where unrealised 
losses are eliminated, the underlying asset is also tested for impairment. 
 
Share options 
The Group operates an unapproved Executive Management Incentive 
(EMI) Share Option plan. £27K (2020: £38K) has been recognised during 
the year as a change in the fair value of the options. Full details are in 
note 22. 
 
Property, plant and equipment 
 
Cost 
Property, plant and equipment is stated at cost, net of depreciation and 
any provision for impairment. 
 
Depreciation 
Depreciation is calculated using the straight - line method to allocate the 
cost of assets less their estimated residual value over their estimated 
useful lives, as follows: 
Leasehold improvements 
 
         Over the term of the 
lease 
Computer equipment  
 
 
 
3 years 
Fixtures, fittings and equipment  
 
 
5 years 
 
The residual value and the useful life of each asset are reviewed at least 
at each financial year-end and, if expectations differ from previous  
 
estimates, the change(s) are accounted for as a change in an accounting 
estimate. 
 
Disposal of assets 
The gain or loss arising on the disposal or retirement of an asset is 
determined as the difference between the sales proceeds and the 
carrying amount of the asset and is recognised within profit or loss within 
the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income. 
 
Intangible assets 
 
Goodwill 
Goodwill arising on consolidation represents the excess of the cost of 
acquisition over the Group’s interest in the fair value of the identifiable 
assets and liabilities of a subsidiary at the date of acquisition. Goodwill is 
tested annually for impairment and is carried at cost less accumulated 
impairment losses. Impairment losses are recognised immediately in the 
income statement and are not subsequently reversed. 
 
Goodwill arising on acquisitions before the date of transition to IFRS has 
been retained at the previous UK GAAP amounts subject to being tested 
for impairment at that date and at least annually thereafter. 
 
On disposal of a subsidiary, the attributable net book value of goodwill is 
included in the determination of the profit or loss on disposal. 
 
Technology based intellectual property 
Intangible assets relating to the technology acquired from business 
combinations that qualify for separate recognition are recognised as 
intangible assets at their fair value. The assets are valued using a 
discounted cash flow model for the revenues they will generate over the 
next 5 years. 
 
The asset is amortised on a straight-line basis over a 5 year period. 
Residual values and useful lives are reviewed at each reporting date. 
Amortisation is included within depreciation, amortisation and 
impairment of non-financial assets. 
 
Impairment of intangibles and property, plant and equipment 
For the purposes of assessing impairment, assets are grouped at the 
lowest levels for which there are separately identifiable cash inflows 
(cash-generating units). As a result, some assets are tested individually 
for impairment and some are tested at cash-generating unit level. 
Goodwill is allocated to those cash-generating units that are expected to 
benefit from synergies of the related business combination and represent 
the lowest level within the Group at which management monitors the 
related goodwill. 
 
Goodwill, other individual assets or cash-generating units that include 
goodwill and other intangible assets with an indefinite useful life are 
tested for impairment at least annually. All other individual assets or 
cash-generating units are tested for impairment whenever events or 
changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount may not be 
recoverable. 
 
Financial instruments 
Financial assets and financial liabilities are recognised when the Group 
becomes a party to the contractual provisions of the financial instrument. 
 
Financial assets are derecognised when the contractual rights to the cash 
flows from the financial asset expire, or when the financial asset and all 
substantial risks and rewards are transferred. A financial liability is 
derecognised when it is extinguished, discharged, cancelled or expires. 
 
Financial assets and financial liabilities are measured initially at fair value 
plus transactions costs, except for financial assets and financial liabilities 
carried at fair value through profit or loss, which are measured initially at 
fair value. Financial assets and financial liabilities are measured 
subsequently as described herein. 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
38 
Financial assets 
 
Classification and initial measurement of financial assets 
Except for those trade receivables that do not contain a significant 
financing component and are measured at the transaction price in 
accordance with IFRS 15, all financial assets are initially measured at fair 
value adjusted for transaction costs (where applicable). 
 
Financial assets, other than those designated and effective as hedging 
instruments, are classified as at amortised cost. In the periods presented 
the corporation does not have any financial assets categorised as FVOCI. 
 
The classification is determined by both: 
o the entity’s business model for managing the financial asset 
o the contractual cash flow characteristics of the financial asset. 
 
All income and expenses relating to financial assets that are recognised in 
profit or loss are presented within finance costs, finance income or other 
financial items, except for impairment of trade receivables which is 
presented within other expenses. 
 
Subsequent measurement of financial assets 
Financial assets are measured at amortised cost if the assets meet the 
following conditions (and are not designated as FVTPL): 
o 
they are held within a business model whose objective is to hold the 
financial assets and collect its contractual cash flows 
o 
the contractual terms of the financial assets give rise to cash flows 
that are solely payments of principal and interest on the principal 
amount outstanding 
After initial recognition, these are measured at amortised cost using the 
effective interest method. Discounting is omitted where the effect of 
discounting is immaterial. The Group’s cash and cash equivalents, trade 
and most other receivables fall into this category of financial instruments 
as well as listed bonds that were previously classified as held-to-maturity 
under IAS 39. 
 
Trade receivables 
Trade receivables are recognised initially at transaction price in 
accordance with IFRS 15 and subsequently reviewed for expected credit 
losses in line with IFRS 9. In measuring the expected credit losses, the 
trade receivables have been assessed on an individual basis. Where trade 
receivables were found to be individually impaired an allowance for 
credit losses has been recorded within “sales and marketing” in the 
Group Statement of Comprehensive Income. This allowance has been 
determined by reference to expected receipts after considering historical 
experience, readily available external indicators and forward-looking 
information. Trade receivables are written off (i.e. derecognised) when 
there is no reasonable expectation of recovery. Failure to make payments 
within 6 months from the invoice date, failure to engage with the Group 
on alternative future payment arrangements and bankruptcy or 
administration of the customer are indicators of a potential expected 
credit loss. The Group has a stable customer base with strong 
relationships built up over time allowing it to make reasonable 
assessments of recoverability. Most trade receivables relate to customers 
ongoing ability to function and past experience indicates the balances are 
recoverable subject to any future information that becomes available. 
Where an expected credit loss is recognised it will be significantly 
influenced by additional forward-looking information such as industry 
discussion papers, repayment plan reasonableness and direct account 
management negotiation. When a trade receivable is uncollectible, it is 
written off against the credit loss provision. Subsequent recoveries of 
amounts previously provided for are credited against ‘Sales and 
marketing expenses’ in the Group Statement of Comprehensive Income. 
 
Available for sale financial assets 
Available for sale financial assets are non-derivative financial assets that 
are either designated in this category or are not classified in any other 
category. They are included in non-current assets unless management 
intends to dispose of the investment within 12 months of the Statement 
of Financial Position date. 
 
On initial recognition, financial assets are measured at fair value plus 
transaction costs that are directly attributable to the acquisition or issue 
of the financial assets. After initial recognition, financial assets are 
measured at fair value, without any deduction of transaction costs. 
 
Gains and losses arising from changes in the fair value of a financial asset 
are recognised in other comprehensive income, except for impairment 
losses. When securities classified as available for sale are sold or 
impaired, the accumulated fair value adjustments recognised in equity 
are reclassified from equity to profit or loss. 
 
The fair values of quoted investments are based on current bid prices. If 
the market for a financial asset is not active the Group establishes fair 
value by using valuation techniques. These include the use of recent 
arm’s length transactions, reference to other instruments that are 
substantially the same, discounted cash flow analysis and option pricing 
models making maximum use of market inputs and relying as little as 
possible on entity specific inputs. 
 
Financial liabilities 
The Group’s financial liabilities include borrowing and trade and other 
payables. 
 
Trade payables 
Trade payables are recognised initially at fair value and subsequently 
measured at amortised cost using the effective interest method. 
 
Borrowings 
Borrowings are recognised initially at fair value, net of transaction costs 
incurred. Borrowings are subsequently stated at amortised cost; any 
difference between the proceeds (net of transaction costs) and the 
redemption value is recognised within profit or loss within the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income over the period of the borrowing 
using the effective interest method. 
 
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Group has an 
unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 
months after the reporting date. 
 
Cash and cash equivalents 
Cash and cash equivalents comprise cash on hand and demand deposits 
together with other short term highly liquid investments that are readily 
convertible into known amounts of cash and which are subject to an 
insignificant risk of changes in value. Cash and cash equivalents include 
bank overdrafts as they are repayable on demand and form an integral 
part of the Group’s cash management. The Group’s banking facility is all 
with one bank (HSBC Bank plc) and the accounts are linked such that any 
facility limit is based on the net balance of all accounts. 
 
Equity 
Share capital represents the nominal value of shares that have been 
issued. 
 
The translation reserve within equity relates to foreign currency 
translation differences arising on the translation of the Group’s foreign 
entities. 
Retained earnings include all current and prior year retained profits and 
losses. 
 
Reverse acquisition reserve and merger reserve represent balances 
arising on the acquisition of Ingenta plc in 2007. The IFRS 3 acquisition 
adjustment reflects the entries required under reverse acquisition 
accounting, whereby consolidated shareholders’ funds comprise the 
capital structure of the legal parent combined with the reserves of the 
legal subsidiary and the post-acquisition reserves of the parent. 
 
The share option reserve relates to a cumulative charge made in respect 
of share options granted by the Company to the Group’s employees 
under its employee share option plans. 
 
 

 
39 
 
Where any Group company purchases the Company’s equity share 
capital (treasury shares), the consideration paid, including any directly 
attributable incremental costs (net of income taxes) is deducted from 
equity attributable to the Company’s equity holders until the shares are 
cancelled or reissued. Where such shares are subsequently sold or 
reissued, any consideration received, net of any directly attributable 
incremental transactions costs and the related income tax effect, is 
included in equity attributable to the Company’s equity holders. 
 
Revenue 
Revenue comprises the fair value of the consideration received or 
receivable for the sale of goods and services in the ordinary course of the 
Group’s activities. Revenue is shown net of value added tax, returns, 
rebates and discounts after eliminating sales within the Group. 
 
To determine whether to recognise revenue, the Group follows a 5-step 
process: 
1. Identifying the contract with a customer 
2. Identifying the performance obligations 
3. Determining the transaction price 
4. Allocating the transaction price to the performance obligations 
5. Recognising revenue when/as performance obligation(s) are 
satisfied. 
The Group often enters into transactions involving a range of the Group’s 
products and services, for example for the delivery of licences, consulting 
services, hosting services, managed services and support and upgrade 
services.  
 
These services and performance obligations are separately identifiable 
and contracted for allowing a reasonable allocation of price to each 
component. 
 
Revenue is recognised either at a point in time or over time, when (or as) 
the Group satisfies performance obligations by transferring the promised 
goods or services to its customers. 
 
The Group recognises contract liabilities for consideration received in 
respect of unsatisfied performance obligations and reports these 
amounts as other liabilities in the statement of financial position. 
Similarly, if the Group satisfies a performance obligation before it 
receives the consideration, the Group recognises either a contract asset 
or a receivable in its statement of financial position, depending on 
whether something other than the passage of time is required before the 
consideration is due. 
Where certain products are sold as multi element arrangements, the 
Group evaluates the separability of the goods or services based on 
whether they are distinct. A good or service is distinct if both: 
 
• the customer benefits from the item either on its own or together with 
other readily available resources, and 
• it is ‘separately identifiable’ (i.e. the Group does not provide a 
significant service integrating, modifying or customising it). 
 
Recognition of Ingenta Connect Revenue (within the Content products 
division): 
Ingenta Connect revenues comprise ‘Hosted services’ and ‘Consulting 
Services’ revenue. 
 
Hosted services:  
Hosted services include annual fees for hosting publishers’ content on 
the Ingenta Connect platform and revenues from document delivery 
under pay-per-view access, clearance and digitisation services. 
 
Hosting revenue is recognised over time with reference to the contracted 
period. The performance obligation of hosting customers content on 
servers does not materially change over time and is recognised evenly 
over the contract period. 
 
Pay per view revenue is recognised at a point in time when the 
documents are delivered to a customer. The performance obligation is to 
deliver content to an end user and facilitate a transfer of money for the  
 
purchase. 
 
Consulting Services: 
Consulting services includes revenues from the processing of e-journal 
content and ongoing services. 
 
The consulting fees are based on a per article charge and are recognised 
at a point in time when the article is processed. The performance 
obligation is to convert a specified piece of content into a format suitable 
for ingestion onto the Ingenta Connect platform. 
 
Recognition of Ingenta Commercial products, Ingenta Edify (within the 
Content products division), and Ingenta Advertising: 
Revenues from these divisions comprise ‘Licences’, ‘Consulting Services’, 
Hosted Services’, ‘Managed Services’ and ‘Support and Upgrade’ 
revenue. 
 
Licences: 
Licences can be sold as perpetual or under a software as a service (SaaS) 
agreement.  
 
Perpetual software licence revenues are recognised at a point in time if 
there are no associated implementation requirements. This will only be 
the case where an existing customer purchases additional licences to 
increase the number of users on an existing installed software system.  
 
Where perpetual software licences require consulting services to make 
the licences usable, the licence revenue is linked to the consulting 
services and is recognised over the period of the associated consulting 
services on a percentage complete basis. The software is deployed 
immediately onto the customer network and consulting services are used 
to perform integration work which enhances the software’s functionality. 
The customer has benefit from the software over the implementation 
and gains increased benefit as the functionality extends. The percentage 
complete assessment is made by reference to the estimated project days 
in the project planning documentation, amended for project change 
requests and the days worked on the project to the year end.  
 
For SaaS licence arrangements, licences are deemed to be a right to 
access and revenue is recognised over time and taken in equal 
instalments over the period of the contract from the point the software is 
functional. 
 
Consulting Services: 
Revenue recognition from long term contracts within consulting services 
depends on the contractual terms.  
 
Fixed price consulting contracts are recognised over time on the 
percentage of completion method. This is assessed by reference to the 
estimated project days in the project planning documentation, amended 
for project change requests and the days worked on the project to the 
year end. The performance obligation is to provide man time to deliver a 
specified level of functionality within the software. The customer has 
access to the software throughout the consulting phase and gets benefit 
from the consulting work as functionality is expanded over time. 
 
Other consulting services contracts are on a time and materials basis and 
revenue is recognised over time as work is performed. The amount of 
revenue is calculated by the number of days worked at the contracted 
day rate. As under a fixed price contract, the customer has access to the 
software during the implementation phase and gets benefit from the 
consulting services as functionality is expanded over time. 
 
Consulting services for a software implementation normally last for less 
than 12 months and payment terms are always in instalments during the 
period. As such, the Group does not adjust the receivable amounts for 
the effects of financing. 
 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
40 
Hosted Services, Managed Services and Support and Upgrade: 
Revenues collected or billed in advance for hosted services, managed 
services and support and upgrade revenue are recorded as deferred 
income and recognised evenly over the period to which the service 
relates. In all cases, the performance obligation is to provide a service 
evenly over a contracted period of time. 
 
Recognition of PCG Revenues: 
Ingenta’s PCG division earns revenue from providing services to 
Publishers and Content providers. Some revenue is charged as a retainer 
for services provided throughout the period. These revenues are 
recognised over time as the performance obligation is to provide a 
dedicated sales representative over a contracted period. 
 
Some revenues are earned on a commission basis associated with selling 
publishers’ content. This revenue is recognised at a point in time when 
commission is earned which contractually is when PCG’s publishing 
customer invoices the end user for the services sold by PCG. In some 
cases, PCG invoices the end user on behalf of the customer for the 
services sold by PCG and records PCG’s commission when the invoice is 
issued as agreed in the contract. Where any sales representation and 
cash collection services are incorporated into the contract the work 
involved is minimal and does not affect recognition of commission. 
 
Some further revenues are based on performing surveys for publishers. 
These revenues are based on a fixed number of calls at an agreed rate 
per call. Revenue is recognised at a point in time on a per call completed 
basis in the period the calls were made. 
 
Employee benefits 
 
Pension obligations 
The Group operates various pension schemes which are by nature 
defined contribution plans. A defined contribution plan is a pension plan 
under which the Group pays a fixed contribution into a separate entity. 
The Group has no legal or constructive obligations to pay further 
contributions if the fund does not hold sufficient assets to pay all 
employees the benefits relating to employee service in the current and 
prior periods. The Group does not operate a defined benefit plan. 
 
For defined contribution plans, the Group pays contributions to publicly 
or privately administered pension insurance plans on a mandatory, 
contractual or voluntary basis. The contributions are recognised as 
employee benefit expenses when they are due. 
 
Share-based employee remuneration 
The Group operates equity-settled share-based remuneration plans for 
its employees. None of the Group’s plans feature any options for a cash 
settlement. 
 
All goods and services received in exchange for the grant of any share-
based payment are measured at their fair values. Where employees are 
rewarded using share-based payments, the fair values of employees’ 
services are determined indirectly by reference to the fair value of the 
equity instruments granted. This fair value is appraised at the grant date 
and excludes the impact of non-market vesting conditions. 
 
All share-based remuneration is ultimately recognised as an expense in 
profit or loss. If vesting periods or other vesting conditions apply, the 
expense is allocated over the vesting period, based on the best available 
estimate of the number of share options expected to vest. 
 
Non-market vesting conditions are included in assumptions about the 
number of options that are expected to become exercisable. Estimates 
are subsequently revised, if there is any indication that the number of 
share options expected to vest differs from previous estimates. Any 
cumulative adjustment prior to vesting is recognised in the current 
period. No adjustment is made to any expense recognised in prior 
periods if share options ultimately exercised are different to that 
estimated on vesting. 
 
Upon exercise of share options, the proceeds received net of any directly 
attributable transaction costs up to the nominal value of the shares 
issued are allocated to share capital with any excess being recorded as 
share premium. 
Termination benefits 
Termination benefits are payable when employment is terminated by the 
Group before the normal retirement date or when an employee accepts 
voluntary redundancy in exchange for these benefits. The Group 
recognises termination benefits when it is demonstrably committed to 
either terminating the employment according to a detailed formal plan 
without possibility of withdrawal or to providing termination benefits as 
a result of an offer made to encourage voluntary redundancy. Benefits 
falling due more than 12 months after the reporting date are discounted 
to their present value. 
 
Leased assets 
The Group as a lessee 
For any contracts entered into the Group considers whether a contract is 
or contains a lease. A lease is defined as ‘a contract, or part of a contract, 
that conveys the right to use an asset (the underlying asset) for a period 
of time in exchange for consideration’. To apply this definition the Group 
assesses whether the contract meets three key evaluations which are 
whether: 
 
• the contract contains an identified asset, which is either explicitly 
identified in the contract or implicitly specified by being identified at 
the time the asset is made available to the Group 
 
• the Group has the right to obtain substantially all of the economic 
benefits from use of the identified asset throughout the period of use, 
considering its rights within the defined scope of the contract 
 
• the Group has the right to direct the use of the identified asset 
throughout the period of use. The Group assess whether it has the 
right to direct ‘how and for what purpose’ the asset is used throughout 
the period of use. 
 
Measurement and recognition of leases as a lessee 
At lease commencement date, the Group recognises a right-of-use asset 
and a lease liability on the balance sheet. The right-of-use asset is 
measured at cost, which is made up of the initial measurement of the 
lease liability, any initial direct costs incurred by the Group, and any lease 
payments made in advance of the lease commencement date (net of any 
incentives received). 
 
The Group depreciates the right-of-use assets on a straight-line basis 
from the lease commencement date to the earlier of the end of the 
useful life of the right-of-use asset or the end of the lease term. The 
Group also assesses the right-of-use asset for impairment when such 
indicators exist. 
 
At the commencement date, the Group measures the lease liability at the 
present value of the lease payments unpaid at that date, discounted 
using the interest rate implicit in the lease if that rate is readily available 
or the Group’s incremental borrowing rate.  
 
Lease payments included in the measurement of the lease liability are 
made up of fixed payments (including in substance fixed), variable 
payments based on an index or rate, amounts expected to be payable 
under a residual value guarantee and payments arising from options 
reasonably certain to be exercised. 
 
Subsequent to initial measurement, the liability will be reduced for 
payments made and increased for interest. It is remeasured to reflect any 
reassessment or modification, or if there are changes in in-substance 
fixed payments. 
 
When the lease liability is remeasured, the corresponding adjustment is 
reflected in the right-of-use asset, or profit and loss if the right-of-use 
asset is already reduced to zero. 
 
 

 
41 
 
The Group has elected to account for short-term leases and leases of 
low-value assets using the practical expedients. Instead of recognising a 
right-of-use asset and lease liability, the payments in relation to these are 
recognised as an expense in profit or loss on a straight-line basis over the 
lease term. 
 
On the statement of financial position, right-of-use assets have been 
included in property, plant and equipment and lease liabilities have been 
included in trade and other payables. 
 
Operating expenses 
Operating expenses are recognised within profit or loss within the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income upon utilisation of the service or at 
the date of their origin. 
 
Finance costs 
Financing costs comprise interest payable, the amortisation of the costs 
of acquiring finance and the unwinding of discounts that are recognised 
within profit or loss within the Group Statement of Comprehensive 
Income. Interest payable is recognised in the Group Statement of 
Comprehensive Income as it accrues, using the effective interest method. 
 
Income taxes 
The tax expense recognised within profit or loss within the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income comprises the sum of deferred tax 
and current tax not recognised in other comprehensive income or 
directly in equity. Current income tax assets and/or liabilities comprise 
those obligations to, or claims from, fiscal authorities relating to the 
current or prior reporting periods, that are unpaid at the reporting date. 
Current tax is payable on taxable profit, which differs from profit or loss 
in the financial statements. Calculation of current tax is based on tax 
rates and tax laws that have been enacted or substantively enacted by 
the end of the reporting period. 
 
Deferred income taxes are calculated using the liability method on 
temporary differences between the carrying amounts of assets and 
liabilities and their tax bases. However, deferred tax is not provided on 
the initial recognition of goodwill, or on the initial recognition of an asset 
or liability unless the related transaction is a business combination or 
affects tax or accounting profit. 
 
Deferred tax on temporary differences associated with shares in 
subsidiaries and Joint Ventures is not provided if reversal of these 
temporary differences can be controlled by the Group and it is probable 
that reversal will occur in the foreseeable future. 
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated, without discounting, at 
tax rates that are expected to apply to their respective period of 
realisation, provided they are enacted or substantively enacted by the 
end of the reporting period. Deferred tax liabilities are always provided 
for in full. 
 
Deferred tax assets are recognised to the extent that it is probable that 
they will be able to be utilised against future taxable income. Deferred 
tax assets and liabilities are offset only when the Group has a right and 
intention to set off current tax assets and liabilities from the same 
taxation authority. 
 
Changes in deferred tax assets or liabilities are recognised as a 
component of tax income or expense in profit or loss, except where they 
relate to items that are recognised in other comprehensive income (such 
as the revaluation of land) or directly in equity, in which case the related 
deferred tax is also recognised in other comprehensive income or equity, 
respectively. 
 
Provisions, contingent liabilities and contingent assets 
Provisions are recognised when present obligations as a result of a past 
event will probably lead to an outflow of economic resources from the 
Group and amounts can be estimated reliably. Timing or amount of the 
outflow may still be uncertain. A present obligation arises from the 
presence of a legal or constructive commitment that has resulted from 
past events, for example, onerous contracts. Restructuring provisions are  
 
recognised only if a detailed formal plan for the restructuring has been 
developed and implemented, or management has at least announced the 
plan’s main features to those affected by it. Provisions are not recognised 
for future operating losses. 
 
Provisions are measured at the estimated expenditure required to settle 
the present obligation, based on the most reliable evidence available at 
the reporting date, including the risks and uncertainties associated with 
the present obligation. Where there are a number of similar obligations, 
the likelihood that an outflow will be required in settlement is 
determined by considering the class of obligations as a whole. Provisions 
are discounted to their present values, where the time value of money is 
material. 
 
Any reimbursement that the Group can be virtually certain to collect 
from a third-party with respect to the obligation is recognised as a 
separate asset. However, this asset may not exceed the amount of the 
related provision. All provisions are reviewed at each reporting date and 
adjusted to reflect the current best estimate. 
 
In those cases, where the possible outflow of economic resources as a 
result of present obligations is considered improbable or remote, no 
liability is recognised, unless it was assumed in the course of a business 
combination. In a business combination, contingent liabilities are 
recognised in the course of the allocation of the purchase price to the 
assets and liabilities acquired in the business combination. They are 
subsequently measured at the higher amount of a comparable provision 
as described above and the amount initially recognised, less any 
amortisation. 
 
Possible inflows of economic benefits to the Group that do not yet meet 
the recognition criteria of an asset are considered contingent assets. 
 
Foreign currency 
The consolidated financial statements are presented in Sterling (GBP), 
which is also the functional currency of the parent Company. 
 
Foreign currency transactions are translated into the functional currency 
of the respective Group entity, using a monthly estimated rate set at the 
beginning of each month. Foreign exchange gains and losses resulting 
from the settlement of such transactions and from the remeasurement 
of monetary items at year-end exchange rates are recognised in profit or 
loss. Non-monetary items measured at historical cost are translated using 
the exchange rates at the date of the transaction and not subsequently 
retranslated. 
 
In the Group’s financial statements, all assets, liabilities and transactions 
of Group entities with a functional currency other than Sterling are 
translated into Sterling upon consolidation. The functional currencies of 
the entities in the Group have remained unchanged during the reporting 
period. On consolidation, assets and liabilities have been translated into 
Sterling at the closing rate at the reporting date. Income and expenses 
have been translated into the Group’s presentation currency at an 
approximation of the average rate over the reporting period. 
 
Exchange differences are recognised in the Consolidated Income 
Statement in the period in which they arise. 
 
Exchange differences arising from a monetary item receivable from or 
payable to a foreign operation, the settlement of which is neither 
planned nor likely in the foreseeable future, are considered to form part 
of a net investment in a foreign operation and are charged / credited to 
other comprehensive income and recognised within equity in the 
translation reserve. 
 
On disposal of a foreign operation the cumulative translation differences 
recognised in equity are reclassified to profit or loss and recognised as 
part of the gain or loss on disposal. Goodwill and fair value adjustments 
arising on the acquisition of a foreign entity have been treated as assets 
and liabilities of the foreign entity and translated into Sterling at the 
closing rate. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
42 
Segmental reporting 
Operating segments are reported in a manner consistent with the 
internal reporting provided to the chief operating decision-maker. The 
chief operating decision-maker has been identified as the Executive 
Board, at which level strategic decisions are made. 
 
IFRS 8 “Operating segments” requires a ‘management approach’, under 
which segment information is presented on the same basis as that used 
for internal reporting purposes and reported in a manner which is more 
consistent with internal reporting provided to the chief operating 
decision-maker. 
 
 
 

 
43 
 
2. 
Revenue 
 
An analysis of the Group’s revenue is detailed below by activity across the Group’s operating units: 
Year ended 
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Licences 
45 
240 
Consulting Services 
1,319 
1,367 
Hosted Services 
3,627 
3,702 
Managed Services 
2,811 
2,317 
Support and upgrade 
2,069 
2,170 
PCG 
274 
381 
10,145 
10,177 
 
An analysis of the Group’s revenue by business division is as follows: 
Year ended 
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Commercial product division 
6,658 
6,636 
Content products division 
2,409 
2,337 
PCG 
274 
382 
Advertising 
804 
822 
10,145 
10,177 
 
A geographical analysis of the Group’s revenue is as follows: 
Year ended 
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
UK 
5,490 
5,258 
USA 
3,374 
3,705 
Netherlands 
383 
315 
France 
282 
176 
Rest of the World 
616 
723 
10,145 
10,177 
 
Revenue is allocated to geographical locations based on the location of the customer. All business divisions are active in each of the geographic areas. 
 
An analysis of the timing of revenue recognition is shown as follows: 
Commercial 
Products 
Content 
Products 
PCG 
Advertising 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Revenue transferred over time 
5,940 
1,741 
- 
635 
8,316 
Revenue transferred at a point in time 
718 
668 
274 
169 
1,829 
6,658 
2,409 
274 
804 
10,145 
 
 
Commercial 
Products 
Content 
Products 
PCG 
Advertising 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Revenue transferred over time 
5,351 
1,915 
- 
688 
7,954 
Revenue transferred at a point in time 
1,285 
422 
382 
134 
2,223 
6,636 
2,337 
382 
822 
10,177 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
44 
The following aggregated amounts of transaction prices relate to performance obligations from existing contracts that are unsatisfied or partially unsatisfied 
as at 31 December 2021: 
Year ended 
31 Dec 22 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 23 
£’000 
Revenue expected to be recognised 
2,310 
- 
 
 
3. 
Joint Venture / Investment 
 
The Group holds a 49% voting and equity interest in Beijing Ingenta Digital Publishing Technology Limited (BIDPT) which was purchased during the year to 
31 December 2012. 
 
BIDPT has a reporting date of 31 December. The shares are not publicly listed on a stock exchange and hence published price quotes are not available. 
Dividends are subject to the approval of at least 51% of all shareholders of BIDPT. The Group has received no dividends. 
 
In the 2017 financial statements, the Group outlined it has been actively engaged in discussions to sell or dispose of its shareholding in the Chinese Joint 
Venture and had reclassified it as an asset held for sale. The Board does not believe a deal is imminent and in 2018 reclassified the Group’s holding in the 
Joint Venture as an investment. Given the inherent uncertainty around valuing a Chinese non-listed, minority shareholding combined with flat earnings and 
an increasingly uncertain mechanism to repatriate funds, the Group fully impaired the investment. The Group’s strategy going forward is to concentrate on 
its core product set and given the lack of control it exerts over the Joint Venture; it does not consolidate results into the Group. 
 
4. 
Operating segments 
 
The following segment information has been prepared in accordance with IFRS 8, “Operating Segments”, which defines the requirements for the disclosure 
of financial information of an entity’s operating segments. IFRS 8 follows the management approach, which is the basis for decision making within the 
Group. 
 
The Board consider the Group on a business division basis. Reports by business division are used by the chief decision-maker in the Group. Significant 
operating segments are: Ingenta Commercial products; Ingenta Content products; PCG and Ingenta Advertising. This split of business segments is based on 
the products and services each offer. The segmental analysis is under review given the business is changing its operating model away from a product siloed 
structure and is beginning to blend its offerings together making them less discrete. 
 
Ingenta Commercial products are enterprise level publishing management systems. Ingenta Content products help content providers sell their content 
online. PCG provides consultancy services in sales and marketing to publishers. Ingenta Advertising provides a complete browser-based multimedia 
advertising, CRM and sales management platform for content providers. 
 
The reported operating segments derive their revenues from the revenue streams reported in the revenue analysis in note 2. A further discussion of 
revenue streams within each division is included on pages 4 to 9. All revenues are derived from trade with external parties. 
 
Property, plant and equipment held in the UK totals £602K (2020: £942K) and the USA £42K (2020: £55K). 
 
Two customers each contributed more than 10% of revenue (2020: two) and this amounted to £3,819K (2020: £3,364K). The Group’s operations are located 
in the United Kingdom, North America, Brazil, Mexico, India, China and Australia. Any transactions between business divisions are on normal commercial 
terms and conditions. 
 

 
45 
 
Segment information by business unit is presented below. 
 
Year to 31 December 2021 
Commercial products  
£’000 
Content products 
£’000 
PCG 
£’000 
Advertising 
£’000 
Consolidated 
£’000 
External sales 
6,658 
2,409 
274 
804 
10,145 
Segment result (adjusted EBITDA, see note 5) 
775 
521 
(88) 
244 
1,452 
Depreciation and amortisation 
(425) 
(154) 
(2) 
(51) 
(632) 
Unallocated corporate expense 
 
 
 
 
- 
Restructuring & exceptional costs 
 
 
 
 
(5) 
Foreign exchange gain 
 
 
 
 
(61) 
Impairment of intangibles & investments 
 
 
 
 
- 
Operating profit 
 
 
 
 
754 
Finance costs 
 
 
 
 
(27) 
Profit before tax 
 
 
 
 
727 
Tax 
 
 
 
 
1,074 
Profit after tax 
 
 
 
 
1,801 
 
 
Other information 
Commercial products 
 £’000 
Content products 
£’000 
PCG 
£’000 
Advertising 
£’000 
Consolidated 
£’000 
Statement of Financial Position 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets 
 
 
 
 
 
Attributable Goodwill and intangibles 
- 
2,661 
- 
- 
2,661 
Property, plant and equipment 
396 
181 
5 
83 
665 
Segment assets 
2,851 
1,306 
65 
594 
4,816 
Unallocated corporate assets 
 
 
 
 
1,163 
Consolidated total assets 
 
 
 
 
9,305 
Liabilities 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment liabilities 
2,683 
1,231 
108 
559 
4,581 
Unallocated corporate liabilities 
 
 
 
 
1 
Consolidated total liabilities 
 
 
 
 
4,582 
 
 
 
 
 
Total equity and liabilities 
 
 
 
 
9,305 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
46 
Restated year to 31 December 2020 
Commercial products  
£’000 
Content products 
£’000 
PCG 
£’000 
Advertising 
£’000 
Consolidated 
£’000 
External sales 
6,636 
2,337 
381 
823 
10,177 
Segment result (adjusted EBITDA, see note 5) 
847 
322 
(156) 
197 
1,210 
Depreciation and amortisation 
(296) 
(104) 
(2) 
(37) 
(439) 
Unallocated corporate expense 
 
 
 
 
2 
Restructuring 
 
 
 
 
(447) 
Foreign exchange gain 
 
 
 
 
138 
Impairment of intangibles & investments 
 
 
 
 
- 
Operating profit 
 
 
 
 
464 
Finance costs 
 
 
 
 
(22) 
Profit before tax 
 
 
 
 
442 
Tax 
 
 
 
 
7 
Profit after tax 
 
 
 
 
449 
 
 
Other information 
Commercial products 
 £’000 
Content products 
£’000 
PCG 
£’000 
Advertising 
£’000 
Consolidated 
£’000 
Statement of Financial Position 
 
 
 
 
 
Assets 
 
 
 
 
 
Attributable Goodwill and intangibles 
- 
2,661 
- 
58 
2,719 
Property, plant and equipment 
669 
307 
4 
139 
1,119 
Segment assets 
2,687 
1,232 
70 
560 
4,549 
Unallocated corporate assets 
 
 
 
 
- 
Consolidated total assets 
 
 
 
 
8,387 
Liabilities 
 
 
 
 
 
Segment liabilities 
2,827 
1,296 
109 
589 
4,821 
Unallocated corporate liabilities 
 
 
 
 
- 
Consolidated total liabilities 
 
 
 
 
4,821 
 
 
 
 
 
Total equity and liabilities 
 
 
 
 
8,387 
 
Refer to note 10 and 11 for the estimates used in valuation of cash generating units.  
 
In 2020 & 2021 there were no bank overdrafts. Social security and other taxation liabilities have been allocated to the relevant segments of the business. 
 
 

 
47 
 
5. 
Profit from operations 
 
Profit from operations has been arrived at after charging: 
 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Research and development costs 
1,009 
1,409 
Net foreign exchange (gain) / loss 
61 
(138) 
Depreciation of property, plant and equipment: 
 
 
- owned assets 
179 
110 
- leasehold property 
133 
122 
- assets under leases 
262 
107 
Amortisation 
58 
100 
Auditor’s remuneration 
86 
83 
Exceptional non-recurring costs 
5 
447 
 
 
An analysis of expenses by type within the statement of comprehensive income is as follows: 
 
Cost of sales 
£’000 
Sales and 
marketing 
£’000 
Administration 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
IT and software costs 
821 
- 
412 
1,233 
Staff costs (note 6)  
3,583 
628 
1,323 
5,534 
Contractors 
751 
20 
112 
883 
Other HR costs 
- 
- 
93 
93 
Premises costs 
- 
- 
183 
183 
Insurance costs 
- 
- 
83 
83 
Legal and professional fees 
6 
2 
276 
284 
Provisions 
330 
- 
- 
330 
Depreciation 
- 
- 
631 
631 
Foreign exchange 
- 
- 
61 
61 
Other 
(4) 
40 
40 
76 
5,487 
690 
3,214 
9,391 
 
Cost of sales 
£’000 
Sales and 
marketing 
£’000 
Administration 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
IT and software costs 
822 
- 
379 
1,201 
Staff costs (note 6)  
4,000 
576 
1,400 
5,976 
Contractors 
756 
33 
142 
931 
Other HR costs 
- 
- 
116 
116 
Premises costs 
- 
- 
196 
196 
Insurance costs 
- 
- 
54 
54 
Legal and professional fees 
- 
- 
266 
266 
Restructuring 
- 
- 
447 
447 
Bad debt 
94 
- 
- 
94 
Depreciation 
- 
- 
439 
439 
Foreign exchange 
- 
- 
(138) 
(138) 
Other 
69 
62 
- 
131 
5,741 
671 
3,301 
9,713 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
48 
A more detailed analysis of auditor’s remuneration on a worldwide basis is provided below. 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Fees payable to the Group’s auditor for: 
 
 
Fees payable to the company’s auditor for the audit of the company’s annual accounts 
20 
20 
 
 
Fees payable to the company’s auditor and its associates for other services: 
 
 
Audit of the accounts of subsidiaries 
54 
51 
Other assurance services 
- 
- 
Tax compliance services 
12 
12 
86 
83 
 
A description of the work of the Audit Committee is set out in the corporate governance statement on pages 19 to 21 and includes an explanation of how 
auditor objectivity and independence is safeguarded when non-audit services are provided by the auditor.  
 
 
An analysis reconciling the profit from operations to adjusted EBITDA is provided below. 
 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Profit from operations 
754 
464 
 
 
Add back: 
 
 
Depreciation and amortisation 
632 
439 
Impairment of intangibles & investments 
- 
- 
Gain on disposal of fixed assets 
- 
(2) 
Exceptional non-recurring costs 
5 
447 
Foreign exchange loss / (gain) 
61 
(138) 
EBITDA before impairment, gain / loss on disposal of fixed assets, foreign exchange gain / loss and 
exceptional non-recurring costs 
1,452 
1,210 
 
Exceptional non-recurring costs include restructuring costs, premises exit costs, non-recurring professional fees and debt write offs. 

 
49 
 
6. 
Staff numbers and costs 
 
 
 
Further unaudited information on Directors’ remuneration is provided in the Directors’ remuneration report. Key management personnel within the 
business are considered to be the Board of Directors. Pension contributions of £4K were paid in respect of the highest paid Director (2020: £12K). There 
were two (2020: two) Directors in a money purchase pension scheme. 
 
The Group operates defined contribution retirement benefit schemes for all qualifying employees. The assets of the scheme are held separately from those 
of the Group in an independently administered fund. 
 
The total cost charged to income of £246K (2020: £254K) represents contributions payable to these schemes by the Group at rates specified in the rules of 
the plans. As at 31 December 2021, contributions of £26K (2020: £28K) due in respect of the current reporting period were included in the Group Statement 
of Financial Position for payment in January 2022. 
 
The Group operates an Unapproved EMI Share Option plan. A change in fair value of £27K (2020: £38K) has been recognised in the income statement during 
the year. Further details on share options are included in note 22. 
 
 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
Average number 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
Average number 
Staff numbers: 
 
 
Operations 
59 
59 
Sales and marketing 
15 
15 
Administration 
6 
7 
80 
81 
Staff numbers exclude contractors 
 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Their aggregate remuneration comprised: 
 
 
Wages and salaries 
4,629 
4,987 
Social security costs 
519 
539 
Contribution to defined contribution plans 
246 
254 
Health insurance 
102 
146 
Share based payments 
27 
39 
Other staff costs 
11 
11 
Total staff costs 
5,534 
5,976 
 
 
Remuneration in respect of Directors was as follows: 
 
 
Non-Executive 
196 
204 
Executive Directors’ emoluments 
384 
332 
Company pension contributions to money purchase schemes 
68 
40 
648 
576 
 
 
Remuneration of the highest paid Director (aggregate emoluments): 
Salaries 
251 
200 
Other Benefits 
13 
12 
Contribution to defined contribution plans 
4 
4 
268 
216 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
50 
7. 
Finance costs 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Interest payable: 
 
 
Interest on Right of Use lease 
25 
17 
Interest on other loans 
2 
5 
27 
22 
 
8. 
Tax 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Analysis of (charge) / credit in the year 
 
 
Current tax: 
 
 
Current year State tax – US 
(10) 
(10) 
Adjustment to prior year charge – UK 
(3) 
(3) 
Deferred tax credit 
1,087 
20 
Taxation 
1,074 
7 
 
The Group has unutilised tax losses at 31 December 2021 in the UK and the USA of £16.3m (2020: £15.6m) and $11.2m (2020: $14.2m) respectively. These 
losses have been agreed with the tax authorities in the UK and USA. The Board intends to make use of all losses wherever possible. 
 
Some of the US tax losses are restricted to $491K per annum as a result of change of control legislation. Losses carried forward from the change of control in 
April 2008 are restricted and must be used within 20 years. The Board believes the Group will be able to make use of $7.4m (2020: $7.7m) of the total 
unutilised losses at 31 December 2021. 
 
No deferred tax has been recognised in accordance with advice from US tax accountants on the basis that the US losses are restricted and there is 
uncertainty on the value of losses which will be able to be used. 
 
From 1 April 2023, the corporation tax rate applicable to companies with taxable profits above £250,000 will be 25 per cent. Companies with profits below 
£50,000 will, however, continue to pay tax at the current rate of 19 per cent. Those with taxable profits between £50,000 and £250,000 will benefit from 
marginal relief, similar to that which applied before the previous incarnation of the small companies’ rate of corporation tax was abolished with effect from 
1 April 2015. 
 
The differences are explained below: 
Reconciliation of tax charge / (credit) 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Profit on ordinary activities before tax 
727 
442 
Tax at the UK corporation tax rate of 19% (2020: 19%) 
138 
84 
Income / expenses not allowable for tax purposes 
(16) 
14 
Unrelieved losses carried forward 
354 
245 
Utilisation of losses 
(529) 
(213) 
Difference in timing of allowances 
56 
(129) 
Deferred tax movement 
(1,087) 
- 
Adjustment to tax charge in respect of prior years 
10 
(8) 
Total taxation 
(1,074) 
(7) 
 
United Kingdom Corporation tax is calculated at 19% (2020: 19%) of the estimated assessable profit for the year.  
 
Taxation for other jurisdictions is calculated at the rates prevailing in the respective jurisdictions.  
 

 
51 
 
9. 
Earnings per share and dividends 
 
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. 
 
For diluted earnings per share, the weighted average number of ordinary shares in issue is adjusted to assume conversion of all dilutive ordinary share 
options. Management estimate 669,578 ordinary shares will be issued (2020: 681,000) in respect of share options.  
 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Restated 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Attributable profit 
1,801 
449 
 
 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in basic earnings per share (‘000) 
16,481 
16,834 
Shares deemed to be issued in respect of share-based payments (‘000) 
670 
681 
Weighted average number of ordinary shares used in dilutive earnings per share (‘000) 
17,151 
17,515 
 
 
Basic profit per share arising from both total and continuing operations 
10.93 p 
2.67 p 
Diluted profit per share arising from both total and continuing operations 
10.50 p 
2.56 p 
 
Dividends 
On 9th August 2021 the Company paid a final dividend of 1.5 pence per share for the year ended 31 December 2020. On 29th October 2021 an interim 
dividend of 1 pence per share was paid in respect of the year ended 31 December 2021. 
 
After the year end, the Directors declared their intention to pay a final dividend of 2p for the year ended 31 December 2021.  
 
10. Goodwill 
 
Year ended  
31 Dec 21 
£’000 
Year ended  
31 Dec 20 
£’000 
Gross carrying amount 
Content Products division 
2,661 
2,661 
Total goodwill 
2,661 
2,661 
 
Goodwill has been recognised on historic acquisitions and is reviewed at the end of each financial period for impairment. 
 
For the purpose of annual impairment testing, goodwill is allocated to the following cash-generating units (CGUs), which are the units expected to benefit 
from the synergies of the business combinations in which the goodwill arises. 
 
At the year end, management carried out an impairment review of goodwill attached to each business unit. Following that review, management are of the 
opinion that no impairment needs to be recognised against the goodwill.  
 
The recoverable amounts of the cash generating units were determined based on value in use calculations for the next five years which management 
believe they have reasonable knowledge in predicting and will benefit from the resulting cash generation. The 5 year forecast horizon is reasonable based 
on past experience, contracted terms and the long lead times required for transition off software platforms. Where applicable, management have assumed 
a forecast growth rate of 1-3.5% (2020: 1-2%). 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
52 
Details are shown below. 
Content  
Division 
% 
Content sales revenue growth 
- 
Hosting revenue growth 
3.5 
Time-based service revenue growth 
- 
Cost base growth 
2-3 
 
Content  
Division  
£000 
Carrying amount 
2,661 
Value of intangibles 
- 
Total goodwill and intangibles 
2,661 
 
Recoverable amount 
5,644 
5-year gross profit reduction for fair value to equal carrying amount 
5,175 
 
Management assumptions include stable profit margins based on past experience in this market which the management see as the best available 
information for the market. Management consider a pre-tax discount factor of 10% will reflect the CGU’s cost of capital during the review period (2020: 
10%) and that this is applicable to all cash-generating units.  
 
The key assumption in the recoverable amount calculations is gross profit. This item can reasonably be expected to change, and the table above shows the 
total 5-year reduction in gross profit that would be required for the recoverable amount to be equal to the carrying amount. 
 
11. Other intangibles 
 
Acquired Software 
 Technology  
£’000 
Cost 
 
At 31 December 2020 
500 
At 31 December 2021 
500 
 
Accumulated amortisation and impairment 
 
At 1 January 2020 
342 
Amortisation 
100 
At 31 December 2020 
442 
Amortisation 
58 
At 31 December 2021 
500 
 
Carrying amount 
 
At 31 December 2019 
158 
At 31 December 2020 
58 
At 31 December 2021 
- 
 
The cost of the acquired software was calculated by discounting expected cashflows from the acquired advertising software business over a 5 year period. 
Management expect a minimum of 5 years useful life from the product as current customers are on long term contracts and any customer migrations are 
very protracted in nature. 
 
The discount rates used in the calculation of intangibles was 10%. 
 
Amortisation has been charged on a straight-line basis from date of acquisition. All amortisation and impairment charges are included within depreciation, 
amortisation and impairment of non-financial assets. 
 
 

 
53 
 
12. Property, plant and equipment 
 
Office 
building 
£’000 
Leasehold  
improvements  
£’000 
Fixtures  
and fittings  
£’000 
Computer  
equipment  
£’000 
 
Total  
£’000 
Cost 
 
 
 
 
 
At 1 January 2020 
853 
18 
87 
1,788 
2,746 
Additions 
- 
- 
- 
986 
986 
Disposals 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
Transfers in 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
Exchange differences 
- 
- 
- 
(8) 
(8) 
At 31 December 2020 
853 
18 
87 
2,766 
3,724 
Additions 
32 
- 
- 
101 
133 
Disposals 
- 
(18) 
(82) 
(893) 
(993) 
Transfers in 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
Exchange differences 
- 
- 
- 
3 
3 
At 31 December 2021 
885 
- 
5 
1,977 
2,867 
 
 
 
 
 
Accumulated depreciation and impairment 
 
 
 
 
 
At 1 January 2020 
610 
18 
84 
1,561 
2,273 
Charge for the year 
121 
- 
1 
216 
338 
Disposals 
- 
- 
- 
- 
- 
Exchange differences 
- 
- 
- 
(6) 
(6) 
At 31 December 2020 
731 
18 
85 
1,771 
2,605 
Charge for the year 
133 
- 
1 
440 
574 
Disposals 
- 
(18) 
(81) 
(880) 
(979) 
Exchange differences 
- 
- 
- 
2 
2 
At 31 December 2021 
864 
- 
5 
1,333 
2,202 
 
 
 
 
 
Carrying amount 
 
 
 
 
 
At 31 December 2021 
21 
- 
- 
644 
665 
At 31 December 2020 
122 
- 
2 
995 
1,119 
At 1 January 2020 
243 
- 
3 
227 
473 
 
The Office Building category consists of a single right-of-use asset. 
 
Right of Use Assets held under leases with a net book value of £456K (2020: £753K) are included under computer equipment in property, plant and 
equipment and £262K (2020: £107K) of depreciation was charged on these assets in the year, see note 20 for further details. 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
54 
13. Trade and other receivables 
 
Trade and other receivables comprise the following: 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Trade receivables - gross 
1,539 
1,834 
Allowance for credit losses 
(98) 
(143) 
Trade receivables - net 
1,441 
1,691 
Other receivables 
64 
64 
Accrued income 
29 
254 
Financial assets at amortised cost 
1,534 
2,009 
 
 
Prepayments 
276 
217 
Non-financial assets 
276 
217 
 
 
Trade and other receivables 
1,810 
2,226 
 
All amounts are short term. The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade and other receivables approximates to their fair value. 
 
Trade receivables at the reporting date comprise amounts receivable from the sale of goods and services of £1.5m (2020: £1.8m, 2019: £2.2m).  
 
The average credit period taken on sales of goods is 44 days (2020: 53 days, 2019: 56 days). 
 
In measuring the expected credit losses, the trade receivables have been assessed on an individual basis. Certain trade receivables were found to be 
individually impaired and an allowance for credit losses of £98K (2020: £143K, 2019: £57K) has been recorded within “sales and marketing” in the Group 
Statement of Comprehensive Income. This allowance has been determined by reference to expected receipts after considering historical experience, readily 
available external indicators and forward-looking information. Trade receivables are written off (i.e., derecognised) when there is no reasonable expectation 
of recovery. Failure to make payments within 6 months from the invoice date, failure to engage with the Group on alternative future payment 
arrangements and bankruptcy or administration of the customer are considered to be indicators of a potential expected credit loss. The Group has a stable 
customer base with strong relationships built up over time allowing it to make reasonable assessments of recoverability. The majority of trade receivables 
relate to customers ongoing ability to function, and past experience indicates the balances are recoverable subject to any future information that becomes 
available. Where an expected credit loss is recognised, it will be significantly influenced by additional forward looking information such as industry 
discussion papers, repayment plan reasonableness and direct account management negotiation.  
 
On the above basis the expected credit loss for trade receivables is as follows: 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Balance as at 1 January 
143 
57 
Amounts collected 
(109) 
(5) 
Additional allowance in year 
64 
91 
Balance as at 31 December 
98 
143 
 
14. Investments classified as held for sale 
 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
49% investment held in BIDPT 
320 
320 
Impairment 
(320) 
(320) 
Balance as at 31 December 
- 
- 
 
In the 2017 financial statements, the Group outlined it has been actively engaged in discussions to sell or dispose of its shareholding in the Chinese Joint 
Venture and had reclassified it as an asset held for sale. The Board does not believe a deal is imminent and in 2018 reclassified the Group’s holding in the 
Joint Venture as an investment. Given the inherent uncertainty around valuing a Chinese non-listed, minority shareholding combined with flat earnings and 
an increasingly uncertain mechanism to repatriate funds, the Group fully impaired the investment. The Group’s strategy going forward is to concentrate on 
its core product set and given the lack of control it exerts over the Joint Venture, it does not consolidate results into the Group. 
 
 

 
55 
 
15. Cash and cash equivalents 
 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Cash at bank and in hand: 
 
 
Cash at bank: 
 
 
- GBP 
2,554 
1,793 
- USD 
425 
485 
- EUR 
27 
45 
3,006 
2,323 
Bank Overdraft – GBP 
- 
- 
Net cash and cash equivalents 
3,006 
2,323 
 
Net cash and cash equivalents’ is used for the Group Statement of Cash Flows. The net carrying value of cash and cash equivalents is considered a 
reasonable approximation of fair value. 
 
16. Trade and other payables 
 
Trade payables and other payables principally comprise amounts outstanding for trade purchases and ongoing costs. The average credit period taken for 
trade purchases is 26 days (2020: 29 days, 2019: 34 days). 
 
The Directors consider that the carrying amount of trade payables approximates to their fair value. 
 
Payables falling due within one year: 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Trade payables 
267 
457 
Accruals 
858 
589 
Lease obligations 
258 
441 
Other payables 
283 
313 
Financial liabilities at amortised cost 
1,666 
1,800 
 
 
Social security and other taxes 
325 
261 
Non-financial liabilities 
325 
261 
 
 
Trade and other payables 
1,991 
2,061 
 
 
17. Borrowings 
 
As at 31 December 2021, there was no overdraft facility (2020: £250K & 2019: £250K). During the year, the average effective interest rate on bank 
overdrafts approximates to Nil % over base rate (2020: 2.5%, 2019: 2.5%) per annum. All borrowings are measured at amortised cost. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
56 
18. Reconciliation of liabilities arising from financing activities 
 
The changes in the Group’s liabilities arising from financing activities can be classified as follows: 
 
Lease 
Liabilities 
£’000 
Balance as at 1 January 2020 
409 
Cash-flows: 
 
– Repayment 
(451) 
– Interest 
- 
Non-cash: 
 
– New leases 
899 
– Interest 
15 
Balance as at 31 December 2020 
872 
Cash-flows: 
 
– Repayment 
(453) 
– Interest 
(21) 
Non-cash: 
 
– New leases 
31 
– Interest 
21 
Balance as at 31 December 2021 
450 
 
19. Deferred tax 
 
The movement in deferred tax within the Group Statement of Financial Position is as follows: 
 
Deferred tax liability 
Deferred tax asset 
2021 
£’000 
2020 
£’000 
2021  
£’000 
2020 
£’000 
Balance as at 1 January 
(12) 
(32) 
- 
- 
Charged to Group Statement of Comprehensive income (note 8) 
(76) 
20 
1,163 
- 
Balance at 31 December 
(88) 
(12) 
1,163 
- 
 
The components of deferred tax included in the Group Statement of Financial Position are as follows: 
 
 
Property, plant 
and equipment 
£’000 
 
 
Tax losses 
£’000 
Other temporary 
differences  
£’000 
 
 
Total 
£’000 
Balance as at 1 January 2020 
- 
- 
(32) 
- 
Charged to Group Statement of Comprehensive income (note 8) 
- 
- 
20 
20 
Balance at 31 December 2020 
- 
- 
(12) 
(12) 
Charged to Group Statement of Comprehensive income (note 8) 
(88) 
1,163 
12 
856 
Balance at 31 December 2021 
(88) 
1,163 
- 
844 
 
Deferred tax is provided for at tax rates of 19% and 25% as applicable to each future accounting period. For further details see note 8. 

 
57 
 
20. Lease arrangements 
 
The Group as lessee – IT equipment 
Elements of the Group’s IT equipment are held under lease arrangements. As at 31 December 2021, the net carrying amount of equipment under lease 
arrangements was £456K (2020: £753K). Lease liabilities are secured by the related assets. Future minimum lease payments are as follows: 
 
Year ended 31 December 2021 
< 1 year  
£’000 
1 – 5 years  
£’000 
Total  
£’000 
Lease payments 
255 
206 
461 
Finance charges 
(17) 
(14) 
(31) 
Net present value 
238 
192 
430 
 
 
 
 
Year ended 31 December 2020 
< 1 year  
£’000 
1 – 5 years  
£’000 
Total  
£’000 
Lease payments 
282 
461 
743 
Finance charges 
(18) 
(31) 
(49) 
Net present value 
264 
430 
694 
 
The lease agreements include fixed payments and a purchase option at the end of the lease. The agreement is non-cancellable and does not contain any 
further restrictions. 
 
The Group as lessee - Buildings 
At the reporting date, the Group had outstanding commitments for future minimum lease payments under non-cancellable leases, which fall due as follows: 
 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Land and buildings: 
 
 
Minimum lease payments due within one year 
22 
151 
Minimum lease payments due in the second to fifth years inclusive 
- 
- 
22 
151 
 
Leases for Land and Buildings represent contracts on the following offices: Oxford, UK and New Brunswick, NJ, USA. 
 
The office building at Suite 2, Whichford House, Parkway Court, John Smith Drive, Oxford OX4 2JY has been classified as a Right of Use asset. The initial term 
of the licence runs until September 2022 and is terminable with 3 months’ notice at the end of the 12-month minimum term, payments are fixed and there 
is no option to purchase. The Group anticipate the lease will be extended for at least a further 12 months. 
 
The table below describes the nature of the Group’s leasing activities: 
 
Right of use (ROU) asset 
No. of ROU 
assets 
Range of 
remaining 
term 
Average 
remaining 
term 
No. of leases 
with 
extension 
options 
No. of leases 
with option 
to purchase 
No. of leases 
with variable 
payments 
No. of leases 
with 
termination 
options 
Buildings 
1 
9 months 
9 months 
1 
- 
- 
1 
IT equipment 
3 
1-2 years 
1 year 
- 
3 
- 
- 
 
The extension option of the UK building is flexible and currently amounts to £27K per annum for each further year of use. 
The group has elected not to recognise a lease liability for a short term lease (leases with an expected term of 12 months or less) relating to a US office 
building. The Group also do not recognise lease liabilities for leases of low value assets. Payments made under such leases are expensed on a straight-line 
basis. In addition, certain variable lease payments are not permitted to be recognised as lease liabilities and are expensed as incurred. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
58 
The expense relating to payments not included in the measurement of lease liability is as follows: 
 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Short term leases 
8 
9 
Leases of low value assets 
- 
- 
Variable lease payments 
- 
- 
 
The Group’s lease agreements do not contain any contingent rent clauses. None of the lease agreements contain escalation clauses or any restrictions 
regarding dividends, further leasing or additional debt. 
 
21. Share capital 
 
As at 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Issued and fully paid: 
 
 
16,919,609 (2020: 16,919,609, 2019: 16,919,609) ordinary shares of 10p each 
1,692 
1,692 
 
There is one class of ordinary shares and holders are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share 
at shareholder meetings. 
 
Share issues 
During the year 440,826 shares (2020: 81,000) were purchased for £315,771 by the company and retained as treasury shares. There were no shares issued 
during the year (2020: None). 
 
22. Share options 
 
The Group have an unapproved Executive Management Incentive (EMI) share option scheme. Further details are detailed below. 
 
Unapproved EMI scheme 
This scheme is part of the remuneration package of the Group’s senior management. Options will vest if certain conditions, as defined in the scheme, are 
met. It is based on Group performance compared to budget over a 3 year period and one third of the options will vest in each of the 3 reporting periods if 
the performance targets are met in that period. Participating employees have to be employed at the end of each period to which the options relate. Upon 
vesting, each option allows the holder to purchase ordinary shares at the market price on date of grant. 
 
Share options and weighted average exercise prices are as follows: 
 
Number of shares 
Weighted average 
 exercise price per share 
 (£’s) 
Outstanding at 1 January 2020 
684,578 
0.80 
Granted 
- 
- 
Lapsed 
(3,333) 
1.27 
Outstanding at 31 December 2020 
681,245 
0.79 
Granted 
- 
- 
Lapsed 
(11,667) 
1.27 
Outstanding at 31 December 2021 
669,578 
0.79 
 
At 31 December 2021, the weighted average remaining contractual life of options was 89 months. 
 

 
59 
 
The fair value of options granted were determined using the Black Scholes method. The following principal assumptions were used in the valuation: 
 
Grant date 
January 2016 
February 2016 
August 2016 
September 
2017 
September 
2019 
Vesting period ends 
31 Dec 16 
31 Dec 16 
31 Dec 16 
31 Dec 18 
31 Dec 22 
31 Dec 17 
31 Dec 17 
31 Dec 17 
31 Dec 19 
 
31 Dec 18 
31 Dec 18 
31 Dec 18 
31 Dec 20 
 
Share price at grant 
£1.27 
£1.27 
£1.30 
£1.56 
£0.74 
Volatility 
26% 
26% 
16% 
16% 
27% 
Risk free investment rate 
5% 
5% 
5% 
5% 
5% 
Fair value of option – 31 December 2016 vesting period 
18p 
18p 
9p 
- 
- 
Fair value of option – 31 December 2017 vesting period 
26p 
26p 
17p 
- 
- 
Fair value of option – 31 December 2018 vesting period 
32p 
32p 
23p 
16p 
- 
Fair value of option – 31 December 2019 vesting period 
- 
- 
- 
24p 
- 
Fair value of option – 31 December 2020 vesting period 
- 
- 
- 
31p 
- 
Fair value of option – 31 December 2022 vesting period 
- 
- 
- 
- 
18p 
 
The underlying volatility was determined with reference to the historical data of the Company’s share price. In total £27K (2020: £38K) of employee 
remuneration expense and has been included in the profit for the year and released to retained earnings. 
 
23. Notes to the cash flow statement 
 
Bank balances and cash comprise cash held by the Group and short-term bank deposits with an original maturity of three months or less. The carrying 
amount of these assets approximates their fair value. Refer to note 15 ‘cash and cash equivalents’. The initial recognition of lease liabilities are non-cash 
transactions excluded from the statement of cash flows. 
 
Net debt reconciliation 
Leases  
£’000 
Bank  
£’000 
Total  
£’000 
Net debt at 1 January 2020 
(409) 
2,600 
2,191 
New leases 
(786) 
- 
(786) 
Financing cashflows 
324 
(279) 
45 
Interest payment 
10 
- 
10 
Other charges: 
 
 
 
Interest charge 
(10) 
- 
(10) 
Foreign exchange adjustments 
- 
2 
2 
Net debt at 31 December 2020 
(871) 
2,323 
1,452 
New leases 
(32) 
- 
(32) 
Financing cashflows 
453 
684 
1,137 
Interest payment 
25 
- 
25 
Other charges: 
 
 
 
Interest charge 
(25) 
- 
(25) 
Foreign exchange adjustments 
- 
(1) 
(1) 
Net debt at 31 December 2021 
(450) 
3,006 
2,556 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
60 
24. Related party transactions 
 
Transactions between the Company and its subsidiaries, which are related parties, have been eliminated on consolidation. 
 
Remuneration of key management personnel 
The remuneration of the Directors, who are the key management personnel of the Group, is set out below in aggregate for each of the categories specified 
in IAS 24 Related Party Disclosures. Further information about the remuneration of individual Directors is provided in the Directors’ remuneration report on 
page 22. 
 
Year ended 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
Year ended 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Short term employee benefits 
690 
576 
 
Directors’ transactions 
The amounts outstanding as at 31 December 2021 relate to amounts due from Ingenta plc to Directors in connection with invoiced Non-Executive fees.  
 
As at 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Amounts outstanding with Directors 
8 
15 
 
Joint Venture transactions 
The Joint Venture loan amounts to £149K (2020: £149K). The loan balance has no defined terms including any details on repayment terms or interest.  
 
25. Financial risk management 
 
The Group is exposed to various risks in relation to financial assets and liabilities. The main types of risk are foreign currency risk, interest rate risk, market 
risk, credit risk and liquidity risk. 
 
The Group’s risk management is closely controlled by the Board and focuses on actively securing the Group’s short to medium term cash flows by 
minimising the exposure to financial markets. The Group does not actively trade in financial assets for speculative purposes nor does it write options. The 
most significant financial risks are currency risk and certain price risks. 
 
Foreign currency sensitivity 
The Group trades in Sterling (GBP), US Dollars (USD) and Euros (EUR). Most of the Group’s transactions are carried out in Sterling and US Dollars. Exposure 
to currency exchange rates arise from the Group’s overseas sales and purchases, which are primarily in USD, through the trading divisions in the USA 
(Ingenta Inc. and Publishers Communication Group Inc.). The Group does not borrow or invest in USD other than an intercompany loan denominated in USD 
between Vista International Ltd and Vista North America Holdings Ltd, the currency movement on which offsets within the Group Statement of 
Comprehensive Income. 
 
In order to mitigate the Group’s foreign currency risk, non-GBP cash flows are monitored and excess USD and EUR not required for foreign currency 
expenditure are translated into GBP on an on-going basis. The Group is a net importer of USD being cash flow positive by approximately $2.0m per annum. 
No further hedging activity is undertaken. The Group does not enter into forward exchange contracts. 
 
Foreign currency denominated financial assets and liabilities, translated into GBP at the closing rate, are as follows: 
 
Short-term exposure  
USD  
£’000 
Long-term exposure  
USD  
£’000 
31 December 2021 
 
 
Financial assets 
684  
- 
Financial liabilities 
(162) 
- 
Total exposure 
522  
- 
31 December 2020 
 
 
Financial assets 
687  
- 
Financial liabilities 
(191) 
- 
Total exposure 
496  
- 
 
 

 
61 
 
The following table illustrates the sensitivity of profit and equity with regard to the Group’s financial assets and financial liabilities and the USD / GBP 
exchange rate “all other things being equal”. Transactions in EUR are immaterial and therefore movements of the EUR / GBP exchange rate have not been 
analysed. 
 
It assumes a + / - 10% change of the USD / GBP exchange rate for the year ended 31 December 2020 (2019: 10%). This percentage has been determined 
based on the average market volatility in exchange rates in the previous 12 months. The sensitivity analysis is based on the Group foreign currency financial 
instruments held at each reporting date. 
 
If GBP had strengthened against USD by 10% (2020: 10%) then this would have had the following impact: 
 
Loss for the year  
USD  
£’000 
Equity  
USD  
£’000 
31 December 2021 
(46) 
(68) 
31 December 2020 
(15) 
(69) 
 
If GBP had weakened against USD by 10% (2020: 10%) then this would have had the following impact: 
 
Profit for the year  
USD  
£’000 
Equity  
USD  
£’000 
31 December 2021 
56  
83  
31 December 2020 
18 
85 
 
Exposures to foreign exchange rates vary during the year depending on the volume of overseas transactions. Nonetheless, the analysis above is considered 
to be representative of the Group’s exposure to currency risk. 
 
Interest rate sensitivity 
The Group’s policy is to minimise interest rate cash flow risk exposures on long term financing. Long term borrowings are therefore usually at fixed rates. At 
31 December 2021 and 31 December 2020, the Group had no exposure to borrowings on variable interest terms and hence no sensitivity of profit or equity 
to changes in interest rates.  
 
Credit risk analysis 
The Group’s maximum exposure to credit risk is limited to the carrying amount of financial assets recognised at the reporting date, as summarised below: 
 
2021 
£’000 
2020 
£’000 
Cash and cash equivalents (note 15) 
3,006 
2,323 
Trade receivables - net (note 13) 
1,441 
1,691 
Other receivables (note 13) 
64 
64 
Accrued income (note 13) 
29 
254 
4,540 
4,332 
 
The credit risk in respect of cash and cash equivalents is considered negligible as they are held with major reputable financial institutions only. 
 
None of the Group’s financial assets are secured by collateral or other credit enhancements. 
 
The Group’s management considers that the financial assets above, that are not impaired or past due for each of the reporting dates under review, are of 
good credit quality. 
 
The Group continuously monitors defaults of customers and incorporates this information into its credit risk controls. Where available at reasonable cost, 
external credit ratings and reports on customers are used and the Group’s policy is only to deal with creditworthy customers. The credit terms range 
between 30 and 75 days and support and maintenance customers are required to pay the annual amount upfront, mitigating the credit risk. The ongoing 
credit risk is managed through regular review of ageing analysis. Some of the unimpaired trade receivables are past due at the reporting date.  
 
In respect of trade and other receivables, the Group is not exposed to any significant credit risk from any single customer or group of customers having the 
same characteristics. Trade receivables consist of a large number of customers in different sectors of the market and geographical locations. 
 
The carrying amount of financial assets whose terms have been renegotiated, that would otherwise be past due or impaired is £Nil (2020 & 2019: £Nil). 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
62 
Liquidity risk analysis 
The Group manages its liquidity needs by monitoring scheduled debt repayments for long term financial liabilities as well as forecast cash flows due in day-
to-day business. Liquidity needs are monitored in various time bands. Short term cash flow is monitored daily using known daily inflows and outflows for 
cash within 8 to 12 weeks. Medium term cash flows within 12 months are monitored using monthly rolling forecast data. Longer term cash flows are 
monitored using higher level management strategy documents. Net cash requirements are compared to cash balances and forecast in order to determine 
headroom or any shortfalls. This analysis shows if available cash is expected to be sufficient over the lookout period of 15 months to March 2022. 
 
The Group maintains sufficient cash balances and enters into lease arrangements to meet its liquidity requirements for the medium-term forecast period (1 
year). 
 
As at 31 December 2021, the Group’s financial liabilities have contractual maturities (including interest payments where applicable) as summarised below: 
 
Current £’000 
Non-current £’000 
31 December 2021: 
Within 6 months 
6 to 12 months 
1 to 5 years 
Later than 5 years 
Bank borrowings (note 17) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
Lease obligations 
142 
135 
206 
- 
Trade and other payables (note 16) 
1,408 
- 
- 
- 
Total 
1,550 
135 
206 
- 
 
 
This compares to the Group’s financial liabilities in the previous reporting period as follows: 
 
Current £’000 
Non-current £’000 
31 December 2020: 
Within 6 months 
6 to 12 months 
1 to 5 years 
Later than 5 years 
Bank borrowings (note 17) 
- 
- 
- 
- 
Lease obligations 
141 
141 
461 
- 
Trade and other payables (note 16) 
1,359 
- 
- 
- 
Total 
1,500 
141 
461 
- 
 
The above amounts reflect the contractual undiscounted cash flows, which may differ to the carrying value of the liabilities at the reporting date. 
Where the customer has a choice of when an amount is paid the liability has been included on the earliest date on which payment can be required. 
 
The carrying amounts presented in the statement of financial position relate to the following categories of assets and liabilities. 
 
 
An analysis of the Group’s financial assets is set out below: 
 
As at 31 December 2021 
As at 31 December 2020 
Amortised cost  
£’000 
FVTPL  
£’000 
Total 
 £’000 
Amortised cost  
£’000 
FVTPL  
£’000 
Total 
 £’000 
Trade and other receivables 
1,534 
- 
1,534 
2,009 
- 
2,009 
Cash and cash equivalents 
3,006 
- 
3,006 
2,323 
- 
2,323 
Total financial assets 
4,540 
- 
4,540 
4,332 
- 
4,332 
 
 
An analysis of the Group’s financial liabilities is set out below: 
 
As at 31 December 2021 
 As at 31 December 2020 
Other liabilities 
(amortised cost)  
£’000 
Other liabilities 
at FVTPL 
£’000 
Total 
 £’000 
Other liabilities 
(amortised cost)  
£’000 
Other liabilities 
at FVTPL 
£’000 
Total 
 £’000 
Non-current lease obligations 
192 
- 
192 
442 
- 
442 
Current lease obligations 
258 
- 
258 
441 
- 
441 
Trade and other payables 
1,408 
- 
1,408 
1,800 
- 
1,800 
Total financial liabilities 
1,858 
- 
1,858 
2,683 
- 
2,683 
 
 
 
 

 
63 
 
26. Capital management policies and procedures 
 
The Group’s capital management objectives are: 
 
To ensure the Group’s ability to continue as a going concern and provide an adequate return to shareholders 
 
The Group monitors capital on the basis of the carrying amount of equity plus any loan notes less cash and cash equivalents. The Group’s goal in capital 
management is a capital to overall financing ratio of 1:6 to 1:4. 
 
The Group sets the amount of capital in proportion to its overall financing structure, i.e., equity and financial liabilities other than loan notes. The Group 
manages the capital structure and makes adjustments to it in light of changes in economic conditions and the risk characteristics of the underlying assets. In 
order to maintain or adjust the capital structure, the Group may adjust the amounts of dividends paid to shareholders, return capital to shareholders, issue 
new shares, or sell assets to reduce debt. 
 
Capital for the reporting periods under review is summarised as follows: 
2021  
£’000 
2020  
£’000 
Total equity 
3,531 
3,531 
Loan notes 
- 
- 
Short term loans 
- 
- 
Cash and cash equivalents 
(3,006) 
(2,323) 
Capital 
525 
1,208 
 
 
Total equity 
3,531 
3,531 
Borrowings 
- 
- 
Overall financing 
3,531 
3,531 
 
 
Capital to overall financing ratio 
0.15 
0.34 
 
27. Post balance sheet events 
 
There are no post balance sheet events. 
 
28. Prior period adjustment 
 
An adjustment has been made to the treatment of foreign exchange gains and losses on intercompany balance translation at year end. Previously all 
intercompany balances were treated as a net investment and on consolidation any exchange gains and losses were recorded in other comprehensive 
income and recognised in the currency translation reserve in equity. Some of these intercompany balances have subsequently been reclassified as trading 
balances on the basis that transactions occur between trading entities. The summarised corrections are shown below: 
 
Administration 
expenses 
£’000 
Retained 
Earnings 
£’000 
Translation 
Reserve  
£’000 
Prior to 1 January 2020 
 
356 
(356) 
Year ended 31 December 2020 
(178) 
(178) 
178 
 
Prior to 1 January 2020, £356K of foreign exchange losses have been reclassified from the translation reserve to retained earnings within equity. For the 
year ended 31 December 2020, £178K of foreign exchange gains have been reclassified from the translation reserve in equity and recognised in the 
Statement of Comprehensive Income within administration expenses. 
 
These adjustments have also impacted on the Statement of Cash Flows. The cash and cash equivalents balances remain the same, however, changes are 
reflected within the profit before taxation and movements in unrealised foreign exchange differences. 
 
The Statement of Changes in Equity has also been restated for the profit in the year and the foreign exchange differences on translation of foreign 
operations. 
 
The impact on reported basic and diluted earnings per share for the year ended 31 December 2020 was an increase of 1.06p and 1.02p respectively. 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
64 
Company statement of financial position 
 
note 
31 Dec 21  
£’000 
31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Non-current assets 
 
 
 
Investments 
4 
3,323 
3,296 
 
 
 
Current assets 
 
 
 
Trade and other receivables 
5 
6,165 
6,336 
Cash and cash equivalents 
 
5 
3 
 
6,170 
6,339 
 
 
 
Total assets 
 
9,493 
9,635 
 
 
 
Equity 
 
 
 
Called up share capital 
7 
1,692 
1,692 
Share premium account 
 
- 
- 
Share option reserve 
 
88 
61 
Retained earnings 
 
6,466 
6,635 
Total Equity 
 
8,246 
8,388 
 
 
 
Current liabilities 
 
 
 
Trade and other payables 
6 
1,247 
1,247 
 
 
 
Non-current liabilities 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Total liabilities 
 
1,247 
1,247 
 
 
 
Total equity and liabilities 
 
9,493 
9,635 
 
The profit recognised in the year was £557K (2020: £634K). 
 
The financial statements were approved by the Board of Directors and authorised for issue on 24 June 2022 and were signed on its behalf by: 
 
 
 
 
 
J R Sheffield 
Director 
 
 
 
 
G S Winner 
Director 
 
Registered number: 00837205 
 
 
The accompanying notes form part of these financial statements. 
 
 

 
65 
 
Company statement of changes in equity 
 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
Share  
capital  
£’000 
Share option 
 reserve 
 £’000 
Retained 
 earnings  
£’000 
 
Total  
£’000 
Balance at 1 January 2021 
1,692 
61 
6,635 
8,388 
 
 
 
 
Dividends paid 
- 
- 
(410) 
(410) 
Shares bought into treasury 
- 
- 
(316) 
(316) 
Share options granted 
- 
27 
- 
27 
Transaction with owners 
- 
27 
(726) 
(699) 
 
 
 
 
Profit for the year 
- 
- 
557 
557 
Total comprehensive income / (expense) for year 
- 
27 
(169) 
(142) 
 
 
 
 
Balance at 31 December 2021 
1,692 
88 
6,466 
8,246 
 
 
 
 
For the year ended 31 December 2020 
 
Share 
 capital  
£’000 
Share option 
 reserve 
 £’000 
Retained 
 earnings  
£’000 
 
Total  
£’000 
Balance at 1 January 2020 
1,692 
23 
6,316 
8,031 
 
 
 
 
Dividends paid 
- 
- 
(252) 
(252) 
Shares bought into treasury 
 
 
(63) 
(63) 
Share options granted 
- 
38 
- 
38 
Transaction with owners 
- 
38 
(315) 
(277) 
 
 
 
 
Profit for the year 
- 
- 
634 
634 
Total comprehensive income / (expense) for year 
- 
38 
319 
357 
 
 
 
 
Balance at 31 December 2020 
1,692 
61 
6,635 
8,388 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
66 
Notes to the Company financial statements 
1. Accounting Policies 
 
Statement of compliance 
These financial statements have been prepared in accordance with Financial Reporting Standard 101 ‘Reduced Disclosure Framework’ (FRS 101). The 
preparation of financial statements in conformity with FRS 101 requires the use of certain critical accounting estimates and management are required to 
exercise judgement in the process of applying the Company’s accounting policies. The areas involving a higher degree of judgement or complexity, or areas 
where assumptions and estimates are significant to the financial statements are disclosed below. 
 
The following exemptions from the requirements of IFRS have been applied in the preparation of these financial statements, in accordance with FRS 101: 
 
• 
Paragraph 45(b) and 46 to 52 of IFRS 2 ‘Share based payment’ including details of the number and weighted average exercise prices of share options 
and how the fair value of goods or services received was determined. 
• 
IFRS 7 ‘Financial instruments’ disclosures 
• 
Paragraph 91 to 99 of IFRS 13 ‘Fair value measurement’ disclosures relating to valuation techniques and inputs used for fair value measurement of 
assets and liabilities. 
• 
The following paragraphs of IAS 1 ‘Presentation of financial statements’: 
- 10(d) statement of cashflows 
- 16 statement of compliance with all IFRS 
- 38A requirement for a minimum of two primary statements, including cashflow statements 
- 38B-D additional comparative information 
- 111 Statement of cashflow information 
- 134-136 Capital management disclosures 
• 
IAS 7 ‘Statement of cashflows’ 
• 
Paragraph 30 and 31 of IAS 8 ‘Accounting policies, changes in accounting estimates and errors’ and the requirement for the disclosure of information 
when an entity has not applied a new IFRS that has been issued but is not yet effective. 
• 
Paragraph 17 of IAS 24 ‘Related party disclosures’ and the requirement to present key management compensation 
• 
IAS 24 ‘Related party disclosures’ and the requirement to disclose related party transactions entered into between two or more members of a group. 
 
Accounting policies 
A summary of the principal Company accounting policies, which have been applied consistently, is set out below. 
 
Investments 
Investments held as fixed assets are stated at cost less any provision for impairment in value. The Directors have impaired the investments as appropriate 
based on the findings of the wider impairment review detailed in note 10 of the Group accounts. 
 
Borrowings 
Borrowings are classified as current liabilities unless the Company has an unconditional right to defer settlement of the liability for at least 12 months after 
the statement of financial position date. 
 
Going concern 
The accounts are prepared on a going concern basis. In assessing whether the going concern assumption is appropriate, management have taken into 
account all relevant available information about the future including a profit and cash forecast, the continued support of the shareholders and Directors, 
banking facilities and management’s ability to affect costs and revenues. 
 
Management regularly forecast profit, financial position and cash flows for the Group. The rolling annual forecast is normally updated monthly. 
 
Having reviewed the latest forecast, management regard the forecast to be robust. Revenue streams are forecast in detail with all recurring revenue 
contracts individually listed and ranked by firmness from firm to prospect. Management have reviewed forecast costs for reasonableness against prior years 
and with knowledge of expected movements and concluded that forecast costs are robust (refer to the Group Strategic report on pages 4 to 15 and the 
Group accounting policies). 
 
Share options 
Please refer to the Group accounting policies note for full details. Within the parent company accounts, share based payments are recorded as an increase 
to investments and credited to the share option reserve within equity. 
 
Foreign currencies 
Monetary assets and liabilities denominated in foreign currencies are translated at the rate of exchange ruling at the statement of financial position date. 
 
Transactions in foreign currencies during the year are recorded at a monthly estimated rate set at the beginning of each month. Foreign exchange gains and 
losses resulting from the settlement of such transactions and from the remeasurement of monetary items at year-end exchange rates are recognised in 
profit or loss. Non-monetary items measured at historical cost are translated using the exchange rates at the date of the transaction and not subsequently 
retranslated. 
 

 
67 
 
Deferred taxation 
Provision is made for deferred taxation, using the full provision method, on all taxable temporary differences. Deferred taxation has been recognised as a 
liability or asset if transactions have occurred at the balance sheet date that give rise to an obligation to pay more taxation in the future, or a right to pay 
less taxation in the future. An asset is not recognised to the extent that the transfer of economic benefits in the future is uncertain. 
 
Deferred tax assets and liabilities are calculated, without discounting, at tax rates that are expected to apply to their respective period of realisation, 
provided they are enacted or substantively enacted by the end of the reporting period. Deferred tax liabilities are always provided for in full. 
 
Financial instruments 
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 entity after deducting all of its financial liabilities. 
 
Where the contractual obligations of financial instruments (including share capital) are equivalent to a similar debt instrument, those financial instruments 
are classed as financial liabilities. Financial liabilities are presented as such in the statement of financial position. Finance costs and gains or losses relating to 
financial liabilities are included in the profit and loss account. Finance costs are calculated so as to produce a constant rate of return on the outstanding 
liability. 
 
Where the contractual terms of share capital do not have any terms meeting the definition of a financial liability then this is classed as an equity instrument. 
Dividends and distributions relating to equity instruments are debited direct to equity. 
 
Significant accounting estimates and judgements 
When preparing the financial statements management make estimates, judgements and assumptions about recognition and measurement of assets, 
liabilities, income and expenses. The actual results are likely to differ from the judgements, estimates and assumptions made by management, and will 
seldom equal the estimated results. Information about the significant judgements, estimates and assumptions that have the most significant effect on the 
recognition and measurement of assets, liabilities, income and expenses are discussed below. 
 
Intercompany receivables 
The Company assesses the carrying value of its intercompany receivables using a time to pay repayment model. The receivables are repayable on demand 
and non-interest bearing and management believe a repayment plan will provide the best recovery solution. The repayment calculation includes estimates 
about future financial performance over a 5 year repayment period and includes sensitivity analysis for downside scenarios. 
 
Subsidiary investments 
The Company assesses the carrying value of its subsidiary investment balances using the average group share price over the current year as an 
approximation of value. The investments relate to current trading entities or business units which are the value drivers of the Group. The anticipated sale 
value is modelled after repayment of intercompany receivables have been repaid using a 10% discount factor. 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
68 
2. 
Profit for the financial year 
 
The parent Company has taken advantage of section 408 of the Companies Act 2006 and has not included its own income statement in these financial 
statements. The parent Company’s profit for the year was £557K (2020: £634K), impairment for intercompany debtors was £Nil (2020: £Nil) and impairment 
of investments was £Nil (2020: £Nil). An audit fee of £20K was paid in respect of the parent Company audit (2020: £20K). 
 
Tax fees for the Group of £1K (2020: £(7)K) have been borne by the subsidiary companies. 
 
The Company employed two Executive Directors (2020: two), three Non-Executive Directors (2020: four) and the Non-Executive Chairman. The costs of 
these employees and the fees for the other Non-Executive Directors were borne by the subsidiaries. 
 
3. 
Staff Numbers and Costs 
 
Year ended 
 31 Dec 21  
Average number 
Year ended 
 31 Dec 20  
Average number 
Staff numbers: 
 
 
Operations 
6 
7 
 
Year ended 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
Year ended 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Their aggregate remuneration comprised: 
 
 
Wages and salaries 
196 
204 
Other staff costs 
9 
7 
Total staff costs 
205 
211 
 
4. 
Investments 
 
As at 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Cost 
 
 
At 1 January 
3,296 
3,258 
Share options issued to employees of subsidiaries 
27 
38 
At 31 December 
3,323 
3,296 
 
Investments are investments in subsidiary and Joint Venture undertakings. 
 
 
 

 
69 
 
Details of subsidiary undertakings, in which the Company holds majority shareholdings and investments in which the Company holds significant interest and 
which have been consolidated and disclosed respectively in the Group financial statements, are as follows: 
 
Company 
Country of 
registration 
Registered 
address 
Holding 
Proportion 
held 
Nature of the business 
Catchword Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Dormant 
Preference shares 
100% 
Ingenta Holdings Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Dormant 
Ingenta US Holdings Inc. 
USA 
US* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Holding Company 
Publishers Communication Group Inc 
USA 
US* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Marketing and Sales Consultancy 
Ingenta UK Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Publishing Software and Services 
Ingenta Inc 
USA 
US* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Publishing Software and Services 
Publishing Technology do Brasil LTDA 
Brazil 
BRA* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Publishing Software and Services 
Publishing Technology Australia Pty Ltd 
Australia 
AUS* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Publishing Software and Services 
Vista Computer Services Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Dormant 
Vista Computer Services LLC 
USA 
US* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Dormant 
Vista Holdings Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Dormant 
Vista International Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Holding Company 
Vista North America Holdings Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Non-Trading Holding Company 
Uncover Inc 
USA 
US* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Dormant 
Beijing Ingenta Digital Publishing 
Technology Limited 
China 
CHI* 
Ordinary shares 
49% 
Publishing Software and Services 
5 Fifteen Limited 
England 
UK* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Digital Advertising Solutions 
5 Fifteen Inc. 
USA 
US* 
Ordinary shares 
100% 
Digital Advertising Solutions 
 
UK* 
Suite 2, Whichford House, Parkway Court, John Smith Drive, Oxford, OX4 2JY, UK 
US* 
317 George Street, New Brunswick, NJ 08901, USA 
CHI* 
Room 2227, Building D33 No.99, Kechuang 14th Street, Beijing Economic and Technological Development Zone, China 
AUS* 
Suite 2, Ground Floor, 5 Alexander Street, Crows Nest, NSW 2065, Australia 
BRA* 
Edificio Esplanada Park, Rua Jeronimo da Veiga, 164, 16C-16 andar, Itaim Bibi, 04536-000, Brazil 
 
5. 
Trade and other receivables 
 
Amounts falling due within one year 
As at 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Other debtors: 
 
 
Amounts due from subsidiary undertakings 
21,832 
22,003 
Provision for intercompany debtors 
(15,667) 
(15,667) 
6,165 
6,336 
 
Balances recorded for subsidiary undertakings are not governed by formal loan agreements and are repayable on demand with no interest charged.  
 
6. 
Trade and other payables 
 
Amounts falling due within one year 
As at 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Other creditors: 
 
 
Amounts due to subsidiary undertakings 
1,098 
1,098 
Accruals 
149 
149 
1,247 
1,247 
 
 
 

Annual Report 
For the year ended 31 December 2021 
 
 
70 
7. 
Share Capital 
 
As at 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
As at 
 31 Dec 20  
£’000 
Issued and fully paid: 
 
 
16,919,609 (2020: 16,919,609) ordinary shares of 10p each 
1,692 
1,692 
 
Share issues 
 
During the year 440,826 (2020: 81,000) shares were purchased for £316K (2020: £63K) by the company and retained as treasury shares. There were no 
shares issued during the year (2020: None). 
 
There is one class of ordinary shares and holders are entitled to receive dividends as declared from time to time and are entitled to one vote per share 
at shareholder meetings. 
 
8. 
Borrowings 
 
Year ended 
31 Dec 21 
Year ended 
31 Dec 20 
Bank overdrafts 
N/A 
£250K facility in place 
 
The Company bank accounts form part of the wider Group facility with HSBC Bank plc. These accounts are linked and any facility limit is based on the net 
balance of all Group accounts taken together. There was no Group overdraft facility in place during 2021 (2020: £250K).  
 
9. 
Related party transactions 
 
Other related party transactions 
Please refer to note 24 of the Group financial statements. 
 
A summary of related party transactions and balances is shown herein: 
As at 
 31 Dec 20 
 £’000 
Recharges  
£’000 
Impairment  
£’000 
As at 
 31 Dec 21  
£’000 
Ingenta UK Limited 
4,987  
(458) 
- 
4,529  
Ingenta Inc 
1,348  
287 
- 
1,635  
Publishers Communication Group Inc. 
1 
-  
- 
1  
Catchword Limited 
(429) 
-  
- 
(429) 
Ingenta US Holdings Inc. 
(669) 
-  
- 
(669) 
5,238 
(171) 
- 
5,067  
 
 
 

 
71 
 
10. Financial assets and liabilities 
 
An analysis of the company’s assets is set out below: 
 
As at 31 December 2021 
As at 31 December 2020 
Loans and 
 receivables  
£’000 
Total for financial 
position heading 
 £’000 
Loans and 
 receivables  
£’000 
Total for financial 
position heading 
 £’000 
Other receivables 
6,165 
6,165 
6,336 
6,336 
Cash and cash equivalents 
5 
5 
3 
3 
6,170 
6,170 
6,339 
6,339 
 
 
 
 
As at 31 December 2021 
As at 31 December 2020 
Financial liabilities at 
amortised cost  
£’000 
Total for financial 
position heading 
 £’000 
Financial liabilities at 
amortised cost  
£’000 
Total for financial 
position heading 
 £’000 
Other payables 
1,098 
1,098 
1,098 
1,098 
Other creditors 
149 
149 
149 
149 
1,247 
1,247 
1,247 
1,247 
 
 
 
 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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